US2914216A

US2914216A - Toothpick dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2914216A
Application number: US674325A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gasparini Benedetto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-07-26
Filing date: 1957-07-26
Publication date: 1959-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1976-11-24

Description

Nov. 24, 1959 B. GASPARINI 2,914,216

TOOTHPICK DISPENSER Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR. BENEDETTO ASPA2H-H 4, 1959 B. GASPARINI 2,914,216

TOOTHPICK DISPENSER Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w I 'ml u H IIIIIIIIII IIIII I I INVENTOR. BENEDETTO GAPA ml 6 v BEE .41

HTTURNEY r' 2,914,216 [Ce Patented Nov. 24, 1959 TOOTHPICK DISPENSER I Benedetto Gasparini, Long Island City, NY.

Application July 26, 1957, Serial No. 674,325 1 Claim. (Cl. 221'190) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a toothpick holder and dispenser.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding a plurality of toothpicks with means for separating a single toothpick from the mass of toothpicks and for dispensing the separated toothpick.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined holder and dispenser of toothpicks having means for preventing reinsertion into the holder of a dispensed toothpick.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothpick holder and dispenser which is readily filled and which is eflicient in operation.

It is further proposed to provide a toothpick holder and dispenser which is sanitary, attractive in appearance, characterized by fewness of parts, readily supported on a fiat supporting surface, simple in construction and adapted to be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a top perspective view of a toothpick holder and dispenser embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a spread perspective view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the top closure plate.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the movable body of the holder and dispenser.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6, showing the casing extended above the bottom closure of the dispenser, and showing in dashlines a step in the assembly of the holder.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 a toothpick holder and dispenser embodying my invention is indicated generally at 15. This holder and dispenser is formed entirely of a suitable plastic material, the different structural elements of which may be molded and of contrasting solid colors in order to enhance the appearance of the holder. The holder and dispenser comprises an elongated rectangular-shaped casing 16 composed of a rectangular-shaped box-like movable body 17 open at the top and bottom, a base plate or bottom closure plate 18 and a removable top closure plate 19.

The base or bottom closure plate 18 is formed with a centrally disposed partition wall 20 which extends upwardly from its top surface from points remote from the ends of the plate. At its top edge, the partition wall is formed with extensions at its

ends constituting hooks

21, 21, with curved top end edges. Hook 21 is slightly longer than hook 21' to permit assembly and disassembly of the plate 18. The top surface of the top edge '2 of the partition wall 20 is formed with a groove 22 therealong from hook to hook adapted to receive a toothpick in prone position. A downwardly extending flange 23 around the periphery of the plate raises the plate from its supporting surface.

The box-like body 17 is slightly smaller in dimensions than the bottom closure plate 18 and is movably supported on the base plate. The body comprises a pair of

elongated side walls

24, 24 and

end walls

25, 25 connecting the side walls. A pair of opposed slanting shelves or

platforms

26, 26 extend from a point just above the centers of the side walls inwardly and downwardly toward the center thereof, at which point the shelves extend in a direction parallel to the side walls to form closely spaced

flanges

27, 27 providing a slot 28 between the flanges extending the length of the body. Slot 28 at its bottom end is slightly shorter than at its top end whereby

shoulders

29, 29 are formed at the bottom ends of the slot.

Top plate 19 is of the same size as the bottom closure plate 18 and is formed with a central slot 30 of substantially the same length as the length of the partition wall 20. The plate 19 is preferably formed with pairs of spaced

end studs

31, 31 on its inner surface, and with a pair of

elongated ribs

32, 32 adjacent the long edges thereof.

In assembling the holder and dispenser, the box-like body 17 is inserted over the partition wall 20 of the bottom closure plate 18, the shouldered end of the slot 28 thereof being hooked over the long hook 21 by tilting the body 17 and then sliding the body at said end inwardly on plate 20 and then inserting the opposite end of the body over the opposite hook 21' of the partition wall and forcing the body inwardly into contact with the top surface of the bottom closure plate so that the partition wall protrudes through the slot 28 to the top edge of the box-like body, thereby dividing said box-like body into

several compartments

33, 33 for holding a supply of toothpicks 34 on the

shelves

26, 26 as shown in Fig. 4. The top plate 19 is then mounted over the open top of the box-like body with its slot 30 receiving the top edge of the partition wall 20 in exposed condition. The

studs

31, 31 and ribs 32, 32 on the top plate guide it to proper position on the box-like body for closing the top of the body. These studs and ribs also prevent shifting of the top plate on the box-like body. The top plate, however, can readily be lifted off of the box-like body in order to fill the compartments with toothpicks. The bottom plate 18 and top plate 19 may also be formed with

finger pieces

35 and 36, respectively, on one end thereof in aligned relation so that these plates may be grasped by the fingers of the user to facilitate tilting of the top plate 19 for filling the compartments with toothpicks or for any other desired purpose.

In using the combined toothpick holder and dispenser, the

long sides

24, 24 of the box-like body 17 are preferably grasped by the fingers of the user and the body with the top closure plate 19 lifted off of the bottom closure plate 18 thereby carrying the inner edges of the

shelves

26, 26 above the top edge of the partition wall 20 whereupon a toothpick 34 is adapted to roll off the inner edge onto the groove 22 in the top edge surface of the partition wall. The shoulders 29 on the box-like body 17 interlock with the hooks 21, 21' on the partition wall 20 and limit outward movement of said box-like body on the partition wall. The box-like body with the top plate is then moved inwardly onto the bottom closure plate again whereupon the toothpick which is supported in the groove 22 is positioned in the slot 30 of the top closure plate 19 in exposed condition ready to be lifted olf by the user. The partition wall 20 substantially fills the slot 30 so that a dispensed toothpick cannot be reinserted either accidentally or on purpose.

It will be understood that the invention might be used for holding and dispensing other cylindrical articles such as matches, pencils and the like.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

A combined toothpick holder and dispenser, comprising a rectangular base plate having a centrally disposed upstanding wall, said wall being formed with two extensions constituting hooks with curved top end edges, said wall having a top edge formed with a groove extending from one hook to the other, said groove being just deep enough to receive a single toothpick in longitudinal extension therein, said plate having a peripheral flange extending downwardly therefrom for raising the plate above a supporting surface, a rectangular box-like body movably disposed over said plate, said body comprising a pair of elongated side walls connected by end walls, a

pair of opposed slanting shelves extending from a point just above the centers of the side walls inwardly and downwardly and terminating in two closely spaced flanges disposed parallel to the side walls of the body, the spacing of said flanges being substantially equal to the thickness of said upstanding wall, said flanges having inwardly extending portions defining shoulders for engaging said hooks when said body is raised from the base plate, and a flat rectangular top plate removably disposed on said body, said top plate having a longitudinal central slot having a length substantially the same as the length of said partition wall, said top plate being formed with studs and ribs for positioning the top plate on the body with the ribs and studs fitting inside said body, said base and top plates being formed with finger gripping extensions, one of said hooks being longer than the other to facilitate disposing said body over the base plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,454,529 Zebra May 8, 1923 1,680,826 Viola Aug. 14, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 465,723 France Feb. 13, 1914 590,203 France Mar. 12, 1925