Patent Publication Number: US-8109461-B2

Title: Film transfer device with slidable protection cap

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a film transfer device and, in particular, to a film transfer device including a slidable protection cap mounted thereon. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. D475,747 entitled “FILM-TRANSFERRING DEVICE FOR OFFICE USE” shows a casing of the film transferring device including a cap hinged on a bottom side thereof to selectively fix with an application head which transfers film. Therefore, the cap is fixed with the application head to close the application head, and the cap is retained on the bottom of the casing as the application head transfers film. 
     The design of the above patent suffers from a problem that the cap wears the application head after repeated engagement and disengagement therebetween. Consequently, the cap is not able to be securely fixed with the application head and the cap can not protect the application head. Another problem is that the cap has a section subject to fracture due to repeated bending. As a result, the cap can not protect the application head, and the fracture has an adverse effect on appearance. 
     The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art by providing a film transfer device with a slidable protection cap which is durable and convenient for use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a film transfer device with a slidable protection cap includes a case including a compartment, a receiving section connected with the compartment, and an opening section in proximity to the receiving section. A reel mechanism is disposed in the compartment. An application head assembly is retained in the receiving section and includes an application head exposed outside the opening section. A protection cap is slidably mounted in the receiving section between a first position and a second position. The application head is concealed by the protection cap when the protection cap is in the first position. The application head is exposed from the protection cap when the protection cap is in the second position. 
     It is an object of the present invention that the protection cap is disposed in the case and is moveable between two positions to selectively conceal or expose the application head. Thus, the application head is protected from dust and dirt by the protection cap. 
     It is another object of the present invention that the protection cap exposes the application head when the protection cap is in the second position. Additionally, the protection cap has position-limiting grooves which engage with protruding sections of the application head assembly to prevent the protection cap from shaking movement, which adversely influences film-dispensing operation. 
     It is a further object of the present invention that the application head assembly includes a fixing frame retained in the case and prevented from being displaced. Thus, the steadiness of the fixing frame is ensured, and the fixing frame is prevented from loosening and displacement in the case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a film transfer device with a slidable protection cap in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the film transfer device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded perspective view of the film transfer device taken at a different angle than that of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a position of the protection cap. 
         FIG. 6  is an extended cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  and in which the protection cap is at a position which allows exposure of an application head of the film transfer device. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an extended cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7  and shows a position of the protection cap. 
         FIG. 9  is an extended cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8  and in which the protection cap is at a position which allows exposure of an application head of the film transfer device. 
         FIG. 10  shows the application head exposed and in use. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a film transfer device with a slidable cap in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the best embodiments will be illustrated and described with reference to the drawings hereafter, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention, and the scope of invention is not limited by the specific embodiments. 
       FIGS. 1 through 3  show perspective and exploded perspective views of a film transfer device with a slidable protection cap in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes a first case  10  and a second case  20  connected to the first case  10  and disposed opposite to the first case  10 . This embodiment further includes a reel mechanism  30 , an application head assembly  40  and a protection cap  70  surrounded by the first and second cases  10 ,  20 . 
     The first case  10  includes a first section  11  and a second section  12 , and the second case  20  includes a first section  21  and a second section  22 , respectively. The first section  11  of the first case  10  forms a compartment  13  and includes a strut  14  extended from and disposed in the compartment  13 . The first section  21  of the second case  20  forms a compartment  23  and includes an axle  24  extended from and disposed in the compartment  23 . The reel mechanism  30  is disposed in the compartment  13  in the first case  10  and the compartment  23  in the second case  20 .The reel mechanism  30  includes a through hole  31  extending in a center thereof for insertion of the strut  14  in the first case  10 , and the strut  14  is thereafter engaged with the axle  24  in the second case  20 . 
