Related Application

[001] This application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application no. 2016904699 filed on 17 November 2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

Technical Field

[002] The invention relates to a tape dispenser for fitting with a roll of tape and an associated method of use.

Background

[003] Removing and cutting tape from rolls of tape is often difficult because the end of the tape becomes lost or stuck to the remaining roll, and the tape is awkward to cut such as by using scissors whilst holding the roll of tape. Accordingly, a variety of tape dispensers have been developed. One such type of tape dispenser that has been developed are those that fit directly with the roll of tape.

[004] US 4,711,384 discloses a tape dispensing and cutting device adapted to snap over a roll of masking tape or the like and be retained on the roll. The device includes a cutting blade and a thumb recess for holding the device during cutting of the tape. A problem with this dispenser is that an end of the tape is required to be located each time the dispenser is used.

[005] US 7,841,498 discloses another tape-dispensing apparatus comprising a flexible plastic rectangular frame with a tape cutting edge that mounts to a roll of tape. A problem with this apparatus is that there is only limited space for a user to attempt to clasp and pull the tape making the device awkward to use.

[006] The invention disclosed herein seeks to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative. Summary

[007] In accordance with a first broad aspect there is provided, a tape dispenser for fitting with a roll of tape in a fitted condition, the tape dispenser including: a body having a lever located toward a first end of the body and above an outer surface of the roll, and a cutting and retaining arrangement located toward a second opposing end of the body and above the outer surface, the cutting and retaining arrangement including a cutting element and an attachment lip to which a free end of the tape is attachable in an attached state; and a keeper coupled to the body and being arranged to retain the body with the roll in the fitted condition, wherein the body is adapted to be pivotally moveable between a first condition, in which the lever is at least partially elevated relative to the outer surface and the free end of the tape is in the attached state so as to releasably retain the cutting and retaining arrangement substantially against the outer surface, and a second condition in which the lever is depressed toward the outer surface so as to elevate the cutting and retaining arrangement above the outer surface thereby peeling a segment of the tape therewith in the attached state thereby creating a space underneath the segment between the attachment lip and lever dimensioned to allow a user to clasp the segment.

[008] In an aspect, the attachment lip is located adjacent the cutting element and has a width substantially similar to a width of the tape.

[009] In another aspect, the attachment lip is arranged such that in a cutting condition, in which the tape is urged against the cutting element so as to become cut, and the free end of the tape bears against the attachment lip so as to become attached thereto.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the attachment lip is elevated relative to the cutting element in at least the second condition such that when the tape is being cut, the tape bears on the attachment lip prior to the cutting element. [0011] In yet another aspect, the pivotal movement of the body is weighted such that in an in-use condition, in which the tape dispenser is locatable above the roll, the body normally pivots toward the first condition.

[0012] In yet another aspect, a length of the space is substantially defined between the attachment lip and the lever.

[0013] In yet another aspect, the body includes sides that flank opposing annular sides of the roll of tape, the sides of the body interconnecting the cutting and retaining arrangement and the lever.

[0014] In yet another aspect, a depth of the space is defined by the sides of the body.

[0015] In yet another aspect, at least one of the sides support the keeper.

[0016] In yet another aspect, the sides of the body include top edges relatively toward the outer surface of the roll and opposing bottom edges, wherein in the first condition at least a portion of the top edges of the sides of the body are set back in at least the first condition from the outer surface of the roll so as to be located alongside the opposing annular sides of the roll of tape, and wherein in the second condition, the top edges move toward the outer surface of the roll with the space being defined between the top edges of the sides of the body, the lip and the lever.

[0017] In yet another aspect, the pivotal movement of the body is weighted such that in an in-use condition, in which the tape dispenser is located above the roll, the body normally pivots from the second condition toward the first condition thereby allowing re-adhesion of the segment of tape with the roll.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the lever is arranged to bear on the outer surface in the second condition so as to inhibit rotation of the roll of tape.

[0019] In yet another aspect, the lever includes a free end and a bearing end that bears on the outer surface, wherein the bearing end provides a pivot point about which the body pivots between the first and second conditions. [0020] In yet another aspect, the free end and the bearing end are shaped to simultaneously bear on the outer surface in the second condition so as to inhibit rotation of the roll of tape.

[0021] In yet another aspect, the dispenser is inhibited from rotation in a retained condition in which a free end of the tape segment is attached to the attachment lip.

