Abstract: A dispensing unit for elongated articles is disclosed in which the articles are packaged in a carton (62) which can be placed directly into the storage bin (12) of the dispensing unit (10). Articles fall out of the carton (62) onto a support shelf (64) upon which they roll toward the dispensing mechanism to dispense articles through a port formed in the front of the storage bin (12). The dispensing mechanism includes a pair of oscillating members (46) which have pickup fingers (52) formed on them so as to pick up one article and transfer it to the exterior of the storage bin (12) when handles (16) formed in the exterior of the storage bin (12) are operated by the user.

Abstract: A reticular needlework fabric (10, 16) comprising a unitarily molded network of strands (12). The network has a plurality of spaced strands (12) extending parallel to a first axis, and a plurality of spaced strands (12) extending parallel to a second axis. A selected number of marker strands (14) are included among the strands (12) parallel to at least one axis. The marker strands (14) are separated from each other by a selected number of strands (12) and have molded-in features rendering them visually distinguishable from the remaining strands (12). The method of the invention for making such a reticular needlework fabric (10, 16) formed by channels (22) formed in at least one of the opposed faces (20) of a two-part mold (17) includes the steps of altering selected marker strand channels (24) so as to produce molded-in features in the marker strands (14) molded therein, rendering them visually distinguishable from the remaining strands (12).