[0001] The present invention relates to a hand-held device for transferring a film of adhesive,
covering or coloured material from a backing tape onto a substrate according to the
preamble of claim 1.
[0002] In prior art, correction tape applicators or applicators for adhesive tape or the
like are known. Usually, these applicators comprise a housing and a tip of an application
member protruding from the housing, whereby correction tape of the like is guided
around this tip. Since correction tape or any other tape used for these type of applicators
is very sensitive and the tip is always exposed to the ambience and, thus, to outside
influences, it is very likely that the tape is injured or even ruptured, when the
applicator is not in use and stored somewhere. Once such a tape ruptures, the entire
applicator has to be thrown away. However, there exist some solutions to protect the
tape from outside influences, when the applicator is not used. For example, a cap
can be provided, which fits on the housing and which is put on the applicator after
use. Using such a cap for protection has the disadvantage that it can easily get lost,
and then the tip with the tape thereon is unprotected again. Moreover, the applicator
is enlarged in size, when a cap is put on the housing, thus, rendering it inconvenient
to store.
[0003] Another solution known from prior art is to provide a protection member directly
on the housing, so that it cannot get lost. However, applicators equipped with this
kind of protection means usually are hard to handle by a user.
[0004] Therefore, the present invention is based on the object to provide a hand-held device
for transferring a film of adhesive, covering or coloured material from a backing
tape onto a substrate, according to which the application member is reliably protected,
when the device is not used, and which is easy to use for a user.
[0005] This object is solved by a hand-held device having the features of claim 1. Preferred
embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
[0006] According to the invention, a hand-held device for transferring a film of adhesive,
covering or colored material from a backing tape onto a substrate is provided, comprising
a housing. The housing is provided with a tip opening, through which a tip of an application
member protrudes. A cover is provided, the cover being moveable on the neck portion
from a first position in which the tip of the application member is uncovered to a
second position in which the tip of the application member is covered.
[0007] According to the general idea of the present invention the cover is transferred between
the first and the second position by rotating it relative to the housing.
[0008] To this regard the cover can e.g. be mounted directly or indirectly on the housing
such that it spirals between the first and the second position.
[0009] Preferably the tip itself is not rotated when rotating the cover, but fixed in rotation
vis-à-vis the housing.
[0010] E.g., the cover can comprises a first member adapted to spirally move on the outer
surface of the neck portion and a second member connected to the fist member adapted
to cover the tip of the application member in the second position.
[0011] By the above-mentioned construction of a hand-held device, the cover stays on the
housing, even when the hand-held device is used, so that the cover which is intended
to protect the tip, when the hand-held device is not in use, cannot get lost. The
protection of the tip, moreover, is achieved in a very easy to handle manner in that
the cover is moved from a first position in which the tip is uncovered to a second
position in which the tip totally disappears inside a cavity formed by the cover,
and, thus, is protected against outside influences.
[0012] Thereby the cover moves spirally on the outer surface of the neck portion, facilitating
the handling for a user, who without any effort can grip the cover between his thumb
and the index finger of one hand and move the cover by twisting it. To carry out the
twisting motion in the manner described above is much easier for a user than it would
be the case, if, e.g., a linear movement would have to be carried out to move the
cover in a position to protect the tip. The cover smoothly slides on the surface of
the cylindrical portion of the neck, whereby the spiral movement is guided by the
two guiding members provided inside the first member of the cover.
[0013] Preferably, the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion of the first member
is corrugated or provided with ribs or grip ribs, respectively. Thus, a user, whose
finger tip and thumb tip rests on the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion
of the cover to twist it in either direction for covering or for uncovering the tip
of the application member, will not slide off the cover surface with his finger tips,
when performing the twisting motion.
[0014] Further, the cover itself will not slide off the cylindrical neck portion of the
hand-held device, since preferably at least one stop pin is provided on the neck portion,
projecting from its circumference and restricting the spiral movement so that the
cover cannot slip off the neck portion.
[0015] The present invention and further advantages, which can be achieved by the present
invention, will now be explained in detail by means of a preferred embodiment with
reference to the drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the housing and the cover according to the present
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the hand-held device according to the present invention,
the cover being in the first position; and
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the hand-held device according to the present invention,
the cover being in the second position.
