Background of the Invention As described in Japanese Patent No. 2835713, a tape laminate for marking a specific portion of a document or the like has conventionally been widely used as Post-it (trademark of 3M corporation).

Fig. 15 shows a sectional view of an example of the tape laminate, and the tape laminate is formed by laminating a multiplicity of a quadrangular tape partially applied of a pressure sensitive adhesive along one side of the quadrangular tape, such that each the pressure sensitive adhesive applied portion is alternately reversed.

The tape laminate as described above is inserted into a dispenser, which is a small container, and a tape is individually taken out therefrom to be properly used.

The dispenser has a housing for accommodating the tape laminate, and is structured to have the tape individually taken out from a slit formed on the top surface of the housing.

However, the conventional dispenser is originally designed and manufactured under the throwaway idea, and composed of a box-like top cover with an open bottom and a paper-made bottom cover for sealing the bottom, and the bottom cover is adhered to the top cover. Accordingly, when a tape laminate inserted in the dispenser is completely used up, the dispenser becomes useless and is scrapped. The dispensers scrapped in such a manner cause a problem from the standpoints of the protection of resources and reduction in cost.

Summary of the Invention Briefly, the present invention provides a dispenser for tape laminate that can be repetitively used.

Further, the present invention provides a dispenser that can reduce waste by saving the dispenser from being thrown away or discarded after use and be advantageous for the protection of resources.

According to the present invention, a dispenser for tape laminate is provided having a housing for accommodating a tape laminate composed by laminating a multiplicity of layers of quadrangular tapes, a pressure sensitive adhesive being applied along one side of each of the quadrangular tapes, and pressure sensitive adhesive applied portion of each of the tapes being laminated so as to be alternately reversed, and structured such that a tape can be individually taken out from a slit formed on the top surface of the housing, characterized in that the dispenser for tape laminate comprises a box-like top cover, having one surface thereof being open, and having a flange protrudedly provided from an outer edge of the open surface, and a bottom cover for sealing the open surface, and that it is structured so as to cover the open surface by inserting the flange of the top cover into rails provided on the bottom cover.

Further, according to the present invention, a dispenser for a tape laminate is provided having a housing for accommodating a tape laminate composed by laminating a multiplicity of quadrangular tapes, a pressure sensitive adhesive being applied along one side of each of the quadrangular tapes, and pressure sensitive adhesive applied portion of each of the tapes being laminated so as to be alternately reversed, and structured such that a tape can be individually taken out from a slit formed on the top surface of the housing, characterized in that the dispenser for tape laminate comprises a box-like top cover, having one surface thereof being open, and having a flange protrudedly provided from an outer edge of the open surface, and a bottom cover for sealing the open surface, and that it is structured so as to seal the open surface by interposing the flange of the top cover by slits provided on the bottom cover.

In the dispenser according to the present invention, it is preferable to provide slits for interposing sides of the flange of the top cover on the bottom cover, and is also preferable to provide slits for interposing corners of the flange of the top cover on the bottom cover.

Further, according to the present invention, a dispenser for tape laminate is provided having a housing for accommodating a tape laminate composed by laminating a multiplicity of layers of quadrangular tapes, a pressure sensitive adhesive being applied along one side of each of the quadrangular tapes, and pressure sensitive adhesive applied portion of each of the tapes being laminated so as to be alternately reversed, and structured such that a tape can be individually taken out from a slit formed on the top surface of the housing, characterized in that the dispenser for tape laminate comprises a box-like top cover, having one surface thereof being open, and having a flange protrudedly provided from an outer fringe of said open surface, and a bottom cover for sealing the open surface, and that it is structured so as to seal the open surface by engaging pins protrudedly provided on the bottom cover with holes bored on the top cover or the flange of the top cover.

In the dispenser, it is preferable to prevent slippage of the top cover by inserting a projection provided on the bottom cover with a depression provided on the flange of the top cover.

Brief Description of the Drawing (s) Figs. l (a), l (b), and l (c) show perspective views of an embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 1 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. l (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. l (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 2 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 2 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c) show perspective views of still another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 3 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 3 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 4 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 4 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 4 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Figs. 5 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 5 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 5 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 6 (a), 6 (b), and 6 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 6 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 6 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 6 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 7 (a), 7 (b), and 7 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 7 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 7 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 7 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 8 (a), 8 (b), and 8 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 8 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 8 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 8 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 9 (a), 9 (b), and 9 (c) show perspective views of still another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 9 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 9 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 9 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c) show perspective views of still another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention,

and Fig. 10 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 10 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 10 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Figs. 11 (a), 11 (b), and 11 (c) show perspective views of still another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 1 l (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 1 l (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 1 l (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover thereof, respectively.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention viewed from the downside thereof.

