Tape dispenser

• US 7,077,185 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Steinberger
• Original Assignee: Robert Steinberger
• Inventors: Steinberger, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Osele, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/818,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20040194895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 156/577, 156/574, 156/579, 156/523, 156/522, 156/527, 156/576, 156/530, D19/67, D19/69, 225/23, 225/56, 225/77, 225/89, 225/91
• US Class Current: 156/527
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0033 and affixing it to a surface B65H35/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0073 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1365 Fixed cutter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• 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 225/257 Blade mounted on hand-held wound package
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 225/285 With guide spaced from blade edge to provide lead-end therebetween

Abstract

A hand held tape dispenser for applying adhesive tape to a surface. The dispenser includes a housing for holding and dispensing a roll of tape and has a tape dispensing opening therein. A plurality of rollers are within the housing, the outer surfaces of which coact with each other and the tape to retain, guide and feed the tape through the opening. The outer surface of at least one of the rollers protrudes through the opening on one side thereof enabling frictional contact of the roller with the surface to be taped. When the tape dispenser passes over the surface in one direction the outer surface of the roller engages the surface and the tape causing it to roll and to coact and drive the other rollers. This causes the rollers to grip the surfaces of the tape and feed the tape through the opening enabling the tape to adhesively contact the surface and adhere thereto. The tape is cut off at the opening.

Claims

1. A handheld tape dispenser for applying tape to a substrate surface, the tape having a first surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and a second surface, the dispenser comprising:

a housing suitable for holding and dispensing a roll of tape, the housing including an exterior application surface having a tape dispensing opening therein;

a first cylindrical roller and a second cylindrical roller, each having an axis that is substantially fixedly mounted within the housing, wherein the surfaces of the rollers coact with each other and the tape surfaces therebetween to retain, guide and feed the tape through the tape dispensing opening to the exterior application surface;

wherein the outer surface of the first roller protrudes through the application surface on one side of the opening enabling frictional contact of the roller surface with the substrate surface, the roller surface being in frictional contact with the second surface of the tape;

wherein the outer surface of the second roller is in contact with the first surface of the tape with the adhesive thereon;

a substantially fixed guide means positioned between the rollers for assisting in retaining and guiding the tape through the rollers and tape dispensing opening to the exterior application surface,

a cutting blade fixedly mounted within the tape dispensing opening;

whereby when the application surface of the tape dispenser passes over the substrate surface in one direction the outer surface of the first roller engages the substrate surface and the second surface of the tape causing the roller to roll along the substrate surface and to coact with the tape and drive the second roller to thereby feed the tape through the opening, the guide means assisting in retaining and guiding the tape through the rollers and tape dispensing opening to the exterior application surface, enabling the first surface of the tape with the pressure sensitive adhesive thereon to contact the substrate surface and adhere thereto by pressure from the first roller, and when the dispenser is moved in a direction different than the one direction, the tape is cut by the blade and the tape end remains within the housing and near the opening.

2. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the second roller has a reduced diameter over a substantial portion of its length that is not in contact with the first surface of the tape.

3. The tape dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of ratchets on the reduced diameter of the second roller and at least one ratchet stop projecting from the guide means engaging the ratchet to prevent the second roller from moving in a specified direction.

4. The tape dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of fingers projecting from the guide means over the reduced diameter of the second roller to guide the tape through the rollers.

5. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the second surface of the tape has a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and each of the first and second rollers have a reduced diameter over a substantial portion its length that is not in contact with the first or second surfaces of the tape.

6. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cutting blade is fixedly mounted to the guide means.

7. The tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cutting blade has a cutting edge and is fixedly mounted to the guide means, the cutting edge facing into the housing, whereby when the dispenser is moved in a direction different than the one direction, the tape is cut by the blade.

