Dispenser for tape roll with integral tape mandrel

Abstract

A tape dispenser assembly ( 20,120 ) comprising: a housing having an at least partially enclosed interior ( 22,122 ); and a mandrel ( 10,110 ) disposed in the interior and coupled to the housing; the mandrel ( 10,110 ) adapted to receive and releasably retain a tape roll ( 30,130 ) having a core opening thereon, wherein the mandrel ( 10,110 ) comprises a first sidewall ( 12 ) projecting from a base ( 11 ) and a second sidewall ( 12 ) projecting from a base ( 11 ) generally parallel to the first sidewall ( 12 ), wherein the first and second sidewalls ( 12 ) each comprise a hub structure ( 13 ) projecting therefrom and adapted to releasably engage the core opening of the tape roll ( 30,130 ), and wherein the assembly ( 20,120 ) is configured such that: (i) a tape roll ( 30,130 ) having a core opening can be inserted at least partially into the interior ( 22,122 ) and the core opening of the tape roll ( 30,130 ) releasably engaged with the first and second sidewalls ( 12 ) so as to secure the tape roll ( 30,130 ) in dispensing configuration and disengaged from the first and second sidewalls ( 12 ), substantially without dissassemblying the housing, and (ii) a tape roll ( 30,130 ) in dispensing configuration can be disengaged from the first and second sidewalls ( 12 ) and removed from the interior ( 22,122 ), substantially without dissassemblying the housing.

1 . A tape dispenser assembly comprising:
 a housing having an at least partially enclosed interior; and   a mandrel disposed in the interior and coupled to the housing; the mandrel adapted to receive and releasably retain a tape roll having a core opening thereon,   wherein the mandrel comprises a first sidewall projecting from a base and a second sidewall projecting from the base generally parallel to the first sidewall, wherein the first and second sidewalls each comprise a hub structure projecting therefrom and adapted to releasably engage the core opening of the tape roll, and the mandrel further comprises a mounting structure on the second sidewall that couples the mandrel to the interior of the housing, and   wherein the assembly is configured such that: (1) a tape roll having a core opening can be inserted at least partially into the interior and the core opening of the tape roll releasably engaged with the first and second sidewalls so as to secure the tape roll in dispensing configuration and disengaged from the first and second sidewalls, substantially without dissassemblying the housing, and (2) a tape roll in dispensing configuration can be disengaged from the first and second sidewalls and removed from the interior, substantially without dissassemblying the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second sidewalls is resiliently flexible relative to the other sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the first sidewall further comprises a tab extending at a non-zero angle relative to the plane defined by the first sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the hub structure of the first sidewall or the hub structure of the second sidewall comprises a ramp portion proximate a free end of the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the tape roll can be removed from the housing without removing the mandrel from the housing interior. 
     
     
         6 . The tape dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a tape roll having a core opening wherein the tape roll is releasably engaged with the mandrel.