Standing tape dispenser

Abstract

A tape dispenser having a housing, a cavity within the housing and within which a roll of tape is rotatably retained, and pairs of front and rear legs. The housing is able to stand on a flat surface in two different orientations. In a first orientation, the housing is supported on curved tips of the front legs and a region of the tape roll. In a second orientation, the housing is supported by curved, rearwardly extending projections on the rear legs and a second region of the tape roll. The housing rotates on the tips or projections as tape is withdrawn from the roll. A blade angles downwardly from the front end of the housing and is retained a distance from the surface when the housing is in each of the first and second orientations. The housing is rotated through about ninety degrees between the first and second orientations.

1 . A tape dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a cavity defined within the housing; wherein the housing is adapted to rotatably retain a roll of tape within the cavity;   a pair of front legs extending outwardly from the housing; and   a pair of rear legs extending outwardly the housing a spaced distance from the front legs; and wherein the housing is adapted to stand on a remote flat surface in two different orientations for tape to be dispensed from the roll of tape.   
     
     
         2 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein in a first of the two different orientations, the housing is adapted to be supported in a standing position by the front legs and a first region of the roll of tape; and in a second of the two different orientations, the housing is adapted to be supported in the standing position by the rear legs and a second region of the roll of tape. 
     
     
         3 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the housing is movable through about 90 degrees between the first orientation and the second orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each front leg has a top region and a tip and is of a first length between the top region and tip; and each rear leg has a top region and a tip and the rear leg is of a second length between the top region and the tip thereof; and wherein the second length is shorter than the first length. 
     
     
         5 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each rear leg includes:
 a top region, a bottom region, a front edge extending between the top and bottom regions, and a rear edge extending between the top and bottom regions;   a tip formed at the bottom region; and   a projection extending outwardly from the rear edge proximate the top region; and wherein the housing is adapted to be supported in the standing position in the second orientation by the projections on the rear legs and the second region of the roll of tape.   
     
     
         6 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 5 , wherein each projection is convex in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the rear edge of each rear leg is concave in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a top wall positioned proximate the front end of the housing; and
 an indentation is defined in the top wall; said indentation being adapted to receive a user's fingertip therein during operation of the dispenser.   
     
     
         9 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of alternating ridges and valleys formed on a region of the top wall which defines the indentation. 
     
     
         10 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes:
 a top wall disposed proximate the front end of the housing, wherein the top wall is disposed along a plane; and wherein the dispenser further includes:   a cutter assembly having a blade; said cutter assembly being secured to a front end of the top wall; and wherein the blade is positioned at an angle relative to the plane along which the top wall is disposed.   
     
     
         11 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the blade angles downwardly away from the plane in which the top wall is disposed. 
     
     
         12 . The tape dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of gripping regions provided on opposed first and second side walls of the housing proximate a front end thereof. 
     
     
         13 . In combination:
 a roll of tape and   a tape dispenser; wherein the dispenser comprises:   a housing;   a cavity defined within the housing; wherein the housing rotatably retains the roll of tape within the cavity;   a pair of front legs extending outwardly from proximate a front end of the housing; and   a pair of rear legs extending outwardly from proximate a rear end of the housing; and wherein the housing is able to stand on a flat surface in two different orientations for tape to be dispensed from the roll of tape.   
     
     
         14 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , wherein in a first of the two different orientations, the housing is adapted to be supported in a standing position by the front legs and a first region of the roll of tape; and in a second of the two different orientations, the housing is adapted to be supported in the standing position by the rear legs and a second region of the roll of tape. 
     
     
         15 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the housing is movable through about 90 degrees between the first orientation and the second orientation. 
     
     
         16 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , wherein each front leg has a top region and a tip and is of a first length between the top region and tip; and each rear leg has a top region and a tip, and the rear leg is of a second length between the top region and the tip thereof; and the second length is shorter than the first length. 
     
     
         17 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , wherein each front leg has a tip adapted to contact the surface when the housing is in the first orientation; and wherein the tips of the front legs are convex in shape and have a curved outer surface; and wherein the housing rotates on the curved outer surfaces of the tips when the housing is in the second orientation and lengths of tape are dispensed from the roll of tape. 
     
     
         18 . The combination as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the curved outer surfaces of the tips on the front legs are adapted to touch the surface upon which the dispenser rests at a first point of contact, and the region of the roll of tape is adapted to touch the surface at a second point of contact, and there is a distance between the first and second points of contact; and as tape is withdrawn from the roll of tape, the distance between the first and second points of contact increases. 
     
     
         19 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein each rear leg includes:
 a top region, a bottom region, a front edge extending between the top and bottom regions, and a rear edge extending between the top and bottom regions;   a tip formed at the bottom region; and   a projection extending outwardly from the rear edge proximate the top region; and wherein the housing is adapted to be supported in the standing position in the second orientation by the projections on the rear legs and the second region of the roll of tape.   
     
     
         20 . The combination as defined in  claim 18 , wherein each projection is convex in shape and has a curved outer surface; and wherein the housing rotates on the curved outer surfaces of the projections when the housing is in the second orientation and lengths of tape are dispensed from the roll of tape. 
     
     
         21 . The combination as defined in  claim 20 , wherein curved outer surfaces of the projections are adapted to touch the surface upon which the dispenser rests at a first point of contact; and the second region of the roll of tape is adapted to touch the surface at a second point of contact, and there is a distance between the first and second points of contact; and as tape is withdrawn from the roll of tape, the distance between the first and second points of contact increases. 
     
     
         22 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the housing further includes:
 a cutter assembly mounted at a front end of a top wall of the housing; and wherein the top wall of the housing is disposed along a plane; and wherein the cutter assembly includes a blade that angles downwardly away from the plane along which the top wall is disposed.   
     
     
         23 . The combination as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the cutter assembly is positioned on the housing such that the blade thereof is adapted to be disposed a distance away from the surface upon which the dispenser rests when the housing is in each of the first and second orientations. 
     
     
         24 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising an indentation defined in a top wall of the housing; said indentation being adapted to receive a fingertip of a user therein. 
     
     
         25 . A method of dispensing a length of tape from a roll comprising the steps of:
 mounting the roll of tape into a housing;   standing the housing in a first orientation on a flat surface;   withdrawing a length of tape from the dispenser while the dispenser is standing in the first orientation; and   cutting the withdrawn length of tape from the roll of tape using a cutter blade disposed on the housing a spaced distance from the flat surface.   
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the step of standing the housing in the first orientation further includes the steps of:
 placing a pair of front legs on the housing and a first region of the roll of tape into contact with the a flat surface.   
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of:
 rotating the housing on a curved surface of a tip of each front leg as tape is withdrawn from the roll of tape.   
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 25  further comprising the step of:
 moving the housing through about 90 degrees from the first orientation to a second orientation on the flat surface. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 28 , further comprising the step of:
 placing a projection extending rearwardly from a rear edge of each of the rear legs into contact with the flat surface; and   placing a second region of the roll of tape into contact with the flat surface a spaced distance from the projections.   
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , further comprising the step of:
 rotating the housing on a curved surface of the projection on each rear leg as tape is withdrawn from the roll of tape.