TAPE DISPENSER BAG

Abstract

The tape dispenser bag includes an enclosure defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of opposing sidewalls, and a bottom wall that cooperate to form an inner cavity having a size and shape for select reception and retainment of a rolled tape ribbon. At least one of the pair of opposing sidewalls includes a slot having a height and a width sufficient for pass through dispensing of a strip of the rolled tape ribbon out from within the inner cavity of the tape dispenser bag for one-handed dispensing at a worksite.

Claims

1. A tape dispenser bag, comprising: an enclosure defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of opposing sidewalls, and a bottom wall that cooperate to form an inner cavity having a size and shape for select reception and retainment of a rolled tape ribbon; and wherein at least one of the pair of opposing sidewalls includes a slot having a height and a width sufficient for pass through dispensing of a strip of the rolled tape ribbon out from within the inner cavity of the tape dispenser bag.

2. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, including a closing flap selectively movable between an open position exposing the inner cavity and a closed position at least partially overlying an upper opening of the enclosure and selectively attachable to at least one of the front wall or the rear wall.

3. The tape dispenser bag of claim 2, wherein the closing flap cooperates with at least one of the pair of opposing sidewalls when in the closed position to form the slot.

4. The tape dispenser bag of claim 2, wherein the closing flap selectively attaches to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the front wall by at least one strap.

5. The tape dispenser bag of claim 4, wherein the at least one strap includes a snap-fit clip, a snap-fit button, or a hook and loop fastener.

6. The tape dispenser bag of claim 2, wherein the closing flap selectively attaches to the upper opening by a zipper.

7. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, wherein the slot comprises a cutout formed from within at least one of the pair of opposing sidewalls.

8. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, including a handle outwardly extending from the enclosure for handless carrying.

9. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, including a belt loop coupled to an exterior surface of the rear wall having an elongated channel for select slide-through reception with a belt.

10. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, including a nutsetter carrier or an accessory compartment coupled to an exterior surface of the front wall.

11. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, wherein each of the front wall, the rear wall, the pair of opposing sidewalls, and the bottom wall comprise a material selected from the group consisting of a water-resistant material, a water-proof material, a metal material, a plastic material, a polyester material, a nylon material, a leather material, and a denim material.

12. The tape dispenser bag of claim 11, wherein the metal material comprises stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium and the plastic material comprises polyethylene.

13. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are relatively wider than the pair of opposing sidewalls, wherein the enclosure comprises a relatively rectangular shape.

14. The tape dispenser bag of claim 1, wherein the rolled tape ribbon comprises a metal tape ribbon, a plastic tape ribbon, or a fabric tape ribbon.

15. A tape dispenser bag, comprising: a multi-sided enclosure having an opening of a size and shape for select slide-in reception of a container retaining a rolled tape ribbon, the multi-sided enclosure having a depth positioning the container therein above at least part of an upper rim of the opening; and a coupling integrated with the multi-sided enclosure for selectively attaching the tape dispenser bag to a user in a position where a strip of the rolled tape ribbon is externally accessible outside the multi-sided enclosure for one-handed dispensing from the tape dispenser bag.

16. The tape dispenser bag of claim 15, wherein the multi-sided enclosure includes a slot of a size sufficient for pass through dispensing of the strip of the rolled tape ribbon out from within the multi-sided enclosure.

17. The tape dispenser bag of claim 15, including a flap selectively extendable over an upper portion of the container outwardly protruding from the opening and selectively couplable to an exterior of the multi-sided enclosure.

18. The tape dispenser bag of claim 17, wherein the flap comprises a pair of straps, each including a fastener selected from the group consisting of a snap-fit clip, a snap-fit button, and a hook and loop fastener.

19. The tape dispenser bag of claim 17, including a zipper securing at least a portion of an outer periphery of the flap to at least a portion of the upper rim of the opening.

20. The tape dispenser bag of claim 15, wherein the coupling comprises a shoulder strap outwardly extending from the multi-sided enclosure.

21. The tape dispenser bag of claim 15, wherein the coupling comprises a belt loop coupled to an exterior surface of the multi-sided enclosure having a size and shape for select slide-through reception with a belt.

