Although the following description refers almost exclusively to a dispensing device for dispensing Sellotape, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention can be used to dispense any type of tape, adhesive coated or otherwise, such as double sided tape, masking tape and/or the like.

Conventionally sellotape is wound around a support, typically in the form of a cylindrical member or roll. The sellotape typically comprises a transparent elongate length of material having an adhesive coated lower surface and a non-adhesive upper surface.

In use, a user is required to grasp a free end of the sellotape, pull a required length of the tape from the roll and cut the tape at the required length using either scissors or their teeth.

A problem associated with conventional sellotape rolls is that the free end of the tape is often adhered to the layer of tape below on the roll and, due to the transparency and thinness of the tape, it is often difficult and time consuming for the user to find the free end on the tape roll. Furthermore, cutting the tape using scissors can be difficult due to the user having to hold the scissors in one hand and the free end of the tape in the other hand. If a long length of tape is being cut, the tape roll has a tendency to spin round, thereby tangling the length of tape being cut and resulting in portions of the tape adhering together. This typically results in lengths of tape being wasted.

If the user cuts the tape using their teeth, this can result in an unpleasant taste being left in the user's mouth due to the adhesive. In addition, the force placed on the user's teeth during the cutting action may result in damage to the same.

In order to overcome the abovementioned problems, it is known to provide dispensing devices for increasing the ease with which tape can be handled and cut. For example, one such device comprises a housing including a spindle on which the tape roll is located, thereby allowing the roll to be freely rotatable relative to the housing. A cutting edge is also provided on a portion of the housing and, in use, a user is required to grip a free end of the tape, pull the tape towards the cutting edge and, at a required length along the tape, force the tape against the cutting edge to cut the tape.

Whilst these dispensing devices improve the ease with which the tape can be cut, this and other prior art devices suffer from the problem that after cutting, the newly formed free end of the tape recoils back towards the tape roll from the cutting edge and adheres to the tape toll, thereby requiring the user to undertake the time consuming process of finding the free end of the tape.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a dispensing device which overcomes the abovementioned problems and allows the free end of tape to be easily located.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing device for dispensing tape, said device having attachment means for attaching said device to the tape or a support structure on which a length of tape is provided, at least one cutting edge for cutting a required portion of the length of tape and at least one aperture defined in the device through which a free end of the tape is inserted in use in a first direction, and wherein restriction means are provided on the device for preventing or restricting movement of the free end of the length of the tape through the aperture in a reverse direction.

Once a portion of tape has been cut from the length of tape, the newly formed free end has a tendency to move from the cutting edge and the adhesive surface of the tape typically adheres to the length of tape, thereby making the free end difficult to find for subsequent use. However, in accordance with the present invention, the restriction means of the dispensing device limits or prevents movement of the newly formed free end of the tape back through the aperture and thus prevents adherence of the free end with the length of tape.

In one embodiment the restriction means are in the form of one or more arm members which define, at least in part, the rear wall (s) of the aperture. The restriction means act as a guide for maintaining the tape within the aperture during use (i. e. as the device moves along the length of tape). The restriction means are also used to provide a support against which the tape is pulled when a length of tape is being unwound from the support structure on which it is located.

The arm members typically protrude inwardly from one or more sides of the device. The arm members can join two sides of the device or a gap can be provided between the arm members. In this latter embodiment, the gap is preferably of such a size to allow the free end of the tape to be inserted therebetween, thereby allowing the tape to be easily located in the aperture.

The gap is typically in communication with the aperture.

The aperture can be in the form of a slot, recess and/or the like.

The restriction means are preferably located at the rear of the device, which is the end opposite to the cutting edge of the device.

Preferably strengthening means are provided on the arm members to prevent damage thereto. The strengthening means are typically in the form of one or more rib members.

In an alternative embodiment the restriction means are in the form of at least one member which protrudes into said aperture.

Preferably the newly formed free end of the tape adheres to a whole or part of the protruding member after cutting, thereby allowing easy location of the free end when subsequent use of the tape is required.

