Patent Abstract:
A dispenser with a cover whose overall size can be kept compact and which is provided with a cover to protect the applicator tip when not in use is to be provided. The dispenser with a cover is provided with a body, an applicator tip protruding through a tip aperture in the forward part of the body, and a cover for protecting the applicator tip when not in use. The cover is fitted to be rotatable around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body, and can turn between a position in which it overlaps at least part of the body from outside and surrounds the applicator tip and another position in which it extends backward from the body in a direction away from the aperture at the tip.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a dispenser with a cover for transferring or painting a transfer tape or the like having a coat for correcting, adhering or marking (highlighting) use onto the surface to be transferred, the applicator tip of the dispenser being provided with a protective cover. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Among known conventional dispensers having a cover of such a type, there is a coating applicator described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-78381 for instance. 
   In the coating applicator described in the above publication, a slide cover is slidably disposed at an opening of the coating applicator container for exposing the transfer head of the applicator so that the transfer head can be exposed or concealed as desired. A pair of engaging pieces are provided at the rear end of the slide cover. A slidable engaging projection at the tip of each engaging piece is guided along a sliding groove provided on the inner wall of the coating applicator container, and an auxiliary projection positioned at and protruding from the root of each engaging piece on its rear end edge is pressed against and engaged with the inner wall of the coating applicator container. 
   When the applicator tip portion is not to be used, the slide cover can be drawn out from within the coating applicator container to slide the slidable engaging projection toward the front end of the sliding groove and thereby to enable the slide cover to protect the applicator tip portion. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   However, the coating applicator described in the publication involves a problem that the overall length of the coating applicator is extended and the applicator cannot be kept compact because it requires a stroke in the lengthwise direction to allow the slide cover to slide. 
   An object of the present invention, attempted in view of this problem, is to provide a dispenser with a cover whose overall size can be kept compact and which is provided with a cover to protect its applicator tip when the dispenser is not in use. Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser with a cover whose applicator tip can be conveniently used when the applicator tip is allowed to be exposed by the opened cover. 
   In order to achieve the objects stated above, a dispenser with a cover according to the invention comprises a body, an applicator tip protruding from an aperture at a forward end of the body, and a cover for protecting the applicator tip when it is not in use. 
   The cover is attached to the body to be rotatable around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body, and can turn between a first position in which it overlaps at least part of the body from outside and surrounds the applicator tip and a second position in which it extends backward from the body in a direction away from the aperture at the forward end. 
   According to the invention, since the cover rotates around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body, when the cover is in the first position in which it overlaps at least part of the body from outside and surrounds the applicator tip, it can protect the applicator tip and, in this position, can be kept in a compact shape. When the cover is in the second position in which it extends backward from the body in a direction away from the aperture at the tip, the applicator tip is made usable because it is exposed, and the extended state of the cover results in an enlarged overall shape, which is also easier for a user to grip and use. 
   A round boss protruding in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body can be formed on one of the body and cover, a round recess can be formed in the other of the body and cover, and the fitting of the round boss into the round recess enables the cover to turn relative to the body around the round boss and round recess. Thus, the cover can be rotatably attached to the body in a simple configuration, and can further be made detachable from the body as required. 
   A convex can be formed on one of the body and cover, a concave into which the convex can fit can be formed on the other of the body and cover, and the convex can be fitted into the concave when the cover is in the first position. Thus, the rotational position in which the cover protects the applicator tip can be maintained by the fitting of the convex with the concave. 
   A stopper can be provided on the body to prevent the cover from turning any further when the cover turns from the first position and reaches the second position. Thus, the rotational position of the cover can be restricted by the stopper. Further, inadvertent rotation of the cover can be prevented when the user grips the cover in using the applicator tip. 
   Furthermore, a second convex can be formed on one of the body and cover, a second concave into which the second convex can fit can be formed on the other of the body and cover, and the second convex can be fitted into the second concave when the cover is in the second position. Thus, the rotational position in which the cover allows the applicator tip to be exposed can be maintained by the fitting of the second convex with the second concave. 
   The cover can be provided with an opening on the leading side of the rotation from the first position to second position to allow part of the body to be exposed in its first position. Thus, the cover and the body can be released from overlapping by pressing the body out through the opening when turning the cover from its first position to the second position. 
