# US 5,707,482 A · Removable highlighting tape > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,482 A - Document ID: US5707482A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/649,060 - Filed: 1996-05-16 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-05-16 - Inventors: Stephen M. Fusselman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707482A ## CPC - B65H 37/007: {Applicators for applying coatings, e.g. correction, colour or adhesive coatings} - C09J 7/22: Plastics; Metallised plastics - Y10T 156/1795: Implement carried web supply - Y10T 156/18: Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip - Y10T 428/28: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer - Y10T 428/2861: having readily strippable combined with readily readhearable properties [e.g., stick-ons, etc.] - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The highlighting tape generally comprises a highlighting film and an adhesive. The highlighting film is a thin, pliable translucent film of a color that will make the underlying text stand out. The film is capable of being cut or torn. The adhesive is a non-permanent, translucent adhesive that is easily held in place when pressed to a surface. The highlighting tape may be dispensed from a tape dispenser that supports a tape roll configuration. The tape dispenser is trapezoidally shaped and designed to fit the average user's hand. The tape dispenser generally comprises a hollow casing. Hinged to the hollow casing is a tape roll holding mechanism which employs a spinning, toothed hub which easily holds in place a roll of highlighting tape wound about a toothed core. Also hinged to the hollow casing is a release latch which when open allows the tape holding mechanism to swing out and be reloaded with a new roll of highlighting tape. When closed, the release latch holds the tape roll holding mechanism in place for easy tape dispensing. To employ the highlighting tape one need only dispense the tape from the tape dispenser using its guide lip to guide placement of the tape atop the original document. When highlighting is completed, one need only press down and away on the guide lip to tear the tape free from the dispenser. The highlighting tape can easily be peeled up and relocated to highlight new text or thrown away. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A highlighting tape with tape dispenser comprising: (a) a very thin, color-fast, translucent film; and (b) a very thin, uniform layer of translucent, pressure sensitive adhesive covering one side of said film, the adhesive allowing the film to be applied to a printed surface, removed and reapplied to a printed surface without leaving behind an adhesive residue, the film and adhesive in roll configuration, wound about a center core, wherein the core has a plurality of protruding teeth; and (c) a tape dispensing means comprising: (i) a hand-held sized, rigid, plastic trapezoidal-shaped hollow casing comprising a solid front portion, a solid back portion, two solid side portions serving to connect the front and back portions, a solid top portion serving to connect the front, back and side portions and an open bottom, the casing narrowing in width from the open bottom to the top portion, one of the side portions having an extending guide lip, the guide lip serving to both guide and cut the dispensed highlighting tape; (ii) a rigid, plastic, molded, trapezoidal-shaped tape roll holder comprising a front side, a back side and a bottom portion, wherein the front side of the tape roll holder has a centrally located cavity wherein is located a spinning, toothed hub, the hub and cavity serving to hold the highlighting tape in its roll configuration, the protruding teeth of the center core meshing with the hub teeth, the tape roll holder hingedly attached between the front and back portions of the hollow casing, the back side and bottom portion of the tape roll holder containing a recess to allow for placement of the pull-down device; and (iii) a rigid, plastic, molded tape roll holder release latch comprising a front and a back locking clasp, a bottom cap portion and a pull-down device, the release latch hingedly attached between the front and back portions of the hollow casing, the pull-down device inserted into the tape roll holder recess, the front and back locking clasps capable of locking on to the front and back portions of the hollow casing respectively, the bottom cap portion serving to virtually seal the open bottom portion of the hollow casing leaving a small tape dispensing opening remaining when the locking clasps are in their locked position, the pull-down device causing the tape roll holder to swing out the open bottom portion of the hollow casing without interference for reloading of the highlighting tape when the locking clasps are in their unlocked position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The highlighting tape with tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the highlighting tape film is a fluorescent color. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The highlighting tape with tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the highlighting tape is capable of tearing with a minimum of difficulty and is easily cuttable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The highlighting tape with tape dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hollow casing of the tape dispensing device has a window for observing the highlighting tape in roll configuration.