Preferably the at least one aperture is defined in a body portion of the device and the at least one member protrudes from a plane of the body portion.

Further preferably the free end of the at least one member protrudes in a direction towards the upper surface of the length of tape or tape on the support structure. The member can contact the surface of the tape on the support structure if required to help prevent the device from falling off the support structure.

Preferably the at least one member is substantially flexible to prevent damage of the same as the thickness of the tape on the support structure changes with use and/or if the device is used with different sized support structures/different lengths of tape.

In one embodiment, the at least one protruding member is resiliently biased against the surface of the tape on the support structure (i. e. in a direction away from the upper surface of the device). The free end of the at least one member typically protrudes in the direction of the cutting edge. The length of the protruding member is such that the tape can be moved freely through the aperture in use without being obstructed by the protruding member but provides a surface area sufficient to allow adherence of the tape thereto when the free end recoils from the cutting edge back towards the support structure.

The cutting edge is typically provided at a front portion of the device. The tape, when inserted through the aperture, is brought against the cutting edge with the non-adhesive or adhesive surface adjacent the body portion and the cutting edge. Thus, the surface of the tape contacts the part of the body portion defining the front edge of the aperture (i. e. , the edge of the aperture closest to the cutting edge) such that movement of the tape through the aperture is not restricted as a result of the adhesive surface of the tape adhering to the body portion.

The distance between the cutting edge and the front edge of the aperture is also important in limiting or preventing movement of the tape in a reverse direction through the aperture, since this defines the length of tape which will typically adhere to the protruding member. As such, the said distance is sufficient to allow the free end of the tape and/or a portion of tape adjacent the free end to adhere to the protruding member as it recoils from the cutting edge.

Preferably, in addition to the body portion, the dispensing device includes at least two side walls. The two side walls, in use, are typically located adjacent opposite sides of the tape and support structure.

In one embodiment the side walls are resiliently biased in an inwardly direction towards each other, thereby providing a gripping action of the side walls on the tape and support structure. The side walls therefore allow attachment of the device to the tape and support structure in this embodiment.

In addition to, or alternatively, the attachment means can include one or more protruding portions which engage with or under the support structure. The protruding portions are provided on the side walls, and are preferably provided adjacent free ends of the side walls.

The side walls of the device are sufficiently flexible to allow the same to be inserted either side of the tape and support structure, irrespective of the length or thickness of tape on the support structure or variations in the size of the support structure.

Preferably the device is detachably attached to the support structure.

In one embodiment the support structure is a cylindrical member or roll on which the tape is wound.

In use, as a user pulls tape through the aperture of the dispensing device, this movement drives the movement of the device relative to the support structure, thereby allowing the device to move around the support structure.

The present invention has the advantage that it prevents loss of the free end of the tape caused by the same adhering to the remainder of the tape. The device is easy to clip onto and be easily removed from the tape and support structure. Furthermore, the device is inexpensive to manufacture and prevents wastage of tape.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein: Figure 1 is perspective view of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view of the device in figure 1 in use with a roll of tape; Figures 3a-3b illustrate perspective views of a dispensing device according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 3c-3h illustrate a top view, side view, bottom view, front view, side view and back view of the dispensing device in figure 3a respectively.

Referring to the figures, there is illustrated a tape dispensing device 2 for dispensing sellotape 4 from a support structure in the form of a support roll 6.

The dispensing device includes a body portion 8 and side walls 10,12. Protrusion portions 14,16 are provided adjacent free ends 18,20 of side walls 10,12 respectively.

The side walls 10,12 are resiliently biased in an inwardly direction, thereby allowing engagement of the same with the side of the tape 4 and roll 6. The protrusion portions 14,16 engage against the underside of the roll 6 to provide further engagement of device 2 to roll 6.

A serrated cutting edge 22 is provided on a leading edge of the device as the device moves around roll 6 in the direction shown by arrow 24.

