Refillable tape dispensers

Abstract: This invention comprises a hub (406) which includes ribs (450) at the distal end of each of the flexible portions (420, 422) which project radially outward of the flexible portions (420, 422) and have axially extending arcuate bearing surfaces (452). The hub has lugs for retaining a tape roll (1) and for a backcard (370). The hub restricts backcard (370) separation from the dispenser (400), and restrict backcard rotation relative to the dispenser (400) to afford proper presentation to the consumer.

Description: Technical Field The present invention relates to a refillable tape dispenser for disbursing a supply of adhesive coated tape, which dispenser is adapted for use with an associated backcard for hanging the dispenser on a commercial display. Background The art is replete with dispensers including a polymeric housing including a hub, a roll of tape including a core journaled on the hub and a length of pressure sensitive adhesive coated tape helically wound around the core, and a paper backcard attached at one end of the hub by which the dispenser can be hung on a display shelf or rack. The backcard is disposed around one end of the hub with the hub disposed within a through opening in the core and a portion of the backcard adjacent one side surface of the roll of tape. In a known non-reuseable type dispenser, the backcard is held adjacent one side surface of the roll of tape and the roll of tape is prevented from sliding axially off the cylindrical outer surface of the hub by a series of tabs integral with the hub and formed by heat sealing or ultrasonically welding the tabs in a position projecting generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hub. While the backcard is reliably attached to the dispenser, the heat sealing or ultrasonic processes used to form the tabs are irreversible and thus result in a product which is non-reuseable and non-refillable. Also, the heat sealing process used to form the tabs requires time during the manufacturing process which increases the time needed to manufacture a dispenser. Non-reuseable dispensers are associated with environmental problems, such as problems related with disposal of spent dispensers. Many hand held tape dispensers are manufactured from polystyrene which has a relatively slow degeneration rate. These types of dispensers are used until the roll of tape is depleted and then disposed. Figures 1 and 2 are illustrations of existing tape dispensers which can be re-used. The dispenser 10 depicted in Figure 1 is a SCOTCH brand transparent tape dispenser available from 3M Argentina. The dispenser 50 of Figures 2 and 2A is a NICHIBAN double sided tape dispenser available from Nichiban of Japan which has many parts that are essentially the same as the parts of the dispenser 10 and which have been identified by the same reference numeral to which has been added the suffix "A". Each dispenser 10, 50 includes a housing 20, 20A including a side wall 21, 21A, and a tubular hub 22, 22A having cylindrical inner 23, 23A and outer 24, 24A surfaces, and a first end 25A (Figure 2A) fixed to the side wall 21, 21A. The hub 22, 22A comprises a base portion 26A joined to the side wall 21, 21A opposite arcuate guide portions 27, 27A projecting axially from the base portion 26A, and first 28, 28A and second 29, 29A opposed arcuate arm portions having a distal end 30, 30A remote from the base portion 26A. The first 28, 28A and second 29, 29A arm portions project axially from the base portion 26A between the guide portions 27, 27A. The distal ends 30, 30A of the arm portions 28, 28A, 29, 29A include planar cam surfaces 31, 31A and lips 32, 32A; 33, 33A extending radially outward from the hub adjacent the planar cam surface 31, 31A and each of the arm portions 28, 28A, 29, 29A further have arcuate or sloping edges 34, 35, 36, 37; 34A, 35A, 36A, 37A adjacent their distal ends 30, 30A which are located at the edges of the planar cam surfaces 31, 31A. The dispenser 50 shown in Figure 2 includes an axially extending rib 51A that is believed to assist the hub 22A in holding the backcard 40 on the dispenser 50. Figures 3 and 3A show typical backcards 40, 40A used with the dispensers 10, 50 of Figures 1, 2 and 2A which include a hanging aperture 41, 41A adapted to afford display of the dispenser 10, 50, and through openings 42, 42A, 43, 43A disposed between an outer portion 49, 49A of the dispenser housing 20, 20A and the lips 32, 32A, 33, 33A of the hub 22, 22A. The backcard 40 of Figure 7 is used in conjunction with the dispenser 10 shown in Figure 1, and comprises cuts 44 and 45 which extend radially away from the through openings 42, 43. The cuts 44, 45 are adapted to permit flexing of the backcard 40 to afford passage of the cam surfaces 31 and lips 32, 33 of the hub 22 through the openings 42, 43 from one side of the backcard 40 to the other during joining of the backcard to the dispenser. The backcard 40A illustrated in Figure 3A is used in conjunction with the dispenser 50 shown in Figure 2. Unlike the guide portions 27 of the dispenser 10, the guide portions 27A of the dispenser 50 extend axially beyond the outer portion 49A of the dispenser housing and fit into large arcuate holes 52A in the backcard 40A (Figure 2A). This feature is believed to assist in retaining the backcard upon the hub 22A. During the manufacturing and assembly processes, the dispensers 10, 50 described in Figures 1, 2 and 2A, encounter problems when they are joined