Abstract:
A tape dispensing box having a parallelepipedic form including first and second main faces, an output slot for the tape with a tape cutter, a removable holding device with a support for a reel of tape and a sheet of paper having information thereon held between a main face and the holding device when the holding device is inserted into the box.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns a dispensing box for tape, in particular for adhesive tape. 
     Dispensing boxes for adhesive tapes are known which generally comprise a cover attached removably to the box body. To centre the reel of tape in the box, the body of the box bears on its base a tubular axial projection on which the reel of tape rests. In the same way the cover comprises a tubular axial projection complementary to the projection of the boxed body to penetrate into this and into the reel thus held in order to support the reel in the box and allow its rotation. 
     In practice, an attachment to the box body is associated with a slot for holding and dispensing the adhesive tape outside the box. Usually a serrated extremity of the attachment supports and cuts the tape. 
     In our modern society of communications it is increasingly important and necessary to identify, mark or personalise products or articles for general distribution with selected wording or information. 
     At present this type of dispensing box has little or no flat clear space to hold easily inside the box paper sheets or similar means able to bear inscriptions, in particular due to the tubular projections supporting the reel of tape which occupy the base of the box body and lid. 
     A known solution is to use display panels outside the box. However such a solution requires an operation of gluing the panels which is costly to implement. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a solution to this problem by making it possible to hold paper sheets inside the box without gluing, by the introduction and support of these sheets in an appropriate manner. 
     It concerns an dispensing box for tape, in particular for adhesive tape, the box comprising parallel main first and second faces, means of support of the tape reel inside the box during dispensing, an outlet slot for supplying the tape outside the box and means for cutting the tape. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a general definition of the invention, the support means are arranged such that when the reel is in the box, at least the inner surface of one of the first and second main faces is totally clear to hold a first sheet of paper or similar means able to bear the selected information. 
     The arrangement of the box with a single sheet of paper placed on the main face corresponds to reel support means of one piece with the other main face. 
     The phrase totally clear here means the absence of projection on the main faces of the box. 
     According to an important characteristic of the invention, the means of supporting the reel are also arranged such that when the reel is in the box, the inner surface of the other of the first and second main faces is totally clear to hold a second sheet of paper or similar means able to bear selected information. 
     According to a first design mode of the invention, the support means comprise a removable platform with at least one approximately flat face parallel to the first and second main faces and of which one of the sides is intended to rest on the transparent inner surface of one of the first and second main faces, and of which the other side comprises a reel core support, the said support having a first extremity of one piece with the platform and a second free extremity to position the reel core. 
     In practice the box also has four side faces to form a box of approximately parallelepipedic form. In this case the platform advantageously also comprises a second flat face perpendicular to the first flat face, the shape and dimensions of which are selected to form one of the side faces of the box. 
     According to a second design mode of the invention, the support means comprise a removable platform with approximately flat first and second faces parallel to the first and second main faces and separated from each other by a reel core support, each flat face of the platform being intended to rest on the inner surface of the first and second main faces respectively. 
     The reel core support may be made of one part or replaced by two protrusions on each face of the platform which act as a core support. 
     In a third design mode of the invention, the support means comprise a removable platform with an approximately flat face parallel to the first and second main faces, one of the sides of the flat face of the platform comprising a first core support for a first tape reel, the said first core support having a first extremity of one piece with the platform and a second free extremity, and the other side of the flat face of the platform comprising a second core support for a second tape reel, the second core support having a first extremity of one piece with the platform and a second free extremity. 
     In practice the box comprises means of assembly of the first and second main faces with the possibility of opening and closure. 
     The box is formed either by arrangement of the box body and an attached lid or by a box open on one its four side faces, the face then forming part of the reel support platform, or with an opening and closing flap articulated about a hinge axis. 
     Preferably at least one of the first and second main faces and the platform are arranged to delimit the outlet slot. 
     Advantageously the cutting device is housed in one of the side faces of the box close to the outlet slot. 
     In the two reel variant, the first and second main faces and the platform are arranged advantageously to delimit two outlet slots, one for the first reel and another for the second reel. 
     In this case too the box also comprises two cutting elements housed respectively in one of the side faces of the box close to their respective outlet slots. 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the detailed description below and the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A to  1 C and  1 E,  1 F show in exploded view the essential and constituent components of the box according to the invention with a flap articulated around a hinge axis; 
     FIG. 1D shows in diagram form a tape reel of the known type; 
     FIG. 1E shows a single sheet  32  similar to the sheet  32  in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 1F shows a combination of components shown separately in FIGS. 1B and 1C. 
