SPENDER

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser of dispensing plastic film for vehicle repair.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] When vehicles are damaged, it is often necessary to repair the damage and paint the affected area. Typically repairs include spray painting the affected area and covering the other areas of the vehicle to avoid overspray.

[0003] Typically, vehicle is covered with plastic film or paper, and then a portion of the plastic film or paper that covers the area to be painted is cut out. After the repair is completed, the entire plastic film or paper is discarded.

[0004] The problem within using plastic film is that the plastic is harmful to the environment and it cannot be easily recycled. The problem within using paper is that it greatly increases expense and paper with paint on it cannot be easily A prior art dispenser is disclosed in US 4,537,366 A.OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above mentioned problems with vehicle repair and / or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing plastic film for vehicle repair, as defined in the appended claims.

[0007] The first support at least partially encases the roll of plastic film. Preferably the first support has an internal space. Preferably the first support has a lid which can be opened to insert the roll of plastic film into the internal space. Preferably the first support includes an opening through which the plastic film can be pulled out. Preferably in a closed position, the lid defines the opening that the plastic film can be pulled through. In one embodiment, a cardboard box in which the roll of plastic film is contained is used as the first support.

[0008] The first support is rotatable relative to the case. Preferably the case further includes one or more holes in the side walls. Each of the holes is preferably adapted to support the first support. Preferably the first support is removably mounted to the one or more holes to support the roll of plastic film.

[0009] Preferably the cover is adapted to cover an opening of the case. Preferably the cover is movably attached to the case. Alternatively, the cover and the case can be integrally formed, with a flexible portion between the cover and the case.

[0010] Preferably the dispenser further includes one or more handles. Preferably each of the handles is operatively associated with the first support. Preferably in use, rotation of the one or more handles causes rotation of the first support. Preferably rotation of the one or more handles in a first direction causes the plastic film to be retracted through the aperture. Preferably rotation of the one or more handles in a first direction causes the plastic film to be wrapped around the first support.

[0011] The first support is rotatable relative to the aperture. Rotation of the first support in a first direction causes the plastic film to be retracted through the aperture. Rotation of the first support in a first direction causes the plastic film to be wrapped around the first support.

[0012] Preferably the dispenser further includes one or more handles. Preferably each of the handles is operatively associated with the first support. Preferably in use, rotation of the one or more handles causes rotation of the first support. Preferably rotation of the one or more handles in a first direction causes the plastic film to be retracted through the aperture. Preferably rotation of the one or more handles in a first direction causes the plastic film to be wrapped around the first support.

[0013] Preferably the aperture is circular in shape. Alternatively, the aperture can be other shapes that the plastic film can be easily pulled through, for example the aperture can be oval, rectangle or the like in shape.

[0014] Preferably the first support is substantially made of a metallic material. Alternatively, the first support can be made of other materials, such as plastic or a composite material or the like.

[0015] Preferably the cover and the case are substantially made of a metallic material. Alternatively, the cover and the case can be made of other materials, such as plastic or a composite material or the like.

[0016] Preferably each of the handles is substantially made of a metallic material. Alternatively, each of the handles can be made of other materials, such as plastic or a composite material or the like.

[0017] Preferably the dispenser further includes a plastic film protection member. Preferably the plastic film protection member is located adjacent an edge of the aperture to prevent the plastic film from being damaged while moving through the aperture.

[0018] Preferably the plastic film protection member has a circular cross section or an arcuate portion to prevent the plastic film from being damaged while moving through the aperture. Alternatively, the plastic film protection member can be any other suitable shapes that inhibits contact between the plastic film and sharp edges.

[0019] Preferably the plastic film protection member further includes one or more protrusions. Preferably the one or more protrusions attach the plastic film protection member to a portion of the dispenser. Preferably the one or more protrusions attach the plastic film protection member to a portion of the guide member.

[0020] In one embodiment, the plastic film protection member is moulded into the cover. Preferably the plastic film protection member is made of a plastic material. Preferably the cover is made of a plastic material.

[0021] Preferably the plastic film is dispensed using a dispenser as described in this specification.

[0022] The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore, different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly stated.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a vehicle repair using the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows plastic film retraction using the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the protection member of the dispenser of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative dispenser. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] With reference to Figures 1 to 2, there is a shown a dispenser 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser 10 includes a case 12 and a cover 14. The cover 14 defines an aperture 16. The dispenser 10 also includes a first support in the form of a container 18. The container 18 is rotatably located in the case 12 to rotatably support a roll of plastic film (not shown).