     The second section  12  of the first case  10  includes an opening section  15 , and the second section  22  of the second case  20  includes an opening section  25 , respectively. The second section  12  of the first case  10  also includes a first positioning section  16  and a second positioning section  17  disposed on a side of the first case  10  and in proximity to the opening section  15 . The second section  22  of the second case  20  also includes a first positioning section  26 , and a second positioning section  27  disposed on a side of the second case  20  and in proximity to the opening sections  25 , respectively. The first positioning section  16  is disposed corresponding to the first positioning section  26 , and the second positioning section  17  is disposed corresponding to the second positioning section  27 . Further, a receiving section  18  is defined between the opening section  15  and the compartment  13 , and, correspondingly, a receiving section  28  is defined between the opening section  25  and the compartment  23 . Additionally, the receiving section  18  includes a stopping section  19  extended therefrom, and the receiving section  28  includes a stopping section  29  extended therefrom, respectively. The stopping sections  19  is disposed on an end opposite to the opening section  15 , and the stopping sections  29  is disposed on an end opposite to the opening section  25 , respectively. The first and second positioning sections  16  and  17  are disposed in proximity to the receiving section  18 , and the first and second positioning sections  26  and  27  are disposed in proximity to the receiving section  28 , respectively. Furthermore, the first case  10  includes a plurality of hooking sections  101 , and the second case  20  includes a plurality of hooking sections  201  disposed corresponding to the plurality of hooking sections  101  and engaged with respective hooking sections  101  in order to fix the first and second cases  10  and  20  together. The first case  10  is disposed symmetrical to the second case  20  and the reel mechanism  30 , the application head assembly  40  and the protection cap  70  are held between the first and second cases  10 . 
     The application head assembly  40  is disposed between the first and second cases  10  and  20  and includes a fixing frame  50  and an application head  60 . The fixing frame  50  includes a first end  51  retained in the receiving sections  18  and  28  of the respective first and second cases  10  and  20  and a second end  52  connected with the application head  60 . The application head  60  defines a plane which divides the receiving sections  18  and  28  and is exposed outside the opening sections  15  and  25  of the respective first and second cases  10  and  20 . 
     Referring further to  FIG. 3 , the fixing frame  50  is elongated and with resiliency. The first end  51  includes two lateral walls  511 , and a first guiding wall  512  and a second guiding wall  513 . The lateral walls  511  and the first and second guiding walls  512  and  513  extend in a direction substantially perpendicularly to a frame direction from the first end  51  to the second end  52 . The first and second guiding walls  512  and  513  are disposed on an extremity of the fixing frame  50 . Furthermore, the first and second guiding walls  512  and  513  are formed on two opposite sides of the fixing frame  50 . Additionally, the first guiding wall  512  includes a guiding edge extending generally perpendicular to the frame direction and to the plane of the fixing frame, and the second guiding wall  513  includes a guiding edge extending at an angle which is not perpendicular or parallel to the frame direction and to the plane of the fixing frame to guide film from the reel mechanism  30  through a 90-degree rotation. The fixing frame  50  also includes two lateral sides and each lateral side includes a protruding section  514  extended therefrom and disposed in proximity to one lateral wall  511 . Furthermore, the first end  51  of the fixing frame  50  is disposed in the receiving sections  18  and  28  of the respective first and second cases  10  and  20 . Each lateral wall  511  has one end stopped on the stopping section  19  and another end stopped on the stopping section  29  such that the fixing frame  50  is retained between the first and second cases  10  and  20  and is prevented from displacement. Thus, the steadiness of the fixing frame  50  is ensured and the fixing frame  50  is prevented from loosening and displacement in the first and second cases  10  and  20 . Furthermore, the application head  60  is pivotally mounted on the second end  52  of the fixing frame  50 , and the application head  60  extends outward of the fixing frame  50  and is adapted to abut against on an item to be worked with. Because the application head  60  is made from a material which has resiliency, it is convenient to enable film to stick on a surface of the item. In this preferred embodiment, the application head  60  is configured as a roller. Additionally, the application head  60  is adapted to enable film to be apply on the surface of the item. 