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention viewed from the downside thereof.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of still another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention viewed from the downside thereof.

Fig. 15 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a tape laminate.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment (s) A dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention facilitates repetitive use of a dispenser that is conventionally thrown away at the time when a tape laminate therein is used up, by using a bottom cover that can be easily fixed or removed relative to a top cover.

The dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention has mainly the following three configurations, although the invention is not specifically limited to only these three configurations.

(1) Comprises a box-like top cover, a bottom thereof being open, having a flange, and a bottom cover for sealing the bottom, and inserts the flange of the top cover into rails provided on the bottom cover.

(2) Comprises a box-like top cover, a bottom thereof being open, having a flange, and a bottom cover for sealing a bottom, and interposes the flange of top cover by slits provided on the bottom cover.

(3) Comprises a box-like top cover, a bottom thereof being open, having a flange, and a bottom cover for sealing the bottom, and engages pins protrudedly provided on the bottom cover with holes bored on the top cover or the flange of the top cover.

Further, in addition to the above-described three configurations, a complex method combining two or more thereof may also be employed.

Furthermore, a material for a dispenser is specifically not limited, and any material can be used, including plastics, metal, metal alloys, paper, paper laminates, such as wax coated laminates. However, moldability, lightness in weight, cost, and the like are considered preferable. Such preferable materials would include but not be limited to resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, ABS resin, or the like.

Although a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention is hereinafter described in further detail with reference to embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

To begin with, a first aspect is described. The first configuration corresponda with an embodiment shown in Figs. l (a), l (b), and l (c) to Figs. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c).

Figs. 1 (a), 1 (b), and 1 (c) show perspective views of an embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 1 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. l (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. l (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and bottom cover, respectively.

In Figs. 1 (a), l (b), and 1 (c), the top cover 10 is a housing, a bottom surface thereof being open, having a flange 11 protrudedly provided from an outer fringe of the opening, and is structure such that a tape can be individually taken out from a tape take-out port 12 composed of a slit formed in the center of the top surface of the housing. Further, the bottom cover 14 is to accommodate a tape laminate therein by sealing the bottom opening of the top cover 10. The bottom cover 14 is provided with rails 15 on both sides along longitudinal direction thereof, and is structure such that the bottom opening of the top cover 10 is sealed by inserting the flange 11 of the top cover 10 to the rails 15 provided on the bottom cover 14. In addition, slittings 16 are provided on both opposing ends in the longitudinal

direction of the bottom cover 14, so as to interpose opposing two short sides 17 of the flange 11 of the top cover 10.

Figs. 2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c) shows perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 2 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 2 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively.

In an embodiment shown in Figs. 2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c), although a top cover 10 is structured in the same manner as that in Fig. l (a), a bottom cover 14 is structured in a different manner therefrom. In other words, although the bottom cover 14 is provided with rails 15 on both sides thereof along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of the rails 15 has a notch in the middle thereof, and a slitting 18 is provided at the notch. Then, a flange 11 of the top cover 10 is inserted to the rails 15 provided on the bottom cover 14, and notches 19 provided in the middle of opposing long sides of the flange 11 are interposed by the slittings 18 of the bottom cover 14.

Figs. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c) show perspective views of still another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate of the present invention, and Fig. 3 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 3 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 3 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c), although the top cover 10 is structured in the same manner as that of Fig. l (a), the bottom cover 14 is structured in a different manner therefrom. In other words, although the bottom cover 14 is provided with rails 15 on both sides along the longitudinal direction thereof, each of the rails 15 has a notch in the middle thereof, and projections 20 are provided at the notches. Then, a flange 11 of the top cover 10 is inserted to the rails 15 provided on the bottom cover 14, and depressions (notches) 19 provided in the middle of opposing long sides of the flange 11 is engaged with the projection 20 of the bottom cover 14 for preventing a slippage of the top cover 10.

Now, the second configuration is described and corresponds with an embodiment shown in Figs. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) to Figs. 6 (a), 6 (b), and 6 (c).

Figs. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 4 (a)

shows a top cover, Fig. 4 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 4 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) is different from the embodiment shown in Figs. l (a), l (b), and l (c) to Figs. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c), and the bottom cover 14 is provided with slittings 21 on both sides along the longitudinal direction thereof, and both ends opposing in the longitudinal direction of the bottom cover 14 are also provided with slittings 22 for interposing the four sides of the flange 11 of the top cover 10.