     FIG. 2A shows the box with the two sheets of paper held by the two main faces of the box according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2B illustrates the positioning of the reel on the core support of the platform according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3A illustrates the positioning of the platform in the box according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3B shows the box according to the invention in its closed position; 
     FIGS. 4A to  4 C illustrate a design mode of the box according to the invention in which the platform comprises two flat surfaces perpendicular to each other, one of which acts as a side face of the box to ensure the opening and closing of the box; 
     FIGS. 5A to  5 C illustrate a variant of the design mode described with reference to FIGS. 4A to  4 C; 
     FIGS. 6A to  6 C illustrate a design mode of a box according to the invention containing two tape reels; 
     FIGS. 7A to  7 D illustrate a variant of the design mode with two reels according to the invention; 
     FIGS.  8 A 1  to  8 C 2  illustrate a variant of the removable platform according to the invention; 
     FIGS. 9A to  9 C illustrate two other variants of the removable platform, one mounted sliding and the other mounted pivoting according to the invention, with two flat parallel surfaces supporting the reel; and 
     FIG. 10 illustrates another variant of the platform according to the invention with a face not flat, fitted with cross pieces. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to FIG. 1D, the present invention concerns the tape dispensing box, in particular for adhesive tape, in which the tape reel BOB is cylindrical in form with a height determined by the width of the tape RUB. The tape reel BOB also comprises a cylindrical core MAN. 
     With reference to FIG. 1B, here the box is of generally parallelepipedic form with two main parallel faces  2  and  4  and four side faces  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16 . 
     The two main faces  2  and  4  and the side faces  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  are of generally rectangular flat shape. They may have a more curved form where applicable. 
     With reference to FIG. 1B, the box is open and with reference to FIG. 3B, the box is closed. 
     Face  4  is arranged to form a slot  8  for the outlet of the tape from the box. The side faces  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  complete the box to form an approximately sealed envelope. The widths of the side faces  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  16  are selected so that the box can contain a tape reel BOB of selected or standard thickness, for example a few centimeters. 
     Close to slot  8 , the side face  10  is arranged to hold a serrated extremity  18  which serves for support and cutting of the tape. This serrated extremity may be that of a metallic cutting blade  17  housed in a housing provided on the side face  10 . The side face  14  serves to the connect the main faces  2  and  4 . 
     For example means of assembly  6  of the parallel faces  2  and  4 , of the type articulated around a hinge axis, comprise means forming a pivot allowing the side face  14  adjacent to the face  4  to pivot about the vertical axis  3  and thus ensure the opening and closure of the box. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1A to  1 C, a booklet  30  comprising two sheets  32  and  34  of dimensions approximately similar to those of faces  2  and  4  can be placed inside the box described in FIG.  1 B. This booklet  30  is intended to bear markings visible through the transparent faces  2  and  4  in order to mark, personalise or identify the box, its content, its destination or other according to the invention. The booklet  30  also comprises a strip  36  of dimensions appropriate to the side face  14  and intended to link the two sheets  32  and  34 . 
     It should be noted that the shape of the sheet  34  is also arranged as a function of the shape of the slot  8  for the tape outlet. 
     To allow the introduction of the booklet  30  into the box according to the invention, a removable platform  40  is provided (FIG. 1C) comprising an approximately flat face  42  parallel to the first and second main faces  2  and  4 , and of which one of the sides  44  is intended to rest on the inner surface  5  of the main face  4 , and of which the other side  46  comprises a core support  48  for the tape reel BOB. The core support  48  has a first extremity  50  of one piece with the platform  40  and a second free extremity  52  for positioning the tape reel core. 
     The length of core support  48  and its diameter are selected as a function of the width of tape RUB and the diameter of the reel core. 
     Advantageously the core support is positioned approximately in the centre of platform  40  in order to allow centring of the reel in the box. 
     With reference to FIG. 2A, the booklet  30  described with reference to FIG. 1A is now introduced into the box described with reference to FIG. 1B with appropriate positioning such that the sheets  32  and  34  and the strip  36  cover the main faces  2  and  4  and side face  14 . 
     As the material constituting faces  2  and  4  and strip  14  is advantageously transparent, the markings on sheets  32 ,  34  and  36  of booklet  30  are visible from the outside of the box. 
     In practice the booklet is held in the box by pins (not shown). As a variant these pins may be replaced by sliders (not shown) or even omitted completely. 
     With reference to FIG. 1E, a single sheet  32  is shown. With reference to FIG. 1F, the box is open similar to FIG. 1B but with the platform  40  inserted on side  5  of face  4  and the sheet  32  attached to face  2 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2B, reel BOB is held on the core support  48  of platform  40 . 
     With reference to FIG. 3A, the platform  40  containing the reel BOB is now inserted in the box in order to rest on the inner surface  5  of the main face  4  of the box. 
     The platform  40  may be held on side  5  of face  4  by appropriate fixing means (not shown) or simply placed against this and held by blockage and closure of the box. 
     Finally with reference to FIG. 3B, the box containing the reel according to the arrangement described with reference to FIG. 3A is now shown in the closed position with the tape RUB emerging from slot  8  and resting on the serrated extremity  18  for cutting. 
     With reference to FIGS. 4A to  4 C, a variant of the box according to the invention is shown in which the box no longer has the possibility of opening/closing by the means of pivoting or articulated assembly but in which the removable platform is able to slide inside the box, the sliding of the platform ensuring the opening or closure of the said box. 
