Abstract:
A gummed tape dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser includes a chassis adapted to hold a roll of gummed tape, a moistening device and a cutting device. The cutting device and the moistening device may be linearly aligned with the roll of gummed tape. The moistening device may include a fluid reservoir, a pump, a return channel, and a sponge. The cutting device may include a spring-loaded blade and an indentation adapted to ergonomically receive a finger pad when the cutting device is engaged by a user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/393,883, filed, Oct. 16, 2010, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to office supplies, and more particularly, to a gummed tape dispenser. 
         [0003]    Water activated tape (also referred to as gummed tape), is commonly used for sealing packaging, for example. One conventional manner of using and preparing gummed tape is to have a free standing roll of tape, a bottle of water, and scissors handy to wet and cut the tape by hand. This may require a clear area to prepare the gummed tape to wrap the desired item. Wetting the tape on a workman&#39;s surface can leave behind sticky residue and exposes the tape to moisture in the air potentially ruining it. This can produce waste and mess because the tape can become saturated on a flat surface like a desk or table where it was prepared. 
         [0004]    There also exist industrial sized tape dispensers that pass gummed tape under a wetting brush. Industrial sized tape dispensers may be too bulky for use on an office desk environment. The fluid from the brush may be free flowing causing potential dripping and mess. 
         [0005]    Additionally, existing tape dispensers may use a handle repetitively pulled to draw and cut a portion of tape. The repetitive pulling motion of handles can cause fatigue and joint problems in a user. 
         [0006]    As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that can dispense, moisten, and cut gummed tape while avoiding a mess on a workman&#39;s surface. It can also be seen that there is a need for providing a tape dispenser that can minimize joint fatigue in a user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one aspect of the present invention, tape dispenser comprises a chassis configured to carry a roll of gummed tape; a sponge on the chassis disposed to moisten a gummed side of the tape as the tape passes over the sponge; and a blade disposed on the chassis configured to cut the tape. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the present invention, a tape dispenser comprises a chassis configured to carry a roll of gummed tape; a cutting device disposed in linear alignment with tape dispensed from the roll of gummed tape; an indentation on the cutting device adapted to receive a finger pad; and a moistener device disposed in linear alignment with the cutting device, wherein the cutting device is configured to guide the tape over a surface of the moistener device. 
         [0009]    In still yet another aspect of the present invention, a tape dispenser comprises a chassis; a first spindle proximate a first end of the chassis configured to carry a roll of gummed tape; a second spindle on the chassis positioned intermediate the first end of the chassis and a second end of the chassis, the second spindle disposed in linear alignment with tape dispensed from the first spindle; a housing; a blade attached to the housing disposed to cut tape carried from the second spindle; and a sponge proximate the second end of the chassis disposed to moisten a gummed side of the tape as the tape passes over the sponge. 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gummed tape dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the gummed tape dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the gummed tape dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial, cross-sectional view of an exemplary moistener device used in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the gummed tape dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial, cross-sectional view of a return channel on the moistener device of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the moistener device of  FIG. 4  with a sponge removed; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of an exemplary sponge used in the gummed tape dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0019]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a tape dispenser providing activated gummed tape while maintaining a clean environment around the dispenser. Aspects of the present invention may provide moisture to the gummed side of tape as the tape is withdrawn for use without manual application of the moisture. In other aspects of the present invention, a user may benefit from quick and repetitive cut and withdrawal of gummed tape by use of an ergonomic cutting device. Still yet, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may provide a gummed tape dispenser that can be affordable for personal use, for example, on an office desk environment. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a gummed tape dispenser  10  is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The gummed tape dispenser  10  may include a chassis  12 , a cutting device  32 , and a moistening device  25 . 
         [0021]    The chassis  12  may include a pair of slots  14  in a tape compartment  13  disposed to carry a spindle  26 . The compartment may be proximate a carriage end  17  of the chassis  12 . The spindle  26  may be sized to fit within the central opening of a roll of gummed tape  24 . A cover  44  may be attached to the chassis  12  covering the roll of gummed tape  24 . The cover  44  may be a molded one-piece plastic or other rigid transparent/translucent material. The cover  44  may be configured to snap or press-fit into the chassis  12  over the tape compartment  13 . The cover  44 , in one aspect, may protect the roll of gummed tape  24  from ambient moisture, wear and tear, or debris. In another aspect, the cover  44  may provide visual access to an amount remaining on the roll of gummed tape  24 . The cover  44  may include a window positioned to allow drawn gummed tape  24   a  to be drawn from the roll  24 . A guide compartment  16  in the chassis  12  may be proximate the compartment  13  and disposed to carry a tape guide spindle  28 . A set of rubber feet  22  may be attached to an underside  21  of the chassis  12  providing traction onto a workman&#39;s surface while protecting the chassis  12 . 
         [0022]    In one exemplary embodiment, the cutting device  34  may be intermediate the ends  15  and  17  of the chassis  12 . The cutting device  32  may include a blade  34  attached to a housing  40  using screws  36 . The housing  40  may be configured to travel within a set of guide posts  20  so that the blade  34  may engage drawn gummed tape  24   a  drawn through spacing within the guide posts  20 . A protective plate  46  may be positioned between the guideposts  20  and under the cutting device  32  to protect the underlying chassis  12  from damage inflicted by the blade  34 . The protective plate  46  may be metal, for example, stainless steel or aluminum, durable enough to resist impact from the blade  34  over repeated strikes. One or more springs  38  may be coupled between the housing  40  and the protective plate  46  providing spring-loaded actuation of the blade  34  onto the tape  24   a.  The housing  40  may include a rounded top surface  43 . A tab  41  may project out from an end of the housing  40 . The tab  41  may include an indentation  42 . The indentation  42  may be rounded to approximate the shape of a user&#39;s finger pad (not shown). 
