Abstract:
An adhesive tape dispenser having an improved mechanism for gripping the device while dispensing tape. The dispenser has spaced apart side walls and an upper wall connected thereto. The upper wall has a leading edge that is provided with a blade for cutting the adhesive tape. The upper wall is also provided with a shallow recess for placement of the index finger of the user. The recess may include a plurality of corrugations. The position of the recess allows the user to have both an improved grip on the dispenser and to apply directed pressure to the upper wall thereby allowing the tape to be cut more easily. The upper wall of the dispenser is also provided with wings that offer increased protection to the palm of the user&#39;s hand so that the rotating roll of tape does not cause injury to the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    This invention generally relates to an adhesive tape dispenser. More particularly, the invention relates to an adhesive tape dispenser for dispensing packaging tape without the use of a tape gun. Specifically, the invention relates to an adhesive tape dispenser that includes an improved mechanism for gripping the device while dispensing tape and that aids in preventing the free end of the tape from becoming reattached to the roll when the device is not in use.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    There are numerous types of adhesive tapes that have a wide variety of uses. One of the more frequently used adhesive tapes is packaging tape which is used to secure the flaps of boxes and packages for shipping. This type of tape is wide and is fairly difficult to pull off a roll by hand and manoeuver into position around a package. A device was therefore developed to assist in dispensing and applying this type of tape to a package. The device is commonly known as a tape gun. While tape guns have made it easier to dispense packaging tape, they are cumbersome and they are not always easily reloaded. Additionally, tape guns are fairly large and this creates somewhat of a storage problem for the user.  
           [0005]    In order to overcome these disadvantages, several devices have been proposed in the prior art for dispensing packaging tape without the use of a tape gun. These devices are small, lightweight dispensers that typically are “P”-shaped when viewed from the side. The roll of packaging tape is inserted into the upper part of the “P” and a cutting edge is provided at the base of the “P”. The devices are adapted to be held in such a manner that the user&#39;s index finger rests on a support located near to the cutting edge, the thumb rests on one side of the device and at least one other finger rests on the other side of the device. The device consequently is held within the palm of the hand and is gripped between the thumb and a finger. The index finger support allows the user to apply downward pressure to the area near the cutting edge in order to cut the tape.  
           [0006]    While these prior art devices have allowed for dispensing of tape without a tape gun, they have not always been easy to operate with one hand inasmuch as they are flimsy, difficult to grip and frequently allow the user&#39;s hand to come into contact with the rapidly rotating packaging tape, potentially causing minor injury to the user.  
           [0007]    There therefore still exists the need in the art for a simple, effective adhesive tape dispenser that is adapted to be easily gripped in one hand and allows the packaging tape to be easily dispensed therefrom with one hand, yet that protects the hand of the user during operation.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adhesive tape dispenser in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the adhesive tape dispenser of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a side view of the adhesive tape dispenser of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the adhesive tape dispenser showing the device when the tape is initially dispensed from the device;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the adhesive tape dispenser showing the device when a second side of a package is being engaged by the tape being withdrawn from the dispenser;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser when the tape is being cut;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser showing the movement of the tape after it has been cut;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a side view of the dispenser showing how the user can capture the severed edge of the tape;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a side view of the dispenser showing how the severed edge of the tape is captured;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a second embodiment of the tape finger lift of the dispenser;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is a third embodiment of the dispenser showing a third possible finger lift for the severed edge of the tape. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    The adhesive tape dispenser of the present invention is shown generally by the number  10 .  
         [0021]    As shown in FIG. 1, dispenser  10  comprises a base  12  that is preferably molded from plastic, metal or some other suitable material. Base  12  includes two spaced apart, generally “P” shaped side walls  14  that are joined together by a convexly-shaped upper wall  16 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that side walls  14  and upper wall  16  may be integrally formed or alternatively may be connected together by a suitable means such as adhesive or rivets. The head of the “P” shape of side walls  14  is open so that side walls  14  form two downwardly extending legs  18  separated by a channel  20 . Side walls  14  have an interior surface  14   b  and an exterior surface  14   a . An inwardly extending guide  22  is provided on the interior surface  14   b  of each of the first and second legs  18   a ,  18   b  proximate the upper end  20   a  of the channel  20 . The guides  22  of each side wall  14  project into a gap  24  defined by side walls  14  and are collectively adapted to retain a roll  28  of adhesive tape  26  between them.  
         [0022]    Upper wall  16  extends beyond the front edge  30  of first leg  18   a  and terminates in a leading edge  32 . Leading edge  32  may be adapted to receive a metallic serrated blade  34  that is retained on leading edge  32  by a suitable means such as rivets or glue. Alternatively, serrated blade  34  may be integrally formed with upper wall  16  and be manufactured from the same material as upper wall  16 . Serrated blade  34  is adapted to cut the adhesive tape  26  when tape  26  is brought into contact with it. While blade  34  is shown with serrations, it will be understood by those in the art that any type of blade that will cut tape  26  will be suitable without departing from the scope or intent of this invention.  
         [0023]    Front edge of first leg  18   a  of each side wall  14  preferably defines a generally “U”-shaped or semi-circular indentation  36  (FIGS.  1 - 10 ) that is configured to receive a user&#39;s fingertip  38  therein. Indentation  36  may be fairly deep as shown in FIG. 3 or fairly shallow as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, there may not be any indentation on front edge  30 . Indentation  36  allows the user to insert a fingertip  38  into indentation  36  to capture the free end  42  of tape  26  (FIG. 7).  