[0025] The container 18 includes two portions 22,24. The two portions 22,24 are adapted to rotatably support the container 18 within the case 12.

[0026] In use, the plastic film can be pulled through the aperture 16 from the roll of plastic film, and the plastic film can be retracted through the aperture 16 towards the roll of plastic film.

[0027] The case 12 includes mounting means in the form of mounting holes 26,28. The mounting holes 26,28 are adapted to support the two portions 22,24.

[0028] The dispenser 10 further includes handles 30,32. The handles 30,32 are operatively associated with the two portions 22,24. In use, rotation of the one of the handles 30,32 in a first direction causes rotation of the container 18 in the first direction. Rotation of the container 18 in the first direction causes the plastic film to be retracted through the aperture 16 and wrapped around the container 18.

[0029] The container 18 further includes a body 34 and a lid 36. The body 34 and the lid 36 define an internal space to contain the roll of plastic film. The lid 36 is adapted to partially cover an opening of the body 34. In a closed position, the body 34 and the lid 36 define the opening that the plastic film can be pulled out through.

[0030] With reference to Figure 3, there is shown a vehicle repair using the dispenser 10. A plastic film 42 is pulled through the aperture 16 from the dispenser 10 to cover the entire vehicle body 40. A portion of the plastic film 42 that covers the area to be repaired 38 is cut out. After the repair is completed, the plastic film 42 is cut along line 44, and a portion of the plastic film 42 that contains the cut out for the repair area 38 is discarded. The remaining portion of the plastic film 42 is retracted through the aperture 16 into the dispenser 10, as shown in Figure 4. This avoids excess waste and allows the plastic film 42 to be reused.

[0031] With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a plastic film protection member 46. The plastic film protection member 46 is located adjacent an edge of the aperture 16 (as shown in Figure 2). The plastic film protection member 46 has a circular cross section to prevent the plastic film from being damaged while moving through the aperture 16.

[0032] The plastic film protection member 46 further includes protrusions 48. The protrusions 48 attach the plastic film protection member 46 to the cover 14 (as shown in Figure 2).

[0033] With reference to Figure 6, there is a shown an alternative dispenser 110.

[0034] The dispenser 110 includes a guide portion 112 and a first support in the form of a first bracket 116. The guide portion 112 defines an aperture 114. The dispenser 110 further includes a second support in the form of a second bracket 118.

[0035] The first bracket 116 is adapted to support an end of a roll of plastic film (not shown). The second bracket 118 is adapted to support an opposed end of the roll of plastic film.

[0036] The first bracket 116 and the second bracket 118 further include a recess 122 ,124 respectively. The recesses 122,124 are adapted to support the roll of plastic film.

[0037] The dispenser 110 further includes a base member 120. The first bracket 116 and the second bracket 118 extend from the base member 120. The guide portion 112 extends from the base member 120.ADVANTAGES

[0038] An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dispenser includes that plastic film can be recycled to avoid waste. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dispenser includes that used plastic film can be retracted and wrapped around the first support, such that unused plastic film is not affected by the used plastic film. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment is that it is easy for people to retract the plastic film by rotating the first support.

Claims

1. A dispenser (10, 110) for dispensing plastic film for vehicle repair, the dispenser including: a first support adapted to rotatably support a roll of plastic film (42), an aperture, (16) wherein the plastic film can be pulled through the aperture from the roll and retracted through the aperture towards the roll, and a case (12), wherein the roll of plastic film is rotatably located within the case (12), and wherein the first support is rotatable relative to the aperture and the case, and rotation of the first support in a first direction causes the plastic film to be retracted through the aperture, and rotation of the first support in the first direction causes the plastic film to be wrapped around the first support, and characterized in that the first support at least partially encases the roll of plastic film, and has an opening through which the plastic film can be pulled out.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further including a plastic film protection member (46).

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plastic film protection member is located adjacent an edge of the aperture to prevent the plastic film from being damaged while moving through the aperture.

4. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including one or more handles (30, 32).

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the handles is operatively associated with the first support, and rotation of the one or more handles causes rotation of the first support.

6. Use of the dispenser of any of claims 1 to 5 to repair a vehicle.

7. A method of using a dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 5.