Abstract:
A device for accessing and storing tape on a tape roll is a single unitary construction and includes a textured grip portion; a tape rest portion; a blade edge; and a base opposite the textured grip portion, the tape rest portion, and the blade edge wherein a width of the device is approximately equal to a width of a roll of tape.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 62/077,914 entitled “Tape-Tab Starts and Stores an Adhesive Tape Leading Edge,” filed Nov. 11, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Embodiments 
         [0003]    The devices described and illustrated herein are generally directed to tape storage and/or saver devices. More particularly, the devices are directed to a tape-tab and a tape-wedge for storing the leading edge of an adhesive tape roll when the tape is not in use. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Existing Art 
         [0005]    Adhesive tape rolls are generally marketed and sold either as standalone rolls or in combination with a dispenser that provides a cutting mechanism. Tape rolls come in many different sizes; generally measured in terms of width. The following table provides standard widths for common types of tape: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Standard Widths 
                 Converted Metric Widths 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 ½ inch (clear) 
                 15 mm 
               
               
                   
                 ¾ inch (scotch tape, clear adhesive) 
                 19 mm 
               
               
                   
                 .78 inch wide (washi tape) 
                 19 mm 
               
               
                   
                 1.88 inch (Duct tape) 
                 48 mm 
               
               
                   
                 1 inch (masking tape) 
                 25-26 mm   
               
               
                   
