GB1582431A

GB1582431A - Dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB1582431A
Application number: GB59876A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PATON Ltd WILLIAM
Current assignee: PATON Ltd WILLIAM
Priority date: 1977-04-12
Filing date: 1977-04-12
Publication date: 1981-01-07

Description

(54) DISPENSER (71) We, WILLIAM PATON -LIMITED, a British company of Johnstone Mills, High Street, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing the leading article of a line of articles.

According to the present invention there is provided a dispenser for dispensing the leading article of a line of similarly shaped articles each having a leading face, a rear face and a perimeter wall, said dispenser comprising in combination an elongate tubular container containing a line of said articles longitudinally therein located one behind the other and disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container, said container having a dispensing end whereat the end face is open over a portion of its area to expose a portion of the leading face of the leading article and has an end wall portion over the remaining area, and at least a portion of the container wall bordering said open end and remote from the wall portion of the end face is cut back a distance sufficient to expose a portion of the perimeter wall of the article whereby said article can be withdrawn from the container with said perimeter wall portion leading in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container, and feed means to urge the articles towards the dispensing end to abut the end wall portion said means comprising an endless resilient band passing round the line of articles within the container and being looped over the dispensing end of the container to engage the exterior thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container for use as a dispenser according to the invention Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser comprising the container of Fig. 1 loaded with articles to be dispensed and cut away to show a portion of the interior; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to a modification of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to a second embodiment; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to a third embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a container for use as a dispenser showing flaps and a tongue for forming the portion of the end face.

A dispenser is provided for dispensing the leading article I of a line of articles I, and these articles are, for example, small slim tubes 1 (see Fig. 2) of rectangular crosssection closed at one end and with or wfth out a lid on the other end. Each tube contains, for example, a pair of shoe laces 2 and may be made of a clear firm plastics.

For convenience, the dispenser will be described in an upright position The dispenser (Fig. 1) is an elongate tubular container 10 of rectangular cross section which is.open or openable at one end (the rear end) by flaps 11 and is adapted to receive therethrough a line of upright rectangular cross section tubes 1 (with the lid of the tube uppermost) in a line one behind the other; each article therefore, has a front and rear face and a rectangular perimeter wall. The dispenser is, therefore, long enough to contain a number of upright tubes, for example, ten, (only five of which are shown in Fig. 2) while its breaáth (height) is substantially the same as the tube length and its width substantially the same as that of the tube. The rear end may be closed by interlocking flaps.

The other end, i.e., the front or dispensing end of the dispenser, has a front end face the lower part of which is closed by a front wall 12 but the upper part of this face is open and the side walls at 14 and the top at 16 of the container i.e. the portion of the container wall bordering the open portion are cut-away so that the forward end of the wall is "stepped"-to provide an open area such that when the dispenser is loaded, (as in Fig. 2) the upper part of the leading tube 11 is uncovered and can be drawn out of the dispenser in an upward direction i.e., in a direction perpendicular (i.e. at right angles) to the longitudinal axis of the container, and thus to the direction of movement of the tubes through the dispenser. The lower front part of the leading tube abuts the front end wall 12 of the dispenser.

Before the tubes are inserted into the container, they are held in line-ahead relation by an elastic band 20 which passes round them engaging the front and rear faces of the front and rear tubes respectively and the side faces of all the tubes.

Once a group of tubes has been located in the dispenser, the leading end 20' of the elastic band 20 is drawn forward over and looped round the end of the dispenser and thereby provides a spring-loaded effect on the tubes. Thus, when the leading tube is drawn out of the dispenser, the remaining tubes will move forward in the dispenser until the new leading one abuts the front wall.

A stabiliser 22 may be provided at the rear of the group of tubes, with the elastic band passing round the rear of the stabiliser instead of the rear face of the rear tube.

The stabiliser may be of triangular crosssection with one face abutting the rear face of the rear tube and the other two faces converging rearwardly. A niche not shown may be provided centrally at the junction of the rearwardly converging faces so that the elastic band can be retained therein.

The stabiliser supports the tubes from toppling forward, particularly when only one or two are left; it may also give information on its front face uncovered when the last tube is drawn from the dispenser, to enable a re-ordering of that particular type of lace.

