Adhesive tape tear-off aid

Abstract

Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1), which is designed to be held in the hand during use, and which has the following elements: • a support (2) designed to project into the interior of an adhesive tape winding core during use, • a thumb rest (3) which extends tangentially and at a distance radially outside from the support (2) and is designed to support the thumb of the hand during use, • a spacer (4) that connects the support (2) with the thumb rest (3) and holds them at such a distance from each other that the winding core together with the adhesive tape on it can be slid onto the support (2), • and a tear-off edge (6) located at a so-called distal end of the thumb rest (3) and designed to detach a section of the adhesive tape during use, characterized by that the thumb rest (3) has a flat pressure surface (5) which connects to the tear-off edge (6) and extends obliquely outwards from the support (2) and towards the proximal end.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hand-held adhesive tape dispenser, in particular a tearing tool in the form of a tear-off aid, which is designed to be held in the hand during use and which has the following elements: a support designed to project into the interior of an adhesive tape core during use, a thumb rest extending tangentially and at a radial distance from the outside of the support and designed to support the thumb of the hand during use, a spacer connecting the support to the thumb rest and keeping them at such a distance from each other that the core, including the adhesive tape on it, can be slid onto the support, and a tear-off edge arranged at a so-called distal end of the thumb rest and designed to tear off a section of the adhesive tape during use.

[0002] Such a handheld adhesive tape dispenser is commercially available under the name "PROSUN", see • https: / / www.amazon.de / Handheld-Klebebandabroller-Verpackung-Abdichtung-tg08-org / dp / B07D1P7SMT, or under the name “EXCELL”, see • https: / / www.amazon.de / dp / B099WKTTHG / ref=sspa_dk_detail_right_aax_0?aref=JeYKcDnWse&sp_csd=d2IkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfcmlnaHRfc2hhcmVk&th=1

[0003] Standard adhesive tape dispensers are used for handling adhesive tape, which is used, for example, for packaging, such as for sealing cardboard boxes. The operation of such adhesive tape dispensers, from loading them with tape to applying the tape to a cardboard box, is clearly illustrated in the following. • https: / / www.amazon.de / dp / B099WKTTHG / ref=sspa_dk_detail_right_aax_0?aref=JeYKcDnWse&sp_csd=d2IkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfcmlnaHRfc2hhcmVk&th=1, • https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=XgBbkN55aA4, or from • https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=uqh17xYu9YE.

[0004] Adhesive tapes are typically supplied in roll form, with the tape wound onto a core. While the outer diameter of the roll gradually decreases with use, as more tape is dispensed, the inner diameter of the core remains constant. Some dispensers have supports that are specifically designed for a particular inner diameter of the tape rolls and hold the core with minimal or no play, allowing the roll to rotate around the support as if on a sliding bearing.

[0005] The standard adhesive tape hand dispensers differ from table-top devices, which have stability due to their deliberately high weight, as well as from hand-held dispensers that are equipped with a handle and have considerably larger dimensions than the standard adhesive tape hand dispensers, which are gripped in the area of ​​the spacer so that the thumb rests on the thumb rest.

[0006] The tear-off edge is designed to detach a section of the adhesive tape. Unlike scissors, the tear-off edge doesn't cut through the tape on its own; instead, it severs the tape when it's under sufficient tension and pressed against the edge with sufficient pressure. Typically, the tear-off edge is serrated, so that multiple sharp teeth, when pressed with sufficient pressure, penetrate the tape, creating a perforation line. Due to the tension, the tape then tears along this line, separating a section. The dispenser is typically operated with the tear-off edge pointing away from the user's body. This is referred to as the distal end of the thumb rest, in contrast to the proximal end, which points towards the body.

[0007] When painting, it is often necessary to mask off certain areas of the walls and ceilings to be painted and protect them from unwanted paint. For this purpose, so-called painter's tape is frequently used. Firstly, it has a weaker adhesive than the aforementioned masking tapes, and secondly, it can be cut with less force; for example, it can be torn by hand. Painter's tape is often applied close to the ceiling, with the person using it standing on a ladder. Both heavy, table-top tape dispensers and large, unwieldy handheld tape dispensers with handles are of limited or no use under such working conditions, while the comparatively small, standard handheld tape dispensers hardly increase the dimensions of the tape roll and do not have an undesirably high weight.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of improving a generic adhesive tape hand dispenser in such a way that it is easy and uncomplicated to handle during painting work and provides a straight tear-off edge of the adhesive tape for 90° room corners.

