With Separate Replenishment Or Access Inlet Means Patents (Class 221/61)
  • Patent number: 5826745
    Abstract: There is disclosed a stocker for flat healds according to the present invention is a flat heald stocker for stocking a lot of flat healds in order to selectively discharge an arbitrary flat heald A out of the many flat healds A juxtaposed, in which the flat healds A kept in a horizontal state are stacked vertically in a housing, a heald refilling aperture is provided at a top portion of the housing, and a heald drawing opening for discharging the lowermost of the stacked flat healds horizontally is provided at a lower portion of the housing, whereby easy horizontal drawing of flat heald can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Kazunori Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 5785205
    Abstract: Dispensing member (200) having a guide rail (202) for dispensing an individual bag holder from a nested stack. Dispensing member (200) having a plurality of curves (208, 210, and 207) which cause a spreading or fanning out enabling bag holders (40) to be removed one by one at outfeed station (206). Bag holders (40) are loaded in clips (230) which are bound together by breakable retaining strip (232) and fed onto guide rail (202). The action of said clip (230) being pushed around curve (208) of dispensing member (200) breaks retaining strip (232), thus facilitating loading. A nib (209) prevents individual bag holders (40) from inadvertently becoming detached from dispensing member (200).In the preferred embodiment, dispensing member (200) having curves (208, 210, and 207) which cause the nested stack of bag holders (40) to fan out at their unsupported ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Innogrip, L.P.
    Inventors: Jonathan F. Kerr, Peter D. Dieterich, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5718353
    Abstract: A closure assembly for attachment to the lid of a container for the storage and dispensing of towelettes or similar articles is constructed so as to be receivable within a preformed keyhole-shaped opening in the container lid. The assembly includes a body with a main radially extending flange larger than the opening in the lid. The lower portion of the body carries radially extending locking tabs which are dimensioned to fit through the lid opening and, upon the closure being turned, to engage the lower surface of the lid in opposed relationship with the flange which engages the upper surface. Antirotation tabs also extend radially of the lower portion of the body and again, upon rotation, engages the edges of the lid opening to thus secure the closure on the lid. A cap is also provided to releasably engage the upper portion of the closure body to provide a substantially airtight seal for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Kanfer, J. Christopher Wysocki, Detlev F. Smith
  • Patent number: 5642836
    Abstract: A towel dispenser consisting of a single unitary molded piece and having a container with a front, a back, right and left sides, and a top, forming a box with an open bottom, arcuate slots in each side, and a bottom member joined to the back with a living hinge and having opposed tabs extending laterally for riding in the slots, and an access opening for passage of a towel from the interior of the container, with the bottom member moveable from an initial position out of the box to a dispensing position with the tabs in the slots for closing the bottom and supporting towels thereon, and to an upward loading position for insertion of towels upward into the box past the bottom member, with the bottom member returning to the dispensing position following insertion of towels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Frank Merriweather, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5625334
    Abstract: The invention provides a device that cautions the user of medication, for example, by visual change and/or surface contour change of a part of a medicine container, that a preset time since an event, such as since the last prior use or application of the medication, has not transpired. The medicine container cover or an indicating element of the container or cover changes visually or dimensionally to signal the user that it is not advisable to administer the next dose of the medication. The device shuts itself down upon changing to a permissive configuration, and requires no power input until it is again activated by accessing the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Karen A. Compton
  • Patent number: 5607737
    Abstract: A stack of pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The sheets include different adhesion levels to afford individual dispensing of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elmer Blackwell, John J. Emmel, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 5570808
    Abstract: A dispenser for loose, unpackaged protective gloves. A container has at least one compartment for holding a bulk quantity of gloves, and each compartment has a filling shaft with an upper filling opening to permit filling with the gloves. A dispensing portion at the lower end of the container protrudes forwardly from one side of the container. The dispensing portion has a dispensing shaft leading downwardly from the filing shaft for receiving gloves from the filling shaft, and top and bottom walls providing a top and bottom, respectively, to the dispensing shaft and which slope downwardly and forwardly from the filling shaft. An end wall is spaced from the compartment and extends between the top and bottom walls, with a dispensing opening into the inclined dispensing shaft extending within part of each of the end and top walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Vincent A. Tassoni
