U.S. patent application number 12/160059 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-13 for tape dispenser with cover.
This patent application is currently assigned to Societe BIC. Invention is credited to Arnaud Bez, Franck Rolion.
Application Number | 20080277070 12/160059 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36407922 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080277070 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rolion; Franck ; et
al. |
November 13, 2008 |
Tape Dispenser With Cover
Abstract
A hand-held device for transferring a film of adhesive, covering
or coloured material from a backing tape onto a substrate that
includes a housing provided with a tip opening through which an
application member's tip protrudes. A cover is provided and is
moveable relative to the neck portion from a first position in
which the tip of the application member is uncovered to a second
position in which the tip of the application member is covered. The
cover is transferable between the first and second positions by
rotating it relative to the housing, the cover is arranged at the
outer surface of a neck portion of the housing.
Inventors: |
Rolion; Franck; (Beloy en
France, FR) ; Bez; Arnaud; (Ville d'Avray,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JONES DAY
222 EAST 41ST ST
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Assignee: |
Societe BIC
Clichy
FR
|
Family ID: |
36407922 |
Appl. No.: |
12/160059 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
December 19, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2006/012262 |
371 Date: |
July 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/540 ;
156/577; 156/579 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 156/1795 20150115;
Y10T 156/18 20150115; B65H 37/007 20130101; Y10T 156/1705
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
156/540 ;
156/577; 156/579 |
International
Class: |
B65H 37/00 20060101
B65H037/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 4, 2006 |
EP |
06 000 113.8 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A hand-held device for transferring a film of material from a
backing tape onto a substrate, comprising: a housing provided with
an opening through which a tip of an application member protrudes;
a cover capable of moving relative to a neck portion from a first
position in which the tip of the application member is uncovered to
a second position in which the tip of the application member is
covered, wherein the cover is moveable between the first and second
position by rotating it relative to the housing, the cover being
arranged at the outer surface of the neck portion of the
housing.
22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the cover comprises a
first member adapted to spirally move on the outer surface of the
neck portion of the housing.
23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the cover comprises a
second member connected to the first member and adapted to cover
the tip of the application member in the second position.
24. The hand-held device according to claim 21, wherein the neck
portion has a cylindrical portion and a tapering portion.
25. The hand-held device according to claim 24, wherein at least
one stop pin is provided on the cylindrical portion.
26. The hand-held device according to claim 25, wherein the first
member has a ring-shaped collar and two guiding members which are
adapted to direct the spiral movement of the cover on the surface
of the neck portion.
27. The hand-held device according to claim 26, wherein the cover
can be moved from the first position to the second position by
twisting the cover.
28. The hand-held device according to claim 27, wherein the cover
can be moved from the second position to the first position by
twisting the cover in a direction opposite to the direction of
moving the cover from the first position to the second
position.
29. The hand-held device according to claim 28, wherein the spiral
movement is performed on the cylindrical portion of the neck
portion.
30. The hand-held device according to claim 29, wherein the second
member has a cylindrical portion and a tapering portion.
31. The hand-held device according to claim 30, wherein the second
member has a first opening and a second opening, whereby the first
opening is slid on the first member and the second opening serves
as a tip opening for the tip of the application member.
32. The hand-held device according to claim 31, wherein the first
member and second member are fixedly connected to each other.
33. The hand-held device according to claim 32, wherein a recess is
formed in the tapering portion of the neck portion.
34. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein the first
position is an extended position.
35. The hand-held device according to claim 34, wherein the second
position is a retracted position.
36. The hand-held device according to claim 35, wherein the tip is
flexible.
37. The hand-held device according to claim 36, wherein the tip
comprises an application edge and two opposite guiding wings.
38. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein the guiding
members each have a trailing edge.
39. The hand-held device according to claim 38, wherein the
trailing edge verges into a steep rising edge.