[0009] Features according to the invention are specified in claim 1. Embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention thus proposes that the thumb rest has a flat pressure surface which adjoins the tear-off edge and extends obliquely outwards from the support towards the proximal end. Unlike known, generic tape dispensers, the thumb rest does not run flat from the tear-off edge to its proximal end, but rather rises obliquely outwards, so that the tape dispenser creates a cutting tool with a pressure surface with which the section of tape to be torn off – and subsequently actually cut off – can be pressed against the surface to which the tape is attached. The hand holding and guiding the tape dispenser can use this pressure surface to press the tape against the wall surface shortly before the desired section is torn off the remaining tape.It is not necessary to use a second hand to press down the adhesive tape, so this free hand can be used, for example, to provide a secure grip on a ladder. Accordingly, the adhesive tape dispenser according to the invention is easy and straightforward to use. Unlike tearing off a section of tape by hand, the tape dispenser ensures a straight tear-off edge, allowing for a clean connection of the tape section to an adjacent corner, built-in cabinets, roller shutter boxes, or similar surfaces that adjoin the area to be painted. Thus, the proposed tape dispenser provides a particularly reliable cutting tool in practical application, acting as a kind of tear-off aid.

[0011] One design of the adhesive tape dispenser is characterized by the fact that the pressure surface lies in a single plane. Because the pressure surface is neither concave nor convex, a full-surface transfer of pressure from the pressure surface to the adhesive tape is ensured.

[0012] The tape dispenser can be equipped with a blade at the tear-off edge, which, for example, may have a series of sharp teeth in a known manner. However, one design of the tape dispenser is characterized by a bladeless tear-off edge. The aforementioned painter's tape, which can easily be torn by hand, does not require a blade. Therefore, firstly, the tape dispenser can be manufactured advantageously and inexpensively, because the blade does not need to be produced as a separate component or mounted on the dispenser body. Secondly, the tape dispenser is easier and more straightforward to use, as there is no risk of injury from a sharp blade.

[0013] To separate a section of the adhesive tape from the rest of the tape at the tear-off edge, a pull is sufficient, just as would be applied when tearing by hand. The tear-off edge facilitates a straight design of both ends at the separation point of the tape, even if it has an obtuse angle of more than 90°. It can also assist the separation process itself, not to the same extent, but in principle similar to a blade. For this purpose, a bladeless hand-held tape dispenser is characterized in that the tear-off edge is designed with an acute angle of less than 90°.

[0014] One design of the adhesive tape dispenser is characterized by a smooth, untoothed tear-off edge. This allows for particularly smooth ends of the tape at the tear point, similar to cut edges.

[0015] One design of the tape dispenser is characterized by the fact that the tape dispenser is formed in one piece from a single piece of material. This facilitates cost-effective manufacturing, as multiple components do not need to be joined, and creates a robust and durable construction that is environmentally advantageous and allows for a long service life of the tape dispenser.

[0016] One design of the tape dispenser is characterized by a movable spacer, allowing the distance between the support and the thumb rest to be adjusted. For a clean, smooth end to the tape at the cutting point, it is advantageous for the tear-off edge to be in contact with the tape. The more tape is pulled from the core, the smaller the outer diameter of the tape roll becomes. The adjustable distance to the support allows the thumb rest to be repositioned, ensuring particularly secure and reliable guidance of the tape within the dispenser. For example, the thumb rest can be pressed against the support by spring force, such as a tension spring, so that it is automatically adjusted as the tape is used.However, even the hand holding the tape dispenser can, on the one hand, grasp the support with its fingers and, on the other hand, press down on the thumb rest with its thumb from above, so that when grasping the tape dispenser, the thumb rest is automatically pushed against the support and thus placed against the outermost roll of tape.

[0017] One embodiment of such a hand-held adhesive tape dispenser is characterized by the fact that the spacer is telescopically adjustable in length. For this purpose, the spacer has two elements that are slidable relative to each other, so that the effective length of the spacer changes, namely the length that determines the distance between the support and the thumb rest.

[0018] An alternative design of the tape dispenser with a movable spacer is characterized by the fact that the spacer is articulated to the support and the thumb rest and can pivot in a parallelogram-like fashion. The spacer has two elements that pivot parallel to each other and are each articulated to the support and the thumb rest. Even while maintaining the same length of these two elements, the size of the gap between the support and the thumb rest changes, allowing the thumb rest to be adjusted as more tape is gradually unwound from the core and the outer diameter of the tape roll decreases accordingly. Given the possibility of the tape dispenser being accidentally contaminated with paint, the parallelogram-like pivoting mechanism is designed to be as resistant as possible to paint buildup.

[0019] One design of the adhesive tape dispenser is characterized by a support with a curved surface that slopes downwards towards the thumb rest. Unlike, for example, a support with a square cross-section, a curved surface facilitates smooth dispensing of the adhesive tape and a uniform, low-resistance rotation of the roll around the support. The support can be designed, for example, as a solid pin or as a hollow tube, each with a round cross-section.

[0020] The diameter of the pin or tube stub can be adapted to the inner diameter of the tape roll's core so that, similar to the sliding bearing mentioned earlier, the roll is held on the support with minimal or no play. One embodiment of such a hand-held tape dispenser is characterized by the support being designed to contact the tape core only over a portion of its inner circumference during use. This allows the hand-held tape dispenser to be used with a variety of different tape rolls with varying core inner diameters, provided the tape width does not exceed the width of the tear-off edge and the roll thickness, determined by the core wall thickness and the thickness of the tape windings on it, does not exceed the distance between the support and the thumb rest.

