US3889845A

US3889845A - Marker strip dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3889845A
Application number: US441157A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis F Haitmanek
Original assignee: Thomas and Betts Corp
Current assignee: ABB Installation Products Inc
Priority date: 1974-02-11
Filing date: 1974-02-11
Publication date: 1975-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-17

Abstract

A dispensing device preferably for wire marker strips supported on a selectively slitted backing web comprises a body member having a strip deflector extending selectively into a dispensing zone communicating with a web receiving passageway defined by spaced upper and lower portions of the body member. Advancement of the web through the passageway causes successive marker strips to be selectively positioned by the strip deflector out of the plane of the backing web and into the dispensing zone for convenient removal from the backing web. Camming means which may comprise a suitably contoured surface adjacent the strip deflector operates to cam an unremoved marker strip back to its original position as it is moved past the dispensing zone.

Description

United States Patent [191 June 17, 1975 Haitmanek MARKER STRIP DISPENSER [75] Inventor: Louis F. Haitmanek, Florham Park,

[73] Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation, Elizabeth, NJ.

[22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1974 21 Appl. NQ.; 441,157

[52] US. Cl. 221/70 [51] Int. Cl .Q B65h 5/28 [58] Field of Search 221/311, 70, 71, 72,73

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,107,814 10/1963 Auger et a1. 221/73 3,l28,0l2 4/1964 Berg 221/70 3,169,895 2/1965 Sohn 221/73 X 3,212,669 lO/l965 Kruger 221/70 Woldman [57] ABSTRACT A dispensing device preferably for wire marker strips supported on a selectively slitted backing web comprises a body member having a strip deflector extending selectively into a dispensing zone communicating with a web receiving passageway defined by spaced upper and lower portions of the body member. Advancement of the web through the passageway causes successive marker strips to be selectively positioned by the strip deflector out of the plane of thebacking web and into the dispensing zone for convenient removal from the backing web.Camming means which may comprise a suitably contoured surface adjacent the strip deflector operates to cam an unremoved marker strip back to its original position as it is moved past the dispensing zone.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 17 m5 SHEET 1 MARKER STRIP DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to the field of dispensing means and principally to a marker strip dispensing device.

2. Description of the Prior Art A variety of marker strips are presently produced for employment as identification means in many industrial and commercial applications. An example of such uses include employment as a wire marker for harnesses, a pipe marker for fluid transfer equipment, and instructional tags or the like providing directional and warning information thereon. The strips are commonly affixed to a backing web which is selectively slitted to permit a particular marker strip to be lifted out of the plane of the backing web and removed therefrom for attachment to the desired device. In many cases the operator may have but one hand free to perform this manipulation the other hand being employed, for example, to support the item to which the marker strip is to be attached so that such manipulation may become quite cumbersome and inconvenient in practice since the individual strips may be quite narrow and lie in such close proximate relationship to one another as to cause difficulty in separating a particular strip from the remainder when only one hand is available to perform this operation. Furthermore, cleanliness at the workplace may be less than idea] so that the continued handling of the marker strips thereat may readily result in the marker strip indicia being at least partially obliterated by the contaminants within the work area. Additionally, where a large quantity of such marker strips are required for immediate availability in a particular application, there exists a further problem of storage, wherein the user may be required to store a supply thereof in a tool box or the like, resulting to further damage and or defacing of the strips and the corresponding indicia printed thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention overcomes the problems and limitations noted above with respect to prior means for dispensing marker strips by providing a simple, convenient, inexpensive, and reliable marker strip dispenser, which may include storage means, to permit the convenient removal of a selective marker strip from a plurality of such strips customarily affixed to a backing web or the like. The device comprises essentially a strip deflector extending selectively from a portion of a body member having upper and lower portions selectively spaced from one another to provide a web receiving passageway therebetween. The strip deflector extends into a dispensing zone which may comprise an opening or slot of suitable width communicating with the web receiving passageway and coincident with the strip deflector so that, as each strip is deflected out of the plane of the backing web and into the dispensing zone, it may be readily grasped by the operator for removal from the backing web. The strip deflector may be either permanently affixed to the body member or retractably coupled thereto, the latter embodiment permitting the backing web to be readily advanced through the web receiving passageway without interference from the strip deflector until a desired position is reached at which time the strip deflector may then be selectively extended towards the dispensing zone to deflect the de- I sired marker strip thereinto. Camming means comprising preferably one or more selectively contoured surfaces may be employed to return an unremoved deflected marker strip back to its original position in the general plane of the backing web as the backing web is advanced through the dispenser. The dispenser may be conveniently fabricated from plastic material which may be molded to provide an integral readily manufactured, low cost one-piece device or may comprise an inexpensive wire form suitably bent into the desired shape. Means such as a knurled wheel or the like, which may be rotatably coupled to the body member, may be employed to advance the marker strips into the dispensing zone to avoid the need for the operator to accomplish this operation by physically handling the indicia bearing surfaces of the marker strips. Deflectable struts or the like my also be included to maintain a relatively constant pressure against the surface of the marker strips for purposes of alignment and stability. The dispenser may be fabricated from either opaque or clear plastic material, the latter arrangement providing window-like areas for viewing the indicia on either side of the dispensing zone. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel marker strip dispenser.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and readily manufactured marker strip dispenser for employment with selectively slotted marker strip bearing cards or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for selecting a desired marker strip from a plurality thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for storing and selectively dispensing indicia bearing marker strips from a given supply thereof.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide means for selectively positioning a portion of a selected marker strip for convenient removal from a backing web containing a plurality of such strips.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a device for storing, transferring and selectively positioning a supply of marker strips for use at a work place.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a marker strip dispenser having means for selectively deflecting a portion of a given marker strip out of the plane of a supporting backing web for presentation to the user.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a marker strip dispenser having a selectively extendable strip deflector adapted to selectively position a portion of a marker strip for convenient removal from a supporting backing web.

