GB2481315A

GB2481315A - Adjustable tape dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2481315A
Application number: GB1110150.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Fenton; Michael Little
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-17
Filing date: 2011-06-16
Publication date: 2011-12-21
Also published as: GB201110150D0; GB201010107D0

Abstract

A tape dispenser comprises a first portion 12, 112 to extend into a hollow core of a roll of tape and a second portion 14, 114 to extend over an outer face of the roll of tape such that a free end of the tape may be retained by attachment to a portion 34, 134 of said second portion 14, 114. Said second portion 14, 114 is preferably provided with an elongate slot or gap 32, 132 through which the free end of the tape may pass. The first and second portions 12, 112, 14, 114 may be adjustably connected by an arm 16, 116 to vary the gap between them and accommodate rolls of different thickness. Cutting means 36, 136 with a sharpened and/or serrated edge may be provided on the second portion 14, 114. The arm 16, 116 may be pivotably or radially slidably movable with respect to the first portion 12, 112 and a ratchet or detent mechanism 24, 26, 124, 126 may be provided to restrain the movement.

Description

Tape Dispenser This invention relates to a device for attachment to a roll of tape to assist dispensing of tape from the roll, and in particular to a device for attachment to a roll of clear adhesive tape, masking tape etc to retain the end of the tape and to assist in dispensing the tape.

It is known to provide desk top tape dispensing device wherein a roll of tape is fitted onto a spindle on a dispensing device, the device having a tape guide and cutting device over which a free end of the tape can be pulled to retain the end of the tape and to assist in separating a length of tape from the roll. However, such devices are relatively large and not particularly

portable.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for attachment to a roll of tape, said device comprising a first portion arranged to extend into a hollow core of a roll of tape and a second portion arranged to extend over an outer face of the roll of tape such that the tape extends between said first and second portions to retain the device onto the roll of tape, wherein an end of the tape may be attached to a portion of said second portion to retain said end of the tape.

Preferably said second portion is provided with an elongate slot or gap through which said end of the tape from the roll may pass to retain said end of the tape against the second portion.

Preferably said first portion is arranged to abut an inner face of the hollow core of the roll of tape and the second portion is arranged to abut an outer surface of the roll of tape.

Preferably said second portion is connected to the first portion by at least one arm, said arm being coupled to one of said first and second portions such that the gap between the first and second portions can be adjusted to suit the thickness of the roll of tape and to compensate for the reduction in such thickness as the tape is dispensed while retaining the device on the roll of tape.

n one embodiment said arm extends between a first side of the first portion and a first side of the second portion. A flange, projection or lip may be provided on a second side of one or both of said first and second portions extending towards the other of said first and second portions substantially parallel to the arm, such that said flange and arm extend on opposite sides of the roll of tape to retain the device on the roll of tape.

Preferably the second portion comprises a substantially planar member, said gap or slot therein being defined by an elongate slot extending perpendicular to the arm through which the tape can pass, whereby the end of the tape can be passed through the slot and stuck to a portion of the outer surface of the second portion to retain the end of the tape thereon.

The second portion may be provided with a cutting means, such as a sharpened and/or serrated edge, for cutting the tape. Said cutting portion may be provided on one side of the second portion.

In one embodiment said at least one arm is pivotally connected to the first portion about a pivot axis offset from a central axis of the first portion such that the arm and second portion can be pivoted with respect to the first portion about an axis extending parallel to the central axis of the roll of tape to vary the gap between the first and second portions. A ratchet or detent mechanism may be provided to restrain the pivotal movement of the arm so that the first and second portions can respectively engage the inner and outer surfaces of a roll of tape to which the device is attached to retain the device thereon.

