Article dispensing – With separate inlet for replenishment or access
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-22
2001-08-28
Bollinger, David H. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
With separate inlet for replenishment or access
C221S306000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279776
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus comprising at least two parts, a first of said two parts being releasably held within a second of said two parts, said first and second parts being moveable relative to one another to display at least two apertures leading to a chamber for retaining articles which are to be dispensed from the apparatus.
A known dispenser has a lid through which articles are inserted into the main dispenser. The lid is then closed and articles are removed either via an aperture associated with said lid, or through another aperture located in the dispenser. Such a known arrangement involves moving separate parts of the apparatus to open and close different apertures, thereby making the dispensing of articles complicated. In addition, it is usual that some type of separate closure is needed to prevent pieces falling out of such known dispensers. FR 1092506 shows a pushbutton dispenser having moving parts, the position of which are controlled by a spring.
The dispensing apparatus of the present invention, in contrast to known apparatus is easily operated so that the dispensing apparatus can be filled and also so that articles can easily be removed from the apparatus. In addition, relative movement of the parts of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention enables the apparatus to be closed securely so as to retain the articles in the apparatus without the need for a separate locking mechanism for the apparatus.
According to the present invention there is provided a A dispensing apparatus comprising at least two cylindrical parts (d,g), a first of said two parts (d) being releasably held within a second of said two parts (g), characterised by said first and second parts being moveable relative to one another in a helical fashion to display at least two apertures (i,f) leading to a chamber for retaining articles (b) which are to be dispensed from the apparatus, one of said apertures being in the first of said two parts (d) and the second aperture being in the second of said two parts (g), with said first aperture (i) being adjacent to a first end of the first part and said second aperture (f) being adjacent to a first end of the second part, said first and second apertures (i,f) being adjacent relatively opposed ends of said parts when one part is releasably held within the other, with the first part (d) also having access means to the chamber for retaining articles which is in proximity to the end of the second part having second aperture (f) and which on relative rotation of parts (d,g) said access means becomes aligned with aperture (f) so permitting access to the articles in the chamber.
According to a second aspect, the invention provides a dispensing apparatus which is used particularly but not exclusively for dispensing articles which are vertically stacked and may be adapted to dispense lamelliform articles. Such articles may be game pieces such as gaming cards.
In a preferred embodiment the apparatus of the invention comprises two tubes, one inserted within the other. The inner tube is moveable relative to the outer tube to enable an aperture in the inner tube to be revealed and also an aperture in said outer tube is opened.
In an alternative embodiment, the tubes and apertures may be arranged so that an aperture in the inner tube is opened and an aperture in said outer tube is revealed.
The relative movement between the inner and outer may involve a helical movement of the two tubes relative to one another and such helical movement causes the relative parts of the respective tubes which are covering apertures in said inner and outer tube to be displaced, thereby revealing the apertures. This helical movement reveals the two apertures which are situated adjacent first and second ends of the tubes. An aperture can then be used to remove articles from the dispensing apparatus. If required, articles can be inserted into the apparatus via an aperture. In a preferred embodiment, a first aperture is used to introduce articles into the dispensing apparatus while a second aperture is used to remove articles from the dispensing apparatus.
The contents in the tubes are preferably stacked thereby enabling the dispensing apparatus to operate with the benefit of the article being aligned with the apertures by gravity. Although the invention has been discussed with reference to two apertures it may be possible that more than two apertures are present in the dispensing apparatus. In such a case, the apparatus may comprise a series of compartments along its length with access apertures for each compartment.
In a preferred embodiment the apparatus has a further part which is attachable to the dispensing apparatus. This further part may be push fitted onto an end of the apparatus comprising first and second parts or alternatively, it may be clipped on to the end of said apparatus. This further part may comprise a storage chamber having a lid through which articles may be inserted and removed. The articles may be removed from the storage chamber, for use by an individual, or alternatively they may be inserted into the main dispensing apparatus comprising the two relatively moveable parts by means of a first aperture in the dispensing apparatus, preferably in the inner part. The articles may then be removed from the dispensing apparatus by means of a second of said apertures, preferably in a second part of the dispensing apparatus.
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Finkletaub Elaine
Sanders Sara
Bollinger David H.
Horton John Wiley
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