GB2439994A

GB2439994A - Tape/string dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2439994A
Application number: GB0613436A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Edward Squire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-06
Filing date: 2006-07-06
Publication date: 2008-01-16
Also published as: GB0613436D0

Abstract

A tape dispenser 1 comprises a compact housing 3 with a cover 5, containing one or more compartments. The dispenser can be mounted on a vertical surface such as a cupboard door or wall, attached by adhesive pads 17 or similar. Each compartment contains tape 9a, 9b and/or string 13 to be dispensed through apertures 7, 11, preferably situated on the face of the dispenser. The dispenser may be hinged to allow the dispenser to be refilled and then secured closed again whilst in use. The tape and/or string may be in pre-cut lengths that are releasably secured or be on a continuous roll requiring cutters to be incorporated into the dispenser. The tape can be general, multipurpose or specialised tape, such as tape that will adhere to frozen food packaging. Preferably the dispenser contains a variety of different tapes and/or string for various purposes, for example, to seal food packaging.

Description

DISPENSER

This invention relates to a dispenser for tape. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a household dispenser for tape and/or string.

The word tape is used herein to mean any narrow flexible strip of material, such as paper or plastic, that is adhesive on at least one side, for example sellotape . Tape as used herein may refer to a material on a backing paper, such as a label, or a plaster.

The word string as used herein means any continuous filamentary material including wire, cord, fibre or thread.

According to the invention we provide a tape dispenser for dispensing pieces of tape, comprising a housing having first and second compartments each containing a respective supply of tape, attachment means adapted to secure the housing to a substantially vertical surface, and at least one tape dispensing aperture means, the dispenser being arranged so that in use tape from the first and second compartments protrudes through the aperture means such that, in use, tape can be dispensed through the aperture means.

The dispenser may be attached, in use, to a vertical surface such as a wall, or such as the inside or outside of a cupboard door.

Preferably tape from both the first and second compartments protrudes through the same aperture. Preferably that aperture is a slot, located so that in use tape from both the first and second compartment protrudes through the slot. Alternatively, the aperture means may comprise two slots, a first slot being associated with the first compartment and a second slot being associated with the second compartment.

Preferably, the tape comprises pre-cut pieces. Preferably the pre-cut pieces are stacked, such that each piece is operative to pull the piece below itself in the stack through the aperture as that piece is removed from the stack. Most preferably, the pieces each comprise a non-adhesive portion that can be gripped by a user of the dispenser.

Alternatively, the tape may be held on a roll, the roll being rotatably mounted in the housing. A cutter adapted to cut tape may be provided adjacent the aperture.

Preferably, the housing comprises a third compartment containing string, the housing comprising an aperture associated with the third compartment through which, in use, string can be pulled.

Preferably a cutter adapted to cut string is provided adjacent the aperture associated with the third compartment. Alternatively the string may comprise pre-cut pieces that are releasably secured together or mounted on a reel or the like.

Preferably the dispenser is refillable in that the supply of tape and/or string in the dispenser can be removed and replenished. Preferably the dispenser comprises a door hingedly attached to the housing, so that the door may be opened in order to refill the dispenser. Preferably securing means is provided to secure the door in a closed position when the dispenser is not being refilled.

Preferably the attachment means is adhesive. Most preferably the attachment means comprises an adhesive pad or pads. However, the dispenser may be attached to a vertical surface by any other suitable attachment means. For example, the attachment means may comprise a recess or hook provided in a suitable location on the dispenser adapted to cooperate with a nail or similar on the vertical surface, or Velcro .

Preferably the aperture means is provided on the front of the dispenser, that is on the dispenser surface opposite to the attachment means.

Alternatively the aperture means is provided on a side of the dispenser, that is on a dispenser surface adjacent the attachment means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross section taken on line A-A through the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an internal view of the dispenser of Figures 1 to 3, with the tape or string removed and the door open; and Figure 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of part of the dispenser showing tape being pulled from the dispenser.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a tape and string dispenser 1 comprises a housing 3 and a front cover or door, 5. The housing 3 and door 5 can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, wood, or cardboard. The housing 3 is approximately 5" x 3.5" x 1" (12.5cm x 8.75cm x 2.5cm), making it small and compact.

The door 5 is provided with aperture means comprising two apertures. A first aperture 7 is in the form of a slot, which extends substantially across the entire width of the upper part of the door 5. Tape 9a and 9b, protrudes from the slot 7, as will be described in more detail hereafter.

A second lower aperture 11 in the door 5 is in the form of a circular hole. String 13 protrudes through aperture 11, as is also described hereafter.

The door 5 is attached to the housing 3 by hinges 15, so that the door 5 can be opened in order to access and/or replace the tape 9a 9b and string 13 within the housing 3. The door 5 is held closed by securing means which in this example comprises a catch (not shown).

A cutter 16 is provided near the lower aperture 11, with which string 13 can be cut.

Referring to Figure 3 attachment means comprising adhesive pads 17 are provided on the rear of the housing 3, which can be used to affix the housing 3 to any desired vertical surface such as the inside of a cupboard door for example. The adhesive on the adhesive pads 17 may be such that the dispenser 1 can be removed from the surface and repositioned by a user in a different location.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the housing 3 comprises three compartments 19a, 19b, 21. Upper compartments 19a and 19b are side by side and are adapted to hold tape, and lower compartment 21 is adapted to hold string 13. Guides 25 are provided to retain tape in place within each compartment 19. The tape in this example is in the form of a stack 23 of pre-cut pieces 27 of tape (see Figure 5), each piece 27 having adhesive 29 on one side. The stack 23 is positioned so that each piece of tape 27 presents its non-adhesive side towards the door 5. The adhesive 29 is not applied to one end of each piece of tape 27 to provide a non-adhesive portion 31 for a user to grip. The top piece of tape 27 in the stack 23 protrudes from the slot 7, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 5.

