US3725182A

US3725182A - Tape dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3725182A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Regan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-08-17
Filing date: 1971-08-17
Publication date: 1973-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-03

Abstract

A hand-held tape dispenser is disclosed including a tape guide adjacent a cutting edge for enabling the application of tape into restricted areas such as a corner with the guide being movable to move the tape against the cutting edge following completion of a dispensing application to cut the tape in the innermost extent to which the tape is applied in such restricted areas.

Description

J. L. REGAN TAPE DISPENSER April 3, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1971 INVENTOR James 1. P564 ATTO RNEYfl J. L. REGAN April 3, 197a TAPE DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17. 1971 INVENTOR Jlxmss Les-'04 BY i ATTOE NEYS J. L- REGAN TAPE DISPENSER April 3, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 17, 1971 P g-q, 4'1

INVENTOR James 1. P564 BY g was i AITASIIRJEYS J. L. REGAN TAPE DISPENSER April 3, 1913 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 17, 1971 INVENTOR AMES Z. fisww %amuma.

v ATTORNEYS United States Patent @flice 3,725,182 Patented Apr. 3, 1973 3,725,182 TAPE DISPENSER James L. Regan, 409 Dunkel St., Fairbanks, Alaska Filed Aug. 17, 1971, Ser. No. 172,387 Int. Cl. B32b 31/18; B26f 3/02 US. Cl. 156-527 29 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is in the field of tape dispensing apparatus and is more particularly directed to a novel hand-held tape dispenser particularly useful in dispensing pressuresensitive tape into restricted, hard to reach areas.

Presently known tape dispensing devices are, for the most part, of the type comprising a roll support and a cutting edge. The tape in such devices is manually pulled from the roll and severed by manual movement against the cutting edge. Such devices are usually relatively simple and constitute a main frame supporting a tape roll from which the dispensed tape extends over and adjacent the cutting element. In operation, the tape is pulled from the roll and is then subsequently moved against the cutting element to sever the dispensed portion from the remainder of the roll. Unfortunately, devices of this type do not enable application of the tape while it is being dispensed from the device, and it is frequently necessary to estimate the desired tape length prior to cutting with the subsequent application of the tape frequently revealing that the users estimate was erroneous.

While masking tape has long been used for masking glass windows or the like prior to the painting of the window frame, there is no known tape dispensing means capable of dispensing the tape accurately into the corners of a window frame or the like prior to the cutting of the tape. While numerous complicated mechanical tape dispensing means have evolved, none of the known devices has provided an accurate dispensing operation of the type required by those wishing to dispense the tape into such hard to reach restricted areas.

Moreover, some of the prior art devices employ pivotable and movable knife means moved against the tape for severing same in a manner which can be extremely dangerous for the user. In addition, the inherently complicated nature of many of the prior known dispensers makes them completely unsatisfactory due to their high initial cost and frequent mechanical malfunctions.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved tape dispensing means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved tape dispensing means capable of dispens ing and severing tape in hard to reach areas.

A complete understanding of the manner in wh ch the objects of this invention are obtained will be easily obtained when the following written description is read in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is atop plan view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged front elevat1onal view of a portion of the preferred embodiment illustrating the parts in position assumed during a tape dispensing operation;

FIG. 4B is a front elevational view of the same portion as illustrated in FIG. 4A illustrating the parts in an intermediate position following termination of a dispensing operation and the beginning of a cutting of the tape;

FIG. 4 C is a front elevational view of the parts illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrating the parts in position following a cutting of the tape; 4BFIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment.

Attention is initially invited to FIG. 1 which illustrates the preferred embodiment, generally designated 20, and which constitutes a hand-held tape dispenser from which a tape T is dispensed from a dispensing end 22. The tape being dispensed is stored upon a roll 24 on the interior of the dispenser 20 in a manner to be discussed in detail hereinafter. Dispenser 20 comprises a main frame generally designated 29 in FIG. 9 and which is made up of a substantial number of individual components, all of which are unitarily connected as parts of the main frame.