22. The tape dispenser bag of claim 15, wherein the tape dispenser bag comprises a water-resistant material, a water proof material, a metal material, a leather material, a denim material, or a plastic material.

23. The tape dispenser bag of claim 15, wherein an exterior surface of the multi-sided enclosure includes a plurality of hook or loop fasteners.

24. The tape dispenser bag of claim 14, wherein the rolled tape ribbon comprises a metal tape ribbon, a plastic tape ribbon, or a fabric tape ribbon.

25. A tape dispenser bag, comprising: an enclosure having an inner cavity sized to receive and retain a conventional container having a rolled tape ribbon comprising metal, plastic, or fabric therein; a channel formed from the enclosure exterior to the inner cavity having a size sufficient for slide through reception with a belt; a slotted outlet formed from the enclosure having a size and shape sufficient for one-handed pass through dispensing of a strip of the rolled tape ribbon out from within the enclosure when the tape dispenser bag is attached to the belt of a user through slotted engagement with the channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art cardboard box for storing a tape ribbon therein during shipping;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art cardboard box of FIG. 1 in an open position exposing the tape ribbon therein;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape dispenser bag as disclosed herein, including an enclosure generally defined by a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of opposing side walls;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tape dispenser bag of FIG. 3, further illustrating a container housing a tape ribbon therein generally positioned within the tape dispenser bag so the container extends out and above the rear, the front, and the pair of opposing side walls;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a front view of the tape dispenser bag, further illustrating the container residing within the enclosure and extending out and above the front and the pair of opposing side walls;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a side view of the tape dispenser bag, further illustrating the container residing within the enclosure and extending out and above the front, the rear, and the right side wall;

[0028] FIG. 7 is an alternative perspective view of the tape dispenser bag similar to FIG. 4, further illustrating a closing flap secured over a portion of the container extending out and above the rear, the front, and the pair of opposing side walls;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the tape dispenser bag, further illustrating a carrying handle and a belt loop integrated into the rear wall; and

[0030] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tape dispenser bag, further illustrating the belt loop in slide-through engagement with a belt, permitting hands free carrying.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] As shown in the exemplary drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention for a tape dispenser bag is generally illustrated in FIGS. 3-9 with respect to reference numeral 26. In general, the tape dispenser bag 26 as disclosed herein is designed as an improvement and more permanent solution over carrying the cardboard box 20 and the like housing the spiral-wound tape ribbon 22, e.g., which may be made of metal, plastic or fabric, therein alone. More specifically, the tape dispenser bag 26 may include an enclosure 28 generally defined by a front wall 30, a rear wall 32 (FIG. 8), a pair of opposing side walls 34, 36, and a bottom 38 (FIG. 5), all of which cooperate to form an inner cavity 40 for selectively receiving a container 20 designed to hold or retain therein any one of the different types of the tape ribbons 22 mentioned above, as illustrated, e.g., in FIGS. 4-7 and 9. This provides improved portability and added protection during use and transportation.

[0032] In one embodiment, as illustrated, e.g., in FIGS. 5-6, the enclosure 28 has a width 42 and a depth 44 relatively larger than a width 46 and a depth 48 of the container 20, respectively. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the enclosure 28 has a height 50 relatively shorter than a height 52 of the container 20. This permits at least a portion of the container 20 to extend up and out of the enclosure 28 to provide access thereto while the container 20 is selectively carried within the enclosure 28.

[0033] As best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the container 20 includes a slot 54 formed at an upper portion thereof generally between where a sidewall 56 (FIG. 6) intersects a top wall 57 (FIG. 4) thereof. The slot 54 may be formed naturally as a result of this, or the slot 54 may be formed by cutting an opening therein. In the latter embodiment, the slot 54 may be generally cut anywhere along the height of the sidewall 56 so long as the tape ribbon 22 may dispense out from the tape dispenser bag 26 in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein. In this respect, the slot 54 is at least somewhat larger than the material thickness and the material width of the spiral-wound tape ribbon 22 to permit unwinding removal of the tape ribbon 22 out from within the container 20. In the embodiment best illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 and 9, the height 50 of the enclosure 28 is smaller than the height 52 of the container 20 as to avoid structurally interfering with pulling the free end 24 of the tape ribbon 22 through the slot 54. While FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrate the slot 54 generally formed from the sidewall 56 of the container 20, the slot 54 could be formed from any of the sidewalls of the container 20 so long as the free end 24 can pull out for dispensing therefrom.

