Hand held non-adhesive tape dispenser with friction brake

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for dispensing non-adhesive tape carried on a spool to an article wherein the spool has a spool bore therethrough. The apparatus comprises a casing having a casing bore therethrough adapted to rotatably receive a support member therein. The apparatus further comprises a spool support for resistively and rotatably supporting the spool around the casing bore and a dispenser portion located in the casing for dispensing the non-adhesive tape therethrough. The method comprises supporting the casing on a support member located within the casing bore and securing a free end of the tape to the article through a dispenser portion of the casing. The method further comprises rotating the spool within the casing as to unwind the non-adhesive tape while the casing is moved around the article with the dispenser portion maintained in radial alignment with the article.

1 . A method for dispensing non-adhesive tape carried on a spool to an article, the spool having a spool bore therethrough, the method comprising:
 providing a casing having a casing bore therethrough, said casing resistively and rotatably supporting the spool around said casing bore;   supporting said casing on a support member located within said casing bore;   securing a free end of the tape to the article through a dispenser portion of said casing, and   rotating said spool within said casing as to unwind the non-adhesive tape while said casing is moved around the article with said dispenser portion maintained in radial alignment with the article.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said support comprises a finger of a user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said dispensing portion compressibly grips the non-adhesive tape. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said casing rotates around said support while said casing is moved around said article. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said casing rotates on said support. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said casing rotates on a bearing secured to said support 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for dispensing non-adhesive tape carried on a spool to an article, the spool having a spool bore therethrough, the apparatus comprising:
 a casing having a casing bore therethrough, said casing bore being adapted to rotatably receive a support member therein;   a spool support for resistively and rotatably supporting the spool around said casing bore; and   a dispenser portion located in said casing for dispensing said non-adhesive tape therethrough.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said support member comprises a finger of a user. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said casing includes a sleeve, said sleeve having said casing bore therein wherein said casing is rotatable about said sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said sleeve and said casing include a bearing therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said sleeve has a central axis wherein said casing is rotatable about said central axis. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said spool is rotatable about said central axis. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said sleeve is adapted to grip said support member. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said sleeve is adapted to slidably receive said support member. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said casing includes a hub, said hub being concentric with said spool. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said one of said spool or said casing includes a biased protrusion adapted to engage one of a plurality of corresponding notches in the other of said spool or said casing, said plurality of notches being oriented radially around said casing bore such that rotation of said spool within said casing will cause said protrusion to engage successive notches. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said notches are located on said hub, wherein said protrusion radially extends inwardly from said spool. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said spool includes a spool axis and sidewalls perpendicular thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said notches are located on at least one inner surface of said casing adjacent to said spool wherein said protrusion extends from a corresponding sidewall to said at least one inner surface. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said notches are located on at least one side wall wherein said protrusion extends from a corresponding inner surface of said casing to said at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said spool includes an inner cylinder. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said casing includes first and second sides wherein said inner cylinder is frictionally engaged by said first and second sides of said casing. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising friction assisting pads between said inner cylinder and said first and second sides of said casing. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said spool includes side walls extending radially from said inner cylinder. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said casing includes first and second sides wherein said side walls are frictionally engaged by said first and second sides of said casing. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising friction assisting pads between said side walls and said first and second sides of said casing. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said dispenser portion frictionally bears against said non-adhesive tape passing therethrough.