Ergonomic and easily serviceable taper tool
View Patent ↗The invention provides a taper tool, including a movable sleeve that has flanges with inclined surfaces for use as hand-holds. The sleeve rides on bearings, which are mounted in recesses out of the user's way. A spring-loaded wireform retainer secures the bearings in their respective recesses. The retainers include quick-change tabs that hold the retainers in a servicing position that permits the bearings to be easily removed and replaced. The taper tool also includes a spool mounting assembly having a guard rod that swings out and away from a tape spool for facilitating replenishment of the tape. When the guard rod is in the closed position, it is secured by a detent located on the tape spool spindle. The spool mounting assembly includes a base, a tape spool, a spindle, a guard rod and an end protector having rounded, grippable exterior edges.
1. A taper tool for feeding tape, comprising:
an elongated body; and
a spool mounting assembly for receiving a tape spool, the spool mounting assembly comprising a base removably mounted on the body, a spindle attached to the base, and a guard rod having an end, the end attached to the base, the guard rod engageable with the spindle at a location spaced from the end such that the base, the spindle, and the guard rod are a one-piece unit removably mounted on the body.
2. The taper tool of claim 1 , wherein the body has a rearward end and further comprising an end protector releasably secured to the rearward end of the body.
3. The taper tool of claim 1 , wherein the body has a rearward end and further comprising an end protector positioned at the rearward end and releasably secured to the base of the spool mounting assembly.
4. The taper tool of claim 3 , wherein said end protector is moveable relative to the base, between a first secured position and a second unsecured position.
5. The taper tool of claim 4 , further comprising a locking pin releasably attached to the end protector to prevent movement of the end protector relative to the base.
6. The taper tool of claim 5 , wherein the locking pin is releasable from the end protector by finger pressure.
7. The taper tool of claim 3 , wherein the end protector has rounded exterior edges to provide a comfortable grip.
8. The taper tool of claim 1 , wherein the tape spool is mounted on the spindle, and the guard rod is rotatable between an open position for removing the tape spool from the spindle and a closed position for retaining the tape spool on the spindle.
9. The taper tool of claim 8 , wherein the spool mounting assembly further comprises:
a detent for holding the guard rod in the closed position; and
a stop for mechanically supporting the guard rod in the closed position.
10. The taper tool of claim 1 , further comprising a tape creaser, and the spool mounting assembly further comprising a trigger for actuating the tape creaser.
11. The taper tool of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp for removably mounting the spool mounting assembly on the body.
12. A taper tool for feeding tape, the tool comprising:
an elongated body;
a tape feeder mounted on the body;
a spindle mounted on the body for receiving a tape spool; and
a guard rod having a first end rotatably mounted on the body and a second end having a stop member that rests against the body, the spindle having a detent for releasably receiving the guard rod, the detent extending around less than an entire periphery of the guard rod.
13. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the detent includes a slot for receiving the guard rod.
14. The tool of claim 13 , where in the slot is L-shaped.
15. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the detent provides an interference fit with the guard rod.
16. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the detent further comprises first and second detent elements, the first and second detent elements together receiving the guard rod.
17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the combination of first and second detent elements forms a slot for receiving the guard rod.
18. The tool of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second detent elements is spring loaded to bias the first and second detent elements together.
19. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the first detent element rotates relative to the second detent element.
20. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the detent rotates between a first position for engaging the guard rod and a second position for releasing the guard rod.