Abstract:
In one implementation, a handheld device for placing tile spacers includes a body that is sized and shaped for a user to hold; a cartridge enclosed within the body that stores a plurality of tile spacers; an input mechanism affixed to the body that is moveable based on application of force by the user; an opening in the body that is sized and shaped for tile spacers; and a dispensing mechanism contained within the body that, in response to an application of force to the input mechanism by the user, causes a particular tile spacer from the plurality of tile spacers to be moved from the cartridge and out of the opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/013,146, entitled “TILE SPACER DISPENSERS,” which was filed on Jun. 17, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This document generally describes technology for dispensing tile spacers, such as handheld devices to dispense tile spacers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Tile spacers are objects that are sized and shaped to be placed between tiles as they are being installed to provide for near uniform spacing between the tiles. Tile spacers can come in a variety of shapes, such as ‘X’ and ‘T’ shapes, and a variety of sizes, such as 1/16″, ⅛″, 3/16″, and ¼″. Tile spacers can additionally be made out of a variety of materials, such as plastic, rubber, metal, or any combination or compound thereof. 
         [0004]    Tile spacers have traditionally been installed through hand placement of the tile spacers at appropriate locations between tiles that are being installed. Tile spacer use has historically been tedious. For instance, a user has had to first retrieve a tile spacer for use (e.g., grab an individual tile spacer from a bag of tile spacers), then properly orient the tile spacer within their hand(s) for placement (e.g., grip one end of a tile spacer between the user&#39;s index finger and thumb), and then place the tile spacer on end between two tiles without having the tile spacer fall over or out of alignment during placement of the tile spacer and movement/alignment of the adjacent tiles. This sequence of actions is then performed for each tile spacer that is used during installation of tiles, which, when considering that tile jobs often require the use hundreds of tile spacers, can in the aggregate be quite time consuming and tedious. When manually placing tile spacers, a user may have to take his/her focus away from the area of interest between tile spacers to grab and properly orient the next tile spacer. This shifting focus between preparing the next tile spacer and the area of interest (e.g., the gap between the tiles) can additionally cause manual placement of the tile spacers to be a slow process. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This document generally describes technology for dispensing tile spacers, such as handheld devices that store and dispense tile spacers. For example, a handheld device can be provided with a storage chamber for tile spacers and a dispensing mechanism (e.g., a palm trigger, button, moveable handle/grip) that, when used (e.g., depressed, moved), causes a tile spacer to be moved from the storage chamber, through an opening of the handheld device, and out of the handheld device for placement at a particular location, such as between two tiles. 
         [0006]    In a first general aspect, a handheld device for placing tile spacers includes a body that is sized and shaped for a user to hold; a cartridge enclosed within the body that stores a plurality of tile spacers; an input mechanism affixed to the body that is moveable based on application of force by the user; an opening in the body that is sized and shaped for tile spacers; and a dispensing mechanism contained within the body that, in response to an application of force to the input mechanism by the user, causes a particular tile spacer from the plurality of tile spacers to be moved from the cartridge and out of the opening. 
         [0007]    The handheld device can optionally include one or more of the following features. The handheld device can further include a retention mechanism disposed in a proximity to the opening, where the retention mechanism may be configured to retain the particular tile spacer when it is partially extended out of the opening. The input mechanism can include a palm trigger, a button, a handle, or an element that is slideable along a track. The cartridge can be a removable cartridge that contains the plurality of tile spacers. The cartridge can include a front surface and a lower surface, and the front surface can define an angle of about 45 degrees with the lower surface. The handheld device can further include a forward-pressure mechanism that includes a spring, and the forward-pressure mechanism can impart a forward pressure on the plurality of tile spacers. The forward-pressure mechanism can include an angled surface that can impart the forward pressure on a rear-most tile spacer of the plurality of tile spacers. The angled surface of the forward-pressure mechanism can impart the forward pressure on the rear-most tile spacer of the plurality of tile spacers from a location generally below an upper surface of the cartridge. The handheld device can also include a chamber within the body, where the chamber configured to retain the cartridge within the body. The cartridge can include a first opening in an upper surface of the cartridge and a second opening in a lower surface the cartridge. Each of the first opening in the upper surface of the cartridge and the second opening in the lower surface the cartridge can be covered by a removable or breakable material. The dispensing mechanism can include a first leg and a second leg. The dispensing mechanism can include a void disposed between the first leg and the second leg, wherein at least a portion of the void is sized to fit a portion of a tile spacer of the plurality of tile spacers. The dispensing mechanism can be integral with the input mechanism. The cartridge can include a lower surface of the cartridge that defines a channel in the lower surface of the cartridge. 
         [0008]    In a second general aspect, a cartridge of tile spacers includes an enclosure that is sized and shaped to house a plurality of tile spacers. The enclosure includes a top surface that defines a first opening that is sized and shaped for a dispensing mechanism to pass through, and a bottom surface that defines a second opening that is sized and shaped for a tile spacer having a particular orientation to pass through; a front surface that defines an angle of about 45 degrees with the bottom surface; side surfaces; and an opening at a rear end of the cartridge, where the opening at the rear end and the first and second openings are covered by a removable or breakable material. 
