Portable tape dispenser unit

The invention is directed to a dispensing unit which is secured to a support member by an expandable core. The dispensing unit includes a container which is capable of receiving an expandable core member to secure the dispensing unit to a support member. The expandable core member includes a cylinder which can be expanded outwardly to secure the dispensing unit to the support member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention generally relates to devices for dispensing material and to 
mechanisms for securing these devices to a support member and ultimately 
to a user's wrist. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Dispensers for flexible materials such as tape are known in the art. These 
dispensers often require a high degree of manipulation since they are not 
fixedly secured to a support member. As a result, they require the user to 
employ both hands to operate the dispenser to retrieve material therefrom. 
Also, many applications for tape dispensers require the user to move from 
place to place to accomplish the job. For example, gift wrappers in 
department stores and package or container wrappers in the shipping 
departments of factories frequently walk to various locations within the 
department or warehouse, and therefore must carry their tools and tape 
dispensers with them. This can be inconvenient and cost time, particularly 
if the tape dispenser is misplaced. The devices of the prior art must be 
deliberately transported by the user, and in a situation where the user is 
very busy, are inefficient and awkward to use. 
A need therefore exists for a dispensing device which can be easily secured 
in place, is capable of efficient material distribution without the high 
degree of manipulation required of prior art dispensing devices and can be 
affixed to the user as the user moves from place to place. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to a device for dispensing material. The device 
includes a dispensing unit which is secured to a support member by an 
expandable and deformable core. The dispensing unit includes a container 
having a cavity for receiving the expandable core member. The support 
member may include a flexible material such as polypropylene which can be 
wrapped on or otherwise attached to the user's body. The flexible material 
may include Velcro or other hook and loop type fasteners for securing the 
support member and attached dispensing unit in a desired position on the 
body. 
The expandable core employed to secure the dispensing unit to the support 
member includes a cylinder which is expandable and distendable within the 
cavity of the container of the dispensing unit. The cylinder of the 
expandable core has a central opening there through for receiving a 
threaded bolt having a washer and a threaded nut thereon. The washer is in 
contact with the surface of the cylinder, whereby tightening of the nut 
against the surface of the washer causes the cylinder to expand radially 
outward in a direction normal to the bolt so as to affix the container and 
dispensing unit to the support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The dispensing device of the invention and its manner of function will now 
be explained in detail by reference to the drawings wherein like numerals 
refer to like components. 
The dispensing device is generally shown at 5 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. 
Dispensing device 5 includes dispensing unit or container 11 having 
flexible material 15 therein. Dispensing unit 11, as shown in FIG. 3 and 
FIG. 6, includes a central cavity 13 for receiving expandable core member 
33 for securing unit 11 to support member 7. 
Expandable core member 33, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, is attached 
to support member 7 by support plate 23 and pins 43. Pins 43 may include, 
for example, conventional double bottom or star rivets. Expandable core 
member 33 includes cylinder 21 having a hollow cavity 22 for receiving 
threaded bolt 17. Bolt 17 passes through cylinder 21 to receive washer 19 
and threaded thumb nut 16. 
Support member 7 includes flexible materials which are capable of being 
adapted to a variety of configurations. Flexible materials suitable for 
use in support member 7 include polypropylene. Of course, other materials 
may be employed which are preferably capable of being formed into flexible 
straps or similar configurations suitable for attachment to a user, to a 
user's clothing, or to another surface, as would be appreciated by those 
skilled in the art. 
As shown in FIG. 4, support member 7 may be secured in a desired position 
by fasteners 9. Various types of fasteners 9, such as, for example, Velcro 
strips or other hook and loop type fasteners, snaps and buttons may be 
employed to secure support member 7 in a desired position. 
Dispensing unit 11, as shown in FIG. 6, is secured to support member 7 by 
positioning the cavity 13 of dispensing unit 11 around cylinder 21. 
Thereafter, nut 16 is tightened against washer 19 on cylinder 21 to cause 
cylinder 21 to expand outwardly or radially against one or more surfaces 
of the cavity to secure unit 11 to support 7. Cylinder 21 includes 
resilient materials, such neoprene, which are capable of expanding 
laterally outwardly to contact the walls of cavity 13 of unit 11 during 
manual tightening of nut 16. Of course, other materials which are capable 
of expanding laterally outwardly during manual tightening of nut 16 may be 
employed, such as EPDM or SBR, alone or in combination with natural 
rubber. Desirably, the resilient material is of a hardness of 40 
durometer, but material in the range of 30-60 durometer can also be used. 
Also, in place of a cylinder, other configurations can be used, provided 
that they can be expanded to at least partially contact and frictionally 
engage the walls of cavity 13. 
Use of expandable core 33 permits the rapid and easy affixation of 
dispensing unit 11 to support 7. The outward, lateral expansion of 
cylinder 21 during tightening of nut 16 generates pressure and friction 
between the walls of cylinder 21 and cavity 13. The resulting frictional 
forces enable the user to secure dispensing unit 11 in a desired position 
on support 7. Support plate 23 provides a rigid surface beneath the 
cylinder 21 to permit tightening of the nut and to facilitate the 
longitudinal compression and radial expansion of the cylinder. This plate 
is preferably of a lightweight plastic material, such as Lexan. 
The diameter of washer 19 should not be larger than the diameter of cavity 
13 and should not be smaller than about 67% of the diameter of cylinder 21 
in its relaxed state. When compressed, the cylinder should expand beyond 
the diameter of the washer. In one embodiment, the cylinder was 
three-quarters of an inch in diameter, the washer was five-eighths of an 
inch in diameter, and the cavity 13 was three quarters of an inch in 
diameter. In another embodiment, the cylinder and cavity were 
seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, while the washer was five-eighths of 
an inch. In general, the diameters of the cylinder and cavity should 
match, and they should mate in a slip fit. 
Also, thumb nut -6 is ideally a wing nut, having a wing span or maximum 
diameter less than the diameter of cavity 13. This permits removal of 
securing unit 11 for replenishment of material 15 without the need for 
releasing support member 7. By relaxing cylinder 21, the securing unit 11 
can be slid off of the cylinder, refilled with tape or other material, and 
secured again to support member 7 without ever having to remove support 
member 7. 
Device 5, being comprised of support member 7 formed from flexible 
materials and expandable core 33, enables the user to readily secure 
dispensing unit 11 to, for example, the user's arm, wrist, belt, pants 
loop, or other location on the body or clothing. As such, the user is able 
to extract material 15 from unit 11 with only one hand, and the user can 
keep the hand and arm to which the dispensing unit is attached on loose 
work. The user is therefore able to efficiently extract material 15 from 
unit 11 with a minimal degree of manipulation and distraction relative to 
the devices of the prior art. 
Furthermore, the invention permits the user to rotate the dispensing unit 
11 around the axis formed by bolt 17 so as to present the material 15 in 
the most convenient position for the user. For example, left and right 
handed persons may prefer to have the unit in different positions. Also, 
since device 5 can be secured to the user, if desired, it is not easily 
misplaced and is usually conveniently and proximately located to the user. 
The foregoing invention has been described with particular reference to use 
with flexible materials. However, the invention is not so limited. As 
such, various structural changes ma be made to the inventive dispensing 
device without departing from the scope of the invention.