Background of the Invention Most tape dispensers bought today are designed so that the tape roll is secured by a holding arrangement which is integrated with the support member of the tape dis- penser, so that it is possible to pull the free end of the tape roll, whereby the tape roll is rotated and a tape section is released from the tape roll, after which the tape section is brought in contact with a cutter member cutting tape pieces off in the desired length.

This embodiment is the most simple, and a tape dispenser of this type does not cost much and is easy to produce.

The drawback of this type of tape dispenser is that they are very light, and typically two hands are required for freeing a tape section for use.

It has been attempted to compensate for this by making tape dispensers with a heavy support member where the weight of the support member contributes to the possibility of pulling free a tape section from the tape roll and subsequently to cut it off by bring- ing the tape section in contact with a cutter member.

In order to get a usable tape section, it is possible to pull the tape section linearly from the tape roller and out towards the cutter member in order to get a tape section which is not creased and entangled.

This may be a disadvantage for persons that are not positioned right before the tape dispenser, or if the tape dispenser is not placed at a position towards the person, since it increases the risk of the person performing a repeated ergonomically improper movement when a piece of tape is to be cut off. The ergonomically improper move- ment may cause load on the person's hand, forearm and shoulder joint.

For persons that only use tape a few times in the course of a day, there are no prob- lems with performing an ergonomically improper movement or to move the tape dis- penser.

However, for persons that are to use pieces of tape often, it is an appreciable drawback since they are either to do the same movement repeatedly in the course of the day, or are to use effort and time in moving the tape dispenser to an optimal position in rela- tion to where they are placed.

Since the tape dispenser is designed with a heavy support member, it may furthermore be a drawback that the persons are to lift and move the tape dispenser repeatedly, since it typically occurs with one hand and thus may cause injury to the wrist.

Examples of persons using tape in large amounts, and where it is important that they have an ergonomic correct movement when cutting off pieces of tape, are: Assistants in shops, where presents of various sizes are packed, where the as- sistant typically uses one hand to cut off a piece of tape as the other hand is oc- cupied with holding the package. Typically, the assistants are furthermore bound to use time for moving the tape dispenser since the required space on the counter is not always present.

Persons at production/packing lines using tape for sealing the packages. If there are several persons at the same time that are to use the same tape dis- penser, they have to use time for moving the tape dispenser or to place them- selves opposite the tape dispenser.

If using a tape dispenser disposed at the correct position, it will therefore be possible to reduce work-related injuries and to reduce the time for packing substantially.

In US 5,366, 129 there is disclosed a tape dispenser designed to solve the previously mentioned drawbacks since it is designed with a fastening means connected to a tape dispenser so that the tape dispenser may be rotated 360° about a horizontal as well as a vertical plane.

However, there are several obvious disadvantages by this embodiment of a tape dis- penser, as e. g.: The fastening means of the tape dispenser consist of some smaller parts, as e. g. a spring, and other members that are to engage mutually (see Fig. 5), entailing that it is complicated to make and assemble which increases the manufacturing costs.

The fastening means of the tape dispenser is e. g. a suction disc holding it onto the base, entailing that a certain force is to be used for releasing the tape dis- penser, and this makes the tape dispenser cumbersome to move.

The fact that the tape dispenser may be rotated 360° about a horizontal as well as a vertical plane provides that it is cumbersome to cut off a piece of tape since the tape dispenser will automatically follow the movement performed for bringing the tape section in contact with the knife of the tape dispenser.

'The tape dispenser is designed so that it is necessary to disassemble the tape dispenser in order to change the tape roll.

These drawbacks imply that it is necessary to produce a tape dispenser which can re- lieve the drawbacks, and which simultaneously may attain the desired advantages.

Object of the Invention It is therefore the object of the present invention to indicate a tape dispenser which has a simple design and which is easy to move, and which at the same time enable tearing off a piece of tape at an arbitrary angle in an ergonomically correct way.

This is achieved by means of a tape dispenser as specified in the preamble of claim 1, and where the holding arrangement is rotatably connected to the support member.

Description of the Invention The tape is secured in the tape dispenser by means of a holding arrangement that pro- vides for the tape roll to be held at a certain position while at the same time it may rotate for unwinding tape from the tape roll.

