Earplug dispenser
AssigneeCabot Safety Intermediate Corporation
InventorTimothy A. Millar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for dispensing earplugs is provided, including a container for storing the earplugs, the container having at least one container opening through which the earplugs are dispensed, a shutter assembly located at the container opening, the shutter assembly having at least one shutter opening formed therein, and a funnel member attached to the shutter assembly for guiding dispensed earplugs to an operator. The shutter assembly of the present invention moves to bring the shutter opening into alignment with the container opening thus allowing the earplugs to pass from the earplug container, through the shutter assembly, into the dispensing flange, and to the operator.
Claims18
An earplug dispenser comprising:
- a container for storing earplugs at an interior of the container, the container having at least one container opening formed therein through which the earplugs are dispensed to an the container;
- a shutter assembly located at the exterior of the container proximate the container opening, the shutter assembly having at least one shutter opening formed therein;
- and
- a funnel member coupled to the shutter assembly for guiding dispensed earplugs;
- wherein the shutter assembly is rotationally movable for bringing the shutter opening into alignment with the container opening to allow the earplugs to pass from the interior of the container, through the shutter assembly, and through the funnel member to the exterior.
An earplug dispenser comprising:
- a container for storing earplugs, the container having at least one container opening formed therein through which the earplugs are dispensed;
- a shutter assembly located at the container opening, the shutter assembly having at least one shutter opening formed therein;
- and
- a funnel member coupled to the shutter assembly for guiding dispensed earplugs;
- a channel member coupled to the container opening and located between the shutter assembly and the container, the channel member comprising channels formed therein for allowing passage of the earplugs;
- and
- an impeller located on the channel member at an inside of the container, the impeller being rotatably attached to the shutter assembly through a through opening formed in the channel member such that rotation of the shutter assembly correspondingly rotates the impeller;
- wherein the shutter assembly is selectively movable to bring the shutter opening into alignment with the container opening to allow the earplugs to pass from the container, through the shutter assembly, and through the funnel member.
An earplug dispenser comprising:
- a container for containing earplugs, the container having at least one container opening formed therein;
- and
- a dispensing mechanism coupled to the container, the dispensing mechanism having at least one dispensing opening formed therein;
- wherein the dispensing mechanism is rotatable relative to the container so that the at least one dispensing opening may be rotationally positioned in alignment with the at least one container opening to allow passage of said earplugs from the container through the container opening and through the dispensing opening to an outside of the container.
A method of dispensing earplugs from an earplug dispenser, the dispenser including an earplug container for containing the earplugs having a first opening formed therein, a shutter assembly disposed at an exterior of the container having a second opening formed therein, and an impeller coupled with the shutter assembly and extending into an interior of the container, the method comprising:
- rotating the shutter assembly outside of the earplug container;
- stirring the earplugs and guiding the earplugs with the impeller to the first opening;
- rotationally aligning the second opening with first opening;
- and
- passing the earplugs through the aligned first and second openings to the exterior of the earplug container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.