DISPENSER FOR TAPE STRIP PADS

• US 20030178437A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Crawford, Dennis L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/45
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/005 Supports for note-pads B42F9/00 takes precedence; underlays B43L3/00

Abstract

A tape strip dispenser defining a retention chamber and having an opening through which the tape strips are dispensed from a W-stacked pad of tape strips retained within the retention chamber. The opening is longitudinally bounded along a first end by a first linear edge, and longitudinally bounded along a second end by a second liner edge, with (i) the first and second linear edges laterally angled relative to a central lateral axis of the retention chamber, and/or (ii) the first and second linear edges independently pivotable about a first and a second lateral axis, respectively.

Claims

1. A tape strip dispenser comprising a housing, wherein:

(a) the housing has a top, a longitudinally centralized opening through the top, and an internal retention chamber accessible through the opening;

(b) the retention chamber defines a central lateral axis; and

(c) the longitudinally centralized opening has longitudinally spaced first and second linear boundaries, which are laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first and second linear boundaries are independently laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis at an angle of between about 10°

to about 30°

.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the first and second linear boundaries are parallel to one another.

4. A tape strip dispenser, comprising a housing, wherein

(a) the housing includes at least (i) transversely spaced top and bottom surfaces, (ii) longitudinally spaced first and second ends, and (iii) laterally spaced first and second sides;

and

(b) the housing defines (i) a retention chamber defining a longitudinal central axis and a lateral central axis, and (ii) a longitudinally centralized opening through the top with the opening longitudinally bounded along a first end by a first linear edge, and longitudinally bounded along a second end by a second liner edge wherein the first and second linear edges are laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the first and second linear edges are independently laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis at an angle of between about 10°

to about 30°

.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the first and second linear edges are parallel to one another.

7. An article of commerce, comprising a tape strip dispenser and a tape strip pad, wherein:

(a) the dispenser has a top, a longitudinally centralized opening through the top, and an internal retention chamber accessible through the opening;

(b) the tape strip pad is retained within the retention chamber and defines a central lateral axis; and

(c) the longitudinally centralized opening has longitudinally spaced first and second linear boundaries, which are laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis of the tape strip pad retained within the retention chamber.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein the first and second linear boundaries are independently laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis at an angle of between about 10°

to about 30°

.

9. The article of claim 8 wherein the first and second linear boundaries are parallel to one another.

10. An article of commerce comprising a tape strip dispenser and a tape strip pad, wherein:

(a) the dispenser includes at least (i) transversely spaced top and bottom surfaces, (ii) longitudinally spaced first and second ends, (iii) laterally spaced first and second sides, (iv) a retention chamber, and (v) a longitudinally centralized opening through the top with the opening longitudinally bounded along a first end by a first linear edge, and longitudinally bounded along a second end by a second liner edge;

(b) the tape strip pad is retained within the retention chamber and defines a central lateral axis; and

(c) the first and second linear edges are laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis of the tape strip pad retained within the retention chamber.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the first and second linear edges are independently laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis at an angle of between about 10°

to about 30°

.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the first and second linear edges are parallel to one another.

13. A tape strip dispenser, comprising a housing, wherein

(a) the housing includes at least (i) transversely spaced top and bottom surfaces, (ii) longitudinally spaced first and second ends, and (iii) laterally spaced first and second sides;

(b) the housing defines (i) a retention chamber, and (ii) a longitudinally centralized opening through the top with the opening longitudinally bounded along a first end by a first linear edge, and longitudinally bounded along a second end by a second liner edge; and

(c) the first and second linear edges are independently pivotable about a first and a second lateral axis respectively.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein:

(a) the first linear edge and the first lateral axis are longitudinally spaced a distance of between about 1 cm to about 4 cm; and

(b) the second linear edge and the second lateral axis are longitudinally spaced a distance of between about 1 cm to about 4 cm.

15. A method of dispensing an overlying tape strip from a W-stacked pad of differential release tape strips, wherein (i) the pad defines a central lateral axis, (ii) the pad has sequential tape strips longitudinally reversed so as to align a first longitudinal end of each tape strip with a second longitudinally end of an immediately overlaying and an immediately underlying tape strip, and (iii) the pad includes at least (a) an overlying tape strip having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, (b) an intermediate tape strip immediately underneath the overlying tape strip and having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and (c) an underlying tape strip immediately underneath the intermediate tape strip, sequentially comprising the steps of:

(1) pulling the second longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip away from the pad so as to effect peeling of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip in a progressive fashion from the second longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip towards the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip;

(2) contacting the overlying tape strip so as to consistently cause the overlying tape strip to release from the intermediate tape strip along a line of departure which is laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis of the pad prior to complete separation of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip and prior to release of a second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip from the underlying tape strip; and

(3) continuing to pull the overlying tape strip away from the pad to sequentially effect (i) release of the second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip from the underlying tape strip, and (ii) complete separation of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip.

16. The dispensing method of claim 15 further comprising the step of supporting the second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip released from the underlying tape strip above the pad so as to facilitate subsequent dispensing of the intermediate tape strip.

17. The dispensing method of claim 15 wherein the line of departure is laterally angled relative to the central lateral axis of the pad at an angle of between about 10°

to about 30°

18. The dispensing method of claim 15 wherein the overlying tape strip is contacted and forms a laterally angled line of departure with a longitudinal length of at least 1 cm of the overlying tape strip still adhered to the intermediate tape strip, wherein the longitudinal length is measured along a central longitudinal axis of the pad.

19. The dispensing method of claim 15 wherein the overlying tape strip is contacted and forms a laterally angled line of departure with a longitudinal length of at least 2 cm of the overlying tape strip still adhered to the intermediate tape strip, wherein the longitudinal length is measured along a central longitudinal axis of the pad.

20. A method of dispensing an overlying tape strip from a W-stacked pad of differential release tape strips retained within a dispenser, wherein (i) the pad defines a central lateral axis, (ii) the pad has sequential tape strips longitudinally reversed so as to align a first longitudinal end of each tape strip with a second longitudinally end of an immediately overlaying and an immediately underlying tape strip, (iii) the pad includes at least (a) an overlying tape strip having a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end and a lateral width, (b) an intermediate tape strip immediately underneath the overlying tape strip and having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and (c) an underlying tape strip immediately underneath the intermediate tape strip, and (iv) the dispenser includes at least (a) transversely spaced top and bottom surfaces, (b) longitudinally spaced first and second ends, (c) laterally spaced first and second sides, (d) a retention chamber, and (e) a longitudinally centralized opening through the top with the opening longitudinally bounded along a first end by a first linear edge, and longitudinally bounded along a second end by a second liner edge, and (iv) the first and second linear edges are independently pivotable about a corresponding first and a second lateral axis, sequentially comprising the steps of:

(1) pulling the second longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip away from the pad so as to effect peeling of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip in a progressive fashion from the second longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip towards the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip;

(2) contacting the overlying tape strip across the lateral width of the overlying tape strip with one of the linear edges prior to complete separation of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip and prior to release of a second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip from the underlying tape strip;

(3) continuing to pull the overlying tape strip away from the pad to sequentially effect (i) release of the second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip from the underlying tape strip, and (ii) complete separation of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip; and

(4) wherein the contacted liner edge pivots about the corresponding lateral axis away from the pad in concurrence with movement of the overlying tape strip during at least a portion of the continued pulling of the overlying tape strip away from the pad to effect release of the second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip from the underlying tape strip.

21. The dispensing method of claim 20 wherein the contacted liner edge pivots in concurrence with movement of the overlying tape strip until the second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip releases from the underlying tape strip.