U.S. patent application number 14/017941 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-06 for string dispenser for dispensing string wound on a hollow core.
The applicant listed for this patent is William R. MARBLE. Invention is credited to William R. MARBLE.
Application Number | 20140061361 14/017941 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50186065 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140061361 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MARBLE; William R. |
March 6, 2014 |
STRING DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING STRING WOUND ON A HOLLOW CORE
Abstract
A string dispenser for dispensing string from a spool comprising
a hollow core, the string dispenser includes a base plate formed
with a recess in an upper surface of the base plate for receiving a
lower end of the hollow core. The base plate is also formed with a
hole that opens at an upper end in the recess and at a lower end at
a lower surface of the base plate. An end of a length of string
wound on the core can be threaded downward through the hollow core
and through the hole in the base plate. The string dispenser also
includes a cover for covering the spool of string positioned with
the lower end of its hollow core in the recess. The cover has a rim
for engaging a formation at the upper surface of the base plate. A
retention device is provided to retain the cover in position
relative to the base plate.
Inventors: |
MARBLE; William R.;
(Corbett, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MARBLE; William R. |
Corbett |
OR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50186065 |
Appl. No.: |
14/017941 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61696606 |
Sep 4, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/588.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 57/18 20130101;
A47F 13/04 20130101; B65H 2701/35 20130101; B65H 49/08
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/588.6 |
International
Class: |
B65H 49/08 20060101
B65H049/08 |
Claims
1. A string dispenser for dispensing string from a spool comprising
a hollow core, the string dispenser including: a base plate formed
with a recess in an upper surface thereof for receiving a lower end
of the hollow core and with a hole that opens at an upper end in
the recess and at a lower end at a lower surface of the base plate,
whereby an end of a length of string wound on the core can be
threaded downward through the hollow core and through the hole in
the base plate, a cover for covering the spool of string having the
lower end of its hollow core in the recess, the cover having a rim
for engaging the base plate, and a retention device that retains
the cover in position relative to the base plate, and wherein the
base plate has at least one formation at its upper surface for
engaging the rim of the cover.
2. A string dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said formation
at the upper surface of the base plate is an annular rabbet
extending around an upper periphery of the base plate for receiving
the rim of the cover.
3. A string dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cover
comprises a peripheral wall, a top, and two retainer elements
projecting from the peripheral wall at opposite sides thereof, and
the retention device comprises a band that engages the retainer
elements and extends under the base plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/696,606 filed Sep. 4, 2012, the entire
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for
all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The subject matter of this application relates to a string
dispenser for dispensing string wound on a hollow tubular core
[0003] String is widely used in retail butcher shops and other
retail meat operations for tying cuts of meat in order to prepare
them for sale. Conventionally, the string is stored on a spool
comprising a hollow tubular core and a length of string is unwound
from the spool, cut off from the string remaining on the spool, and
then used for tying a cut of meat. Various mechanisms are used for
holding the core, with the unused string wound thereon, but
generally these mechanisms do not effectively protect the string
from contamination by blood, meat and other materials. Using
contaminated string in direct contact with meat may violate both
safety and sanitation regulations and ultimately affect sales and
profits. If the meat tie string is easily accessible, it will be
easier for the food preparation worker to prepare a meat item for
sale and accordingly more selections will be available and items
may sell more rapidly. A customer is more likely to buy a meat item
that is tied with clean, white string than one that is tied with
string that is blood stained or otherwise unsightly, for example
due to dark spots, mold or bacteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with subject matter disclosed herein there is
provided a string dispenser for dispensing string from a spool
comprising a hollow core, the string dispenser including a base
plate formed with a recess in an upper surface thereof for
receiving a lower end of the hollow core and with a hole that opens
at an upper end in the recess and at a lower end at a lower surface
of the base plate, whereby an end of a length of string wound on
the core can be threaded downward through the hollow core and
through the hole in the base plate, a cover for covering the spool
of string having the lower end of its hollow core in the recess,
the cover having a rim for engaging the base plate, and a retention
device that retains the cover in position relative to the base
plate, and wherein the base plate has at least one formation at its
upper surface for engaging the rim of the cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how
the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by
way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a string dispenser mounted
to a support post,
[0007] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the string dispenser taken on
the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and
[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the string
dispenser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The string dispenser shown in the drawings is used to
dispense string from a spool that comprises a hollow, conical
cardboard core 10 (FIG. 2) having a plastic sleeve or cap 14 fitted
tightly in its narrow end. String 18 is wound on the cardboard
core. The string has an inner and an outer end. The inner end is
cut off. The string is unwound from the core by pulling upward on
the outer end of the string, in the direction from the wider end of
the core to the narrower end of the core.
[0010] The inner periphery of the plastic sleeve 14 is radiused at
the upper end of the sleeve, which allows a spindle to be inserted
readily into the sleeve to support the core during winding of the
string onto the core.
