Tape dispenser with blade guard

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals appear on like parts throughout, there is disclosed a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape dispenser 6 comprising a base 7, a first support 9 for rotatably supporting the core of a roll of convolutely wound pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 10.
The dispenser 6 may be of a form described in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,059,210, issued Nov.
22, 1977, to H.
W.
Deering, Jr.
This dispenser is characterized by the fact that it includes a slidable support which includes a mandrel, such as that identified as the support 9, to permit the core of a roll of tape to be rotatably supported on the dispenser flame.
Spaced from the support 9 for the roll of tape is a second support or standard 11.
The standard 11 is formed with a smooth support surface to which the tape will lightly and detachably adhere (not shown).
The smooth support surface is disposed between the support 9 for the roll of tape 10 and a receptacle for the cutting blade.
The standard has upstanding spaced ears to define guides and guards at the corners of a cutting blade 15.
The receptacle for the cutting blade in the illustrated dispenser comprises a slot formed in the standard 11 of the dispenser 6 rearwardly of the front plate 12 and extending the width of the path over which the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape will be dispensed.
The cutting blade 15 is disposed in the slot for severing the tape.
The cutting blade 15 is formed as described in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
3,505,734, issued Apr.
14, 1972 to C.
A.
Iten.
The blade 15 comprises a razor blade 16 having a razor blade edge 17 and a self-contained guard in the form of a thin flexible material 18 wound spirally around the blade to conform with the contour of the blade surface.
The razor blade 16 may have the dimensions and proportions comparable to those of other commercially available razor blades but it comprises a guard which prevents the cutting of the skin when brought into contact with the blade