Device for Applying Adhesive Tape to a Surface and Method for Manufacturing Such a Device

Abstract

An adhesive tape dispenser composed of a minimal number of components, including a holder for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll, a handle extending from the holder, and a roller rotatably mounted in the holder for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll received in the holder and for guiding adhesive tape that is taken from an adhesive tape roll during use of the device and applied to a surface, outwardly from the device. The holder is a single integral entirety and has a pressing part with a free end for pressing the adhesive tape against the roller. The roller is retained in the holder exclusively on the basis of a direct connection to the holder.

Claims

1. A device for applying adhesive tape to a surface comprising: a holder for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll, which holder is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof; a handle extending from the holder; and a roller rotatably mounted in the holder for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll received in the holder and for guiding adhesive tape that is taken from an adhesive tape roll during use of the device and applied to a surface, outwardly from the device; wherein the holder is a single integral entirety and has a pressing part with a free end for pressing the adhesive tape against the roller when it is inserted between the roller and the free end of the pressing part; and wherein the roller is retained in the holder exclusively on the basis of a direct connection to the holder.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the roller is provided with a carrier shaft at both ends thereof; wherein the holder has two flaps extending at a distance with respect to each other and being provided with an opening; and wherein the roller is arranged between the flaps of the holder with the carrier shafts being received in the openings in the flaps.

3. The device according to claim 1, in which only the roller is a rotatable component.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holder has two legs that are designed to be moved apart in a resilient fashion.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holder is designed to accommodate an adhesive tape roll exclusively on the basis of partial enclosure.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a width dimension of the pressing part of the holder is smaller than a general width dimension of the holder.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the holder and the handle are integrated with each other.

8. The device according to claim 1, being entirely manufactured from a single material.

9. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a cutting assembly having a tape fixating part that extends from the holder and a cutting knife that is located in front of a free end of the tape fixating part as seen from the holder, for the purpose of cutting adhesive tape from the device; wherein the tape fixating part is integrated with the holder.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein a part of the cutting knife is retained in an integral entirety of the holder and the tape fixating part.

11. The device according to claim 9, composed of no more than the roller, the cutting knife, and an integral entirety of the holder, the handle and the tape fixating part.

12. A method for manufacturing a device for applying adhesive tape to a surface, which device comprises: a holder for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll which holder is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof; a handle extending from the holder; and a roller rotatably mounted in the holder for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll received in the holder and for guiding adhesive tape that is taken from an adhesive tape roll during use of the device and applied to a surface, outwardly from the device; wherein the holder is formed as a single integral entirety, with a pressing part having a free end for pressing adhesive tape against the roller when it is inserted between the roller and the free end of the pressing part; and wherein the roller is connected to the holder in a direct fashion.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the roller is rotatably arranged in the holder on the basis of a snap connection.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the holder and the handle are integrated with each other.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein an integral entirety of the holder and the handle as well as the roller are formed from a plastic material by means of an injection molding process; and wherein a single injection molding mold is applied that is designed for both forming the integral entirety of the holder and the handle and forming the roller.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the roller is injection molded to the holder; and wherein the roller is broken off from the holder in a subsequent step.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least an integral entirety of the holder and the handle is formed by means of an additive manufacturing technique such as 3D printing.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device is entirely manufactured from a single material.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device further comprises a cutting assembly having a tape fixating part that extends from the holder and a cutting knife that is located in front of a free end of the tape fixating part as seen from the holder, for the purpose of cutting adhesive tape from the device; and wherein the tape fixating part is integrated with the holder.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least an integral entirety of the holder and the tape fixating part is formed from a plastic material by means of an injection molding process, by applying an injection molding mold; and wherein the cutting knife is retained in the integral entirety of the holder and the tape fixating part, by placing the cutting knife in the injection molding mold prior to the injection molding process, and allowing plastic material for forming the holder to flow around a part of the cutting knife during the injection molding process.

