U.S. patent application number 12/334118 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-17 for blade dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE STANLEY WORKS. Invention is credited to Edward A. ILIFFE, Eric RANIERI.
Application Number | 20100147869 12/334118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41642044 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100147869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ILIFFE; Edward A. ; et
al. |
June 17, 2010 |
BLADE DISPENSER
Abstract
A blade dispenser including a body comprising a housing and a
cover. The housing is configured to store a plurality of new
blades. The housing has an opening for receiving the blades. The
cover is configured to close the opening. The blade dispenser
further includes a blade ejector constructed and arranged to
dispense blades through a slot in the body. The body comprises an
attachment member configured to couple the blade dispenser to
another blade dispenser to increase a storage capacity of new
blades of the blade dispenser.
Inventors: |
ILIFFE; Edward A.; (Worksop,
GB) ; RANIERI; Eric; (Besancon, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
THE STANLEY WORKS
New Britain
CT
|
Family ID: |
41642044 |
Appl. No.: |
12/334118 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/232 ;
221/154; 221/155; 221/255; 221/270; 221/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/232 ;
221/154; 221/155; 221/303; 221/255; 221/270 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/10 20060101
B65D083/10; B65H 1/08 20060101 B65H001/08 |
Claims
1. A blade dispenser, comprising: a body comprising a housing and a
cover, the housing being configured to store a plurality of new
blades, the housing having an opening for receiving the blades, the
cover being configured to close the opening; and a blade ejector
constructed and arranged to dispense blades through a slot in the
body; the body comprising an attachment member configured to couple
the blade dispenser to another blade dispenser.
2. The blade dispenser of claim 1, wherein the attachment member
comprises a tab having an end attached to the cover and an
elongated portion detached from the cover.
3. The blade dispenser of claim 2, wherein the cover comprises an
opening spaced apart from a detached extremity of the tab, and a
recessed portion at a periphery of the cover adjacent to the
opening.
4. The blade dispenser of claim 3, wherein the other blade
dispenser comprises a tab and an opening adjacent to the tab,
wherein the opening in the cover is configured to receive the tab
of the other blade dispenser and wherein the opening of the other
blade dispenser is configured to receive the tab of the blade
dispenser.
5. The blade dispenser of claim 1, wherein the attachment member is
further configured to attach the blade dispenser to an object.
6. The blade dispenser of claim 5, wherein the object is a belt or
strap.
7. The blade dispenser of claim 1, further comprises a hinge, the
hinge configured to join the housing to the cover.
8. The blade dispenser of claim 7, wherein the hinge is integrally
formed with the housing and the cover.
9. The blade dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises
female or male closing latches and the cover comprises male or
female closing latches, wherein the female latches of housing are
configured to mate with the male latches of the cover or vice
versa.
10. The blade dispenser of claim 1, wherein the slot is formed in a
wall of the housing.
11. The blade dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a window in
a wall of the housing for viewing a quantity of blades stored in
the housing.
12. The blade dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a hanger
portion for hanging the blade dispenser to an object.
13. The blade dispenser of claim 12, wherein the hanger portion is
detachably joined to the housing or the cover.
14. The blade dispenser of claim 13, wherein the hanger portion is
integrally molded with the housing or the cover, or both.
15. The blade dispenser of claim 1, further comprises an opening
for attaching the blade dispenser to an object.
16. The blade dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a plurality
of tab openings configured to receive a plurality of tabs of a
storage unit for used blades to mount the storage unit to the blade
dispenser.
17. The blade dispenser of claim 16, wherein the storage unit
comprises a slot for introducing used blades into the storage
unit.
18. The blade dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a blade
platform and a resilient member, the blade platform configured to
be disposed inside the housing, the b lade platform cooperating
with the resilient member to press upon a last one of the plurality
of blades such that a first of the plurality of blades is forced
into alignment with the slot in the body.
19. The blade dispenser of claim 18, wherein the blade platform
comprises a lock structure configured to retain the blade platform
in spaced relation from its extended position to facilitate loading
of blades into the housing.
20. The blade dispenser of claim 19, wherein the lock structure
comprises a plurality of tabs, wherein when the plurality of tabs
are depressed to release the blade platform, the resilient member
biases the blade platform against the plurality of blades in the
housing.
21. The blade dispenser of claim 1, wherein the blade ejector
comprises a plate configured to support a blade in the plurality of
blades and a manually engageable portion coupled to the plate, the
manually engageable portion being actuatable to move the plate to
dispense a blade.