The holding arrangement may be designed so that it has a journal having a shape cor- responding to the shape of the inner reel of the tape roll, so that the tape roll can be placed and secured on e. g. a transverse journal suspended in bearings that allow rota- tion of the tape roll.

In order to cut off a piece of tape, it is necessary that the tape dispenser is provided with a cutter member with which the free end of the tape can be brought in contact, and where the adhesive side of the tape holds the tape on the cutter member, while a downwards movement provides for the cutter member cutting the tape.

The cutter member and the holding arrangement are both connected to the support member and are typically disposed so that there is spacing between them, so that it is possible to get hold of the free end of the tape.

The cutter member is typically disposed at an edge part of the support member, while the holding arrangement is either disposed at an opposite edge of the support member or at the centre of the support member.

In order to tear off a piece of tape at an arbitrary angle in an ergonomically correct way, the holding arrangement is rotatably connected to the support member.

This means that it is possible to pivot the tape roll in a preferably horizontal plane in relation to the support member by taking the free end between the cutter member and

the holding arrangement and moving it sideways.

In order to turn the secured tape roll sideways, the said holding arrangement and/or support member includes a bearing means.

This bearing means may be a ball bearing, one part of which being connected to the support member, while the holding arrangement is provided with a pawl connected to the other part of the ball bearing, whereby the ball bearing allows the holding ar- rangement to be turned arbitrarily in a horizontal plane in relation to the support mem- ber.

Alternatively, the bearing means may be a bushing connected to the support member, while the holding arrangement is provided with a pawl corresponding in shape to the bushing, whereby the holding arrangement can be mounted in the bushing and thereby be turned arbitrarily in a horizontal plane in relation to the support member.

Alternatively, the bearing means can be a hemisphere connected to the holding ar- rangement, while the support member is provided with hemispherical cutout which in shape is complementary to the hemisphere of the holding arrangement, whereby the hemisphere can be mounted in the cutout and thereby turn the holding arrangement arbitrarily in a horizontal plane in relation to the support member.

Other types of bearing means may be envisaged applied where it is possible to dis- posed a part of the holding arrangement in a complementary part of the support mem- ber.

The bearing means can be made of metal or plastic, as e. g. nylon or the like. It is im- portant the material for the bearing means does not prevent free rotation of the holding arrangement due to frictional resistance between the parts of the bearing means, as well as it is important that the bearing means does not need lubrication in order to ro- tate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cutter member is a curved knife disposed pref- erably at a circular arc about the holding arrangement.

By placing a curved knife about the rotatable holding arrangement, it is possible to cut off the free end of the tape, irrespectively of the position in which the holding ar- rangement is placed.

The arched knife will furthermore provide for cutting off the free end of the tape ap- proximately at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the tape, as the circular arc of the knife about the holding arrangement provides that the knife is disposed perpen- dicularly to the tape, which is pulled linearly and radially out from the holding ar- rangement.

In this embodiment of the invention, where the cutter member is disposed at a circular arc of 180° or less, the holding arrangement is disposed at the opposite side of the cut- ter member on the support member.

In a second embodiment of the-invention, the cutter member is an annular knife dis- posed so that it surrounds the holding arrangement.

The annular knife surrounds the holding arrangement and thereby it is possible to tear off a piece of tape from the tape dispenser all the way around.

In this embodiment of the invention, and embodiments where the cutter member is disposed on a circular arc of 180° or more, the holding arrangement is disposed at the centre of the support member.

If it doesn't matter if the piece of tape is cut off the approximately at a right angle to the tape, the invention includes a cutter member in the shape of a straight knife which is placed on the support member at a position at the opposite side of the holding ar- rangement. This provides that the piece of tape on the central part of the knife if cut off approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the tape, while the

cutting angle becomes more acute, the farther out on the straight knife the piece of tape is cut off.

The cutter member includes a sharp edge and may be designed as a single element, or it may be an integrated part of the support member.

The sharp edge may be provided with a number of points penetrating the tape when brought in contact with the cutter member, and thereby cause a more ready cutting of a tape piece.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tape dispenser may designed so that the hold- ing arrangement has a point of origin to which it returns when e. g. the tape roll is to be replaced.

In order to prevent the user from cutting himself on the part of the cutter member not used for cutting of a piece of tape, the cutter member is designed with a protective means connected to the cutter member, to the holding arrangement or to the support member.

