Adhesive tape dispenser and applicator

Abstract

A one handed reusable tape dispenser and applicator comprises side walls, a top wall and a separate bottom wall which may be opened 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; and an enlarged pressing surface allowing a user to easily dispense tape onto substrates such as wrapping paper.

1 . A tape dispenser adapted to dispense tape of a generally fixed width 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 distal edge;   said second side wall extending beyond said cutter said third distance and said second side wall distal end terminating in a distal edge;   a pressing element supported between said first side wall cutter support portion and said second side wall cutter support portion below said cutter; said pressing element having a pressing surface extending between said first side wall distal end and said second side wall distal end, said pressing surface adapted to press a portion of a length of tape against a substrate across at least most of its width and a portion of its length greater than a single line width, wherein said first side wall has a first thickness, said first side wall distal edge has a width adjacent said cutter greater than said first thickness and said second side wall distal edge has a width adjacent said cutter greater than said first thickness, 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.   
     
     
         2 . The tape dispense of  claim 1  wherein said pressing element pressing surface has a width approximately equal to the width of tape to be dispensed and a length equal to or greater than about one eighth said pressing surface width. 
     
     
         3 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said pressing surface is resilient. 
     
     
         4 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said pressing element is separable from said side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said pressing element is a relatively rigid polymeric element. 
     
     
         6 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said pressing element is a resilient foam element. 
     
     
         7 . The tape dispenser of  claim 6  wherein said tape dispenser has at least one barb engaging said resilient foam pressing element and holding said pressing element in place. 
     
     
         8 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said side wall distal edges are widened on the portions of the side walls separated from said pressing surface by said cutter. 
     
     
         9 . The tape dispenser of  claim 8  wherein each side wall distal edge has a width over a portion of its length at least twice as large as said first thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  further comprising a first tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said first side wall cutter support portion generally between to said tape core support element and said pressing surface and adjacent said pressing element, a second tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said second side wall cutter support portion generally between said tape core support element and said pressing surface and adjacent said pressing element, said first and second tape retaining tabs having generally smooth upper surfaces, each tab upper surface having a narrow straight ridge extending in a direction parallel to said side walls; and, a narrow button extending downwardly and rearwardly above said tabs, 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. 
     
     
         11 . The tape dispenser of  claim 10  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. 
     
     
         12 . The tape dispenser of  claim 11  wherein a gap exists between said tabs. 
     
     
         13 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said first side wall, said second side wall and said top wall are an integral molded plastic structure. 
     
     
         14 . The tape dispenser of  claim 2  wherein said second side wall is generally a mirror images of said first side wall. 
     
     
         15 . A tape dispenser adapted to dispense tape of generally fixed width 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 and a proximal end;   a cutter extending between said first side wall and said second side wall proximate said top interconnecting wall distal end;   a first tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said lower distal edge of said first side wall cutter support portion, a second tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said lower distal edge of said second side wall cutter support portion, said first and second tape retaining tabs having upper surfaces, a button extending downwardly adjacent said tabs, 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; and,   a friction bar between said tabs and said roll of tape adapted to engage said length of tape and prevent tape roll back.   
     
     
         16 . The tape dispenser of  claim 15  wherein said friction bar extends from one of said first side wall and said second side wall. 
     
     
         17 . The tape dispenser of  claim 16  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. 
     
     
         18 . A tape dispenser adapted to dispense tape of a generally fixed width 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 and a proximal end;   a cutter extending between said first side wall and said second side wall proximate said top interconnecting wall distal end;   a first tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said lower distal edge of said first side wall cutter support portion, a second tape retaining tab extending inwardly from said lower distal edge of said second side wall cutter support portion, said first and second tape retaining tabs having upper surfaces, a button extending downwardly, 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; and,   a first linear ridge projecting upwardly from said first tape retaining tab upper surface and a second linear ridge projecting upwardly from said second tape retaining tab upper surface, said first and second linear ridges extending in a direction generally parallel to the direction of intended tape travel.   
     
     
         19 . The tape dispenser of  claim 18  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. 
     
     
         20 . The tape dispenser of  claim 19  wherein a gap exists between said tabs. 
     
     
         21 . The tape dispenser of  claim 20  further comprising at least one fin extending from an inner edge of one of said tabs, said fin easing threading of tape into said dispenser.