Earplug dispenser
AssigneeRadians, Inc.
InventorsDennis C. Pellerin, Shannon R. Owens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An earplug dispenser is provided which dispenses earplugs directly into a user's hand upon turning of a knob in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The earplug dispenser is designed for quick and efficient replacement of an empty container with a container full of earplugs. The internal delivery components are particularly designed to prevent earplug jamming or sticking and aid in the quick delivery of a desired number of earplugs directly into the user's hand. The design also allows the earplugs to be delivered without relying on a separate opening or port apart from the impeller thereby eliminating the need to use two hands to deliver or dispense the desired earplugs.
Claims14
A dispenser for delivering earplugs to a user comprising
- a cardboard or fiberboard container for storing earplugs until delivered to the user, the container including a transparent or translucent window and a mouth;
- a funnel having a top opening and a lower opening;
- a receiver unit including a band and a barrier, the barrier having a surface defining a plurality of passages and a central opening;
- and
- a rotatable impeller comprising a flexible clip to engage a central opening of the barrier,
- wherein the mouth of the container engages the band of the receiver unit,
- wherein a mount is secured to an exterior surface of the funnel, and
- wherein the funnel includes a plurality of fingers adapted to engage a surface defining holes within braces located on the receiver unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.