Patent Abstract:
A caution tape holder for removable attaching a length of caution tape to a prior art safety cone. The caution tape holder is comprised of a top portion and a body portion, wherein said top portion extends at least partially out of an opening in a safety cone and has an opening therein for receipt of a length of caution tape. The caution tape holder of the present invention can be used in conjunction with a variety of different sized safety cones and will not damage the safety cone or the length of caution tape used therewith, nor does it necessitate the threading of the tape through a narrow opening. Additionally, the caution tape holder will not unduly interfere with the stacking and storage of prior art safety cones in a nesting fashion.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/661,480 filed on Jun. 19, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a caution tape holder that can be inserted into an opening in a prior art safety cone or other object for retaining the tape above the cone and establishing a safety zone. The unique design and profile of the caution tape holder does not damage the caution tape or the safety cone, and permits the safety cones to be stacked on top of one another in a nested fashion for storage with the caution tape holder installed thereon. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Oftentimes it is necessary for workers and/or first responders to establish a safety or work zone to complete the task at hand. The creation of such a temporary safety and/or work zone is typically accomplished through a combination of safety cones and caution tape. More specifically, the safety cones are placed along the perimeter of the safety/work zone and strung together using caution tape. For example, when it is desirable to divert traffic or otherwise block off a designated construction zone, construction workers will typically place safety cones along the perimeter of the area being cordoned off and string said cones together with caution tape. Typically, the caution tape is tied or stapled to the cones, which is not only time consuming to install/de-install but also tends to damage the tape and/or cones so that they cannot be reused. 
     Consequently, there exists in the art a long-felt need for a device for removably attaching caution tape or other items, such as warning flags, to a safety cone, traffic barrel, etc. There also exists in the art a long felt need for a caution tape holder that does not cause damage to the caution tape or to the object to which it is attached, thereby enabling the reuse of said items. Moreover, there is a long felt need for a caution tape holder for removable attachment to a safety cone, wherein a plurality of safety cones may be stacked for easy storage without first having to remove the caution tape holders attached thereto. Finally, there is a long-felt need for a caution tape holder that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a caution tape holder for removable attachment to a safety cone wherein neither the safety cone, the device nor the caution tape is damaged during installation or removal. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the caution tape holder is comprised of an integrally formed top and body portions, wherein said top portion further comprises an opening and a slot for receipt of a length of prior art caution tape, and wherein said body portion is further comprised of a plurality of ridges and valleys for removably insertion into an opening in a safety cone or other object. 
     The caution tape holder of the present invention permits a user to removably attach the holder and other items, such as caution tape, warning flags and the like, to a prior art safety cone. Proper use of the caution tape holder will not result in damage to the caution tape, the caution tape holder, or to the safety cone to which they are attached, thereby enabling the reuse of said items. The unique design and profile of the caution tape holder also permits the safety cones to be stacked on top of one another for relatively easy storage with the caution tape holder installed thereon. Finally, the caution tape holder of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the caution tape holder of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the caution tape holder of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the caution tape holder of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the caution tape holder of the present invention being inserted into a safety cone. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the caution tape holder of the present invention installed on a safety cone and supporting a length of caution tape. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of caution tape holders of the present invention installed on safety cones and cordoning off a safety zone. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of caution tape holder  100  of the present invention. Holder  100  is comprised of a top portion  110  and a body portion  130 , wherein said top and body portions  110 ,  130  are preferably integrally formed. Nonetheless, it is also contemplated that top portion  110  and body portion  130  may be two separate components, fixedly or removably attached to each other by any common means known in the art. Inasmuch as the holder is typically deployed outdoors and exposed to the elements such as rain, snow, sleet, etc., holder  100  is preferably comprised of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-strene) plastic or some other generally weather-resistant material such as plastic, aluminum, wood, rubber, or the like. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, top portion  110  is generally cylindrical in shape and further comprised of a top surface  112 , a side surface  114 , and a bottom surface  116 . The thickness of top portion  110 , as measured between top surface  112  and bottom surface  114  is preferably between 7/16ths and ¾ inches, and the overall diameter of top portion  110  is preferably between 1⅝ths and 2 inches. Nonetheless, it is also contemplated that other shapes and dimensions could also be utilized without affecting the overall concept of the present invention, provided that the shape and/or size of top portion  110  is such that top portion  110  is not permitted to pass through an opening  230  in a prior art safety cone  200 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , top surface  112  of top portion  110  is preferably comprised of an opening  1120  therein that leads to a slot  1140  formed in side surface  114  of top portion  110 . More specifically, and as described more fully below, a length of prior art caution tape  250  can be passed through opening  1120  and removably retained in slot  1140  without damaging tape  250 . While the overall shape and dimensions of opening  1120  and slot  1140  may vary to suit user need and/or preference, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the width of opening  1120  will be less than the width of slot  1140  to reduce the likelihood that caution tape  250  will prematurely detach from holder  100 . For example, the width of opening  1120  is preferably between 3/16ths and 5/16ths of an inch, and the width of slot  1140  is preferably between ⅞ths and one inch. Opening  1120  may also have a generally curved appearance, as shown in  FIG. 1 , to further reduce the likelihood that caution tape  250  will become prematurely or unintentionally detached from holder  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , body portion  130  is a generally conically-shaped mass comprised of an outer surface  132  and a bottom  136  located opposite of top portion  110 . Body portion  130  may be a solid mass or hollowed out. For example, bottom  136  may have an opening (not shown) therein to reduce the overall weight of holder  100 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, outer surface  132  is further comprised of more than one ridge  1322  and more than one valley  1326 , wherein the diameter of each ridge  1322  and valley  1326  is less than the diameter of top portion  110  and decreases in size along outer surface  132  in the direction of bottom  136 . For example, the outside diameter of the valley  1326  nearest top portion  110  is preferably between 1¼ and 1⅝ths inches, whereas the outside diameter of the adjacent valley  1326  closer to bottom  136  is preferably between 1 1/16th and 1¼ inches and less than the diameter of the previous valley  1326  near top portion  110 . Likewise, and by way of example, the outside diameter of the ridge  1322  nearest top portion  110  is preferably between 1⅜ths and 1⅝ths inches, whereas the outside diameter of the adjacent ridge  1322  closer to bottom  136  is preferably between 1 5/16ths and 1 9/16ths inches and less than the diameter of the previous ridge  1322  near top portion  110 . 
     As described more fully below, most prior art safety cones  200  have an opening  230  that is either 1 1/16th or 1 5/16th inches in diameter. Accordingly, in a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, body portion  130  has two ridges  1322  of differing and decreasing diameters to accommodates the two different standard sizes of openings  230  in prior art safety cones  200 . Nonetheless, it is contemplated that body portion  130  could also have more or less ridges  1322  and valleys  1326  to suit user preference and/or a particular application without affecting the overall concept of the present invention. Indeed,  FIG. 3  depicts an alternative embodiment of holder  300  comprised of a top portion  310  and a bottom portion  330 . Similar to the holder depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , top portion  310  is further comprised of a top surface  312 , a side surface  314 , and a bottom surface  316 . The thickness of top portion  310 , as measured between top surface  312  and bottom surface  314  is preferably between 7/16ths and ¾ of an inch, and the overall diameter of top portion  310  is preferably between 1 5/16ths and 1⅝ths inches. Nonetheless, it is also contemplated that other shapes and dimensions could also be utilized without affecting the overall concept of the present invention, provided that the shape and/or size of top portion  310  is such that top portion  310  is not permitted to pass through opening  230  in a prior art safety cone  200 . 
     Top surface  312  of top portion  310  is preferably comprised of an opening  3120  therein that leads to a slot  3140  formed in side surface  314  of top portion  310 . More specifically, and as described above, a length of prior art caution tape  250  can be passed through opening  3120  and removably retained in slot  3140  without damaging tape  250 . While the overall shape and dimensions of opening  3120  and slot  3140  may vary to suit user need and/or preference, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the width of opening  3120  will be less than the width of slot  3140  to reduce the likelihood that caution tape  250  will prematurely detach from holder  300 . For example, the width of opening  3120  is preferably between ¼ and ⅜ths of an inch, and the width of slot  3140  is preferably between ⅝ths and ⅞ths of an inch. Opening  3120  may also have a generally curved appearance (not shown) similar to that of holder  100  in  FIG. 1  to further reduce the likelihood that caution tape  250  will become prematurely or unintentionally detached from holder  300 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , body portion  330  is a generally conically-shaped mass comprised of an outer surface  332  and a bottom  336  located opposite of top portion  310 . Body portion  330  may be a solid mass or hollowed out. For example, bottom  336  may have an opening (not shown) therein to reduce the overall weight of holder  300 . 
     Outer surface  332  is further comprised of a single ridge  3322  and at least one valley  3326 , wherein the diameter of ridge  3322  and at least one valley  3326  are both less than the diameter of top portion  310 . For example, the outside diameter of the at least one valley  3326  nearest top portion  310  is preferably between one and 1¼ inches, and the outside diameter of the ridge  3322  nearest top portion  310  is preferably between 1⅛th and 1⅜ths inches. Nonetheless, it is contemplated that other shapes and sizes could also be employed to suit user preference or a particular application, provided that head portion  310  is not permitted to pass through opening  230  in prior art cone  200 . 
     Having now described the overall structure of multiple embodiments of caution tape holder  100 ,  300 , the general structure of prior art safety cone  200  and the use and usefulness of holder  100 ,  300  will now be summarized.  FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the caution tape holder  100  of the present invention being inserted into safety cone  200 . Safety cones  200  are well known in the art and are typically comprised of a base  210  for contacting the ground or other generally horizontal surface, a generally conically shaped body portion  220  that rests atop of base  210  and a generally circular opening  230  at the top of body portion  220 . The two most common sizes of opening  230  in cone portion  220  are 1 1/16ths and 1 5/16th inches in diameter. Accordingly, as described above, the overall shape and size of holder  100  should be such that body portion  130  may be inserted into opening  230  to create a friction fit between the outer surface  132  of body portion  130  and cone body portion  220 . More specifically, if safety cone  200  is of the type having an opening  230  with a diameter of approximately 1 1/16th inches (i.e., the smaller of the two most frequently used sized openings), only the smaller of the two ridges  1322  would fit within opening  230  and the larger of the two ridges  1322  (i.e., the one nearest top portion  110 ) would rest atop of cone body portion  220  above opening  230 . By comparison, if safety cone  200  is of the type having an opening  230  with a diameter of approximately 1 5/16ths inches (i.e., the larger of the two most frequently used sized openings), both of ridges  1322  would fit within opening  230  and only the top portion  110  would rest atop of cone body portion  220  above opening  230 . Consequently, it can be appreciated that the preferred embodiment of holder  100  can be used with either of the two most common types of prior art cones  200 . 
     Once holder  100  has been properly installed atop of prior art cone  200 , a user (not shown) may removably attach a length of caution tape  250  to holder  100  by inserting tape  250  through opening  1120  in top surface  112  and into slot  1140 , as best shown in  FIG. 5 . In this manner, caution tape  250  may be removably attached to a prior art safety cone  200  relatively quickly and easily, and without damaging tape  250  or cone  200 . Further, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 1 , the width of opening  1120  is less than the width of slot  1140  to reduce the likelihood that caution tape  250  will prematurely detach from holder  100 . In the same embodiment, opening  1120  also has a generally curved appearance across top surface  112  to further reduce the likelihood that caution tape  250  will become prematurely or unintentionally detached from holder  100 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of caution tape holders  100  of the present invention installed on prior art safety cones  200  to cordon off a safety zone. As an important feature of the present invention, once the safety zone is no longer needed, a user (not shown) can quickly and easily remove tape  250  from slot  1140  via opening  1120  without damaging the tape  250  or the prior art cone  200 , ensuring that both can be reused in the future. 
     Consequently, the various embodiments of caution tape holder  100  of the present invention permit a user to removably attach the holder  100 ,  300  and other items, such as caution tape  250 , warning flags and the like, to a prior art safety cone  200  or other object with an opening therein. Proper use of the caution tape holder  100 ,  300  will not result in damage to the caution tape  250 , holder  100 ,  300 , or to the safety cone  200  to which they are attached, thereby enabling the reuse of said items. The unique design and profile of the caution tape holders  100 ,  300  described herein also permits the safety cones  200  to be stacked on top of one another for relatively easy storage with the caution tape holder  100  installed thereon. Finally, the caution tape holder  100 ,  300  of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use. 
     Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4