SEAM TAPE TOOL
20220289511 · 2022-09-15
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65H2402/412
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2301/51532
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
Abstract
A seam tape tool that is configured to dispense a tape onto a top surface of a floor or surface protection material. The seam tape tool includes a frame, an optional handle connected to the rear of the frame, a tape holder rotatably connected to the frame, an application wheel that is connected to the frame and wherein the application wheel is optionally configured to rotated relative to the frame, an optional tape guide positioned adjacent to the application wheel to maintain the position of dispensed tape relative to the application wheel, a tape cutter arrangement movably mounted to the frame, an optional cutter guide to guide the movement of the tape cutter arrangement relative to the frame, an optional lock arrangement configured to lock and unlock said tape cutter arrangement in said retracted non-cut position, a cutter movement arrangement to move the tape cutter arrangement from the retracted non-cut position to the extended cut position when the tape cutter arrangement is unlocked from the lock arrangement, and wherein the cutter movement arrangement optionally includes a cutter handle, and an optional base slide or base wheel arrangement to facilitate in the movement of the seam tape tool over a floor surface.
Claims
1. A seam tape tool configured to dispense tape, said seam tape tool comprising a frame, a tape holder rotatably connected to said frame, an application wheel connected to said frame, a tape cutter arrangement movably mounted to said frame between a retracted non-cut position and an extended cut position, a lock arrangement configured to lock and unlock said tape cutter arrangement in said retracted non-cut position, and a cutter movement arrangement to move said tape cutter arrangement from said retracted non-cut position to said extended cut position when said tape cutter arrangement is unlocked from said lock arrangement.
2. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, further including a handle that is connected to a rear portion of said frame, said handle is configured for easy grasping by a user.
3. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said application wheel is positioned under a full roll of tape that is positioned on said tape holder and at least partially positioned under a portion of said tape holder.
4. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, further including a tape guide positioned adjacent to said application wheel to maintain a position of said tape relative to said application wheel.
5. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said tape cutter arrangement includes a cutter blade having a lead cut edge and outwardly extending portions positioned rearwardly of said lead cut edge, said lead cut edge HAVING a generally V-shaped configuration.
6. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, further including a cutter movement arrangement configured to move said tape cutter arrangement from said retracted non-cut position to said extended cut position, said cutter movement arrangement includes a biasing system used to move said tape cutter arrangement from said non-cutting position to said extended cut position.
7. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said lock arrangement includes a lock system used to releasably lock said tape cutter arrangement when in said non-cutting position, said lock system includes a movable bar arrangement configured to releasably engage one or more engagement members on said tape cutter arrangement.
8. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, further including a cutter guide located on said frame to facilitate in guiding and maintaining said tape cutter arrangement in position relative to said frame and facilitating in preventing said tape cutter arrangement from disengaging from said frame when said tape cutter arrangement moves between said non-cutting position and said extended cut position.
9. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, further including a cutter handle that enables a user to move said tape cutter arrangement from said extended cut position to said non-cutting position, said cutter handle is located a) on one or both sides of said frame, and/or b) on a top surface of said tape cutter arrangement.
10. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said lock arrangement includes a release button that is located on a bottom of said frame, said release button is configured to cause said lock arrangement to release said tape cutter arrangement from said locked position when said tape cutter arrangement is in said non-cutting position.
11. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said release button is biased in a locked position.
12. The seam tape tool as defined in claim 1, further including a base slide or base wheel arrangement to facilitate in movement of said seam tap tool over a floor surface, said base slide or base wheel arrangement is located on a bottom portion of said frame and at or near a front portion of the frame, said base slide or base wheel arrangement including a curved surface configured to engage the floor surface.
13. A method for apply a tape to a surface of a floor or surface protector comprising: providing a seam tape tool, said seam tape tool comprising a frame, a tape holder rotatably connected to said frame, an application wheel connected to said frame, a tape cutter arrangement movably mounted to said frame between a retracted non-cut position and an extended cut position, a lock arrangement configured to lock and unlock said tape cutter arrangement in said retracted non-cut position, and a cutter movement arrangement to move said tape cutter arrangement from said retracted non-cut position to said extended cut position when said tape cutter arrangement is unlocked from said lock arrangement; loading a roll of tape onto said tape holder of said seam tape tool; applying said tape to a top surface of said floor or said surface protector; and, activating said lock arrangement to release said tape cutter arrangement from said retracted non-cut position to said extended cut position to cause said tape to be cut.
