US3241897A - Dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

R. HOLLERITH, JR 3,241,897

DIsPENsING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 22, 1966 Filed April so, 1963 ATTORNEY March 22, 1966 R. HoLLERrrH, JR

DISPENSING coNTAINER 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed April 30, 1965 INVENTOR. RICHARD HOLLERlTH. J R.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,241,897 DISPENSING CGNTAINER Richard Hollerith, Jr., Upper Montclair, NJ., assignor to Monroe International Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 276,904 11 Claims. (Cl. S12-97.1)

This invention pertains to dispensing holders or containers for material in long strip form from which selected small lengths are t-o be torn off.

As is well known, trading stamps and postage stamps are customarily provided in the form of a strip, usually as a roll, with the individual stamps of the strip being separated from one another by a row of perforations. For use, it is necessary that small lengths of varying numbers of the stamps be torn from the strip.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel and inexpensive structure to hold the stamps and lto facilitate tearing the selected numbers of stamps from the long strip.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a novel, conveniently usable, `and inexpensive holder or container for such strip material which includes provision for permitting ready access to the strip material for manual selection of the desired strip length to be torn off, and which also includes a convenient tear guide control means.

It is a further object to provide the foregoing in a structure whi-ch readily lends itself to economical, mass production integral plastic-molding techniques,

As described in detail subsequently, the preferred herein disclosed exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a box-like container for the strip material. A slot provided in the wall of the container allows the free end of the strip to extend outside the container for manual access thereto. The slot is provided adjacent one end of the openable cover of the container. The container is provided with an vintegral hinged flap adjacent the slot. The flap is adapted to be pressed against the outside'of the container cover to clasmp the strip between it and the cover, the free end of the flap providing a tear guide edge along which af selected strip length can be readily and neatly torn.

Although the invention is intended primarily for dispensing trading and postage stamps and the like, it can FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the removable divider plate used in the container;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the devi-ce of FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates generally a preferred embodiment of a dispensing container incorporating the principles of the invention. As will become apparent, the container 1 is so designed as to readily lend itself to being manufactured as an integral unit of plastic material, such as polypropylene,

Container 1 includes a bottom wall 2, front and back walls 3 and 4, and left and right end walls 5 and 6 It also includes a cover member 10. The latter comprises primarily a flat, top wall portion 10a per se, and inturned or depending rim wall portions 10b, 10c, 10d extending continuously along the front, right, and rear-but not the left-periphery thereof. The lower edge of the rear rim wall portion 10d is integrally hinged to the upper edge of rear wall 4 along hinge line 11, and when the entire cover 10 is folded down about the hinge line from its open position of FIG. 4 to the closed position of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, rim' wall 10d forms a vertical extension of rear wall 4.

At this juncture, it may be mentioned that hinge line 11, as well as the various other hinge lines or integral hinges described subsequently, are provided by the conventional technique used in plastic design of reducing the materiall thickness along the hinge line to permit the required pivotal movement at the hinge.

When the container is closed, an outturned continuous integral angerltle provided a short distance above the outer (or lower) ends of rim walls 10b, 10c, 10d, is seated against the upper edges of the front, right side, and rear walls 3, 6, 4 (note FIG. 7).

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, left end wall 5 is of a greater height than the other three vertical walls so as to terminate substantially flush with or slightly above the upper or outside surface of cover 10. Integrally hinged also be used for dispensing any other desired tearable material.

The present invention represents a substantial advance over prior art devices, such asdisclosed in the following United States patents: 1,285,240; 2,361,730; 2,725,244; 2,847,118; 2,876,892; 3,016,135.'

The'above and other objects, advantages, and features I of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG, 1 is a front elevational view of a dispensing container illustrating the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the top cover open and tear guide flap held back, to permit a roll of stamps to be loaded into the container;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bottom wall of the dispensing container showing the manner in which the container is mounted on a bracket plate or the like and releasably detented thereto;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line V II-VII of FIG. 1, showing one of the latching tabs for holding the cover closed;

tothe upper edge of wall 5 along line 12 is a flap 13 having its free end edge beveled at 13a. The adjacent, left-hand end of cover member 10 terminates a short distance from the inner face of end wall 5 to dene therebetween a narrow slot 14.

.Asmentioned previously, the invention is intended primarily for the dispensing of stamps such as trading stamps. Reference numeral 15 designates a strip of such stamps in roll form, provided with the usual rows of perforations separating individual stamps from each other. It will be understood, however, that the invention can be employed for dispensing any desired tearable material in strip form; and further, that the strip need not necessarily be in roll form but could be provided in any other continuous strip form, eg., fan-folded.

