Adhesive tape dispenser and applicator

Abstract

A one handed reusable tape dispenser and applicator comprises side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall which may be flexed to allow loading of a roll of tape through an open front. Further, the tape dispenser is provided with tabs, a button and a pressing bar which present a leading length of tape in an arched condition across its width extending forwardly from the dispenser ready to be applied to a substrate.

1 . A tape dispenser adapted to dispense tape from a roll of tape carried on a hollow cylindrical tape core, said tape dispenser comprising:
 a first side wall having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, a tape core support portion having at least one tape core support element projecting from said inwardly facing surface, and a cutter support portion extending from said tape core support portion;   a second side wall having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, a tape core support portion having at least one tape core support element projecting from said inwardly facing surface, and a cutter support portion extending from said tape core support portion;   a top interconnecting wall generally perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall and extending between the cutter support portions of said first side wall and said second side wall, said top interconnecting wall having a distal end a first distance from said tape core support elements and a proximal end a second distance from said tape core support elements, said first distance greater than said second distance;   a cutter extending between said first side wall and said second side wall proximate said top interconnecting wall distal end;   said first side wall extending beyond said cutter a third distance and said first side wall distal end terminating in a smoothly curved distal surface;   said second side wall extending beyond said cutter said third distance and said second side wall distal end terminating in a smoothly curved distal surface whereby a substrate is protected when tape is cut from said roll of tape by action of said cutter when said dispenser is rotated with said side wall distal ends in contact with said substrate wherein said first side wall has a first thickness, second side wall has said first thickness and said first side wall distal edge has a width greater than said first thickness adjacent said cutter and said second side wall distal edge has a width greater than said first thickness adjacent said cutter.   
     
     
         2 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said distal edges are thickest adjacent said cutter. 
     
     
         3 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein each side wall distal edge has a width at least twice as large as said first thickness adjacent said cutter. 
     
     
         4 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a pressing bar generally perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall and extending between the cutter support portions of said first side wall and said second side wall, said pressing bar being parallel to and below said cutter, said pressing bar having a smooth surface facing downwardly and forwardly at the lower distal edges of said first and second side wall distal portions, said pressing bar being adapted to press a portion of tape against a substrate adjacent said cutter. 
     
     
         5 . The tape dispenser of  claim 4  further comprising a first tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said lower distal edge of said first side wall cutter support portion closer to said tape core support element than said pressing bar and adjacent said pressing bar, a second tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said lower distal edge of said second side wall cutter support portion closer to said tape core support element than said pressing bar and adjacent said pressing bar, said first and second tape retaining tabs having generally flat coplanar upper surfaces, and a narrow button extending downwardly and rearwardly from said pressing bar, said button being spaced from said first side wall and said second side wall, said button having a lower surface extending below the upper surfaces of said tabs whereby a length of tape in said dispenser will be held in an arch across its width when adjacent said tabs and button. 
     
     
         6 . The tape dispenser of  claim 5  further comprising a tab extension extending inwardly from one of said first and second tabs, said tab extension being below said tabs whereby a length of tape may be easily threaded through said tabs and button but securely retained between said tabs and button. 
     
     
         7 . The tape dispenser of  claim 6  wherein said tabs upper surfaces are textured. 
     
     
         8 . The tape dispenser of  claim 7  wherein a gap exists between said tabs. 
     
     
         9 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said first side wall, said second side wall and said top wall are an integral molded plastic structure. 
     
     
         10 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said second side wall is generally a mirror images of said first side wall. 
     
     
         11 . A tape dispenser adapted to dispense tape from a roll of tape carried on a hollow cylindrical tape core, said tape dispenser comprising:
 a first side wall having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, a tape core support portion having at least one tape core support element projecting from said inwardly facing surface, and a cutter support portion extending from said tape core support portion;   a second side wall having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, a tape core support portion having at least one tape core support element projecting from said inwardly facing surface, and a cutter support portion extending from said tape core support portion;   a top interconnecting wall generally perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall and extending between the cutter support portions of said first side wall and said second side wall, said top interconnecting wall having a distal end a first distance from said tape core support elements and a proximal end a second distance from said tape core support elements, said first distance greater than said second distance;   a cutter extending between said first side wall and said second side wall proximate said top interconnecting wall distal end;   a bottom interconnecting wall generally perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall and extending between the tape core support portions of said first side wall and said second side wall;   said first side wall tape core support portion, said second side wall tape core support portion, said top interconnecting wall and said bottom interconnecting wall defining a roll of tape containing volume, said roll of tape containing volume having an open front adapted to permit the insertion of a roll of tape into said roll of tape containing volume.   
     
     
         12 . The tape dispenser of  claim 11  wherein said bottom interconnecting wall is generally planar. 
     
     
         13 . The tape dispenser of  claim 12  wherein said first side wall and said second side wall are sufficiently resilient (flexible) to allow said first side wall and said second side wall to flex away from one another a distance sufficient to allow the loading of a roll of tape onto said tape core support elements when said top interconnecting wall and said bottom interconnecting wall are compressed toward one another. 
     
     
         14 . The tape dispenser of  claim 13  wherein said first side wall, said second side wall, said top interconnecting wall and said bottom interconnecting wall are an integral molded plastic structure. 
     
     
         15 . The tape dispenser of  claim 14  wherein first side wall has an upper edge with a rear portion, said second side wall has an upper edge with a rear portion, said top interconnecting wall terminates above said roll of tape containing volume such that said first side upper edge rear portion and said second side wall upper edge rear portion are not connected. 
     
     
         16 . The tape dispenser of  claim 15  wherein said first side wall has a forward edge and a forward opening unshaped slot opening on said forward edge and said second side wall has a forward edge and a forward opening unshaped slot opening on said forward edge, said forward opening slots facilitating the flexing of said first side wall and said second side wall for loading a roll of tape. 
     
     
         17 . The tape dispenser of  claim 16  wherein said bottom interconnecting wall and said top interconnecting wall converge toward one another from front to rear. 
     
     
         18 . The tape dispenser of  claim 17  wherein said bottom interconnecting wall has a rear end and a central gap in said bottom interconnecting wall rear end. 
     
     
         19 . The tape dispenser of  claim 18  further comprising a rear wall extending between said first side wall tape core support portion and said second side wall tape core support portion, said rear wall having a slot extending in a plane parallel to said first side wall and said second side wall from said bottom interconnecting wall gap through the entire rear wall. 
     
     
         20 . The tape dispenser of  claim 19  wherein said first side wall has a rearward edge and at least one rearward slot adjacent said rearward edge and said second side wall has a rearward edge and at least one rearward slot adjacent said rearward edge, said rearward slots facilitating the flexing of said first side wall and said second side wall for loading a roll of tape.