Figs. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, and Fig. 5 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 5 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 5 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c) is different from that shown in Figs. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) only in a point that the slittings 21 provided on both sides along longitudinal direction in the bottom cover 14 are provided on two sites each, in total on four sites.

Figs. 6 (a), 6 (b), and 6 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate, and Fig. 6 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 6 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 6 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively. In the embodiment, slittings 23 are provided in the vicinity of four corners of the bottom cover 14, so as to interpose corners 24 of the flange 11 of the top cover 10.

Now, the third configuration is shown in Figs. 7 (a), 7 (b), and 7 (c) to Figs.

9 (a), 9 (b), and 9 (c).

Figs. 7 (a), 7 (b), and 7 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate, and Fig. 7 (a) shows a top cover, Fig. 7 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 7 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively.

The embodiment is structured such that pins 25 are extrudedly provided in the vicinity of the four corners of the bottom cover 14, and by engaging the pins 25 with holes 26 bored on the top cover 10, the bottom opening of the top cover 10 is sealed.

Further, Figs. 8 (a), 8 (b), and 8 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention, which is a modification of the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 (a), 7 (b), and 7 (c).

Pins 27 protrudedly provided in the four corners of the bottom cover 14 are bent near the top, and bulged ends 28 formed thereon are engaged with holes 26 bored on the lid 10.

Now, description is made about a complex system combining two or more of the above-described three aspects.

Figs. 9 (a), 9 (b), and 9 (c) show perspective views of still another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate, and Fig. 9 (a) shows a top cover, Fig.

9 (b) shows a bottom cover, and Fig. 9 (c) shows a dispenser composed by being fitted with the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively.

In the embodiment, the bottom cover 14 is provided with rails 15 on predetermined portions of both sides along longitudinal direction thereof, and in the vicinity of two corners neighboring one short side of the bottom cover 14, pins 25 are protrudedly provided. Further, the bottom cover 14 is formed bendably toward the underside by a bend 31 in a short side neighboring region 30 including the pins 25.

Accordingly, in the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9 (c), after a flange 11 of the top cover 10 is inserted to the rails 15 provided on the bottom cover 14, and the short side neighboring region 30 of the bottom cover 14 is bent toward the underside, two holes 26 bored on the top cover 10 are engaged with the pins 25 of the bottom cover 14 to seal the bottom opening of the top cover 10.

Further, Figs. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c) show perspective views of another embodiment of a dispenser for tape laminate of the present invention, which is a modification of the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 (a), 9 (b), and 9 (c). In other words, pins 35 protrudedly provided in the vicinity of two corners neighboring one short side of the bottom cover 14 are structured so as to engage with two holes 26 bored on the top cover 10 by sliding laterally instead of perpendicularly.

Accordingly, in case of this embodiment, the bend 31 as shown in Figs. 9 (a), 9 (b), and 9 (c) is unneeded.

Furthermore, an embodiment shown in Figs. 1 l (a), 11 (b), and 11 (c) is a modification of the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c), and the bottom cover 14 is provided with rails 15 in one region of substantially half the area of the both end portion along the longitudinal direction thereof, and pins 36 of the sliding structure are provided in the other region of substantially half the area thereof.

Further, a dispenser for tape laminate according to the present invention may include an additional configuration. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, by providing a protruded side 41 having a hole 42 on a dispenser 40, the dispenser 40 may be hanged on a variety of places such as a wall or the like using the dispenser 40 as a hook.

Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 13, by providing a bent side 45 on a dispenser 40, the dispenser 40 may be hanged on a pocket. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 14, by making a bottom cover 50 as a box having a predetermined inner space 51 and provided with a door 52 which is capable of being opened and closed, a photograph, printed photograph, post stamp, coin, or the like may be preferably accommodated.

As described heretofore, according to the present invention, the following advantages can be achieved, which are extremely advantageous from viewpoints of the protection of resources and the reduction of cost.

(1) A dispenser that was originally discarded after use can be repetitively utilized.

(2) Only a tape laminate such as Post-it@ Flags or the like (that is, a multiplicity of a quadrangular tape partially applied of a pressure sensitive adhesive along one side of the quadrangular tape, such that each the pressure sensitive adhesive applied portion is alternately reversed) can be re-used.

(3) Since a dispenser can be manufactured by a resin, in addition to a paper, freedom relative to the shape thereof is increased, and a dispenser in a variety of outward appearance and shape can be provided.

Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principles of this invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth hereinabove. All publications and patents are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.