Abstract: A dispenser for storing and sequentially dispensing flexible synthetic resin disposable lids or other similar flexible, generally flat articles has an elongated, upright container with an abutment shelf extending partially across its lower end. A dispensing aperture coplanar with the shelf is disposed between the latter and a front wall of the container. The weight of the stacked lids automatically forces the exposed portion of the flexible, lowermost lid through the dispensing aperture toward a hand engageable position. As the lowermost lid is pulled through the opening, a front wall portion of the container engages the next adjacent lid to retain the same within the container. In preferred forms, an inclined lip segment extends downwardly from the abutment shelf below the aperture to limit the flexure of the lids as the latter are singularly dispensed in response to user demand.

Abstract: A golf ball dispenser is shown. It comprises a tube into which a stack of golf balls can be loaded, a base at the bottom of the tube, a cap at the top of the tube, a resilient coil spring disposed for urging balls of the stack upwardly in the tube, a ball-accepting and dispensing side aperture near the top of the tube for retaining balls that are out of register with that aperture, and, in the cap, a finger access or a plunger for manually depressing the topmost ball of the stack into dispensing register with the side aperture. The side aperture includes a finger notch which extends downwardly toward the base of the dispenser a distance sufficient for exposing part of the exterior surface of the first two balls stacked under the topmost ball.

Abstract: A dispenser for conical strainers having diametrically-projecting ears comprising elements defining a vertically-elongate, tubular structure open at its lower end and of a predetermined cross section wherein the distance between opposite corners exceeds the distance between the ears at diametrically-opposite sides of the strainers to be dispensed therefrom and supports at the open lower end of the structure located in diagonal corners comprising a single support positioned diagonally of one of the corners and spaced, parallel supports positioned diagonally of the other of the corners such as to support the rim of a strainer with its ears disposed in said corners and wherein the corner at the latter corner side is apertured to expose the ears at that corner.

Abstract: An article carrier comprising a bottom, top and a pair of side walls interconnected to form a tubular carrier, end flaps foldably joined respectively to each end of said walls, web panels interconnecting the ends of adjacent end flaps, a pair of tear lines formed respectively in the adjacent end flaps disposed at the opposite ends of one end flap and extending respectively from one end of the adjacent end flaps to the fold lines between the adjacent end flaps and the associated walls, and a pair of expansion slits extending respectively from the inner ends of the tear lines into the adjacent walls.

Abstract: A speed drill apparatus has a seed storage box SB with seed inlet manifold 2 to convey seeds to a rotatable collector wheel 5 having a number of peripheral seed receiving cavities 6. The seeds are ejected singly, assisted by a blade edge 11 running in a groove 5a joining the centers of the cavities, through an aperture B in casing 1 to fall into a groove 8 around the periphery of a distributor wheel 7. The groove 8 is subdivided by stops 9 into arcuate sectors each of which receives a seed. A retardation device 12 catches a seed in the groove 8 and holds same until carried on by a stop 9. The seed falls to the ground through outlet 13. The wheel 7 has a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed of motion over the ground and wheel 5 rotates more slowly with a reduction dependent on the ratio between the number of cavities 6 and number of stops 9. The retardation device 12 ensures accuracy of spacing by providing for discharge of each seed only when in abutment with a stop 9.

Abstract: A holder is provided for microfiche or other types of flexible sheets. The holder comprises a generally rectangular body having first and second major walls supported in substantially parallel relation to define a cavity therebetween in the body. A slot is formed along one side of the body extending between the first and second major walls through which microfiche enters and exits the cavity. A labyrinth-type lock is provided for retaining microfiche in the cavity, consisting of a projecting lip adjacent the slot on the first major wall and a ridge positioned inwardly from the lip on the second major wall. An opening is formed in the first major wall opposite the ridge to permit microfiche in the cavity to be contacted through the opening and guided around the ridge and the projecting lip for removal.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a plurality of rectangular objects and depositing the objects on a surface in uniformly spaced relationship with the objects standing upright on a short edge, more particularly, a device for setting up dominos in a row so that the dominos can be knocked down sequentially. The device includes a wheel supported body which supports an upstanding supply chamber for storing stacked dominos, and an ejecting assembly at the bottom of the supply chamber which ejects the bottom most domino toward the rear of the body as the body rolls across a surface. The ejecting assembly moves each domino into engagement with a top and side guide assembly which cooperates with the ejecting assembly to cause the domino to be deposited on the supporting surface and stabilized thereon in a stationary position before the device moves away from the domino so that the domino remains upright and does not fall.