     The protection cap  70  is insertably mounted on the application head assembly  40  and is configured of a body  71  and two clipping legs  72 . The body  71  includes a channel  711  extending axially through two ends thereof. The clipping legs  72  are extended from two lateral surfaces of the body  71 , respectively, and in the same direction. Each clipping leg  72  also has a through slot  73  extended axially, and the through slot  73  enables the clipping leg  72  to have bending resiliency. The body  71  further includes two position-limiting grooves  712  extended on the two lateral surfaces, respectively, and each position-limiting groove  712  is disposed corresponding to one through slot  73 . The position-limiting grooves  712  receive two protruding sections  514  respectively so as to prevent the protection cap  70  from shaking movement. Each clipping leg  72  further includes an engaging section  721  extended from an end thereof and selectively positioned on the first positioning sections  16  and  26  and on the second positioning sections  17  and  27  of the respective first and second cases  10  and  20 . 
       FIGS. 4 through 6  show that the protection cap  70  is insertably mounted on the application head assembly  40 . The protection cap  70  is moveable relative to the first and second cases  10  and  20 . Specifically, the engaging sections  721  is adapted to be positioned on the first positioning sections  16  and  26  and on the second positioning sections  17  and  27  of the respective first and second cases  10  and  20 . Thus the protection cap  70  is moveable between the two positions to selectively conceal the application head  60  or expose the application head  60 . When the protection cap  70  is in a first position, the application head  60  is concealed by the protection cap  70 , the clipping legs  72  engaged in the first and second cases  10  and  20  prevent the protection cap  70  disengaging from the first and second cases  10  and  20 , and the engaging sections  721  are positioned on the first positioning sections  16  and  26 . Furthermore, when the protection cap  70  is in a second position, the clipping legs  72  are engaged in the first and second cases  10  and  20 , and the engaging sections  721  are positioned on the second positioning sections  17  and  27 . 
       FIGS. 7 through 9  show that the application head  60  concealed by the protection cap  70  when the protection cap is in the first position. Thus, the application head  60  is protected from dust or dirt. Furthermore, when the protection cap  70  is in the second position, the protection cap  70  exposes the application head  60 , and the application head  60  is in the in-use position to transfer film. Additionally, the position-limiting grooves  712  of the protection cap  70  which engage with the protruding sections  514  prevent the protection cap  70  from shaking movement, which adversely influences film-dispensing operation. 
       FIG. 10  shows that the protection cap  70  in the second position. In use of the application head  60 , the protection cap  70  is moved to the second position. The application head  60  is thereafter positioned on a surface of an item to be worked with. Thus, the user can ensure that film is transferred on the surface. 
       FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a film transfer device with a slidable protection cap  70  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except that it includes an application head  60 a including a flat head. Likewise, the protection cap  70  is moveable between two positions, and the protection cap  70  conceals the application head  60 a when in a first position, and the protection cap  70  exposes the application head  60 a when in a second position. The protection cap  70  can also protect the application head  60 a from dust or dirt. 
     In view of the foregoing, the film transfer device which has a slidable protection cap  70  of the present invention includes a case, i.e. a first case  10  and a second case  20 , a reel mechanism  30 , an application head assembly  40 , and a protection cap  70 . The application head assembly  40  is retained in receiving sections  18 ,  28  of the respective first and second cases  10  and  20 . Additionally, the application head assembly  40  includes an application head  60 ,  60   a  exposed outside opening sections  15  and  25  of the respective first and second cases  10  and  20 . The protection cap  70  is disposed between the first and second cases  10  and  20  and is moveable between two positions. The protection cap  70  conceals the application head  60   a  when in a first position, and the protection cap  70  exposes the application head  60   a  when in a second position. Thus, the application head  60  is in the in-use position to transfer film. 
     In view of the foregoing, the protection cap  70  is disposed between the first and second cases  10  and  20  and is moveable between two positions to selectively conceal or expose the application head  60 ,  60   a . Thus, the application head  60 ,  60   a  is protected from dust and dirt by the protection cap  70 . 
     Furthermore, the protection cap  70  exposes the application head  60  when the protection cap  70  is in the second position. Additionally, the position-limiting grooves  712  of the protection cap  70  which engage with the protruding sections  514  prevent the protection cap  70  from shaking movement, which adversely influences film-dispensing operation. 
     Moreover, the fixing frame  50  is retained between the first and second cases  10  and  20  and is prevented from displacement. Thus, the steadiness of the fixing frame  50  is ensured, and the fixing frame  50  is prevented from loosening and displacement in the first and second cases  10  and  20 . 
     While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.