Dispenser for toothpicks and tablets
View Patent ↗A toothpick and tablet dispenser has two housing halves force-fitted together and guide walls in at least one of the halves to guide toothpicks and tablets to different outlets to dispense a single toothpick or tablet at a time. A gate at each outlet provides manual access to the outlets and insure sanitary interior conditions.
1. A dispenser for toothpicks and tablets, comprising:
first and second housing members attached together to define a dispenser housing,
means to releasably attach the housing members together,
respective outlet openings for toothpicks and tablets in at least one of the housing members,
separation wall means in a first one of the housing members and spaced from an edge thereof to define a toothpicks retaining chamber,
a plurality of first guide wall means disposed on at least one of the housing members and having portions parallel to and perpendicular to an outlet to guide a single toothpick to said outlet, and
second guide wall means on one of said housing members and defining a portion of the outlet for tablets and configurated to guide a single tablet to the outlet opening.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said separation wall means is adapted to maintain toothpicks oriented to facilitate their passing to the outlet.
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of posts are disposed near corners of one of said housing members to engage in socket members on the other housing member in a force-fit relationship to retain the housing members together.
4. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the second guide wall means has portions respectively parallel to and perpendicular to an edge of a housing member to retain tablets and guide a single tablet to said outlet.
5. A dispenser according to claim 1 and further comprising a gate adjacent each respective outlet and manually operable for dispensing a single toothpick via said outlet for toothpicks.
6. A dispenser for toothpicks and tablets, comprising:
first and second housing members attached together to define a dispenser housing,
respective outlets for toothpicks and tablets in at least one of the housing members,
separation wall means in a first one of the housing members and spaced from an edge thereof to define a toothpicks retaining chamber,
first guide wall means having respective portions parallel to and perpendicular to a toothpick outlet wall and to guide a single toothpick to said outlet opening,
second guide wall means adapted and positioned to align a toothpick with the toothpick outlet to eject a single toothpick at a time, and
third guide wall means on one of said housing members and defining a portion of said outlet for tablets and configurated to guide a single tablet to the outlet opening.
7. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein a plurality of posts are disposed near corners of one of said housing members to engage in socket members on the other housing member in a force-fit relationship to retain the housing members together.
8. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the second guide wall means has portions respectively parallel to and perpendicular to an edge of a housing member to retain toothpicks and guide a single toothpick to said outlet.
9. A combination according to claim 6 and further comprising a gate adjacent each of said outlets and manually openable to enable the dispensing of a single item therethrough, and being manually closable by engaging a housing member.
10. A dispenser according to claim 6 , wberein said third guide wall means defines a portion of an outlet.
11. A dispenser for toothpicks and tablets, comprising:
first and second housing members define a dispenser housing,
respective outlets for toothpicks and tablets in at least one of the housing members,
separation wall means in a first one of the housing members and spaced from an edge thereof to define a toothpicks retaining chamber,
first guide wall means having respective portions parallel to and perpendicular to an outlet opening wall and defining a toothpick compartment to guide a single toothpick to said outlet opening,
second guide wall means on one of said housing members defining a portion of said outlet opening for tablets and configurated to guide a single tablet to the outlet opening,
means to releasably attach the housing members together, and
a gate on at least one of the housing members adjacent one of said respective outlets and manually operable to enable an item to pass through the outlet, said gate having a portion engagable with one of said housing members in a force-fit to secure the gate over said outlet.
12. A dispenser according to claim 11 wherein a plurality of posts are disposed near corners of one of said housing members to engage in socket members on the other housing member in a force-fit relationship to retain the housing members together.
13. A dispenser according to claim 11 wherein the second guide wall means has portions respectively parallel to and perpendicular to an edge of a housing member to retain tablets and guide a single tablet to said outlet.
14. A combination according to claim 11 and further comprising a gate adjacent each of said outlets and manually openable to enable the dispensing of a single item therethrough, and being manually closable by engaging a housing member.
15. A dispenser according to claim 11 wherein separate gates are provided, one for toothpicks and the other for tablets.