Abstract:
An adhesive tape dispenser includes a tape roll housing holding a cutter blade, a protective member mounted in the tape roll housing and movable relative to the tape roll housing to a first position to expose the cutter blade, a front cover mounted in the tape roll housing in such a manner that the front cover is prohibited from being opened when the protective member is in the first position, or can be opened or received when the protective member is moved to a second position. Further, the cutter blade can be mounted in a cutter holder that is installed in the tape roll housing. With the slidable or biasable design of the protective member and the front cover, the user can selectively expose the cutter blade or enable the cutter blade to be blocked.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to adhesive tape dispensing technology, and more particularly to an adhesive tape dispenser that provides a protective function. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An adhesive tape dispenser is a stationery tool commonly used in word processing. Conventional adhesive tape dispensers generally comprise a shaft mounted therein to support an adhesive tape roll. Before application, the lead end of the adhesive tape roll is pulled out of the adhesive tape roll and horizontally adhered to a cutter holder at a front side of the adhesive tape dispenser. In application, pull the lead end of the adhesive tape roll away from the cutter holder to the desired distance and then press a part of the lead end of the adhesive tape roll against the cutter blade at the cutter holder to let the desired length of the lead end of the adhesive tape roll be cut off by the cutter blade for sealing application. 
     The above-described adhesive tape dispensers have been introduced to the market for years. However, there is a lack of safety considerations in the design of these conventional adhesive tape dispensers. Because the cutter blade in the cutter holder is constantly exposed to the outside, when the user is moving the hand around the cutter holder of the adhesive tape dispenser, the fingers can touch the cutter blade of the cutter holder of the adhesive tape dispenser accidentally, causing finger injury. Further, when the adhesive tape dispenser is placed on a flat bearing surface for enabling the cutter blade of the cutter holder to cut off the lead end of the adhesive tape roll, the user must hold down the tape roll housing of the adhesive tape dispenser with one hand and then pull the lead end of the adhesive tape roll with the other end. This application operation is somewhat inconvenient. Therefore, there is a strong demand for an adhesive tape dispenser that improves the drawbacks of the aforesaid conventional designs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an adhesive tape dispenser, which allows the user to freely select an operative operation status or a non-operative protective status. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, an adhesive tape dispenser of the invention comprises a tape roll housing holding a cutter blade, a protective member mounted in the tape roll housing and movable relative to the tape roll housing between a first position to expose the cutter blade or a second position to block the cutter blade, and a front cover mounted in the tape roll housing and movable relative to the tape roll housing, where the front cover is prohibited from being opened when the protective member is in the first position, where the front cover can be set between an open status and a received status when the protective member is in the second position. 
     Further, the cutter blade is mounted in a cutter holder that is mounted in the tape roll housing of the adhesive tape dispenser. 
     The main technical feature of the present invention is that the protective member and front cover of the adhesive tape dispenser are separately biasable or slidable between an operative operation status to expose the cutter blade of the cutter holder and a non-operative protective operation status to block and protect the cutter blade of the cutter holder, thereby achieving the effects and purposes of the present invention. 
     Preferably, the adhesive tape dispenser further comprises a locking mechanism. Biasing an operating member of the locking mechanism can move a locating member of the locking mechanism to a locked position, enhancing the positioning stability of the tape roll housing of the adhesive tape dispenser, and thus, the user can directly pull the lead end of the adhesive tape roll for application without needing to hold down the tape roll housing of the adhesive tape dispenser with one hand. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational view of an adhesive tape dispenser in a first operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the adhesive tape dispenser in the first operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the adhesive tape dispenser in a second operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of the adhesive tape dispenser in the second operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of the adhesive tape dispenser in a third operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of the adhesive tape dispenser in a fourth operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic oblique top elevational view of the adhesive tape dispenser in a fifth operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view of the adhesive tape dispenser in the fifth operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic oblique top elevational view of the adhesive tape dispenser in a sixth operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic sectional view of the adhesive tape dispenser in the sixth operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic sectional view of the adhesive tape dispenser in a seventh operation status in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an adhesive tape dispenser in a first operation status in accordance with the present invention is shown. The adhesive tape dispenser  1  comprises a tape roll housing  10 , a cutter holder  20 , a front cover  30 , and a locking mechanism  40 . 
