Abstract:
An apparatus and method for dispensing non-adhesive tape to an article. The apparatus comprises a spool having the non-adhesive tape wound therearound and having a spool bore therethrough. The spool bore is adapted to rotatably receive a support member therein. The apparatus further includes a casing having an interior cavity sized to resistively and rotatably receive the spool therein and a dispenser portion located in the casing for dispensing the non-adhesive tape therethrough. The apparatus may further comprise a finger hub rotatably receivable within the spool bore. The method comprises securing a free end of the non-adhesive tape to the article through a dispenser portion of the casing and rotating the casing around the article with the dispenser portion maintained in radial alignment with the article so as to draw the non-adhesive tape though the dispensing portion and thereby to rotate the spool within the casing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/607,811 filed Mar. 7, 2012 entitled Tape Dispenser. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to dispensing tape in general and in particular to a method and apparatus for dispensing non-adhesive tapes. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Pipes are often connected to each other by threaded ends. It is known that for such connections a threaded seal tape is typically used to seal the connection. A commonly used threaded seal tape is polytetrafluoroethylene tape or PTFE tape commonly known as plumbers tape or Teflon® tape. PTFE tape is typically sold in a roll having a hole through the middle. In use, the PTFE tape may be wrapped around the exposed end of the threads of a pipe before it is screwed into an adjoining connector or pipe. A typical method of wrapping PTFE tape is for the user to grip the roll of PTFE tape between their thumb and one of their fingers. The user may then apply frictional resistance to the unwinding of the tape by squeezing the roll of PTFE tape therebetween. 
         [0006]    PTFE tape is known to have low friction for lubricating the connection between the pipes. PTFE tape also typically does not use an adhesive to secure it to the pipe, but rather while the PTFE tape is being wrapped around the pipe, tension is applied to the tape to pull the tape into the threads and plastically deforms the tape to the threads. 
         [0007]    A common problem with PTFE tape is the fact that it lacks an adhesive. This may result in the tape freely unraveling from the roll if it is inadvertently released by the user. This may result in excessive amounts of tape unwound from the roll which may then become dirty or tangled. Such tangled portions of the tape are often discarded and therefore wasted. 
         [0008]    An additional difficulty with PTFE tape is the fact that it is applied by the user applying a tension to the tape so as to deform the tape into the threads. Because PTFE tape has no adhesive and therefore no resistance to being freely unwound from the roll, the PTFE tape itself does not provide a tension to the tape to secure it to the threads. It is therefore required that the user apply an appropriate level of tension to the tape for application to the threads. Tension is typically applied by the user maintaining a frictional grip on the roll as the tape is unwound therefrom. The user may therefore control the amount of friction applied to the tape by controlling their grip on the roll. This may be difficult to accurately or consistently control in many situations or for people with less experience and practice. 
         [0009]    It is also commonly difficult to find an end of a roll of PTFE tape. This is due to the PTFE tape being relatively soft so that the end may be prone to being compressed against the roll so as to compress the end therein. The difficulty in finding the end may be exacerbated or caused by another common difficulty of PTFE tape of losing the snap on cove. PTFE tape is commonly sold in a roll with a cover sized to snap over the roll and thereby protect the roll when not in use. As the cover is removed from the roll during use, it may be prone to loss thereby permitting the uncovered roll to be compressed by other objects within the tool box of the user between uses. An additional difficulty with existing PTFE tapes is that depending upon from which direction the finger is inserted through the center hole, the roll will rotate either in the same or opposite direction as the rotation about the pipe as the PTFE tape is applied thereto. This may cause the roll of PTFE tape to be rotated in a direction, during application of the tape to a pipe, in which the PTFE tape is wound onto the roll such that the roll is urged closer to the pipe. In other words, the rotation of the roll of PTFE tape around the pipe may cause the PTFE tape to be wound onto the roll instead of off which will make application of the tape more difficult. 
         [0010]    Previous attempts to provide a method and apparatus for applying PTFE tape to pipe threading may be found in International Application No. PCT/CA2009/00436 to Wells, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for dispensing non-adhesive tape to an article comprising a spool having the non-adhesive tape wound therearound and having a spool bore therethrough. The spool bore is adapted to rotatably receive a support member therein. The apparatus further includes a casing having an interior cavity sized to resistively and rotatably receive the spool therein and a dispenser portion located in the casing for dispensing the non-adhesive tape therethrough. 
