Patent Publication Number: US-2010108267-A1

Title: Tape dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to tape dispensers and more particularly, to such a tape dispenser, which can suck and secure the lead end of the tape after each tape dispensing operation, facilitating tape dispensing 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a tape dispenser according to the prior art. According to this design, the tape dispenser  10  comprises a grip  11 , a transverse plate  12  fixedly mounted on one end (the top end) of the grip  11 , a connection frame  15  fixedly connected to one lateral side of the transverse plate  12 , a tape holder  13  provided at one end of the connection frame  15  for holding a tape  101 , a cutter holder  18  provided at the other end of the connection frame  15  and holding a cutter blade  19 , a roller  17  and a tension plate  16  spaced below the cutter holder  18  and respectively fastened to the connection frame  15  and/or the transverse plate  12 . 
     When a tape  101  is mounted on the tape holder  13 , the lead end  103  of the tape  101  is extended over the tension plate  16  to the surface of the roller  17 . By means of the roller  17 , the user can move the tape dispenser  10  over the product to be sealed, dispensing the tape  101  to the surface of the product and then cut off the dispensed part of the tape by means of the cutter blade  19 . 
     The tape  101  has one side glued and the other side maintained in plain manner. The non-glue side of the tape  101  is kept facing the roller  17 . After each tape dispensing operation, the lead end  103  of the tape  101  may fly in the air and may be adhered to an external body accidentally, bringing inconvenience to the user. In this case, the user needs to cut off a certain part of the lead end of the tape  101 , resulting in waste of tape. 
     The surface part of the cutter holder  18  that is disposed adjacent to the roller  17  may be used to secure the lead end  103  of the tape  101  after each tape dispensing operation. However, because the cutter holder  18  is made of metal, the material property of the cutter holder  18  does not provide a satisfactory suction power to secure the lead end  103  of the tape  101 . 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a tape dispenser that eliminates the aforesaid problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a tape dispenser, which has an adhesion member provided at a part of the surface of the cutter holder to suck and secure the lead end of the tape after each tape dispensing operation, facilitating a next tape dispensing operation. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a tape dispenser, which uses an adhesion member to suck and secure the lead end of the tape after each tape dispensing operation, avoiding waste of the tape. 
     To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a tape dispenser comprises a body, a tape holder mounted in one end of the body and supporting a tape, a cutter holder mounted in the other end of the body and holding a cutter blade for cutting off the tape to have the tape provide a lead end, and an adhesion member mounted on the cutter holder and exposed to the outside for sucking and securing the lead end of the tape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a tape dispenser according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a tape dispenser in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing a status of use of the tape dispenser. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates still another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates still another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates still another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a tape dispenser  20  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is a handheld type, comprising a body  21 . The body  21  comprises a grip  211 , and a transverse plate  213 . The transverse plate  213  is fixedly mounted on one end (for example, the top end) of the grip  211 . The tape dispenser  20  further comprises a connection frame  25  fixedly fastened to one lateral side of the transverse plate  213 , a tape holder  23  provided at one end of the connection frame  25 , a cutter holder  28  provided at the other end of the connection frame  25 , a cutter blade  29  fixedly mounted in the cutter holder  28 , a roller  27  and/or a tension plate  26  affixed to the connection frame  25  and/or the transverse plate  213  and spaced below the cutter blade  29 , and an adhesion member  24  affixed to the cutter holder  28  and kept between the roller  27  and the cutter blade  29  and partially exposed to the outside. 
     When using the tape dispenser  20  to dispense a tape  201 , the tape  201  is supported on the tape holder  23  with one end (the lead end)  203  thereof extending over the tension plate  26  and the surface of the roller  27  to the adhesion member  24 . At this time, the user can hold the tape dispenser  20  and attach the tape  201  to the surface of the product to be adhered, and then move the tape dispenser  20  over the surface of the product to rotate the roller  27  and to simultaneously apply the tape  201  to the surface of the product. After dispensing of the tape  201 , the tape  201  is cut off by means of the cutter blade  29 . 
     After cut-off, the lead end  203  of the tape  201  and adhered to the surface of the adhesion member  24  and/or the roller  27 , avoiding flying. 
     Because the lead end  203  of the tape  201  is adhered to the surface of the adhesion member  24  and/or the roller  27  and will not fly in the air, the user can dispense the tape  201  in the next dispensing operation or cut the tape  201  conveniently. Further, because the lead end  203  of the tape  201  does not fly in the air, the lead end  203  will not be adhered to a surface of an external object accidentally, maintaining its adhesion function. Therefore, when applying the tape  201 , it is not necessary to cut off the lead end  203  before application, avoiding waste. 