40. The hand-held device according to claim 39, wherein at least a
portion of the cylindrical portion of the second member is
corrugated around the outer circumference.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a national stage application of
International Application No. PCT/EP2006/012262, filed on Dec. 12,
2006, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 06
000 113.8 filed on Jan. 4, 2006, the entire contents of both
applications being incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The embodiments of the present invention relate to a
hand-held device for transferring a film of adhesive, covering or
coloured material from a backing tape onto a substrate.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In prior art, correction tape applicators or applicators for
adhesive tape or the like are known. Usually, these applicators
comprise a housing and a tip of an application member protruding
from the housing, whereby correction tape of the like is guided
around this tip. Since correction tape or any other tape used for
these types of applicators is very sensitive and the tip is always
exposed to the ambience and, thus, to outside influences, it is
very likely that the tape is injured or even ruptured, when the
applicator is not in use and stored somewhere. Once such a tape
ruptures, the entire applicator has to be thrown away. However,
there exist some solutions to protect the tape from outside
influences, when the applicator is not used. For example, a cap can
be provided, which fits on the housing and which is put on the
applicator after use. Using such a cap for protection has the
disadvantage that it can easily get lost, and then the tip with the
tape thereon is unprotected again. Moreover, the applicator is
enlarged in size, when a cap is put on the housing, thus, rendering
it inconvenient to store.
[0006] Another solution known from prior art is to provide a
protection member directly on the housing so that it cannot get
lost. However, applicators equipped with this kind of protection
means usually are hard to handle by a user.
[0007] Therefore, an embodiment of the present invention is based
on the object to provide a hand-held device for transferring a film
of adhesive, covering or coloured material from a backing tape onto
a substrate, according to which the application member is reliably
protected, when the device is not used, and which is easy to use
for a user.
[0008] This object is solved by a hand-held device having the
features described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
hand-held device for transferring a film of adhesive, covering or
colored material from a backing tape onto a substrate is provided,
comprising a housing. The housing is provided with a tip opening,
through which a tip of an application member protrudes. A cover is
provided, the cover being moveable on the neck portion from a first
position in which the tip of the application member is uncovered to
a second position in which the tip of the application member is
covered. Preferably the cover is arranged radially outside a neck
portion of the housing.
[0010] According to the general idea of the embodiments of the
present invention. the cover is transferred between the first and
the second position by rotating it relative to the housing.
[0011] In this regard the cover can e.g. be mounted directly or
indirectly on the housing such that it spirals between the first
and the second position.
[0012] Preferably the tip itself is not rotated when rotating the
cover, but fixed in rotation vis-a-vis the housing.
[0013] The cover can comprise a first member adapted to spirally
move on the outer surface of the neck portion and a second member
connected to the first member adapted to cover the tip of the
application member in the second position.
[0014] By the above-mentioned construction of a hand-held device,
the cover stays on the housing, even when the hand-held device is
used, so that the cover which is intended to protect the tip when
the hand-held device is not in use, cannot get lost. The protection
of the tip, moreover, is achieved in a very easy to handle manner
in that the cover is moved from a first position in which the tip
is uncovered to a second position in which the tip totally
disappears inside a cavity formed by the cover, and, thus, is
protected against outside influences.
[0015] Thereby the cover moves spirally on the outer surface of the
neck portion, facilitating the handling for a user, who without any
effort can grip the cover between his thumb and the index finger of
one hand and move the cover by twisting it. To carry out the
twisting motion in the manner described above is much easier for a
user than it would be the case, if, e.g., a linear movement would
have to be carried out to move the cover in a position to protect
the tip. The cover smoothly slides on the surface of the
cylindrical portion of the neck, whereby the spiral movement is
guided by the two guiding members provided inside the first member
of the cover.
[0016] Preferably, the outer circumference of the cylindrical
portion of the first member is corrugated or provided with ribs or
grip ribs, respectively. Thus, a user, whose finger tip and thumb
tip rests on the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion of
the cover to twist it in either direction for covering or for
uncovering the tip of the application member, will not slide off
the cover surface with his finger tips, when performing the
twisting motion.