21. (canceled)

Description

[0023] The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the following description of an adhesive tape dispenser that is composed of only three components. Reference will be made to the drawing, in which equal reference numerals indicate equal or similar components, and in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the adhesive tape dispenser;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a first perspective view of the adhesive tape dispenser;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a second perspective view of the adhesive tape dispenser; and

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the adhesive tape dispenser, with an adhesive tape roll received therein.

[0028] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show different views of an adhesive tape dispenser 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the same adhesive tape dispenser 1, with an adhesive tape roll 2 received therein.

[0029] The adhesive tape dispenser 1 is composed of only three different components. A first component is an integral entirety 3 of a holder 10 for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll 2, a handle 20 extending from the holder 10, which can be taken hold of by a user of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 for manipulating the adhesive tape dispenser 1, and a sheet-shaped tape fixating part 31 extending from the holder 10 and being part of a cutting assembly 30 that further comprises a cutting knife 32, which cutting knife 32 is a second component of the adhesive tape dispenser 1, and which cutting knife 32 is located in front of a free end 31a of the tape fixating part 31 as seen from the holder 10. The cutting assembly 30 is intended to be applied for cutting adhesive tape from the adhesive tape dispenser 1, as will be elucidated later. In the shown embodiment of the adhesive tape dispenser 1, the cutting assembly 30 has two projecting parts 33 at both sides of the cutting knife 32 that are designed to protect the cutting knife 32, such as when the adhesive tape dispenser 1 unintendedly drops to the floor. A third component of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 is a roller 40 that is rotatably arranged in the holder 10. Preferably, the integral entirety 3 of the holder 10, the handle 20 and the tape fixating part 31 is manufactured from plastic, and the cutting knife 32 is manufactured from metal. The cutting knife 32 can have any suitable shape, and can be toothed, for example. The roller 40 can also be manufactured from plastic. In general, it is preferred when the choice of material of the roller 40 is aimed at guaranteeing a good grip of the roller 40 on adhesive tape 2a to be dispensed by the adhesive tape dispenser 1.

[0030] The design and dimensions of the holder 10 are adapted to the design and dimensions of the adhesive tape roll 2 to be received. In particular, the holder 10 is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll 2 along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof, as can clearly be seen in FIG. 4. A first peripheral part 11 of the holder 10 that is destined to encompass a portion of the outer periphery of the adhesive tape roll 2 has a basic part 11a that is located directly above the handle 20 and has a curved leg 11b that extends from the basic part 11a. A second peripheral part 12 of the holder 10 that is destined to encompass a portion of the outer periphery of the adhesive tape roll 2 has a basic part 12a on which the cutting assembly 30 is arranged and a curved leg 12 that extends from the basis part 12a. The two peripheral parts 11, 12 of the holder 10 define a concave supporting surface for the adhesive tape roll 2, which supporting surface has two interruptions, namely a first interruption at the side where the roller 40 is located and a second interruption at an opposite side. This second interruption constitutes an insertion opening 13 through which an adhesive tape roll 2 can be moved, both from outside the holder 10 to the inside and from inside the holder 10 to the outside. For the purpose of retaining the adhesive tape roll 2 in axial direction thereof, the holder 10 has two substantially planar lid parts 14, 15 extending at a distance from each other, in particularly a distance that is adapted to enable an adhesive tape roll 2 of a certain width to be received in the holder 10. In the view of FIG. 4, the lid part 15 that can be seen is shown as being transparent so as to let the underlying adhesive tape roll 2 and the underlying roller 40 be fully visible in the figure, among other components.

[0031] Each of the lid parts 14, 15 has a flap 14a, 15a in which an opening 14b, 15b is located. The roller 40 is provided with a carrier shaft 41, 42 at both ends thereof. The roller 40 is retained between the two flaps 14a, 15a, wherein the carrier shafts 41, 42 of the roller 40 are situated in the openings 14b, 15b. The carrier shafts 41, 42 have a circular outer periphery, and the flaps 14a, 15a have a circular inner periphery at the position of the openings 14b, 15b, on the basis of which rotation of the roller 40 in the holder 10 is possible.