Specifically, main frame 29 includes a generally planar base plate 30 which is itself comprised of a generally circular roll storage compartment wall 32 and a laterally extending tape guide arm plate 34 extending outwardly from the generally circular roll storage compartment wall 32.

A lower border flange means 36 extends outwardly from adjacent the periphery of the wall 32 and an upper border flange means 38 similarly extends outwardly perpendicularly from the upper periphery of the wall 32 with the

border flange members

36, 38 serving to define a roll storage compartment 39 in which the roll 24 is mounted.

A floor plate 40 extends outwardly from adjacent the lower edge of the tape guide arm 34. In addition, a second tape guide arm 42 is provided along the edge of floor plate 40 spaced from the arm 34.

Tape guide arms

34 and 42 lie in parallel spaced planes. In addition, the lower border flange 36 merges into the floor plate 40 as is obvious from inspection of FIG. 9. A J-shaped cutting blade 41 extends outwardly from the floor plate 40 and is provided with a serrated cutting edge 43 as shown in FIG. 9. However, it should be understood that the cutting edge 43 might, in some instances, constitute a smooth cutting edge rather than a serrated edge.

The inner end of the floor plate 40 has a relatively thick stop lug 46 extending inwardly and upwardly for termination in a horizontal surface 48 parallel to floor plate 40. In addition, floor plate 40 is provided with an upwardly extending pillar 50 extending perpendicular to the floor plate and adjacent the tape guide arm 34. A guide pin 47 extends between the

guide arms

34 and 42 for a purpose to be discussed hereinafter. In addition, the stop lug 46 is separated from the floor plate 40 by means of a transverse pivot slot 54 in the upper surface of the elements and a spring retaining lower slot 108.

A toggle lever 56 has a lower pivot edge 58 received within the pivot slot 54 and is also provided with an upper pivot edge 60 for a purpose to be discussed hereinafter. Toggle lever 56 also includes a transversely extending circular bore 62 extending across its width and a stop plate 64 (FIG. 9) extending outwardly toward the cutting means 41.

A tape guide means for guiding tape being dispensed from the tape storage chamber 39 includes a pivotal slide block 66 having a forward canted end surface 67, a substantially fiat upper surface 68, a downwardly curved forward tape applying surface 70 and an even more downwardly curved rearmost portion 72. Upper surface 68 is separated from rearmost portion 72 by an upper spring retaining slot 106. The rearmost portion 72 terminates in a downwardly facing planar surface 74, which, in one position of the slide block 66, rests upon the upwardly facing flat surface 48 of stop lug 46.

Slide block 66 also includes a downwardly extending control lug 80 extending downwardly from the under surface of the block 66. Lug 80 includes a vertical plate 81, rearwardly extending plate 82 and a forwardly extending plate tab 84; however, it should be noted that the rearwardly extending plate 82 extends across the entire width of the lug while tab 84 is of much narrower width.

Slide block 66 is movable from a first position illustrated in FIG. 4A in which tape is being dispensed to a second position illustrated in FIG. 40 in which the dispensed tape is being cut by virtue of the movement of the slide block to the position illustrated in FIG. 40.

Movement of the slide block 66 between its two positions discussed above is enabled by actuator means including a thumb slide 86 having a forward protrusion 87, a pivot pin 88 extending through the bore 62 in toggle lever 56 and also having a slot 90 ridable upon the outer end of the guide pin 47 extending between the

tape guide arms

34 and 42. A cap on the end of the pin 47 retains the thumb slide 86'in engagement with the guide pin 47 in an obvious manner.

A spring clip 100 has

ends

102 and 104 respectively received within

slots

106 and 108 of the slide block 66 and lug 46 so that the clip 100 tends to bias the slide block 66 downwardly at all times. In addition, the lower surface of the slide block 66 is provided with a pivot slot 69 receivable over the pivot edge 60 of toggle lever 56 in an obvious manner.

The lower pivot edge 58 of the toggle 56 is received in slot 54 (FIG. 9). Consequently, operation of the spring clip 100 serves to pivot the forward end of the slide block 66 in a downward direction. However, the slide block is restrained against downward movement when the block is in the first position illustrated in FIG. 4A and cannot move downwardly until the thumb slide 86 is moved rearwardly in a manner to be discussed.

