US2975950A - Tape dispenser - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1961 E. F. KUSEK TAPE DISPENSER Filed Jan. 26, 1959 I INVENTOR. Eawzn F 115 614 TAPE DISPENSER Edwin F. Kusek, Chicago, 111., assignor to Mystik Adhesiil lvc Froducts, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of nuns Filed Jan. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 7 89,907

2 Claims. (Cl. 225-26) This invention relates to a new and improved device for dispensing self-sticking tape from a roll.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tape dispenser that may be molded at very low cost from resinous plastic materials, yet will hold the roll of tape in a secure and convenient manner, so that the tape may be drawn 011 the roll and severed into convenient lengths.

A further object is to provide a new and improved tape dispenser having generally triangular flanges or supports for holding the roll of tape, so that the roll will rotate freely as the tape is drawn oi the roll.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tape dispenser of the foregoing character, in which the triangular flanges are formed around openings through which one or more fingers of the user may be inserted to hold the dispenser as the tape is drawn off the roll.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved tape dispenser which is extremely serviceable and convenient, yet is easy to manufacture and low in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tape dispenser to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the tape dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view. 7

Fig.4 is an elevational sectional view, taken generally along a line 4-4- in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along a line 55 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged section, corresponding to the extreme right hand portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view, taken as indicated by the line '7-7 in Fig. 6.

As already indicated, the drawings illustrate a tape dispenser 10 which is adapted to hold a roll 12 of selfsticking tape 14- or the like. Various types of tape may be dispensed, such as the type comprising cellophane, or other transparent film, coated on its underside with a permanently sticky, pressure sensitive adhesive. The illustrated roll 12 is wound on a hollow cylindrical spool or core 16, which may be made of cardboard, synthetic plastics or the like.

The illustrated dispenser 11B is formed with a pair of spaced, generally parallel sidewalls 18. The spacing between the walls 18 is slightly greater than the width of the tape 14 so that the tape roll 12 will rotate freely between the walls. The front edges of the walls 18 are joined by a front wall 20, which may be formed integrally with the sidewalls 18. The entire dispenser 10 may be molded in one piece from various suitable resinous plastics.

In this case, the front wall 20 slants upwardly from its bottom end in a forward direction. At its upper end, the front Wall 21 has a forwardly turned generally horizontal lip 22. At its front end, the lip 22 has a front 2,975,950 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 edge 23 with serrations 24 thereon, for use in cutting off the tape 14. The serrations are formed by V- shaped grooves 25 and 26 which extend along the upper and lower sides of the lip 22.

The sidewalls 18 are formed with portions 27 which extend above the opposite sides of the lip 22, so as to guide the tape 14 as it passes over the lip 22. To the rear of the lip 22, the sidewalls 18 are formed with generally half-circular notches 28 so that the end of the tape 14- may be retrieved more readily if it becomes detached from the lip.

The sidewalls 18 have horizontal bottom edges 30 which are adapted to rest upon a table, a desk or other supporting surface, so that the dispenser 10 will stand upright in a stable manner. A curved edge 32, corresponding to a portion of a circle, extends along the top and rear portions of each sidewall 18. In general, the edge 32 corresponds to the outline of the tape roll 12.

In this case, the roll 12 is rotatably supported by a pair of generally triangular flanges or stubs 34, projecting inwardly from the sidewalls 18. The flanges 34 are adapted to engage the inside of the roll 12 at localized areas, so that the roll will be supported for rotation with low frictional resistance. A generally triangular opening 36 is formed within each of the flanges 34.

It will be seen that each of the illustrated flanges 34 is formed with an arcuately curved rear side 38 adapted to engage the inside of the roll 12. The curved side 38 extends through somewhat less than a half circle. In addition, each flange 34- has substantially straight upper and lower sides 41) and 42 which converge forwardly from the upper and lower ends of the curved rear side 36. Thus, the upper side 40 slants downwardly, while the lower side 42 slants upwardly. At the front extremity of each flange '34, the upper and lower sides 40 and 42 are joined by a nose portion 44, which is adapted to engage the inside of the tape roll 12. The flanges 34 and the openings 36 on the two sidewalls 18 are aligned. Each flange 34 is adapted to extend part way into the opening within the roll 12. Because of the limited area of engagement between the triangular flanges 34 and the inside of the roll, the frictional resistance to rotation of the roll is low. The triangular flanges 34 support the roll in an adequate manner so that it cannot move about excessively.