to the backcards 40, 40A. To join the backcards 40, 40A to the dispensers 10, 50, the cam surfaces 31, 31A and lips 32, 32A, 33, 33A of the hubs 22, 22A must penetrate the openings 42, 42A, 43, 43A of the backcards 40, 40A. The planar cam surfaces 31, 31A and the distal ends 30, 30A of the arm portions present blunt surfaces which are not readily adapted to penetrate the through openings 42, 42A, 43, 43A of the backcards 40, 40A. A failure to join the backcard to the dispenser may result in undesirable consequences such as an increase in the number of rejected dispensers on an assembly line. Such a result may also cause an accumulation or pile-up of dispensers on an assembly line of a high speed assembler which tends to cause assembler failure. The dispensers disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 2A also encounter problems with retaining the backcards 40, 40A between the lips 32, 32A, 33, 33A and the outer portion 49, 49A of the dispenser housing 20, 20A. The hand held dispensers 10, 50 are subject to a variety of loads such as torque, vibration and shock loads, which can cause the backcards 40, 40A to separate from the hubs 22, 22A. This is an undesirable result for the user as the user must manually replace the backcards in order to hang the dispenser on a commercial display. One solution to this problem has been to place a length of adhesive coated tape across the backcard 40, 40A and the camming surface 31, 31A. This solution, however, is expensive and requires at least one additional step during the manufacturing process. Also, backcards which utilize through openings with "square" edges or edges formed by the intersection of two straight members tend to tear at the intersection of the two straight members, particularly when the dispenser and backcard are dropped. Stress is believed to be concentrated at the intersection of the two straight members which tends to cause the backcard to tear at the intersection. Such tearing of the backcard tends to lead to backcard rotation and backcard separation from the dispenser. Excessive backcard rotation adversely affects the product's presentation to the consumer, and backcard separation requires extra effort by the user as the backcard must again be attached to the dispenser before the dispenser may be displayed on a commercial display rack. A dispenser of a type somewhat similar to the above commercial dispensers is disclosed in DE-C-958631 in which there is provided a hub for the core of a roll of adhesive tape with retaining lugs on the hub. The present invention seeks to provide a refillable tape dispenser having an improved capacity to retain a backcard and which resists rotation of the backcard relative to the dispenser. Various aspects of a refillable tape dispenser, a hub for a tape dispenser and a refillable tape dispenser in combination with a backcard are disclosed in the earlier application EP-A- 0 478 223. Disclosure of the Invention According to this invention there is provided a refillable dispenser as claimed in claim 1 herein. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a first prior art dispenser; Figure 2 is a side view of a second prior art dispenser; Figure 2A is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the dispenser shown in Figure 2 with portions broken away to show detail; Figure 3 is a side view of a prior art backcard for use with the prior art dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 3A is a reduced side view of a prior art backcard for use with the prior art dispenser of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view of an embodiment of dispenser according to the present invention having portions broken away to show detail; Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the dispenser of Figure 4 coupled to a backcard and having portions broken away to feature details; Figure 6 is an enlarged top view of the dispenser of Figure 4 having portions broken away to illustrate detail; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 7-7 of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a side view of an embodiment of backcard for a dispenser according to the present invention which is particularly suited for the dispenser shown in Figure 4. Detailed Description Figures 4 through 7 illustrate an embodiment of dispenser according to the present invention generally designated by the reference numeral 400. Figure 8 illustrates a backcard which is particularly suitable for use with the dispenser 400, generally designated by the reference number 370. The backcard 370 includes a polygonal notch 371 that is adapted to position the backcard 370 to restrict interference between the backcard 370 and the teeth of the dispenser 400. Figure 5 illustrates the backcard 370 disposed around the distal ends of first 420 and second 422 opposed arcuate flexible portions of the dispenser 400. The backcard 370 has opposite major surfaces 372, 373 and edge surfaces between the major surfaces 372, 373 defining first and second chevron-shaped openings 374 between the major surfaces 372, 373. The edge surfaces define each of the openings and include generally parallel end surface portions 375, two pairs of opposite parallel surface portions 376 disposed at obtuse angles with respect to each other and defining outer portions of the openings 374, and concave arcuate surface portions 377 joining the pairs of opposite parallel surface portions 376 to each other and defining generally circular central