     The tape roll housing  10  comprises a bottom panel  13 , two arched side panels  11  symmetrically located at two opposite lateral sides of the bottom panel  13 , a bearing portion  15  located in each arched side panel  11  and inwardly curved from the topmost peripheral edge of the respective arched side panel  11  for supporting an axle member (not shown) to hold an adhesive tape roll (not shown), and two engagement portions  17  transversely located in a front side thereof. 
     The cutter holder  20  is mounted in one end of the tape roll housing  10  remote from the bearing portions  15 , comprising a serrated cutter blade  21  for cutting off a certain length of an extended lead end of the adhesive tape roll (not shown) that is rotatably supported between the bearing portions  15  of the housing  10 , and a protective member  23  pivotally coupled to the arched side panels  11  of the tape roll housing  10  and the cutter holder  20  by two pivot shafts  232  and adapted for covering the cutter blade  21 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the protective member  23  comprises two pivot ears  231  pivotally connected with the engagement portions  17  by the two pivot shaft  232 , respectively. A protective portion  233  is connected with the two pivot ears ( 231 ) and moveable along with the two ears  231  to cover the cutter blade  21  and the two engagement portions  17  of the tape roll housing  10 . The protective member  23  further comprises two retaining lugs  234 . Rotating the protective member  23  relative to the tape roll housing  10  through a predetermined angle causes the retaining lugs  234  to be forced into engagement with the engagement portions  17  of the tape roll housing  10 . 
     The front cover  30  has one end thereof pivotally connected to the bottom panel  13  of the tape roll housing  10  by a pivot shaft  31 , and can be biased relative to the tape roll housing  10  and forced into engagement between the arched side panels  11  of the tape roll housing  10 . 
     The locking mechanism  40  is mounted in the bottom panel  13  of the tape roll housing  10  adjacent to the front cover  30 , comprising an operating member  41 , a guide block  43 , a stop member  45 , a locating member  47  and a spring member  49 . The operating member  41  has one end thereof pivotally connected to the guide block  43 . The guide block  43  has an arched segment  432  located at a top side thereof. Further, the guide block  43  has one end thereof connected to the stop member  45 . The stop member  45  is movable along the arched segment  432  of the guide block  43 , having one end thereof connected to the locating member  47 . The spring member  49  is mounted around the stop member  45  and stopped against the locating member  47  for storing an elastic potential energy. Further, the locating member  47  in this embodiment is a vacuum mount. 
     After understanding the composition of the component parts of the adhesive tape dispenser, the operation of the adhesive tape dispenser is outlined hereinafter. 
     As stated above, the protective member  23  and front cover  30  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  are pivotable relative to the tape roll housing  10 . When the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is in the first operation status, the protective member  23  is biased in direction away from the cutter holder  20  to a first position A 1  (the open position). At this time, the front cover  30  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is moved to a first position B 1  (the open position) to match with the first position A 1  (the open position) of the cutter holder  20 . Thus, the cutter blade  21  of the cutter holder  20  is exposed to the outside for cutting operation, achieving the expected effects and purposes of the present invention. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is shown in a protective operation status. In this status, the protective member  23  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is biased in direction toward the arched side panels  11  to a second position A 2  (the close position) to force the retaining lugs  234  thereof into engagement with the engagement portions  17  of the tape roll housing  10 . At this time, the cutter blade  21  of the cutter holder  20  is blocked by the protective member  23 . Thus, the cutter blade  21  of the cutter holder  20  is kept from sight. Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the front cover  30  is not constrained by the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20  under this operation status, and can be freely biased between an opened status and a received status. Thus, the front cover  30  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  can be biased to the second position B 2  and engaged between the two arched side panels  11  of the tape roll housing  10  to match with the second position A 2  of the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20 . Thus, the adhesive tape dispenser  1  provides a protective function and facilitates storage when not used, achieving the expected effects and purposes of the present invention. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is shown in another operation status. In this operation status, bias the protective member  23  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  toward the arched side panels  11  of the tape roll housing  10  to the second position A 2 , and then bias the front cover  30  to the second position B 2  to match with the second position A 2  of the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20 , and then bias the protective member  23  toward the body of the cutter holder  20  to the first position A 1  (the open status) to expose the cutter blade  21  of the cutter holder  20 . At this time, the front cover  30  is prohibited by the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20  from being opened, achieving the desired operation status. Under this operation status, the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is workable in a limited space to achieve the expected effects and purposes of the present invention. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is shown locked in a protective operation status. In this operation status, bias protective member  23  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  toward the arched side panels  11  of the tape roll housing  10  to the second position A 2 . At this time, the front cover  30  is maintained in the first position B 1  to match with the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20 . Thereafter, bias the operating member  41  of the locking mechanism  40  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  from the original first angle position to a second angle position. At this time, the guide block  43  that is pivotally connected to the operating member  41  of the locking mechanism  40  is shifted from an operative first position to a locked second position. At the same time, the stop member  45  of the locking mechanism  40  is moved in a mirror direction relative to the moving direction of the guide block  43  of the locking mechanism  40  till it is stopped against the guide block  43 . The stop member  45  of the locking mechanism  40  is also moved along the arched segment  432  of the guide block  43  from the original first curved-surface position to a second curved-surface position and stopped at one side of the operating member  41 . At this time, because the locating member  47  of the locking mechanism  40  is connected to the stop member  45 , it is changed from an unlocked status to a locked status. Preferably, the elastic potential energy of the spring member  49  of the locking mechanism  40  enhances the position of the locating member  47  in the locked status. Most preferably, the bottom panel  13  of the tape roll housing  10  provides a locking member  132  for locking to a carrier (not shown) or bearing surface (not shown), achieving the expected effects and purposes of the present invention. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is shown locked in another protective operation status, i.e., the received operation status. The operation is to follow up the aforesaid locked operation status, and then to move the front cover  30  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  to the second position B 2  in match with the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20 . At this time, the positioning stability of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is enhanced, facilitating storage and achieving the expected effects and purposes of the present invention. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 11 , the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is shown in an operation status after locking of the locking mechanism. After entered the aforesaid locked status, the tape roll housing  10  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is locked by the locking mechanism  40 , the front cover  30  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is in the second position B 2  to match with the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20 . At this time, bias the protective member  23  of the cutter holder  20  away from the second position A 2  to block the cutter blade  21  to the first position A 1  to expose the cutter blade  21  of the cutter holder  20 , finishing the operation, and thus, the user can directly and conveniently apply the adhesive tape roll without needing to hold down the tape roll housing  10  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  with one hand. 
     In conclusion, the adhesive tape dispenser of the present invention has the technical features: the protective member  23  and front cover  30  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  are separately biasable between an operative status to expose the cutter blade  21  of the cutter holder  20  and a protective status to block and protect the cutter blade  21  of the cutter holder  20 . Further, the user can bias the operating member  41  of the locking mechanism  40  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  to a locked operation status, enhancing the positioning stability of the tape roll housing  10  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  so that the user can directly dispense the adhesive tape roll without needing to hold down the tape roll housing  10  with the hand during application, achieving the expected effects and purposes of the present invention. 
     Except the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the invention can also be variously embodied as follows: 
     For example, in the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the protective member  23  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  is biasable between the first position A 1  and the second position A 2 . Alternatively, the protective member  23  can be slidably mounted in the tape roll housing  10  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  and moved linearly between the first position A 1  and the second position A 2 . 
     Further, in the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the front cover  30  is pivotally connected to the tape roll housing  10  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  and biasable between the first position B 1  and the second position B 2  to match with the position of the protective member  23 . Alternatively, the protective member  23  can be slidably mounted in the tape roll housing  10  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  and moved linearly between the first position B 1  and the second position B 2 . 
     Further, in the aforesaid preferred embodiment of the present invention, the serrated cutter blade  21  is mounted in the cutter holder  20  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1 . Alternatively, the cutter blade  21  can be directly mounted in the tape roll housing  10  of the adhesive tape dispenser  1  without the cutter holder  20 . 
     Further, the adhesive tape dispenser  1  can be configured without the aforesaid locking mechanism  40 , achieving the same effects and purposes of the present invention.