Other objects and features will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode contemplated for carrying it out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a typical application of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, in section, of a portion of the device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a further embodiment of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in section, of a portion of the device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of yet another embodiment of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the strip deflector of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view, partly cut away, of yet another embodiment of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet a further embodiment of a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

Similar elements are given similar reference characters in each of the respective drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 there is shown a marker strip dispenser constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. The dispenser 20, which may be conveniently fabricated either from metallic or plastic material whereby in the latter arrangement the dispenser 20 may be molded as an integral unit, comprises a body member 22 having a first or lower portion 24 and a second or upper portion 26, said second portion 26 being selectively spaced from the first portion 24 to provide a slot-like web receiving passageway 28 therebetween. The second portion 26 comprises a pair of generally coplanar elements separated by a dispensing zone 30 comprising essentially a selectively configured slot communicating with the web receiving passageway 28 and having a length essentially equivalent to the width of the web receiving passageway 28. Extending selectively from the first portion 24 of the body member 22 towards the dispensing zone 30 is a strip deflector 32 formed so as to define a generally tapered upstanding protrusion situated generally centrally of the width of the dispensing zone 30. As may be further noted from an examination of FIG. 1, the slot defining the dispensing zone 30 enlarges somewhat in the area generally adjacent the strip deflector 32 and is defined thereat by a pair of obliquely

oriented edge surfaces

34, 34 forming part of the contour of the second portions 26 of the body member 22 generally adjacent the dispensing zone 30. The

surfaces

34, 34 provide camming means, as will be described in further detail hereafter. Extending outwardly from the body member 22 is a first pair of mounting means 36 and a second pair of mounting means 38, for demountably attaching the marker strip dispenser 20 to a supporting surface (not shown), where necessary or desirable. Each of the mounting means 36 comprises an essentially flat protrusion extending generally parallel to the plane of the body member 22 and having a fastener receiving aperture 40 extending generally transversely therethrough to permit the body member22 to be fastened to a supporting surface either by nails, screws, or other like devices in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The second mounting means 38 situated on the opposite side of the body member 22 are essentially similar to the first mounting means 36 but are disposed at a generally oblique angle to the plane of the body member 22, thereby permitting the body member 22 to be fastened to a supporting surface or the like at a convenient inclined angle, where necessary or desirable. Each of the mounting means 38 is also provided with a fastener receiving aperture 42 essentially duplicative of the aperture 40 and utilizable in like manner. It will, of course, be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the completely enclosed