   An edge of the cover can include a curved arciform part. Thus, when the user grips the cover in using the applicator tip, the arciform part facilitates his gripping. 
   The cover may be detachable from the body. Thus, the cover can be removed in accordance with situation in which it is not needed. 
   The body is provided with a built-in detachable coat transfer set having a feed unit around which a transfer tape including a base tape substrate with a coat is wound and which feeds out the transfer tape when the dispenser is in use and a take-up unit for taking up the transfer tape after the transfer of its coat by the applicator tip, and the coat transfer set can be placed or displaced through a position where it is not obstructed by the cover of the body. Thus, the cover can be prevented from obstructing the placement or displacement of the coat transfer set by turning the cover to an appropriate position. 
   The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-234265, filed on Aug. 11, 2004, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a dispenser with a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a position (first position) in which its cover is protecting the applicator tip; 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the dispenser with a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a position (second position) in which its cover is allowing the applicator tip to be exposed; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  shows an internal structure of the dispenser with a cover according to the embodiment of the invention, as viewed sideways; 
       FIG. 5  shows the internal structure of the dispenser with a cover according to the embodiment of the invention, as viewed from above; and 
       FIG. 6  shows the dispenser with a cover according to the embodiment of the invention, in the state of being used. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5  show a dispenser with a cover according to the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the dispenser  10  has a body  12  which constitutes the main part of the dispenser. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a coat transfer set  14  is provided within the body  12 . The coat transfer set  14  mainly comprises a feed reel (feed unit)  18  around which a transfer tape  16  including a base tape substrate with a coat is wound and which feeds out the transfer tape  16  when the dispenser is in use, a transfer head (applicator tip)  20  for pressing the transfer tape  16  against and transferring the coat onto a surface to be transferred, and a take-up reel (take-up unit)  22  for taking up the transfer tape  16  after the transfer of its coat. Between the feed reel  18  and take-up reel  22 , there is disposed a rotation transmitting mechanism  24  for rotating them in conjunction with each other. The base of the transfer head  20  is fixed within the body  12 , and protrudes out of a tip aperture  12   e  formed at the tip of the body  12 . 
   A cover  30  is rotatably fitted outside the rear part of the body  12 . The cover  30  is rotatable around an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body  12 . To this end, round bosses  12   a  and  12   a  are protrudently disposed on the both sides of the body  12  in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body  12 . 
   The cover  30  is formed relatively thin or soft. As shown in  FIG. 3  and elsewhere, it has a pair of planar pieces  30   a  and  30   a , a covering part  30   b  closing the pair of planar pieces  30   a  and  30   a  at the tip, and a linking part  30   c  linking the pair of planar pieces  30   a  and  30   a  in their middle parts. A round recess  30   d  to fit with one or the other of the round bosses  12   a  and  12   a  is bored in each planar piece  30   a . Alternatively, the round bosses may as well be formed on the cover, and the round recesses, in the body. The fitting of these round bosses  12   a  and round recesses  30   d  makes the cover  30  rotatable relative to the body  12  around these round bosses  12   a  and round recesses  30   d.    
   The covering part  30   b  has an L sectional shape spanning two sides of each of the planar pieces  30   a  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , an opening  30   e  is formed between the covering part  30   b  and the linking part  30   c . It is desirable that the opening  30   e  is set to be large enough for a user at least to insert a finger in it. 
   The upper edge, as seen in  FIG. 1 , of each of the planar pieces  30   a  forms an arciform part  30   h  in a moderately bent concave shape. 
   Further, a small hole (concave)  30   f  is formed in an appropriate position in each of the planar pieces  30   a , and a small stub (convexes)  12   b  is formed on each side of the body  12  so as to correspond to the small hole  30   f . The small stubs  12   b  fit the small holes  30   f  in a state in which the cover  30  protects the transfer head  20 . Alternatively, the small holes or concaves may be formed in the body and the small stubs or convexes may be formed on the cover. 
   Also, a groove (second concave)  30   g , extending in the widthwise direction, is formed in the inner surface of the linking part  30   c , and corresponds to a rib (second convex)  12   c , which fits into the groove  30   g  and is formed on the upper surface of the body  12 . In the vicinity of the rib  12   c , a step  12   d  is formed to serve as a stopper. The rib  12   c  fits into the groove  30   g  in a state in which the cover  30  allows the transfer head  20  to be exposed. The groove or the second concave may as well be formed in the body, and the rib or the second convex, on the cover. 