Toppling, which is countered by the stabiliser, may affect slim tubes which contain laces for general use. However, tubes for football laces and the like are much deeper (although of the same width so as to fit a dispenser of the same width as before but with a deeper step) and will not be affected by the tendency to topple, so the stabiliser can be omitted.

It will be appreciated that the dispenser can be disposed in a position other than upright so that the articles can be withdrawn, e.g. horizontally or vertically downwards.

It will also be appreciated that the articles to be dispensed may contain goods other than shoe laces, or may be the vendable article and not simply a container therefor.

In a modification, Fig. 3, the lower front wall is provided, the remainder of the front face bering open, but only the top 16' i.e. a portion of the container wall bordering the opening is cut back so that the leading tube can, as before, be removed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container. In this modification, it is preferable to provide slots 30 in the side walls to accommodate the looped portion of the elastic band.

A small triangular cut out 141 may be provided as indicated in dotted lines at the top of each major side wall.

In a second embodiment (Fig. 4), the article can be dispensed sidewise from a dispenser. In this embodiment, the end face of the dispenser 40 has a front wall 42 extending transversely across a portion of the front face, the remaining portion of the front face being open and the major side wall and portions of the minor side walls bounding the open portion are cut back at 52 and 54 respectively to form a stepped portion.

In a further embodiment Fig. 5 the article to be dispensed is circular, e.g. a tin of shoe polish; -thus the article has a front and rear face and a circular perimeter wall. In this embodiment, the container 50 is cylindrical and the - dispensing end has an end wall 52 over its lower portion and an open stepped portion- 54 at its upper portion so that the leading tin can be withdrawn upwards in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container. Means would be required to ensure that the elastic band was retained around a line of such articles since the curvature of the sides would tend to displace the band; such means could be a diametrically slotted disc located at the rear of the tins with the elastic band held in the slot.

The end wall at the dispensing end of the container is formed by securing together a pair of flaps 60, 62 and folding a tongue 64 thereover. As shown in Fig. 6, the flaps 60, 62 are attached to the end of the major side walls in the container and each flap has a slot 66 and an outer portion 68 of reduced length relative to the inner portion 70. The shape of flap 62 is inversed relative to flap 60.

The flaps are secured together by engaging the slot of flap 60 with the slot of flap 62.

The tongue 64, is attached to the lower minor side wall and has crease line 72 midway of its length. The tongue folds upwards over the outer face of-the secured flaps then downwards over the inner face of the flaps, flange 74 in the end of the tongue engaging in a slot 76 on the line of origin 78 of the tongue from the minor side wall WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A dispenser -for dispensing the leading article of a line of similarly shaped articles each having a leading face, a rear