  • Patent number: 5467893
    Abstract: An improved container assembly for the storage and dispensing of pre-moistened towelettes is provided. The assembly includes a container and a multi-function cap. The cap matably engages the upper end of the container and further provides an additional storage area for the storage and retention of partially used towelettes. The cap also provides a relatively airtight seal to keep the towelettes moist and prevent them from prematurely drying out. A flexibly web in the cap enables the towelettes, connected to one another by perforations, to be pulled through the web of the cap. An individual towelette is separated from the roll with a sharp jerk or tub which tears the towelette along the perforation and leaves the remaining towelette extending partially through the web. An area underneath the top closure member of the cap and the web provides a sealed area for the storage of partially used towelettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Sanford Corporation
    Inventors: Henry J. Landis, II, Russel J. Landis
  • Patent number: 5458259
    Abstract: A magazine for dispensing liner bags from a supply roll through an aperture in the bottom of a trash receptacle includes an upwardly open base having a horizontal cross-sectional shape adapted to receive the trash receptacle, a hinge for connecting the base to the trash receptacle along a horizontal pivot axis extending along one side of the base, whereby the receptacle can be tilted away from the base to provide access to the base. The base has a seat formed by an inwardly protruding flange to limit the depth of penetration of the trash receptacle into the magazine, so that it does not bear against or otherwise interfere with the liner bag supply. Two parallel dividers in the base form three compartments. The outer compartments are useful for storing addition supply rolls or supplies, while the central one contains the active supply roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Inventor: Lee R. Falk
  • Patent number: 5401547
    Abstract: A stack of pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The sheets include different adhesion levels to afford individual dispensing of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elmer Blackwell, Bruce E. Samuelson, John J. Emmel, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 5285927
    Abstract: A container/dispenser for used plastic shopping bags which comprises a walled vessel having an open top and an open bottom to which is secured a converging lower section formed of flexible walls with an internal friction surface terminating in a small opening through which the inserted bags may be withdrawn one at a time when compressed in the vessel by a handled lid pressed into the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Sam Pruitt
  • Patent number: 5269416
    Abstract: A rack for the counter suspension of various packets of dual tab merchandising bags, which includes a depending panel supported from the top. The depending panel has a front plane surface interrupted with a plurality of bag dispensing apertures. The rear and counter exposed side of each aperture has a short horizontal shelf which protrudes away from the front of the panel. The shelf includes two stanchions, one at each side of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Polytec Packaging
    Inventor: Robert B. DeMatteis
  • Patent number: 5215211
    Abstract: The specification discloses a sheet material dispenser for which the angle between axis along which sheet material is dispensed and the dispenser container may be changed. A dispensing funnel is provided on a ball that rotates about its center within a socket mounted on the container. Sheet material extends from the center of a stationary supply of sheet material around a guide bar, through openings in the ball and the container, and to the exterior of the container through the opening of the funnel. Sheet material is manually extracted from the funnel. A stabilizing member extends into a hollow core to the supply of sheet material to stabilize the supply. An access hole is formed in the container to allow adjustment and refeeding of sheet material without unlocking the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Merfin Hygienic Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Kurt P. Eberle
  • Patent number: 5143250
    Abstract: A refillable desk top dispenser for dispensing fanfolded notepaper is provided which includes a tray having a side wall and a bottom wall for defining a cavity therein, the side wall having a vertical slot therein; a removeable cover for placing over the cavity of the tray having a centrally transverse opening extending therethrough for dispensing single individual sheets of fanfolded notepaper from a stack; a platform of a suitable size for receiving the stack of fanfolded notepaper, having extending tabs thereon adapted to cooperate mechanically with the vertical slots, thereby defining the range of vertical movement of the platform; and spring for upwardly urging the platform towards an upper position on the track means to facilitate the proper dispensation of the notepaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Bates Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: L. Wayne Freitag
  • Patent number: 5135134
    Abstract: A package and dispenser for a continuous roll of plastic bags has a generally cylindrical shape and a longitudinal slot for dispensing the bags. Adjacent bags on the roll are attached by a perforated tear line. The dispenser is deformable to allow the operator to grip the roll by squeezing the dispenser, preventing further rotation of the roll, and allowing a bag to be removed from the roll. The dispenser is transparent, allowing indicia to be seen from a flyer inserted into the dispenser and around the roll. The flyer also blocks the slot so that bags cannot be removed during storage or shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventor: H. Gordon Dancy