14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said seam tape tool further includes a handle that is connected to a rear portion of said frame, said handle configured for easy grasping by a user.
15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said application wheel is positioned under a full roll of tape that is positioned on said tape holder and at least partially positioned under a portion of said tape holder.
16. The method as defined in claim 13, further including a tape guide positioned adjacent to said application wheel to maintain a position of said tape relative to said application wheel.
17. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said tape cutter arrangement includes a cutter blade that has a lead cut edge and outwardly extending portions positioned rearwardly of said lead cut edge, said lead cut edge has a generally V-shaped configuration.
18. The method as defined in claim 13, further including a cutter movement arrangement configured to move said tape cutter arrangement from said retracted non-cut position to said extended cut position, said cutter movement arrangement includes a biasing system used to move said tape cutter arrangement from said non-cutting position to said extended cut position.
19. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said lock arrangement includes a lock system used to releasably lock said tape cutter arrangement when in said non-cutting position, said lock system includes a movable bar arrangement configured to releasably engage one or more engagement members on said tape cutter arrangement.
20. The method as defined in claim 13, further including a cutter guide located on said frame to facilitate in guiding and maintaining said tape cutter arrangement in position relative to said frame and facilitating in preventing said tape cutter arrangement from disengaging from said frame when said tape cutter arrangement moves between said non-cutting position and said extended cut position.
21. The method as defined in claim 13, further including a cutter handle that enables a user to move said tape cutter arrangement from said extended cut position to said non-cutting position, said cutter handle is located a) on one or both sides of said frame, and/or b) on a top surface of said tape cutter arrangement.
22. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said lock arrangement includes a release button that is located on a bottom of said frame, said release button is configured to cause said lock arrangement to release said tape cutter arrangement from said locked position when said tape cutter arrangement is in said non-cutting position.
23. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said release button is biased in a locked position.
24. The method as defined in claim 13, further including a base slide or base wheel arrangement to facilitate in movement of said seam tape tool over a floor surface, said base slide or base wheel arrangement is located on a bottom portion of said frame and at or near a front portion of the frame, said base slide or base wheel arrangement including a curved surface configured to engage the floor surface.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Reference may now be made to the drawings, which illustrate at least one embodiment that the disclosure may take in physical form and in certain parts and arrangement of parts wherein:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] A more complete understanding of the articles/devices, processes and components disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.
[0036] Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.
[0037] The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0038] As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any unavoidable impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.
[0039] Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value.
[0040] All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint and independently combinable (for example, the range of “from 2 grams to 10 grams” is inclusive of the endpoints, 2 grams and 10 grams, and all the intermediate values).
[0041] The terms “about” and “approximately” may be used to include any numerical value that can vary without changing the basic function of that value. When used with a range, “about” and “approximately” also disclose the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints, e.g. “about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” Generally, the terms “about” and “approximately” may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.
[0042] Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
[0043] As illustrated in
[0044] Frame 110 is generally formed from a durable material (e.g., plastic, metal, composite material, wood, etc.). The size and shape of frame 110 are non-limiting.
[0045] Handle arrangement 200 is configured for easy grasping by a user. Handle arrangement 200 can be in the form of a short handle 210 that is connected to the rear portion of frame 110, and/or an extension handle 240 that is connected to the rear portion of frame 110.
