Abstract:
A portable wearable adhesive or other type tape roll dispenser that may be intended to dispense a single or multiple tape rolls. The dispenser has an enclosed housing and a cap that covers the area where the tape passes from the housing and beyond the area where the tape is separated from the tape roll or rolls. The dispenser can be worn on a belt or carried an equipment and completely protects the tape product from foreign object damage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention relates to portable adhesive tape dispensers that function as tape protectors, specifically dispensers/protectors that have the ability to be easily carried and readily dispense and sever lengths of tape as needed and to protect the tape roll&#39;s freshly y exposed tape end.  
           [0005]    Adhesive tape such as electrical friction, masking, scotch type and other tapes such as electrical wire marking and security tape are widely used in numerous facets of todays society.  
           [0006]    Originally these tapes were and many are still used without the aid of a dispensing system. In addition, with the exception of medical tapes most tapes lack protective devices and are subject to abrasions and contaminants that can render an entire roll of tape unfit for use. In some cases such as with electrical tape and electrical wire marking tapes abrasions and contaminants can lead to catastrophic failure of the bonding adhesive which can further lead to unintended electrical short circuits and electrical ground faults, thus causing fire, loss of property and life.  
           [0007]    As an improvement inventors have created numerous portable tape dispensers which aid the user in extracting and severing a length of tape. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,152 to Trankle and U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,066 to Hambleton detail wrist held portable tape dispensers which allow the user to extract and separate a length of tape with one hand while holding an object in the other, possibly to be taped.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. D 369,385 to Lapointe, U.S. Pat. No. D 428,922 to Packard et al. and U.S. Pat. NO. D 448,416 to Kimura claim tape dispensers that are mostly enclosed providing a good amount of protection to the tape roll.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,351 to Biswas and U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,258 to Plummer detail inventions capable of holding, dispensing, cutting off and holding a tape roll&#39;s tape end ready for the next use. These inventions are also capable of being carried and both are intended to make available multiple tape rolls for use.  
           [0010]    From the body of prior art it is obvious that the inventions designed as wearable tape dispensers do not completely protect the tape products from foreign contaminants and/or abrasions. And those inventions which do completely protect the tape products are not specifically intended to be wearable.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention comprises a device designed for and having the capability to be loaded with one or more rolls of tape which can be easily carried and that can readily dispense and sever lengths of tape as needed.  
           [0012]    The present invention is new and solves a real world need because the above common features are combined with a closure which completely shields the tape product(s), including the tape end(s) from foreign contaminants. In addition the present invention accomplishes these goals without the complicated components found in many of the prior art devices.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0013]    Accordingly, the objects and advantages of my above titled patent are;  
           [0014]    (a) to provide a tape housing which prevents foreign objects from contaminating housed material(s),  
           [0015]    (b) to provide a tape housing which prevents foreign objects from cutting or abrading a tape roll,  
           [0016]    (c) to provide a tape housing which allows easy access to a tape roll&#39;s tape end(s),  
           [0017]    (d) to provide a tape housing which facilitates the clean and easy separation of a length of tape from a tape roll, or a plurality of tape rolls, and  
           [0018]    (e) to provide a tape housing which is easy to store and carry.  
           [0019]    Further objects and advantages are to provide a tape housing that ensures at least one housed tape roll will be maintained and dispensed in a manner most advantageous to the tape product&#39;s protection thus reducing the possibility of electrical and/or other hazards due to impaired or damaged tape products. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a right side view of the main housing.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a front view of the main housing.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a back view of the main housing.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main housing.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tape roll bearing race.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a side view of the tape roll bearing race.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is an end view of the tape roll bearing race.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cutoff snap-cap.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a left end view of the cutoff snap-cap.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is a right end view of the cutoff snap-cap.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11 is a right side view of the front cover cover plate.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12 is a front view of the front cover cover plate.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 13 is a back view of the front cover cover plate.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the lock screw.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 15 is a side view of the lock screw.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a tape roll&#39;s positioning on the tape roll bearing race and their fitment into the main housing.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the main housing and tape roll bearing race with a roll of tape installed.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the cutoff snap-cap, front cover cover plate and lockscrew fitment.  
         [0038]    FIGS.  19 - 24  are frontal views which detail the use of the invention.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 19 shows cutoff snap-cap being opened.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 20 shows a tape roll&#39;s tape end being grasped.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 21 shows a length of tape being extracted.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 22 shows the tape being secured on the tape holding area.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 23 shows the cutoff snap-cap closed causing tape length separation.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 24 shows tape length separation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention and its use is illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 24 .  
         [0046]    Referring more particularly to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the preferred embodiment has a main housing  30  that is comprised of a back area  31  and a raised edge having a top  32 , a left side  33 , a right side  34 , and a bottom  35 . This single piece of injection molded, machined or otherwise constructed material has a carrying clip or other carrying means  36  attached on the outer side of the upper back (FIGS. 1 and 3) and a cylindrical shaft bearing piece  37  protrudes forward from the inner back wall of said main housing (FIGS. 1, 2 and  4 ). The shaft bearing peace has a threaded recess  38  in the center of the front facing end (FIGS. 1, 2, and  4 ).  
         [0047]    The bottom edge of the main housing  35  contains a tape cutoff slot  39 , two tape pull recesses  40 , a tape end holding area  41 , a tape transfer slot  42  and a cylindrical cutoff snap-cap swivel bearing cavity  43  that is open at the main housing&#39;s front and partially open on the right and bottom edge corner (FIGS. 2 and 4). On the front face of the raised edges are front cover cover plate alignment pins  44 , and on the lower back and lower front area of the front cover cover plate  58  there is a set of cutoff snap-cap closure indentures  45 .  