apertures

40 and 42 may, of course, be replaced by an open slot or keyway, where necessary or desirable, so that the dispenser 20 may be placed over existing fasteners for rapid attachment and removal. Although the strip deflector 32 is illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 1 as affixed to the first portion 24 of the body member 22, this arrangement may be readily modified as shown in detail in FIG. 9 wherein a strip deflector 44 is shown extending through a generally transverse aperture 46 in the first or lower portion 24 of the body member 22 and selectively displaceable towards and away from the dispensing zone 30 by the manipulation of a lever 48 to which the strip deflector 44 is coupled. The lever 48 is movably attached to the body member 22 by means of a pin 50 engaging a pair of spaced, apertured flanges 52, 52 extending outwardly from the edge of the body member 22 generally adjacent the aperture 46. The strip deflector 44 may thus be retracted from the dispensing zone 30 and below the surface of the first portion 24 to provide an uninterrupted path within the web receiving passageway 28 for use in a manner to be described in more detail hereafter. It will, of course, be clear that the lever 48 may be replaced by any one of a number of toggle arrangements in which the deflector 44 may be releasably locked in either an extended or retracted position, and selectively repositioned thereafter, as required. The advantages of this arrangement will become clear as the use of the dispenser 20 is explained in greater detail below. Either one or both of the two elements comprising the second portion 26 of the body member 22 shown in FIG. 1 may be modified as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5. As shown, there is provided a pair of

resilient struts

54, 54 extending respectively from each of the elements 56, 56' comprising a dispenser second portion 58 into a web receiving passageway 62 to provide a partial restriction thereat. The manner in which the struts 54, 54' communicate with the web receiving passageway 62 is shown in greater detail in the fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 6. The

struts

54, 54 are arranged to bear against an adjacent surface of the web supported marker strips inserted within the web receiving passageway 62 in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter, so as to partially restrain the free movement of the strips within -the passageway 62 and to prevent inadvertant misplacement thereof. Alternatively, one or more resiliently deflectable flat springs (not shown) may be cooperatively coupled to the under side of the second portion 58 for engagement with the adjacent surface of the marker strips to effect the desired retention. As a further example, each of the two elements making up the second portion 26 of the body member 22 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 may be further divided into a pair of overhanging

elements

64, 64' and 66, 66', as exemplified in FIG. 13,

each of the aforesaid elements being inclined at a predetermined angle and directed towards the first or lower portion of the body member so that each of the opposing free edges of the

elements

64, 64 and 66, 66' or any suitable combination thereof may be caused to bear against the adjacent surface of the marker strips positioned within the web receiving passageway to provide a partial restraint therefore.

Returning now specifically to FIG. 2 there is shown disposed within the web receiving passageway 28 of the dispenser 20 a series of marker strips 68 disposed on a backing web 70 partially encompassed within the web receiving passageway 28 of the dispenser 20. The back of each marker strip 68 customarily comprises an adhesive layer (not shown) contacting the backing web 70 which may be suitably treated so as to permit the strip 68 to be readily removed from the backing web 70. The backing web 70 is further slit between each pair of adjacent marker strips 68 for a short distance from the top edge 72 of the backing web 70 towards the distal edge thereof to provide a grasping portion for removing the particular marker strip 68 from the backing web 70. The extent of this slit may be more fully appreciated by observing the area designated as 74 in FIG. 2 where the backing web 70 is shown as extending up to the line 76 which is visible after the removal of a respective marker strip 68 therefrom. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the marker strip 68 bearing the indicia numeral is shown as disposed adjacent the strip deflector 32 within the dispensing zone 30 with one end of the marker strip 68 being deflected upwardly, as at 78, out of the general plane of the backing web 70 and away from the adjacent marker strips upon its contact with the strip deflector 32 so that the aforementioned end of the marker strip 68 is presented to the user in a convenient position for removing the particular marker strip from the backing web 70. The sequence of planar deflection of the portion 78 of the marker strip 68 is shown partly by the dotted