         [0012]    The casing may have a central axis. The spool may be rotatable about the central axis within the casing. One of the spool or the casing may include a biased protrusion adapted to engage one of a plurality of corresponding notches in the other of the spool or the casing, wherein the plurality of notches are arranged circumferentially around an interior of the casing between the casing and the spool such that rotation of the spool within the casing causes the protrusion to engage successive notches. 
         [0013]    The casing may be cup shaped having a bottom disk portion and an annular rim portion extending therefrom, wherein the notches are located on the disk portion, and wherein the protrusions extend axially from the spool. 
         [0014]    The spool may include an inner cylinder having a spool axis and sidewalls extending from the inner cylinder perpendicularly to the axis. The protrusions may extend axially from the sidewalls of the spool. The dispenser portion may frictionally bear against the non-adhesive tape passing therethrough. 
         [0015]    The support member may comprise a finger of a user. The apparatus may further comprise a finger hub rotatably receivable within the spool bore. The finger hub may include a finger bore extending therethrough operable to receive a finger of a user therein. The finger hub may include catches engageable on edges of the spool bore so as to retain the finger hub therein. 
         [0016]    According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for dispensing non-adhesive tape to an article comprising providing a spool having the non-adhesive tape wound therearound and a spool bore therethrough, resistively and rotatably supporting a casing around the spool and supporting the spool on a support member located within the spool bore. The method further comprises securing a free end of the non-adhesive tape to the article through a dispenser portion of the casing and rotating the casing around the article with the dispenser portion maintained in radial alignment with the article so as to draw the non-adhesive tape though the dispensing portion and thereby to rotate the spool within the casing. 
         [0017]    The supporting the spool on a support member may comprise supporting the spool on a finger of a user. The dispensing portion compressibly grips the non-adhesive tape. 
         [0018]    The spool bore may rotate on the support member. The method may further comprise providing a finger hub rotatably supported within the spool bore wherein the finger hub receives a finger of a user therein. 
         [0019]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention applying an adhesiveless tape to the threads of a pipe. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the spool of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  4 - 4  showing an indexed resistor according to a first embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of indexed resister of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  5 - 5 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6   a  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  applying PTFE tape to a pipe at a first position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6   b  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  applying PTFE tape to a pipe at a second position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  4 - 4  having an optional finger hub according to a further embodiment of the apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , pipes  8  commonly include a threaded end  12  for securing to fittings and other pipes. The threaded end  12  may be wrapped with a thread seal tape or PTFE tape  14  to seal the resulting connection. An apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention for applying an adhesiveless tape to an article is shown generally at  10  applying PTFE tape to the threaded end  12  of the pipe  8 . Although the apparatus of the present invention is illustrated and described as applying PTFE tape to threads of a pipe, it will be appreciated that other kinds of adhesiveless tape may also be applied by the present apparatus, including, by way of non-limiting example, ribbon or other types of thread seal tape. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , apparatus  10  comprises a casing  20  rotatably and resistibly supporting a spool  40  of PTFE tape therein having a finger hole  42  therethrough for receiving the finger of a user. The apparatus  10  may also include a dispensing portion  22  having a slot  24  there through for receiving PTFE tape to be applied to the treaded end  12  of the pipe  8 . In some embodiments, the slot  24  may squeeze or bear upon the PTFE tape as it passes therethrough for the purposes of guiding the PTFE tape such as, for example with alternating ribs  26  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  so as to present a non-straight line path of travel for the PTFE tape. The ribs  26  assist in maintaining the PTFE tape within the slot  24  and keep it from wandering out of the slot  24  as the PTFE tape is withdrawn from the apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the slot  24  of the dispensing portion  22  may also be open to one side adjacent to the opening in the casing for receiving the spool for feeding the PTFE tape through. The slot  24  may optionally also include a narrowing or reduced width portion so as to frictionally compress the PTFE tape as it passes therethrough according to well known methods. This may serve to keep the free end of the PTFE tape available for future use as well as to provide tension to the PTFE tape for to ensure proper application to the threaded end  12  of the pipe  8 . By way of non-limiting example, common examples of such devices which may provide such compression to the PTFE tape include springs, nozzles, wedges and pads. 
