Patent Publication Number: US-6659390-B2

Title: Material dispensing system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to elongate material dispensers and more specifically it relates to a material dispensing system for allowing convenient unloading, loading and dispensing of a spool of elongate material. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Elongate material dispensers have been in use for years. Conventional elongate materially dispensers are formed for receiving and dispensing a spool of material such as barricade tape, flagging tape, string, rope, wire and other elongate materials. The BEN MEADOWS COMPANY manufactures a barricade tape dispenser that is comprised of a complex structure which is difficult to load and unload a spool of material. There are other products on the market that receive and dispense elongate material upon a spool, but they are relatively difficult to load and unload. 
     Examples of patented devices which are related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 2,171,648 to Ennis et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 1,825,822 to Rundell; U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,389 to Ness; U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,115 to Samuelson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,605 to Lee; U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,339 to Moody et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,208 to Hoffman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,058 to Schwarz et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,485 to Bundschuh; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,423 to Bahnsen. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for allowing convenient replacement of a spool of elongate material. Conventional material dispensing devices are difficult to load and unload with a spool of material. 
     In these respects, the material dispensing system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing convenient replacement of a spool of elongate material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of material dispensers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new material dispensing system construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing convenient replacement of a spool of elongate material. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new material dispensing system that has many of the advantages of the material dispensers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new material dispensing system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art material dispensers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a tubular main body formed for receiving a spool of material, a handle attached to the tubular main body, and a set of retaining prongs positioned within the main body for selectively retaining the spool of material upon the main body. The retaining prongs are comprised of a resilient material for allowing the distal portions thereof to be forcibly contracted thereby allowing the spool of material to be unloaded and a replacement spool to be loaded. The retaining prongs have a flanged portion that extend outwardly and have a total width greater than an inner diameter of the spool of material. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a material dispensing system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     A second object is to provide a material dispensing system for allowing efficient replacement of a spool of elongate material. 
     Another object is to provide a material dispensing system that is easy to load and unload a spool of material. 
     An additional object is to provide a material dispensing system that may be utilized with spools of material such as but not limited to barricade tape, flagging tape, string, rope, wire and other elongate materials. 
     A further object is to provide a material dispensing system that is ergonomic thereby reducing stress upon the user&#39;s fingers and wrist during usage. 
     Another object is to provide a material dispensing system that allows a user to easily sever a desired length of the elongate material. 
     A further object is to provide a material dispensing system that may be removably attached to the user. 
     Another object is to provide a material dispensing system that may be attached to a wall, floor or similar structure for dispensing the spool of material. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention with a spool of material positioned upon thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a first side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded cross sectional view of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view of the retaining prongs. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the retaining prongs. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of the retaining prongs. 
     FIG. 11 is an upper perspective view of the present invention and a spool member having a side handle positioned upon thereof. 
     FIG. 12 is a second side view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 12 illustrate a material dispensing system  10 , which comprises a tubular main body  20  formed for receiving a spool of material  12 , a handle attached to the tubular main body  20 , and a set of retaining prongs  50  positioned within the main body  20  for selectively retaining the spool of material  12  upon the main body  20 . The retaining prongs  50  are comprised of a resilient material for allowing the distal portions thereof to be forcibly contracted thereby allowing the spool of material  12  to be unloaded and a replacement spool to be loaded. The retaining prongs  50  have a flanged portion that extend outwardly and have a total width greater than an inner diameter of the spool of material  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6 of the drawings, the main body  20  is comprised of a tubular structure having a front end and a rear end. The outer surface of the main body  20  has a width less than the inner diameter of the spool of material  12  for allowing free rotation of the spool  12 . The front end of the main body  20  is open for allowing the retaining prongs  50  to extend from the interior portion  24  of the main body  20 . 
     The main body  20  is preferably comprised of a tubular structure having a circular cross sectional shape as is illustrated within the drawings, however the main body  20  may have various other cross sectional shapes that are capable of receiving a spool of material  12 . Various other structures and configurations may be utilized to construct the main body  20  though not illustrated within the exemplary drawings. 
     The outer surface of the main body  20  preferably includes a plurality of rib members  22  extending longitudinally as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The plurality of rib members  22  are designed for reducing the surface area of the main body  20  in contact with the inner surface of the spool of material  12  thereby reducing the overall resistance when the spool of material  12  is rotated upon the main body  20 . It can be appreciated that various configurations of the rib members  22  may be utilized upon the main body  20 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 through 3 of the drawings, a support member  30  extends from the second end of the main body  20 . The support member  30  extends substantially traversely with respect to the main body  20  as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. At least one cutting edge  32  preferably extends from the support member  30  as best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The cutting edge  32  may be comprised of a plurality of blades or similar cutting structure capable of cutting the material upon the spool  12 . 
     An upper handle  40  is attached traversely to the distal end of the support member  30  as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The upper handle  40  preferably extends outwardly substantially parallel with respect to the main body  20  as further shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The upper handle  40  may have various ergonomic configurations for grasping by a user during loading, unloading, transporting and dispensing of a spool of material  12 . 
