US2772024A

US2772024A - Condiment and toothpick holder and dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2772024A
Application number: US318603A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd A Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-11-04
Filing date: 1952-11-04
Publication date: 1956-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1973-11-27

Description

Nov. 27, 1956 1.. A. SMITH CDNDINEN'T AND TooTEPIcK HOLDER AND DISPENSER Filed Nov. 4, 1952 INVENTOR ATTORYE YS United States Patentl CONDIMENT AND TOOTHPICK HOLDER AND DISPENSER Lloyd A. Smith, Arlington, Va.

Application November 4, 1952, Serial No. 318,603

1 Claim. (Cl. 221-282) This invention relates to a condiment and toothpick holder and dispenser and is an improvement over the construction shown in my copending application, Serial No. 269,826, filed February 4, 1952, for Condiment and Toothpick Holder and Dispenser.

An object of this invention is to provide in a condiment dispenser formed of a pair of upright receptacles having spaced confronting inner walls, a toothpick holder and dispenser which in the inoperative position thereof is frictionally held in an upright position between the confronting walls, and which is swingable downwardly to an operative or dispensing position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means for retaining the toothpicks in the holder including a pair of resilient clips whereby the toothpicks may be removed one at a time.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a dispenser of this kind an improved means for releasably locking the toothpick dispenser and holder between the condiment dispenser.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawing and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Figure l is a plan view of a combined condiment and toothpick holder and dispenser constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the toothpick holder in dispensing position,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals 10 and 11 designate generally a pair of upstanding condiment dispensers which are provided with parallel

inner walls

12 and 13 forming a chamber within which the toothpick holder generally designated as 14 is adapted to frictionally engage when the latter is in inoperative or closed position.

The device includes a base 15 which is common to the two dispensers 10 and 11 and also forms a base for the toothpick holder 14.

A vertical connecting wall 16 connects the

inner walls

12 and 13 together and forms a closure for the open upper edge of the toothpick holder. The toothpick holder 14 comprises opposite side walls 17, a connecting wall 18, and upper and

lower walls

19 and 20 respectively. The side walls 17 are each provided with a relatively deep arcuate cutout 21 providing an entrance whereby the toothpicks disposed within the holder 14 may be readily withdrawn.

2,772,024 .'Raented j. l 956 Theholder 14 also 1includes a pair Aoffs-mds 22extending from the sidewalls 17 andthe studs-22 slidably engage invertical channels -or

grooves

23 and 24 which V`are tormedin the

inner walls

12 and 13 respectively.

In order to provide a means whereby toothpicks within the holder 14 will be held in a manner whereby the toothpicks will not spill out of the holder 14 when the latter is elevated to a closed inoperative position, I have provided a pair of U-shaped clips 25 which engage in channels 26 formed in the inner sides of the side walls 17 at a point outwardly from the cutout 21. The clips 25 include vertical sides 27 which are formed at their upper ends with inwardly bent resilient fingers 28, and the iin? gers 28 are outwardly bent as indicated at 29. The lingers 28 are normally disposed in substantially contacting relation but will spread apart when a toothpick is pulled upwardly therebetween.

In the use and operation of this device, the toothpicks may be inserted within the holder 14 through the upper open edge thereof by inserting the toothpicks within the clips 25. These clips 25 may, if desired, be removed during the filling operation. When the holder 14 is inoperative the holder will be disposed in a vertical position, as shown in Figure 2, and at this time connecting wall 16 will close the open edges of the holder 14. The

walls

12 and 13 will frictionally hold the holder 14 in its inoperative position. The toothpicks may be removed by swinging the holder downwardly by grasping the lug 30 which is carried by the top wall 19. The holder 14 is swung downwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the toothpicks may be readily removed one at a time by pulling the toothpicks upwardly past the resilient fingers 28. This device is adapted to be constructed of plastic material which may be either transparent or colored.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A toothpick holder comprising a base having a pair of elongated spaced parallel and confronting vertically extending side walls, an end wall connecting a pair of adja cent longitudinal edges of said side walls, each of said side Walls having a vertically extending guide slot formed therein adjacent their respective other confronting longitudinal edges, said slots extending downwardly from the upper ends of said side walls and terminating adjacent the other ends thereof, a substantially rectangular container having oppositely disposed spaced and substantially parallel side walls, top and bottom walls, and an end wall confronting an oppositely disposed open end, said last named side walls each having an arcuate cut-out formed therein and extending inwardly from said open end, a channel formed in each of the confronting surfaces of said last named side walls adjacent said top wall, a channel formed in each of the confronting surfaces of said last named side walls adjacent said bottom wall, a resilient U-shaped clip member having the arms thereof disposed within said channels adjacent said top wall with the bight thereof engaging said last named end wall, a second resilient U-shaped clip member having the arms thereof disposed within said channels disposed adjacent said bottom wall with the bight thereof engaging said end wall, each of said clip members having the free ends of their respective arms bent in a converging direction, and a pin projecting laterally from the remote surfaces of each of said last named side walls, said pins being slidably engaged within said slots and forming pivot means for said receptacle, said pins being disposed adjacent said bottom wall.

Ice

(References on following page) Y Hale Jan. 9, 1900 ,'Haynes Oct. 9,l 1900 'i Hawkins May 19', 1908 Fisher Nov: 21, 1911 VMaloy Dec. 7, 1920