8. A handheld tape dispenser for applying tape to a substrate surface, the tape having a first surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and a second surface, the dispenser comprising:

a housing suitable for holding and dispensing a roll of tape, the housing including an exterior application surface having a tape dispensing opening therein;

a first cylindrical roller and a second cylindrical roller, each having an axis that is substantially fixedly mounted within the housing, the second roller having a reduced diameter over a substantial portion of its length, wherein the surfaces of the rollers coact with each other and the tape surfaces therebetween to retain, guide and feed the tape through the tape dispensing opening to the exterior application surface;

wherein the outer surface of the first roller protrudes through the application surface on one side of the opening enabling frictional contact of the roller surface with the substrate surface, the roller surface being in contact with the second surface of the tape;

wherein the outer surface of the second roller is in contact with the first surface of the tape with the adhesive thereon, the reduced diameter not being in contact with the first surface of the tape;

a substantially fixed guide means positioned between the rollers for assisting in retaining and guiding the tape through the rollers and tape dispensing opening to the exterior application surface;

a cutting blade fixedly mounted to the guide means within the tape dispensing opening;

whereby when the application surface of the tape dispenser passes over the substrate surface in one direction the outer surface of the first roller engages the substrate surface and the second surface of the tape causing the roller to roll along the substrate surface and to coact with the tape and drive the second roller to thereby feed the tape through the opening, the guide means assisting in retaining and guiding the tape through the rollers and tape dispensing opening to the exterior application surface, enabling the first surface of the tape with the pressure sensitive adhesive thereon to contact the substrate surface and adhere thereto by pressure from the first roller, and when the dispenser is moved in a direction different than the one direction, the tape is cut by the blade and the tape end remains within the housing and near the opening.

9. A handheld tape dispenser for applying tape to a substrate surface, the tape having a first surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and a second surface, the dispenser comprising:

a housing suitable for holding and dispensing a roll of tape, the housing having a tape dispensing opening therein;

a first cylindrical roller and a second cylindrical roller, each having an axis that is substantially fixedly mounted within the housing, wherein the surfaces of the rollers coact with each other and the tape surfaces therebetween to retain, guide and feed the tape through the tape dispensing opening;

wherein the outer surface of the first roller protrudes through the opening enabling frictional contact of the roller surface with the substrate surface, the roller surface being in frictional contact with the second surface of the tape;

wherein the outer surface of the second roller is in contact with the first surface of the tape with the adhesive thereon;

a substantially fixed guide means positioned between the rollers for assisting in retaining and guiding the tape through the rollers and tape dispensing opening,

a cutting blade fixedly mounted in the tape dispensing opening;

whereby when the tape dispenser passes over the substrate surface in one direction the outer surface of the first roller engages the substrate surface and the second surface of the tape causing the roller to roll along the substrate surface and to coact with the tape and drive the second roller to thereby feed the tape through the opening, the guide means assisting in retaining and guiding the tape through the rollers and tape dispensing opening, enabling the first surface of the tape with the pressure sensitive adhesive thereon to contact the substrate surface and adhere thereto by pressure from the first roller and when the dispenser is moved in a direction different than the one direction, the tape is cut by the blade and the tape end remains within the housing and near the opening.

10. The tape dispenser of claim 9, wherein the second roller has a reduced diameter over a substantial portion of its length that is not in contact with the first surface of the tape.

11. The tape dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of ratchets on the reduced diameter of the second roller and at least one ratchet stop projecting from the guide means engaging the ratchet to prevent the second roller from moving in a specified direction.

12. The tape dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of fingers projecting from the guide means over the reduced diameter of the second roller to guide the tape through the rollers.

13. The tape dispenser of claim 9, wherein the second surface of the tape has a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and each of the first and second rollers have a reduced diameter over a substantial portion its length that is not in contact with the first or second surfaces of the tape.

14. The tape dispenser of claim 9, wherein the cutting blade is fixedly mounted to the guide means.

15. The tape dispenser of claim 9, wherein the cutting blade has a cutting edge and is fixedly mounted to the guide means, the cutting edge facing into the housing, whereby when the dispenser is moved in a direction different than the one direction, the tape is cut by the blade.