GB2204300A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser e.g. for small items of clothing comprises a container 2 for storing said items, the container 2 having a first aperture 3 through which said items are entered into the container 2 and a wall 4 with a second smaller aperture 5 through which said items are dispensable. More than one aperture 5 may be provided, as may a handle for carrying the dispenser or means for mounting it on a support. <IMAGE>

Description

Dispenser This invention relates to a dispenser, especially an inanimate dispenser which dispenses pliant items.

According to the present invention there is provided a dispenser which dispenses pliant items, said dispenser comprising a container for storing said items, the container having a first aperture, through which said items are enterable into the container, and having an apertured wall with a second aperture through which said items are dispensable.

Preferably, the first aperture is in a wall that is not downwardly facing and otherwise unapertured.

Preferably, the second, smaller aperture is of a size selected for the items to be stored and dispensed such that such items cannot fall through readily and of a size to present only one or two or a few items for dispensing at any one time.

Preferably, there is more than one aperture in the apertured side; there may be of more than one apertured side; the apertures may be of various sizes and shapes; preferably, the apertures are always larger than the diameter of the user's extraction means, which may be a finger or a hooked device.

The materials bounding the apertures may be resiliently deformable to facilitate dispensing.

The container may be free-standing or provided with a handle to be portable, or provided with a hanging means to be suspended, or provided with bracket or other fixing means for wall or door mounting.

I The dispenser may be of wood, plastics, metal or other materials and be variously decorated or textured to coordinate with or compliment surrounding decor.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention; Figs 2 to 5 are perspective views of alternative embodiments of the dispenser of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the dispenser of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a front view of the dispenser of Fig. 6, and; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the dispenser of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is provided a dispenser 1 which dispenses pliant items. The dispenser 1 comprises a container 2 in which the items are stored, the container 2 having a first aperture 3, through which a user places the items in the container 2, and having an apertured wall 4 with several smaller apertures 5 by which items are presented for user selection and user removal.

The dispensers 1 of Figs 1 to 4 and Figs 6 and 8 all have the first aperture 3 in the form of an open top to the container 2 and have several circular second apertures 5 in the apertured wall or walls 4. The dispenser 1 of Fig. 1 is free-standing whereas those of Figs 2 to 4 are provided with support means in the form of a hooked hanger 7 (Fig. 2), or a semi-circular handle 8 such that the dispenser 1 is portable (Fig. 3), or brackets 9 such that the dispenser 1 may be wall or door mounted (Fig. 4). The dispenser of Figs 6 to 8 is also wall mounted by means of apertures 12 in the rearwall 13 of the dispenser 1 for screw insertion.

The containers 2 of Figs 1 to 3 are cylindrical and those of Fig. 4 and Figs 6 to 8 box-like, but the containers 2 may be of various shapes and sizes and the apertures 3, 5 selected for the type of items to be stored and dispensed; generally the bulkier the item the larger the apertures 5 of the apertured wall 4. The apertures 5 must have a larger diameter than the width or diameter of the user's extraction means, which is most commonly a finger but may be a hooked device, perhaps somewhat like a crochet needle.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, there is shown a cylindrical container 2 with means 6 for wall attachment.

The first aperture 3 is a central hole in the top wall 10 of the container and the apertures 5 of the apertured wall 4 are rectangular and separated by thin strips of wall material in the form of elastic cord 11. The deformable borders to each aperture 5 allows the extraction of bulky and not readily pliant items.

The dispenser 1 may be for use in the home and other domestic situations, or for retail or other work use, and be for small items of personal clothing, e.g. socks, lingerie and hankies, for less pliant items, such as belts and braces, and for bulky items, like fabric remnants and nappies. The dispenser 1 may be made of plastics, wood, metal or other materials and be free-standing, portable, suspended, or door or wall mounted. The dispensers 1 would be particularly useful for disabled people and for travelling, especially if two support means were to be attached, with one for carrying the dispenser 1 and one for attaching it to a wall or door either at home or in a caravan or the like. The dispensers 1 may be variously decorated or ornamented, such that they co-ordinate with surrounding decor and encourage children to store tidily the items and later extract them singly as each is wanted.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A dispenser, which dispenses pliant items, comprises a container for storing said items, the container having a first aperture, through which said items are enterable into the container, and having an apertured wall with a second aperture through which said items are dispensable.

2. A dispenser according to Claim 1, wherein the first aperture is in a wall that is non-downwardly facing and otherwise unapertured.

3. A dispenser according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the second aperture is of a size selected for the items to be stored and dispensed and to present only one or two items for dispensing at any one time.

4. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein there is more than one second aperture.

5. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the diameter of the second aperture is always larger than means for extracting the items through the aperture.

6. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the materials bounding the apertures is resiliently deformable.

7. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein there is provided fixing means to suspend the dispenser.

8. A dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.