[0022] In yet another aspect, the body includes at least one side wall extending parallel to a side of the roll and between the lever and the cutting element.

[0023] In yet another aspect, the side wall includes a top edge that is shaped to provide the space between an underside of the tape segment and the outer surface of the roll of tape in the second condition.

[0024] In accordance with a second broad aspect there is provided, a tape dispenser for fitting with a roll of tape in a fitted condition, the dispenser including: a body having a lever located toward a first end of the body and above an outer surface of the roll and a cutting and retaining arrangement located toward a second opposing end of the body and above the outer surface, the cutting and retaining arrangement including a cutting element and a lip; and a keeper coupled to the body and being arranged to retain the body with the roll in the fitted condition so as to allow rotation of the roll relative to the tape dispenser, wherein the body is adapted to be pivotally moveable between: a first condition, in which the cutting and retaining arrangement is located substantially adjacent to the outer surface of the roll with a free end of the tape in an attached state upon the lip so as to retain the lip toward the outer surface of the roll of tape and the lever is at least partially elevated relative to the outer surface; and a second condition in which the lever is depressed so as to elevate the cutting and retaining arrangement above the outer surface and carry the free end therewith so as to draw a tape segment away from the outer surface of the roll of tape thereby allowing a user to clasp the tape segment via a space underneath the tape segment and between the lip and the lever, and further draw the tape segment over the cutting element to provide a cut segment and a new tape segment with a new free end in the attached state with the lip, wherein upon release of the lever in the second condition with the new free end in the attached state, the body is adapted to pivot back to the first condition thereby closing the space and allowing re-adhesion of the new tape segment with the outer surface of the roll.

[0025] In accordance with a third broad aspect there is provided, a method of using a tape dispenser to cut a segment of tape from a roll, the dispenser being adapted to fit with and be carried by the roll, the method including the steps of: at least partially depressing a lever located toward a first end of the tape dispenser so as to elevate a segment of tape located substantially between the lever and a lip of the dispenser, the lip being located toward an opposing end of the tape dispenser relative to the lever, clasping the segment of elevated tape between the lever and the lip via a space provided between the segment of elevated tape proximate the lip and the outer surface; pulling the segment of elevated tape in a direction away from the lever and over a cutting element located at an adjacent side of the lip away from the lever, the lever being at least partially releasable to allow the roll to rotate relative to the dispenser; and fully depressing the lever whilst urging the tape segment against the cutting element thereby severing the tape segment, the lever being shaped to bear on the outer surface of the roll so as to inhibit rotation thereof.

[0026] In accordance with a fourth broad aspect there is provided, a method of using a tape dispenser to cut a segment of tape from a roll, the dispenser being adapted to fit with and be carried by the roll, the method including the steps of: at least partially depressing a lever located toward a first end of the tape dispenser so as to elevate a segment of tape located substantially between the lever and a lip of the dispenser to which a free end of the tape is attached, the lip being located toward an opposing end of the tape dispenser relative to the lever, clasping the segment of tape elevated between the lever and the lip via a space provided between the elevated tape segment proximate the lip and the outer surface; pulling the segment of tape in a direction away from the lever and over a cutting element located adjacent to the lip, the lever being at least partially released to allow the roll to rotate relative to the dispenser and a new tape segment being drawn from the roll; fully depressing the lever whilst urging the tape segment against the cutting element so as to provide a cut tape segment and allow attachment of a new free end of the new tape segment to the lip; and releasing the lever toward the initial condition such that the lip returns toward the outer surface of the roll with the new tape segment being moved therewith so as to become adhered to the outer surface of the roll.

[0027] In accordance with a fifth broad aspect there is provided, a method of using a tape dispenser to cut a segment of tape from a roll, the dispenser being adapted to fit with and be carried by the roll, the method including the steps of: depressing a lever located toward a first end of the tape dispenser so as to elevate a segment of tape located substantially between the lever and a lip of the dispenser to which a free end of the tape is attached, the lip being located toward an opposing end of the tape dispenser relative to the lever; clasping the segment of tape elevated between the handle and the lip via a space provided between the elevated tape segment proximate the lip and the outer surface; pulling the segment of tape in a direction away from the lever and over a cutting element located adjacent to the lip, the lever being at least partially released to allow the roll to rotate relative to the dispenser and a new tape segment being drawn from the roll; urging the tape segment against the cutting element so as to provide a cut tape segment and allow attachment of a new free end of the new tape segment to the lip; and releasing the lever toward the initial condition such that the lip is returnable toward the outer surface of the roll with the new tape segment being taken therewith so as to become adhered to the outer surface of the roll.