[0032] A pressing part 16 extends from the basic part 11a of the first peripheral part 11 of the holder 10, in the direction of the roller 40. In the shown example, the pressing part 16 is realized as a planar sheet having an elongated, rectangular shape. A free end 16a of the pressing part 16 abuts against the roller 40. When adhesive tape 2a unreeled from the adhesive tape roll 2 is inserted between the roller 40 and the free end 16a of the pressing part 16, as shown in FIG. 4, this has the effect that the adhesive tape 2a is pressed against the roller 40. In that case, a movement of the tape 2a in longitudinal direction thereof is always related to a rotation movement of the roller 40, which rotation movement in turn contributes to a rotation movement of the adhesive tape roll 2 in the holder 10, wherein the last rotation movement enables unreeling the adhesive tape 2a from the adhesive tape roll 2. In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that a width dimension of the pressing part 16 of the holder 10 is smaller than the general width dimension of the holder 10. This is not necessary, but is preferred because as a consequence thereof, space is available for manipulating the adhesive tape 2a when a new adhesive tape roll 2 has been placed in the holder 10 and a first piece of adhesive tape 2a thereof needs to be inserted between the roller 40 and the free end 16a of the pressing part 16 in order to enable the adhesive tape dispenser 1 to dispense the adhesive tape 2a in the correct way.

[0033] In the following, it is described how placing an adhesive tape roll 2 in the adhesive tape dispenser 1 is done. Normally, in doing so, a user of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 will hold the handle 20 in one hand. In a first instance, the user determines the positioning of the adhesive tape roll 2 with respect to the holder 10 on the basis of the direction which is envisaged for taking adhesive tape 2a from the adhesive tape roll 2. In order to achieve correct use of the adhesive tape dispenser 1, it should be guaranteed that the adhesive tape roll 2 is allowed to rotate in a direction from the roller 40 to the basic part 11a of the first peripheral part 11 of the holder 10, hence a counterclockwise direction in the depiction of FIG. 4, and can dispense adhesive tape 2a in that situation. While having the adhesive tape roll 2 in the correct position with respect to the holder 10, as mentioned, the user presses the adhesive tape roll 2 in place in the holder 10, by moving the adhesive tape roll 2 between the legs 11b, 12b of the peripheral parts 11, 12 of the holder 10, therefore through the insertion opening 13 as mentioned earlier, in the direction of the roller 40. When this action has ended, the adhesive tape roll 2 is retained in the holder 10, wherein the adhesive tape roll 2 is retained in the holder 10 in axial direction thereof by the two lid parts 14, 15 of the holder 10, and wherein the legs 11b, 12b of the peripheral parts 11, 12 of the holder 10 prevent detachment of the adhesive tape roll 2 from the holder 10 in radial direction, back through the insertion opening 13. In respect of the latter it is noted that during use of the adhesive tape dispenser 1, the adhesive tape roll 2 is pulled in the direction towards the roller 40, and the adhesive tape roll 2 therefore does not exert force on the legs 11b, 12b of the peripheral parts 11, 12 of the holder 10. The legs 11b, 12b are sufficiently stiff for maintaining their shape when the adhesive tape dispenser 1 is not in use, so that a situation in which the legs 11b, 12b spring back and the insertion opening 13 becomes sufficiently large for allowing the adhesive tape roll 2 to pass cannot occur spontaneously.

