Tape dispenser

• US 5,174,850 A
• Filed: 03/24/1989
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stefan, Alexander
• Original Assignee: Stefan, Alexander
• Inventors: Stefan, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barry, Chester T.
• Application Number:
  US07/329,366
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 156/270, 156/527, 156/574, 156/579, 156/577, 156/523, 156/526, 156/530, 156/531, 156/532, 156/533, 156/534, 225/65, 225/56, 222/533, 222/534, 222/535
• US Class Current: 156/324
• 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 156/1365 Fixed cutter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1793 Grip or clamp for web end
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/268 By resiliently engaging package ends or interior of core

Abstract

A tape dispenser, particularly suited for masking tape or like low-tensile strength adhesive tape, and having a frame with a hub portion that provides a cylindrical surface for rotatably mounting a roll of tape and having a central finger-receiving aperture therein. A support wall extends radially from a first side of the hub portion to hold an axially extending flange spaced from a minor segment of the cylindrical surface, whereby the finger-receiving aperture and the flange provide means for grasping the dispenser and not interfering with the rotation of a roll of tape mounted on the dispenser. A swinging arm has one end mounted to the first side of the hub portion, at a location generally radially opposite the flange for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface, and has an application roller mounted at its other end to also rotate about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface. There is means for limiting the range of swinging motion of the swinging arm so that it is rotatable in one direction to a first position in which further rotation is prevented and in which the roller is held spaced from the periphery of a mounted roll of tape, and rotatable in the other direction to bring the roller into rollable contact with the roll periphery. This tape dispenser construction allows a form of tape dispensing unto an article surface in which tape passes from the roll around the roller and unto the article surface as the roller is pressed between the periphery of a rotating roll of tape and the article surface.

Claims

1. Adhesive tape dispenser comprising:

a) frame, adapted for holding a roll of tape and for being grasped by hand, and having a hub portion with a cylindrical surface for receiving the circular core of said roll of tape for rotation thereon, and said hub portion having a central finger-receiving aperture therein;

b) support wall extending radially, relative to said cylindrical surface, from a first side of said hub portion;

c) arcuate flange extending axially from the outer periphery of said support wall and lying spaced from a minor segment of said cylindrical surface, and cooperating with said central aperture to provide means to grasp said frame without grasping said roll of tape mounted on said cylindrical surface;

d) swinging arm, having a first end that is pivotally mounted to the first side of said hub at a location generally radially opposite said flange, with respect to said cylindrical surface and said arm being pivotable about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface;

e) applicator roller, mounted at the other end of said swinging arm, for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface, and said roller held in alignment with, and opposed from, said cylindrical surface; and

f) means for limiting the pivoting of said swinging arm, so that it is rotatable in one direction to a first position in which further rotation is prevented and being rotatable in the other direction so as to bring said roller towards a position adjacent said cylindrical surface, whereby said roller may be brought into rolling contact with the outer surface of said roll of tape mounted on said cylindrical surface.

2. Tape dispenser as defined in claim 1 herein said means for limiting the pivoting of said arm includes an axially projecting surface on the first side of said hub.

3. Tape dispenser as defined in claim 2 wherein said axially projecting surface lies on a generally radially extending wall.

4. Tape dispenser having a construction as defined in claim 1 whereby a major part of the surface of a roll of tape held thereon is uncovered.

5. Tape dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame, support wall and flange cover a minor part of the surface of a roll of tape held on said frame.

6. Tape dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said arm lies, in its first position, in a direction generally perpendicular to said cylindrical surface.

7. Tape dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of said flange is at least as wide as said cylindrical surface.

8. Tape dispenser as defined in claim 1 including means for severing tape affixed to a forward end of said flange.

9. Dispenser as defined in claim 1 including means for severing tape wherein said means is attached to the end of said flange and said means is closer to said roller when said roller is brought adjacent said cylindrical surface.

10. Method for applying tape to an article surface employing a tape dispenser having a frame with a hub portion that provides a cylindrical surface for rotatably holding a roll of said type and a finger-receiving central opening in said hub portion;

a flange supported and spaced from a minor segment of said cylindrical surface so that said frame may be grasped by hand without interfering with rotation of said roll; and

a pivoting arm having one end mounted to said hub portion at a location generally radially opposite flange to swing about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface, and having a roller mounted to the other end of said arm for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface and wherein said arm is swingable from a position in which said roll is spaced a first distance from said cylindrical surface to a position in which said roller is brought into rollable engagement with the outer surface of said roll of tape;

said method comprising the steps of;

a) placing said roller into contact with said roll outer surface;

b) extending a lead portion of said tape from said roll and around said roller with the non-adhesive side of tape engaging said roller;

c) pressing, with said roller, said lead of tape into adhesive engagement with said article surface as said outer surface of said roll is urged into engagement with said roller; and

d) moving said dispenser in a direction parallel to said article surface to cause said roll to rotate as tape is applied to said article surface as said roller is simultaneously and continuously contacting both said article surface and the outer surface of said roll of tape as the diameter of said roll decreases.

11. Method as defined in claim 10 including pressing said outer surface of said roll of tape into sliding engagement with tape applied to said article surface.