outline

80 and 80 and the solid outline 80" in FIG. 4. To appropriately position a desired marker strip located remote from either end of the backing web 70 within the dispensing zone 30, the backing web and the supported marker strips must be selectively advanced through the web receiving passageway 28 sufficiently to place the desired marker strip 68 in the proper position for removal. Accord- I ingly, each marker strip advancing past the strip deflector 32 will be caused to be deflected upwardly as shown in FIG. 2 at 78. To insure that a deflected and nonremoved marker strip 68 is re-deflected back to its original position coplanar with the backing web 700blique surfaces 34, 34 are provided to operate as camming means to appropriately engage the deflected portion of the marker strip and cause it to be urged back to its original position as the marker strips are advanced through the web receiving passageway 20. This manipulation is shown in detail in FIG. 3 wherein the marker strip bearing the indicia numeral 1 1 is shown engaging the obliquely angled surface 34 of the second portion 26 of the body member 22 so that upon further movement of the marker strip to the right in FIG. 3, as indicated by the arrow 82, the deflected portion of the marker strip will be redeflected downwardly towards the backing web 70. Although the backing web together with the marker strips 68 disposed thereon may be advanced within the marker strip dispenser 20 simply by grasping one end thereof and moving the combination back and forth as desired to selectively position a particular marker strip within the dispensing zone 30, a problem arises in the case where the users hands may be covered with grease, oil, or other contaminants present in the area in which such strips are to be used, which contaminants may be transferred to the marker strip surfaces causing at least a partial obliteration of the indicia thereon. In such cases, there may be provided advancing means which, as illustrated in FIG. 7 by way of example, may comprise a knurled wheel 84 rotatably attached to the second portion 26' of the body member 22' by means of a pin 86 supported adjacent a suitable transverse opening 88 in the second portion 26'. The diameter of the knurled wheel 84 is designed so that the portion thereof extending within the web receiving passageway 28 is spaced from the upper surface of the first portion 24 of the body member 22 a distance slightly less than the thickness of the composite marker strip-assembly so that a slight pressure is exerted thereagainst. Thus, as the wheel 84 is rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the underlying marker strip assembly will respond to the force of the knurled portion of the wheel thereagainst and be moved in the appropriate direction to align the desired marker strip with the dispensing zone 30 with a minimum of handling by the user. Slide devices and the like (not shown) may be employed in a similar manner to similarly effect transfer of the marker strips, where necessary or desirable.

Turning now to FIG. 8 there is shown a further embodiment of a marker strip dispenser 90 constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. The body member first and second portions and strip deflector of the dispenser 90 are essentially duplicative of such elements described heretofore with respect to the dispenser 20 illustrated in FIG. 1, and may include any one of the further modifications thereof as further described heretofore. In this case, however, there is further provided a pair of upstanding brackets 92 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 8) having grooved portions 94 providing a bearing seat for a spindle 96 upon which is wound a supply roll 98 consisting of a plurality of marker strips arranged on a backing web in a manner similar to the assembly illustrated in FIG. 2. The brackets 92 thus provide storage means for a plurality of marker strips which are fed through a guide 100 into a dispensing zone 102 which is essentially duplicative of the dispensing zone 30 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. This arrangement may be found particularly useful where the marker strip dispenser 90 is employed in a relatively permanent position adjacent a work station and where it is necessary or desirable to insure that an adequate supply of marker strips is continuously available to the user during the work period. For additional convenience, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 may be advantageously modified to provide an arrangement similar to that illustrated in FIG. 12 in which a dispensing zone 104 is located adjacent one edge of a body member 106 rather than generally centrally thereof as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, since the marker strips are fed continuously from the roll 98 into one side of the dispenser in a direction indicated by the arrow 108. Thus, as the marker strip assembly is advanced through the body member 106 towards the dispensing zone 104, such marker strip, in turn, will be presented to the user, suitably deflected by a deflector 110, for rapid and convenient removal from the dispensing zone 104.

Referring now to FIGS. and 11 there is shown a further embodiment of a marker strip dispenser 112 constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. The dispenser 112 comprises essentially a wire form structure in which the

elements

114, 116, 118, and 120 lie in a common plane and generally define the first or lower portion of the dispenser. Each of the

elements

114 and 120 thereafter extend upwardly to

arcuate elements

122 and 124, respectively, where the form departs from the original plane of the

elements

114, 1 l6, 1 18 and 120 and extends forwardly thereof along the

elements

126 and 128 which communicate with a further pair of

elements

130, 132, respectively, which are coplanar with

elements

126 and 128 and, in combination therewith, define the second or upper portion of the dispenser.