[0034] As soon as the adhesive tape roll 2 is located at its place in the holder 10, the user of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 can take appropriate action for letting the adhesive tape 2a come out of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 in a correct way. This is done by pulling a first piece of tape 2a from the adhesive tape dispenser 1 and inserting it between the roller 40 and the free end 16a of the pressing part 16. As noted earlier, the user is granted space for manipulating the adhesive tape 2a with his/her fingers because the pressing part 16 is sufficiently small with respect to the rest of the adhesive tape dispenser 1, and thereby with respect to the adhesive tape 2a, so that it is possible for the user to reach parts of the adhesive tape 2a and take hold thereof. When the adhesive tape 2a extends outwardly from between the roller 40 and the free end 16a of the pressing part 16, the adhesive tape dispenser 1 is ready to be used. In this case, the adhesive tape 2a is guided in a loop around the roller 40, and partially abuts against the roller 40 with the non-adhesive side thereof, while the adhesive side of the adhesive tape 2a is completely exposed and can be applied to a surface according to desire. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that the free end 16a of the pressing part 16 of the holder 10 is in contact with the adhesive side of the adhesive tape 2a.

[0035] It can be understood from the foregoing that when an adhesive tape roll 2 is located in the holder 10 and it is desired to remove it from the holder 10, which will particularly be the case when the adhesive tape roll 2 has been used to the end and consequently cannot supply any more adhesive tape 2a, the only thing that a user of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 needs to do is take hold of the adhesive tape roll 2 and exert force in the direction away from the roller 40. No further action is needed for moving the adhesive tape roll 2 in radial direction out of the holder 10, therefore through the insertion opening 13, wherein the legs 11b, 12b of the peripheral parts 11, 12 of the holder 10 move apart and the insertion opening 13 temporarily can become sufficiently large for allowing the adhesive tape roll 2 to pass as a result thereof. Besides, the design of the holder 10 is such that the normal size of the insertion opening 13, hence the size of the insertion opening 13 associated with the normal shape of the legs 11b, 12b, is sufficiently small to also prevent spontaneous detachment of a used-up adhesive tape roll 2 from the holder 10.

[0036] The adhesive tape dispenser 1 serves to apply tape 2a on a surface (not shown). A known application of an adhesive tape dispenser 1 is for closing a box, for example, wherein two flaps of the box are held in a position for letting the box be closed, and wherein subsequently a strip of adhesive tape 2a is applied for fixating the mutual position of the two flaps. The surface on which the adhesive tape 2a needs to be applied will usually be a composed surface, hence a surface that consists of two or more parts. As first step in the use of the adhesive tape dispenser 1, the user presses a free piece of adhesive tape 2a that projects from the adhesive tape dispenser 1 on the surface, in particular on a desired initial position of the strip of adhesive tape 2a to be applied. Subsequently, the user pulls the taper dispenser 1 away from the initial position, in a direction in which the adhesive tape 2a can be dispensed by the adhesive tape dispenser 1. In the process, the user holds the handle 20 in one hand. As soon as the user starts to move the adhesive tape dispenser 1, rotation of the roller 40 is realized, and rotation of the adhesive tape roll 2 in the holder 10 is also realized on the basis thereof. As the adhesive tape 2a is pressed against the roller 40 by the pressing part 16, unreeling the adhesive tape 2a takes place in a controlled fashion, an appropriate tension prevailing in the adhesive tape 2a. A usual way of applying a strip of adhesive tape 2a is pulling the strip from the adhesive tape dispenser 1 first, with an initial piece of the strip being attached to the surface to be covered, and subsequently allowing the strip to come into contact with the surface in a single movement by moving the adhesive tape dispenser 1 downwardly with respect to the surface.

[0037] When a strip of adhesive tape 2a has been put in place, this strip can be easily detached from a piece of adhesive tape 2a projecting from the adhesive tape dispenser 1 by buckling the adhesive tape dispenser 1 in such a way that the tape fixating part 31 is put to a position for fixating the mutual position of the strip and the adhesive tape dispenser 1 and subsequently pressing the cutting knife 32 through the piece of adhesive tape 2a that is stretched between the tape fixating part 31 and the roller 40 in the process.

