Toothpick dispenser of sliding type

Abstract

 A dispenser (1) for toothpicks (S), comprising a casing (2) with a hollow interior (6) containing the toothpicks (S), said casing (2) comprising two parts (3, 4) movable relative to each other along a common plane (P), a first part (3) being of smaller dimensions than the second (4) and able to assume relative to this latter two end working positions, said second part (4) comprising a seat (10) arranged to receive a toothpick (S) as a result of moving said parts (3, 4) relative to each other so as to enable the user to remove the toothpick from the dispenser (1) when the first part (3) is in one of said positions.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a toothpick dispenser in accordance with the introduction to the main claim.

[0002] Various types of toothpick dispenser are known. For example dispensers are known comprising a casing having a part provided with a hole which allows a toothpick to emerge from the hollow interior of the casing following suitable manipulation thereof. A dispenser is also known comprising a casing containing elastic parts which, on pressing a suitable pushbutton projecting from the casing, expel the toothpick from the hollow interior.

[0003] These known arrangements have various drawbacks. For example, they are of complicated construction and therefore of high cost. Alternatively, they do not provide easy release of the toothpick, which can become jammed within the dispenser. In addition, known dispensers have the drawback of not preventing an already used toothpick being reinserted into them. There is therefore a serious question of hygiene for a person using toothpicks for example in a bar, restaurant, canteen, etc.

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a toothpick dispenser which obviates the drawbacks of the aforesaid known dispensers.

[0005] A further particular object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the stated type which is of simple construction, is of low cost and is hygienically safer than known dispensers in that an already used toothpick cannot be reinserted into it.

[0006] These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a dispenser in accordance with the accompanying claims.

[0007] The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the dispenser according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a view from above of the dispenser of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a modification of the dispenser of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section similar to that of Figure 5, taken through a different embodiment of the invention.

[0008] With reference to said figures, a dispenser for toothpicks S is indicated overall by 1 and comprises a casing 2 having two portions 3 and 4 which are engaged with each other (preferably by snap-engagement) and are movable relative to each other along a common intermediate plane P (see Figure 5). The two portions 3 and 4 move with translational movement relative to each other along said plane. The portion 4 is longer than the portion 3 in the direction of mutual movement L of the two portions, these latter being of tray shape (ie each having a cavity 3C and 4C respectively) so as to define a hollow interior 6 within the casing 2 in which the toothpicks S are placed.

[0009] At one end 4A, the portion 4 comprises a flange 7 provided with a raised projection or shoulder 8 arranged to define a limit stop for the movement of the portion 3 relative to the portion 4. This latter has another flanged end 4B in which there is an elongate recess 10 able to receive the toothpick to enable it to be removed from the hollow interior 6.

[0010] The portion 3 has one end 3A facing the recess 10 and able to move relative to and above it so as to reach the free extremity 12 of the flanged end 4B.

[0011] The end 3B of the portion 3 has a tapered free extremity 13 with its inner part 13a smoothly blending into the inner wall 14 of the end 3A.

[0012] The portion 3 laterally comprises flanges 17 and 18 arranged to cooperate with substantially L-shaped guide elements 19 and 20 projecting upwards from side walls 21 of the portion 4.

[0013] Each element 19 or 20 has its upper part tapering on that side 19A or 20A facing the interior of the portion 4. This is to allow snap-engagement between the portions 3 and 4 by forcing the flanges 17, 19 down onto the elements 19 and 20, by which the sides 19A and 20A thereof are made to move elastically away from the interior of the portion 4 to allow the portion 3 to be inserted so that it lies on the opposing side walls 21 of the portion 4. Between each pair of elements 19 and 20 there is provided a member 11 arranged to cooperate with the flanges 17 and 18 of the portion 3 so as to act as a stop for its movement in particular towards the extremity 12 of the portion 4. On fixing the portions 3 and 4 together, this member becomes positioned in correspondence with an aperture 11A provided between the flanges 17 and 18 of the portion 3.

[0014] Said L-shaped (or hook-shaped) elements maintain the portion 3 associated with the portion 4 while at the same time allowing these portions to move relative to each other. This movement is, relatively speaking, a movement of translation of the portion 3 on the portion 4, said portion 3 being able to assume two working positions relative to the portion 4. In a first position (for example shown by full lines in Figure 5) it frees the recess 10 and rests on a flat part 26 of a separating baffle 27 provided between the recess 10 and the cavity 4C of the portion 4. In this first position, the portion 3 has that end 28 distant from the extremity 13 resting on the flange 7. In the second position, the extremity 13 lies in correspondence with the extremity 12 of the portion 4 so as to provide communication between the recess 10 and the cavity 3C of the portion 3 (and hence the hollow interior 6 of the casing 2 of the dispenser 1). As described hereinafter, this enables a toothpick to pass from the hollow interior 6 to the recess 10 for its removal from the dispenser 1.

[0015] It will now be assumed that the aforedescribed dispenser is to be used to remove a toothpick therefrom. For this purpose its casing 2 is firstly arranged in the position shown in the figures. The portion 3 is then moved into its second working position (described heretofore) by sliding it relative to the portion 4 along the guides defined by the hook-shaped elements 19 and 20. The casing 2 is then rotated through 180° so that the portion 3, which lies above the portion 4 in the figures, is brought below this latter. Said casing is then lightly shaken to cause a toothpick to pass from the hollow interior 6 into the recess 10. The casing 2 is again rotated through 180° (to return to the situation represented in the figures) so that the portion 3 is returned to its first working position (against the stop defined by the projection or shoulder 8). The recess 10 in which a toothpick has remained "trapped" is hence freed, and the toothpick can be removed from the dispenser.