[0021] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the purely schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1. A perspective view of a handheld adhesive tape dispenser from its distal side, Fig. 2 a front view of the distal side of the adhesive tape hand dispenser, and Fig. 3 A side view of the adhesive tape hand dispenser, with an indicated path of adhesive tape.

[0022] Fig. Figures 1 to 3 show a hand-held adhesive tape dispenser 1, designed as a monolithic component, with a curved support 2 and a thumb rest 3 on its radial outer side and at a distance from the support 2. In the illustrated embodiment, these two areas of the hand-held adhesive tape dispenser 1 extend horizontally and are connected by a back wall, which acts as a spacer 4 to ensure a defined distance between the thumb rest 3 and the support 2.

[0023] In use, a roll of adhesive tape is pushed onto support 2 and aligned so that the free end of the tape points to the left - in Fig. The tape dispenser 1 is held in such a way that this end points away from the body of the person handling it, and is therefore referred to as the distal end of the tape dispenser 1. At the distal end of the thumb rest 3, it has a flat, inclined surface that forms a pressure surface 5. Together with the radially inner surface of the thumb rest 3, the pressure surface 5 creates a tear-off edge 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the tear-off edge is created by the material of the thumb rest 3 itself, without an inserted blade made of another material, and is designed as a straight, untoothed edge.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 3 indicates an adhesive tape 7 in the adhesive tape dispenser 1, whereby, for the sake of clarity, the entire roll of adhesive tape including the core is not shown, and the depicted section of the adhesive tape 7 is not shown lying close to the adhesive tape dispenser 1. The radially inner, in Fig. 3 The lower side of the adhesive tape 7 is designed as the adhesive surface 8 of the adhesive tape 7. Schematically, in Fig.Figure 3 indicates that the adhesive tape 7 is guided around the tear-off edge 6 so that the adhesive surface 8 of the adhesive tape 7 faces outwards and can be applied to a surface to be covered – for example, a wall surface in a room. The pressure surface 5 can be used to press the adhesive tape onto this surface. The already applied section can then be torn off from the remaining part of the adhesive tape on the roll at the tear-off edge 6, resulting in a clean cut similar to a straight surface.

[0025] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in a variety of ways. All features and advantages arising from the claims, the description, and the drawings, including design details, spatial arrangements, and process steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in various combinations. Reference symbol list 1 adhesive tape dispenser 2 supports 3 Thumb rest 4 spacers 5 pressure surface 6 Tear-off edge 7 Adhesive tape 8 Adhesive surface QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited non-patent literature

[0000] https: / / www.amazon.de / Handheld-Klebebandabroller-Verpackung-Abdichtung-tg08-org / dp / B07D1P7SMT

[0002] https: / / www.amazon.de / dp / B099WKTTHG / ref=sspa_dk_detail_right_aax_0?aref=JeYKcDnWse&sp_csd=d2IkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfcmlnaHRfc2hhcmVk&th=1 [0002, 0003] https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=XgBbkN55aA4

[0003] https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=uqh17xYu9YE

[0003]

Claims

[1] Tape dispenser (1) which is designed to be held in the hand during use, and which has the following elements: • a support (2) designed to project into the interior of an adhesive tape winding core during use, • a thumb rest (3) which extends tangentially and at a distance radially outside from the support (2) and is designed to support the thumb of the hand during use, • a spacer (4) that connects the support (2) with the thumb rest (3) and holds them at such a distance from each other that the winding core together with the adhesive tape on it can be slid onto the support (2), • and a tear-off edge (6) located at a so-called distal end of the thumb rest (3) and designed to detach a section of the adhesive tape during use, characterized by , that the thumb rest (3) has a flat pressure surface (5) which connects to the tear-off edge (6) and extends obliquely outwards from the support (2) and towards the proximal end. [2] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the pressure surface (5) lies in a plane. [3] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the tear-off edge (6) is designed without blades. [4] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the tear-off edge (6) is designed with an acute angle and has an angle of less than 90°. [5] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the tear-off edge (6) is designed without serrations. [6] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) is formed in one piece from a single piece of material. [7] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the spacer (4) is designed to be movable in such a way that the distance between the support (2) and the thumb rest (3) is variable. [8] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the spacer (4) is telescopically length-variable. [9] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the spacer (4) is articulated to the support (2) and to the thumb rest (3) and is pivotable in a parallelogram-like manner. [10] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the support (2) has a curved surface that curves towards the thumb rest (3). [11] Adhesive tape hand dispenser (1) according to claim 10, characterized by, that the support (2) is designed to bear against the winding core of the adhesive tape only over a portion of its inner circumference during use.

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