  • Patent number: 5123566
    Abstract: A one-piece facial tissue dispenser having a hinged top and bottom with a releasible clasp opposite the hinge. The top has a transverse slot adjacent to one end and is provided with space for printing, advertizing or other indicia adjacent to the slot. A package of folded facial tissue is positioned within the dispenser with the free ends adjacent to the slot so that the tissues are removable one-by-one through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Quick Point, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Lage, Wells Bearinger
  • Patent number: 5086946
    Abstract: A stack of individual pre-cut sheets and a dispenser for those sheets are disclosed. The dispenser affords reciprocating movement of the stack within the dispenser to afford individual dispensing of the sheets. Optionally, the dispenser may be mounted on the wrist of a user to afford convenient dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Elmer Blackwell, Bruce E. Samuelson, John J. Emmel, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 5080255
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheets of note paper disposed in a stack with each of the sheets having a narrow band of adhesive coated on one surface along one edge by which the sheets are adhered together and with the sheets being stacked with the band of adhesive of adjacent sheets at alternate opposite edges of the stack. The dispenser comprises a base having a top surface with a generally planar support surface portion adapted to support a lower surface of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: David C. Windorski
  • Patent number: 5076465
    Abstract: A pocket dispenser of facial tissues comprising a container which is readily openable for replenishing the supply of facial tissues therewithin and having an opening adjacent to which one end of a layer of separate facial tissues is disposed for ready withdrawal of separate tissues through the opening, the layer of separate tissues being consecutively oppositely folded longitudinally at least twice, one of the reverse folds being disposed adjacent the bottom of the container and the tissue disposed most closely to the opening being the inside tissue within the latter fold whereby same may be readily removed from the layer. Expandable positioning panels are disposed within the folds for aiding in maintaining the layer of tissues in position and properly oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Inventor: Roderick A. Lawson
  • Patent number: 5067628
    Abstract: An improved dispenser for dispensing note sheets from a pad of note sheets that are releasably adhered to one another with a narrow strip of adhesive on opposite alternative edges thereof. The dispenser includes a base member for supporting the pad of note sheets and a lid member supported from the base member at a fixed distance relative thereto. The dispenser further includes a movable weighted member located between the base member and the lid member so as to rest upon the top of the note pad and a guide member being provided to restrain the weighted member between the base member and the lid member during a dispensing operation or upon mishandling of the dispenser. The base member and lid member may constitute a full enclosure and be releasably locked to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Mel Evenson
  • Patent number: 5042687
    Abstract: Plastic shopping bag container to store randomly disposed shopping bags with lower horizontal slot for removal of stored bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: The Bag Saver International Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas McKinley
  • Patent number: 5024349
    Abstract: A dispenser comprising an elongate rigid hollow cylindrical tube including opposed ends and a transverse elongate dispensing slot laterally therethrough at a midpoint along the length thererof. The dispensing slot includes opposed serrated edges with the teeth of each edge overlapping the teeth of the other edge to provide for restricted passage of film bags pulled outwardly through the dispensing slot from the interior of the tube. The opposed ends of the dispensing slot are enlarged and smooth-edged for access to interior bags and cooperation with the serrated edges in providing for projecting leading bag corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Edwin W. Haenni, Hans-Peter Bolz
  • Patent number: 4995530
    Abstract: An adjustable dispenser container for holding boxes of plastic bags that are usually stored on a roll or packed individually side-by-side within a box to be dispensed from the box via a slot including a housing having sidewalls, a bottom, a top and a longitudinal axis intersecting the bottom and top. One of the walls includes a longitudinally extending slot. The slot is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the box. An adjusting spring in the form of a pair of spaced apart leafs is provided interiorly of the body for frictionally holding the box with respect to the body in a position that registers the slot of the box with the longitudinal slot of the housing so that plastic bags can be dispensed simultaneously through both the first and the second slots and the springs deforming when the box is placed in the housing so that boxes of varying sizes can be used in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Carroll Tabor