     As further shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, a bracket  42  is attached to the upper handle  40  and the support member  30  at the intersection thereof. The bracket  42  includes an opening  44  for receiving a securing strap  14  that is utilized to attach the present invention to the belt of a user or other structure. The securing strap  14  may be comprised of a hook and loop structure for allowing easy attachment and removal of the present invention. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 12 of the drawings, the main body  20  further includes a rear wall  21  adjacent to the second end thereof. The rear wall  21  preferably includes a plurality of apertures  23  for receiving the engaging members  60 ,  62  of the retaining prongs  50 . Other attachment configurations may be utilized to secure the retaining prongs  50  within the interior portion  24  of the main body  20  as can be appreciated. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, a first lower lip  26  and a first upper lip  27  are attached within the interior portion  24  of the main body  20 . The first lower lip  26  and the first upper lip  27  define a channel for receiving a portion of the retaining prongs  50 . 
     As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, a second lower lip  28  and a second upper lip  29  are attached within the interior portion  24  of the main body  20  preferably opposite of the first lower lip  26  and the second lower lip  28  respectively. The second lower lip  28  and the second upper lip  29  define a channel for receiving a portion of the retaining prongs  50 . It can be appreciated that the channels created by the lips  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  may also be produced by creating a channel directly within the inner surface of the interior portion  24  of the main body  20 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3,  8  and  10  of the drawings, the retaining prongs  50  are comprised of a base  59  and a plurality of prongs  52 ,  54  extending from the base  59  in a resilient manner. The plurality of prongs are preferably comprised of a first prong  52  and a second prong  54 , however, it can be appreciated that additional prongs may extend from the base  59 . The prongs  52 ,  54  are sufficient in length to extend from the base  59  within the interior portion  24  of the main body  20  to outside of the main body  20  as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The retaining prongs  50  are comprised of a resilient material such as but not limited to plastic or composite material. 
     The base  59  is attached to the rear wall  21  of the main body  20  by a first engaging member  60  and a second engaging member  62  catchably extending through corresponding apertures  23  within the rear wall  21  as best illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A plurality of spacer members  64  preferably extend from the base  59  to engage the inner portion of the rear wall  21  as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. However, it can be appreciated that the retaining prongs  50  may be secured within the interior portion  24  of the main body  20  utilizing well-known securing means such as adhesive, fasteners and other engaging structures. The engaging members  60 ,  62  are simply an exemplary securing system and should not be considered the only means for securing the retaining prongs  50  within the main body  20 . To increase the flexibility of the prongs  52 ,  54 , only the base  59  is preferably attached within the main body  20 . 
     The distal end of each of the prongs  52 ,  54  have tapered flanges  56 ,  58  for retaining the spool of material  12  upon the main body  20  as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings. The flanges  56 ,  58  are preferably tapered to allow for easy loading of the spool of material  12 . 
     The first prong  52  has at least a first flange  56  extending outwardly from the distal portion thereof as best shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings. The first flange  56  has a first edge  57  that is in opposition to the spool of material  12  and sometimes engages the spool of material  12  during dispensing thereof. The flanges  56 ,  58  are preferably a sufficient distance from the spool of material  12  to avoid constant frictional engagement with the spool of material  12  during dispensing thereof as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. 
     The second prong  54  has at least a second flange  58  extending outwardly from the distal portion thereof as best shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings. The second flange  58  has a second edge  55  that is in opposition to the spool of material  12  and sometimes engages the spool of material  12  during dispensing thereof. The flanges  56 ,  58  may have various structures commonly utilized for flange structures. 
     The width measured from the outer portions of the flanges  56 ,  58  is larger than an inner diameter of the spool of material  12  thereby preventing the spool of material  12  from accidentally being removed from the main body  20  as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. As best shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, the distal ends of the prongs  52 ,  54  are preferably similar in width to the main portion of the prongs  52 ,  54  to allow for easy loading of the spool of material  12 . 
     The present invention is designed to receive and dispense conventional spools  12 . However, FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative spool member  70  that includes a side handle  72  for allowing dispensed elongate material to be loaded upon the spool member  70 . The side handle  72  may be rotatably attached to the side of the spool member  70 . The spool member  70  may be comprised of other structures not illustrated within FIG. 11 of the drawings. 
     In use, the user retrieves a desired spool of material  12  and then positions the spool of material  12  about the distal ends of the prongs  52 ,  54 . The user then forces the spool of material  12  upon the prongs  52 ,  54  thereby causing the tapered flanges  56 ,  58  to engage the inner portion of the spool of material  12 . The distal portions of the prongs  52 ,  54  are thereby forced inwardly toward one another until the inner portion of the spool of material  12  passes the extended most portion of the flanges  56 ,  58 . The user continues to apply a force upon the spool of material  12  until fully positioned about the main body  20 . After the outer edge of the spool of material  12  passes over the first edge  57  and the second edge  55  of the flanges  56 ,  58 , the prongs  52 ,  54  are free to expand outwardly to their original position thereby securing the spool of material  12  upon the main body  20 . The user is then free to dispense or load the elongate material as desired by the rotation of the spool of material  12  about the main body  20 . The user may sever the elongate material by using the cutting edge  32  within the support member  30 . When the user desires to replace the existing spool of material  12 , the user grasps the distal portions of the prongs  52 ,  54  and applies an inward force upon thereof thereby contracting the prongs  52 ,  54 . When the flanges  56 ,  58  are able to be passed about by the spool  12 , the user then simultaneously forces the spool of material  12  outwardly over the prongs  52 ,  54  until completely removed. The user then repeats the above process to position the new spool of material  12  upon the main body  20 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.