Elastic band dispenser

A method for dispensing elastic bands from a chain of rupturably connected elastic bands with an assembly, each of the bands having an aperture therethrough, the chain being provided on a spool, the method including:

• mounting the spool on a shaft of the assembly;
• positioning a portion of the chain through a dispenser of the assembly that includes:
• a base including:
• two spaced-apart side walls;
• a fixed convex surface between the two side walls;
• and
• a stop element positioned proximate the second side of the fixed convex surface;
• and
• a cover having an interior concave surface, the cover having a closed position wherein a channel is defined by the interior concave surface, the two side walls, the fixed convex surface and the stop element;
• wherein the positioning of the portion of the chain through the dispenser includes disposing the portion of the chain in a channel between the stop element, the fixed convex surface, the two side walls, and the interior concave surface, wherein a surface of the chain contacts the fixed convex surface;
• pulling the chain outside the assembly in a first direction to move the chain through the channel and in contact with the fixed convex surface so that first and second elastic bands of the chain are pulled past the fixed convex surface;
• and
• pulling the chain outside the assembly in a second direction that is different from the first direction to insert a stop element into the aperture of the second elastic band, so that the first elastic band is outside the assembly.