Toothpick holder and dispenser

Abstract

A rhombus-shaped toothpick holder for connected triangular toothpicks in a way that avoids toothpicks accidentally exiting the holder and poking someone is defined by a rear surface, four connected walls and a front bottom cover member that opens outwardly for insertion of the toothpicks and snaps closed. The front surface of the connected toothpicks inside the holder is smooth for the display of a logo on it except for spaces between the toothpicks at or near its top whereas the back of the connected triangular toothpicks appear accordion-like. The inside surface of the holder's rear surface has an identical logo displayed thereon so that as toothpicks having portions of the logo are dispensed the logo remains visible and whole. Alignment markers keep the logos aligned. To fit into spaces between the toothpicks and thereby prevent their movement, ribs of gradually increasing height are provided at a lower end of the inside rear surface at an area corresponding to that of the cover member. Upper slit openings and a notch opening ending at the corner of two adjoining walls at the end of the holder where toothpicks are removed allows a broken off toothpick to be slid out of the holder by the use of one hand since the rear surface is flexed back at that upper corner, the rhombus shape further preventing accidental removal of the toothpicks. A safety bar is provided across the top surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.