         [0024]    Each first leg  18   a  of side walls  14  is also preferably provided with a lip  40  disposed on either front edge  30  or interior surface  14   b  of side wall  14 . Lips  40  project outwardly from front edge  30  towards leading edge  32  of upper wall  16  and project at least partially inwardly into gap  24  between side walls  14 . Alternatively lip  40  may extend from front edge  30  of one side wall  14  to front edge  30  of the other side wall  14 . Lips  40  may be integrally formed with side walls  14  or they may be attached thereto by suitable a means such as an adhesive. As may be seen from FIGS. 3 and 11, lips  40  may project toward leading edge  32  to a greater or lesser degree. The dispenser  10  selected for loading any specific type of packaging tape may vary based on the type of lip  40  the dispenser has and the desired distance that needs to be maintained between free end  42  and roll  28 . Lips  40  are adapted to support free end  42  of tape  26  when a roll  28  is retained on guides  22 . In this manner, free end  42  is kept a spaced distance from roll  28  and is therefore readily available when the user  
         [0025]    Side walls  14  may also be provided with ridges  46  to restrict the sliding of a user&#39;s hand downwardly toward the tips  48  of legs  18  when the user grasps dispenser  10 . A plurality of knurls  50  are also provided on side walls  14  to aid in the gripping of dispenser  10  and to somewhat restrict forward motion of the user&#39;s hand during use.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, upper wall  16  is convexly shaped when viewed from the side and is configured so as to allow for the palm of a user&#39;s hand to easily rest thereon. Upper wall  16  preferably does not extend to the tip  48  of second leg  18   b , but rather terminates in the proximity of ridge  46 . Upper wall  16  may also preferably define an aperture  52  that allows the user to see roll  28  of tape  26  therethrough. When an aperture  52  is provided, upper wall  16  is made up of a front area  16   a  and a rear area  16   b . Aperture  52  may be Y-shaped as shown in FIG. 1. Front area  16   a  includes leading edge  32  that is adapted to retain serrated blade  34 . Front area  16   a  is provided with a generally triangularly shaped recess or recessed area  54  that is adapted to receive a fingertip (not shown) therein. Recess  54  is preferably provided with a series of corrugations  56  that resist the sliding of the fingertip therein. Recess  54  is provided in such a position that when the user grasps dispenser  10  in his palm, resting his thumb on one side wall and a finger on the other side wall, his index finger will have a natural resting place. Recess  54  is located proximate leading edge  32  and is in a good location for applying downward pressure to leading edge  32  and hence to blade  34 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 2, rear area  16   b  of upper wall  16  includes two inwardly projecting wings  58  that are configured to provide a resting place for the sides of the user&#39;s palm (not shown). Wings  58  protect the palm of the user&#39;s hand from injury as tape  26  is rapidly withdrawn from dispenser  10 . Wings  58  are preferably separated by a slot  60 . This allows side walls  14  to be separated partially from each other and to flex for insertion of a new roll  28  of tape  26 .  
         [0028]    The device of the present invention is used in the following manner:  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS.  4 - 7 , when the user desires to remove tape  26  from dispenser  10 , he grasps dispenser  10  in the palm of one hand, resting his palm on wings  58 , his index finger in recess  54  and placing a thumb on one side wall  14  and the remaining fingers of his hand partially on upper wall  16  and partially on other side wall  14 . He then inserts a fingertip  38  of a finger of his other hand into indentation  36  and grasps free end  42  of tape  26 . (If indentation  36  is not provided, the user lifts free end  42  of tape  26  from roll  28 .) Free end  42  is then moved into contact with the article  44  to be taped and is pushed into adhesive contact with article  44 . The user then pulls dispenser  10  away from article  44  in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 4). This causes roll  28  to rotate and causes tape  26  to be pulled off of roll  28 . Because the user&#39;s palm rests on wings  58 , the rotating roll  28  does not come into contact with his palm thereby preventing the same from suffering injury. Tape  26  contacts the underside of leading edge  32 , but does not come into contact with the blade  34 . The user continues to pull the dispenser rearwardly and downwardly in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 5) until the required amount of tape  26  has been dispensed therefrom. At this point, the user rotates dispenser  10  in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 6). This is accomplished by the user pushing downwardly in the direction of arrow D with their index finger located in recess. This rotation brings the serrations of blade  34  into contact with the tape  26 . As the user continues to apply the downward force in the direction of arrow D and rotates dispenser  10  in the direction of arrow C, the serrations of blade  34  cut into tape  26 , causing the tape  26  to be severed. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, tape  26  is severed, free end  42  thereof drops downwardly through the positions shown in phantom as “X” and “Y” until it rests against lips  40 .  
         [0030]    Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, when the user next desires to dispense tape  26 , he inserts fingertip  38  into the indentation  36  and moves fingertip  38  in the direction of arrow E. This movement lifts free end  42  off lips  40  and pulling tape  26  away from roll  28 , thereby making free end  42  available for bringing into contact with an article  44  to be taped.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of dispenser  110 . Dispenser  110  has side walls  114  and an upper wall  116  that are configured in the same way as in the first embodiment. Front edge  30  of side wall  14  is provided with a shallow indentation  136  proximate lip  140 . Lip  140  is provided to prevent free end (not shown) of tape  126  from reattaching to roll  128 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of dispenser  210  having side walls  214  and upper wall  216  configured in the same way as the first embodiment, however no indentation is provided in side walls  214 . Lip  240  is provided to keep free end (not shown) of tape  226  from reattaching to roll  228 .  
         [0033]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0034]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.