         [0031]    In operation, a user may place their finger through the finger hole  42  and apply an end of the PTFE tape to the threaded end  12 . Thereafter the user may run their finger in a substantially circular motion around the threaded end as indicated by arrow  56  in  FIG. 6   a  such that the dispensing portion  22  is maintained as the most proximate portion of the apparatus  10  to the threaded end  12 . After application to the pipe the user may tear off the applied PTFE tape. The free end of the PTFE tape extending from the apparatus  10  will thereafter remain extending from the apparatus for the next use. As such, it will not be necessary to free the free end of the PTFE tape from the roll as is required in existing rolls. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the apparatus  10  is retained in a radial orientation as indicated by the arrow  57  about the threaded end  12  of the pipe  8  by the PTFE tape  14  remaining in radial alignment with the pipe  8 . 
         [0032]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of one embodiment of the apparatus  10  is illustrated. The apparatus  10  includes a casing  20  and a spool  40 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the spool  40  of PTFE tape is retained within the casing and carries a length of PTFE tape wound thereon for distribution through the dispensing portion  22 . The casing  20  includes a backing plate  28  and an enclosing wall  30  having a distal edge  32  extending around the periphery thereof. As illustrated the backing plate  28  has a circular outline although it will be appreciated that other shapes may be useful as well, such as for example, cup-shaped, square or rectangular. The enclosing wall  30  defines a void  34  therein having a diameter sized to receive the spool  40  therein. The enclosing wall also has a height sufficient to retain the spool  40  within the void  34 . The enclosing wall  30  may also include one or more clips  36  extending radially inwardly at one or more locations along the distal edge  32  of the enclosing wall  30 . 
         [0033]    The spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  comprises a central cylinder  44  first and second side plates,  46  and  48 , respectively at opposed ends thereof. The PTFE tape  14  is wound around the central cylinder  44  between the first and second side plates  46  and  48 . It will be appreciated that the PTFE tape  14  may be wound directly onto an outer surface  50  of the central cylinder  44 . Optionally, the PTFE tape  14  may be wound onto a disposable cylinder that is secured to the central cylinder  44  such that existing spools of PTFE tape  14  may be used in the current apparatus without modification or such that replacement spools of PTFE tape may be inserted into the apparatus  10 . 
         [0034]    The apparatus  10  may also include an optional finger hub  90 . The finger hub  90  comprises a substantially cylindrical member sized to be received within the central cylinder  44  of the spool  40 . The finger hub  90  includes at least one catch  92  and a top rim  94  for selectably retaining the finger hub  90  within the central cylinder  44  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As illustrated, in embodiments including a finger hub  90 , the finger hole  42  will be defined a bore  96  through the finger hub whereas in embodiments without the finger hub the finger hole  42  will be defined by the central cylinder as described above. It will be appreciated that for embodiments including the finger hub  90 , the finger hub may be rotatable relative to the spool  40  so as to permit the spool rotate around the finger of the user as the PTFE tape is applied to the pipe  8 . The finger hub  90  may also include a finger gripping means, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a rubber wall, foam pad or elastic stretched across the finger hole as are commonly known. 
         [0035]    The apparatus  10  is assembled by locating the spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  within the void  34  of the casing with the second side plate  48  adjacent to the backing plate  28 . The first side plate  46  in such a location is engaged by the clips  36  so as to retain the spool  40  within the void  34 . The clip  36  may be sized to overlap and retain the spool  40  within the void  34 . The clips  36  may also be positioned so as to compress the spool  40  into the void  34  so as to ensure proper engagement of the resistive device as will be further described below. 
         [0036]    It will be appreciated that in order to remove the spool  40  from the casing  20 , the clips  36  must first be disengaged by pulling the clips in a radially outward direction so as to disengage them from the spool  40 . The second plate  48  of the spool  40  may also include a raised rim  49  adjacent to the finger hole  42 . 
         [0037]    The raised rim may be recievable within the central bore  38 . When removing the spool  40  from the casing  20 , the raised rim may also be utilized to push the spool out of the casing. As illustrated, when assembled the casing  20  and spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  are coaxial a common axis  25 . An inner surface  52  of the central cylinder  44  defines the finger hole  42 . The backing plate  28  includes a central bore  38  corresponding to the finger hole  42  such that a user may pass their finger through both opening so as to support the apparatus  10  thereon. After the spool  40  is located within the casing  20 , a free end of the PTFE tape  14  may be pulled into the slot  24  so as to extend from the dispensing portion for use by a user. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , the spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  is rotatable relative to the casing  20  such that the PTFE tape  14  may be unspooled therefrom as indicated by arrow  58 . As shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , the apparatus  10  is illustrated in a plurality of positions while dispensing PTFE tape  14  to the threaded end  12  of a pipe  8 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6   a , the apparatus is oriented below the pipe  8  such that the dispensing portion  22  is oriented at the uppermost portion of the apparatus  10  proximate to the pipe  8 . 
