Abstract:
The housing has a spindle that accepts a spool of a roll of tape. The spindle has retention fingers that can either exert pressure against the spool or the retention fingers can connect with a detent on the inner surface of the spool. Biasing alignment fingers are built into the housing to exert a spring pressure against the roll of tape in a direction that is substantially parallel to the spindle to aid in registering an edge of the roll of tape with an outer edge of the housing. A base surface of the device has an opening through which an end of the roll of tape exits. The tape rides over a fixed or movable wear surface adjacent to the opening. A cutting edge is substantially adjacent to and pointing away from the opening.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to tape applicators.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There exist multiple types of tape each having multiple uses. For example, painters may use masking tape for, among other tasks, masking certain areas that are not desired to be painted.  
         [0003]     Placing tape on a surface to act as a mask for paint typically requires precise placement over the area or border to be masked. This can require a relatively large amount of time on the part of the painter in order to achieve the desired accuracy. This conflicts with the need for the painter to reduce the time required for each job since they can increase their income potential by completing more jobs in a given amount of time.  
         [0004]     For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a tape applicator that accurately applies tape.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention encompasses a tape applicator device comprising a spindle that is adapted to accept an inner surface of a roll of tape. Biasing alignment fingers are built into the housing of the device to exert a pressure against the roll of tape in a direction that is substantially parallel to the spindle. A base surface of the device has an opening through which an end of the roll of tape can be inserted. The tape rides over a wear surface adjacent to the opening. The wear surface can be fixed or a rotating surface that moves with pressure on the base surface. A cutting edge is substantially adjacent to and pointing away from the opening.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of a tape applicator of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of a tape system of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tape applicator of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a front perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the tape applicator of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a roll of tape in accordance with one embodiment of the tape applicator of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The tape applicator of the present invention provides a tape user with the ability to quickly apply an accurate line of tape along a surface. This is accomplished with minimal time required for keeping the tape aligned along the desired border.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the tape applicator of the present invention. The applicator is comprised of a tape housing  100  in which the tape is held. The tape housing in the illustrated embodiment has a circular appearance. However, there is no requirement that this element have any certain shape. Any housing shape that is large enough to fit a circular roll of tape will operate properly.  
         [0014]     A central spindle element  130  holds the roll of tape, as is illustrated subsequently in  FIG. 3 . The central spindle  130 , in one embodiment, includes a plurality of retention fingers  140 ,  141  that provide a friction fit against the tape roll to help hold it in place. The present embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  show four retention fingers  140 - 143 . Alternate embodiments can use other quantities of the retention fingers  140 - 143  than what is shown.  
         [0015]     Biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104  are formed into the surface of the housing  100 . Alternate embodiments can include different quantities of biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104 . In one embodiment, the fingers  101 - 104  are comprised of depressed areas in the surface of the housing that provide an active spring pressure onto the tape roll. The biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104 , in co-operation with the pressure of retention fingers  140 - 143 , to accommodate variations and inconsistencies in tape windings.  
         [0016]     Tape, when wound to make a roll of tape, is not perfect and can vary in width depending on the accuracy of the windings. The biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104  provide compensation for this inaccuracy in order to apply the tape accurately to the surface. The pressure of the retention fingers  140 - 143  are responsible for pulling the roll of tape in to keep it in contact with the biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104 .  
         [0017]     A handle  107  is formed within the depression formed in the central spindle  130 . This handle  107  may be formed such that a user&#39;s thumb and fingers can fit inside the spindle depression and grasp the handle  107 .  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, two depressions  108 ,  109  are provided as another means to grip the applicator. The illustrated embodiment uses semicircular depressions  108 ,  109 . Alternate embodiments may use other shapes or not include the depressions  108 ,  109 .  
         [0019]     The tape exits the applicator through a mouth  117 . As is shown subsequently with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the mouth may contain a movable wear surface or a fixed wear surface. The tape rides along a flat surface  120  prior to the cutting edge  115  that is used to cut the tape to the desired length. The applicator further has flat base  112  that, in one embodiment, rides along the surface to which the tape is being applied.  
