Masking tape applicator

A device for applying tape from a roll of tape (e.g., masking tape) along a surface to be protected with an edge of the tape extending along a juncture between the surface to be protected and a surface to be treated disposed at about a right angle with respect to the surface to be protected. The device includes a two portion housing around and journaling the tape roll, each portion having a tape contacting part of its inner surface in a first plane, and having in a second plane a guide part of its outer surface adapted to be slid along the surface to be treated. The first and second planes on each of the housing portions can be parallel or at a small angle with respect to each other so that they intersect along an application side of the housing. A pressure application structure is mounted on the housing with an outer edge each end of the pressure application structure at the intersection (if they intersect) of the first and second planes for a different adjacent one of the housing portions. The pressure application structure is mounted on the housing for limited pivotal movement in a plane at about a right angle with respect to a plane along the guide surface. The roll of tape can be mounted in the housing for free rotation and axial movement. Tape from the roll extends around the periphery of the pressure application structure so that the dispenser can be manually positioned with either housing portion against the surface to be treated and moved to apply the tape, whereupon pressures applied to the tape being dispensed by the pressure application structure in the device will cause the side surface of the roll of tape to move toward or into contact with the tape contact part of the inner surface of the housing portion being slid along the surface to be treated so that the tape is accurately applied.