[0038] It follows from the foregoing that realizing the adhesive tape dispenser 1 with only a minimum of components does not affect the normal ease of use of the adhesive tape dispenser 1. The function of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 according to the invention for applying adhesive tape 2a on a surface can be performed by a user in a manner known per se, involving a natural way of doing. Both inserting an adhesive tape roll 2 in the holder 10 and removing an adhesive tape roll 2 from the holder 10 is very simple and only requires taking hold of the adhesive tape roll 2 and subsequently moving the adhesive tape roll 2 in the appropriate radial direction.

[0039] In comparison to existing designs of adhesive tape dispensers, the adhesive tape dispenser 1 according to the invention can be manufactured in a relatively simple way. According to one of the possibilities, the integral entirety 3 of the holder 10, the handle 20 and the tape fixating part 31 is manufactured through injection molding. To that end, an injection molding mold (not shown) is applied in a manner known per se, which defines an internal space that can be filled with fluid plastic, wherein the design of the said space is adapted to the shape as desired of the said entirety 3. Preferably, the injection molding mold is suitable to receive the cutting knife 32 prior to the injection molding process and to keep the cutting knife 32 positioned in the correct manner in the space during the injection molding process, so that the cutting knife 32 is directly integrated in the said entirety 3 and does not need to be arranged in the entirety 3 in a separate step. Besides, the roller 40 can also be formed from plastic in an injection molding process. To that end, a separate injection molding mold can be applied, but it is also possible that the roller 40 is formed in the same injection molding mold as the entirety 3 of the holder 10, the handle 20 and the tape fixating part 31, either in another space than the space for forming the said entirety 3 or in the same space, wherein in the latter case, the roller 40 is injection molded to the said entirety 3, and is broken off therefrom in a subsequent step. In any case, the manufacturing method of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 still involves a step of assembling the roller 40 with the other components of the adhesive tape dispenser 1. In the shown example of the adhesive tape dispenser 1, this step involves nothing more than pressing the roller 40 between the flaps 14a, 15a of the lid parts 14, 15 of the holder 10, wherein the flaps 14a, 15a move apart until the carrier shafts 41, 42 of the roller 40 snap in the openings 14b, 15b of the flaps 14a, 15a and the flaps 14a, 15a subsequently spring back to their original position, on the basis of which the roller 40 ends up being retained between the flaps 14a, 15a.

[0040] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

[0041] As noted earlier, it is advantageous if the cutting knife 32 is manufactured from metal. That does not alter the fact that within the framework of the invention, it is possible for the cutting knife 32 to be manufactured from plastic and to form an integral entirety of plastic with the holder 10, the handle 20 and the tape fixating part 31. In such a case, the adhesive tape dispenser 1 according to the invention is of an even simpler design than the embodiment described in the foregoing on the basis of the figures. Another option that is available within the framework of the invention is providing the adhesive tape dispenser 1 without cutting assembly 30. Further, in that case, it is possible that the adhesive tape dispenser 1 is composed of at only two parts, namely the roller 40 and an integral entirety of the holder 10 and the handle 20.

[0042] Within the framework of the invention, it is not necessary that the holder 10 and the handle 20 are integrated with each other, but this is preferred in order to keep the number of components of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 to a minimum. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that the term are integrated with each other should be understood as forming a single integral entirety with each other, wherein the possibility exists that the said integral entirety comprises yet other parts besides the parts as mentioned.

[0043] A possible summary of the invention is as follows. An adhesive tape dispenser 1 for dispensing adhesive tape 2a, that is destined to be used for applying a strip of adhesive tape 2a to a surface, is composed of a minimal number of components. In essence, the adhesive tape dispenser 1 comprises a holder 10 for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll 2, which holder 10 is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll 2 along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof; a handle 20 extending from the holder 10; and a roller 40 rotatably mounted in the holder 10 for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll 2 received in the holder 10 and for guiding adhesive tape 2a that is taken from an adhesive tape roll 2 during use of the adhesive tape dispenser 1 and applied to a surface, outwardly from the adhesive tape dispenser 1. The holder 10 is a single integral entirety and has a pressing part 16 with a free end 16a for pressing the adhesive tape 2a against the roller 40 when it is inserted between the roller 40 and the free end 16a of the pressing part 16. The roller 40 is retained in the holder 10 exclusively on the basis of a direct connection to the holder 10. Further, the holder 10 and the handle 20 can be integrated with each other.

