Patent Publication Number: US-7210650-B2

Title: Paper-back tape dispenser

Description:
This Utility Patent Application is based on Provisonal Patent Application (Ser. No. 60/531,267) filed Dec. 22, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to tape dispensers, and more particularly, to tape dispensers used with adhesive tape that uses a paper layer that is removed prior to application. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   There are three types of paper back tapes commonly used in the HVAC industry. The first one is a vinyl tape product made by Nashua Corporation of Nashua, N.H. (Product No. NAS-8223). The second is a foil packed tape product also sold by Nashua Corporation (Product No. NAS-323). A third is a reinforced packed tape product also sold by Nashua Corporation (Product No. NAS-FSK-3). All three types of tape are approximately 3 inches in width and distributed in rolls approximately 6 inches in diameter. Typically approximately 30 yards of tape are rolled onto a center spool approximately 3 inches in the diameter. 
   With all three types of HVAC tape products, the paper back layer must be removed to expose the adhesive surface prior to application. Because a roll of tape is relatively large and is usually held in one hand when used, unwinding the roll to dispense the desired amount of tape, cutting the tape, the removing the paper back layer, and then evenly applying the tape over the desired joint and layer of foil or vinyl back insulation can be difficult and time consuming. Because the adhesive may fold back onto itself, excessive waste can result. These problems are compounded when the ductwork is located in restricted or confined work areas. 
   All three types of tape products are difficult to tear or rip with the user&#39;s hands. In order to remove a section of tape from the roll, most workers carry a knife with a serrated blade. Because the tape is relatively stiff, the roll must be tightly held or secured against a surface at all times to prevent it from unraveling. Even when great care is taken to prevent unraveling, workers often spend a considerable amount of time rewinding rolls of tape after each use. 
   What is needed is a tape dispenser for ductwork tape that is easy to handle, promotes easy dispensing and simultaneous removal of the paper back layer from the section of tape as it is dispensed, eliminates the use of a knife, and maintains the roll of tape in a tight, unraveled condition between uses. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above stated objectives are met by the paper-back tape dispenser, disclosed herein, that includes a cylindrical outer shell made of sheet metal attached to a transversely aligned back plate. Formed on one side of the outer shell is an opening with a forward extending lip with a serrated cutting edge. The back plate is securely attached to the back edge of the outer shell thereby forming a cylindrical cavity inside the outer shell capable of receiving a spool of paper back tape. 
   Longitudinally aligned and attached to the rear surface of the back plate is a hollow short pipe. Located inside the pipe is a sliding piston that acts as a stabilizer for the axle discussed further below. Formed on opposite sidewalls of the short pipe are two longitudinally aligned slots. Perpendicularly aligned and extending transversely through the pipe, through the two slots, and through the piston is an axle. The axle is off-centered on the pipe so that the length of the section of axle that extends into the cavity is sufficient to length to extend into the center hole on a spool of tape placed into the cavity. The axle is sufficient in diameter so that a spool placed into the center hole on a roll of tape may rotate freely thereon on the axle. The opposite end of the axle extends outward through the outside surface of the pipe. Suitable nuts and washers are used to securely hold the spool on the axle. During use, the portion of the axle that extends outside the pipe is a finger bar that is used to lift the axle relative to the pipe so that the new roll of tape may be placed over the axle and into the cavity. 
   A spring is disposed inside the short pipe and biased between the top surface of the pipe and the top surface of the axle. During operation, the spring constantly forces the axle upward in the pipe so that the upper surface of a roll of tape is automatically pressed against the upper, inside, surface of the outer shell thereby preventing the roll from unraveling. 
   During use, the user selects a roll of tape and grabs the exposed end of the tape and separates the paper-back layer from the tape. The paper backing is wrapped around the roll of tape counter clockwise to expose the adhesive layer around the entire roll of tape. The finger bar is then lifted and the roll of tape is then placed onto the spool and into the cavity. finger bar is then released thereby allowing the roll of tape to be pressed against the lower inside surface of the outer shell. 
   The dispenser is normally held vertically with one hand while the end of the tape is extended through the side opening. The user places his or her thumb on the lip structure and then wraps the tips of the other four fingers around the outer edge of the roll and holds the roll against the upper inside surface of the outer housing. To dispense tape, the end of the tape is pulled outward and the paper layer is automatically removed. The tape is then pulled upward to cut the tape over the serrated edge. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a user holding the tape dispenser and dispensing a section of tape. 
       FIG. 2  is a front side elevational view of the dispenser. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear side elevational view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 2–4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional, side elevational view of the axle and pipe. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
   Referring to the FIGS., there is shown a paper back tape dispenser,  10  that includes a cylindrical outer shell  12  made of sheet metal attached to an optional, transversely aligned back plate  20 . Formed on one side of the outer shell  12  is a side opening  13  with a forward extending lip  14  with a distal serrated cutting edge  15  formed thereon. The back plate  20  is securely attached to the back edge of the outer shell  12  thereby forming a cylindrical cavity  16  inside the outer shell  12  capable of receiving a roll of tape  90 . 
