Retractable Reeled Tape and Control Mechanism Therefor

Abstract

A control mechanism for a retractable reeled tape comprising tape wound on a rotatably mounted spindle so as to be retractably deployable therefrom to selected lengths, said control mechanism comprising: a pawl and tooth arrangement bearing on the spindle such as, when engaged, to permit rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is wound onto the spindle, but to obstruct rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is unwound therefrom; and a clutch mechanism operable to disengage the pawl such that, with the pawl so disengaged, the spindle is free to rotate in either direction. A barrier tape dispenser incorporating such a control mechanism, a tape barrier system comprising multiple such dispensers, and a temporary barrier incorporating such dispensers on suitable uprights, are also described.

1 . A barrier tape dispenser comprising:
 a tape cartridge, hollow to define a tape storage cavity:   a spindle rotatably mounted in the tape storage cavity having tape wound thereon:   a deploying aperture in the tape cartridge through which at least a leading edge of tape projects externally, to allow the tape in use to be dispensed therefrom by unwinding from the spindle;   one or more receiving means on the tape cartridge to engagingly receive a leading edge of tape from another like cartridge in use, and a control mechanism, said control mechanism comprising,
 a pawl and tooth arrangement bearing on the spindle such as, when engaged, to permit rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is wound onto the spindle, but to obstruct rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is unwound therefrom; and 
 a clutch mechanism operable to disengage the pawl such that, with the pawl so disengaged, the spindle is free to rotate in either direction. 
   
   
   
       2 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising means for biasing tape wound on the spindle to a stowed, wound position. 
   
   
       3 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the means for biasing the tape to a stowed position comprises spring biasing means acting in use on the spindle to tend to urge the spindle to rotate in a direction which would tend to rewind the tape. 
   
   
       4 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the clutch mechanism is mechanically coupled to a user accessible actuation means, acting to disengage the pawl from the tooth arrangement. 
   
   
       5 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein one of the tooth or pawl is in a fixed arrangement relative to or otherwise rotates with the spindle, and the other of the tooth or pawl is stationary relative to the spindle when the spindle rotates. 
   
   
       6 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the tooth arrangement rotates with the spindle. 
   
   
       7 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the tooth arrangement comprises a plurality of teeth disposed circumferentially around the spindle in an arc there around. 
   
   
       8 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 7  wherein multiple teeth are disposed at a circumferential edge of a toothed member comprising a generally planar disc in the manner of a toothed geared wheel. 
   
   
       9 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 5  wherein a single pawl is provided, mountable to be retained in a fixed stationary position as the spindle rotates and the tooth arrangement rotates therewith. 
   
   
       10 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the tooth arrangement comprises a circumferential array of evenly spaced identical detents suitably shaped to engage with a forward projection on the pawl so as to permit when engaged rotation in a first direction whereby tape is rewound but not in a second direction whereby tape is unwound. 
   
   
       11 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the pawl comprises a pivotally mounted elongate member so configured relative to the detents as to effect a rigid locking mechanically engagement when rotation is in the second direction, but has to pivot free of each successive detent and allow rotation in the said first direction. 
   
   
       12 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the clutch mechanism comprises means to act mechanically on the elongate member, and to pivot the said elongate member into a permanently open position free of engagement with the tooth arrangement. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the leading edge of the tape has a connecting portion to be engagingly received in complimentary receiving means of a second cartridge or other like device in use to form a barrier portion. 
   
   
       15 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the connecting portion is a rigid projecting portion and the receiving means comprises an apertured receiving means. 
   
   
       16 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a plurality of receiving means are provided disposed radially at several angles around the cartridge. 
   
   
       17 . A barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the barrier tape dispenser is operable to be mounted on a road traffic control upright to form a temporary traffic barrier, wherein the cartridge has a tubular portion shaped to co-operably engaged with an uppermost, in use part of a road traffic control upright in an interference fit. 
   
   
       18 . A tape barrier system comprising a plurality of barrier tape dispensers in accordance with  claim 1 . 
   
   
       19 . A temporary barrier comprising at least one upright on which is mounted a barrier tape dispenser in accordance with  claim 1 , with tape deployed therefrom extending to a receiving means on another barrier tape dispenser and/or an equivalent receiving means on an alternative fixed, in use location. 
   
   
       20 . A method of forming a barrier with a barrier tape dispenser comprising a tape cartridge, hollow to define a tape storage cavity; a spindle rotatable mounted in the tape storage cavity having tape wound thereon; a deploying aperture in the tape cartridge through which at least a leading edge of tape projects externally, to allow the tape in use to be dispensed therefrom by unwinding from the spindle; one or more receiving means on the tape cartridge to engagingly receive a leading edge of tape from another like cartridge in use, and a control mechanism, the control mechanism comprising, a pawl and tooth arrangement bearing on the spindle such as, when engaged, to permit rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is wound onto the spindle, but to obstruct rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is unwound therefrom; and a clutch mechanism operable to disengage the pawl such that, with the pawl so disengaged, the spindle is free to rotate in either direction, the method comprising:
 disposing at least one upright to delineate a line of the barrier;   mounting at least one of the barrier tape dispenser on or about an uppermost part of a corresponding one of the least one upright;   dispensing tape from the at least one barrier tape dispenser;   engaging the leading edge of the dispensed tape from the at least one barrier tape dispenser to a receiving means on another barrier tape dispenser or to a receiving means on an alternative, fixed in use, location.