     In practice platform  40 , with reference to FIG. 4B, comprises the same elements as those described with reference to FIG. 1C except that it also comprises a second flat face  60  perpendicular to the flat face  42 . This flat face  60  constitutes a side face of the box. This face  60  corresponds to the side face  12  described with reference to FIG.  1 B. 
     For the rest, the box according to the invention comprises the same elements as those described with reference to FIG. 1B, namely a slot  8  for outlet of the tape from the box and a serrated extremity  18  for support and cutting of the tape. 
     It should be noted that the booklet bearing the selected marking is introduced in a manner similar to that described with reference to FIG.  2 A. 
     Also the reel of tape BOB described with reference to FIG. 4C is the same as that described in FIG.  1 D. It is intended to be placed on the core support  48  in accordance with FIG.  2 B. 
     In the closed position, the removable platform  40  is held locked in the box by appropriate fixing means such as pins, clips or sliders (not shown). 
     The platform is released to allow its extraction from the box by pulling the platform towards the outside in order to release the fixing means from their supports on the side faces of the box. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5A to  5 C, another variant of the removable platform is shown which supports the reel in the box. 
     With reference to FIG. 5A, the platform  40  comprises a first flat face  42  in accordance with that described with reference to FIG. 1C and a second flat face  70  perpendicular to face  42 . The platform  40  is intended to be introduced into the box in accordance with the arrows shown in FIG.  5 A. The flat face  70  is able to close the box when the platform  40  is fully introduced into the box. 
     The flat face  70  here constitutes the side face  14  of the box described with reference to FIG.  1 B. 
     In this variant the booklet can advantageously be separated into two sheets and divided over each main face. 
     With reference to FIGS. 6A to  6 C, another design mode of the box according to the invention is shown in which the box contains two tape reels BOB 1  and BOB 2 . 
     With reference to FIG. 6B, the means for supporting the reels BOB 1  and BOB 2  comprise a removable platform  100  with an approximately flat surface  110  parallel to the first and second main faces  2  and  4  of the box. One of the sides  120  of the flat face  110  comprises a first core support  124  for the first reel BOB 1 . The first core support  124  has a first extremity  126  of one piece with the platform  110  and a second free extremity  128 . 
     The other side  122  of the flat face  110  comprises a second core support  130  for the second reel BOB 2 . The second core support has a first extremity (not shown) of one piece with the platform and a second free extremity  132 . 
     The platform  100  also comprises a first flat face  140  perpendicular to the flat surface  110 . This flat face  140  in fact constitutes half the base of the box. 
     A second flat face  150  is provided. This is arranged on the other side of the flat face  110  perpendicular to the same flat face  110  to constitute the other half of the base of the box. 
     In accordance with FIG. 6B, the removable platform  100  is intended to be introduced into the box in order to place the reels BOB 1  and BOB 2  inside the said box, the surfaces  140  and  150  ensuring the box closure. 
     The booklets bearing the marking are introduced and held in the box against the two main faces of the box as previously described. 
     With reference to FIG. 6C, reels BOB 1  and BOB 2  are adjacent with their tape ends oriented in the same direction. With reference to FIG. 6A, outlet slots  8 - 1  and  8 - 2  of tapes RUB 1  and RUB 2  are also adjacent and separated by the platform. 
     With reference to FIG. 7A, a variant of the two reel box is shown in which the outlet slots  8 - 1  and  8 - 2  are opposite each other. 
     For the rest, the platform described in reference to FIG. 7C is identical to that described in reference to FIG.  6 B. 
     With reference to FIGS.  8 A 1  and  8 C 2 , the removable platform  200  comprises a flat face  210  perpendicular to the two main faces  2  and  4  of the box. 
     The platform  200  supports a reel BOB with a core support  212  held by forks  214  (parallel to faces  2  and  4  and able to assume different shapes) or by separation of the two faces parallel to faces  2  and  4  and provision of the elasticity necessary to support the reel core. 
     With reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, another design mode of the box according to the invention is shown in which the removable platform  300  comprises first and second approximately flat surfaces  310  and  320  parallel to the main first and second faces  2  and  4  of the box. The flat faces  310  and  320  are separated from each other by a core support  330  for tape reel BOB. 
     Each flat face  310  and  320  is intended to lie against the inner surface of the first and second main faces  2  and  4  respectively. The platform  300  is here intended to be introduced into the box by sliding. 
     With reference to FIG. 9C, the removable platform  300  described with reference to FIG. 9B is now mounted to pivot about an axis  312  perpendicular to the main faces  2  and  4  instead of being mounted sliding as in reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B. 
     With reference to FIGS. 9A to  9 C, platform  300  also comprises a side strip  340 , the end  350  of which constitutes the serrated extremity for the support and cutting of the tape. 
     With reference to FIGS. 9A to  9 C, the box may be fully sealed by omitting the outlet slot and/or the cutting element. The tape is then grasped and withdrawn by first withdrawing platform  300  from the box as far as a stop notch (not shown) made on one of the faces of the box. 
     Naturally other design modes may be considered for implementation of the box according to the invention. For example the platform may be produced with a surface not flat, constituted by cross pieces  400  (FIG. 10) bearing the holding support  410 .