[0044] The fact that the holder 10 is a single integral entirety that has a pressing part 16 as first aspect of the invention defined in the claims and the fact that the roller 40 is retained exclusively on the basis of a direct connection to the holder 10 as second aspect of the invention defined in the claims can be considered separately. Thus, in the first place, an invention can be defined that involves providing a device for applying adhesive tape 2a to a surface, which device comprises: a holder 10 for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll 2, which holder 10 is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll 2 along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof; a handle 20 extending from the holder 10; and a roller 40 rotatably mounted in the holder 10 for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll 2 received in the holder 10 and for guiding adhesive tape 2a that is taken from an adhesive tape roll 2 during use of the device and applied to a surface, outwardly from the device; wherein the holder 10 is a single integral entirety and has a pressing part 16 with a free end 16a for pressing adhesive tape 2a against the roller 40 when it is inserted between the roller 40 and the free end 16a of the pressing part 16; and wherein it is optional that the roller 40 is retained in the holder 10 exclusively on the basis of a direct connection to the holder 10; and in the second place, an invention can be defined that involves providing a device for applying adhesive tape 2a to a surface, which device comprises: a holder 10 for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll 2, which holder 10 is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll 2 along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof; a handle 20 extending from the holder 10; a roller 40 rotatably mounted in the holder 10 for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll 2 received in the holder 10 and for guiding adhesive tape 2a that is taken from an adhesive tape roll 2 during use of the device and applied to a surface, outwardly from the device; and a pressing mechanism 16 for pressing adhesive tape 2a against the roller 40 when it is inserted between the roller 40 and the pressing mechanism 16; wherein the roller 40 is retained in the holder 10 exclusively on the basis of a direct connection to the holder 10; and wherein it is optional that the holder 10 is a single integrated entirety and the pressing mechanism 16 comprises a part of the holder 10.

[0045] By analogy with the above, in the first place, an invention can be defined that involves providing a method for manufacturing a device for applying adhesive tape to a surface, which device comprises: a holder 10 for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll 2, which holder 10 is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll 2 along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof; a handle 20 extending from the holder 10; and a roller 40 rotatably mounted in the holder 10 for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll 2 received in the holder 10 and for guiding adhesive tape 2a that is taken from an adhesive tape roll 2 during use of the device and applied to a surface, outwardly from the device; wherein the holder 10 is formed as a single integral entirety of a pressing part 16 having a free end 16a for pressing adhesive tape 2a against the roller 40 when it is inserted between the roller 40 and the free end 16a of the pressing part 16; and wherein it is optional that the roller 40 is directly connected to the holder 10; and in the second place, an invention can be defined that involves providing a method for manufacturing a device for applying adhesive tape to a surface, which device comprises: a holder 10 for receiving and accommodating an adhesive tape roll 2, which holder 10 is designed to encompass an adhesive tape roll 2 along a portion of the outer periphery thereof while also retaining it in axial direction thereof; a handle 20 extending from the holder 10; a roller 40 rotatably mounted in the holder 10 for making contact to the outer periphery of an adhesive tape roll 2 received in the holder 10 and for guiding adhesive tape 2a that is taken from an adhesive tape roll 2 during use of the device and applied to a surface, outwardly from the device; and a pressing mechanism 16 for pressing adhesive tape 2a against the roller 40 when it is inserted between the roller 40 and the pressing mechanism 16; wherein the roller 40 is directly connected to the holder 10; and wherein it is optional that the holder 10 is formed as a single integral entirety and the pressing mechanism 16 is provided as a part of the holder 10.

[0046] Specific aspects of the invention defined in the claims, as addressed in this text, are similarly applicable to the possible inventions defined in the preceding two paragraphs.