     FIG. 1  shows a state in which the cover  30  is protecting the transfer head  20  (i.e. first position), with the covering part  30   b  surrounding the transfer head  20 . In this state, the small stubs  12   b  are fitted in the small holes  30   f  to enable this state to be maintained. The cover  30  shields the body  12  and the transfer head  20  from outside, the cover  30  overlapping at least part of the body  12  from outside resulting in a compact overall shape of the dispenser with a cover  10 . 
   When this dispenser with a cover  10  is to be used, a force is applied to the cover  30  to disengage the small stubs  12   b  and the small holes  30   f  from each other. In this time, if a finger is inserted through the opening  30   e  between the covering part  30   b  and the linking part  30   c  which have been separated from each other to press with the finger the part of the body  12  exposed from the opening  30   e  in the direction of an arrow in  FIG. 1 , separation of the transfer head  20  and the covering part  30   b  is facilitated. 
   Incidentally, in the state illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cover  30  is turnable only in the direction indicated by a curved arrow in  FIG. 1 , with the side on which the covering part  30   b  is located leading the turn. Thus, it is to be noted that the opening  30   e  is formed on the leading side. 
   When the cover  30  is turned about 180 degrees counterclockwise as viewed in  FIG. 1  to the state shown in  FIG. 2 , the cover  30  and the body  12  come into a state in which they form a substantially straight line in the longitudinal direction (i.e. second position), and the overall length of the dispenser with a cover  10  is extended. The linking part  30   c , after interfering with the rib  12   c , comes into contact with the step  12   d  to prevent the step  12   d  from turning further, and the rib  12   c  fits into the groove  30   g  to enable that state to be maintained. As the linking part  30   c  rides over the rib  12   c  to cause the rib  12   c  to fit into the groove  30   g , the user can feel a click. 
   In the state shown in  FIG. 2 , the transfer head  20  is fully exposed and is therefore usable. As the overall length of the dispenser with a cover  10  is extended, the user can hold mainly the cover  30  in using the dispenser. The curved arciform part  30   h  of the cover  30  facilitates its holding between the user&#39;s thumb and index finger, and its shape ensures holding ease. The arciform part  30   h  is formed on the edge which constitutes the trailing end of the planar pieces  30   a  of the cover  30  when the cover  30  turns from the position shown in  FIG. 1  to that in  FIG. 2 . 
   When the user, holding the cover  30 , moves the transfer head  20  toward him while pressing against the surface to be transferred S as shown in  FIG. 6 , the transfer tape  16  fed out of the feed reel  18  is pressed by the transfer head  20  against the surface to be transferred to cause the coat to be transferred. Although the cover  30  is subjected by the user&#39;s grip during this operation to a counterclockwise rotation moment, as viewed in  FIG. 6 , around the center of the rotation by the grip, the contact between the linking part  30   c  and the step  12   d  prevents the cover  30  from turning counterclockwise, and the cover  30  and the body  12  are thereby enabled to maintain their straight aligned state. 
   In this way, the dispenser with a cover  10  can be made easier to grip when in use and kept compact when under protection. 
   As the cover  30  is formed relatively thin or soft as stated above, or to be flexible and elastic by the presence of the opening  30   e , and the pair of planar pieces  30   a  and  30   a  can bend as appropriate, it is possible to easily detach the cover  30  from the body  12  by bending the planar pieces  30   a  and  30   a  to disengage the round recesses  30   d  and the round bosses  12   a  from each other, when the cover  30  is not needed. For instance, a user who does not want to use the cover  30  for the holding purpose as mentioned above when using the dispenser, he can remove the cover  30  from the body  12  as appropriate in using the dispenser. 
   Although the coat transfer set  14  is supposed to be fixed to the body  12  in the embodiment described above, this is not the only conceivable configuration. The coat transfer set  14  can be a cartridge detachable from the body  12  or replaceable. In this case, the coat transfer set  14  can be placed or displaced through the front part of the body  12 , namely through the tip aperture  12   e , or through the rear part of the body  12 , opposite to the tip aperture  12   e , for detachment or replacement. In any case, by allowing the cover  30  to turn in an appropriate position, it can be prevented from obstructing the placement or displacement of the coat transfer set  14 . 
   While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific embodiments, and particular modifications thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8