[0016] To prevent a used toothpick being reinserted into the casing 2 there is provided in the recess 10 a projection 33 which maintains the toothpick slightly raised within this recess. In this manner, although it is possible to remove the toothpick from the dispenser, it is not possible to reinsert it into it. In this respect, during the depositing of the toothpick S in the recess 10 (as heretofore described), the return of the portion 3 to its first working position (as described) is made possible both by the elasticity of the toothpick S and by the shape of the part 13A (smoothly blending) of the extremity 13 of the end 3A. Consequently the "expulsion" of the toothpick S from the hollow interior 6 and its deposition in the recess 10 so that it can be gripped by the user takes place as described independently of the presence of the projection 33.

[0017] It is not however possible to reinsert the toothpick S into the hollow interior 6. In this respect, when placed in the recess 10 it assumes a raised position (as shown in Figure 4). If an attempt is now made to move the portion 3 into its second working position, its extremity 13 presses against the toothpick S, and as that part thereof facing the recess 10 is in the form of a sharp edge (formed by the extremity 13 and the outer wall 14B of the end 3A), it is unable to distort the toothpick so as to be able to pass beyond it and reach the extremity 12 of the end 4A. Consequently it is very difficult to reinsert the toothpick into the casing 2 of the dispenser 1.

[0018] A further arrangement for preventing the reinsertion of the toothpick S into the casing 2 after its extraction is shown in Figure 6 in which, as an alternative to the projection 33, there is provided within the recess 10 a rocker 35 comprising arms 36 and 37 and hinged at 38 to the baffle 27 (which for the rocker comprises a seat 39 providing communication between the recess 10 and the hollow interior 6). This rocker can assume two working positions (shown in Figure 6 by dashed lines and full lines respectively) corresponding to the two aforesaid positions of the portion 3.

[0019] During the use of the dispenser, passage of the portion 3 from its first to its second working position causes the rocker to rotate about the hinge 38. The return of said portion to its first position causes further rotation (opposite to that already described) of the rocker by virtue of the cooperation between its arm 37 and the end 3A of the portion 3. This rotation causes the arm 36 to rise within the recess 10, this also causing the toothpick S to rise therein and facilitate its gripping. Reinsertion of the toothpick into the casing 2 is made very difficult by the rocker 35 which is in its first working position (shown dashed in Figure 6). This position cannot be changed (for example by trying to force the rocker into its second working position) because of the cooperation between its arm 37 and the end 3A of the portion 3.

[0020] As the dispenser 1 is preferably constructed of self-lubricating plastics material, all the movements of its parts are facilitated and without seizure.

[0021] One particular embodiment has been described. Other embodiments are however possible (such as one in which the casing 2 is in the form of a cylinder provided with two semicylindrical or cylindrical sector portions of different surface areas, movable about a common axis), while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dispenser for toothpicks (S), comprising a casing (2) with a hollow interior (6) containing the toothpicks (S), characterised in that said casing (2) comprises two members (3, 4) movable relative to each other along a common plane (P), a first member (3) being of smaller dimensions than the second (4) and able to assume relative to this latter two end working positions, said second member (4) comprising a seat (10) arranged to receive a toothpick (S) as a result of moving said members (3, 4) relative to each other so as to enable the user to remove the toothpick from the dispenser (1) when the first member (3) is in one of said positions.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising guide means (19, 20) associated with a first (4) of the two movable members (3, 4) and arranged to cooperate with respective counter-means (17, 18) on the other member (3) in order to guide the movement of one member relative to the other, stop means (8, 11) being provided to act as a limit stop for said movement.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the guide means are substantially L-shaped elements (19, 20) projecting upwards from side walls (21) of the first (4) of the two movable members (3, 4), said elements preferably tapering on that side (19A, 20A) facing the interior of said member (4) in order to facilitate snap-engagement between this latter and the other member (3), the guide counter-means being flanges (17, 18) provided on the second member (3) and spaced apart to define an aperture (11A) between them.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the stop means (8, 11) are a shoulder (8) projecting upwards from one end (4A) of the first member and elements (11) projecting upwards from the side walls (21) of the first member preferably between the guide means (19, 20).

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the end (3A) of the second member (3) comprises a free extremity (13) able to move relative to the seat (10) of the first member (4) which receives the toothpick (S) for its removal from the dispenser, and having that part (13a) facing the interior of said member smoothly joined to the inner wall (14) of said end, said part (13A) terminating as a sharp edge defined with the outer wall (14B) of said end (3A).

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each movable member (3, 4) is in the form of a tray.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising anti-reinsertion means (33, 34) positioned at least partially within the seat (10) for the toothpick (S) and arranged to prevent reinsertion of this latter into the dispenser casing (2) after it has been extracted therefrom.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the anti-reinsertion means are a projection (33) provided in the toothpick seat (10).

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the anti-reinsertion means are a rocker (35) comprising a part (36) inserted into the toothpick seat (10) and a part (37) cooperating with the second movable member (3).

Drawing