22. The blade dispenser of claim 21, wherein the manually
engageable portion protrudes from a second opening in the, body,
the second opening being initially closed by a strip portion
removably attached to the housing , the strip portion covering at
least partially the manually engageable portion.
23. The blade dispenser of claim 22, wherein the strip portion is
removable from the housing to access the manually engageable
portion.
24. A blade dispenser, comprising: a body comprising a housing and
a cover; the housing being configured to store a stack of new
blades, the housing having an opening; the cover being configured
to close the opening; and a slider mechanism configured to engage a
first blade within the stack, the slider mechanism including a
manually engageable portion, the manually engageable portion being
actuatable to move the slider mechanism to dispense the first blade
through a slot in the body; and a removable stop structure
preventing movement of the slider mechanism unless the stop
structure is moved.
25. The blade dispenser of claim 24, wherein the removable stop
structure is removable from the housing to access the manually
engageable portion.
26. A blade dispenser, comprising: a body comprising a housing and
a cover, the housing configured to store a plurality of new blades,
the housing having an opening for receiving the blades, the cover
for closing the opening; a blade ejector constructed and arranged
to dispense blades through a slot in the body; and a removable
storage unit removably attachable to the body.
27. A blade dispenser, comprising: a body comprising a housing and
a cover, the housing configured to store a plurality of blades, the
housing having an opening for receiving the blades, the cover for
closing the opening; and a blade ejector constructed and arranged
to dispense blades through a slot in the body; and a blade counter
indicia disposed on a sidewall of the body adjacent an opening in
the sidewall, the blade counter indicia configured to indicate a
quantity of blades present in the housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention pertains to blade dispensers.
[0003] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0004] Blade dispensers are used to carry a stack of utility
blades. Blades are used in many activities such as cutting
carpeting, cardboard, paper, drywall sheets, plastic and many other
materials. The blade can be held by or mounted to a knife or
cutter. After a certain time of usage, a sharpened edge of the
blade may become dull. Thus, replacing the blade may be needed. A
new blade can be dispensed from the blade dispenser. While various
blade dispensers are available, these blade dispensers have had
limitations.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a blade
dispenser having an attachment member. The blade dispenser further
includes a body comprising a housing and a cover. The housing is
configured to store a plurality of new blades. The housing has an
opening for receiving the blades. The cover is configured to close
the opening. The blade dispenser further includes a blade ejector
constructed and arranged to dispense blades through a slot in the
body. The body comprises the attachment member configured to couple
the blade dispenser to another blade dispenser to increase a
storage capacity of new blades of the blade dispenser.
[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
blade dispenser having a removable stop structure. The blade
dispenser further includes a housing including a body comprising a
housing and a cover. The housing configured to store a stack of new
blades. The housing has an opening. The cover is configured to
close the opening. The blade dispenser also includes a slider
mechanism configured to engage a first blade within the stack. The
slider mechanism comprises a manually engageable portion, the
manually engageable portion being actuatable to move the slider
mechanism to dispense the first blade through a slot in the body.
The removable stop structure prevents movement of the slider
mechanism unless the stop structure is moved.
[0007] These and other objects, features, and characteristics of
the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and
functions of the related elements of structure and the combination
of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent
upon consideration of the following description and the appended
claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which
form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one
embodiment of the invention, the structural components illustrated
herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood,
however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and
description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits
of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims,
the singular form of "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the accompanying drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the exterior surfaces of an
open blade dispenser, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the interior surfaces of
the open blade dispenser depicted in FIG. 1A;
[0011] FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the closed blade
dispenser depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B;
[0012] FIG. 2B is back perspective view of the closed blade
dispenser showing the rear cover closing the opening of the housing
of the blade dispenser;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear cover of the blade
dispenser, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing two blade dispensers
coupled to each other;
[0015] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a storage unit for storing
used blades, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the storage unit for used
blades shown mounted to the blade dispenser;
[0017] FIG. 6A is an external perspective view of a blade platform,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6B is an internal perspective view of the blade
platform shown in FIG. 6A;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective internal view of a blade dispenser
showing the blade platform, and in which parts removed are shown in
dashed lines; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a slider mechanism, for
dispensing blades.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0021] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an open blade dispenser 10,
showing external surfaces thereof, according to an embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the open
blade dispenser 10, showing internal surfaces thereof. The blade
dispenser 10 comprises a body 2. The body 2 comprises a housing 12
and a cover 14. The housing 12 has an opening 13 and the cover 14
is configured to close the opening 13. FIG. 2A is a front
perspective view of the blade dispenser 10 showing the cover 14
closing the opening 13 of the housing 12 of the blade dispenser 10.
