Tapeler

• US 7,373,682 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cotapaxi Custom Design And Manufacturing LLC (Cotapaxi Inc)
• Original Assignee: Cotapaxi Custom Design And Manufacturing LLC (Cotapaxi Inc)
• Inventors: Cetera, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Menezes; Marcus
• Application Number:
  US11/096,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 403/58, 406/61, 409/13, 716/0, 717/0, 715/8, 715/6, 227/127, 227/106
• US Class Current: 7/160
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/0292 with the objects to be stapled together introduced perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tool in an opening formed by an anvil and a plunger
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0026 for delivering pressure-sensitive adhesive tape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/913 Tool identification

Abstract

A combination device incorporating stapling and tape dispensing functions. The combination device has a conventional stapler comprising stapling and staple-forming legs, and a roll-shaped tape dispenser disposed within a cavity defined on an upper surface of the stapling leg. The cavity is permanently exposed to an exterior of the device for retaining a roll-shaped tape of various size, and for quick access thereto. It further has an ergonomically contoured hand grip on each leg and advertising material imprinted disposed on at least one its outer surface.

Claims

1. A combination device for stapling objects and retaining a tape dispenser, the combination device comprising:

a) a stapling leg and a staple forming leg, each of the legs having a front end and an opposing rear end, and an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the inner surfaces facing each other, the legs being pivotally connected with each other, the stapling leg defining a tape dispenser cavity on a rear portion thereof closer to the rear end than the front end, the cavity being bounded by two opposing side cavity surfaces and extending from the outer surface of the stapling leg toward the inner surface thereof, the side cavity surfaces being configured to removably retain the tape dispenser within the cavity; and

b) an ergonomic contoured first grip superimposed on a front portion of the outer surface of the stapling leg closer to the front end than the rear end,

wherein the cavity is permanently exposed to an exterior of the stapling leg through the outer surface and inner surface thereof so as to provide quick access to the tape dispenser when retained therein.

2. The combination device of claim 1, further comprising a raised surface boss formed proximate the rear ends of the legs for disposing advertising material thereon.

3. The combination device of claim 1, further comprising staples.

4. The combination device of claim 3, wherein the stapling leg further comprises a staple storage formed on the inner surface thereof proximate the front end, in which the staples are stored.

5. The combination device of claim 1, further comprising an ergonomically contoured second grip superimposed on the outer surface of the staple forming leg.

6. The combination device of claim 1, wherein the grip has plurality of surface projections formed thereon for traction.

7. The combination device of claim 1, wherein each of the side cavity surfaces has a convexly-contoured upper marginal edge.

8. The combination device of claim 1, further comprising a tape dispensing spool removably and rotatably connected to the respective side cavity surfaces.

9. The combination device of claim 8, further comprising a roll-shaped attachment member wrapped around the tape dispensing spool, the attachment member being selected from the group consisting of ordinary scotch tape, carpet tape, double sided tape, drywall tape, and fiberglass joint tape.

10. The combination device of claim 9, further comprising a cutting member disposed at the rear end of the stapling leg.

11. The combination device of claim 9, wherein the stapling forming leg defines on the inner surface thereof a recessed section sized and configured to accommodate a bottom portion of the roll-shaped attachment member when the stapling leg is pressed against the stapling forming leg.

12. The combination device of claim 4, wherein the stapling leg further comprises an eject button formed on the outer surface thereof, the eject button being configured such that when pressed, the staple storage is projected so as to allow access to the staples therein.

13. The combination device of claim 1, further comprising fastening members selected from the group consisting of nails, pins, and tacks.

14. A combination device for stapling objects and retaining a tape dispenser, the combination device comprising:

(a) a stapling leg and a staple forming leg, each of the legs having a front end and an opposing rear end, and an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the inner surfaces facing each other, the legs being pivotally connected with each other at the respective rear ends, the stapling leg defining a tape dispenser cavity on a rear portion thereof closer to the rear end than the front end, the cavity being bounded by two opposing side cavity surfaces and permanently exposed to an exterior of the stapling leg through both the outer and inner surfaces thereof, the side cavity surfaces being configured to removably retain the tape dispenser within the cavity;

b) an ergonomically contoured first grip superimposed on a front portion of the outer surface of the stapling leg closer to the front end than the rear end; and

(c) an ergonomically contoured second grip superimposed on the outer surface of the staple forming leg.

15. The combination device of claim 14, wherein each of the grips has plurality of surface projections formed thereon for traction.

16. The combination device of claim 14, wherein each of the side cavity surfaces has a convexly-contoured upper marginal edge.

17. The combination device of claim 14, further comprising a tape dispensing spool removably and rotatably connected to the respective side cavity surfaces.

18. The combination device of claim 17, further comprising a roll-shaped attachment member wrapped around the tape dispensing spool, the attachment member being selected from the group consisting of ordinary scotch tape, carpet tape, double sided tape, drywall tape, and fiberglass joint tape.

19. The combination device of claim 18, further comprising a cutting member disposed at the rear end of the stapling leg.

20. The combination device of claim 18, wherein the stapling forming leg defines on the inner surface thereof a recessed section sized and configured to accommodate a bottom portion of the roll-shaped attachment member when the stapling leg is pressed against the stapling forming leg.

21. The combination device of claim 14, wherein further comprising staples.

22. The combination device of claim 21, further comprising a staple storage formed on the inner surface thereof proximate the front end, in which the staples are stored.

23. The combination device of claim 22, wherein the stapling leg further comprises an eject button formed on the outer surface thereof, the eject button being configured such that when pressed, the staple storage is projected so as to allow access to the staples therein.

24. The combination device of claim 14, further comprising fastening members selected from the group consisting of nails, pins, and tacks.

25. The combination device of claim 14, further comprising a raised surface boss formed proximate the rear ends of the legs and for disposing advertising material thereon.

26. A method of advertising comprising the steps of:

a) providing a combination device for stapling objects and retaining a tape dispenser, the combination device comprising;

(1) a stapling leg and a staple forming leg, each of the legs having a front end and an opposing rear end, and an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the inner surfaces facing each other, the legs being pivotally connected with each other, the stapling leg defining a tape dispenser cavity on a rear portion thereof closer to the rear end than the front end, the cavity being bounded by two opposing side cavity surfaces and extending from the outer surface of the stapling leg toward the inner surface thereof, the side cavity surfaces being configured to removably retain the tape dispenser within the cavity, and

2) an ergonomically contoured grip superimposed on a front portion of the outer surface of the stapling leg closer to the front end than the rear end,

wherein the cavity is permanently exposed to an exterior of the stapling leg through the outer surface and inner surface thereof so as to provide quick access to the tape dispenser when retained therein; and

b) disposing advertising material on at least one external surface of the combination device.