                 2 inch (masking tape/paint tape) 
                 51 mm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0006]    Regardless of width or material, all adhesive tape rolls are susceptible to re-adhesion of the end of the tape to the roll when not in use, or worse, while in use. As anyone who has tried can attest to, it can be time-consuming to try to locate and separate the end or edge of the tape from the roll. Further, there is invariably some loss of tape upon separation due to splitting or mangling of the ends. While various dispensers are available for holding the end of the tape away from the roll, not all tape rolls come with dispensers. And not all types of tape are conducive to standard dispensers. Furthermore, most dispensers include a jagged edge for holding and/or cutting the tape from the roll. This jagged edge could cause injury to users; particularly children. Further still, if the end of the tape comes loose from the jagged edge and re-adheres to the roll, the issues discussed above regarding separating the edge once again become a problem. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a safe and effective device for facilitating and maintaining a separation between a tape end and the tape roll. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0008]    In a first exemplary device for accessing and storing tape on a tape roll, the device comprises the following portions in a single unitary construction: a textured grip portion; a tape rest portion; a blade edge; and a curved base opposite the textured grip portion, the tape rest portion, and the blade edge wherein a width of the device is approximately equal to a width of a roll of tape. 
         [0009]    In a second exemplary device for accessing and storing tape on a tape roll, the device comprises the following portions in a single unitary construction: a textured grip portion; a tape rest portion; a blade edge; and a straight base edge opposite the textured grip portion and the tape rest portion, wherein the straight base edge includes three sides, a first side connecting to a width edge of the textured grip portion, a second side connecting to a first lengthwise edge of the device running along the textured grip portion and the tape rest portion and a third side opposite the second side and connecting to a second lengthwise edge of the device running along the textured grip portion and the tape rest portion; further wherein a width of the device is approximately equal to a width of a roll of tape. 
         [0010]    In a third exemplary device for accessing and storing tape on a tape roll, the device comprises the following portions in a single unitary construction: a top curved surface including a textured grip portion covering; a tape rest portion; a blade edge; and a bottom curved surface opposite the top curved surface, wherein the top curved surface and the bottom curved surface are approximately parallel and further wherein the top curved surface and the bottom curved surface are separated by less than 2 mm at a first end of the device and 
         [0000]    less than 1 mm at a second end of the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0011]    The Summary of the Embodiments, as well as the following Detailed Description, is best understood when read in conjunction with the following exemplary drawings: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1 a -1 c    illustrate an exemplary tape-tab in accordance with a first embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary tape-tab in accordance with a second embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a first position of an exemplary tape-tab with blade edge to separate a leading edge of adhesive tape; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates the exemplary tape-tab blade edge pushing under the leading tape edge and separating the tape from the adhesive roll; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates the exemplary tape-tab with the leading edge of the tape adhered to the tape rest section of the exemplary tape-tab; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates the exemplary tape-tab in the final storage position with the leading edge of the tape adhered to the exemplary tape-tab rest area and curved tape-tab resting on tape roll; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7 a -7 d    illustrate an exemplary tape-wedge; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates the exemplary tape-wedge of  FIGS. 7 a -7 d    with the leading edge of the tape adhered to the tape rest section of the exemplary tape-wedge and the tape-wedge gripping the remaining adhesive roll; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative tape-tab embodiment to  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    having additional divots; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates an alternative tape-tab embodiment to  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    having fewer divots. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 a -1 c   , a first embodiment of the tape-tab  10   a  is shown. The tape-tab  10   a  is a one-piece construction which is preferably formed of a plastic material. The primary components of the tape-tab  10   a  include a textured grip portion  15   a , a tape rest portion  20   a , a blade edge  25   a , and curved base  30   a  molded into a single product. Additionally, tape-tab  10   a  is formed with a ridge  35  at the intersection of grip portion  15   a  and tape rest portion  20   a  (see  FIG. 1 b   ). This ridge  35  provides an additional gripper for the user and helps maintain the structural integrity of the tape-tab  10   a  to minimize breakage at the point of intersection. Further, the tape rest portion  20   a  may include two curved sloped portions or a curved slope  20   a   1  and intermediate bevel  20   a   2  as better illustrated in the top view of  FIG. 1 c   . Alternately, the tape rest portion  20   a  may include a single continuous curved slope  20   b  as shown in the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 2  discussed below. The textured grip portion  15   a , curved slope portions of tape rest portion  20   a , and curved base  30   a  are shaped in parallel curves which are themselves generally parallel to the radius of curvature of a particular tape roll. The textured grip portion  15   a  may include a pattern of indentations or divots D 1-x  formed therein to improve gripping. The number and pattern of divots may be optimized to maximize user grip, while maintaining structural integrity (see  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  illustrating alternative embodiments). 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of the tape-tab  10   b  is shown. The tape-tab  10   b  is a one-piece construction which is preferably formed of a plastic material. The primary components of the tape-tab  10   b  include a textured grip portion  15   b , a tape rest portion  20   b , a blade edge  25   b , and curved base  30   b  molded into a single product. Additionally, tape-tab  10   b  is formed with a trough  40  at the intersection of grip portion  15   b  and tape rest portion  20   b.    
         [0024]    The dimensions L TT , W TT , H 1TT , H 2TT  of the tape-tabs  10   a  and  10   b  may vary in accordance with the dimensions of the tape roll with which they are intended to be used. In particular, the width of the tape roll dictates W (see Table 1). By way of example, tape-tabs  10   a  and  10   b  illustrated herein generally have the approximate dimensions: L TT =22 mm; W TT =19.5 mm; H 1TT =1.6 mm and H 2TT =tapered to point. Additionally, blade edge  25   a  of tape-tab  10   a  is approximately 0.8 mm and blade edge  25   b  of tape-tab  10   b  is approximately 0.1 mm as it approaches a point. While the value for width (W TT ) is generally driven by the width of the tape roll, the value for H 1TT  (also referred to as thickness) is generally less than 2.0 mm. The values provided herein are in no way intended to be limiting. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3-6  illustrate exemplary steps of using the tape-tabs  10   a  and  10   b . In use, the user grips the tape-tab  10   a  or  10   b  at the textured grip portion  15   a ,  15   b . As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the user presses the blade edge  25   a ,  25   b  at the leading tape edge  52  of the adhesive tape roll  50  and pushes the blade edge  25   a ,  25   b  under the leading tape edge  52  using a scraping motion until the leading tape edge  52  has separated from the adhesive tape roll  50  and the user can unroll the tape as desired. Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , when the user is ready to store the tape, the user grips the tape-tab  10   a  or  10   b  at the textured grip portion  15   a ,  15   b  of the tape-tab placing it under the loosened tape edge  52  up to the tape rest portion  20   a ,  20   b  and presses the tape edge  52  adhering it to the tape rest portion  20   a ,  20   b . The tape edge  52  is secure and is prevented from re-adhering to the tape roll  50 . The tape edge  52  is in the ready position for the next use. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the curved base  30   a ,  30   b  has a curve that generally corresponds to the curvature of the tape roll  50 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 a -7 d   , an embodiment of a tape-wedge  60  is shown. The tape-wedge  60  is a one-piece construction which is preferably formed of a plastic material. The primary components of the tape-wedge  60  include a textured grip portion  65 , a tape rest portion  70 , a blade edge  75 , and straight base  80  molded into a single product. The tape-wedge  60  includes semicircular tape roll ball grippers each having inner  85   a ,  86   a , and outer gripper portions  85   b ,  86   b . As shown in  FIGS. 7 a , 7 b  and 7 d   , the inner gripper portions  85   a ,  86   a  are located on inside facing side walls of the tape-wedge and are used to grip the remaining unused portion of the tape roll. The outer gripper portions  85   b ,  86   b  are located opposite the inner gripper portions on the outside facing side walls of the tape-wedge and provide a mechanism for the user to grip the tape-wedge  60 . Additionally, tape-wedge is formed with a trough  90  at the intersection of grip portion  65  and tape rest portion  70 . The textured grip portion  65  may include a pattern of indentations or divots D 1-x  formed therein. The number and pattern of divots may be optimized to maximize user grip, while maintaining structural integrity. 
         [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates the tape-wedge when fully engaged with an exemplary tape roll. Although not limited as such, the tape-wedge is useful for larger width tape roll varieties, e.g., packing tape. The dimensions L TW , W TW , H 1TW , H 2TW  of the exemplary tape-wedge may vary in accordance with the dimensions of the tape roll with which they are intended to be used. In particular, the width of the tape roll dictates W (see Table 1). By way of example, tape-tabs  10   a  and  10   b  illustrated herein generally have the approximate dimensions: L TW =22.4 mm; W TW =24 mm; H 1TW =9.8 mm and H 2TW =tapered to point. Additionally, blade edge  75  is approximately 1.3 mm. While the value for width (WTw) is generally driven by the width of the tape roll, the value for H 1TW  (also referred to as thickness) is generally less than 10.0 mm. The values provided herein are in no way intended to be limiting. 
         [0028]    In addition to the uses described herein for providing quicker and easier access to tape from a tape roll and for improved storage of a tape roll, the tape-tab and tape-wedge may be used to scrape adhesive tape off of non-paper like surfaces once the tape has been adhered to the surface.