FIG. 2B is back perspective view of the blade dispenser showing the
cover 14 closing the opening 13 of the housing 12 of the blade
dispenser 10. As shown in FIG. 2A, the housing 12 is configured to
hold a plurality or a stack of blades 11. When the cover 14 and
housing 12 are closed, they define a storage space for the blades
11. In one embodiment, the housing 12 has generally a
trapezoidal-cylinder internal shape to accommodate the trapezoid
shape of the blades. However, as can be appreciated, the housing 12
can have any other shape such as a parallelepiped or cuboid shape,
a rounded-cylinder shape or a more complex shape. In one
embodiment, the housing 12 and the cover 14 are made from a plastic
material such as polypropylene, polyethylene,
polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, etc. Alternatively, the
housing 12 and cover 14 can be made from a different material such
as a metal (e.g., aluminum). Furthermore, the housing 12 and the
cover 14 can be made from the same material or different
materials.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cover 14 is joined on one
side to the housing 12 via a hinge 15. In one embodiment, the hinge
15 is a living hinge or a thin flexible hinge made from a thin
flexible material (e.g., plastic). In one embodiment, the thin
flexible strip of material can be integrally formed with the
housing 12 and/or cover 14. For example, the housing 12, the cover
14 and the living hinge 15 can be integrally formed as one piece
from plastic in an injection molding process. Alternatively, the
thin flexible material can be fastened (for example glued) on one
side to the housing 12 and on another side to the cover 14. The
thin flexible material can be made from the same material as the
housing 12 or the cover 14 or from a different material. Yet, in
another embodiment, a different type of hinge such as a metal hinge
pin arrangement can also be used. In another embodiment, no hinge
is provided and the housing and cover are separate pieces that can
be attached to one another.
[0023] In one embodiment, the housing 12 includes female closure
latches 16 and the cover 14 includes male closure latches 18. In
one embodiment, the female closure latches 16 can be notches
provided on a wall of the housing 12. The male closure latches 18
can be projections provided in the cover 14. As shown in FIGS. 2A
and 2B, the cover 14 closes the opening 13 of the housing 12 by
mating the female latches 16 and male latches 18. The cover 14 can
be released to open the housing 12 by depressing the male latches
18. In an alternative embodiment, the male latches 18 can be
provided on the housing 12 while the female latches 16 can be
provided on the cover 14. In yet another embodiment, a different
type of closure mechanism such as a snap-on or snap-fit closure can
be provided.
[0024] In one embodiment, the housing 12 has a horizontal slit or
slot 20 provided on a sidewall 19 of the housing 12 for dispensing
the blades stored in the housing 12, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
The housing 12 also has a vertical window slit 22 provided on a
sidewall 21 of the housing 12 for viewing the quantity of blades
stored in the housing 12. As can be appreciated, the horizontal
slit 20 and the vertical slit 22 can be provided on any sidewall of
the of the housing 12.
[0025] In one embodiment, the housing 12 further includes a hanger
portion 24 for hanging the blade dispenser 10 on a shelf, on a wall
or the like. In one embodiment, the hanger portion 24 can be
integrally formed with the housing 12. For example, the hanger
portion 24 can be integrally molded as one piece in an injection
molding process with the housing 12 from a plastic material. The
hanger portion 24 can be detached or snapped off from the housing
12 after purchase of the blade dispenser 10. In one embodiment, the
hanger portion 24 can be made thinner at an interface of the hanger
portion with the housing 12, for example to facilitate detaching
the hanger portion 24 from the housing 12. In another embodiment,
the hanger portion 24 can be joined to the housing 12 at various
points of the hanger portion 24, for example at two extremities of
the hanger portion 24 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B). This
arrangement can also facilitate decoupling of the hanger portion 24
from the housing 12. In another embodiment, instead or in addition
to providing the hanger portion 24 on the housing 12, the hanger
portion 24 can also be provided on the cover 14. In one embodiment,
the cover 14 can also be provided with an opening 27 for hanging
the blade dispenser 10 to an object such as a fastener (e.g., a
screw, a nail, etc.). For example, the opening 27 can be used to
hang the blade dispenser 10 after removal of the hanger portion 14.