A tape roll supporting means is provided on the interior of the main frame as was noted previously and includes a cylindrical sleeve 110 mounted coaxially with respect to an access opening 112 in wall 32. Sleeve 110 includes bearing tabs 114 extending through the access opening 112 and through the base of a cylindrical cup 116 mounted on the opposite side of the wall 32.

An actuator shaft 118 having an actuator knob 120 on its outer end extends through an axial opening 122 in the base of cup 116 and is provided with a triple arm rotor 124 positioned within the confines of sleeve 110. The three arms of the rotor 124 are provided with apertures in their ends through which pins 126 extend to provide pivotal support for prong plates 128 respectively attached to the end of each of the arms of the member 124. Each of the prong plates 128 is positioned in an axially parallel slot 130 of the sleeve 110 so that rotation of the triple arm rotor 124 with respect to the sleeve 110 serves to move the prongs inwardly and outwardly with respect to the sleeve. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates the position of the prongs 128 in their outwardly extending position in which they engage the inner periphery of a tape roll 24, while FIG. 8 illustrates the position of the prongs in a retracted position to which they are moved when it is desired to install a new, or remove an old, tape roll.

A coil spring 130 is connected between an opening 132 in the cup 116 and an opening 134 on the inner face of the actuator knob 120. Coil spring 130 serves to bias the actuator knob and shaft 118 along with the triple arm rotor 124 in a direction to extend the prong members 128 outwardly into their FIG. 3 position. However, the prong plates 128 can be retracted by manually gripping the cup 116 and turning the knob 120 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the FIG. 1 position.

Therefore, it will be obvious that a new roll can be inserted upon the roll support sleeve 110 by positioning of the prongs in their retracted position and subsequently permitting the prongs to extend outwardly against the inner surface of the roll under the urging of spring 130.

It is desirable that the upper edge E of the tape T as viewed in FIG. 2 be supported and positioned to be coplanar with the upper edge of the

flange members

38, 36 and the upper edge of the cutting means 41 in order to enable a dispensing of the tape along the intersection of two surfaces such as a window and a window frame with the edge E being dispensed into the apex of such an intersection. Since the tape T comes in various widths, adjustable means must be provided for enabling the use of different tape sizes. For this purpose, a guide clip is provided on the upper surface of the thumb slide 86 to be positionable in any one of a plurality of transverse positioning notches 152. The guide clip 150 includes a downwardly extending tape edge guide plate 154 (FIG. 9) which extends downwardly through a slotted opening 156 in the thumb slide 86 into a transverse groove 158 formed in the upper surface of slide block 66. Guide plate 154 engages the edge of tape T opposite the edge E and is positionable in accordance with the width of the tape to insure that the edge E remains in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 regardless of the tape width being employed. It should also be noted that the guide clip 150 is retained in adjusted position on the thumb slide '86 by a clamp portion 160 which engages the underside of the slide body immediately beneath the respective slot 152 in which the clip is positioned.

A complete cycle of operation of the subject invention will now be discussed with initial reference being made to FIG. 4A of the drawings which illustrates the tape guiding slide block 66 in its first position in which tape T is free to be dispensed. It should be noted that the slide block is positioned against and adjacent to the cutting edge 43 of cutting means 41 so that the tape cannot contact the cutting edge. Moreover, this positioning of the slide block 66 serves to protect against accidental injury of the user of the device.

Tape T is unrolled from the roll 24 with its outer or nonadhesive surface resting against the upper surface 68 of the slide block 66, but spaced beneath the upper surface of the thumb slide 86 as will be obvious from inspection of FIG. 4A. The tape can be easily dispensed with the upper surface 68 serving to guide the tape and press the tape into position in recessed corners or other hard to reach areas such as window corners or the like. The fact that the edge E of the tape and the open edges of

flanges

36, 38, and the outer surface of guide arm 42, and cutting means 41 are coplanar as shown in FIG. 2 enables the tape to be pressed into such hard to reach areas. Attention is specifically invited to FIG. 2 which clearly illustrates the fact that no portion of the dispenser extends beyond the upper edge of the tape.

