Apparatus for laying down a tape strip

Claim 2

Apparatus for applying to a surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle defining opposite first and second ends and a through passage between said ends for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said first end; means disposed at a position within said handle passage for partially separating thereat a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; means on said handle first end for holding the partially separated distal portion against a surface to which it is to be applied; and manually operable means for selectively holding the supply portion of the partially severed tape strip in said handle passage against withdrawal movement to effect full separation of said distal portion therefrom as an incident of a concurrent holding of the tape strip by said holding means and movement of said handle first end away from the applied distal portion.

Claim 3

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second end of the handle is provided with a pair of spaced apposed trunions for journalling the tape roll supply for withdrawal of the tape therefrom through said handle passage.

Claim 4

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle end defines opposite sides, said apparatus further including means for selectively urging said opposite sides of the handle end transversely toward each other to provide accurate side guiding of the tape strip as it is applied from said first end.

Claim 5

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 1 including means for pivotally mounting the separating means to said handle.

Claim 6

The tape strip applying means of claim 1 wherein said second end is provided with a pair of spaced apposed trunnions for rotatably journalling the tape roll supply to extend substantially equally above and below the longitudinal extent of the elongated handle for withdrawal of the tape therefrom through said handle through passage.

Claim 7

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 5 wherein said mounting portions resiliently bias the trunions to the roll journalling disposition while permitting ready manual separation to permit selective installation of a new roll therebetween and removal of a spent roll therefrom.

Claim 8

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 5 wherein each said trunion defines an inner cylindrical roll support, and an outer annular flange for preventing outer axial movement of the tape roll journalled thereon.

Claim 9

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 5 wherein said trunions are arranged to cause the axis of the tape roll to intersect a longitudinal axis of said handle passage.

Claim 10

Apparatus for applying to a surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle defining opposite first and second ends and a through passage between said ends for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said first end; means for partially separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and manually operable means for selectively holding the tape strip in said handle passage against withdrawal movement to effect full separation of said distal portion therefrom as an incident of concurrent holding of the tape strip and movement of said handle first end away from the applied distal portion, said means for partially separating the tape strip being movably mounted to said handle for selective positioning in a tape separating position at said first end of the handle, and in a retracted position spaced substantially from said first end of the handle, said holding means including a manually operable plunger, and said means for partially separating the tape strip being swingably mounted to said plunger.

Claim 11

Apparatus for applying to a surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle defining opposite first and second ends and a through passage between said ends for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said first end; means for partially separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and manually operable means for selectively holding the tape strip in said handle passage against withdrawal movement to effect full separation of said distal portion therefrom as an incident of concurrent holding of the tape strip and movement of said handle first end away from the applied distal portion, said means for partially separating the tape strip being movably mounted to said handle for selective positioning in a tape separating position at said first end of the handle, and in a retracted position spaced substantially from said first end of the handle, said holding means including a manually operable plunger, and said means for partially separating the tape strip being swingably mounted to said plunger.

Claim 12

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 9 wherein means are provided for biasing said holding means to a released position permitting unimpeded movement of the tape strip in said passage therepast.

Claim 13

Apparatus for applying to a surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle defining opposite first and second ends and a through passage between said ends for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said first end; means for partially separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and manually operable means for selectively holding the tape strip in said handle passage against withdrawal movement to effect full separation of said distal portion therefrom as an incident of concurrent holding of the tape strip and movement of said handle first end away from the applied distal portion, said first end of the handle being provided with a yieldable roller for applying pressure to the tape being applied to the surface, said roller including a resilient core biasing the roller to a transverse normal position perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tape strip.

Claim 14

Apparatus for applying to a surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle defining opposite first and second ends and a through passage between said ends for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said first end; means for partially separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and manually operable means for selectively holding the tape strip in said handle passage against withdrawal movement to effect full separation of said distal portion therefrom as an incident of concurrent holding of the tape strip and movement of said handle first end away from the applied distal portion, said first end of the handle being provided with a yieldable roller for applying pressure to the tape being applied to the surface, said roller including a resilient core biasing the roller to a transverse normal position perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tape strip.

Claim 15

Apparatus for applying to a surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle having a pair of spaced side walls defining an end of the handle and a through passage through said end for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said handle end; means for separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and means for transversely adjusting the spacing of said side walls from a centerline of the handle end to provide accurate centered guiding of the tape strip as it is applied from said first end.

Claim 16

Apparatus for applying to a surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle having a pair of spaced side walls defining an end of the handle and a through passage through said end for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said handle end; means for separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and means for transversely adjusting the spacing of said side walls from a centerline of the handle end to provide accurate centered guiding of the tape strip as it is applied from said first end.

Claim 17

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 12 wherein said side wall adjusting means comprises threaded means.

Claim 18

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 12 wherein said side wall adjusting means comprises threaded means and spring means biasing the side walls adjacent the threaded means toward a maximum width passage configuration.

Claim 19

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 12 wherein said handle end is bifurcated and said side wall adjusting means comprises threaded means extending transversely across said passage.

Claim 20

Apparatus for applying to surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle defining opposite first and second ends and a through passage between said ends for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said first end; means for separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and a yieldable roller for applying pressure to the tape being applied to the receiving surface, said roller including a resilient core rotatably mounted to a shaft supported transversely across said passage at said handle first end, and a substantially rigid tubular outer member coaxially surrounding said core, said core biasing the roller to a transverse position perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tape strip.

Claim 21

Apparatus for applying to surface a strip of flexible tape from a roll supply, comprising: an elongated handle defining opposite first and second ends and a through passage between said ends for conducting tape from said supply for application of the tape to a surface at said first end; means for separating a distal portion of the tape applied to the surface from the tape strip within said handle passage; and a yieldable roller for applying pressure to the tape being applied to the receiving surface, said roller including a resilient core rotatably mounted to a shaft supported transversely across said passage at said handle first end, and a substantially rigid tubular outer member coaxially surrounding said core, said core biasing the roller to a transverse position perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tape strip.

Claim 22

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 16 wherein said roller includes a rigid support tube coaxially between said resilient core and said shaft for providing a low friction journalling of the roller on the shaft.

Claim 23

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 16 wherein said outer member is formed of a synthetic resin.

Claim 24

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 16 wherein said resilient core is formed of polyurethane.

Claim 25

The tape strip applying apparatus of claim 16 wherein said roller extends transversely across said passage at said first end of the handle and projects partially outwardly therefrom.