Alternatively, instead of providing the opening on the cover 14,
the opening 27 can be provided in a wall of the housing 12. The
opening 27 can be replaced by any structure (e.g., hook,
projection, etc.) to facilitate hanging.
[0026] The housing 12 also includes an opening 26 provided on a
wall 25 of the housing 12 opposite the cover 14. The opening 26 is
partially covered by a strip portion 28. The strip portion 28 is
attached to a front wall 25 of the housing 12. In one embodiment,
the strip portion 28 can be attached to the front wall 25 at one or
more points on the periphery of the opening 26. In one embodiment,
the strip portion 28 can be integrally formed as one piece (e.g.,
from plastic) with the housing 12. The strip portion 28 is
removable or detachable from the housing 12. By pulling an
extremity of the strip portion 28 to break the one or more
frangible attachment points of the strip portion 28, the strip
portion 28 can be detached from the front wall 25 of the housing
12, thus uncovering the opening 26. For example, prior to
dispensing the blades from the blade dispenser 10, the strip
portion 28 can be detached or snapped off from the housing 12 to
allow access to a blade dispensing mechanism as will be described
in further detail in the following paragraphs. In one embodiment,
the strip 28 can be used, for example, as a tamper strip so as to
deter from dispensing blades from the blade dispenser 10 prior to
purchasing the blade dispenser 10. The strip 28 can also prevent
unwanted release of blades from the blade dispenser 10.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cover 14, according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The cover 14 includes an
attachment 30. In one embodiment, the attachment 30 is a clip or
tab. The clip or tab 30 can be used as a belt clip to carry the
blade dispenser 10 on a belt or on a strap of a tool bag, etc. The
tab 30 is coupled to the cover 14 on one end 30A of the tab 30,
while the elongated portion 30B of the tab 30 is detached from the
cover 14. When an object (e.g., a belt, strap or the like) is
inserted between the tab 30 and the cover 14, the tab 30 acts as a
resilient member or spring pressing the object against the cover
14. In one embodiment, an opening 31 covering generally a footprint
of the tab 30 can be provided in the cover 14 to allow, for
example, the tab 30 to bend further towards the cover 14 so that
the tab 30 can further press upon the object. In one embodiment,
the tab 30 can be integrally formed (e.g., molded) with the cover
14. Alternatively, the tab 30 can be fastened to the cover 24 using
any type of fasteners. For example, the end 30A of tab 30 can be
attached to the cover using screws or glue.
[0028] In one embodiment, the cover 14 also includes an opening 32
spaced apart from a detached extremity 30C of the tab 30. The cover
14 has a recessed portion 33 at a periphery of the cover 14,
adjacent to the opening 32. In one embodiment, a second blade
dispenser 10' (identical to the first blade dispenser 10) can be
attached to the first blade dispenser 10. FIG. 4 is a perspective
view showing two blade dispensers 10 and 10' coupled to each other.
To attach the second blade dispenser 10' to the first blade
dispenser 10, a clip of the second blade dispenser 10' (similar to
the tab 30 of the first blade dispenser 10) is introduced through
the recess 33 into the opening 32 of the first blade dispenser. In
the same way, the tab 30 of the first blade dispenser 10 is
introduced through a recess in the cover of the second blade
dispenser (similar to the recess 33 of the first blade dispenser
10) into an opening of the second blade dispenser 10' (similar to
the opening 32 of first blade dispenser 10). In this way, the tab
30 of the first blade dispenser 10 grasps a cover (not shown) of
the second blade dispenser 10' and the clip of the second blade
dispenser 10' grasps the cover 14 of the first blade dispenser 10.
By coupling two blade dispensers to each other, the storage
capacity of blades can be effectively doubled. For example, if
blade dispenser 10 contains 50 blades and the blade dispenser 10'
contains 50 blades, by joining the two blade dispensers 10 and 10',
the user is able to dispense from a reservoir of 100 blades. The
blades stored in blade dispenser 10 and blade dispenser 10' can be
the same or different. For example, in one embodiment, blade
dispenser 10 can be configured to carry regular trapezoid-shaped
blades while blade dispenser 10' can be configured to carry
hook-type blades (as known in the art). Although, the two blade
dispensers 10 and 10' are depicted herein as being geometrically
identical (mirror images of each other when connected), it can be
appreciated that the second blade dispenser 10' does not need to be
identical to the first blade dispenser 10. In one embodiment, the
second blade dispenser 10' can have dimensions different from the
dimensions of the first blade dispenser 10, for example, to carry a
stack of blades with a shape or dimension different from the shape
or dimension of the blades carried by the first blade dispenser
10.