[0011] The core extends downward somewhat beyond the string wound
on the core.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 3, the string dispenser comprises a
circular base plate 22 formed with a central hole 26 and with a
central circular recess 30 in its upper surface. The central hole
26 thus opens at the top into the recess 30 and at the bottom to
the underside of the circular plate 22. The lower periphery of the
hole is radiused (FIG. 2). At its outer periphery, the circular
base plate 22 has a peripheral rabbet 34. Just inward of the
rabbet, the plate 22 has two through holes for receiving bolts 38
for attaching the plate to a clamping bracket 40 or other mechanism
for securing the plate to a support. The plate should be made of a
material that is dimensionally stable and resists scratching and
attack from cleaning and washdown materials. The configuration of
the plate should avoid pockets that might harbor contaminants. The
plate may be made of aluminum and may have a hard anodized finish
to provide the aluminum plate with a finish that resists scratching
and is easy to clean.
[0013] The dispenser also comprises a generally cylindrical cap or
cover 42. The cover has a peripheral wall 46, which may taper
slightly to facilitate nesting, and is closed at the top by a top
wall 50.
[0014] The lower end of the peripheral wall provides a rim or lip
54. Slightly above the rim, the cap has two diametrically opposed
projecting ears 58 each formed with a slot 62.
[0015] In use of the string dispenser, the base plate 22 is
attached to a vertical post or column by means of the clamping
bracket 40 and the bolts 38 threading the holes in the base plate
and engaging holes in the clamping bracket. The column to which the
bracket is attached is typically the leg of a cutting table and the
bracket 40 is positioned so that the dispenser is beneath the
surface of the cutting table. Other bracket configurations are
possible, allowing attachment of the base plate to supports other
than vertical posts.
[0016] A spool wound with string, as shown in FIG. 2, is placed on
the support plate with the lower end of the core fitted in the
recess 30. The recess may permit a small degree of horizontal
movement of the lower end of the core in the recess, or the lower
end of the core may be a snug fit in the recess, such that friction
between the plate and the core resists movement of the core
relative to the plate.
[0017] The free end of the string is threaded downward through the
sleeve 14 at the upper end of the core and is threaded downward
through the hole 26 in the plate. The cover 42 is then fitted over
the spool of string and the rim 54 of the cover engages the rabbet
34 of the base plate, thus preventing horizontal movement of the
cover relative to the base plate. The cover is releasably held in
position by an elastic band 74 that engages the ears 58 of the
cover and passes beneath the base plate. The band may be a
buna-nitrile rubber O-ring. The string is run through the slot 62
in one of the ears, the slots being positioned inward of the band
74 so that the band does not interfere with free movement of the
string through the selected slot. The string is then run to the
edge of the cutting table and the free end of the string is
retained in a convenient gripping area. By providing the rabbet 34,
the rim of the cover 42 is placed lower than the top surface of the
plate and there is accordingly provided a barrier to penetration of
water or other washdown liquid into the interior of the string
dispenser during normal washing operations. This avoids the need
for a rubber seal between the plate and the cover, which may
require a channel in the plate to receive the seal and thereby
provide a haven for contaminants.
[0018] Because the buna-nitrile rubber O-ring is away from the
string path, contamination of the O-ring does not impair the
cleanliness of the string. In any event, the O-ring can be easily
washed and is inexpensive to replace. For these reasons, the
buna-nitrile rubber O-ring is an expedient choice for a retention
device to retain the cover in position. Other types of retention
devices could, however, be used.
[0019] When the user pulls on the free end of the string, the
string unwinds readily from the spool. Because the string extends
downwardly through the sleeve 14, the interior of the core 10 and
the hole 26 in the base plate, tension in the string tends to hold
the spool seated in the recess. The radius at the upper end of the
sleeve 14 and the lower periphery of the hole 26 prevent snagging
of the string and possible damage to the string as it is pulled
from the spool.
[0020] In use, the food preparation worker grasps the free end of
the string, pulls it from the gripping area, and pulls out
sufficient string for the task at hand. The worker cuts off the
desired length of string and returns the new free end to the
gripping area. The cover protects the string that remains on the
spool from contamination. If some of the string outside of the
dispenser should be contaminated, it can easily be cut off and
discarded, leaving fresh, clean string available for use.
[0021] Proper cleaning of a meat preparation area may entail hosing
down surfaces that might have become contaminated. The cover 42
essentially prevents water from entering the interior space of the
dispenser. Should a small quantity of water enter through the hole
26 due to splashing from other surfaces the lower end of the core,
being seated in the recess 30, retains the water in the recess 30
and limits the possibility of the spool of string being
contaminated.
[0022] The string dispenser provides an enclosure that
substantially prevents penetration of contaminants and washdown
liquids that may impair the appearance or cleanliness of the string
wound on the spool without use of a rubber seal.
[0023] It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted
to the particular embodiment that has been described, and that
variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of
the invention as defined in the appended claims, as interpreted in
accordance with principles of prevailing law, including the
doctrine of equivalents or any other principle that enlarges the
enforceable scope of a claim beyond its literal scope. Unless the
context indicates otherwise, a reference in a claim to the number
of instances of an element, be it a reference to one instance or
more than one instance, requires at least the stated number of
instances of the element but is not intended to exclude from the
scope of the claim a structure or method having more instances of
that element than stated. The word "comprise" or a derivative
thereof, when used in a claim, is used in a nonexclusive sense that
is not intended to exclude the presence of other elements or steps
in a claimed structure or method.
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