  • Patent number: 4951837
    Abstract: The wall-mountable disposable-funnel dispenser has a funnel feeder member and a cover member which frictionally fit together to provide a convenient, compact storage container for paper funnels. The funnel feeder member and cover member are constructed of shape-retaining molded plastic. The structure includes a wall-mounting bracket, knob-like projections on the inner rim of the cover member for accomplishing a friction fit to the feeder member, an arrangement of ribs on the interior of the funnel feeder member to facilitate easy movement of the funnels to the bottom end of the dispenser, and ribs at the lower end of the feeder member to temporarily hold the lowermost removable funnel of a nested stack of the same. The dispenser is easily mounted on a wall near working areas for convenient access to disposable funnels which can be individually withdrawn from the bottom of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Allen C. Lentsch
  • Patent number: 4684036
    Abstract: A cup dispensing system employs a housing having a pair of walls with relatively rigid inwardly inclined portions for supporting a stack of cups and enabling individual dispensing of cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Solo Cup Company
    Inventor: Clarence T. Brewer
  • Patent number: 4643334
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventor: Francis J. Steele
  • Patent number: 4586631
    Abstract: A convenient dispensing package for a stack of adhesive-coated notepaper comprising a box for containing a stack of sheets. The box is formed with an opening in the cover into which flaps project from the edges of the opening and which flaps terminate in opposed edges which grasp the sheets as they are dispensed. A block of resilient compressible foam is placed in the box on the side of the stack opposite the opening to urge the sheets in the stack toward the dispensing opening such that they may be dispensed one at a time and not have a curl imparted to sheets in the lower part of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 4580696
    Abstract: A retainer and dispenser for paper-like containers or cups in which french fried potatoes or the like are served in a fast-food type of establishment. The retainer and dispenser comprises a housing adapted to be supported in substantially vertical orientation. The housing has an opening at the upper portion thereof through which the paper-like cups are loaded into the housing, as the cups are inverted and in a nested stack. The housing has an opening at the lower portion thereof. Adjacent the opening at the lower portion of the housing is an abutment member or members which are engaged by the lowermost cup in the stack thereof. The abutment member establishes the lowermost position of the lowermost cup in the stack thereof. The portion of the cup which engages the abutment member is readily bent or deflected for removal of the lowermost cup from the stack of cups and from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Inventors: Franklin Moore, Jr., Clinton Fultz
  • Patent number: 4476996
    Abstract: A retainer and dispenser for paper-like containers or cups in which french fried potatoes or the like are served in a fast-food type of establishment. The retainer and dispenser comprises a housing adapted to be supported in substantially vertical orientation. The housing has an opening at the upper portion thereof through which the paper-like cups are loaded into the housing, as the cups are inverted and in a nested stack. The housing has an opening at the lower portion thereof. Adjacent the opening at the lower portion of the housing is an abutment member or members which are engaged by the lowermost cup in the stack thereof. The abutment member establishes the lowermost position of the lowermost cup in the stack thereof. The portion of the cup which engages the abutment member is readily bent or deflected for removal of the lowermost cup from the stack of cups and from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventors: Franklin Moore, Jr., Clinton Fultz
  • Patent number: 4190177
    Abstract: In this pellet dispenser, foam pellets or the like are made available individually for pickup by the dentist. The dispenser housing includes a cylindrical body with a conical top covered by a cylindrical hood having a conical upper end. The hood has at least one dispensing aperture through which an individual pellet is pressed by the weight of the hood. Advantageously, the conical top includes one or more flat sections so that upon rotation of the hood, the volume available to the pellets will vary as the hood is rotated. This aids in urging pellets into the dispensing apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Inventor: Hans M. Bausch
  • Patent number: 4058235
    Abstract: A tissue dispenser includes an integral, open-top, generally rectangular container formed of transparent plastic material and including a bottom wall having inclined central portions which converge upwardly into the container and have the upper ends thereof spaced apart to define a dispensing opening, the container adapted to receive therein through the open top a stack of folded interleaved tissue sheets, the bottom sheet resting upon the upper ends of the inclined bottom wall portions, with the leading end thereof extending outwardly through the dispensing opening for access by a user. A removable metal cover may be latched in place to close the open end of the container, the cover having an ashtray and cigarette holding grooves formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: Steiner American Corporation
    Inventor: Antonio Macchi Cassia