In an alternative embodiment, said at least one arm may be mounted on one of the first or second portions to be slidable in a substantially radial direction with respect to a roll of tape to which the device is attached, such that the arm can be moved with respect to the first portion, preferably in a radial direction with respect to the central axis of the roll of tape, to adjust the distance between the first and second portions of the device. Said one of the first and second portions may be provided with a slot within which said at least one arm is slidably received. Again a ratchet or detent mechanism may be provided to retain the dispensing portion in contact with the outer surface of the roll.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tape dispensing device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a further exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an exploded side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a tape dispensing device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a further perspective view of the device of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a further perspective view of the device of Figure 6: Figure 9 is a further perspective view of the device of Figure 6; Figure 10 is a side view of the tape dispensing device of Figure 6; Figure 11 is a further side view of the tape dispensing device of Figure 6; Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 6; Figure 13 is a further exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 6; and Figure 14 is a further exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 6.

A tape dispensing device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5. The device 10 comprises a cylindrical first part 12 having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the smallest roll of tape to which the device is to be fitted so that the first part 12 can be inserted into the centre of a roll of tape (not shown). A dispensing part 14 is mounted on the first part 12 by means of an arm 16 extending perpendicular to the dispensing part 14, said arm 16 being pivotally mounted on the first part 12 to be rotatable about an axis parallel to and offset from the central axis of the cylindrical first part 12 such that the distance between the dispensing part 14 and the first part 12 can be varied by pivotally adjusting the position of the arm 16 with respect to the first part 12.

As best shown in Figures 3 to 5, an elongate pin 18 extends from an end of the arm 16 to be received within a receiving aperture 22 within the cylindrical first part 12. The pin 18 has an enlarged tapered end portion 20 receivable within a resilient seat within the aperture 22 such that the enlarged end portion 20 is retained within said aperture 22. The sides of the pin 18 are provided with longitudinal flutes or ribs 24. A resilient projection 26 is provided on the first part 12 extending into the aperture 22 to engage the flutes or ribs 24 of the pin 18 to act as a ratchet mechanism to restrain the pivotal movement of the arm 16 with respect to the first part 12. The end of the projection 26 may be shaped to provide greater resistance to rotation of the arm in a direction such that the distance between the first part 12 and dispensing part 14 increases such that the arm 16 tends to move in a direction to reduce the gap between the first part 12 and dispensing part 14 to retain the device 10 on a roll of tape.

An end of the cylindrical first portion 12 opposite the arm 16 is provided with a peripheral flange 28 for engaging a side of a roll of tape into which the first portion 12 is inserted and an opposing flange 30 is provided on the dispensing portion 14, the arm 16 and said flanges 28,30 being adapted to engage the sides of a roll of tape to retain the device 10 on a roll of tape when the device 10 is fitted thereon.

The dispensing portion 14 of the device 10 is provided with an elongate slot 32 extending parallel to a central axis of the cylindrical first portion 12 through which a free end of tape from a roll of tape may pass. The dispensing portion 14 comprises a planar member having a flat outer surface 34 adjacent the slot 32 onto which the tape may be stuck to retain the end of the tape on the device 10.

A serrated cutting blade 36 is provided on one side of the dispensing portion 14 for cutting the tape to enable a length of tape to be easily separated from the roll.

In use, the position of the arm 16 is pivotally adjusted within the aperture 22 of the first portion 12 to maximise the gap between the first portion 12 and dispensing portion 14, as shown in Figure 2. The cylindrical first portion 12 may then be inserted into the core of a roll of tape, with the dispensing portion 14 arranged on the outside of the roll. A free end of the tape is passed through the slot 32. The device is inserted into the roll so that the adhesive side of the tape is located on the side of the slot 32 adjacent the cutting blade 36 of the dispensing portion 14, whereby the tape can be folded against the outer side of the dispensing portion 14 so that the tape is stuck to the flat outer surface 34 of the dispensing portion 14.

The arm 14 is then rotate in a clockwise direction with respect to the first portion 12 whereby the roll of tape is gripped between the first portion 12 and dispensing portion 14 of the device 10. The flange 18 on the cylindrical first portion 12 and the flange 30 on the dispensing portion 14 are located on an opposite side of the roll of tape from the arm 16 such that the device 10 is retained on the roll.

