Article dispenser

Abstract

A device for dispensing articles such as paper clips and pins having a body chamber to contain a stack of the articles, a head assembly to eject the articles, and a base assembly containing a spring mechanism to bias the stack of articles toward the head assembly. Additional aspects of the invention are paper clips and pins designed to be used in conjunction with the dispenser having generally flat top surface and bottom surfaces, these surfaces being essentially parallel to one another to facilitate stacking.

1 . A handheld dispenser for articles comprising: 
 a. a body chamber to hold a plurality of stacked articles with a top end and a bottom end, the body chamber also defining a longitudinal direction from the top end to the bottom end;    b. a head assembly integral to the top end of the body chamber having a top housing and a bottom housing that define an essentially hollow space between the top and bottom housing; an opening in the head assembly adapted to allow the discharge of an article; and a plunger adapted to move through the hollow space in a direction essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body chamber, engage an article, and displace the article at least partially out of the opening; and    c. a base assembly releasably attached to the bottom end of the body chamber having a base cap that engages the bottom end of the body chamber, a load spring extending from the base cap into the body chamber such that the load spring engages the endmost article in the stack and biases the stack of articles along the longitudinal direction of the body chamber so that the topmost article is moved into the head assembly and into the path of the plunger.    
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the load spring is selected from the group consisting of a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the head assembly further comprises a return spring that urges the plunger out of the hollow space of the head assembly to a fully extended position after discharging an article so that the next article in the stack can move into position for discharging.  
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the return spring is selected from the group consisting of a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the head assembly further comprises a plunger lock mechanism that retains the plunger in the fully depressed position.  
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the base assembly further comprises a spring cap attached to the load spring to engage the endmost article in the stack.  
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the spring cap extends outside the body chamber so that the load spring can be depressed to facilitate reloading articles into the body chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the body chamber further comprises a cartridge containing a plurality of stacked articles, the cartridge adapted to fit within the body chamber to facilitate refilling the dispenser with articles.  
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the articles are paperclips.  
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the paperclips have a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more side surfaces, the top surface and bottom surface being essentially flat and parallel to one another to facilitate stacking.  
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the thickness of the paperclips ranges from about 0.01 inch to about 0.1 inch, in addition ranging from about 0.03 inch to about 0.06 inch.  
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the paperclips are made of a material selected from the group consisting of injection molded plastic, formed plastic, stamped metal, and formed metal wire.  
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the body chamber is imprinted with a logo, design, lettering, or trademark for advertising purposes.  
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the paperclips are imprinted with a logo, design, lettering, or trademark for advertising purposes.  
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the articles are pins.  
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the pins further comprise: 
 a. a generally cylindrical shaft with one end of the shaft tapered to form a point to facilitate penetration of a surface;    b. a head with a top surface, bottom surface, and one or more side surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces being essentially flat and parallel to one another to facilitate stacking; and    c. the end of the shaft opposite the tapered end securely attached to one side surface of the head so that the tapered end of the shaft projects out from the head.    
     
     
         17 . A dispenser for articles adapted for operation on a planar surface comprising: 
 a. a top housing and a bottom housing that define an essentially hollow space between the top housing and bottom housing;    b. a cartridge containing a plurality of stacked articles, the cartridge having a front end and a back end that define a longitudinal direction from the front end to the back end, the cartridge being releasably secured between the top housing and the bottom housing;    c. a load pusher that engages the endmost article in the stack and exerts a force that biases the stack toward the front end of the cartridge; and    d. a head assembly integral to one end of the top housing and above the front end of the cartridge having a plunger adapted to move in a direction essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge, engage the first article in the stack at the front end of the cartridge, and eject the article from the cartridge.    
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the bottom housing further comprises a plate upon which the cartridge is placed.  
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 17  further comprising a load spring attached to the load pusher to provide the biasing force.  
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the load spring is selected from the group consisting of a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the head assembly further comprises a return spring that urges the plunger to an extended position after ejecting an article so that the next article in the stack can move into position for ejecting.  
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the return spring is selected from the group consisting of a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the articles are paperclips.  
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 23  wherein the paperclips have a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more side surfaces, the top surface and bottom surface being essentially flat and parallel to one another to facilitate stacking.  
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 24  wherein the thickness of the paperclips ranges from about 0.01 inch to about 0.1 inch, in addition ranging from about 0.03 inch to about 0.06 inch.  
     
     
         26 . The dispenser of  claim 23  wherein the paperclips are made of a material selected from the group consisting of injection molded plastic, formed plastic, stamped metal, and formed metal wire.  
     
     
         27 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the housing is imprinted with a logo, design, lettering, or trademark for advertising purposes.  
     
     
         28 . The dispenser of  claim 23  wherein the paperclips are imprinted with a logo, design, lettering, or trademark for advertising purposes.  
     
     
         29 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the articles are pins.  
     
     
         30 . The dispenser of  claim 29  wherein the pins further comprise: 
 a. a generally cylindrical shaft with one end of the shaft tapered to form a point to facilitate penetration of a surface;    b. a head with a top surface, bottom surface, and one or more side surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces being essentially flat and parallel to one another to facilitate stacking; and    c. the end of the shaft opposite the tapered end securely attached to one side surface of the head so that the tapered end of the shaft projects out from the head.    
     
     
         31 . A handheld dispenser for paperclips comprising a body chamber to hold a plurality of paperclips in a stack, the body chamber having a top end and a bottom end; a head assembly integral to the top end of the body chamber having a plunger for discharging the topmost paperclip in the stack; and a base assembly releasably attached to the bottom end of the body chamber having a load spring that engages the endmost paperclip in the stack and biases the stack of paperclips towards the head assembly.  
     
     
         32 . The paperclip dispenser of  claim 31  wherein the load spring is selected from the group consisting of a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The paperclip dispenser of  claim 31  wherein the paperclips have a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more side surfaces, the top surface and bottom surface being essentially flat and parallel to one another to facilitate stacking.  
     
     
         34 . The paperclip dispenser of  claim 31  wherein the body chamber is imprinted with a logo, design, lettering, or trademark for advertising purposes.  
     
     
         35 . The paperclip dispenser of  claim 31  wherein the paperclips are imprinted with a logo, design, lettering, or trademark for advertising purposes.  
     
     
         36 . A handheld dispenser for pins comprising a body chamber to hold a plurality of pins in a stack, the body chamber having a top end and a bottom end; a head assembly integral to the top end of the body chamber having a plunger for discharging the topmost pin in the stack; and a base assembly releasably attached to the bottom end of the body chamber having a load spring that engages the endmost pin in the stack and biases the stack of pins towards the head assembly.  
     
     
         37 . The pin dispenser of  claim 36  wherein the load spring is selected from the group consisting of a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         38 . The pin dispenser of  claim 36  wherein the load spring further comprises a spring cap that extends outside the body chamber so that the load spring can be depressed to facilitate reloading pins into the body chamber.  
     
     
         39 . The pin dispenser of  claim 36  wherein the pins further comprise: 
 a. a generally cylindrical shaft with one end of the shaft tapered to form a point to facilitate penetration of a surface;    b. a head with a top surface, bottom surface, and one or more side surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces being essentially flat and parallel to one another to facilitate stacking; and    c. the end of the shaft opposite the tapered end securely attached to one side surface of the head so that the tapered end of the shaft projects out from the head.    
     
     
         40 . The pin dispenser of  claim 36  wherein the body chamber is imprinted with a logo, design, lettering, or trademark for advertising purposes.