In use, when that top piece of tape 27a is pulled through the slot 7 by a user, the adhesive on the top piece 27a pulls a second piece of tape 27b below the top piece 27a through the slot 7 following that top piece 27a.

However, the adhesive 29 is not sufficiently strong to pull a third piece of tape 27c through the slot 7 as a user continues to pull the top piece 27a. Rather, the top piece 27a is pulled free of the stack 23, for a user to use, and the second piece 27b is left protruding from the slot 7.

In this example each upper compartment 19a, 19b contains a different type of tape. One compartment 19a holds normal sticky tape suitable for closing food packages in the kitchen to ensure that those packages remain airtight after opening, for example. The other compartment 19b holds tape suitable for placing in a cold or damp environment such as a fridge or freezer. The tape may be of any desired colour, width or finish (for example the tape may have a matt finish to allow it to be easily written upon).

Compartment 21 holds string 13. The string 13 may be coiled in a ball or roll, but in this example is stored in a zig-zag or concertina similar to the tape, which avoids knots developing in the string 13. The end of the string 13 protrudes from the aperture 11 to allow it to be grasped by a user. The user is able to pull string 13 to a required length from the aperture 11, at which point he cuts the string 13 using the cutter 16. The upper edge 27 of the cutter 16 is sharpened or abrasive, such that when the string 13 is pulled against that edge 27 the string 13 is cut.

It will be appreciated that the housing 3 need not comprise three compartments in that the compartment 21 for string 13 can be omitted.

More than three compartments may be provided if desired. For example a user may require three or more different types of tape, or wire as well as string. It will be appreciated that each compartment might hold the same type of tape.

The tape may be held on a roll rather than in a stack of pre-cut pieces.

In this embodiment a removable holder may be provided in each tape compartment 19a, 19b to support the roll and allow the roll to rotate so that tape can be pulled from it. In this embodiment, a cutter may be provided, or the tape may be formed with predetermined weak points to allow it to be torn from the roll.

The door 5 may be made from clear plastic, allowing a user to view the tape and string inside, to see how much is left, for example.

Alternatively, the door 5 may be provided with one or more windows.

The door 5 need not be held in place by a catch, for example the door might be held closed by friction. In an embodiment in which the dispenser 1 is disposable, and not refillable, the door 5 need not be provided at all. Instead the door 5 might be replaced with a panel integral with the housing 3.

It will be understood that rather than affixing the dispenser 1 in place with attachment means comprising adhesive pads, a hook, loop or recess might be provided at the top or on the rear of the dispenser 1, to allow the dispenser 1 to be mounted on a nail or hook. Alternatively, the dispenser 1 might be permanently fixed in place, for example with glue or tacks.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A household cupboard tape dispenser comprising of a compact dispenser for tape and/or string. For example, for use in the kitchen to aid sealing food packaging.

2. A tape dispenser as claimed in 1 wherein tape is used to mean any narrow flexible strip of tape, such as paper or plastic, that is adhesive on at least one side for example Selotape . Tape herein may refer to a material on a backing paper, such as a label, or a plaster.

3. A tape dispenser as claimed in 1 wherein string means any continuous filamentary material including wire, cord, fibre or thread.

4. A tape dispenser as claimed in I comprising of a housing containing one or more compartments each containing a supply of tape and/or string.

5. A tape dispenser as claimed that is designed to attach and be secured to a substantially vertical surface, such as the inside or outside of a cupboard door or a wall.

6. A tape dispenser as claimed where the housing is made from metal, plastics material or wood, or from any combination of these materials.

7. A tape dispenser as claimed where the tape and/or string protrude through apertures on the dispenser such that the tape and/or string can be dispensed.

8. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim where the aperture is preferably a shared slot for compartments one and two or a separate slot for each compartment.

9. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim where preferably the aperture is provided on the front of the dispenser surface opposite to the attachment means, alternatively the aperture means is provided on the side of the housing.

10. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim where the attachment means is adhesive, preferably in the form of an adhesive pad or pads. Alternatively the attachment means may comprise of a hook or recess provided in a suitable location on the dispenser adapted to cooperate with a nail or similar on the vertical surface, or Velcro . The adhesive pads may be such that the dispenser can be moved from one location to another as desired.

11. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim where the tape comprises pre-cut pieces that are stacked in such a way to enable successive pieces to be pulled through the aperture. Most preferably, the pieces comprise of a non-adhesive portion that can be gripped by the user of the dispenser. Alternatively the tape may be held on a roll, the roll being rotatably mounted in the housing. A cutter adapted to cut the tape may be provided adjacent to the aperture.

12. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim where the aperture for compartment containing string is adapted to provide an adjacent cutter for the string. Alternatively the string may be in precut pieces that are releasably secured on a reel or the like.

13. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim that is preferably refillable in that the supply of tape and/or string can be removed and replenished.

14. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim that comprises of a hinged door attached to the housing to allow refilling, preferably with a securing means to secure the door in a closed position when the dispenser is not being refilled.

15. A tape dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim where the tape can be general, multipurpose or specialised tape, such as tape that will adhere to frozen food packaging.

16. A tape dispenser substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.