Tape container aid kit

Abstract

A tape container aid kit includes a cylindrical spool having substantially circular first and second spool edges longitudinally separated by a spool sidewall defining a spool circumference. An elongate piece of adhesive-backed tape is coiled around the spool circumference. A containing chamber, cooperatively defined by first and second end coverings and the spool sidewall, is wholly enclosed when both of the first and second end coverings are spanning the spool sidewall. At least one of the first and second end coverings is configured to selectively allow access to the containing chamber from outside the tape container aid kit. A plurality of accessory items are located inside the containing chamber. Each of the accessory items bears a categorical relationship to a type of the adhesive-backed tape, such that the accessory items and the adhesive-backed tape collectively form a tape container aid kit of a given categorical type.

1 . A tape container aid kit, comprising:
 a cylindrical spool having substantially circular first and second spool edges longitudinally separated by a spool sidewall defining an inner circumference and a spool circumference;   an elongate piece of adhesive-backed tape coiled around the spool circumference;   a first end covering spanning the spool sidewall at the first spool edge;   a second end covering spanning the spool sidewall at the second spool edge;   both of the first and second end coverings include a single unitary piece of material directly contacting the entire inner circumference of the spool sidewall and completely spanning the spool sidewall in all radial directions;   a containing chamber cooperatively defined by the first and second end coverings and the spool sidewall, the containing chamber being wholly enclosed when both of the first and second end coverings are spanning the spool sidewall, at least one of the first and second end coverings being configured to selectively allow access to the containing chamber from outside the tape container aid kit; and   a plurality of accessory items located inside the containing chamber, each of the accessory items bearing a categorical relationship to a type of the adhesive-backed tape, such that the accessory items and the adhesive-backed tape collectively form a tape container aid kit of a given categorical type.   
     
     
         2 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings is at least one of partially located within the longitudinal dimension of the spool sidewall and integrally formed as a single piece with the spool sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein a plurality of elongate pieces of material are each coiled around the spool circumference at a different longitudinal location with respect to the spool sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings includes an access panel configured to selectively allow access to the containing chamber, the access panel allowing access to the containing chamber in at least one of a frangible manner and a reusable manner. 
     
     
         5 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 1 , including at least one divider which separates the containing chamber into a plurality of subchambers, the subchambers being oriented at least one of longitudinally, circumferentially, and radially with respect to the spool sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings is attached to the spool sidewall through at least one of a threadable engagement, a frictional engagement, adhesives, fasteners, and welding. 
     
     
         7 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings includes an accessory item attached thereto, the accessory item being at least one of a reflector and a mirror. 
     
     
         8 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein the elongate piece of material has a total length substantially shorter than the length of a commonly commercially available piece of a similar adhesive-backed tape. 
     
     
         9 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , including visible indicia located on the elongate piece of material, the indicia bearing a categorical relationship to at least one of the elongate piece of adhesive-backed tape and at least one accessory item. 
     
     
         10 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein the elongate piece of material is an adhesive-backed duct tape, and at least one accessory item is selected from the group comprising bandages, cleaning wipes, medical ointment, pharmaceuticals, water purification tablets, medical liquids, gauze pads, scissors, tweezers, mirrors, safety pins, matches, food, printed first aid instructions, printed survival instructions, fishing line, fish hooks, compact blankets, and cutting blades. 
     
     
         11 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein the elongate piece of material is an adhesive-backed electrical tape, and at least one accessory item is selected from the group comprising wire nuts, mini pliers, mini cutters, and mini strippers. 
     
     
         12 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein the containing chamber is at least one of water-resistant and watertight due to a configuration of at least one of the first and second end coverings and the spool sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 12 , wherein the spool sidewall and a chosen one of the first and second end coverings cooperatively define a fluid-holding container for temporary use when the other one of the first and second end coverings and the accessory items are both removed from the tape container aid kit. 
     
     
         14 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 1 , including an item support structure located within the containing chamber and configured to maintain at least one accessory item in a predetermined relationship with the spool sidewall regardless of the orientation of the tape container aid kit in ambient space. 
     
     
         15 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein at least one accessory item is packaged in a frangible packet, the packet being at least one of water-resistant and waterproof. 
     
     
         16 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 15 , wherein at least one packet includes an outer profile configured to be coextensive with at least a portion of the spool circumference when the packet is located within the containing chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing a tape container aid kit, the method comprising:
 providing a cylindrical spool having substantially circular first and second spool edges longitudinally separated by a spool sidewall defining a spool circumference;   coiling an elongate piece of adhesive-backed tape around the spool circumference;   spanning the spool sidewall at the first spool edge with a first end covering;   spanning the spool sidewall at the second spool edge with a second end covering;   cooperatively defining a containing chamber with the first and second end coverings and the spool sidewall, the containing chamber being wholly enclosed when both of the first and second end coverings are spanning the spool sidewall, at least one of the first and second end coverings being configured to selectively allow access to the containing chamber from outside the tape container aid kit; and   locating a plurality of accessory items inside the containing chamber, each of the accessory items bearing a categorical relationship to the adhesive-backed tape.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing a cylindrical spool includes:
 providing a master spool having a longitudinal dimension greater than the longitudinal dimension of at least two cylindrical spools, and   cutting the master spool in a radial direction to form a plurality of spool sections, wherein each spool section is an individual cylindrical spool.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings is integrally formed as a single piece with the spool sidewall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , including selectively allowing access to the containing chamber through an access panel in at least one of the first and second end coverings. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , including attaching at least one of the first and second end coverings to the spool sidewall through at least one of a threadable engagement and a frictional engagement. 
     
     
         22 . A tape container aid kit, comprising:
 a cylindrical spool having substantially circular first and second spool edges longitudinally separated by a spool sidewall defining a spool circumference;   an elongate piece of material coiled around the spool circumference;   a first end covering spanning the spool sidewall at the first spool edge, at least a portion of the first end covering being located within the longitudinal dimension of the spool sidewall;   a second end covering spanning the spool sidewall at the second spool edge, at least a portion of the second end covering being located within the longitudinal dimension of the spool sidewall; and   a containing chamber cooperatively defined by the first and second end coverings and the spool sidewall, the containing chamber being wholly enclosed when both of the first and second end coverings are spanning the spool sidewall, at least one of the first and second end coverings being configured to selectively allow access to the containing chamber from outside the tape container aid kit; wherein   a plurality of accessory items are located inside the containing chamber, the accessory items bearing a categorical relationship to the elongate piece of material.   
     
     
         23 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein the elongate piece of material is at least one of adhesive-backed tape, monofilament line, sewing thread, rope, cord, webbing, paper tape, bathroom tissue, and wire. 
     
     
         24 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings is integrally formed as a single piece with the spool sidewall. 
     
     
         25 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 22 , wherein the elongate piece of adhesive-backed tape has a total length substantially shorter than the length of a commonly commercially available piece of a similar adhesive-backed tape. 
     
     
         26 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings has a portion which protrudes longitudinally into the spool sidewall and also has an outer recess which is longitudinally recessed into the body of the second end covering. 
     
     
         27 . The tape container aid kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second end coverings has a portion which protrudes longitudinally into the spool sidewall and also has an outer recess which is longitudinally recessed into the body of the second end covering.