         [0023]    In one exemplary embodiment, the moistening device  25  may be positioned on a dispensing end  15  of the chassis  12 . The moistening device  25  may be disposed in the open-air for ease of access by a user. The moistening device  25  may include a mount  18  disposed on a graded surface  31  angled downward relative to the underside  21  of the chassis  12  so that the moistening device  25  may be disposed tilted relative to the cutting device  32 . In one exemplary embodiment, the moistening device  25  may include a sponge  30  disposed to moisten a gummed side of the tape  24   a  drawn over the moistening device  25 . 
         [0024]    Referring concurrently to  FIG. 5 , the sponge  30  may be mounted onto a bracket  33  including guiderails  75  configured for slidable mounting onto slots (not shown) of the mount  18 . The sponge  30  may include a channel  70  and an orifice  68  on an underside (See  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0025]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1-3 , the chassis  12  may house a fluid source  65  configured to provide fluid to the moistening device  25 . The fluid source  65  may include a refill port  66  and a pump button  52  disposed on the chassis  12  in fluid communication with an interior of the moistening device  25 . For sake of illustration, exemplary details of the fluid source  65  including its interior are omitted from  FIGS. 1-3  and are described in further detail below. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-7 , enlarged details of portions of the moistening device  25  are shown. A fluid reservoir  64  may hold fluid  60 , for example, water, under the moistening device  25 . A pump system  51  may include a fluid hose  50 , the pump button  52 , a tube assembly  54 , a plunger assembly  56 , and a spring  58  configured to move the fluid  60  from the reservoir  64  to the sponge  30 . The pump button  52  may be coupled to the tube assembly  54  and plunger assembly  56 . The fluid hose  50  may be attached at one end to the pump button  52  and at another end to a spout  48 . The fluid hose  50  may be bifurcated and include an intake tube  51  intermediate the plunger assembly  56  and the spout  48 . The spout  48  may be on the mount  18  disposed in fluid communication with the sponge  30 . When the sponge  30  is attached to the mount  18 , sponge  30  may slide over the spout  48  which may travel unobstructed through the channel  70  until the spout  48  is under the orifice  68 . For sake of illustration, the sponge  30  is removed from view in  FIG. 6  to permit view of the underlying spout  48 . In one exemplary embodiment, the moistening device  25  may include one or more wall projections  62  surrounding the sponge  30  defining return channels  62   a  that are in fluid communication with the reservoir  64 . The wall projections  62  may be curved and include an upper edge projecting above the mount  18 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , in an exemplary use of the tape dispenser  10 , a user may manually draw the tape  24   a  out of the cover  44 , into the compartment  16  under the tape guide spindle  28 , and under the housing  40 . A desired length of tape  24   a  may be visually measured so that the length of tape  24   a  is pulled up against the trailing edge  72  of the housing  40  so that it meets the leading edge  74  of the sponge  30 . The tape  24   a  may thus be drawn with tension over the top surface  35  of the sponge  30  where moisture may encounter and activate the gummed side of the tape  24   a.  The user may continue to draw the tape  24   a  over the sponge  30  until the desired length plus a nominal length has reached the blade  34 . Additionally, an angular offset of the sponge  30  from the chassis  12  allows the user to maximize the use of the user&#39;s hand and arm movement when they&#39;re pulling the gummed tape over the sponge  30 , allowing the option of selecting a larger piece of tape  24   a  to be cut and allowing the user&#39;s arm movements to be natural to functions of the human body with little effort. 
         [0028]    As the tape  24   a  is drawn under tension, the disposition of tape  24   a  over the sponge  30  and under the trailing edge  72  may provide a portion of the tape  24   a  under the housing  40  to be spaced from the underlying protective plate  46 . When the desired length of tape  24   a  is moistened, a user may engage either the top surface  43  of the housing  40  or the indentation  42  on the tab  41  and may press downward so that the blade  34  cuts through the tape  24   a.  The protective plate  46  may provide a stop for the blade  34 , protecting the underlying chassis  12 . Repeated operation of the cutting device  32  may be performed by a user&#39;s finger engaged to the easy spring-loaded action of the tab  41 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-7 , aspects of the present invention may moisten the sponge  30  while maintaining a clean environment. The sponge  30  may be either removed from the mount  18  and saturated manually by an external source (not shown) or may be moistened by the moistening device  25 . For example, fluid such as water may be filled into the reservoir  64  through the refill port  66 . Fluid in the sponge  30  may be replenished by pressing the pump button  52  causing the spring  58  to displace water in the pump assembly  56  creating a momentary vacuum. Release of the pump button  52  may cause water in the reservoir  64  to be sucked up and into the intake tube  51  where at least some of the sucked up water may be diverted toward the spout  48 . The spout  48  may spray water out into the orifice  68  distributing water into the sponge  30 . 
         [0030]    As a user engages that tape  24   a  against the sponge  30 , water may activate the gummed side. In the event of oversaturation, excess fluid may flow downward toward and over the leading edge  74  of the sponge  30  where it may be captured by the projection wall  62  and may flow back into the reservoir  64  via return channel  62   a.  In exemplary embodiments including multiple return channels  62   a,  excess fluid seeping over any side of the sponge  30  may be captured by surrounding projection walls  62 . 
         [0031]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. For example, it will be understood that although the tab  41  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) is shown attached to the housing  40  on the right side, that exemplary embodiments may also include the tab  41  on the left side of the housing for ease of use during either right or left handed operation. 
         [0032]    Additionally, while a sponge  30  has been described, other membranous water absorbent materials may be used instead.