Tape Dispenser System

Abstract

A tape dispenser including a body with having several functional elements formed thereon, including a cutting edge, an anvil, a guide, finger grips, and a thumb rest. The body also defines an opening for receiving a tape roll therein. The opening may be formed between an outer wall and an inner wall. The dispenser may also include a resilient element that causes the outer wall to contact the tape periphery, even as the tape roll is being depleted. The resilient element also allows for relatively easy loading and unloading of the tape roll without the need to remove or dissemble any parts of the system. A brake also allows the user to stop dispensing tape by pressing the outer wall against the outer periphery of the tape roll.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tape dispenser comprising:
 a body, said body including an inner wall and an outer wall;   said outer wall having a free end, said free end movable between a first position and second position located radially outward of said first position said free end approximate an outer periphery of a tape roll in both said first position and said second position.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the tape roll is selectively operable to engage the inner wall. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner periphery of the tape roll engages an outer periphery of the inner wall. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , including a cutting edge formed on the outer wall. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein the cutting edge includes a concave cutting edge. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the cutting edge includes a concavity in the range of 1 to 10% of a lineal dimension of the cutting edge. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  further comprising a thumb rest formed on a surface of the outer wall. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said outer wall includes an anvil. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser according to  claim 4  wherein said outer wall includes an anvil, said anvil having a width less than a width of the cutting edge. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said outer wall includes a guide. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  including a finger grip formed on a surface of the inner wall. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  including a plurality of ribs formed on the outer wall. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  including a retainer formed on the outer wall. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  including a rear wall connecting at least a portion of the outer wall and the inner wall. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said free end of said outer wall exerts a radially inward bias in the range of 0.5 lb/in to 3.0 lb/in. 
     
     
         16 . A tape dispenser comprising:
 a body, said body including an inner wall and an outer wall;   said at least a portion of said outer wall spaced from said inner wall and defining an opening for receiving a tape roll;   said outer wall having a free end, said free end movable between a first position and second position located radially outward of said first position said free end approximate an outer periphery of said tape roll in both said first position and said second position;   said free end including a cutting edge and an anvil, said anvil spaced from said cutting edge.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser according to  claim 16  including a guide surface located between said inner wall and said cutting edge. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser according to  claim 16  wherein said cutting edge includes a concave cutting edge. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser according to  claim 16  wherein said free end of said outer wall exerts a radially inward bias in the range of 0.5 lb/in to 3.0 lb/in. 
     
     
         20 . A tape dispensing comprising:
 a body, wherein the body includes an arcuate outer wall and a substantially cylindrical inner wall, said outer wall and said inner wall defining a cavity formed between the outer wall and the inner wall, the cavity is operable to receive a tape roll therein such that an inner periphery of the tape roll is engages an outer periphery of the inner wall said;   at least a portion of outer wall inwardly biased towards said inner wall such that part of said outer wall contacts an outer periphery of the tape roll as the tape roll is depleted, wherein the bias is in the range of 0.5 lb/in to 3.0 lb/in;   a concave cutting edge formed on said outer wall, wherein the cutting edge includes a concavity in the range of 1 to 10% of a lineal dimension of the cutting edge;   an anvil formed on a surface of the outer wall, wherein the anvil has a width less than a width of the cutting edge;   a guide formed on the outer wall, wherein the anvil has a width less than a width of the guide; and   wherein the anvil is spaced apart from the cutting edge to keep a free end of a piece of tape from contacting the anvil after being cut by the cutting edge.