         [0039]    For illustration purposes only, an indicator  59  is shown in  FIG. 6   a , which is radially aligned within dispensing portion  22  and the pipe  8 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6   b , the apparatus  10  has now been circumferentially moved around the pipe  8  wherein the dispensing portion  22  is now oriented to the side of the apparatus  10  but still in the most proximate position to the pipe. It will be observed that between the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , the spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  has rotated relative to the casing  20  in the course of unwinding the PTFE tape  14  from the spool  40 . The amount of rotation between the spool  40  and the casing  20  is illustrated by angle  54  between the indicator  59  and the dispensing portion  22 . It will be appreciated that as the apparatus  10  is rotated about the pipe  8 , the spool  40  rotates within the casing  20  and therefore the spool will also rotate on the finger of a user. It will also be appreciated that due to the casing  20  remaining on the spool during and in between uses, the present apparatus will reduce the risk of loss of the casing. 
         [0040]    The amount of resistance between the spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  and the casing  20  is provided by a resistive device as further described below and should be selected to prevent the PTFE tape  14  from freely unrolling. In practice the amount of resistance between the spool  40  of PTFE tape and the casing  20  should be selected such that the PTFE tape  14  will not freely unravel from the apparatus  10  should the apparatus be dropped by the user. Put another way, the amount of resistance between the PTFE tape and the backing body constitutes a braking mechanism and should be sufficient to support the weight of the apparatus  10  and the spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  when the apparatus is suspended by a free end of the PTFE tape  14 . 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, the amount of resistance between the spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  and the backing body should be selected to ensure that a desired amount of tension is applied to the PTFE tape  14  when in use by a user such that the PTFE tape  14  is embedded within the threads of the pipe  8 . The amount of resistance should also be selected to be high enough to support the weight of the apparatus  10  with a full spool  40  of PTFE tape  14  includes so as to prevent the unwinding of the PTFE tape  14  from the apparatus should the user let go of the apparatus when a free end of the PTFE tape is secured to the article. In addition, the amount of tension applied to the PTFE tape  14  should be less than the tensile strength of the PTFE tape  14  so as to prevent unwanted breaking of the PTFE tape during application to an article. It will be appreciated that the actual amount of resistance provided by the apparatus should therefore be selected based upon the type, width and thickness of the adhesiveless tape with which the apparatus is intended to be used. 
         [0042]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the resistive device may comprise a protrusion  60  in one of the spool  40  or casing  20  engaged with an indexing ring  62  cooperatively connected to the other of the spool or casing. As illustrated the indexing ring  62  is secured to an inside surface  29  of the backing plate  28  of the casing  20  and annularly surround the central bore  38 . The protrusion  60  extends axially from the second plate  48  so as to engage within the indexing ring  62 . Turning to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the spool  40  is illustrated from the second side plate  48 . Although two protrusions  60  are illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it will be appreciated that only one protrusion or more than two protrusions may be utilized as well. The second side plate  48  includes a pair of apertures  64  therethrough having cantilevered biasing members  66  extending therein. The biasing members carry the protrusions  60  at a distal end thereof and serve to retain the protrusions in contact with the indexing ring  62  when the apparatus  10  is assembled as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0043]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the indexing ring  62  comprises a plurality of alternating indentations and ridges,  68  and  70 , respectively. The protrusion  60  cooperates with the ridges  70  so as to index the motion of the spool  40  relative to the casing  20  as the spool is rotated therein. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the indentations and ridges may form a triangular teeth shaped track wherein the protrusion has a substantially triangular shape corresponding to the indentations and ridges. It will be appreciated that other shapes of the indentations and ridges may be useful as well, such as, by way of non-limiting example, circular or wave shaped. The biasing member  66  may be selected to have a size such that a desired amount of friction is applied on the ridges  70  by the protrusion  60 . 
         [0044]    It will be appreciated the spool  40  of the present apparatus may be manufactured as replacement for existing PTFE tape rolls and may therefore be disposed after use. In such embodiments the casing  20  may either be reusable with replacement spools or be disposable with the used spools as well. 
         [0045]    Although the present disclosure describes polytetrafluoroethylene tape, or PTFE, it will be appreciated that the apparatus and method will be useful in association with other types of adhesiveless tapes as well such as anti-seize tape including, by way of non-limiting example, other PTFE tapes including, PTFE tapes having nickel, copper or ceramics included therein as well as ribbons. 
         [0046]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.