US2426149A

US2426149A - Toothpick dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2426149A
Application number: US603606A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Kenkel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-07-07
Filing date: 1945-07-07
Publication date: 1947-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1964-08-19

Description

Aug. 19, 1947.

J. E KENKEL.

TooTHPIcx DISPENSER Filed July 7. 1945 555i; N J a M 1N VEN TOR.

J57111E.Kenkel Zinesses v Patented Aug. 19, 1947 TOOTHPICK DISPENSER .lohn E. Kenkel, GreatFalls, Mont.

Application `Fuly 7, 1945, Serial No. 603,606

3 Claims'.

This invention relates to a device for dispensing toothpicks and the like, one at a time, and has especial reference to devices disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,428,439, 1,600,886 and 1,962,018, granted to me.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the indicated character which is of simplified construction and well suited for economic manufacture from low cost materials.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a front View of a device embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which a toothpick may be grasped to remove it from the device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the device showing the relation of the parts as a toothpick is being removed. 1

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a continuation of the operation illustrated in Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawing the device of the present invention comprises two main corelated sections consisting of a stationary lower or base section I and a movable upper section II. These sections Ill and Il may be made entirely of wood or plastic material.

'Ihe lower section I0 is adapted to rest on a suitable horizontal supporting surface. Accordingly, the section I0 includes a base I2 consisting of a rectangular block whose upper and lower' surfaces are flat and parallel to each other. Uprights I3 are secured to the base block on opposite sides respectively. Vertical rest members I4 are secured to the base I2 on the `top surface. These members I4 are extended longitudinally in spaced parallel relation `to each other between the opposite sides of the base. The upper edge portion of each member I4 is notched, there being a series of small agitating notches I along the rear and V shape notches I6, I7, I8 and I9, respectively, along the remaining portion of the member i4. The notches I6, Il, I8 and I9 provide an arrangement of inclined surfaces as will be understood. These surfaces are varied in length. Some of the surfaces serve as guideways and others serve as abutments for purposes eX- plained hereinafter.

The upper section I I comprises a box-like structure E53 having a bottom 3|, side walls 32, front wall 33, back wall 34 and top wall 35. The bottom 3l slopes slightly forwardly and downwardly. The front wall 33 may include a removable transparent panel, and the top wall 35 also may be a removable transparent panel with both in sliding engagement with the side walls of 32. The top wall 35 serves as a cover held in closed position by suitable means such as the turnable latch 36 on the back wall 345. The bottom 3 I. has elongated openings 3'! therein to accommodate the members '"ifl, respectively, of the base section. By

reason of the openings 3l there is provided a central member 38 having V shape notches 39 and i0, top side. These notches provide an arrangement of inclined surfaces. surfaces serve as guideways and the others as abutments. The notched central member 38 operates between the aforesaid members I4. Also, by reason of the openings 31 the bottom 3| has side extensions to which are attached angle pieces fit, thus providing channels or chutes 41 extending forwardly and downwardly on the front of the structure 30 at opposite sides. The inner ends of the channels 4l communicate with the interior of the structure 30 and the outer or front ends are open. A baffle 48 on the inside oi the front wall is disposed transversely so as to restrict the inner ends of the chutes 41 so that only one article or toothpick may pass to the chutes.

Th'e upper section Il having the above mentioned features is mounted on the lower section I0 for rocking movement with respect thereto on a horizontal axis. Accordingly, suitable pivots 69 carried by the uprights I3, respectively, extend into the side walls 32.

The box-like structure 30 serves as a magazine for the articles to be dispensed. Toothpicks 50 are shown by Way of example. The latch 36 may be turned to a position to enable the panel 35 to be removed for the introduction of a supply of the toothpicks within the magazine.

The upper section Il normally is disposed under the action of gravity in a forwardly and downwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 3. Repeated up and down movement of the section II puts one toothpck across the members I4 with the opposite end portions of the toothpick disposed in the notches I8 and adjacent chutes lll, respectively. This particular toothpick is designated T. It may -be grasped between the iorenger and thumb of one hand and be withdrawn, therebyl causing the section Il to rock upwardly, due to the fact that the end por- Sorne of theV tions of the toothpick T are caused to perform a wiping action on the pieces 46 as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4 the section II is partly up and in Fig. 5 the section II is all of the way up, enabling the toothpick to be removed from the open ends of the chutes 41. As the section I I is rocked upwardly to remove a toothpick and is then allowed to rock downwardly another toothpick is transferred to the pair of notches I8. The repeated up and down rocking movement of the section II causes one toothpick at a time to be advanced to the notches I8. Each toothpick advances from the notches IB into and out of the notches 39, I'I, 40, and then into the notches I8 in the order mentioned. The

notches

39 and 40 are staggered with respect to the notches I1 and I8 for the purpose mentioned.

The notches I9 are not necessary for the proper operation of the device. The notches I9 are provided to prevent playful children and foolish adults from rocking thesection II without removing a toothpick and so lling the notches I8. Should the section II be rocked upwardly without removing the toothpick from the notches I8 it will be lifted into the notches I9, as indicated by the toothpick designated T in Fig. 4. The toothpick T in the notches I9 will prevent the section II from rocking downwardly due to the fact that the parts 46 will strike the end portions of the toothpick T. By removing the toothpick "I" another toothpick will be delivered into the notches I8 for the proper and orderly operation of the device.

It is to be understood the invention is not restricted to the showing in the drawings, but that details of construcion may be modied and rearranged in accordance with the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toothpick dispenser comprising a stationary base section adapted to rest on a suitable horizontal support, an upper magazine section for a supply of toothpicks mounted on the base section for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis, forwardly and downwardly inclined and laterally spaced cooperative delivery chutes channel shape in cross section connected with the magazine section at opposite sides thereof, said chutes communicating with the interior of the magazine section in such manner that only one toothpick at a time may pass out of the magazine section with its opposite end portions disposed in said chutes, spaced upright stationary members on the base section extending in a front-to back direction between the chutes, said magazine section having a bottom with elongated openings therein into which said stationary members project so that the bottom is movable with respect thereto in the pivotal movement of the magazine section, the stationary members and said bottom having an arrangement of inclined surfaces and abutments to ad- Vance said toothpicks step by step one at a time out ofthe magazine section with the end portions disposed in said chutes as the magazine section is caused to pivot up and down by rcason of the withdrawal from the chutes of the most advanced toothpick by grasping the toothpick between its ends.

2. A toothpick dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inclined surfaces and abutments of the stationary members are staggered with respect to thoser of the bottom.

3. A toothpick dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationary members have notches which may receive a toothpick disposed with its end portions in said chutes to prevent the downward pivotal movement of the magazine section until saidl toothpick is removed.

JOHN E. KENKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Rist Aug. 13, 1901