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (as in Fig. 2) the upper part of the leading tube 11 is uncovered and can be drawn out of the dispenser in an upward direction i.e., in a direction perpendicular (i.e. at right angles) to the longitudinal axis of the container, and thus to the direction of movement of the tubes through the dispenser. The lower front part of the leading tube abuts the front end wall 12 of the dispenser. Before the tubes are inserted into the container, they are held in line-ahead relation by an elastic band 20 which passes round them engaging the front and rear faces of the front and rear tubes respectively and the side faces of all the tubes. Once a group of tubes has been located in the dispenser, the leading end 20' of the elastic band 20 is drawn forward over and looped round the end of the dispenser and thereby provides a spring-loaded effect on the tubes. Thus, when the leading tube is drawn out of the dispenser, the remaining tubes will move forward in the dispenser until the new leading one abuts the front wall. A stabiliser 22 may be provided at the rear of the group of tubes, with the elastic band passing round the rear of the stabiliser instead of the rear face of the rear tube. The stabiliser may be of triangular crosssection with one face abutting the rear face of the rear tube and the other two faces converging rearwardly. A niche not shown may be provided centrally at the junction of the rearwardly converging faces so that the elastic band can be retained therein. The stabiliser supports the tubes from toppling forward, particularly when only one or two are left; it may also give information on its front face uncovered when the last tube is drawn from the dispenser, to enable a re-ordering of that particular type of lace. Toppling, which is countered by the stabiliser, may affect slim tubes which contain laces for general use. However, tubes for football laces and the like are much deeper (although of the same width so as to fit a dispenser of the same width as before but with a deeper step) and will not be affected by the tendency to topple, so the stabiliser can be omitted. It will be appreciated that the dispenser can be disposed in a position other than upright so that the articles can be withdrawn, e.g. horizontally or vertically downwards. It will also be appreciated that the articles to be dispensed may contain goods other than shoe laces, or may be the vendable article and not simply a container therefor. In a modification, Fig. 3, the lower front wall is provided, the remainder of the front face bering open, but only the top 16' i.e. a portion of the container wall bordering the opening is cut back so that the leading tube can, as before, be removed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container. In this modification, it is preferable to provide slots 30 in the side walls to accommodate the looped portion of the elastic band. A small triangular cut out 141 may be provided as indicated in dotted lines at the top of each major side wall. In a second embodiment (Fig. 4), the article can be dispensed sidewise from a dispenser. In this embodiment, the end face of the dispenser 40 has a front wall 42 extending transversely across a portion of the front face, the remaining portion of the front face being open and the major side wall and portions of the minor side walls bounding the open portion are cut back at 52 and 54 respectively to form a stepped portion. In a further embodiment Fig. 5 the article to be dispensed is circular, e.g. a tin of shoe polish; -thus the article has a front and rear face and a circular perimeter wall. In this embodiment, the container 50 is cylindrical and the - dispensing end has an end wall 52 over its lower portion and an open stepped portion- 54 at its upper portion so that the leading tin can be withdrawn upwards in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container. Means would be required to ensure that the elastic band was retained around a line of such articles since the curvature of the sides would tend to displace the band; such means could be a diametrically slotted disc located at the rear of the tins with the elastic band held in the slot. The end wall at the dispensing end of the container is formed by securing together a pair of flaps 60, 62 and folding a tongue 64 thereover. As shown in Fig. 6, the flaps 60, 62 are attached to the end of the major side walls in the container and each flap has a slot 66 and an outer portion 68 of reduced length relative to the inner portion 70. The shape of flap 62 is inversed relative to flap 60. The flaps are secured together by engaging the slot of flap 60 with the slot of flap 62. The tongue 64, is attached to the lower minor side wall and has crease line 72 midway of its length. The tongue folds upwards over the outer face of-the secured flaps then downwards over the inner face of the flaps, flange 74 in the end of the tongue engaging in a slot 76 on the line of origin 78 of the tongue from the minor side wall WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A dispenser -for dispensing the leading article of a line of similarly shaped articles each having a leading face, a rear

fact and a perimeter wall, said dispenser comprising in combination an elongate tubular container containing a line of articles longitudinally therein located one behind the other and disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container, said container having a dispensing end whereat the end face is open over a portion of its area to expose a portion of the leading face of the leading article and has an end wall portion over the remaining area and at least the portion of the container wall bordering said open end any remote from the wall portion of the end face is cut back a distance sufficient to expose a portion of the perimeter wall of the article whereby said article can be withdrawn from the container with said perimeter wall portion leading in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the container, and feed means to urge the articles towards the dispensing end to abut the end wall portion, said means comprising an endless resilient band passing round the line of articles within the container and being looped over the dispensing end of the container to engage the exterior thereof.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the entire portion of the container wall bordering the open portion of the end face is cut back to form a stepped portion and in which the resilient band is looped round the unstepped portion of the container adjacent the dispensing end thereof.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the articles to be dispensed are tubes of rectangular cross section each of which contains a vendible product, such as a pair of shoe laces.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 and of rectangular cross section in which the end wall portion of the end face is formed by first and second flaps each attached to opposed major side walls of the cointainer and having co-operating slots whereby the flaps can be secured together across the end face of the container, and a central tongue attached to a minor side wall between the major side wall flaps and adapted to fold over and enclose the flaps when the latter are secured together.

5. A dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2, or Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A container for use as a dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, or Fig. 1 as modified by Fig. 3 or Fig. 6.