Label Dispenser

Abstract

A label dispenser is shown which includes a hollow body having opposite spaced sides and a rear face and provided with an outlet opening. A substantially centrally disposed support extends across the sides and is adapted to support a roll of interconnected separable labels. The sides of the body each carry fasteners thereupon with the fasteners on one side of the body being complementary to the fasteners upon the opposite side of the body. The rear face of the body also carries fastening means.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various applications in which it is necessary to apply labels to various containers in a frequent manner. These labels are generally of a discrete number of specific types. For example, in the drug dispensing field, the druggist frequently has to apply labels reading "for external use only", "poison", "shake well before using", "this prescription cannot be refilled," etc. Generally, for convenience, these labels have an adhesive backing for convenient adhesion to the container containing the prescription.

Conventionally, druggists maintain a container which is filled with the desired labels. Generally there is no way in which the stock of these labels can be checked. The druggist, therefore, in many cases "runs out" of the necessary label required or must spend an inordinate amount of time to obtain the required label from his stock.

The present invention provides a means for avoiding the difficulties of the prior art devices. In the present invention labels of a type required are disposed within a hollow container in the form of interconnected separable type. Means are provided for conveniently dispensing the number of labels required from the container. Each container supplies labels of a single type but a number of such containers, each having a single type of label therewithin, can be interconnected with one another and supported upon a convenient support adjacent to the place of work of the druggist. The druggist will thus have the required labels closely at hand when required, will know the amounts of such labels on hand at all times, and thus will save considerable time in his work.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein may be briefly described as comprising, in combination, a container adapted to support a roll of interconnected separable labels with the container having laterally disposed fastening means thereupon and provided with an outlet opening.

In the preferred modification of this invention the container includes a hollow body member formed with a top face, a bottom face, a rear face and a plurality of side faces. The side faces are spaced from one another and carry fastening means thereupon. The fastening means on one side of the body are opposite in kind to the fastening means upon the opposite side of the body. Fastening means are also provided upon the rear face of the body.

The body also carries a projecting nose portion which is provided with an outlet opening for the interconnected separable labels. The support means within the container consist of two interconnectable portions which, when connected to one another, are substantially centrally disposed upon the body and extend across the sides thereof. One of the interconnectable portions is provided with a circular recess and the other portion is formed with a laterally projecting ring with the ring being disposable within the recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in detail by reference to the specific forms thereof as set forth in the accompanying drawings. In this connection, however, the reader is cautioned to note that such specific forms of this invention as shown are for illustrative purposes and for purposes of example only. Various changes and modifications could obviously be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one form of the invention of this application.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the form of invention set forth in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the form of invention set forth in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view of one half of the form of invention set forth in FIGS. 1 and 2 as seen along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a plurality of containers made in accordance with this invention disposed laterally to one another in interconnected form.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the form of the invention set forth in FIG. 1 taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a rear plan view of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric side view of an alternative form of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative form of the invention shown in FIG. 8 taken along lines 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 8 taken along lines 10--10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an exploded side view, partly in section, of the alternative form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8-10 and specifically showing the type of mechanism used to lock the two halves of the container to one another after the roll of labels is inserted therewithin.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the form of invention shown in FIGS. 8-11 and specifically showing the means used to lock the two halves of the container to one another and to permit a rapid connection of these halves together with a difficult disassembly.

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of two interconnected containers of the form shown in FIGS. 8-12.

A further description of the invention will now be given by reference to the specific form thereof as shown in the drawings herein.

The principal form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-7 includes a container 11 which is formed of two interconnected halves 12 and 13. Container half 12 has projections 14 which are adapted to fit within recesses 15 provided within container half 13. Each of container halves 12 and 13 are formed with an additional projection 16 which are collectively designed to support a roll 17 of interconnected separable labels 18. In the form of invention shown labels 18 are of the pressure sensitive backing type and are disposed upon an elongated support strip 19.

Container 11 is formed with a front face 20 a rear face 21, a bottom face 22 and a plurality of spaced sides 23 and 24. Side 23 is provided with an opening 25 therewithin and side 24 provided with an opening 26 therewithin. Openings 25 and 26 are designed to permit viewing of the supply of labels remaining within container 11. Container 11 is also formed with a top face 27 which is provided with an opening 28 therewithin. Top face 27 also carries a projecting nose portion 29 which is provided with an outlet opening 30 therewithin which is intervened by a support element 31.

Rear face 21 of container 11 is provided with a support opening 32 thereupon.

Side 23 of container 11 also bears laterally extending projections 33 thereupon while side 24 of container 11 bears complementary recesses 34 thereupon. Recesses 34 are adapted to accomodate projections 33.

Front face 20 of container 11 carries support 35 which bears cutting means 36 thereupon. Support 35 is also provided with an opening 36 therewithin.