[0017] Further, the cover itself will not slide off the cylindrical
neck portion of the hand-held device, since preferably at least one
stop pin is provided on the neck portion, projecting from its
circumference and restricting the spiral movement so that the cover
cannot slip off the neck portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The embodiments of the present invention and further
advantages, which can be achieved by the embodiments of the present
invention, will now be explained in detail by means of a preferred
embodiment with reference to the drawings in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the housing and the cover
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the hand-held device
according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cover
being in the first position; and
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the hand-held device
according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cover
being in the second position.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows the hand-held device 1 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The housing 2 and the cover 3
are illustrated separately in an exploded view. The housing 2
itself has three differently shaped portions: a rear portion 4
having a hemispherical shape, an intermediate portion or main body
5 having a rounded long-stretched or terete shape, and a neck
portion 6 provided at a front end of the hand-held device 1. The
neck portion 6, moreover, is made up of two differently shaped
portions: a cylindrical portion 7 adjacent to the main body 5 and a
tapering portion 8, forming the outermost part of the front end of
the housing 2.
[0023] Projecting from the surface of the cylindrical portion 7
positioned immediately before the transition from the cylindrical
portion 7 to the tapering portion 8, there is provided a stop pin
9, against which the cover 3 will abut, when being twisted by a
user, and, thus, will not come off the neck portion 6 of the
housing 2. The tapering portion 8 only has a very slight taper and
at the very front end of the tapering portion 8, there is provided
a tip opening 10, through which the tip 11 of an application member
12 protrudes. A correction tape 13 being composed of a backing tape
on the surface of which a film of covering material is applied is
directed from the cavity formed inside the housing 2 to the
application member 12, around an application edge 14 and back into
the housing 2 again.
[0024] For safe guidance of the correction tape 13 around the tip
11 of the application member 12, the tip 11 preferably has two
opposite guiding wings 15, which extend on both sides therefrom
substantially perpendicular to form a wall on both sides of the tip
11 such that the correction tape 13 cannot slip off, when the
application edge 14 is moved on the surface of a substrate as,
e.g., a sheet of paper. A recess 20 is formed in the tapering
portion 8 of the neck portion 6. The recess 20 extends from the
very front end of the tapering portion 8, where also the tip
opening 10 is provided, towards the cylindrical portion 7. The
recess 20 is arranged directly above the correction tape 13.
[0025] Inside the housing 2 or, in particular, in the cavity formed
by the housing 2, a driving mechanism (not shown) is provided for
supplying the correction tape 13 to the application member 12 and
for taking up the used tape. The driving mechanism can be of any
type, as long as the tape 13 is automatically supplied and taken
up, when using the hand-held device 1 in that the application edge
14 is moved on a substrate.
[0026] Further, the cover 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1, as already
mentioned above. As can be seen from the drawing, the cover 3
comprises two main components: a lower cam or first member 16 and
an upper cam or second member 17. The first member 16, in an
assembled state of the hand-held device 1, is seated on the neck
portion 6 of the housing 2. Moreover, the second member 17 is
fixedly connected to the first member 16, when the hand-held device
1 is assembled. The first member 16 has a ring-shaped collar 18,
the inner diameter of which is slightly larger than the outer
diameter of the neck portion 6, so that it fits thereon relatively
tight, but however, still has some positive allowance such that the
cover 3 can be moved on the neck portion 6.
[0027] Two guiding members 19 are arranged on the inner
circumference of the ring-shaped collar 18, substantially opposite
to each other. Each guiding member 19 is formed with a trailing
edge 26, which verges into a steep rising edge 27. Due to this
configuration which, moreover, in an assembled state of the
hand-held device 1, contacts the outer surface of the cylindrical
portion 7 of the neck portion 6 and slides thereon, a spiral
movement of the cover 3 on the outer surface of the cylindrical
portion 7 is enabled and guided or controlled, respectively, when a
user twists the cover 3.
[0028] The cover 3 thus is arranged radially outside the neck
portion 6. This has the advantage that essentially the entirety of
the cover 3 can be easily gripped in order to be manipulated by the
fingers of a user. Preferably the cover is entirely exposed to the
outside.
[0029] A further advantage of this arrangement of the cover 3
outside the neck portion 6 is that thus there is more space
available inside the neck portion 6. This is of importance e.g. in
order to provide for a clearing between the neck portion 6 and the
tip in order to allow a flexible (swinging) movement of the
tip.
[0030] The screwing mechanism between the cover and the neck
portion can comprise a radially acting guiding curve, i.e. one
element of the screwing mechanism is arranged radially inside the
cover. This can lead to a reduction of the length of the screwing
mechanism when compared to a linearly arranged mechanism as it is
known e.g. from JP 2005001850. The screwing mechanism according to
an embodiment of the present invention is preferably arranged
radially inside the cover and not at the rear end as it is known
e.g. from JP 2005001850.
