Combined toothpick and mint dispenser
US7066349B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65D83/02
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thin, plastic dispenser for discharging toothpicks, and/or mints through distinct discharge passages in the dispenser. The dispenser has a body comprising a first housing and a second housing that are aligned and snapped together to form the body of the dispenser. A well is defined in the body for storing toothpicks, and a first discharge passage is provided in the well. A larger chamber is defined in the body for storing mints, and a second discharge passage is provided in the chamber. Locking levers, integrally formed with one of the housings, normally seal the discharge passages in the well and the chamber. When the user wishes to discharge a toothpick and/or mint, the manually engages a locking lever and pivots same about its hinge line to expose the adjacent discharge passage. The contents of the well and/or chamber can then be discharged, through the exposed discharge passages vacated by the movement of the locking lever. Guides, ramps, and abutments in the well and chamber limit the width of the discharge passages and insure that the toothpicks are mints are discharged, one at a time, when the dispenser is tilted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.