[0029] In another embodiment, instead of coupling the two blade
dispensers 10 and 10' together to increase the storage capacity, a
storage unit for used blades or a disposal or recycling blade unit
40 can be attached to the blade dispenser 10. FIG. 5A is a
perspective view of the storage unit 40 for used blades, according
to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a perspective
view of the storage unit 40 for used blades shown in FIG. 5A
mounted to the blade dispenser 10. The storage unit for used blades
or the disposal or recycling blade unit 40 has a housing 42 for
housing the used blades (not shown). The storage unit 40 includes
tabs or hooks 44 for attaching or mounting the storage unit 40 to
the blade dispenser 10. As shown in FIG. 5A, the storage unit 40
has four tabs 44. Two tabs 44 are provided on a periphery of a wall
43A of the storage 40 and the other two tabs 44 are provided on a
periphery of an opposite wall 43B of the storage unit 40. However,
as can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, any
number of tabs (two or more) can be provided. To attach or mount
the storage unit 40 to the blade dispenser 10, the tabs 44 are
introduced into openings 36 provided in cover 14 (shown in FIGS.
1A, 1B, 2B and 3). The tabs 44 are introduced through the openings
36 in the cover 14 to mate with the cover 14 thus securing the
storage unit 40 to the blade dispenser 10. The storage unit 40 can
be detached or decoupled from the blade dispenser 10 by depressing
the tabs 44, for example by pressing upon the two wall 43A and
43B.
[0030] The storage unit also includes a slot 46 (shown in FIG. 5B).
The slot 46 is sized for introducing the used blades into the
housing 42 of the storage unit 40. In one embodiment, the storage
unit 40 can also be provided with projections 48 on a periphery of
two opposite walls of the storage unit 40. The projections 48 can
be sized to mate with the recess 33 and another recess 34 provided
on an opposite end of the cover 14 (shown in FIG. 3).
[0031] FIG. 6A is an external perspective view of a blade platform
50, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is
an internal perspective view of the blade platform 50 shown in FIG.
6A. The blade platform 50 fits inside the housing 12 of the blade
dispenser 10. In one embodiment, the blade platform 50 can have a
trapezoid shape that resembles or mimics the internal
cross-sectional shape of the housing 12. In one embodiment, the
blade platform 50 includes projection 52 configured to retain a
resilient member (e.g., a spring) 54 (shown in FIG. 7). The
projection or resilient member retainer 52 is shown having a "+"
shape. However, as can be appreciated, the resilient member
retainer 52 can have any other shape such as, for example, a
circular shape that mates with the end shape of the resilient
member 54. The blade platform 50 further includes a lock structure
55. In one embodiment, the lock structure 55 includes a plurality
of tabs 56. The tabs 56 are configured to be inserted into openings
57 provided in an upper wall 59 of the housing 12 to mount the
platform 50 to the housing 12 and retain the platform 50 in
position when loading blades into the housing 12. In other words,
the lock structure 55 of the blade platform 50 is configured to
retain the blade platform 50, against the bias of spring 54, so
that is held in spaced relation from its extended position (when
moved by the spring 54) to facilitate loading of blades into the
housing 12. The blade platform 50 also includes a blade counter or
blade count indicator 58. In one embodiment, the indicator 58 is a
projection in the blade platform. When the platform 50 is mounted
inside the housing 12 on top of the stack of blades 11, the
indicator 58 protrudes through window 22 to indicate the number of
blades that are in the housing 12. A blade counter indicia such as
a label with a scale or other indication, mark or indicia can be
affixed next to the window 22 on the exterior surface of the
sidewall 21 of the housing 12 to allow a user to determine the
quantity of blades in the housing 12.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective internal view of the blade dispenser
10 showing the blade platform 50, and in which parts removed are
shown in dashed lines. The blade platform 50 is retained in place
inside the housing 12 of the blade dispenser 10 using the tabs 56
to allow loading blades into the housing 12. The resilient member
(e.g., a spring) 54 is disposed between the upper wall 59 of the
housing 12 and the blade platform 50. When in use, the tabs 56 are
depressed to release the platform 50, the resilient member 54
biases the platform 50 downwardly against the stack of blades (not
shown). When one or more blades in the stack of blades are
dispensed, the bottommost of the stack of blades moves to replace a
gap of the one or more blades. Hence, when the number of blades in
the housing 12 decreases the blade platform 50 pushes against a top
end of the stack of blades and moves to follow the movement of the
stack of blades. Although, the resilient member 54 is described
herein as biasing the platform 50 downwardly, it can be appreciated
that the orientation of components of the blade dispenser 10 can be
changed and the operation of the blade dispenser 10 is not limited
to one single orientation. In fact, depending on the orientation of
components in the blade dispenser 10, the resilient member 54 can
bias the platform 50 sideways, upwardly or any other orientation,
and the blade dispensing opening 20 would simply be located
accordingly for dispensing blades.