The alternative form of container 11A shown in FIGS. 8-13 is formed out of two half portions 37 and 38. Portion 37 is provided with a plurality of recesses 39 while portion 38 is provided with a plurality of pins 40 each of which is adapted to fit within a recess 39. Portion 37 also bears an internally projecting support 41 which is provided with a hollow central portion 42. Support 41 is also provided with a circular lateral opening 43 and with a plurality of outwardly extending notches 44. Portion 38 also bears an internally projecting support 45 which is provided with a hollow central portion 46. Support 45 is formed with a circular laterally projecting ring 47 which is resilient and adapted to snap into opening 43.

Container 11A is also formed with a top portion 48 a bottom portion 49 a front portion 50 and a plurality of spaced sides 51 and 52. Side 51 is formed with a pair of projections 53 and 54 and a recess 55. Side 52 is formed with a pair of recesses 56 and 57. Recesses 56 and 57 are adapted to receive a projection.

Top portion 48 carries a projecting nose portion 58 which is provided with an outlet opening 59 having a support element 60 intervening the same.

A roll of interconnected labels 61 (which is formed in a similar manner to the roll utilized in connection with the principal form of this invention) is also provided. Roll 61 bears a plurality of interconnected labels 18 secured to a support 19.

Front portion 50 of container 11A is also formed with a forwardly projecting support 62 having cutting means 63 thereupon. Support 62 is also formed with an opening 63a therewithin. aluminium. aluminium

With the foregoing specific description the operation of this invention will now be explained.

Referring first to the principal form of this invention shown in FIGS. 1-7 the roll of interconnected separable labels 17 is placed within the container while half portions 12 and 13 are separated from one another. The roll 17 is then threaded through outlet opening 30 and around support 31 as shown in FIG. 3. By means of an appropriate adhesive portions 14 are secured within recesses 15 after roll of labels 17 is disposed between projections 16. The container is then supported upon a wall or similar element by means of a nail or other fastener placed within opening 32.

Each of container 11 is adapted to contain a different type of label. If the user of this device desires to have more than one type of label easily available he will take the second container 11 and interlock the projection 33 on one side of the container with the corresponding recess on the opposite side of the adjacent container. Thus a number of containers can be secured to one another as shown clearly in FIG. 5.

The alternative form of container 11A is utilized in a substantially similar manner. However, this form of container has means therewithin which permit simple assembly of the container and the labels contained therewithin but which prevent accidental or intentional dissasembly. In many cases it is desired to have a check of the number of labels of one type used by a druggist by requiring an accounting of all used containers. In this form of invention the two half portions 37 and 38 of container 11A are initially separated with the roll of labels 61 disposed between supports 41 and 45 as shown in FIG. 11. Supports 41 and 45 are then interlocked between label roll 61 so that ring 47 snaps into recess 43. Since ring 47 is resilient it will remain fixed within recess 43 and cannot be removed therefrom without destroying the parts.

In operation of the invention label strip 19 is pulled by the operator and, by reason of the provision of support 30 or support 60 a label 18 will be removed from strip 18 and presented forwardly for use by the operator.

The container of this invention is preferably made of a moldable theremoplastic material such as styrene, nylon, or the like. The container can, if desired, be made entirely transparent.

The foregoing sets forth the manner in which the objects of this invention are achieved.

Claims

I claim:

1. A label dispenser comprising, in combination, a hollow body member adapted to support a roll of interconnected separable labels therewithin, said body member being formed of a pair of laterally aligned separable portions, said body having a top face, a bottom face, a rear face and a plurality of side faces, each of said separable portions carrying a part of a forwardly projecting nose portion, said nose portion provided with an outlet opening therewithin and a substantially horizontally disposed support portion disposed within said outlet opening, a projecting pin carried by one rear portion of said body and an aligned hole carried by the opposite portion of said body, one of said separable portions of said body carrying a laterally projecting support member provided with a recess, the other of said separable portions of said body carrying a laterally projecting support member having a projection thereupon adapted to fit within said recess, the interconnected portions of said support member forming support means for holding a roll of interconnected separable labels on a support strip, the rear face of each of said separable portions of said body provided with a cut-out portion, said cut-out portions mating with one another and forming a holding element, an L-shaped portion on a side face of each of said separable portions of said body, each of said L-shaped portions having a pair of opposite end portions, one of said end portions being secured to a side face of said separable portion of said body at a point closer to said bottom face than to said top face and spaced from said top face and said bottom face, said secured end portion being also aligned with said rear face, each of said opposite end portions of said L-shaped portions overlying the respective side face and abutting one another to form a support strip conduit.

2. A label dispenser as described in claim 1 the forward end of each of the overlying part of said L-shaped portions being inclined downwardly and outwardly to form cutting means.

3. A label dispenser as described in claim 1 an additional projecting pin carried by a rear portion of the body and an additional aligned hole carried by the opposite rear portion of the body, said additional hole and pin spaced from the first-named hole and pin.