[0031] The second member 17 of the cover 3 will now be described.
The second member 17 substantially corresponds to the shape of the
neck portion 6 of the housing 2, but, however, has slightly larger
diameters such that it still fits and also can be moved on the neck
portion 6. Thus, the second member 17 also has a cylindrical
portion 21, the inner diameter of which is just slightly larger
than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 7 of the neck
portion 6, and a tapering portion 22, the inner diameter of which
is just slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tapering
portion 8 of the neck portion 6.
[0032] The surface of outer circumference of the cylindrical
portion 21 of the second member 17 is corrugated such that grip
rips 23 are formed thereon, to prevent the finger tip and/or thumb
tip of a user, who holds the hand-held device 1 in his fingers, to
slip off the cover 3, when he twists the cover 3 to cover or
uncover, respectively, the application member 12. Here, the grip
ribs 23 are provided over the entire surface of the cylindrical
portion 21. However, it is also conceivable that they are only
provided partially, e.g., just at two positions, where the user
should place his finger tips or lengthwise, just covering a portion
of the cylindrical portion 21, but still being provided around the
entire circumference.
[0033] Moreover, the second member 17 has a first opening 22, which
is adapted and sized to be slid over the first member 16 and a
second opening 25, through which the tip 11 of the application
member 12 protrudes, when the hand-held device 1 is being used.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the hand-held device 1
according to the present invention, the cover being in the first
position, and FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the hand-held
device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the
cover being in the second position. With respect to FIG. 2 and FIG.
3, the operation of the hand-held device 1 will now be
explained.
[0035] In FIG. 2, the cover 3 of the hand-held device 1 is in the
first position, in which the tip 1 of the application member 12 is
uncovered, so that the hand-held device 1 is ready for use. In this
position, i.e., the first position of the cover 3, the tip 11 of
the application member 12 protrudes through the second opening 25
of the cover 3. The cover 3 is in a retracted position here, since
the collar 18 of the first member 16 abuts against the main body 5
of the housing 2 and the neck portion 6 of the housing 2 is totally
overlapped by the cover 3, so that it cannot be seen from the
outside.
[0036] After the user terminates using the hand-held device 1, he
puts his index finger tip and his thumb tip on the cylindrical
portion 21 of the cover 3 and simply twists the cover 3, e.g., 90
degrees (any angle is conceivable depending on the shape of the
guiding members), whereby the cover 3 moves along the longitudinal
axis L of the hand-held device 1 spirally around the outer
circumference of the cylindrical portion 7 of the neck portion 6,
on the surface of which the cover 3 slides. When the second
position is reached, i.e., when the tip 11 of the application
member 12 totally disappears in a cavity formed by the cover 3 and,
thus, is completely covered and protected, the stop pin 9 prevents
any further movements such that the cover could slip off the neck
portion 6 of the housing 2. In this position, which also is an
extended position of the cover 3, the hand-held device 1 can be
carried along or stored, without any risk that the correction tape
13 gets injured or ruptured. Moreover, in this extended position, a
part of the cylindrical portion 7 of the neck portion 6 is
uncovered and, thus, visible here. To turn the cover 3 back to the
first position, if a user wishes to use the hand-held device 1, it
just has to be twisted into the opposite direction (as shown by the
respective arrows in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3), whereas this movement is
automatically stopped when the collar 18 abuts against the main
body 5 of the housing 2. Thus, a reliable protection of the tip 11
carrying the correction tape 13 or the like is achieved by a very
simple mechanism, which is very easy to handle for a user.
TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 1 hand-held device 2
housing 3 cover 4 rear portion 5 main body 6 neck portion 7
cylindrical portion 8 tapering portion 9 stop pin 10 tip opening 11
tip 12 application member 13 correction tape 14 application edge 15
guiding wing 16 first member 17 second member 18 collar 19 guiding
member 20 recess 21 cylindrical portion 22 tapering portion 23 grip
ribs 24 first opening 25 second opening L longitudinal axis
* * * * *