Abstract:
The present invention discloses a packing tape dispenser which comprises an upper part having a downward facing concave space, a cutting blade rigidly mounted to the upper part and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space, and a lower part having a groove member being able to move up and down relative to the upper part, during a tape cutting operation the groove member being moved upwardly into the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to dispensers for adhesive tapes, and, more particularly, to packing tape dispenser. 
         [0002]    People that pack a large number of packages for shipping often use specialized tape dispensers, designed for sealing boxes with shipping tape using only one hand. One of such packing tape dispensers has a frame supporting a handle and a roll of tape. The frame also include a hinged level, when pushed, will force out a cutting blade over a stretch of the tape. 
         [0003]    A common problem with conventional packing tape dispensers is that they do not cut tape very easily especially under less ideal situation due to their structural characteristics. Chief among them is that the tape is often suspended over a rather long stretch and can move. It is not easy to make a cut when an object is not well secured and can move under a push. 
         [0004]    As such, what is desired is a packing tape dispenser that can be easily applied. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A packing tape dispenser is disclosed which comprises an upper part having a downward facing concave space, a cutting blade rigidly mounted to the upper part and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space, and a lower part having a groove member being able to move up and down relative to the upper part, during a tape cutting operation the groove member being moved upwardly into the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade. 
         [0006]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a packing tape dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cross-sectional views illustrating a cutting mechanism of the packing tape dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of an upper part of the packing tape dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a lower part of the packing tape dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0011]    The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the invention. A clearer conception of the invention, and of the components and operation of systems provided with the invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings, wherein like reference numbers (if they occur in more than one view) designate the same elements. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the description presented herein. 
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present invention relates to a packing tape dispenser. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a packing tape dispenser  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The packing tape dispenser  100  includes an upper part  102  and a lower part  130 . A rear end of the lower part  130  is fastened to a rear end of the upper part  102  by exemplary screws  140 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the rear end of the upper part  102  has a slanted surface  145 , so that the naturally straight lower part  130  and the upper part  102  forms an angle and maintains a gap between their respective front ends. A piece of tape  156  with an adhesive surface facing downward can then be threaded through the gap. In some embodiments, the lower part  130  has a bend, so that the upper part  102  do not need to have a slanted surface and there is still a gap between the front ends of the upper part  102  and the lower part  130 . 
         [0014]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the upper part  102  has a concave space  106  with a recessed cutting blade  110  mounted therein. Without exerting out of the concave space  106 , the cutting blade  110  does not come into contact with the tape  156  while applying the tape  156  to packages. The concave space  106  and the cutting blade  110  are situated near a front end of the upper part  102 . The upper part  102  also includes a removable pin  120  situated near the rear end thereof. When the removable pin  120  is pushed in the upper part  102  and goes through a middle space  152  of the roll of tape  150 , the packing tape dispenser  100  is locked to the roll of tape  150 . When the removable pin  120  is pushed out of the upper part  102 , the packing tape dispenser  100  is unlocked from the roll of tape  150 , and a new roll of tape can be installed. In embodiments, the removable pin  120  is secured to the upper part  102 , which is made of a rigid material such as plastic or wood, by friction or by screws (not shown). 
         [0015]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the lower part  130  has two protruding strips  134  and  138  situated in a front end thereof. According to an embodiment, the elongated lower part  130  is elastic and made of a material such as stainless steel or plastic. When the front end of the lower part  130  is pushed upwards, the protruding strips  134  and  138  approaches the cutting blade  110  which is positioned in a gap between the protruding strips  134  and  138 , i.e., a part of or the entire cutting blade  110  is sandwiched between the protruding strips  134  and  138  yet without touching each other. When the front end of the lower part  130  is pulled downwards, the tape  156  can be more easily accessed by fingers. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cross-sectional views illustrating a cutting mechanism of the packing tape dispenser  100  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the cutting blade  110  has serrated lower edge recessed within the concave space  106 , so that the cutting blade  110  does not normally come into contact with the tape  156 . The cutting blade  110  is unmovable relative to the upper part  102 . The protruding strips  134  and  138  of the lower part  130  form side walls of a groove. During a tape cutting operation, the front end of the lower part  130  is pushed upward, so that the groove comes to pocket at least the lower edge of the cutting blade  110 , i.e., at least the serrated lower edge of the cutting blade  110  is lower than an upper edge of at least one of the protruding strips  134  and  138 . Because the adhesive side of the tape  156  is facing downward, the tape  156  adheres to the upper edges of the protruding strips  134  and  138  and is stretched between them. Then during the tape cutting operation, the cutting blade  110  perforates and cuts the stretched and upwardly moving tape  156 . When the front end of the lower part  130  is released, spring force thereof urges the front end of the lower part  130  to move downward and leave a gap between the front end of the upper part  102  and the front end of the lower part  130 , so that the tape  156  can be reached and threaded through the gap. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the concave space  106  has enough space between the cutting blade  110  and internal side walls of the concave space  106  to allow the protruding strips  134  and  138  to be freely moved up to pocket the cutting blade  110 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of an upper part  102  of the packing tape dispenser  100  of  FIG. 1 . The bottom view illustrates that the front end of the upper part  102  is a solid part  302  with two parallel side panels  305  and  307  extending rearward. The removable pin  120  is engaged with the side panels  305  and  307 . When in place as shown in  FIG. 3 , the removable pin  120  and the upper part  102  form a closed lope to lock the ring of tape  150  through a space  310 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the elongated concave space  106  is formed in the solid part  302 . The cutting blade  110  with a width proximately equals to a width of the tape  156  is fastened in approximately the middle of the concave space  106  and is positioned approximately perpendicular to the side panels  305  and  307 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the lower part  130  of the packing tape dispenser  100  of  FIG. 1 . The top view illustrates that the lower part  130  has two side plates  405  and  407  which are connected by a front plate  402 . The protruding strips  134  and  138  protrudes upwardly from the front plate  402 . In one embodiment, the lower part  130  is formed by stamped sheet metal. In another embodiment, the lower part  130  is formed by injection molding of a plastic material. As shown in  FIG. 4 , there are openings  415  and  417  on the rear end of the side plates  405  and  407 , respectively, for fastening the rear end of the lower part  130  to the upper part  102 . 
         [0020]    The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims. 
         [0021]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.