Special receptacle or package – For a tool – Plural
Patent
1998-05-11
2000-09-12
Foster, Jim
Special receptacle or package
For a tool
Plural
206443, B65D 8524
Patent
active
061164208
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a dispenser for toothpicks and particularly to a dispenser to allow toothpicks to be individually removed.
BACKGROUND ART
Dispensers for toothpicks or gum massagers, are usually of box type configuration where a large number (usually between 100 to 200) of toothpicks are placed in a box for sale. To obtain a toothpick, the box is opened and a person removes a toothpick therefrom. Due to the size of the toothpick, the person will usually touch at least 10 other toothpicks in trying to remove a single one from the box. A disadvantage with this system is that the toothpicks remaining in the box become contaminated which can lead to mouth infections. Also, dust can enter the box to contaminate the remaining toothpicks. A further disadvantage is that the toothpicks can prick a person's finger when being removed, and the toothpick tips are not protected from being touched or otherwise contaminated.
It is known to provide gum massagers in a matchbook form where approximately 50 gum massagers are provided which can be individually torn away from a base portion of the book. With this arrangement, the base of each gum massager is attached to the base portion of the book, and to remove a gum massager, a person must touch the tip of the gum massager. This in turn can contaminate the tip before being inserted into the person's mouth.
A further disadvantage with both the box container and the matchbook arrangement is that neither have provision to safely store a used toothpick or gum massager. Thus, it is currently necessary to discard the used toothpick, and the toothpick may contain saliva, food scraps and possibly bacterial contamination.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.
In one form the invention resides in a dispenser for toothpicks, the dispenser comprising a body portion in which a part of each toothpick is held, and at least one finger portion extending from the body portion, each finger portion holding an individual toothpick and being manually operable to allow the toothpick to be removed from the finger portion and the body portion.
The dispenser can be used for toothpicks and gum massagers.
The dispenser is typically sized and configured to allow it to be placed in a person's wallet or purse. The dispenser may be manufactured to be disposable, and to allow it to be used as a single use dispenser. It is envisaged that the dispenser will hold only a few toothpicks suitable for a single use. It is found that between 2 to 10 toothpicks, and typically about 5 toothpicks, can be provided in the dispenser.
The dispenser is typically substantially flat in configuration to allow it to be placed in a person's wallet, or purse, and also to make it relatively inconspicuous. The body portion may be substantially flat and may be rectangular when viewed in plan. To make the body portion substantially flat, the toothpicks held by the body portion are typically arranged in a single layer and in a side-by-side relationship.
The body portion may be of sufficient size to allow advertising to be applied thereto. It is also preferred that the body portion is not see-through so that the portion of the toothpicks in the body portion cannot be viewed.
The at least one finger portion may be substantially flat in configuration. Typically, the finger portions extend from adjacent one edge of the body portion. It is preferred that the finger portions are integrally formed with the body portion and cannot be completely removed from the body portion.
If a plurality of finger portions are provided, these may be in a side-by-side relationship relative to each other. The finger portions may also be removably attached to each other and this may be achieved by a line of perforations or a line of weakness between adjacent finger portions. By having the finger portions removably attached to each other, they can function to stiffen each
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Cruse Peter Alan
Hall Glenn Raymond
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