[0034] For example, in an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, at least one of the side walls 34, 36 of the enclosure 28 may include a window 58 formed therein having a size and shape large enough to pull the free end 24 of the tape ribbon 22 therethrough. Here, the user may initially pull the free end 24 of the tape ribbon 22 out through the slot 54 and then down through the window 58. Alternatively, the user may retrofit the container 20 by cutting the slot 54 along the height of the sidewall 56 in a position generally aligned with the window 58 of the enclosure 28, so the free end 24 of the tape ribbon 22 can pull straight out from the container 20 and the tape dispenser bag 26. In another alternative embodiment, the tape ribbon 22 may also be removed from the container 20 and selectively inserted into the enclosure 28 so the user can pull the free end 24 of the tape ribbon 22 through the window 58 and/or out the top of the inner cavity 40 without interference from the container 20. The window 58 may be approximately the size of the slot 54 in the container 20, as described above, somewhat larger than the thickness and the width of the tape ribbon 22 (e.g., regardless whether the tape ribbon 22 is dispensed from the container 20 or placed directly in the enclosure 28 without the container 20) or otherwise a relatively larger rectangular and/or square shape large enough to allow passage of the tape ribbon 22 therethrough.

[0035] As best illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, 7, and 9, the tape dispenser bag 26 may also include a closing flap 60 having a size and shape to selectively extend up over and generally encompass the top wall 57 of the container 20. In one embodiment, the closing flap 60 may further couple to at least a portion of the enclosure 28 to selectively retain the container 20 within the inner cavity 40. For example, the closing flap 60 may include a zipper 62 that selectively couples the closing flap 60 to an upper edge 64 of the front wall 30 of the enclosure 28. The closing flap 60 may also include a pair of straps 66, 68 extending over the container 20 that selectively coupled to a front surface 70 of the front wall 30. For example, each of the straps 66, 68 may include a respective set of snap-clips that selectively engage a pair of snap-clip receptacles coupled to the front surface 70, or vice versa.

[0036] In another embodiment, the straps 66, 68 may couple to the front surface 70 via as series of hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro, wherein at least a portion of the straps 66, 68 include the hooks and at least a portion of the front surface 70 include the loops, or vice versa. This allows the closing flap 60 to be quickly and easily secured over the top wall 57 of the container 20, thereby locking the container 20 inside the enclosure 40. Alternatively, substantially all of the front surface 70 may include the loops or hooks to permit adjustably positioning of the closing flap 60 over the top wall 57. Here, securing the straps 66, 68 further down the front surface 70 will more tightly retain the container 20 within the enclosure 40, while securing the straps 66, 68 higher up on the front surface 70 will more loosely retain the container 20 within the enclosure 40. Such adjustability also allows the tape dispenser bag 26 to be used with containers 20 that differ in the height 52. Of course, in alternative embodiments, the straps 66, 68 may couple to the enclosure 28 via any fastener known in the art to secure the closing flap 60 at least partially over the top wall 57. Moreover, the closing flap 60 and/or the straps 66, 68 may couple to any part of the enclosure 28, including the front wall 30, the rear wall 32, the pair of opposing side walls 34, 36, and/or the bottom 38 to better retain the container 20 and/or the tape ribbon 22 within the enclosure 40.

[0037] The tape dispenser bag 26 as disclosed herein may also include a handle 72 for convenient hand grasping and portability. For example, FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of the handle 72 generally having an arcuate shape extending out and away from the tape dispenser bag 26. Of course, the handle 72 may be any shape known in the art for convenient hand grasping and manipulation. In one embodiment, the handle 72 may be non-removably attached to the tape dispenser bag 26, e.g., by a set of stitching 74, 76 and/or by an adhesive. In alternative embodiments, the handle 72 may be removably attached via snap-fit clips, snap-fit buttons, hook and loop fasteners, and/or any other fastener known in the art. In yet another embodiment, the handle 72 may be formed from the tape dispenser bag 26, such as by way of being a single piece of fabric or molded plastic material.