[0016] Fig. 1 shows the hand-held device 1 according to the present invention. The housing
2 and the cover 3 are illustrated separately in an exploded view. The housing 2 itself
has three differently shaped portions: a rear portion 4 having a hemispherical shape,
an intermediate portion or main body 5 having a rounded long-stretched or terete,
shape, and a neck portion 6 provided at a front end of the hand-held device 1. The
neck portion 6, moreover, is made up of two differently shaped portions: a cylindrical
portion 7 adjacent to the main body 5 and a tapering portion 8, forming the outermost
part of the front end of the housing 2.
[0017] Projecting from the surface of the cylindrical portion 7 positioned immediately before
the transition from the cylindrical portion 7 to the tapering portion 8, there is
provided a stop pin 9, against which the cover 3 will abut, when being twisted by
a user, and, thus, will not come off the neck portion 6 of the housing 2. The tapering
portion 8 only has a very slight taper and at the very front end of the tapering portion
8, there is provided a tip opening 10, through which the tip 11 of an application
member 12 protrudes. A correction tape 13 being composed of a backing tape on the
surface of which a film of covering material is applied is directed from the cavity
formed inside the housing 2 to the application member 12, around an application edge
14 and back into the housing 2 again.
[0018] For safe guidance of the correction tape 13 around the tip 11 of the application
member 12, the tip 11 has two opposite guiding wings 15, which extend on both sides
therefrom substantially perpendicular to form a wall on both sides of the tip 11 such
that the correction tape 13 cannot slip off, when the application edge 14 is moved
on the surface of a substrate as, e.g., a sheet of paper. A recess 20 is formed in
the tapering portion 8 of the neck portion 6. The recess 20 extends from the very
front end of the tapering portion 8, where also the tip opening 10 is provided, towards
the cylindrical portion 7. The recess 20 is arranged directly above the correction
tape 13.
[0019] Inside the housing 2 or, in particular, in the cavity formed by the housing 2, a
driving mechanism (not shown) is provided for supplying the correction tape 13 to
the application member 12 and for taking up the used tape. The driving mechanism can
be of any type, as long as the tape 13 is automatically supplied and taken up, when
using the hand-held device 1 in that the application edge 14 is moved on a substrate.
[0020] Further, the cover 3 is illustrated in Fig 1, as already mentioned above. As can
be seen from the drawing, the cover 3 comprises two main components: a lower cam or
first member 16 and an upper cam or second member 17. The first member 16, in an assembled
state of the hand-held device 1, is seated on the neck portion 6 of the housing 2.
Moreover, the second member 17 is fixedly connected to the first member 16, when the
hand-held device 1 is assembled. The first member 16 has a ring-shaped collar 18,
the inner diameter of which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the neck
portion 6, so that it fits thereon relatively tight, but however, still has some positive
allowance such that the cover 3 can be moved on the neck portion 6.
[0021] Two guiding member 19 are arranged on the inner circumference of the ring-shaped
collar 18, substantially opposite to each other. Each guiding member 19 is formed
with a trailing edge 26, which verges into a steep rising edge 27. Due to this configuration
which, moreover, in an assembled state of the hand-held device 1, contacts the outer
surface of the cylindrical portion 7 of the neck portion 6 and slides thereon, a spiral
movement of the cover 3 on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 7 is enabled
and guided or controlled, respectively, when a user twists the cover 3.
[0022] The second member 17 of the cover 3 will now be described. The second member 17 substantially
corresponds to the shape of the neck portion 6 of the housing 2, but, however, has
slightly larger diameters such that it still fits and also can be moved on the neck
portion 6. Thus, the second member 17 also has a cylindrical portion 21, the inner
diameter of which is just slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical
portion 7 of the neck portion 6, and a tapering portion 22, the inner diameter of
which is just slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tapering portion 8 of
the neck portion 6.
[0023] The surface of outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 21 of the second member
17 is corrugated such that grip rips 23 are formed thereon, to prevent the finger
tip and/or thumb tip of a user, who holds the hand-held device 1 in his fingers, to
slip off the cover 3, when he twists the cover 3 to cover or uncover, respectively,
the application member 12. Here, the grip ribs 23 are provided over the entire surface
of the cylindrical portion 21. However, it is also conceivable that they are only
provided partially, e.g., just at two positions, where the user should place his finger
tips or lengthwise, just covering a portion of the cylindrical portion 21, but still
being provided around the entire circumference.