[0033] On an opposite end of the stack of blades is disposed,
inside the housing 12, a blade ejector 60. In one embodiment, the
blade ejector 60 can be a slider mechanism. FIG. 8 is a perspective
view of the slider mechanism 60. The slider mechanism 60 includes a
plate 62 and a manually engageable portion or pusher 64. In one
embodiment, the manually engageable portion or pusher 64 is
provided on a lateral side at a periphery of the plate 62.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the pusher 64 can be attached
to the bottom surface of the plate 62. In one embodiment, the
pusher 64 can be integrally formed with the plate 62. However, a
separate pusher 64 can be also provided. For example, the pusher 64
can be fastened to the plate 62 using any type of fasteners (e.g.,
screws) or glued to the plate 62. The plate 62 is provided with an
upwardly standing wall or projection 66. The projection 66 protects
a sharp edge of a blade from coming in contact with a wall of the
housing or a wall of the horizontal slot 20 in the housing 12 when
the blade is dispensed. The slider mechanism 60 is mounted inside
the housing 12 such that the pusher 64 partially protrudes through
the opening 26 in the wall 25 of the housing 12 (as shown in FIG.
7).
[0034] The blade ejector or slider mechanism 60 is configured to
engage an end blade within the stack of blades. The manually
engageable portion or pusher 64 is actuatable to move the slider
mechanism 60 to dispense the end blade within the stack of blades
through the slot 20. Specifically, when the resilient member 54
pushes against a last blade in the stack of blades, a first of the
plurality of blades is forced into alignment with the slot 20 in
the body 2. The first blade in the stack is cupped inside the walls
of the slider mechanism 60. The slider mechanism 60 can be moved by
pressing on the pusher 64, for example with the thumb, and
actuating the pusher 64 in the direction of the arrow, as shown in
FIG. 7. The blade retained and supported and cupped by the plate
62, the projection 66 and the pusher 64 is carried by the slider
mechanism 60 and slides along with the slider mechanism 60 to be
dispensed through the horizontal slot 20 in the housing 12. During
dispensing of a blade through the slot 20, a narrowed portion 77 of
the plate 62 projects through the slot 20 to deliver the blade
through the slot 20. After dispensing the blade, the slider
mechanism 60 can be manually returned to its original position
inside the housing 12 so as to be ready to dispense another blade.
The slider mechanism 60 is returned to its original position by
actuating the pusher 64 in the direction opposite to the direction
of the arrow to retract the portion 77 of the plate 66 into the
housing 12. In another embodiment, a spring can be used to bias the
slider mechanism 60 so that it automatically returns to its
original position.
[0035] As described in the above paragraphs, the opening 26 in the
housing through which the pusher 64 of the slider mechanism 60
protrudes is covered at least partially by the strip portion or
removable stop structure 28. The strip portion 28 is removably
attached to the housing 12. The removable stop structure 28
prevents movement of the slider mechanism 60 unless the stop
structure 28 is moved. Hence, in order to access and be able to
actuate the pusher 64 to move the slider mechanism 60 to dispense
blades, the strip portion 28 must be detached from the housing 12.
Therefore, the strip or removable stop structure 28 can be used as
a tamper strip so as to deter from dispensing blades from the blade
dispenser 10 prior to purchasing the blade dispenser 10.
[0036] Although the invention has been described in detail for the
purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be
the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be
understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the
contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent
arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present
invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more
features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more
features of any other embodiment.
[0037] It should be appreciated that in one embodiment, the
drawings herein are drawn to scale (e.g., in correct proportion).
However, it should also be appreciated that other proportions of
parts may be employed in other embodiments.
[0038] Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will
readily occur to those of skill in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
described herein. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents should be considered as falling within the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *