Patent Publication Number: US-2016229655-A1

Title: Lightweight tape dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 14/314,594, filed on Jun. 25, 2014, for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tape dispenser, and more particularly, to a lightweight tape dispenser that is capable of securely fixing to a surface and having easy portability. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tape dispensers are one of the frequently used office supplies in the daily lives. In environments of households, schools or offices, the ease-of-use of tapes is enhanced through tape dispensers to more easily adhere or seal stationeries and other objects. Current tape dispensers are in large divided into two types—handheld and desktop. Handheld tape dispensers usually accommodate large-size tape rolls having a larger width, and are mainly used with the large-size tape rolls for sealing containers. Desktop tape dispensers usually accommodate small-size tape rolls having a smaller width, and are suitable for uses of various stationeries. 
     Taiwan Patent No. 423525 discloses a handheld tape dispenser having a main body, which is made of a lightweight material and formed by integral injection. When holding the tape dispenser, the main body is held by the palm of one hand while the tape is pulled by other hand, thereby sealing an object. Thus, a user can hold the handheld tape dispenser and apply the tape with ease. Further, Taiwan Patent No. M276830 discloses a tape dispenser capable of holding objects. Weights are included in the tape dispenser to add the overall weight of the tape dispenser to prevent the tape dispenser from sliding when the tape is pulled. Thus, the tape can be pulled out by using only one hand. 
     A lightweight and easily portable handheld tape dispenser and a heavy tape dispenser that allows the tape to be pulled by one hand are disclosed in the above prior art. However, being lightweight, the handheld tape dispenser cannot be placed on a desk in a way that the tape be pulled by one hand. In contrast, the heavy desktop tape dispenser cannot be handheld by a user to readily apply the tape. Therefore, there is a need for a tape dispenser that can be placed on a desk to allow a user to pull the tape by one hand and at the same time being lightweight and easily portable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tape dispenser that can be securely attached to a surface while also being lightweight for easy portability. 
     To achieve the above object, a lightweight tape dispenser is provided by the present invention. The lightweight tape dispenser comprises a seat and a cover pivotally connecting to the seat. The seat comprises a cutting portion for installing and cutting a tape, and a support portion connecting to the cutting portion and supporting the cutting portion to be placed on a surface. The support portion comprises a first pivotal portion, and a first adhesion portion that can be used to adhered to the surface. The cover, pivotally connected to the support portion, comprises a second pivotal portion pivotally engaged with the first pivotal portion, and a covering portion which is connected to the second portion and formed at an area at least larger than that of the first adhesion portion. The covering portion comprises a first position at which the covering portion covers the first adhesion portion, and a second position at which the covering portion is disengaged from the first adhesion portion to make the first adhesion portion adhere to the surface. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the cutting portion comprises a shaft contact portion for enabling the tape to rotate relative to the support portion, and a blade portion capable for cutting the tape. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises a latch portion connecting to the covering portion, and the seat comprises a first limiting portion engaged with the latch portion when the cover is at the first position, and a second limiting portion engaged with the latch portion when the cover is at the second position. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the covering portion at the second position comprises a first plane facing the surface, and the first adhesion portion comprises a second plane. The level of the first plane is equal or higher than that of the second plane. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises a gap section located between the second pivotal portion and the first plane of the covering portion. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the support portion comprises an accommodating chamber that recesses towards the cutting portion for accommodating the covering portion at the second position. 
     To achieve the above object, a lightweight tape dispenser is provided by the present invention. The lightweight tape dispenser comprises a seat and a cover pivotally connecting on the seat. The seat comprises a cutting portion for installing and cutting a tape, and a support portion connecting to the cutting portion and supporting the cutting portion to be placed on a surface. The support portion comprises a first pivotal potion. The cover, pivotally connected to the support portion, comprises a second pivotal portion pivotally engaging with the first pivotal portion, and a covering portion connecting to the second portion. The covering portion comprises a second adhesion portion that can be used to adhere to the surface, and a non-adhesion portion disposed opposite to the second adhesion portion. The covering portion comprises a third position at which the non-adhesion portion faces the surface and the second adhesion portion faces the cutting portion, and a fourth position at which the non-adhesion portion faces the cutting portion and the second adhesion portion faces the surface to be adhere to the surface. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises a latch portion connecting to the covering portion, and the seat comprising a first limiting portion engaged with to the latch portion when the cover is at the third position, and a second limiting portion engaged with the latch portion when the cover is at the fourth position. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises a gap section located between the second pivotal portion and the non-adhesion portion of the covering portion. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the support portion comprises an accommodating chamber that recesses towards the cutting portion for accommodating the covering portion at the third position. 
     Compared to the prior art, the lightweight tape dispenser of the present invention offers the features below. The lightweight tape dispenser of the present invention mainly comprises the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion and the cover. Accordingly, to secure the lightweight tape dispenser to the surface, the cover is lifted to reveal the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion, such that the lightweight tape dispenser can be used to adhere to the surface. To carry the lightweight tape dispenser, it is only required to conceal the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion in the lightweight tape dispenser, and coming into contact with the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion can be prevented to readily carry the lightweight tape dispenser. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a lightweight tape dispenser according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a lightweight tape dispenser according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are schematic diagrams of operations of a lightweight tape dispenser according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a lightweight tape dispenser according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are schematic diagrams of operations of a lightweight tape dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A lightweight tape dispenser is provided according to two embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3B  show a tape dispenser according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 5B  show a tape dispenser according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a lightweight tape dispenser  10  according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a seat  11  and a cover  12  pivotally connecting to the seat  11 . The seat  11  comprises a cutting portion  14  for installing and cutting a tape  13 , a support portion  15  connecting to the cutting portion  14  and supporting the cutting portion  14  to be placed on a surface, an accommodating chamber  16  disposed at the support portion  15  and recesses from the cutting portion  14 , and a first limiting portion  17  and a second limiting portion  18  disposed at the support portion  15 . The cutting portion  14  comprises a shaft contact portion  141  for installing the tape  13  and enabling the tape  13  to rotate relative to the support portion  15 , and a blade portion  142  capable of cutting the tape  13 . The support portion  15  comprises a first pivotal portion  151 , and a first adhesion portion  152  that can be used to adhere to the surface. Further, the cover  12 , pivotally connected to the support portion  15 , comprises a second pivotal portion  121  pivotally engaged with the first adhesion portion  151 , a covering portion  122  which is connected to the second pivotal portion  121  and formed at an area at least larger than that of the first adhesion portion  152 , a gap section  123  located between the second pivotal portion  121  and the covering portion  122 , and a latch portion  124  connecting to the covering portion  122 . To allow the cover  12  to be accommodated in the accommodating chamber  16  without affecting the first adhesion portion  152  that adheres to the surface, the covering portion  122  is defined with a first plane  125 , and the gap section  123  is located between the second pivotal portion  121  and the first plane  125  of the covering portion  122 . The first adhesion portion  152  further defines a second plane  153 . The first plane  125  levels with or is higher than the second plane  153 . As such, when the cover  12  is entirely accommodated in the accommodating chamber  16 , the first adhesion portion  152  is completely revealed, such that the first adhesion portion  152  is not interfered by the thickness of the cover  12  and is closely adhering to the surface. Regarding the definition of the surface, the surface may be a desktop, a wall surface, or any other position to which the lightweight tape dispenser  10  can be adhered. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , the cover  12  is capable of pivotally rotating via the second pivotal portion  121  relative to the first pivotal portion  151  of the support portion  15 . Therefore, the relative position of the cover  12  relative to the seat  11  is important. When the first limiting portion  17  of the seat  11  is engaged to the latch portion  124  of the cover  12 , the covering portion  122  of the cover  12  covers the first adhesion portion  152 , thus concealing the first adhesion portion  152  between the covering portion  122  and the seat  11 . At this point, the position at which the covering portion  122  covers the first adhesion portion  152  may be defined as a first position. When the latch portion  124  of the cover  12  departs from the first limiting portion  17  of the seat  11  and becomes engaged to the second limiting portion  18 , the covering portion  122  of the cover  12  disengages from the first adhesion portion  152  to render the first plane  125  of the covering portion  122  to face the surface. As such, the first adhesion portion  152  becomes revealed outside the seat  11 . At this point, the position at which the covering portion  122  is disengaged from the first adhesion portion  152  may be defined as a second position. 
     Again referring to  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , when the user wishes to secure the lightweight tape dispenser  10  to the surface, it is only required to release the latch portion  124  and pivotally rotate the cover  12  to the second position, in a way that the first adhesion portion  152  is revealed outside the seat  11 . The first adhesion portion  152  is then adhered to the surface. As such, the user can one-handedly pull and cut the tape  13  without having to assist and secure the lightweight tape dispenser  10  with the other hand. When the user wishes to carry the lightweight tape dispenser  10 , to prevent adhering to the first adhesion portion  152 , it is only required to release the latch portion  124  and pivotally rotate the cover  12  to the first position, in a way that the first adhesion portion  152  becomes concealed between the covering portion  122  and the seat  11 . Thus, the user need not worry about coming into contact with the first adhesion portion  152 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 5B , a lightweight tape dispenser  20  according to the second embodiment includes a seat  21  and a cover  22  pivotally connecting to the seat  21 . The seat  21  comprises a cutting portion  24  for installing and cutting a tape  23 , a support portion  25  connecting to the cutting portion  24  and supporting the cutting portion  24  to be placed on a surface, and a first limiting portion  27  and a second limiting portion  28  disposing at the support portion  25 . The cutting portion  24  comprises a shaft contact portion  241  for installing the tape  23  and allowing the tape  23  to rotate relative to the support portion  25 , and a blade portion  242  capable of cutting the tape  23 . The support portion  25  comprises a first pivotal portion  251 . Further, the cover  22 , pivotally connecting to the support portion  25 , comprises a second pivotal portion  221  pivotally engaging with the first pivotal portion  251 , a covering portion  222  connecting to the second pivotal portion  221 , a gap section  223  located between the second pivotal portion  221  and the covering portion  222 , and a latch portion  224  connecting to the covering portion  222 . The covering portion  222  comprises a second adhesion portion  225  that can be adhering to the surface, and a non-adhesion portion  226  disposing opposite the second adhesion portion  225 . Further, the gap section  223  is located between the second pivotal portion  221  and the non-adhesion portion  226  of the covering portion  222 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the cover  22  is capable of pivotally rotating via the second pivotal portion  221  relative to the first pivotal portion  251  of the support portion  25 . Therefore, the relative position of the cover  22  relative to the seat  21  is important. When the first limiting portion  27  of the seat  21  is engaged to the latch portion  224  of the cover  22 , the non-adhesion portion  226  of the covering portion  222  faces the surface, the second adhesion portion  225  faces the cutting portion  24 , and the covering portion  222  is accommodated in the accommodating chamber  26 . The position at this point is defined as a third position. When the second limiting portion  28  of the seat  21  is engaged to the latch portion  224  of the cover  22 , the non-adhesion portion  226  of the covering portion  222  faces the cutting portion  24  and the second adhesion portion  225  faces the surface. The position at this point is defined as a fourth position. 
     Again referring to  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , to secure the lightweight tape dispenser  20  to the surface, it is only required to release the latch portion  224  and pivotally rotate the cover  22  to the fourth position, in a way that the second adhesion portion  225  is revealed outside the seat  21 . The second adhesion portion  225  is then adhering to the surface. Thus, the user can one-handedly pull and cut the tape  23  without having to assist and secure the lightweight tape dispenser  20  with the other hand. When the user wishes to carry the lightweight tape dispenser  20 , to prevent adhering to the second adhesion portion  225 , it is only required to release the latch portion  224  and pivotally rotate the cover  22  to the third position, in a way that the second adhesion portion  225  is located between the non-adhesion portion  226  and the seat  21 . Thus, the user need not worry about coming into contact with the second adhesion portion  225 . 
     In conclusion, the lightweight tape dispenser of the present invention mainly comprises the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion and the cover. Accordingly, to secure the lightweight tape dispenser to the surface, the cover is lifted to reveal the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion such that the lightweight tape dispenser can be adhering to the surface. To carry the lightweight tape dispenser, it is only required to conceal the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion in the lightweight tape dispenser, and coming into contact with the first adhesion portion or the second adhesion portion can be prevented to readily carry the lightweight tape dispenser. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.