portions of the openings 374. Optionally the backcard 370 may comprise slits 378 which are disposed approximately along a line which bisects the included angle between an opposite parallel surface portions 376 and the end surface portions 375 of the chevron-shaped openings 374 to afford flexing of the backcard 370 to facilitate passage of the retaining lugs 431 and 432 from one side of the backcard 370 to the other through the chevron-shaped openings 374. The dispenser 400 comprises a housing 402 including a side wall 404, and a hub 406. Like the previously mentioned dispensers 100, 101 and 200, the hub 406 has a longitudinal axis defining an axial direction, inner 405 and outer 407 surfaces, and a first end 408 fixed to the side wall 404. The hub 406 also comprises first 420 and second 422 opposed flexible portions having distal ends 423 remote from the side wall 404. The first 420 and second 422 opposed flexible portions project axially from the side wall 404. A retaining lug 431 and 432 is located at the distal end 423 of each of the flexible portions 420 and 422. The dispenser 400 includes ribs 450 located at the distal end 423 of each of the flexible portions 420 and 422. The ribs 450 project radially outward of the flexible portions 420 and 422 and have axially extending arcuate bearing surfaces 452. The arcuate surface portions 377 of the backcard 370 are positioned generally adjacent the bearing surfaces 452 of the ribs 450 so that the surface area of the flexible portions 420, 422 which impacts the surfaces defining the chevron-shaped openings 374 is increased to thereby restrict rotation of and damage to the backcard 370 particularly at the intersection between an end surface portion 375 and an opposite parallel surface portion 376. It is believed that increasing the surface area reduces the unit pressure on the surfaces on the openings 374. This feature provides a tape dispenser with an increased capacity to retain a backcard, which resists rotation of the backcard relative to the dispenser, and which resists damage from impulsive impacts such as when the backcard and dispenser are dropped. Optionally, the ribs 450 may be fixed to the retaining lugs 431 and 432. Also optionally, the ribs 450 may include ramp surfaces 455 opposite the retaining lug disposed at an angle adapted to cam the flexible portions 420 and 422 radially inwardly when the core of a roll of tape (see Figure 4 or 6 of EP-A- 0 478 223) is removed from the hub 406. This feature provides for convenient and efficient removal of a core of a roll of tape from the hub 406.

Claims: A refillable tape dispenser (400) comprising: a housing (402) including a side wall (404), and a hub (406) having a longitudinal axis defining an axial direction, inner (405) and outer (407) surfaces, a first end (408) fixed to said side wall (404), said hub comprising; first (420) and second (422) opposed flexible portions having distal ends (423) remote from said side wall (404), said first and second opposed flexible portions (420, 422) projecting axially from said side wall, said flexible portions (420, 422) having axially extending side surfaces, a retaining lug (431, 432) at the distal end of each of said flexible portions for retaining a tape roll (1) and for a backcard (370), the retaining lugs having remote ends spaced axially from said flexible portions (420, 422), and characterised by ribs (450) at the distal end of each of said flexible portions (420, 422) which project radially outward of said flexible portions (420, 422) and have axially extending arcuate bearing surfaces (452). A refillable tape dispenser (400) according to claim 1 wherein said ribs (450) are fixed to said retaining lugs (431, 432) and include ramp surfaces (455) opposite said retaining lugs disposed at an acute angle relative to said axis of said hub. A refillable tape dispenser (400) as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in combination with a backcard (370), said backcard being disposed around said distal ends of said flexible portions (420, 422), said backcard (370) having surfaces defining first and second chevron-shaped openings (374), each of the openings including parallel end surfaces (375), two pairs of opposite parallel surfaces (376) disposed at obtuse angles with respect to each other and defining outer portions of the openings, said pairs of opposite parallel surfaces being joined to each other by concave arcuate surface portions defining a generally circular central portion of the openings, said backcard (370) further comprising slits (378) which are disposed approximately along a line which bisects the included angle between an opposite parallel surface (376) and the end surface (375) of the chevron-shaped opening (374) to afford flexing of said backcard (370) to facilitate passage of said retaining lugs from one side of said backcard to the other through said chevron-shaped openings. A refillable tape dispenser in combination with a backcard, as claimed in claim 3 wherein said backcard (370) includes at least two slits (378).

Inventors: ALBRECHT GARY A, EDINGER CAROL L, PAGEL WINSTON E, SAMUELSON BRUCE E, ALBRECHT, GARY A., EDINGER, CAROL L., PAGEL, WINSTON E., SAMUELSON, BRUCE E., Albrecht, Gary A., Minnesota Mining and, Edinger, Carol L., Minnesota Mining and, Pagel, Winston E., Minnesota Mining and, Samuelson, Bruce E., Minnesota Mining and
Applicants: MINNESOTA MINING & MFG, MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65H35
IPC codes: B65H35