To load the container, the stamp roll 15 is placed therein while the cover 10 is held swung back to open positon and flap 13 held away from the cover, as shown in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the cover is swung shut, with the flap still being held folded back. The ap is then released. Preferably, it normally assumes the angular position shown in FIG. 1, although this can be varied as desired depending upon the design details of the container, e.g., dimensions, materials, etc.

Cover 10 is adapted to be releasably latched in closed position by means of latching tabs 16 each cooperable with a related latching detent projection 17 formed in the front wall 3.

Prior to closing the top cover, a sufficient length of the free end portion of the stamp roll 15 is held outside the container adjacent flap 13 so that when the cover is closed 3 the free end of the roll will extend through slot 14 to the exterior of the container as seen in FIG. 1.

After the roll is loaded into container 1 and cover 10 closed, the operator merely grasps the free end of the strip and pulls it to cause the selected length of the strip to be withdrawn from the container. To facilitate measuring olf the strip length to be torn off, the upper surface of cover member is provided with index lines 22 representing different stamp lengths measured from the line assumed by the free end of flap 13 when the latter is swung downwardly into contact with the upper surface of cover 10. If desired, there can also be provided a printed numeral adjacent each index line, indicating the number of stamps, or the monetary value thereof, to the index line.

To keep the stamp strip straight for accurate measurement, the operator will lightly press flap 13 down into contact with the cov-ers upper surface while pulling the free end of the stamp roll to the desired length represented by the appropriate one of index lines 22.

After this has been done, the operator presses more firmly against the flap to securely clamp the stamp strip 15 between it and the upper surface of cover 10; and pulls the stamp strip laterally to tear it along the tear guide edge provided by the free end of the ap. The beveled edge 13a of the flap insures a clean tear.

In addition to serving as a tear guide, ap 13 performs other desirable functions. For example, it serves to impede the usual tendency of the short, exterior free length of the stamp strip which remains after tearing, to withdraw into the container through slot 14. Furthermore, the flap serves as a protective shield to keep dust and dirt away from this exterior portion of the strip. This is particularly desirable when the container is used for dispensing stamps, since it is customary for the stamp recipient to moisten the stamps orally before atfixing them in a stamp book.

As best seen in FIG. '7, each of the aforementioned latching tabs 16 for the cover comprises a tab integrally hinged at its upper edge to the outer edge of lateral flange 10e of cover member 10. Each tab has a large opening therethrough, adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped, associated forwardly projecting integral protuberance 17 formed in the containers front wall 3. The lower edge of protuberance 17 and the associated adjacent edge of tab 16 are correspondingly beveled inwardly to provide a snap detent action. The inner side of the tab is tapered at its bottom to provide nger access for pulling the tabs free of detent protuberances 17 when it is desired to open cover 10.

To prevent unauthorized access to the container, particularly when it is used as a stamp dispenser, it includes means allowing it to be locked by a conventional padlock of the like, as follows. A forwardly extending apertured lug 23 is provided integral with the upper end of left-hand detent projection 16. Cover 10 includes a corresponding apertured forwardly projecting lug 24 integral with flange 10e, and disposed within the central cut-out portion of the tab. When cover member 10 is fully closed lugs 23 and 24 will lie one above the other, with the respective apertures thereof aligned. The shackle of the padlock can be passed through the aligned apertures and snapped shut.

The interior portion of dispensing container 1 will now be described. First, however, it should be noted that although the description to this point has spoken only of one roll, when used for dispensing trading stamps the container will usually house two or more rolls depending on whether so-called low or high denomination stamps are employed. Low denomination stamps generally represent 10 in purchase amount, and are manufactured in one-wide and live-wide rolls. If only low denomination is used, the container will be used to simultaneously house and dispense stamps from one of each of such rolls disposed side-by-side.

High-denomination stamps, however, each represent whole dollar purchase amounts, e.g., $1, $5, etc., and are usually single wide. Therefore, for a typical high-denomination use, the container will house three single-wide rolls, namely a 10g? roll, a $1 roll, and a $5 roll.

lt will be understood of course, that regardless of the types of stamps and number of rolls in the container, flap 13-which extends across the full container width-will function as described hereinbefore for all the rolls and will be used as a tear guide sequentially as needed. The stamp-holding portion of the container is defined between left-hand end wall 5 and an upstanding interior partition wall 25 integral with bottom wall 2.