The end of the tape is now readily accessible and can be pulled off the dispensing portion and the desired length of tape can be pulled off the roll, the device moving around the periphery of the roll as tape is dispensed. Once the desired length of tape has been dispensed, the tape can be pulled over the cutting blade 36 to cut off the desired length. The remaining free end of the tape is simultaneously stuck back onto the outer surface 34 of the dispensing portion 14 to retain the end of the tape for further use. Cut outs 38 are provided on either side of the dispensing portion 14 adjacent said outer surface 34 to assist removal of the end of the tape therefrom. A portion of the outer face of the dispensing portion adjacent the cut outs 38 may be ribbed 40 to further assist removal of the free end of the tape therefrom.

As the tape is dispensed from the roll the thickness of the roll of tape reduces. The arm 16 can be pivoted with respect to the first portion 12 to reduce the distance between the first portion 12 and the dispensing portion 14 to retain the first and dispensing portions 12,14 in contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the roll to retain the device on the roll.

A tape dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 6 to 14. The device 100 according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, comprising a first portion 112 to be located inside the core of a roll of tape to engage an inner surface of the roll and a dispensing portion 114 arranged to be located on an outer surface of the roll of tape to engage the outer surface of the roll, the dispensing portion 114 having an elongate slot 132 extending parallel to the central axis of the first portion 112 through which the free end of the tape can be passed to secure the free end of an outer surface 134 of the dispensing portion 114.

A serrated cutting blade 136 is provided on a side of the dispensing portion 114 for cutting off a length of tape from the roll. The blade 136 may be formed integrally with the dispensing portion 114 or may be attached thereto. In the latter case, the blade may comprise a metal strip or plate having a serrated cutting edge. Again, a portion 140 of the outer surface 134 of the dispensing portion 114 is ribbed to assist removal of the end of the tape therefrom when it is desired to dispense a length of tape. As with the first embodiment, cut outs 138 are provided on either side of the dispensing portion 114 to assist in removal of the end of the tape from the surface of the dispensing portion 114.

The dispensing portion 114 is joined to the first part by an elongate arm 116 extending perpendicularly from one side of the dispensing portion 114. The arm 116 is arranged to extend on one side of a roll of tape to which the device 100 is fitted. A first flange 128 is provided adjacent an end of the first part opposite the arm to extend towards the dispensing part and a second flange 130 extends from a side of the dispensing part 114 opposite the arm 116 to extend towards the first flange 128 such that the arm 116 and flanges 128,130 engage either side of a roll of tape to retain the device 100 on the roll.

The device 100 of the second embodiment differs from the device 10 of the first embodiment in that the arm 116 is slidably mounted on the first part 112 instead of pivotally mounted, the arm 116 being receiving within a slot 122 provided on an end of the first part 112 whereby the arm 116 is radially slidable with respect to the first part 112 to vary the distance between the first part 112 and the dispensing part 114.

A recessed inner face of the arm 116 is provided with transverse grooves/serrations 124. A resilient cantilevered arm 126 extends from an inner side of the slot 122 parallel to the arm 116, said arm 126 having a projecting pawl 127 at a distal end to engage the grooved inner face 124 of the arm 116 to provide a ratchet mechanism for restricting the movement of the arm 116 with respect to the first portion 112 and for preferentially enabling the first part 112 to be moved towards the dispensing part 114, in direction A shown in Figures 7, 9 and 11 towards the position shown in Figures 6, 8 and 11, to retain the device 100 on a roll of tape to which it is fitted.

A projection 150 is provided in a central region of the pawl 127 on the cantilevered arm 126, a central channel being provided in the arm 116 of the dispensing part 114 through which the projection 150 extends. The projection 150 may be depressed to push the pawl 127 away from the serrations 124 to release the pawl 127 from the serrations 124, allowing the arm 116 to slide through the slot 122 enabling the first portion 112 to be moved away from the dispensing part 114, from the position shown in Figures 6, 8 and 10 to the position shown in Figures 7, 9 and 11 to allow the device 100 to be removed from an exhausted roll of tape and to be fitted to a new roll.

The present invention provides a tape dispensing device that can be fitted to rolls of tape of a wide variety of sizes and enables the end of the tape to be retained and readily located while assisting in the removal of a length of tape from the roll.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.