         [0020]     In operation, an outer edge  210  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the applicator is addressed to a wall or other registration surface at the same time that the flat base  112  of the applicator is addressed to the surface to which the tape is to be applied. The biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104  work together with the retention fingers  140 - 143  to maintain alignment of tape rolls having variations in width. As discussed previously, the biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104  maintains a spring pressure outward while the retention fingers pull the tape roll in to maintain contact with the biasing alignment fingers  101 - 104 .  
         [0021]     The tape exits the mouth  117  as it is being drawn off the tape roll and rides along the flat applicator surface  120 . The tape is applied with an outer edge thereof in substantial registration with the outer edge  210  of the applicator. When the user reaches the end of the surface being masked, the base  112  is lifted slightly from the taped surface and angled such that the cutting edge  115  can be applied to the tape.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . This view shows the housing area  200  in which the roll of tape can be mounted and the outer edge  210  of the housing to which the outer surface of the tape is aligned. The outer surface  201  of the central spindle  130  of  FIG. 1  accepts the inner surface of the roll of tape. The retention fingers  140 - 143  may include gripping detents at the ends of the fingers  140 - 143  to provide additional pressure against the inner portion of the tape roll. Alternate embodiments may use only the ends of the fingers  140 - 143  without the detents to keep pressure on the tape roll.  
         [0023]     This view of the present invention also shows the embodiment of the movable wear surface in the form of a cylindrical roller  203  at the mouth of the applicator. As the applicator is drawn along the surface over which tape is attached, pressure is placed on the base surface  112  and the roller  203 . This moving pressure causes the roller  203  to turn at the same rate as the movement, thus assisting in keeping the tape moving as it exits the applicator towards the cutting edge  115 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a tape system of the present invention. This view is the rear perspective view of  FIG. 2  including a roll of tape  300 . The end of the tape is pulled out of the mouth of the device and over the roller  203 , or other wear surface, towards the cutting edge  115 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tape applicator of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  but illustrates the replacement of the roller  203  at the mouth of the applicator with a fixed wear surface  401 . This surface  401 , in one embodiment, is built into the housing. The tape rides over the surface  401 , as it exits the device, due to pressure applied to the base surface.  
         [0026]     This embodiment also shows an optional brush  410  that removes foreign matter from the surface to which the tape is about to be applied. The brush is for purposes of illustration only. Alternate embodiments can use other forms of surface cleaning such as a cleaning pad that can be abrasive or a non-abrasive pad containing a cleaning solution, such as alcohol, that dries rapidly. The brush or other cleaning element  410  may be fixed in place or removable/replaceable by the user, depending on the application. Additionally, the cleaning element  410  can be located along the entire length of the base  405 , in only one position as shown, or in multiple locations. In yet another embodiment, the brush  410  can be placed such that it burnishes the tape on the application surface.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the tape applicator of the present invention. This embodiment uses a metal band  500  internal to the spindle to apply a force against the plurality of retention fingers. The metal band has a memory attribute that allows it to expand while the tape roll is removed from the applicator and yet apply the same force against the retention fingers when the tape roll is installed. This embodiment permits the use of a less expensive plastic that has less of a memory attribute.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment for a roll of tape to be used in a tape system of the present invention. In this embodiment, the tape has a groove  601  formed on the inside surface of the tape spool. The groove  601  encircles the inside perimeter of the spool and is used as a detent into which the retention fingers  140 - 143  of the above-described embodiments fit. When the tape is inserted into the applicator, the ends of the retention fingers  140 - 143  seat into the groove to hold the roll of tape firmly in the applicator.  
         [0029]     The groove  601  is not limited to any one shape. For example, it may have a rounded bottom so that any type of retention finger can fit. Or the groove  601  can have the same shape as the ends of the retention fingers so that the fingers make a snug fit. In an alternate embodiment, the groove is broken up into a plurality of detents that are formed only in predetermined locations within the spool that substantially match up with the orientation of the retention fingers.  
       CONCLUSION  
       [0030]     In summary, the tape applicator of the present invention provides an accurate means for applying tape along a surface. The applicator can be comprised of plastic, metal, or some other material.  
         [0031]     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Many adaptations of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. It is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.