US-20260125235-A1 - MAGNETIC TAPE DISPENSER

Abstract

A tape dispenser comprising a housing including a front side, a rear side, top side, and a bottom side is provided. A magnetic mount is attached to the rear side and are configured to magnetically couple the housing to a magnetic surface. A movable arm is attached to the top side and is configured to hold a roll of tape to the housing. A blade is attached to the bottom side of the housing, and a blade guard is disposed substantially over the blade.

Inventors

• Timothy H. Nelson

Assignees

• ENCORE PACKAGING LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251031

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A tape dispenser comprising: a housing including a front side, a rear side, a top side, and a bottom side; a magnetic mount attached to the rear side and configured to magnetically couple the housing to a magnetic surface; a movable arm attached to the top side and configured to hold a roll of tape to the housing; a blade attached to the bottom side of the housing; and a blade guard attached to the housing and disposed substantially over the blade.
2. 2 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a curved portion that curves outward from the magnetic surface.
3. 3 . The tape dispenser of claim 2 wherein the curved portion includes a 45° arc.
4. 4 . The tape dispenser of claim 2 wherein the curved portion ranges from approximately a 30° arc to a 75° arc.
5. 5 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the magnetic mount comprises a plurality of magnets and individual ones of the plurality of magnets are cylindrical and include an opening to permit a fastener to secure the individual ones of the plurality of magnets to the housing.
6. 6 . The tape dispenser of claim 5 further comprising a stopper disposed within the opening of one or more of the plurality of magnets, the stopper having a coefficient of friction higher than a surface of the plurality of magnets.
7. 7 . The tape dispenser of claim 6 wherein the stopper extends beyond an outer surface of the opening of the one or more of the plurality of magnets to engage the magnetic surface when the plurality of magnets magnetically couple to the magnetic surface.
8. 8 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the movable arm is spring loaded.
9. 9 . The tape dispenser of claim 8 wherein the movable arm includes a leverage arm and a securing arm.
10. 10 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the blade guard is mounts to be movable such that when resting the blade guard points substantially downward.
11. 11 . The tape dispenser of claim 10 wherein the blade guard is rotatable about a connector.
12. 12 . The tape dispenser of claim 11 wherein the blade guard is spring loaded.
13. 13 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 where the magnetic mount comprises at least three magnets attached to the rear side of the housing.
14. 14 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the blade and the blade guard are coupled to the housing via a connector and one or more mechanical fasteners.
15. 15 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the blade is substantially covered by the blade guard.
16. 16 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the magnetic mount includes a plurality of magnets.
17. 17 . The tape dispenser of claim 16 wherein the magnetic mount comprises three magnets, and the three magnets are disposed in a substantially triangular shape.
18. 18 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 wherein the magnetic mount includes four magnets.
19. 19 . The tape dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a roller coupled to the housing and configured to rotate.
20. 20 . The tape dispenser of claim 19 wherein the roller is comprised of rubber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/715,022, filed Nov. 1, 2024, entitled MAGNETIC TAPE DISPENSER, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to tape dispensers, and more specifically, to tape dispensers utilizing a magnetic mount. BACKGROUND Tape dispensers are used to close packaging materials, such as boxes and the like. Handheld tape dispensers may be used for ease of access and increased usability. Typical handheld tape dispensers require a two-handed dispensing approach. One hand typically holds a handle while the other hand pulls a loose end of the tape from the roll and rips it along a blade. These handheld tape dispensers can be placed down onto a surface and lost or placed far away from the location of use. In some instances, a magnet is provided on the side of the dispenser for storing the dispenser along a magnetic surface, this may provide a local location for the storage of the tape; however, a two-handed dispensing approach is still needed. In other words, in use the user removes the dispenser from the magnetic surface to dispense the tape. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Disclosed herein are embodiments of apparatuses pertaining to tape disposers including and/or utilizing a plurality of magnets. This description includes drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape dispenser including a roll of tape in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tape dispenser in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 3 is a front right side view of a tape dispenser including a roll of tape in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 4 a front left side view of a tape dispenser including a roll of tape in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tape dispenser including a roll of tape mounted to a mounting surface in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a tape dispenser in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a tape dispenser in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a tape dispenser in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 9 is a rear view of a tape dispenser in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 10 is a rear view of a tape dispenser in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a tape dispenser in accordance with various embodiments. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Described herein are apparatuses that are useful for holding, storing, and dispensing tape from a tape dispenser. Such apparatuses also may assist with optimization of storage and use of the tape. By providing a tape dispenser that can be readily and movably placed in and around specific areas and mounted to a surface, an ease of access of the tape and usability may be increased, thus shortening or potentially avoiding delays associated therewith. Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments described herein, a tape dispenser includes a magnetic mount, such as a plurality of magnets, to hold and support the tape dispenser and a roll of tape to a magnetic surface. In one illustrative approach, the tape dispenser includes a housing having a front side, a rear side, top side, and a bottom side. The magnetic mount is attached to the rear side and are configured to magnetically couple the housing to a magnetic surface. A movable arm is attached to the top side of the housing and is configured to hold a roll of tape to the housing. A blade is attached to the bottom side of the housing, and a blade guard is disposed substantially over the blade. So configured, the magnetic mount frictionally supports a mass of the tape dispenser, a mass of the roll of tape, and a downward for