The rolls of stamps rest on two spaced upstanding ribs 26 integral with bottom wall 2 and extending across the interior width of the container. This type of support will prevent the usual back-turning which occurs after a length of stamps has been withdrawn and the free end of the stamp strip released.

To keep the stamp rolls separated from each other, divider plates 27 are employed. One such plate 27 is shown in FIG. 8. Each divider plate is adapted to be received in one pair of opposed pair of longitudinally aligned guide slots, each related pair of guide slots being formed by pairs of parallel closely spaced ribs 28 respectively molded integrally with left end wall 5 and partition wall 25. Two such pair of guide slots are provided as shown in FIG. 2. Ribs 28 also serve as reinforcing means.

If only low denomination stamps are used in the container, only a single divider plate will be employed and this will be mounted in the rear set of guide slots to separate the five-wide roll `of l0 stamps from the one-wide roll. For high denomination stamp usage, an additional divider plate will be mounted in the forward set of slots, this larrangement being shown in FIG. 2.

If desired, the divider plate can include indicia 30 for visually gauging the number of stamps left on a roll at any given time. Alternatively, the stamp rolls can be numbered at suitable points along their length for a precise determination of the number of stamps remaining on a roll.

Each divider plate 27 includes clearance slots 31 at its lower end for the roll-supporting ribs 26.

Container 1 includes provision whereby it can be securely but detachably mounted at some convenient location, eg., on a cash register. The container is adapted to be so mounted by means of a bracket plate 35, portions of which are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Plate 35 includes headed pins 36 and 37 upon which the container is mounted. Bracket plate 35 is constructed and arranged to be suitably affixed to whatever device it is desired to mount the dispensing container on. Such details of the bracket construction form no part of the present invention.

Between the container walls 6 and 25, bottom wall 2 is provided with two keyhole- type slots 38 and 39 spaced to receive pins 36 and 37. Integrally hinged along line 40 to wall 2 at the right-hand end of slot 39 is a tab 41. To mount container 1 on bracket plate 35, the former is positioned with the large openings of slots 38, 39 aligned with the heads of pins 36, 37; and pushed downwardly toward the latter whereby the pin heads pass through the slots. The container is then shifted to the right, as limited by integral stops 42, 43, to bring the narrow portions of slots 38, 39 beneath the pin heads. Tab 41, which had been pushed up by pin 37, is now manually pushed downwardly to cause its narrow, forward nose 41a to snap beneath the head of pin 37 to the position of FIG. 6, in which position the tab serves to block longitudinal movement of the container for removal thereof from the bracket plate 35. Tab 41 thereby functions to prevent unauthorized removal of the container from the bracket plate. To dismount the container, it is necessary to open cover 10 and pull tab 41 upwardly to snap nose 41a past the head of pin 37. An integral upstanding lug 41!) of tab 41 facilitates manual manipulation thereof.

FIG. 9 shows another form of the invention. Here, the container is provided in the form of a cylindrical receptacle 5t) adapted to contain a roll of trading stamps, postage stamps, etc. A suitable removable cover 51 is provided for the receptacle 50. The free end portion of the stamp roll extends through longitudinal slot 52 provided in the container wall. A tear guide iiap 53 is integrally hinged along its inner end to an integral ledge 54 provided along one side edge of the container. In use, after a desired length of stamps has been drawn from receptacle 50 through slot 52, flap 53 is manually swung about its hinge line to clamp the stamp strip between it and the outer surface of the container. The stamps are torn along the beveled guide edge 53a of the flap. Preferably, Hap 53 is curved concavely as shown to conform to the curvature of the outer surface of container 50, whereby when the flap is swung down for use, it will grip the stamp strip over substantially its entire area, and its tear guide edge 53a will be close to the underlying portion of the container well.

FIG. l shows another modified form of the invention similar to FIG. 9. Here, the tear guide flap 60 is integrally hinged to the wall of cylindrical container 61 along one side edge of dispensing slot 62. Flap 60 includes beveled tear guide edge 60a and is longitudinally arcuate as shown, so that it will closely conform to the surface of container 61 when it is swung downwardly to the right for use.

It will be seen from the foregoing detailed description that the invention provides a novel dispensing container, and particularly one which can be economically manufactured. For example, the container 1 of FIGS. 1-8 can be formed in a single injection molding operation, the divider plates 27 being the only parts for which a separate manufacturing operation would be necessary. The FIGS.` 9 and 10 forms similarly lend themselves to fabrication by integral molding.