Brief Description of the Figures

[0028] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which;

[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective front side view illustrating a tape dispenser;

[0030] Figure 2 is a perspective back side view illustrating the tape dispenser being fitted to a roll of tape;

[0031] Figure 3 is a perspective backside view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape in a first condition; [0032] Figure 4 is a perspective backside view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape with a segment of tape attached to a lip adjacent a cutting element in the first condition;

[0033] Figure 5 is a perspective underside view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape in the first condition;

[0034] Figure 6 is a perspective top side view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape with the segment of tape attached to the lip adjacent the cutting element in the first condition;

[0035] Figure 7a is a cross sectional side view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape in the first condition;

[0036] Figure 7b is a cross sectional side view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape in a second condition;

[0037] Figure 8a is a cross sectional rear view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape in the first condition;

[0038] Figure 8b is a cross sectional rear view illustrating the tape dispenser being fitted to the roll of tape in the first condition, and showing resilience of the side walls;

[0039] Figure 9a is a side view illustrating the tape dispenser;

[0040] Figure 9b is a rear end view illustrating the tape dispenser;

[0041] Figure 9c is an underside view illustrating the tape dispenser;

[0042] Figure 9d is a front end view illustrating the tape dispenser;

[0043] Figure 9e is a top view illustrating the tape dispenser;

[0044] Figure 10 is an in-use perspective top side view illustrating the tape dispenser fitted to the roll of tape with the segment of tape attached to the lip adjacent the cutting element in the first condition;

[0045] Figure 11 is an in-use perspective top side view illustrating the tape dispenser being depressed and moved toward the second condition with the segment of tape being elevated with the lip;

[0046] Figure 12 is an in-use perspective top side view illustrating the tape dispenser being at least partially depressed toward the second condition so that the segment of tape is able to be pulled from the roll over the cutting element; and

[0047] Figure 13 is an in-use perspective top-side view illustrating the tape dispenser being fully depressed in the second condition with the tape segment being severed by the cutting element;

[0048] Figure 14 is an in-use perspective top-side view illustrating the tape dispenser being released to the first condition, as an alternative to the second condition for cutting, with the tape segment being severed by the cutting element; and

[0049] Figure 15 is an in-use perspective top-side view illustrating the tape dispenser now released from the second condition so as to return to the first condition with the tape segment attached to the lip being re-adhered to the roll of tape.

Detailed Description

[0050] Referring to Figures 1 to 10, there is shown a tape dispenser 10 for fitting with a roll 12 of tape 13 in a fitted condition. The tape 13 may be an adhesive tape such as sticky or masking tape. The roll 12 has an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 16. The dispenser 10 includes a body 18 adapted to receive the roll 12. The body 18 having a lever handle or lever 20 located toward a first end 22 of the body 18, and above the outer surface 14 of the roll 12 and a cutting and retaining arrangement 24 located toward a second opposing end 26 of the body 18 and above the outer surface 14. The dispenser 10 also includes one or more keepers 28 coupled to the body 18. The one or more keepers 28 are arranged to retain the body 18 with the roll 12 in the fitted condition.

[0051] The body 18 is adapted to be pivotally moveable between a first condition (as shown for example in Figure 10), in which the cutting and retaining arrangement 24 is located substantially adjacent and against the outer surface 14 and the lever 20 is at least partially elevated relative to the outer surface 14, and a second condition (as shown for example in Figure 11) in which the lever 20 is depressed toward the outer surface 14 so as to elevate the cutting and retaining arrangement 24 above the outer surface 14 and to elevate a tape segment 30 therewith thereby allowing a user to clasp the tape segment 30 via a space 33 underneath the tape segment 30 between the cutting and retaining arrangement 24 and lever 20, as shown best in Figure 7b.

[0052] The cutting and retaining arrangement 24 includes a cutting element 32 in the form of a blade 31 and an attachment lip 34 located between the cutting element 32 and the lever 20. The lip 34 functions to provide a flat attachment surface 35 on which a free end 36 of the tape segment 30 is retained in an attached or retained state. In this example, the lip 34 is located adjacent the cutting element 32 with a small recess 37 between the lip 34 and the cutting element 32.