An aperture 26 is defined in body portion 8 and a protruding member 28 protrudes inwardly of the device towards the upper surface of tape 4 on roll 6.

Protruding member 28 is flexible and the free end 30 thereof contacts the upper surface of the tape. Free end 30 exerts only a small force on the tape, thereby allowing the device 2 to rotate around the roll 6.

In use, free end 32 of tape 4 is inserted through aperture 26 and pulled towards cutting edge 22, as shown by arrow 34. In doing so, the upper or non-adhesive covered surface of the sellotape contacts front edge 36 of body portion 8 defining aperture 26.

Edge 36 is opposite the junction 38 of protruding member 28 and body portion 8. The adhesive surface of the tape 38 is upwardly facing between the aperture 26 and the cutting edge 22, thereby preventing adherence of the tape to the body portion as it is moved towards the cutting edge in use.

In use, a user cuts a portion of tape of a required length from the roll of tape by grasping free end 32 of tape 4 and pulling it against the cutting edge 22 at the required position. Once the tape has been cut, the user is typically holding the cut portion of tape. The newly formed free end of tape either remains attached to the cutting edge 22 or moves away from said cutting edge towards the protruding member 28. The adhesive surface 38 of tape 4 now faces the upper surface of the protruding member 28 and adheres thereto, thereby allowing a user to easily locate the free end of the tape.

The dispensing device of the present invention can be formed from any suitable material, such as metal or plastic. The shape and size of the device can be varied depending on the size of the support structure/roll of tape for which the device is to be used and the required aesthetic appearance which is to be obtained.

The device can also be provided in any colour, be transparent or opaque.

Referring to figures 3a-3h, there is illustrated a dispensing device 102 having a body portion 104 and side walls 106,108.

Restriction means in the form of arm or winged members 110, 112 are provided on the rear of the device.

The arm members 110 and 112 protrude inwardly from the side walls 108,106 respectively and the free ends of the arm members are provided a pre-determined spaced distance apart to provide a gap 114 therebetween.

An aperture or slot 116 is defined between the rear edge 118 of the body portion 104 and the front edges 120 of arm members 110,112. Gap 114 is provided in communication with aperture 116. In use, the free end of tape is located between gap 114 and into aperture 116, thereby aiding the loading of the tape with the device.

In use of the device, since the tape is often unwound from the tape roll by pulling a portion of the tape adjacent a free end thereof against the arm members 110,112 (or more specifically against edge 120 of the arm members), substantial force is applied through the arm members. In order to prevent any damage to the arm members, strengthening means in the form of a plurality of rib members 122 are provided on the underside surface of the same, as shown in figure 3e.

The ribs are typically provided to run transversely of the device (or inwardly towards the opposite side wall of the device).

However, the rib members could be provided to run in any suitable direction which provides additional strength to the arm members.

A serrated edge 124 is provided adjacent a leading edge of the device for cutting tape therewith. The body portion 104 provided between and forming part of the serrated edge 124 and the rear edge 118 is substantially concave in shape in this example. Ribs 126 are provided substantially parallel with side walls 106,108 on body portion 104. The combination of ribs 126 and the concave shape of the body portion allow easy retrieval of the tape free end if it sticks to the body portion 104.

A resiliently biased member 128 is provided on the underside of the device. This member is attached to edge 130 of front wall 132 and is typically formed by being folded about edge 130 back upon itself and under the device between side walls 106,108.

This action creates a biasing effect of member 128 in a forwardly direction (i. e. towards the leading edge of the device).

This acts in a similar manner to protrusion member 28 in figures 1-2 in that it holds the device adjacent the upper tape surface on the tape roll. However, the device would work equally as well without member 128.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that any or any combination of features in the two described embodiments could be used on a dispensing device within the scope of the present invention. The device can also be located on the tape so that the adhesive side of the tape is facing upwardly and/or downwardly with respect to the device.

Thus, the present invention provides a novel dispensing device which allows easy dispensing and cutting of tape whilst allowing easy retrieval of a free end of the tape on the roll when use is next required.