When slide block 66 is in the first position illustrated in FIG. 4A, the lower surface of the right edge of

elements

81 and 82 rest upon the upper surface of pillar 50. In addition, the lower surface 74 of the rearmost projection 72 rests upon the upper surface 48 of the stop lug 46 and tab 84 extends beneath guide pin 47 to prevent upward movement of pivotal slide block 66.

The outer end of pin 47 extends through the horizontal lower portion of slot 90 in the thumb slide 86 so that the only possible movement of the thumb slide from the FIG. 4A position is in a rearward direction. Positioning of the elements as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4A (i.e. the first position of the guide means comprising pivotal slide block 66, etc.) enables tape to be dispensed and pressed into position by the outer end of the pivotal slide block 66 and by the outer surface of the cutting member 41 in an obvious manner. Consequently, the tape can be dispensed into very close quarters such as the corners of window frames or the like. Moreover, following the application of the tape, the tape can be severed up to the exact point of tape application so that a complete covering of any desired area is easily obtained.

A tape severing operation is initially begun by moving the thumb slide 86 rearwardly in the direction of the arrows about in *FIG. 4B with it being noted that such initial movement is limited to rearward movement by virtue of the fact that pin 47 extends through the lower horizontal portion of the slot 90 in the thumb slide 86.

Initial movement of the parts to the position illustrated in 'FIG. 4B causes the toggle lever 56 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction by virtue of the fact that the thumb slide 86 is connected to the toggle lever by pivot pin '88. This initial movement of toggle lever 56 causes slide block 66 to move rearwardly so that canted surface 67 clears the cutting edge 43. Such initial movement of the slide block 66 also causes the edge of

elements

80, 82 resting on the top of pillar 50 to eventually clear the pillar at substantially the same time as pin 47 is entering the vertically extending portion of slot 30 as shown in FIG. 413.

At this itme, thumb slide 86 is then rotated in a clockwise direction downwardly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4C. This downward movement of the thumb slide causes the forward protrusion 87 of the thumb slide to move against the tape to grasp the tape between protrusion 87 and surface 68. In addition, subsequent clockwise movement of thumb slide 86 is conveyed to pivotal slide block 66 to move the slide block to the FIG. 4C position to cause the tape to be severed along edge 43. The fact that the forward edge of protrusion -87 is not perpendicular to the axis of the tape (the edge is canted as shown in FIG. 2) causes the tape to be cut progressively inward from one edge. The bottom surface of pivotal slide block 66 engages pin 47 to prevent clockwise movement past the position illustrated in FIG. 4C.

The above-discussed construction enables the edge 43 to be movable into the innermost extent of any recessed corner or the like in which the tape is being applied so that the tape can be severed accurately at the innermost extent of any such application.

Following completion of the tape severing action, the rearward or leftmost portion of the thumb slide 86 as viewed in FIG. 4C is depressed to rotate the thumb slide in a counter-clockwise direction back through the intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 4B. As pin 47 reaches the horizontal portion of slot 90, the thumb slide is then moved forwardly toward the FIG. 4A position with the forward movement serving to pivot toggle arm 56 in a clockwise direction until stop plate 64 engages the upper surface of the rearward projection 82. At approximately, the same time, the edge of member 80 moves over pillar 50 and the pivotal slide block 66 is moving forwardly so that the forwardly extending tab 84 moves beneath pin 47 to hold the pivotal slide block 66 in the position shown in FIG. 4A.

The forward movement of the pivotal slide block 66 from the FIG. 4B to the FIG. 4A position is accomplished largely by the urging of spring clip 100 which tends to return to the position shown in FIG. 4A. In addition, the forward movement of the pivotal slide block 66 is limited by engagement of the forward edge 67 thereof with the cutting edge 43 of cutting means 41. This re-engagement covers the cutting portion 43 in the manner shown in FIG. 4A to provide a substantial safety feature.