[0053] The arrangement is such that when cutting the tape segment 30, shown as cut tape segment 30a in Figure 13 in the second condition, a new tape segment 30b is urged against the lip 34 prior to engaging the cutting element 32 so that the new tape segment 30b becomes adhered to the lip 34 when the cut tape segment 30a is removed.

[0054] In this example, the body 18 includes opposing sides 38 that each extend along and parallel to sides 15 of the roll 12 between the cutting and retaining arrangement 24, the lever 20 and the keeper 28. The lever 20 and the cutting and retaining arrangement 24 serve to connect the opposing sides 38. The opposing sides 38 define a housing or recess 39 within the body 18 in which the roll 12 is slidably received, as best shown in Figure 8b.

[0055] The opposing sides 38 each include a rear edge 40, a top edge 44, a bottom edge 46 and a front edge 48. The rear edge 40 extends generally downwardly from the lever 20 toward an inner rim 17 of the roll 12 to the keeper 28, in the fitted condition. In this example, the keeper 28 is provided as a pair of inward facing tabs 42 that are received by the inner rim 17 of the roll 12. The roll 12 is thereby captured between the inward facing tabs 42, the lever 20 and the cutting and retaining arrangement 24.

[0056] The bottom edge 46 extends from the tabs 42 generally below the inner rim 17 of the roll 12 in the fitted condition, before turning up to provide the front edge 48 that terminates at the cutting and retaining arrangement 24. The top edge 44 extends between the lever 20 and the cutting and retaining arrangement 24 and is shaped to assist to provide the space 33 for the user to access the tape segment 30. In more detail, the top edge 44 is recessed or filleted relative to an outer rim 19 of the roll 12 in the fitted condition so that when elevated to the second condition the top edge 44 remains toward the outer rim 19 so as to not obstruct the space 33, and allow access of the users fingers as is best shown in Figure 12.

[0057] As best shown in Figures 7a and 7b, the lever 20 includes a free or upper end 50 and a bearing or pivot end 52 that bears or seats on the outer surface 14. The free end 50 is normally elevated relative to the bearing end 52 so that the when the free end 50 is depressed the bearing end 52 provides a pivot point 54 about which the body 18 pivots between the first and second conditions.

[0058] The distance between the bearing end 52 of the lever 20 and the keeper 28 is such that the keeper 28 is arranged to be spaced apart from the inner rim 17 in the first condition, as best shown in Figure 7a which allows the roll 12 and the dispenser 10 to be rotated relative to one another with the roll 12 captured between the keeper 28 and the bearing end 52. Of course, this requires the tape segment 30 to be released from the lip 34. In the second condition, as best shown in Figure 7b, the lever 20, more specifically the bearing end 52 and the free end 50, bear on the outer surface 14 thereby inhibiting rotation of the roll 12. As best shown in Figures 8a and 8b, the sides 38 have at least some resilience to allow the keepers 28 to be moved apart to fit and remove the dispenser 10 from the roll 12. In some examples, the resilience or fit may be such that the sides 38 serve to retain the dispenser 10 in either or both of the first and second conditions. [0059] The body 18 includes a front supporting member 55 having an front downward facing edge 56 that bears on the outer surface 14 of the roll 12 in the first condition. The cutting and retaining arrangement 24 is supported and elevated above the outer surface 14 by the front supporting member 55. The edge 56 is lifted off the surface 14 when the lever 20 is depressed in the second condition.

[0060] The dispenser 10 may be substantially formed as a unitary or multicomponent part and may in some examples be formed from plastic. The cutting element 32 in the form of the blade 31 may be a metal serrated blade. Other suitable materials may of course be used.

[0061] Turning now to a method of use, referring firstly to Figures 8a and 8b, the dispenser 10 is firstly fitted to the roll 12 by passing the keeper 28 provided here in the form of the tabs 42 over the roll 12 so as to snap-fit and locate within the inner rim 17 of the roll 12. The tabs 42 are typically initially spaced apart from the inner rim 17 so as to provide the dispenser 10 with clearance to pivot.

[0062] Referring more specifically to Figures 10 to 15, initially the free end 36 of the tape segment 30 is drawn from the roll 12 and fitted between the lever 20 and the cutting and retaining arrangement 24. In a first or initial condition, as shown in Figure 10, the free end 36 is adhered to the lip 34. The adhesion of the tape segment 30 to the lip 34 serves to retain the lip 34 against the outer surface 14 thereby retaining or immobilising the dispenser 10 relative to the roll 12.