[0046] As illustrated in
[0047] Extension handle 240 can be used to enable a user to walk along a floor surface while seam tape tool 100 applies tape to a floor surface or a material on a floor surface. Extension handle 240 includes an extended handle body section 242 and an extension handle 244. Extended handle body section 242 can have a tubular shape; however, other shapes can be used. The length of extension handle 240 and extended handle body section 242 are non-limiting. The bottom portion of extended handle body section 242 is connected rear portion of frame 110 by a connection arrangement 112. The type of connection arrangement is non-limiting (e.g., bolt, clamp, weld, solder, pin, rivet, screw, adhesive, threaded connection, etc.). Extended handle body section 242 can optionally include a cavity that can optionally telescopically receive a portion of extension handle 244. Alternatively, extension handle 244 can optionally include a cavity that can optionally telescopically receive a portion of extended handle body section 242. The length of extension handle 240 can optionally be adjustable. For example, when extended handle body section 242 and extension handle 244 are telescopically interconnected, extended handle body section 242 and extension handle 244 can be movable with respect to one another to alloy the length of to extension handle 240 to be adjusted. Once the desired length of extension handle 240 is obtained, a locking arrangement can be used to secure extended handle body section 242 and extension handle 244 in position with respect to one another. The locking arrangement can be configured to permanently or releasably lock together extended handle body section 242 and extension handle 244. The locking arrangement can have many configurations (e.g., clamping arrangement, slot and depressable tab arrangement, bolt, pin, etc.). As illustrated in
[0048] As can be appreciated, seam tape tool 100, absent extension handle 240 is configured to be a smaller sized tool to enable a user to use seam tape tool 100 with a single hand; however, this is not required. Seam tape tool 100, when used with extension handle 240, is configured to be used so that seam tape tool 100 can be moved along a surface as the user walks along the surface.
[0049] Tape holder 120 is configured to allow for easy insertion and removal of a roll of tape (not shown) from tape holder 120. The material, size and configuration of tape holder 120 is non-limiting. Tape holder 120 is optionally rotatably connected to frame 110 so as to rotate as tape is dispensed from the roll of tape. As illustrated in
[0050] An optional tape roll adjuster 122 can be used to a) adjust how freely tape holder 120 rotates relative to frame 110, and/or b) adjust that positioning of tape holder 120 on frame 110 to accommodate different roll sizes of tape. The rotation of the optional tape roll adjuster 122 can optionally be used to increase or reduce the resistance to rotation of tape holder 120 rotates relative to frame 110. As can be appreciated, other arrangements can be used to adjust how freely tape holder 120 rotates relative to frame 110. The rotation of optional tape roll adjuster 122 can also to alternatively be used to enable a user to move the position of tape holder 120 on frame 110 so as to accommodate different roll sizes of tape. Frame 110 can include one or more openings or slots to facilitate in the adjustment of the position of tape holder 120 on frame 110.
[0051] The optional tape roll adjuster 122 can also be removably connected to frame 110 so that upon removal, the tape holder can also be removed from frame 110; however, this is not required.
[0052] The front portion of frame 110 optionally includes an application wheel 130 that is used to facilitate in pressing the tape against the top surface of a surface (e.g., floor surface; countertop surface, stairs, surface protection material, etc.) as seam tape tool 100 is moved over a surface and the tape is dispensed from the roll of tape. Application wheel 130 is optionally rotatably connected to frame 110 to rotate as the seam tape tool is moved over the top surface of a surface and as the tape is applied to such surface. The shape of application wheel 130 is non-limiting. As illustrated in
[0053] A tape guide 140 that is connected to the front portion of frame 110 is used to guide the tape that is dispensed from the roll of tape to application wheel 130 as seam tape tool 100 is moved over a top surface (e.g., floor surface; countertop surface, stairs, surface protection material, etc.) and the tape is applied to the top surface. Generally, at least a portion of the tape guide 140 is spaced from application wheel 130. Generally, the spacing is about 0.05-0.25 inches (and all values and ranges therebetween); however, other distances can be used. The size, shape, and configuration of the tape guide is non-limiting. Generally, at least a portion of a width of the tape (e.g., 5-100% and all values and ranges therebetween) is located between the tape guide 140 and application wheel 130 as the dispensed tape from the roll of tape moves past application wheel 130. Tape guide 140 can optionally include one or more guide arms 142. As illustrated in
[0054] The tape cutter arrangement 300 is configured to cut the tape when the cutter moves from the retracted locked position (see
[0055] The shape of tape cutter arrangement 300 is non-limiting. As illustrated in
[0056] Tape cutter arrangement 300 is configured to move between a retracted non-cut position and an extended cut position. A cutter movement arrangement can be used to facilitate in the movement of tape cutter arrangement 300 to the retracted non-cut position and the extended cut position. The cutter movement arrangement optionally includes a biasing system 400 (e.g., mechanical spring, gas spring, etc.) that can optionally be used to move the tape cutter arrangement from the non-cutting position to the extended cut position. In one non-limiting arrangement, tape cutter arrangement 300 includes a spring 402. As illustrated in
[0057] Frame 110 optionally includes a guide slot arrangement 170 that facilitates in maintaining the position of tape cutter arrangement 300 relative to frame 110 as tape cutter arrangement 300 moves between the retracted non-cut position and the extended cut position. As illustrated in
[0058] When tape cutter arrangement 300 is in the retracted non-cut position, application wheel 130 and optionally one or more structures on frame 110 (e.g., rollers of guide slot arrangement 170, other rollers or glides structures on frame 110, etc.) can be used to facilitate in the movement of seam tape tool 100 over a surface.