Therefore, it will be seen that the subject invention provides an easily usable and accurate means for dispensing tape and severing same in hard to reach locations and which represents a distinct improvement over the prior known tape dispensing devices. While many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, it should be understood that the spirit and scope of the invention is to be interpreted solely in light of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hand-held tape dispenser comprising a main frame, tape roll support means on said main frame for supporting a roll of tape in a tape storage compartment, fixed cutting edge means on said frame positioned outwardly of said tape roll storage compartment, movable tape guide means positionable in a first position to extend between said cutting edge and said tape roll storage compartment for supporting and guiding tape being dispensed from a roll in said storage compartment along a path spaced from said cutting edge but closely adjacent to the cutting edge during a dispensing operation and guide actuator means operable at the completion of a tape dispensing operation for rapidly moving said tape guide means to a second position spaced inwardly of said tape cutting edge whereby tape is carried by said guide means is served as a result of movement of said guide means to said second position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said main frame comprises a base plate formed of a generally circular roll storage compartment wall and a laterally extending tape guide arm plate extending unitarily outwardly from said storage compartment wall, lower border flange means extending perpendicularly from adjacent the edge of said storage compartment wall, a floor plate extending perpendicularly from said tape guide arm plate and merging into one end of said lower border flange means, a second tape guide arm plate spaced from said first tape guide arm plate and extending from said floor plate in a plane parallel to said first tape guide arm plate, a pillar extending upwardly from said floor plate adjacent said first tape guide arm plate, a guide pin extending between said first tape guide arm plate and said second tape guide arm plate parallel to said floor plate, a stop lug extending inwardly and upwardly from the inner end of said floor plate and terminating in a planar surface parallel to said floor plate, a pivot slot formed in said floor flange between said floor plate and said stop lug, a toggle lever arm pivotally mounted in said pivot slot between said first tape guide arm plate and said second tape guide arm plate for pivotal movement, said tape guide means including a pivotal slide block of generally rectangular configuration, a pivot slot in one side of said slide block engageable with an upper pivot edge portion of said toggle lever arm, a curved rearward extension portion of said slide block having an abutment surface on its extreme end engageable with said stop lug when said slide block is in said first position, spring clip means extending between said stop lug and said slide block for biassing the slide block downwardly toward said floor flange to hold said slide block in pivotal engagement with said toggle arm, a depending control lug extending downwardly from the under surface of said slide block in the form of a T-shaped flange including a vertical plate, a rearwardly extending plate and a forwardly extending tab, the lower surface of one side of the vertical plate and the rearwardly extending tab being coextensive and resting on the top of said pillar when said slide block is in said first position to prevent downward movement of said slide block and the upper surface of said forwardly extending tab extending under and engaging said guide pin, wherein said actuator means includes a thumb slide mounted above said slide block and connected to said toggle lever arm whereby rearward movement of said thumb slide pivots said toggle lever arm and moves said slide block rearwardly to a point at which said slide block lug clears the top of said pillar and said slide block is then forcefully moved downwardly into said second position to enable cutting of said tape.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said tape support means comprises a cylindrical sleeve extending perpendicularly through said roll storage compartment wall in an access opening in a central portion thereof, actuator shaft means extending through said access opening in said roll storage compartment wall into the interior of said cylindrical sleeve, an actuator knob on the end of said actuator shaft opposite the side of said roll storage compartment wall on which said cylindrical sleeve is mounted, a triple armed rotor mounted on the end of said actuator shaft, a prong plate mounted on the end of each of the arms of said triple armed rotor for pivotal movement with re spect to said triple armed rotor and respectively extending through slots formed in said cylindrical sleeve whereby rotation of said triple arm rotor with respect to said sleeve causes said prong plates to be extended outwardly from the outer surface or moved inwardly with respect to the outer surface of said cylindrical sleeve, and spring means connected to said actuator knob and said cylindrical sleeve for biassing said knob and said actuator shaft in a relative direction to continuously urge said prong plates outwardly from said cylindrical sleeve for engagement with the inner surface of a tape roll for supporting said tape roll.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said movable tape guide means includes a pivotal slide block having an elongated upper surface for supporting tape being dispensed when the slide block is in a first position and said guide actuator means includes a thumb slide positioned above said pivotable slide block but connected through connecting means to said pivotal slide block for moving said slide block between said first and second positions thereof.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes toggle lever means pivotally supporting said pivotal slide block on said main frame.

