Twist-tie dispenser

Abstract

A twist-tie dispenser comprises a twist-tie cluster and a base. The base includes a top portion, a rear wall extending downward from the top portion, and an open front. A latching structure for removably mounting the base to a fixture is defined at least in part by a first hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall of the base, the first hook-like extension defining a pocket formed by an upper stop surface and a vertical retention surface, the latching structure also defined at least in part by a flexible portion of the rear wall that is configured to elastically deflect through a cut-out provided on the rear wall in a direction from the rear wall toward the open front when a rod-like mounting structure of the fixture is inserted into the pocket of the first hook-like extension, the flexible portion also defining a lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of the first hook-like extension when the rod-like mounting structure is within the pocket and is captured between the lower stop surface and the upper stop surface.

1 . A twist-tie dispenser, comprising:
 a base including a top portion defining a twist-tie cluster mounting surface, a rear wall extending downward from the top portion, and an open front;   a latching structure configured for removably mounting the base to a fixture including at least one rod-like mounting structure, the latching structure defined at least in part by a first hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall of the base, the first hook-like extension defining a pocket formed by an upper stop surface and a vertical retention surface, the latching structure also defined at least in part by a flexible portion of the rear wall that is configured to elastically deflect through a cut-out provided on the rear wall in a direction from the rear wall toward the open front when the rod-like mounting structure of the fixture is inserted into the pocket of the first hook-like extension, the flexible portion also defining a lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of the first hook-like extension when the rod-like mounting structure is within the pocket of the first hook-like extension and is captured between the lower stop surface and the upper stop surface.   
     
     
         2 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower stop surface of the flexible portion is defined by a ramped tab configured to allow the rod-like structure of the fixture to slidably move therealong when deflecting the flexible portion. 
     
     
         3 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the latching structure defines at least two first hook-like extensions protruding from the rear wall, the at least two first hook-like extensions aligned along a horizontal row. 
     
     
         4 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the flexible portion of the rear wall is positioned between the at least two first hook-like extensions that are aligned along the horizontal row. 
     
     
         5 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein the flexible portion of the rear wall includes at least two ramped tabs corresponding to the at least two first hook-like extensions, each ramped tab defining the lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of each first hook-like extension, wherein each ramped tab is configured to allow the rod-like structure of the fixture to slidably move therealong when deflecting the flexible portion. 
     
     
         6 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall, the second hook-like extension spaced vertically apart from the first hook-like extension and configured to receive a second rod-like structure of the fixture that is spaced vertically apart from and is parallel to the rod-like structure. 
     
     
         7 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 6 , further comprising at least two second hook-like extensions protruding from the rear wall, the at least two second hook-like extensions aligned along a horizontal row. 
     
     
         8 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 6 , wherein the second hook-like extension defines a vertical retention surface and an upper stop surface such that a pocket of the second hook-like extension opens downwardly for receiving the second rod-like structure. 
     
     
         9 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 6 , wherein the second hook-like extension defines a vertical retention surface and a lower stop surface such that a pocket of the second hook-like extension opens upwardly for receiving the second rod-like structure. 
     
     
         10 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the base is mounted to the fixture. 
     
     
         11 . The twist-tie dispenser refill of  claim 1 , wherein the base is made of extruded plastic. 
     
     
         12 . A twist-tie dispenser, comprising:
 a base including a top portion, a rear wall extending downward from the top portion, and an open front;   a latching structure configured for removably mounting the base to a fixture including at least one rod-like mounting structure, the latching structure defined at least in part by a first hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall of the base, the first hook-like extension defining a pocket formed by an upper stop surface and a vertical retention surface, the latching structure also defined at least in part by a flexible portion of the rear wall that is configured to elastically deflect through a cut-out provided on the rear wall in a direction from the rear wall toward the open front when the rod-like mounting structure of the fixture is inserted into the pocket of the first hook-like extension, the flexible portion also defining a lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of the first hook-like extension when the rod-like mounting structure is within the pocket of the first hook-like extension and is captured between the lower stop surface and the upper stop surface; and   a twist-tie cluster integrally mounted to the top portion of the base.   
     
     
         13 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the base and the twist-tie cluster are secured with a securing member selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, at least one staple, and at least one rivet. 
     
     
         14 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the latching structure defines at least two first hook-like extensions protruding from the rear wall, the at least two first hook-like extensions aligned along a horizontal row. 
     
     
         15 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein the flexible portion of the rear wall is positioned between the at least two first hook-like extensions that are aligned along the horizontal row. 
     
     
         16 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 15 , wherein the flexible portion of the rear wall includes at least two ramped tabs corresponding to the at least two first hook-like extensions, each ramped tab defining the lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of each first hook-like extension, wherein each ramped tab is configured to allow the rod-like structure of the fixture to slidably move therealong when deflecting the flexible portion. 
     
     
         17 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 12 , further comprising a second hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall, the second hook-like extension spaced vertically apart from the first hook-like extension and configured to receive a second rod-like structure of the fixture that is spaced vertically apart from and is parallel to the rod-like structure. 
     
     
         18 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 17 , further comprising at least two second hook-like extensions protruding from the rear wall, the at least two second hook-like extensions aligned along a horizontal row. 
     
     
         19 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 17 , wherein the second hook-like extension defines a vertical retention surface and an upper stop surface such that a pocket of the second hook-like extension opens downwardly for receiving the second rod-like structure. 
     
     
         20 . A twist-tie dispenser according to  claim 17 , wherein the second hook-like extension defines a vertical retention surface and a lower stop surface such that a pocket of the second hook-like extension opens upwardly for receiving the second rod-like structure. 
     
     
         21 . A method of using a twist-tie dispenser, the method comprising:
 providing a twist-tie dispenser comprising a base including a top portion defining a twist-tie cluster mounting surface, a rear wall extending downward from the top portion, and an open front, the dispenser further comprising a latching structure configured for removably mounting the base to a fixture including at least one rod-like mounting structure, the latching structure defined at least in part by a first hook-like extension protruding from the rear wall of the base, the first hook-like extension defining a pocket formed by an upper stop surface and a vertical retention surface, the latching structure also defined at least in part by a flexible portion of the rear wall that is configured to elastically deflect through a cut-out provided on the rear wall in a direction from the rear wall toward the open front when the rod-like mounting structure of the fixture is inserted into the pocket of the first hook-like extension, the flexible portion also defining a lower stop surface that opposes the upper stop surface of the first hook-like extension when the rod-like mounting structure is within the pocket and is captured between the lower stop surface and the upper stop surface;   slidably inserting the rod-like structure of the fixture into the pocket of the first hook-like extension until abutting the upper stop surface;   while slidably inserting the rod-like structure of the fixture into the pocket of the first hook-like extension, deflecting the flexible portion of the rear wall through the cut-out provided on the rear wall until the rod-like structure is captured between the upper stop surface of the first hook-like extension and the lower stop surface defined by the flexible portion.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the twist-tie dispenser further comprises a twist-tie cluster integrally mounted to the top portion of the base. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising removing the twist-tie dispenser from the fixture by re-deflecting the flexible portion through the cut-out provided on the rear wall until the rod-like structure clears the lower stop surface and lifting the base upwardly relative to the fixture.