         [0048]    Referring now more particularly to FIGS.  5 - 7 , integral to the present embodiment is a cylindrical tape roll bearing race  46  having an inner bore  47  slightly larger than the main housing&#39;s shaft bearing piece&#39;s  37  outer diameter. The back side of the tape roll bearing race has a raised tape roll flange  48  that extends to an outer diameter that is larger than the intended tape product&#39;s inner diameter  49 . In addition the main area of the tape bearing race&#39;s outer diameter  50  is of a size to firmly hold the intended tape product&#39;s inner diameter  49 .  
         [0049]    Referring now to FIGS.  8 - 10 , integral to the present embodiment is a tape end protector cutoff snap-cap  51  here after referred to as the cutoff snap-cap which has a swivel bearing end  52  that is slightly smaller in circumference than the main housing&#39;s swivel bearing cavity  43 . Attached to this is a cover piece  53  having a length and width to cover the bottom edge of the main housing and possessing raised edges  54  that cover a portion of the main housing&#39;s lower back and the front cover cover plate&#39;s lower area (FIG. 19). On the interior facing raised edges of the cutoff snap-cap there are a set of cutoff snap-cap closure nodes  55  oriented to align with the cutoff snap-cap closure indentures  45  and on the exterior of the cutoff snap-cap&#39;s raised edges are gripping aids  56 . Opposite the swivel bearing end of the cutoff snap-cap is a tape cutoff extrusion  57  having a sufficiently angled edge to cleanly sever the intended tape product.  
         [0050]    Referring now to FIGS.  11 - 13  and also integral to the present embodiment is a front cover cover plate  58 . The back or inner facing side of the front cover cover plate  59  has alignment pin holes  60  that correspond to the main housings alignment pins  44  and a centrally located circular tape bearing race spacer extrusion  61  protrudes inward having an inner diameter slightly larger than the cylindrical shaft bearing piece  37 , and an outside diameter similar to the outside diameter of the tape bearing race&#39;s raised tape roll flange  48 . The front side of the front cover cover plate  62  has a centrally located recessed circular indenture  63  and centered in this is a lock screw hole  64  having a diameter slightly larger than the cylindrical shaft bearing&#39;s threaded recess  38 .  
         [0051]    Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, and also integral to the present embodiment is an assembly lock screw  65  hereafter referred to as a lock screw which has a threaded end  66  which corresponds to the cylindrical shaft bearing&#39;s threaded recess  38 . Adjoining the threaded end is an unthreaded length  67  having a diameter slightly smaller than the front cover cover plate&#39;s lock screw hole  64  and a length equal to the thickness of the front cover cover plate minus the thickness of the centrally located circular indenture  63 . This unthreaded length further adjoins the lock screw&#39;s cap  68  which has a diameter slightly less and a thickness slightly thinner than the front cover cover plate&#39;s centrally located circular indenture  63 . The lock screw&#39;s cap also has a slotted indenture  69  traversing the frontal face.  
       USE OF INVENTION  
       [0052]    The manner of using the claimed invention&#39;s preferred embodiment may first entail the loading of tape into the invention.  
         [0053]    Referring now to FIG. 16, load an appropriate roll of tape onto the tape roll bearing race  46  ensuring that the tape roll is oriented to unroll in a clockwise direction relative to the invention. Insert the frontal end of the tape roll bearing race  46  through the back of the tape roll&#39;s center  49  until the tape roll is seated firmly against the tape roll bearing race flange  48 .  
         [0054]    Referring now to FIG. 17, free approximately four or five inches of tape from the tape roll and install tape  49  and tape roll bearing race  46  onto the tape roll bearing shaft ensuring that the free tape end is passed through the main housing&#39;s tape transfer area  42 . Said free 4 or 5 inches of tape should then be adhered to the tape end holding area  41 .  
         [0055]    Referring now to FIG. 18, the front cover cover plate  58  should be installed ensuring that the front cover cover plate alignment pins  44  are properly aligned with their corresponding front cover cover plate alignment pin holes  60 . With the front cover cover plate  58  seated, install the lock screw  65  by inserting the lock screw into centrally located lock screw hole  64  in front cover cover plate  58  where it engages the shaft bearing&#39;s threaded recess  38  and rotate lock screw in a clockwise direction utilizing a screw driver or other means until lock screw is firmly seated.  
         [0056]    Referring now to FIGS. 23 and 24, once invention is assembled operator should close cutoff snap-cap  51  and remove excess tape end that may protrude from cutoff snap-cap.  
         [0057]    With the invention loaded with tape product it can be used as follows:  
         [0058]    Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and  19 - 24 , 
         [0059]    1. Carry invention utilizing one or more carrying means  36  (FIGS. 1 and 3).  
         [0060]    2. Open tape end protector cutoff snap-cap  51  and swivel open utilizing the snap-cap gripping aides  56  (FIG. 19).  
         [0061]    3. Insert a finger and or thumb into one or both tape pull recesses  40  and pull tape end down freeing said tape end from the tape end holding area  41  (FIG. 20).  
         [0062]    4. Extract length of tape desired by pulling tape end down making allowance for the tape length required to run from the tape transfer area  42  to the tape cutoff slot  39  (FIG. 21)  
         [0063]    5. Raise extracted tape length causing the portion of said tape length closest to the tape roll to become adhered to the tape end holding area  41  (FIG. 22).  
         [0064]    6. Close tape end protector cutoff snap-cap  51  by swivelling cap up until the snap-cap closure nodes  55  engage whereby the cutoff extrusion  57  will have caused extracted tape length to separate.