   Longitudinally aligned and attached to the rear surface  21  of the back plate  20  is a hollow short pipe  30 . Formed on the inside and outside surfaces of the short pipe  30  are two longitudinally aligned slots  32 ,  34 . Located inside the short pipe  30  is a cylindrical shaped sliding piston  37 . The sliding piston  37  is hollow and opened at its opposite ends and slightly smaller in diameter than the pipe  30 . During operation, the piston  37  slides freely inside the pipe  30  and acts as a stabilizer for the axle  40 . 
   Perpendicularly aligned and extending through the piston  37  is a threaded axle  40  designed to hold a spool  45  that is inserted into the center void area  92  on a roll of tape  90 . During assembly, the piston  37  is longitudinally aligned and inserted into the top opening in the pipe  30 . The two longitudinally aligned slots  32 ,  34  formed on the pipe  30  extend upward and terminate on the top opening. The length of the slots  32 ,  34  are sufficient so that the axle  40  may be selectively moved between a centrally aligned position on the outer shell  12  to an offset position toward the upper surface outer shell  12 . The axle  40  is sufficient in length to partially extend into the cavity  16  and rearward from the pipe  30 . The portion of the axle  40  that extends into the cavity  16  is sufficient in length so that a spool  45  may be securely attached thereto and inserted into the center void area  92  of a roll of tape  90 . An outer nut  80  and washer  81  are placed on the outer section of the axle  40  that extends from the pipe  30 . An inner nut  82  and washer  83  are placed on the axle  30  on the inside surface of the back plate  20  to prevent the axle  40  from moving inward and outward on the outer shell  12 . A third set of nut  84  and washer  85  is placed on the axle  40  against the outside surface of the spool  45  and used to prevent the spool  45  from disengaging from the axle  40 . 
   As mentioned above, the opposite end of the axle  40  extends outward through the outside surface of the pipe  30  and through the outer slot  32 . During use, the portion of the axle  40  that extends outward acts as a finger bar, designated as  48 , that is used to lift the axle upward so that a new large roll of tape  90  may be placed over the axle  40  and into the cylindrical cavity  16 . 
   A spring  50  is disposed inside the pipe  30  and biased between the top surface of the pipe  30  and the axle  40 . A pin  52  is transversely align on the top end of the pipe  30  upon which the top edge of the spring  50  is engaged. The lower end of the spring  50  is inserted or wrapped around the axle  40 . During operation, the spring  50  constantly resists stretching and acts to force the axle  40  upward in the pipe  30  so that the upper surface of a roll of tape  90  is pressed against the upper, inside surface of the outer shell  12 . 
   A standard, full roll of tape  90  measures approximately 5⅞ inches in diameter and 3 inches in width. The diameter of the inside center void area  92  on the roll of tape  90  is approximately 3 inches in diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the outer shell  12  is made of sheet metal and measures approximately 6 inches in diameter and 4 inches in width. The side opening  13  measures approximately 2¼ inches in height and 4 inches in width. The spool  45  which is made of metal, wood, or plastic measures measure approximately 2¾ inches in diameter and 1¾ inches in width. The center hole (not shown) in the spool  45  is approximately ¼ inches in diameter. The pipe  30  is made of square metal stock material approximately 4 inches in length and 1 inch in width. The two slots  32 ,  34  each measure approximately ⅜ inches in width and approximately 3 inches in length. The piston  37  is also made of square metal stock material and measures approximately 2½ inches in length and ¾ inches in width. The axle  40  is approximately 6 inches in length and ¼ inches in diameter. 
   During use, the user selects a roll of tape  90  and grabs the exposed end  93  of the tape and separates the paper layer  94  from the tape  90  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The paper layer  94  is wrapped around the roll of tape  90  counter clockwise to expose the adhesive layer around the entire roll of tape  90 . The finger bar  48  is then lifted so that a roll of tape  90  may be placed onto the spool  45  and into the cavity  16 . The finger bar  48  is then released thereby allowing the roll of tape  90  to be pressed against the top inside surface of the outer shell  12 . 
   The dispenser  10  is normally held vertically with one hand while the end  93  of the tape  90  is extended through the side opening  13 . The user places his or her thumb on the lip structure  14  and then wraps the tips of the other four fingers around the outer edge of the roll of tape  90  and holds the roll of tape  90  against the upper inside surface of the outer shell  12 . To dispense tape, the end  93  of the tape is pulled outward and the paper layer  94  is automatically removed. The end  93  of the tape is then pulled upward to cut the tape over the serrated edge  16 . 
   In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.