[0038] As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the tape dispenser bag 26 may include a belt loop 78 generally projecting outwardly from a rear surface 80 of the rear wall 32. The belt loop 78 may have a generally arcuate shape with two opposing ends 82, 84 attached to the rear surface 80. The belt loop 78 cooperates with the rear surface 80 to form a relatively elongated channel 86 therebetween having a size and shape for slide-through reception and retention of a belt 88 (FIG. 9) or the like. As illustrated in FIG. 9, during use (e.g., when the tape dispenser bag 26 is worn on the belt 88), the inner cavity 40 may still be accessed for purposes of inserting and/or replacing the container 20 and/or the tape ribbon 22 without removal from the belt loop 78, such as by way of disconnecting the straps 66, 68 from the front surface 70 and pulling back the closing flap 60 to expose the top wall 57 of the container 20 for removal therefrom.

[0039] As best illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 and 7, the tape dispenser bag 26 may additionally include a nutsetter carrier 90 coupled to the front surface 70 of the front wall 30. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the nutsetter carrier 90 may include one or more apertures 92 substantially situated in an upright position to selectively receive and retain one or more nutsetter accessories therein. In one embodiment, the nutsetter carrier 90 may be non-removably coupled to the front surface 70 via stitching, an adhesive, or the like. In an alternative embodiment, the nutsetter carrier 90 may be removably attached via snap-fit clips, snap-fit buttons, hook and loop fasteners, and/or any other fastener known in the art. While FIGS. 3-5 and 7 illustrate the nutsetter carrier 90 coupled to the front surface 70 of the front wall 30, the nutsetter carrier 90 may alternatively couple to any part of the enclosure 28, including the front wall 30, the rear wall 32, the pair of opposing side walls 34, 36, and/or the bottom 38.

[0040] In another embodiment, the tape dispenser bag 26 may also include an accessory compartment 96 coupled to the front surface 70 of the front wall 30, as generally illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 and 7. Here, the accessory compartment 96 includes a container 98 and an overlap 100 moveable between a closed position (FIGS. 3-4 and 7) and an open position (FIG. 5). The container 98 of the accessory compart 96 is externally accessible and may store tools or hardware such as screws, bolts, nuts, etc. The accessory compartment 96 may be non-removably coupled to the front surface 70 via stitching, an adhesive, or the like. In alternative embodiments, the accessory compartment 96 may be removably attached via snap-fit clips, snap-fit buttons, hook and loop fasteners, and/or any other fastener known in the art. Furthermore, while FIGS. 3-5 and 7 illustrate the accessory compartment 96 coupled to the front surface 70 of the front wall 30, alternatively, the accessory compartment 96 may couple to any part of the enclosure 28, including the front wall 30, the rear wall 32, the pair of opposing side walls 34, 36, and/or the bottom 38.

[0041] The tape dispenser bag 26 may be made from a water-resistant or waterproofed material to provide enhanced protection for the container 20 and/or tape ribbon 22 selectively retained within the inner cavity 40. For example, the front wall 30, the rear wall 32, the side walls 34, 36, the bottom 38, the closing flap 60, the straps 66, 68, the handle 72, the belt loop 78, the nutsetter carrier 90, and/or the accessory compartment 96 may all, or individually, be made from nylon, polyester, plastic, etc. to guard against water damage or other sharp objects at a jobsite. Alternatively, the tape dispenser bag 26 may be made from another fabric or material known in the art, such as leather, denim, etc. In alternative embodiments, the front wall 30, the rear wall 32, the side walls 34, 36, the bottom 38, the closing flap 60, the straps 66, 68, the handle 72, the belt loop 78, the nutsetter carrier 90, the accessory compartment 96, and/or the accessory compartment 102 may all or individually be made from a metal material such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, or the like; or a high-density plastic such as polyethylene.

[0042] Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.