     According to this first embodiment, the cutter holder  28  has a horizontal portion  281  and a vertical portion  283 . The vertical portion  283  is disposed at one side of the horizontal portion  281 . The horizontal portion  281  supports the cutter blade  29 . The vertical portion  283  supports the adhesion member  24 . The adhesion member  24  has a mounting layer affixed to the vertical portion  283 . Further, the mounting layer of the adhesion member can be fastened to the vertical portion  283  by means of a glue (not shown) and/or tight fit. According to this embodiment, the adhesion member  24  is made in the form of a cap tightly capped on the vertical portion  283 . 
     The adhesion member  24  can be made of any material capable of adhering the tape  201 , such as rubber, plastics, silicon rubber, compound polymers, sticker board, and/or their combination. According to test, using a rubber or plastic compound material to make the adhesion member  24  provides a static storage function that shows superiority to the metal vertical portion  283  in sucking and securing the lead end  203  of the tape  201 . The adhesion member  24  can adhere an OPP/PVC/PE/PP-based adhesive tape, or any of a variety of other special tapes, such as packing tapes, industry tool tape, or insulation tape. 
     The aforesaid sticker board for the adhesion member  24  can be any sticker board or sticker agent obtained from 3M™, or any commercial self-adhesive repositionable board, Post-it, Yes-Poster® that can be used to repeatedly secure a tape. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, the cutter holder  48  of the tape dispenser  40  has a plurality of recessed locating holes  485 , and the adhesion member  44  has a plurality of raised positioning portions  445  respectively engaged into the recessed locating holes  485  to such and secure the adhesion member  44  to the cutter holder  48 . Alternatively, the recessed locating holes  485  can be formed on the adhesion member  44 , and the raised positioning portions  445  can be formed on the cutter holder  48  for engagement with the recessed locating holes  485  to such and secure the adhesion member  44  to the cutter holder  48 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, the cutter holder  54  of the tape dispenser  50  is a single piece of the combination of the cutter holder and adhesion member of the aforesaid embodiment (for example, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 ), i.e., the cutter holder  54  is made by using the material of the aforesaid adhesion member  28  to make the shape of the aforesaid cutter holder  24 . The cutter blade  29  is directly affixed to the cutter holder  54 . The other part of the surface of the cutter holder  54  that exposes to the outside of the cutter blade  29  can be used to such and secure the tape&#39;s lead end  203 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates still another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, the adhesion member  64  of the tape dispenser  60  is a sheet member affixed to a part of the surface of the cutter holder  28  by means of positioning means  645 , such as glue and/or a raised positioning portion/recessed locating hole for sucking and securing the lead end of the tape mounted in the tape dispenser  60 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates still another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, the tape dispenser  70  is a handheld type tape dispenser comprising a body  71 . The body  71  comprises a grip  711 , connection frame  75  fixedly fastened to one lateral side of the grip  711 , a tape holder  73  provided at one end of the connection frame  75 , a cutter holder  88  provided at the other end of the connection frame  75 , a cutter blade  79  fixedly mounted in the cutter holder  78 , an adhesion member  74  mounted on the surface of the cutter holder  78 , and a roller  77  pivotally mounted in the cutter holder  78  between the adhesion member  74  and the tape holder  73 . 
     When a tape  201  is mounted on the tape holder  73 , the lead end  203  of the tape extends over the roller  77  and secured to the adhesion member  74 . After each dispensing operation, the lead end  203  of the tape  201  is kept adhered to the adhesion member  74  and/or the surface of the roller  77 , convenient for a next dispensing operation. 
     The cutter blade  79  can be formed integral with a part of the cutter holder  78 , i.e., the cutter holder  78  and the cutter blade  79  are integrated into one single piece. The adhesion member  74  is directly affixed to a part of the surface of the cutter blade  79 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates still another alternate form of the tape dispenser according to the present invention. According to this embodiment, the body  81  of the tape dispenser  80  is shaped like a vessel, having a tape holder  83  mounted in its one end to hold a tape  201  and a cutter holder  88  mounted in its other end to hold a cutter blade  89  and an adhesion member  84 . 
     After each dispensing operation, the lead end  203  of the tape  201  is secured to the surface of the adhesion member  84 , convenient for a next dispensing operation. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.