Drywall tape and mud dispenser

Abstract

A container is provided having a periphery and a base, which enclose a cavity. The periphery and the base are connected together, the periphery upwardly extending from the base. The periphery has a first slot and a substantially opposing second slot. Each of the first and second slots is sized to permit a first end of a tape located on a roll to be slid through it. A tape holder may be connected to the container so that the tape holder lies outside of the cavity of the container. The roll of tape can be placed on the tape holder so when the tape is pulled through the “mud box”, the tape is thereby unwound. As the tape is manually pulled through the “mud box”, joint compound is thinly applied to one side of the tape. As this is done, the joint compound begins to “adhere” to the tape, conditioning the tape for excellent wall adhesion.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container having a periphery and a base, which enclose a cavity;   wherein the periphery and the base are connected together, the periphery upwardly extending from the base;   wherein the periphery has a first slot and a substantially opposing second slot;   wherein the first slot is sized to permit a first end of a tape located on a roll to be slid through the first slot;   wherein the second slot is sized to permit the first end of the tape located on the roll to be slid through the second slot;   and further comprising a tape holder connected to the container so that the tape holder lies outside of the cavity of the container; and   wherein the roll can be placed on the tape holder so that the roll can be rotated and the tape thereby unwound;   wherein the second slot is located in an end wall; and   and further comprising a gate attached to the end wall in a manner which allows the gate to be adjusted to different states to allow different flow rates of dry wall mud through the second slot.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the gate includes a first gate slot and a second gate slot;   wherein the first gate slot and the second gate slot are elongated;   and further comprising first and second protrusions fixed to the end wall;   wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured, so that the first protrusion fits within the first gate slot at the same time that the second protrusion fits within the second gate slot;   and wherein the first protrusion can be slid up and down within the first gate slot and at the same time the second protrusion can be slid up and down within the second gate slot.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising
 first and second fasteners which are configured to be connected to the first and second protrusions respectively; and   wherein the first and second fasteners when tightened hold the gate in a vertical position with respect to the end wall.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the periphery is comprised of a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall, which together with the base form an open box configuration;   wherein the first side wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first end wall, and a second end connected to the second end wall;   wherein the second side wall lies spaced apart from and opposite of the first side wall, and wherein the second side wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first end wall, and a second end connected to the second end wall;   wherein the first end wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first side wall, and a second end connected to the second side wall;   wherein the second end wall lies spaced apart from and opposite of the first end wall, and wherein the second end wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first side wall, and a second end connected to the second side wall;   wherein the first slot is located in the first end wall; and   the second slot is located in the second end wall.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein
 each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall is truncated triangular in shape.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 each of the first and second slots are parallel to the base.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein
 each of the first and second slots are adjacent to the base.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein
 the open box configuration is elongated.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 each of the periphery and the base is elongated.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 a means for cutting the tape outside of the cavity after the first end of the tape has exited the second slot.   
   
   
       11 . A method comprising
 providing a container having a periphery and a base, which enclose a cavity;   wherein the periphery and the base are connected together, the periphery upwardly extending from the base;   wherein the periphery has a first slot and a second slot;   wherein the first slot is sized to permit a first end of a tape located on a roll to be slid through the first slot;   wherein the second slot is sized to permit the first end of the tape located on the roll to be slid through the second slot;   and further comprising connecting a tape holder to the container so that the tape holder lies outside of the cavity of the container; and   wherein the roll can be placed on the tape holder so that the roll can be rotated and the tape thereby unwound.   wherein the second slot is located in an end wall; and   and further comprising attaching a gate to the end wall in a manner which allows the gate to be adjusted to different states to allow different flow rates of dry wall mud through the second slot.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the gate includes a first gate slot and a second gate slot;   wherein the first gate slot and the second gate slot are elongated;   and further comprising first and second protrusions fixed to the end wall;   wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured, so that the first protrusion fits within the first gate slot at the same time that the second protrusion fits within the second gate slot;   and wherein the first protrusion can be slid up and down within the first gate slot and at the same time the second protrusion can be slid up and down within the second gate slot.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 first and second fasteners which are configured to be connected to the first and second protrusions respectively; and   wherein the first and second fasteners when tightened hold the gate in a vertical position with respect to the end wall.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising
 placing the roll on the tape holder so that the roll can be rotated and the tape thereby unwound and the first end of the tape can be inserted through the first slot, into the cavity, and then through the second slot out of the cavity.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising
 placing joint compound into the cavity so that the tape will be exposed to the joint compound.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein
 the periphery is comprised of a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall, which together with the base form an open box configuration;   wherein the first side wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first end wall, and a second end connected to the second end wall;   wherein the second side wall lies spaced apart from and opposite of the first side wall, and wherein the second side wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first end wall, and a second end connected to the second end wall;   wherein the first end wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first side wall, and a second end connected to the second side wall;   wherein the second end wall lies spaced apart from and opposite of the first end wall, and wherein the second end wall has a bottom connected to the base, a first end connected to the first side wall, and a second end connected to the second side wall;   wherein the first slot is located in the first end wall; and   the second slot is located in the second end wall.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein
 each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall is truncated triangular in shape.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein
 each of the first and second slots are parallel to the base.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein
 each of the first and second slots are adjacent to the base.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the open box configuration is elongated.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein
 each of the periphery and the base is elongated.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising
 cutting the tape outside of the cavity after the first end of the tape has exited the second slot.