Patent Application
20080237075
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Adhesive tape is an adhesive-coated fastening tape used for temporary or, in some cases, permanent adhesion between objects. Adhesive tape that will stick with application of pressure only (i.e. without activation by water, solvent or heat) is known as pressure-sensitive tape. Single-sided tapes allow joining of two overlapping or adjoining materials, while double-sided tape (adhesive on both sides) allows joining of two items back-to-back.
Over time many different types of tapes have been developed for different occasions. Some types of tape, such as transparent tape, can be used for everyday household occasions. These types of tape tend to be placed on smaller cylinders so as to be practical and easy to use. Other types of tape such as duct tape or electrical tape are placed on larger cylinders as the tapes can be wider or thicker. The result is that there are many different types of tape, for different uses, and these tapes differ dramatically in the size of the cylinder they are placed upon. While there have been many inventions dealing with multiple tape dispensers there is considerably less work in the area of tape storage. Those wishing to be organized must come up with their own system of storing multiple types of tape in areas where it is quick, easy, and grants fast access to sundry amounts of tape.
In addition to storage of tape there is an additional need for the quick access of tape. Placing tape on a workbench or in a drawer can lead to loss of tape and clutter. There exists a need for those people with a desire for an organized work space to have access to multiple types of tape without searching or digging through drawers. The ability to have many different types of tape mounted on a wall, and therefore becoming an easily accessible and moveable rack, would be advantageous to many individuals.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape caddie capable of holding numerous types and sizes of tape. The sizes can include an industrial size tape, a medium size tape, and a small size tape. The tape caddie can have a plurality of tape projections used to hold one or more of each size of tape spool on a single, convenient storage unit. The tape projections protrude from the deck of the storage unit. In addition the tape caddie may have one or more rectangular shaped tape projections. The tape caddie may also include one or more multiple tape projections that are capable of holding different sizes of tape on a single projection.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide for a storage unit from which the numerous tape projections may protrude. The storage unit will house the numerous tape projections and, in addition, may include a means to mount the storage unit to a wall. The means to mount to a wall can be a plurality of mounting holes drilled into the storage unit.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for storing tape where multiple types and sizes of tape may be secured to a storage unit with numerous different sized tape projection protrusions. The multiple tape projection can dispense most of the types of tape that are contained on the racking system. The storage unit is designed to be compatible with industry and commercially available tape and can be re-stocked with different types of tape at any time.
Additionally, there can be a small round projection which can house or anchor a cutting device directly or via string or wire so that the cutting of the tape being dispensed can be performed without the use of a built-in cutter which could be dangerous.
The present invention is a tape caddie which can include a plurality of tape projections. The tape projections protrude from a storage unit. The tape projections and the storage unit can be made of metal, plastic, foam, or any other material known by one skilled in the art.
The tape projections can be of different sizes and shapes in order to secure tapes of different size and shape to a single storage unit 101. The largest size of the circular tape projections is the industrial tape projection 102. The industrial tape projection protrudes about two (2) inches from the deck of the unit 103, and is slightly about less than three (3) inches in diameter 104, designed to accommodate commercial and retail available tape that is mounted on three (3) inch cores. The second size of tape projection can be a medium sized tape projection 105 ranging in surface area from about one and one half inches in diameter 106 and protrudes about two (2) inches from the deck of the unit 107. It is used for electrical and other tapes that come on one and one half inch cores. There can also be a small sized tape projection 108 ranging in diameter from less than about one inch, designed to accommodate tapes that come on one inch cores and protruding about two (2) inches from the storage unit 109. Most transparent tapes are this size. A multiple tape projection 110 can secure tapes of multiple sizes and is an industrial tape projection with either a medium or small tape projection protruding from the center of the industrial tape projection. The multiple tape projection has a first protrusion circular in shape and about three (3) inches in diameter and protruding from said storage unit about one (1) inch 111. The multiple tape projection further has a second protrusion circular in shape and less than about 1½ (1.5) inches in diameter protruding one (1) inch from the middle of said first protrusion 112. In addition to the circular tape projections is a rectangular tape projection 113 which can range in surface area from about one half inch square and protrudes from the storage unit about two (2) inches 114. This projection can be used in concert with the tape projection to dispense tape. The tape can be rolled out and attached to the rectangular projection, thus relieving the user from having to retrieve the end of the tape from the roll by using fingernails, etc. In addition the tape caddie can include a small round projection 115 that can be used for housing a cutting device. The small round projection has a surface area of less than about one-half (0.5″) inch with a groove around the circumference of the projection and protrudes from the storage unit about two (2″) inches 116. A cutting device can be a pair of scissors, a razor, or any other means to cut tape that can be stored on the small round projection by a handle or by a piece of wire or string tied to the cutting device.
The storage unit can be further comprised of a means to mount the storage unit to a wall. The means for mounting can be a slot for a hook or nail, any type of adhesive material, or a plurality of mounting holes drilled into the storage unit 117. The storage unit is designed to be compatible with commercially and retail readily and easily available tape and can be re-stocked with different types of tape at any time.
The storage unit need not be a limited size because the size of the storage unit could be altered depending upon the number of tape projections and size of tape projections desired by a consumer. An example of a tape caddie could have a storage unit of 21.5″×12″. There need be no set number of rows or number of tape projections either. An example tape caddie could contain three rows with numerous types of tape projections. In addition the space between the tape projections need not be any set length, but in the example described above a space of 5.5″ from the center of each projection, no matter the type leaves room for the tape and creates a symmetrical tape caddie.
The present invention also includes a method for storing tape by securing the type of tape to the corresponding sized tape projection on the storage unit. The storage unit may be wall mounted either before or after the tape is secured to the tape projection. In addition the storage unit may include a rectangular tape projection which can hold tape as it is dispensed from another tape projection for storage or cutting.
These terms and specifications, including the examples, serve to describe the invention by example and not to limit the invention. It is expected that others will perceive differences, which, while differing from the forgoing, do not depart from the scope of the invention herein described and claimed. In particular, any of the function elements described herein may be replaced by any other known element having an equivalent function.