This protective means may be a guard covering the cutter member when the tape dis- penser is not in use or is moved from place to place.

The guard may cover the entire cutter member, or be a guard only covering parts of the cutter member.

However, a part of the cutter member is to be exposed radially and linearly out from the tape roll at the place where the free end of the tape is attached to the cutter mem- ber.

In an embodiment of the invention, the protective means is slidably connected to the support member, so that by activation this may be slid up around the cutter member and thereby prevent free access to the cutter member.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the protective means is connected to the cutter member and may e. g. be a guard with upright standing members that are actu- ated manually by turning the holding arrangement, thereby turning the opening of the protective means with the tape roller.

In a third embodiment of the invention, the protective device is connected to the hold- ing arrangement and may e. g. be a guard in the shape of a lid covering the entire top side of the tape dispenser and thereby also the cutter member.

In a fourth embodiment of the invention, the protective means is connected to the sup- port member and may e. g. be a guard which can be compressed/folded together and thereby expose the cutter member from the original position and to the desired angular position.

The tape dispenser is designed with a heavy support member so that it stands firmly at a certain position and thereby forms a resistance sufficient for pulling the free end of the tape and thereby unwinding a tape section from the tape roll.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tape dispenser is furthermore designed with means for suspending on a vertical surface, which can be a solution applicable if suffi- cient table space is not available.

The tape dispenser of the present invention is envisaged made so that it can be used for different kinds of tape and different dimensions of the tape rolls.

Short Description of the Drawing The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompany- ing drawing, where: Fig. 1 shows a plane view of a tape dispenser with a cutter member in a 90° circular arc according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side sectional view of a tape dispenser with a bearing means accord- ing to the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a plane view of a tape dispenser with a cutter member in a 360° circu- lar arc according to the present invention; and Fig. 4 shows a side sectional view of the tape dispenser in Fig. 3.

Detailed Description of the Invention On Fig. 1 is seen a tape dispenser 1 including a support member 2, a holding arrange- ment 3 and a cutter member 4, where the support member 2 includes a cutout (not shown) in which the hemisphere 5 of the holding arrangement 3 is disposed for turn- ing the holding arrangement 3 in relation to the support member 2.

The cutter member 4 in the shape of a curved knife 4a is provided in a 90° circular arc at the periphery of the support member 2 and opposite the holding arrangement 3, so that the unrolled tape section 6 is suspended between the tape roll 7 and the cutter member 4, providing that it is possible to get hold of the tape section 6 when a new piece of tape 33 is to be cut.

The tape roll 7 is secured in the holding arrangement 3 on journal 8 so that it is possi- ble to rotate the tape roll 7 by pulling the tape section 6.

On Fig. 2 is seen a tape dispenser 1 that includes a support member 2, a holding ar- rangement 3 and a cutter member 4, where the support member 2 includes a bearing means 9 and the holding arrangement 3 includes a pawl 10 which by mounting in a bearing means 9 causes the holding arrangement to be rotatable in a horizontal plane relative to the support member 2.

The holding arrangement 3 includes a triangular journal 8 holding the inner reel 11 of the tape roll 7, but allowing the tape roll 7 to be unrolled by pulling the tape section 6.

When the tape dispenser 1 is not in use, the adhesive side 6a of the tape piece 6 keeps the tape section 6 down against the cutter member 4.

The support member 2 is shown here with feet 12 providing that the tape dispenser 1 is not sliding on the base when pulling in the tape section 6.

On Fig. 3 is shown a tape dispenser 30 that includes a circular support member 31, a holding arrangement 3 and a cutter member 32.

The cutter member 32 is an annular knife 4b disposed at the periphery of the support member 31 and surrounding the holding arrangement 3 which may be turned freely 360° around, thus enabling cutting a piece 33 of tape from the tape roll 7, irrespec- tively of the position of the holding arrangement 3.

On Fig. 4 is seen tape dispenser 30 which includes a circular support member 31 and an annular cutter member 32.

The holding arrangement 3 is shown here recessed in support member 31 so that tape dispenser 30 including tape roll 7 is not so high.

The holding arrangement 3 includes a pawl 10 which by mounting in a bearing means 9 in the support means 31 causes the holding arrangement 3 to be turned in a horizon- tal plane in relation to the support member 31.