Numerous modifications of the invention can be made without departing from the principles thereof. It is therefore intended that the disclosure herein of various specic exemplary embodiments be illustrative only and not limitative of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A container adapted to receive material in the form of a strip, selected lengths of which are to be torn off; comprising (a) a plurality of Walls interconnected to define therebetween a material receiving enclosure;

(b) one of said walls extending toward but terminating short of another of said walls, to define therebetween a slot; and

(c) a flap extending from another of said walls and exibly interconnected thereto to permit movement thereof towards an outer surface of said one of said walls and to press against said outer surface a portion of a strip of material when extended from said enclosure and through said slot;

(d) the end of said ap forming a tearing edge along which any of a strip of material which extends beyond the portion thereof pressed against said one wall may be t-orn oif.

2. The container of claim 1; wherein (a) said ap is formed integrally with said other of said walls; and

(b) said flexible interconnection therewith is formed by reducing the thickness of the material thereof along a hinge line.

3. The container of claim 1; wherein (a) said one of said Walls also serves as a cover for said enclosure; and

(b) said one of said walls is flexibly interconnected to a cover supporting wall.

4. The container of claim 3; wherein (a) said one of said walls is formed integrally with said cover supporting wall; and

(b) said iiexible interconnection therewith is formed by reducing the thickness of the material thereof along a hinge line.

5. The container of claim 4 including means for releasably locking said one of said walls in an enclosing position.

6. The container of claim 1; wherein (a) said one of said walls is of a length which is greater in d-imension than the length Iof said ilap; and

(b) said outer surface thereof carries indicia indicating the length of material extending beyond said iiap.

7. The container of claim 1; including separating means dividing the enclosure into compartments each adapted to receive a strip of material.

8. The container of claim 1; including (a) a mounting wall,

(b) keyhole shaped apertures formed in said mounting wall and adapted to receive headed pins to facilitate mounting of the container; and

(c) locking means carried by said mounting wall for coaction with at least one headed pin, when disposed in one of said apertures, to prevent inadvertent removal thereof from said aperture.

9. The container of claim 8; wherein (a) said locking means is in the form of a tab formed integrally with said mounting wall and extending into said aperture;

(b) said locking means further including a releasing portion accessible only from the inside of said enclosure.

10. A dispensing device for stamps, and the like; comprising (a) a front wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a -back wall, a bottom wall and a cover wall all integrally interconnected to lform an enclosure for the stamps;

(b) a flexible cover hinge formed by reducing the thickness of the material along a hinge line between said cover wall and said back wall to permit pivotal movement of said cover wall and thereby access to said enclosure;

(c) a through slot formed by terminating said cover wall short of said left side wall;

(d) a ilap formed by extending said left side wall above .said cover wall; and

(e) a flexible flap hinge formed by reducing the thickness of the material along a hinge line between said ap and said left side wall so as to permit movement of said ap towards said cover to press thereagainst a length of stamps when extending from said enclosure through said slot;

(f) an edge of said flap forming a tearing edge along which any of the strips of stamps which extend therebeyond may be severed.

11. The dispensing device of claim 10; wherein (a) said cover extends beyond said iiap when the two are in juxtaposition; and

(b) index lines are disposed on said cover to indicate the number of stamps extending beyond said edge of said flap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/ 1944 Mueller 206--54 8/1953 White 22S-36 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CONTAINER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF A STRIP, SELECTED LENGTHS OF WHICH ARE TO BE TORN OFF; COMPRISING (A) A PLURALITY OF WALLS INTERCONNECTED TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN A MATERIAL RECEIVING ENCLOSURE; (B) ONE OF SAID WALLS EXTENDING TOWARD BUT TERMINATING SHORT OF ANOTHER OF SAID WALLS, TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN A SLOT; AND (C) A FLAP EXTENDING FROM ANOTHER OF SAID WALLS AND FLEXIBLY INTERCONNECTED THERETO TO PERMIT MOVEMENT THEREOF TOWARDS AN OUTER SURFACE OF SAID ONE OF SAID WALLS AND TO PRESS AGAINST SAID OUTER SURFACE A PORTION OF A STRIP OF MATERIAL WHEN EXTENDED FROM SAID ENCLOSURE AND THROUGH SAID SLOT; (D) THE END OF SAID FLAP FORMING A TEARING EDGE ALONG WHICH MAY OF A STRIP OF MATERIAL WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND THE PORTION THEREOF PRESSED AGAINST SAID ONE WALL MAY BE TORN OFF.

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