Dispenser for Flaccid Articles

Abstract

A dispenser for flaccid articles may allow for dual-sided access and advertisement. A dispenser body has sufficient internal volume to contain two discrete packages of the dispensed items in a manner that access slots of the packages are opposed. A side panel allows access to the internal volume and also an interchangeable advertising unit. The dispenser is mounted on a side opposite the sliding panel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of dispensers and more particularly relates to a dual-sided dispenser suitable for gloves and other thin, flaccid objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many disposable articles are stored in bulk in a dispenser for convenient access when they are needed. Such dispensers are commonly positioned in an area where the item is commonly used so that a user may be able to pull the item out when the need arises. Thin and flaccid items are easily stored in this manner as they may be compactly stored in a replaceable container, such as a box, and are readily pulled out, often with some engagement means on the box or dispenser to ensure only one of each item is removed.

The present invention is a dispenser for thin and flaccid articles which re commonly stored in boxes. One such commonly stored and dispensed item is disposable gloves. Disposable gloves are common in area where sanitation and hygiene are paramount or where perhaps they should be. Positioning gloves in an area of intended use encourages their use in a manner to prevent the spread of germs. One commonly overlooked area of contamination is a fuel station. Having gloves in these areas not only encourages their hygienic use, but also helps protect users from having odors from a fuel pump linger on their hands. However, space for such dispensers is limited and they must be regularly stocked. To aid in these concerns, a dispenser may be made to service both sides of a fueling station island so as to limit total space occupied. Such dispensers may also have a holder for ad content to promote local businesses or even the fueling station itself.

The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the dispenser of the present invention allows for dual sided access to a dispensed item while also presenting valuable advertising space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of dispensers, this invention provides a dual sided dispenser for flaccid articles. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new and improved dispenser that is unobtrusive yet may provide access on two opposing sides to a dispensed flaccid article, such as a disposable glove. The dispenser also presents ad space in an area which has the attention of those who wish to use the dispensed articles.

To accomplish these objectives, the dispenser comprises a body with two dispensing slots on opposing sides of the body. The top of the body features a slot for holding an advertising unit. The interior of the dispenser features space for holding containers of the dispensed articles, most often two boxes in opposite orientations. A side cover maintains the containers and the advertising unit in the dispenser.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser representing one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an alternate perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an alternate perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, focusing on the bottom side.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dispenser representing an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an alternate perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the dispenser of FIG. 8, the rear elevation being identical.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the dispenser of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is an alternate perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 8, focusing on the bottom side.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, with the side panel being removed.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the dispenser of FIG. 1, empty and with the side panel removed.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, with the side panel removed and the advertisement unit being removed.

FIG. 17 is a front elevation of the dispenser of FIG. 1, in user to dispense gloves.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 8, with the side panel being removed.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 18, with the side panel removed and the advertisement unit being removed.

FIG. 20 is a dispenser representing a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the flaccid article dispenser is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that while the figures show the use of the dispenser with disposable gloves, that any flaccid and compact article may be stored in the dispenser, such as paper toweling or napkins. All that is required is that the item is suitable for dispensing in the manner shown.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7, a first embodiment of the invention is shown. The depicted dispenser 10 has a dispenser body 110 with a side panel 120 and an advertising unit 130. Two slots 112, 114 are presented on opposite sides of the dispenser body 110. As can be seen, in this embodiment, the slots are off-set, with one 114 higher than the other 112, relative to the dispenser body 110. The advertising unit 130 is positioned on an upper surface of the dispenser body. The sliding panel 120 is held in place by any means known in the art, in this case by two prongs 116 (FIG. 6) interfacing with the edges of side panel 120.

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8-13. In this embodiment, the dispenser 20 also features a body 210, side panel 220, and advertising unit 230. The side panel 220 is similarly secured (FIG. 12), however slots 212 and 214 are directly opposite each other. This embodiment presents a smaller obstruction in higher trafficked areas. The difference between the two embodiment being that in the first embodiment, boxes 30 of the articles are positioned one on top of the other, edge-to-edge (FIG. 14) while the second embodiment positioned the boxes back-to-back (FIG. 18).

In use, the dispenser 10, 20 is mounted on the side opposite the sliding panel 120, 220 (mounting not shown) in a manner that the opposing slots are accessible to users. To stock the dispenser, the sliding panel 120, 220 is removed (FIGS. 14 and 18), exposing the boxes 30 for removal and replacement. Removing the sliding panel also gives access to the advertising units 130, 230. Each advertising unit features a lower flange 135, 235 (FIGS. 15, 16 and 19) which resides in the slot 115, 215 in the top of the dispenser body 110, 210. The advertising unit 130, 230 is then slid out of the exposed slot 115, 215, the advertising material replaced, and the unit is then returned. When fully stocked, the dispenser then allows access to a dispensed article, such as a disposable glove 40, directly underneath the advertising unit 130, providing valuable exposure to an advertising client (FIG. 17). The slot may be of any suitable form, but the depicted slot, being partially covered by edges 117 (FIG. 15) and leaving a narrow gap therebetween, works well the depicted advertisement unit 130, with the flange 135 of the advertisement unit fitting within the slot and the main body of said advertising unit 130 extending outward through the gap between the edges 117. The advertising unit may also be omitted; such as is shown in FIG. 20 with a third style of dispenser 250. In such cases, an advertisement unit of some kind may be added aftermarket or the unit be left plain.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

1. A dispenser for flaccid articles comprising:

a. a hollow dispenser body, open to one side and having a top and a bottom, front and back.

b. two access slots, one on the front, one on the back; and

c. a removable panel, capable of sealing the one open side;

wherein at least one container of flaccid articles is storable in the hollow dispenser body when the removable panel seal the open side such that the articles are accessible through at least one of the access slots and the dispenser is mounted via a side opposite the open side.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a slot along the top of the dispenser body; and

b. an advertisement unit designed to integrate with said slot in a manner to allow mounting of the advertisement unit upon the dispenser.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, the slot further comprising two opposing edges, partially obscuring the slot such that a gap is left between said two edges such that a portion of the advertisement unit may extend through said gap.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, the at least one container of flaccid articles being two such containers storable inside the dispenser in an edge-to-edge orientation.

5. The dispenser of claim 3, the at least one container of flaccid articles being two such containers storable inside the dispenser in a back-to-back orientation.

6. The dispenser of claim 2, the at least one container of flaccid articles being two such containers storable inside the dispenser in an edge-to-edge orientation.

7. The dispenser of claim 2, the at least one container of flaccid articles being two such containers storable inside the dispenser in a back-to-back orientation.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, the at least one container of flaccid articles being two such containers storable inside the dispenser in an edge-to-edge orientation.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, the at least one container of flaccid articles being two such containers storable inside the dispenser in a back-to-back orientation.