6. The invention of claim 5 additionally including spring Clip means for retaining said pivotal slide block on said toggle lever means.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said toggle lever means is pivotally connected to the under side of a rearward portion of said pivotal slide block whereby actuation of said thumb slide initially moves shaid pivotal slide block rearwardly from its first position to an intermediate position in which abutment means on said slide block clears a vertical abutment member on said main frame to permit immediate subsequent downward pivoting movement of the forward end of said slide block into said second position.

8. The invention of claim 7 additionally including means connected to said pivotal slide block for limiting the upward extent of movement of said pivotal slide block when said pivotal slide block is in its first position.

9. The invention of claim 4 wherein the forward end of said pivotal slide block engages said cutting edge when said pivotal slide block is in its first position to protectively cover said cutting edge.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said pivotal slide block extends substantially parallel to the direction from which tape is dispensed with tape being dispensed along the upper surface of said pivotal slide block and said cutting means comprises a blade extending substantially perpendicular to said slide block so that tape being dispensed from along the upper surface of said slide block is dispensed perpendicularly to the cutting edge of said blade.

11. A hand-held tape dispenser comprising a main frame, tape roll support means for supporting a roll of tape, movable elongated guide means for guiding tape from said roll along said guide means during a tape dispensing operation, knife means extending substantially in a direction having a substantial perpendicular component with respect to said elongated guide means and positioning means for positioning an end of said elongated guide means in abutting relationship against said knife means during a tape dispensing operation for covering the cutting edge of said knife means and for providing a continuous outer tape applying surface for pressing tape against a surface to which tape is being applied.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said continuous outer tape applying surface is of approximately right angular configuration and is completely exposed and is unencumbered of any other parts of said tape dispenser means.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said elongated guide means extends in a generally tangential direction from a cylindrical tape storage compartment in which said tape roll is mounted.

14. The invention of claim 13 additionally including actuator means for moving said elongated guide means to a second position disengaged from said knife means so that the cutting edge of said knife means is unobstructed to permit the cutting of tape previously dispensed from said dispensing means.

15. The invention of claim 11 wherein said tape roll support means comprises sleeve means mounted for rotation on said main frame, prong plate means mounted on the interior of said sleeve for outward movement through openings in said sleeve means to engage the inner surface of a tape roll to support the tape roll and prong actuator means connectable to said prong plate means for selectively moving said prong plate means inwardly or outwardly of said support sleeve.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said prong plate actuator means includes a rotor member mounted on the interior of said sleeve with said prong plate members being pivotally mounted on said rotor member and extending outwardly through slots in said sleeve so that rotation of said rotor member causes said prong plate members to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the external surface of said sleeve.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said prong actuator means for said prong plate members additionally includes spring means tending to rotate said rotor means in a direction to cause said prong plate members to extend outwardly as far as possible.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein said continuous outer surface is of approximately right angular configuration and is completely exposed and is unencumbered of any other parts of said tape dispenser means.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said elongated guide means extends in a generally tangential direction from a cylindrical tape storage compartment in which said tape roll is mounted.

20. The invention of claim 19 additionally including actuator means for moving said elongated guide means to a second position disengaged from said knife means so that the cutting edge of said knife means is unobstructed to permit the cutting of tape previously dispensed from said dispensing means.