[0059] A bottom surface of tape cutter arrangement 300 can optionally include a landing arrangement 340 that is configured to releasably engage a structure on frame 110 when tape cutter arrangement 300 is in the retracted non-cut position. One non-limiting purpose of landing arrangement 340 is to facilitate in minimizing the movement of tape cutter arrangement 300 when in the retracted non-cut position. As illustrated in
[0060] Frame 110 can optionally include a limit arrangement 180 configured to limit the forward movement of tape cutter arrangement 300 when moving from the retracted non-cut position to the extended cut position. As illustrated in
[0061] The rear portion of tape cutter arrangement 300 can include a cocking arrangement 500 that includes a bar or one or more flanges 510 and optionally one or more handles 520. The bar or one or more flanges 510 is generally connected to the rear portion of tape cutter arrangement 300. A portion of the bar or one or more flanges 510 extends through one or more locking slots 114. As illustrated in
[0062] The bar or one or more flanges 510 in combination with locking slot 114 can be used to facilitate in maintaining the position of tape cutter arrangement 300 relative to frame 110 as tape cutter arrangement 300 moves between the retracted non-cut position and the extended cut position. As such, the bar or one or more flanges 510 in combination with locking slot 114 and/or guide slot arrangement 170 can be used to facilitate in maintaining the position of tape cutter arrangement 300 relative to frame 110 as tape cutter arrangement 300 moves between the retracted non-cut position and the extended cut position.
[0063] The bottom cutter release member 160 is located at the bottom rear portion of the frame 110 and is configured to engage tape cutter arrangement 300 and/or cocking arrangement 500 to cause said cocking arrangement to release tape cutter arrangement 300 from the retracted non-cut position. In one configuration, bottom cutter release member 160 is movable relative to frame 110 to enable bottom cutter release member 160 to engage tape cutter arrangement 300 and/or cocking arrangement 500. Many arrangements can be used to enable bottom cutter release member 160 to be movable relative to frame 110 (e.g., pivot arrangement, slide arrangement, etc.). A limit slot arrangement 162 can optionally be used to limit the movement of the bottom cutter release member 160 relative to the frame 110.
[0064] Bottom cutter release member 160 can optionally be biased (e.g., spring biased, etc.) in a lower position, which lower position does not facilitate in bottom cutter release member 160 to engage tape cutter arrangement 300 and/or cocking arrangement 500 to cause said cocking arrangement to release tape cutter arrangement 300 from the retracted non-cut position. The size, shape, and configuration of bottom cutter release member 160 are non-limiting. In operation, a user can push downwardly on the frame to cause bottom cutter release member 160 to contact a floor surface and move toward tape cutter arrangement 300 and/or cocking arrangement 500 to cause the cocking arrangement to release tape cutter arrangement 300 from the retracted non-cut position. Once tape cutter arrangement 300 is released from the retracted non-cut position, tape cutter arrangement 300 is biased by biasing system 400 to move toward the extended cut position to cut the tape.
[0065] In operation, a user uses cocking arrangement 500 to move tape cutter arrangement 300 from the extended cut position (see
[0066] The one or more exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.