Abstract: A dispenser for cup holders for flexible cup liners, in which the cup holders are stacked one on top of the other in a tube having a slot in the side thereof for receiving the handles of the stacked cup holders and the slot having an inlet slot portion for receiving the handles, an offset slot portion in which the handle of the lowest cup can rotate, and a discharge slot portion for discharging the lowest cup from the bottom opening of the tube after rotation of its handle.

Abstract: A needle dispenser comprising a tubular body whose walls define a cavity therein for storage of needles, said body terminating in a first end which is sealed at its extremity and terminating at a second end in a substantially convex surface, said surface containing a substantially centrally located, substantially-circular aperture in communication with said cavity, said aperture having a diameter in excess of the maximum diameter of the greatest-diameter needles to be stored in said cavity. Preferably the cavity contains a plurality (e.g. 3-5) of B--B shot which prevents the needles from readily falling out of the aperture.

Abstract: A receptacle for the portioned dispensing of the contents thereof characterized in that two channels in the receptacle are coordinated to a cover-sided exit opening of the receptacle, of which one of the channels which is adjusted to the size of the tablets and which extends from a storage space in the receptacle extends cross-wise to the exit opening, and whereas the other of the two channels lies cross-wise relative to the first-mentioned cross channel and runs in the longitudinal direction of the exit opening. A deadweight division slider is displaceably disposed in the longitudinal second-mentioned channel.

Abstract: A tennis ball device for use by tennis players and the like which mounts upon the back of a tennis player by means of an adjustable shoulder strap together with an adjustable waist belt and is provided with a dispenser end extending at substantially right angles from the bottom of the device. The device also is provided with resilient strap structure for holding the player's tennis racket. An elliptical outlet opening on the dispenser portion together with a thumb recess enables the player to quickly and easily obtain a tennis ball from the device when needed. The dispenser end is inclined upwardly from the right angle position of the end so that the stored tennis balls normally will not be at the open end of the dispenser unit until such time as the user of the device tilts the device backwardly.

Abstract: To avoid disputes as to which players have the next turn to use a tennis court, a container is mounted at a convenient location such as on the fence surrounding the court. The player deposits a suitably distinctively marked ball in the open top of the container, resting on previously deposited balls. A stop spaced below the open bottom of the container prevents balls from dropping out. The gap between the stop and the bottom edge of the container is slightly less than the diameter of the ball; however, when the bottom ball is pulled, it distorts sufficiently to pemit removal.

Abstract: A machine for vending folded paper items, such as maps, including a housing having forward amd rear walls, at least one channel-shaped chute supported within said housing, the chute being adapted to contain the folded paper items to be vended, a sliding ejector at the bottom of the chute supporting the items and having teeth to engage one of the items for sliding forward movement therewith, an exit slot in the forward wall of the housing for discharging the said one item as a result of the forward sliding movement of the ejector, a drive device in the housing to slide the ejector rearwardly from a forward position to a rearward position, and a tension spring connected to the chute and the ejector to return the ejector from the rearward position to the forward position, the one item being engaged for said forward movement when the ejector is adjacent the rearward position and being positioned for removal from the housing when the ejector has returned to the forward position.

Abstract: Hand-held, generally T-shaped product applicators and a dispensing package for a stack thereof. Each applicator comprises a body portion and a handle portion. The body portion is dish-shaped with a convex bottom surface and a concave top surface. The bottom surface may be used directly to apply a product, or it may be provided with a product-applying facing. The handle portion is hollow and constitutes an integral, one-piece part of the body portion, extending upwardly from the top surface thereof. The hollow handle portion is open at the bottom surface of the body portion and closed at its top with upwardly and inwardly sloping edges and upwardly and inwardly sloping sides providing finger-grip surfaces.