On each sidewall 13, an inwardly projecting, substantially circular boss 46 is formed around the corresponding flange 34. The bosses 46 are adapted to engage the opposite ends of the spool 16 so as to prevent the ends of the roll 12 from rubbing against the inner sides of the sidewalls 18.

As shown, the flanges 34 taper in length, so as to project inwardly to a progressively decreasing extent, toward the front of the dispenser. This taper facilitates the mounting of a roll of tape on the dispenser.

When tape is to be dispensed, the user may insert one or two fingers through the triangular openings 36 within the flanges 34. In this way, the dispenser may be held against the pull of the tape 14- as it is drawn off the roll 12. The finger or fingers engage the curved rear sides 38 of the flanges 34. Thus, the curved sides of the flanges are conveniently disposed for use as finger grips. The insertion of two fingers through the triangular openings 36 will prevent the dispenser from rotating as the tape is pulled off the roll. Any desired length of tape may be severed by cutting or tearing the tape along the serrated front edge of the lip 22.

When the roll of tape is used up, the spool or core 16 may be removed by spreading the sidewalls 18. The sidewalls 18 and the front wall 2%) are substantially flexible and resilient to provide for such spreading movement of the sidewalls. The walls 18 may also be spread apart to permit the mounting of a new roll of tape on the flanges or stubs 34. It will be recognized that the tape dispenser may readily be moulded in one piece from synthetic plastic materials. Thus, the dispenser is easy to manufacture and low in cost, in addition to being convenient and highly serviceable.

Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing self-sticking tape'or the like from a roll, comprising, in combination, a pair of opposite generally parallel sidewalls with a space therebetween for receiving the roll, a front wall extending between the front edges of said sidewalls, said front wall being formed integrally with said sidewalls, said sidewalls having aligned generally triangular openings therein, each of said sidewalls having a three-sided flange formed thereon around said triangular opening and projecting toward the opposite sidewall to extend part way through the roll of tape and thereby hold the roll between said sidewalls, said sidewalls and said front wall being substantially flexible and resilient, said sidewalls thereby being movable away from each other by flexing said sidewalls and said front wall to provide for insertion and removal of the roll, said front wall having a generally horizontal lip formed at the upper end thereof, said lip having a serrated front edge for cutting ofl the tape, said sidewalls having portions extending upwardly from the side edges of said lip for guiding the tape, each of said generally triangular openings having an arcuately curved rear edge and a pair of substantially straight edges converging forwardly from the upper and lower ends of said curved edge, said flanges having curved sides extending along said curved edges, and substantially straight sides extending along said straight edges of said openings, said curved sides of said flanges being engageable with the inside of the roll, said flanges havinglnose portions extending between said straight sides of said flanges for engaging the inside of the roll, at a point opposite said curved sides, said flanges forming finger grip portions for resisting the pull of the tape as it is drawn forwardly from the roll. said curved sides of said flanges being on the sides of said triangular openings remote from said serrated lip for engagement by a finger inserted through said openings and for supporting the roll against the pull of the tape.

2. A device for dispensing self-sticking tape or the like from a roll, said device comprising, in combination, a pair of opposite generally parallel sidewalls with a space therebetween for receiving the roll, a connecting wall extending between said sidewalls and formed integrally therewith, said sidewalls having aligned general ly triangular openings therein, each of said sidewalls having a three-sided flange formed thereon around said triangular opening and projecting toward the opposite sidewall to extend part way through the roll of tape and thereby hold the roll between said sidewalls, said sidewalls and said connecting wall being substantially flexible and resilient, said sidewalls thereby being movable away from each other by flexing said sidewalls and said connecting wall to provide for insertion and removal of the roll, each of said generally triangular openings having an arcuately curved rear edge and a pair of substantially straight edges converging from the upper and lower ends of said curved edge, said flanges having curved sides extending along said curved edges, and substantially straight sides extending along said straight edges of said openings, said curved sides of said flanges being engageable with the inside of the roll, said flanges having nose portions extending between said straight sides of said flanges for engaging the inside of the roll at a point opposite said curved sides of said flanges, said flanges forming finger grip portions for resisting the pull of the tape as it is drawn from the roll, said curved sides of said flanges being on the sides of said triangular opens ings remote from said connecting wall for engagement by a finger inserted through said openings and for supporting the roll against the pull of the tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,408 Alliss Mar. 10, 1942 2,400,881 Kahn May 28, 1946 2,640,657 Guyer June 2, 1953 2,767,833 Hedin Oct. 23, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 285,964 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1953

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