[0024] Moreover, the second member 17 has a first opening 22, which is adapted and sized
to be slid over the first member 16 and a second opening 25, through which the tip
11 of the application member 12 protrudes, when the hand-held device 1 is being used.
[0025] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the hand-held device 1 according to the present
invention, the cover being in the first position, and Fig. 3 shows a perspective view
of the hand-held device according to the present invention, the cover being in the
second position. With respect to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the operation of the hand-held
device 1 will now be explained.
[0026] In Fig. 2, the cover 3 of the hand-held device 1 is in the first position, in which
the tip 11 of the application member 12 is uncovered, so that the hand-held device
1 is ready for use. In this position, i.e., the first position of the cover 3, the
tip 11 of the application member 12 protrudes through the second opening 25 of the
cover 3. The cover 3 is in a retracted position here, since the collar 18 of the first
member 16 abuts against the main body 5 of the housing 2 and the neck portion 6 of
the housing 2 is totally overlapped by the cover 3, so that it cannot be seen from
the outside.
[0027] After the user terminates using the hand-held device 1, he puts his index finger
tip and his thumb tip on the cylindrical portion 21 of the cover 3 and simply twists
the cover 3, e.g., 90 degrees (any angle is conceivable depending on the shape of
the guiding members), whereby the cover 3 moves along the longitudinal axis L of the
hand-held device 1 spirally around the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion
7 of the neck portion 6, on the surface of which the cover 3 slides. When the second
position is reached, i.e., when the tip 11 of the application member 12 totally disappears
in a cavity formed by the cover 3 and, thus, is completely covered and protected,
the stop pin 9 prevents any further movements such that the cover could slip off the
neck portion 6 of the housing 2. In this position, which also is an extended position
of the cover 3, the hand-held device 1 can be carried along or stored, without any
risk that the correction tape 13 gets injured or ruptured. Moreover, in this extended
position, a part of the cylindrical portion 7 of the neck portion 6 is uncovered and,
thus, visible here. To turn the cover 3 back to the first position, if a user wishes
to use the hand-held device 1, it just has to be twisted into the opposite direction
(as shown by the respective arrows in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), whereas this movement is
automatically stopped when the collar 18 abuts against the main body 5 of the housing
2. Thus, a reliable protection of the tip 11 carrying the correction tape 13 or the
like is achieved by a very simple mechanism, which is very easy to handle for a user.
List of reference numerals
[0028]
- 1
- hand-held device
- 2
- housing
- 3
- cover
- 4
- rear portion
- 5
- main body
- 6
- neck portion
- 7
- cylindrical portion
- 8
- tapering portion
- 9
- stop pin
- 10
- tip opening
- 11
- tip
- 12
- application member
- 13
- correction tape
- 14
- application edge
- 15
- guiding wing
- 16
- first member
- 17
- second member
- 18
- collar
- 19
- guiding member
- 20
- recess
- 21
- cylindrical portion
- 22
- tapering portion
- 23
- grip ribs
- 24
- first opening
- 25
- second opening
- L
- longitudinal axis
1. A hand-held device (1) for transferring a film of adhesive, covering or coloured material
from a backing tape (13) onto a substrate,
comprising a housing (2) being provided with a tip opening (10), through which a tip
(11) of an application member (12) protrudes,
wherein a cover (3) is provided,
the cover (3) being moveable relative to the neck portion (6) from a first position
in which the tip (11) of the application member (12) is uncovered to a second position
in which the tip (11) of the application member (12) is covered,
characterized in that
the cover (3) is transferable between the first and second position by rotating it
relative to the housing.
2. A device according to claim 1,
wherein the cover comprises a first member (16) adapted to spirally move on the outer
surface of a neck portion (6) of the housing and a second member (17) connected to
the fist member (16) and adapted to cover the tip (11) of the application member (12)
in the second position.
3. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 2,
characterized in that
the neck portion (6) has a cylindrical portion (7) and a tapering portion (8).
4. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized in that
at least one stop pin (9) is provided on the cylindrical portion (7).
5. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that
the first member (16) has a ring-shaped collar (18) and two guiding members (19) which
are adapted to direct the spiral movement of the cover (3) on the surface of the neck
portion (6).
6. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that
the cover (3) can be moved from the first position to the second position by twisting
the cover (3).
7. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the cover (3) can be moved from the second position to the first position by twisting
it in a direction opposite to the direction of moving it from the first position to
the second position.
8. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that
the spiral movement is performed on the cylindrical portion (7) of the neck portion
(6).
9. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the second member (17) has a cylindrical portion (21) and a tapering portion (22).
10. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that
the second member (17) has a first opening (24) and a second opening (15), whereby
with the first opening (24) it is slid on the first member (16) and the second opening
(25) serves as a tip opening for the tip (11) of the application member (12).
11. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that
the first member (16) and second member (17) are fixedly connected to each other.
12. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 2 to 10,
characterized in that
a recess (20) is formed in the tapering portion (8) of the neck portion (6).
13. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12,
characterized in that
the first position is an extended position.
14. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13,
characterized in that
the second position is a retracted position.
15. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 14,
characterized in that
the tip (11) comprises an application edge (14) and two opposite guiding wings (15).
16. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 5 to 14,
characterized in that
the guiding members (19) each have a trailing edge (26).
17. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 15,
characterized in that
the trailing edge (26) verges into a steep rising edge (27) .
18. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 16,
characterized in that
at least a portion of the cylindrical portion (21) of the second member (17) is corrugated
around the outer circumference.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86(2) EPC.
1. A hand-held device (1) for transferring a film of adhesive, covering or coloured
material from a backing tape (13) onto a substrate,
comprising a housing (2) being provided with a tip opening (10), through which a tip
(11) of an application member (12) protrudes,
wherein a cover (3) is provided,
the cover (3) being moveable relative to the neck portion (6) from a first position
in which the tip (11) of the application member (12) is uncovered to a second position
in which the tip (11) of the application member (12) is covered,
wherein
- the cover (3) is transferable between the first and second position by rotating
it relative to the housing (2),
- the cover (3) is arranged at the outer surface of a neck portion (6) of the housing
(2).
2. A device according to claim 1,
wherein the cover comprises a first member (16) on the outer surface of a neck portion
(6) of the housing and a second member (17) connected to the first member (16) and
adapted to cover the tip (11) of the application member (12) in the second position.
3. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 2,
characterized in that
the neck portion (6) has a cylindrical portion (7) and a tapering portion (8).
4. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized in that
at least one stop pin (9) is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion
(7), the stop pin (9) cooperating with the first member (16) of the cover (3).
5. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that
the first member (16) has a ring-shaped collar (18) and two guiding members (19) which
are adapted to direct the spiral movement of the cover (3) on the surface of the neck
portion (6) .
6. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that
the cover (3) can be moved from the first position to the second position by twisting
the cover (3).
7. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the cover (3) can be moved from the second position to the first position by twisting
it in a direction opposite to the direction of moving it from the first position to
the second position.
8. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that
the spiral movement is performed on the cylindrical portion (7) of the neck portion
(6).
9. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the second member (17) has a cylindrical portion (21) and a tapering portion (22).
10. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that
the second member (17) has a first opening (24) and a second opening (15), whereby
with the first opening (24) it is slid on the first member (16) and the second opening
(25) serves as a tip opening for the tip (11) of the application member (12).
11. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that
the first member (16) and second member (17) are fixedly connected to each other.
12. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 2 to 10,
characterized in that
a recess (20) is formed in the tapering portion (8) of the neck portion (6).
13. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12,
characterized in that
the first position is an extended position.
14. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13,
characterized in that
the second position is a retracted position.
15. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 14,
characterized in that
the tip (11) comprises an application edge (14) and two opposite guiding wings (15).
16. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 5 to 14,
characterized in that
the guiding members (19) each have a trailing edge (26).
17. The hand-held device (1) according to claim 15,
characterized in that
the trailing edge (26) verges into a steep rising edge (27).
18. The hand-held device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 16,
characterized in that
at least a portion of the cylindrical portion (21) of the second member (17) is corrugated
around the outer circumference.