[0063] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the lever 20 is at least partially depressed to elevate the tape segment 30 from the outer surface 14 of the roll 12. During this movement, the tape segment 30 is peeled from the roll of tape 12. The direction of peeling is that of which tape is normally unwound or peeled.

[0064] It is noted that the distance between the lip 34 and the outer surface 14 defines the length of the peeled tape segment 30 and this has been selected to provide a claspable useful length of tape, such as being about 2 to 6 centimetres in length. The lip 34 elevates the tape segment 30 and the user may clasp the tape segment 30 via the space 33 to pull the tape segment 30 in a direction away from the lever 20. The tape segment 30 is now in a detached state away from the outer surface 14.

[0065] During this action, the lever 20 may be at least partially released to allow the roll 12 to rotate relative to the dispenser 10 to allow a greater length of the tape segment 30 to be dispensed. It is noted that the distance between the keeper 28 and the lever 20 provides play or room to allow rotation of the dispenser 10.

[0066] Referring to Figure 13, the tape segment 30 to be cut is identified as cut tape segment 30a and the replenished tape segment 30 is identified as new tape segment 30b. The length of the new tape segment 30b always remains about the same. However, the cut tape segment 30a may have any desired length. The free end 36 of the cut tape segment 30a is identified as free end 36a and the free end 36 of the new tape segment 30b is identified as free end 36b.

[0067] Once the desired length of the cut tape segment 30b is drawn, the lever 20 is fully depressed whilst urging the tape segment 30b against the cutting element 32 thereby severing the tape segment 30b. The free end 36b of the new tape segment 30b becomes adhered to the attachment lip 34.

[0068] In the second condition, as best shown in Figures 13 and 7b, the lever 20, more specifically the bearing end 52 and the free end 50, bear on the outer surface 14 thereby inhibiting rotation of the roll 12. The grip of the user's hand also assists to inhibit rotation of the roll 12. It is noted that during cutting of the tape 13, the tape 13 is urged against the cutting element 32 to cut the tape 13, and lip 34 is positioned and shaped such that the newly cut free end 36 is urged against the lip 34 and becomes attached thereto in the attached state. The tape 13 may be cut when the lever 20 is depressed or released as shown in Figures 13 and 14, respectively.

[0069] Referring to Figure 15, the dispenser 10 may then be released to the first condition in which the tape 13 is attached to the lip 34 in the adhered state to secure the dispenser 10 to the roll 12. When the lip 34 returns toward the outer surface 14 of the roll 12, the new tape segment 30b is taken therewith to become re-adhered to the outer surface 14 of the roll 12. The new tape segment 30b therefore becoming the tape segment 30. [0070] Moreover, it is noted that the pivotal movement of the body 18 is weighted such that in an in-use condition, in which the tape dispenser 10 is locatable above the roll 12, such as that shown in Figure 13, the body 18 normally pivots toward the first condition as shown in Figure 15. Accordingly, the tape dispenser 10 may automatically return to the first condition with the tape segment 30 being self reattached to the roll 12. This allows a user to hold the roll 12 in a first hand, and pull the tape 13 with the other second hand. Each time the tape 13 is cut, the dispenser 10 automatically returns thereby allowing only one hand to handle the dispenser 10 and the other second hand can be used to place the cut tape on, for example, an external object etc.

[0071] Advantageously, there has been described a dispenser for a roll of tape that is arranged to locate the free end of the tape and allow the elevation of the free end of the tape for easy removal of the tape. In particular, the pivotal action and shape of the dispenser provide a space to allow a user to clasp and pull a tape segment with a first hand whilst holding the dispenser and roll with the other second hand. The elevated tape segment is a useful and easy to handle length of tape. The free end of the tape may be adhered to the lip to assist to retain the cutting and retaining arrangement toward the outer surface of the roll. The cutting element may maintain a relatively safe low profile in the first condition and be only substantially elevated, in use, in the second condition.

[0072] Further advantageously, the cutting of the tape serves to automatically adhere the newly cut free end to the lip, and when released the dispenser automatically or normally returns to the first condition with the lip against the roll and the tape may become re-adhered to the roll. The automatic return to the first condition and re- adhesion of the tape improves useability and allows easier one handed operation of the dispenser.

[0073] The term "tape dispenser" or "dispenser" is used in the art to refer to devices that both "cut" and "dispense" tape and will be so used in this application.

[0074] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0075] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

[0076] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[0077] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.