Portions

126, 128, 130, and 132 lie in a common plane selectively spaced from the plane defined by the

elements

114, 116, 118 and 120 to provide a web receiving passageway therebetween. The upper end of

elements

116 and 118 communicate with a further portion 134 lying in aplane generally perpendicular to the plane of

elements

116 and 118 to provide a strip deflector operative in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the element 32 illustrated in FIG. 1. The lower end of

elements

114, 116 118 and 120 join with a pair of looped portions 136 and 138 (See FIG. 11) planarly disposed generally normal to the plane of

elements

114, 116, 118 and 120 to define the lower boundary of the web receiving passageway, the strip deflector 134 providing the upper boundary therefor. The

portions

136 and 138 additionally provide mounting means for the dispenser 112, each of the

portions

136 and 138 being configured to provide a

fastener receiving aperture

140, 142, respectively, for the receipt therethrough of a nail, screw, or other like fastening device to permit the dispenser 112 to be attached to a support (not shown). The looped

portions

136 and 138 may, of course, be disposed in the same plane as the

elements

114, 116, 118 and 120, where necessary or desirable. The wire form structure comprising the marker strip dispenser 112 may be fabricated from a given length of metallic strip or may be molded into the desired shape from any suitable plastic material, either arrangement providing a sufficiently resilient structure so that the plane defined by

elements

126, 128, 130, and 132 may be disposed in relatively close proximate relationship to the plane defined by

elements

114, 116, 118 and 120 to provide a gap therebetween slightly less than the thickness of the marker strip backing web combination, to provide a spring-like holder for the marker strips inserted therebetween. The lodged portions adjacent the

elements

122 and 124 may also serve as fastening means for the dispenser 112 in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the

portions

136 and 138.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A device for selectively positioning a marker strip for removal from a backing web containing a plurality of such strips, comprising: a body member having web support means comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first and said second portions being arranged in selectively spaced relationship to define a web receiving passageway therebetween, a dispensing zone adapted to permit the removal of said marker strip from said web, said dispensing zone extending essentially across the width of said web receiving passageway and communicating therewith, said dispensing zone comprising an opening adapted to receive said marker strip therethrough; and a strip deflector extending selectively from said web support means first portion towards said dispensing zone to planarly deflect a selective portion of said marker strip out of the plane of said web receiving passageway and into said dispensing zone for removal of said marker strips from said web; said web support means second portion further comprising camming means for returning the deflected portion of an unremoved marker strip to its original position upon the selective advancement of said marker strip through said web receiving passageway and into engagement with said camming means. I

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said camming means comprises a selectively formed surface disposed in close proximate relationship to said strip deflector.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for selectively advancing said marker strips within said web receiving passageway.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said advancing means comprises a movable member cooperatively attached to said web support means for selective engagement with said marker strips.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for selectively positioning said strip deflector with respect to said dispensing zone.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said strip deflector positioning means is movably coupled to said web support means first portion.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said web 4 support means first and second portions each comprise generally planar elements, said second portion being disposed in substantially parallel planar relationship to said first portion.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein said web support means second portion comprises a first element and a second element arranged in generally coplanar relationship, said dispensing zone being located generally intermediate said first element and said second element.

9. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for selectively maintaining said marker strips in a given position adjacent said dispensing zone.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said position maintaining means comprises resilient pressure means co-operative with said web receiving passageway to provide a partial restriction thereat, said resilstrips.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3 ,889,845

DATED June 17, 1975 INVENT 1 Louis F. Haitmanek It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 64, "lodged" should be looped Signed and Scaled this fourteenth D ay Of October 1 9 75 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner vj'Parents and Trademarks

Claims

1. A device for selectively positioning a marker strip for removal from a backing web containing a plurality of such strips, comprising: a body member having web support means comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first and said second portions being arranged in selectively spaced relationship to define a web receiving passageway therebetween, a dispensing zone adapted to permit the removal of said marker strip from said web, said dispensing zone extending essentially across the width of said web receiving passageway and communicating therewith, said dispensing zone comprising an opening adapted to receive said marker strip therethrough; and a strip deflector extending selectively from said web support means first portion towards said dispensing zone to planarly deflect a selective portion of said marker strip out of the plane of said web receiving passageway and into said dispensing zone for removal of said marker strips from said web; said web support means second portion further comprising camming means for returning the deflected portion of an unremoved marker strip to its original position upon the selective advancement of said marker strip through said web receiving passageway and into engagement with said camming means.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said web support means first and second portions each comprise generally planar elements, said second portion being disposed in substantially parallel planar relationship to said first portion.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said position maintaining means comprises resilient pressure means co-operative with said web receiving passageway to provide a partial restriction thereat, said resilient pressure means being selectively deflectable upon engagement with selected portions of said marker strips.