Tape dispenser

• US 4,804,437 A
• Filed: 09/10/1987
• Issued: 02/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ming H. Leong, Santono Tirtoprodjo
• Original Assignee: Ming H. Leong, Santono Tirtoprodjo
• Inventors: Tirtoprodjo, Santono, Leong, Ming H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wityshyn, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/095,289
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 156/523, 156/577, 156/527, 156/576, 156/579
• US Class Current: 156/577
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0033 and affixing it to a surface B65H35/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1348 Work traversing type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1795 Implement carried web supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/18 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip

Abstract

An improved tape dispenser which is less likely to jam and which has a blade shield to prevent injury. Centrally of the dispenser there is placed a roll of tape conventionally wound in a spiral. The roll of tape has an outwardly exposed adhesive release surface and an inwardly exposed adhesive coated surface. In the dispenser, the tape is threaded on a dispensing path towards a cutting blade. Typically, the path is defined by a combination of guides terminating with a roller. The roll and the dispensing path are encased within a housing to prevent the exposed adhesive from adhering either to dust or nearby objects. The tape path extends past a severing tape blade. The trigger motion of the handle acts to pivot the tape holder on its hinge and move the severing blade holder. The motion of the tape holder is restricted by a guide, a guide slot and a stop. When the tape holder is in its original position, a blade shield keeps the blade from being exposed.

Claims

1. An improved tape dispenser of the type having a case surrounding a roll of tape to be dispensed, the case having a top and a bottom and including a bottom opening through which the tape is dispensed onto a surface and a trigger opening through which a pivotably mounted trigger assembly protrudes, a contact roller connected to the trigger assembly for dispensing the tape through the bottom opening when the trigger assembly is moved relative to the case, means for controlling the travel of the trigger assembly, and case-shielded means, coupled to the trigger assembly, for cutting the tape, the improvement comprising:

the trigger opening being formed in the bottom of the case;

the trigger assembly pivotably attached to the case at a pivot point substantially in the center of the trigger assembly, said trigger assembly including a downwardly protruding trigger portion extending through the trigger opening;

the bottom of the case and the trigger opening being spaced apart from the surface and defining an open area sufficient to admit a user'"'"'s fingers between said trigger portion and the surface, with the top of the case against a user'"'"'s palm;

whereby force is applied to the trigger mechanism from below and to the case from above by a user'"'"'s hand to dispense tape through the bottom opening without requiring the case bottom to be in contact with the surface being taped.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the case adjacent the tape dispensing opening is not flat.

3. An improved tape dispenser of the type having a case surrounding a roll of tape to be dispensed, the case having a top and a bottom and including a tape opening in the bottom through which the tape is dispensed onto a surface and a trigger opening through which a trigger assembly, pivotably mounted within the case, protrudes, a contact roller connected to the trigger assembly for dispensing the tape througn the tape opening when the trigger assembly is moved within the case, means for controlling the travel of the trigger assembly, and case-shielded means, coupled to the trigger assembly, for cutting the tape, the improvement comprising;

the bottom of the case adjacent the tape dispensing opening being not flat;

the bottom of the case, other than the bottom of the case adjacent the tape dispensing opening, being spaced apart from the surface and defining an open area suficient to admit a user'"'"'s fingers between said case bottom and the surface, with the top of the case facing toward a user'"'"'s palm;

the trigger assembly including an upwardly protruding trigger;

the trigger opening being in the top of the case so said trigger protrudes through the trigger opening in said case and contacts a palm of a user'"'"'s hand;

whereby force is applied to the trigger mechanism by a user'"'"'s hand, allowing tape to be dispensed without requiring the case bottom to be in contact with the surface being taped, thereby allowing the dispenser to function over an increased angle with the surface being taped.