21. The invention of claim 11 wherein said main frame comprises a base plate including a generally circular roll storage compartment wall and a laterally extending tape guide arm extending unitarily outwardly from said circular roll storage compartment wall, lower border flange means extending perpendicularly from adjacent the edge of said storage compartment wall, a floor plate extending perpendicularly from said tape guide arm plate and merging into one end of said lower border flange means, a second tape guide arm plate spaced from said first tape guide arm plate and extending from said floor plate in a plane parallel to said first tape guide arm plate wherein said elongated guide means comprises a pivotal slide block mounted between said first and second tape guide arms above said floor plate for movement in a generally outward direction for engagement of its outer end with said cutting edge of said knife means.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein said tape support means comprises a cylindrical sleeve extending perpendicularly through said roll storage compartment wall, in an access opening in a central portion thereof, actuator shaft means extending through said access opening in said roll storage compartment wall into the interior of said cylindrical sleeve, an actuator knob on the end of said actuator shaft opposite the side of said roll storage compartment wall on which said cylindrical sleeve is mounted, a triple armed rotor mounted on the end of said actuator shaft, a prong plate mounted on the end of each of the arms of said triple armed rotor for pivotal movement with respect to said triple armed rotor and respectively extending through slots formed in said cylindrical sleeve whereby rotation of said triple armed rotor with respect to said sleeve causes said prong plates to be extended outwardly from the outer surface or moved inwardly with respect to the outer surface of said cylindrical sleeve, and spring means connected to said actuator knob and said cylindrical sleeve for biassing said knob and said actuator shaft in a relative direction to continuously urge said prong plates outwardly from said cylindrical sleeve for engagement with the inner surface of a tape roll for supporting said tape roll.

23. The invention of claim 21 wherein said continuous outer tape applying surface is of approximately right angular configuration and is completely exposed and is unencumbered of any other parts of said tape dispenser means.

24. The invention of claim 1 wherein said main frame comprises a base plate including a generally circular roll storage compartment wall and a laterally extending tape guide arm extending unitarily outwardly from said circular roll storage compartment wall, lower border flange means extending perpendicularly from adjacent the edge of said storage compartment wall, a floor plate extending perpendicularly from said tape guide arm plate and merging into one end of said lower border flange means, a second tape guide arm plate spaced from said first tape guide arm plate and extending from said floor plate in a plane parallel to said first tape guide arm plate wherein said elongated guide means comprises a pivotal slide block mounted between said first and second tape guide arms above said floor plate for movement in a generally outward direction for engagement of its outer end with said cutting edge of said knife means.

25. The invention of claim 21 additionally including toggle lever means extending between said floor plate and said pivotal slide block for supporting said pivotal slide block.

26. The invention of claim 25 additionally including spring clamp means for clampingly retaining said pivotal slide block in pivotal connection to said toggle lever.

27. The invention of claim 26 wherein said means for positioning said elongated guide means in abutting relationship against said knife means includes thumb slide means operable for moving said pivotal slide block away from engagement with said knife means.

28. A tape dispensing roll support means comprising a cylindrical sleeve mounted for rotation in an access opening on a support member, an actuator shaft extending through said access opening into the interior of said cylindrical sleeve, an actuator knob on the other end of said actuator shaft on the side of said support member opposite said cylindrical sleeve, rotor means mounted on the end of said actuator shaft on the interior of said sleeve, prong plate members respectively pivotally mounted on one end of said rotor means to extend through slots in said sleeve so that rotation of said rotor member causes said prong plate members to be moved outwardly or inwardly with respect to said sleeve, and biassing means including a spring connected between said actuator knob and said sleeve for biassing said knob and actuator shaft in a relative direction with respect to said sleeve to continuously urge said prong plates outwardly from said sleeve for engagement with the inner surface of a tape roll for supporting such a tape roll.

29. The invention of claim 1 wherein said tape roll support means and said tape guide means includes guide plate means for maintaining one edge of the tape in a position coplanar with the outermost transverse edge of the dispenser part so that the tape can be dispensed on one surface in a position immediately adjacent another surface intersecting said one surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,666,601 5/1972 Wuerch 156-527 3,684,626 8/1972 Wood 156-527 X 2,699,251 1/1955 Rizza 206-52 R 2,725,938 12/1955 Krueger 225-11 2,889,975 6/ 1959 Hanlon 206-52 R 3,658,628 4/1972 Zenter 156-579 X 3,515,324 6/1970 Ogawa 225-11 3,586,586 6/1971 Berg 156-519X 3,626,491 12/1971 Grosser 22511 X 3,635,473 1/1972 Sasaki et a1. 225-19 X 3,677,864 7/1972 Morse et a1. 156-517 X HAROLD ANSI-1BR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.