         [0009]    The details of one or more implementations are depicted in the associated drawings and the description thereof below. Certain implementations may provide one or more advantages. For example, the disclosed tile spacer dispensers can increase the efficiency with which tile setters work with and use tile spacers. The disclosed tile spacer dispensers can make tile installation faster and more efficient by providing handheld devices that are able to, with the movement of an input mechanism (e.g., push or grip of a trigger, push of a button or grip of a handle), dispense tile spacers at the location of a user&#39;s choosing and with a consistent orientation. 
         [0010]    In certain implementations, the disclosed tile spacer dispensers can additionally increase the speed with which users can place tile spacers by being able to quickly and repeatedly dispense tile spacers without having to take a user&#39;s hands or focus away from the work area. For instance, in a gap between two tiles where grout will eventually be placed, two or more tile spacers may be used to ensure that the two tiles have consistent spacing along the gap. Using the tile spacer dispensers described in this document, a user can simply move the tile spacer dispenser down the gap between the two tiles and, at appropriate locations along the gap, such as at or near the ends of the two tiles, can apply a force to the tile spacer dispenser to place a tile spacer. The user can keep his/her focus on the area of interest (e.g., the gap between the two tiles) while doing this and simply move the tile dispenser and repeat the force application to repeat the action. 
         [0011]    In a further example, the disclosed tile spacer dispensers can be configured to retain a tile spacer while the tile spacer is extending partway out of an opening of the tile spacer dispensers before placing the tile spacer, which can allow for greater accuracy while placing tile spacers. For example, a tile spacer dispenser can include one or more pliable retaining surfaces (e.g., rubber coatings or rubber wedges) that abut an opening through which tile spacers are dispensed so as to impede continued progression of the tile spacers through the opening without additional force being applied by the user. In another example, a tile spacer dispenser can include an internal retention mechanism that grasps tile spacers and only releases the tile spacers when directed to do so by a user, such as the user releasing a button, grip, or slider of the tile spacer dispenser. Such mechanisms to grasp or otherwise impede movement of tile spacers out of an opening of a tile spacer dispenser can aid users in not only visually verifying the placement locations, but can also help users place tile spacers at any angle (e.g., vertically, horizontally) and can also allow for users to more easily move/align adjacent tiles to be properly spaced by tile spacers (e.g., hold the tile spacer partially extended through the opening of the tile spacer dispenser while moving adjacent tiles into place and then release the tile spacer from the dispenser once the tiles have been moved into their appropriate locations). 
         [0012]    In another example, the ease and efficiency with which tile spacers can be placed can be increased through the use of replaceable cartridges of tile spacers. Instead of having to align the tile spacers individually within a tile spacer dispenser or attempting to transfer a package of aligned tile spacers to a cartridge of a tile spacer dispenser, a cartridge of tile spacers can simply be inserted into tile spacer dispensers and tile spacers can be extracted from the cartridge for placement at designated locations. 
         [0013]    In a further example, tile spacer dispensers can be made out of durable materials and can use mechanical components that will continue to operate properly under frequent and vigorous use. Tile installation can be dirty and, as a result, can cause the tools that are used to get dirty. The disclosed tile spacer dispensers can continue to operate and function properly once dirty, which can be helpful for users who want a reliable and consistent tool. 
         [0014]    Other features, objects, and advantages of the technology described in this document will be apparent from the description and the drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1A-I  depict an example tile spacer dispenser and tile spacer cartridge. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A-J  depict an example tile spacer dispenser and components thereof. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3A-C  depict an example of a tile spacer cartridge being inserted into a tile spacer dispenser. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 4A-C  depict an example tile spacer dispenser. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an example technique for dispensing tile spacers using tile spacer dispensers. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6A-J  depict an example tile spacer dispenser, an example tile spacer, and an example cartridge of tile spacers. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 7A-F  depict an example of a user dispensing a tile spacer using an example tile spacer dispenser. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 8A-H  depict an example internal mechanism of a tile spacer dispenser for gripping and releasing tile spacers at appropriate times. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an example technique for dispensing tile spacers using tile spacer dispensers. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 10A-E  depict an example tile spacer dispenser and example tile spacer cartridges. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 11A-D  depict an example of a user dispensing a tile spacer using an example tile spacer dispenser. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  depicts an example of a user dispensing a tile spacer using an example tile spacer dispenser. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1A-I  depict an example tile spacer dispenser  100  and tile spacer cartridge  102 . In the depicted example, the tile spacer dispenser  100  includes an example handle  104  that can be gripped/squeezed (drawn into the body of the dispenser  100 ) by a user to dispense a tile spacer out of an opening  106  at a front of the dispenser  100 . The tile spacer dispenser  100  can store tile spacers  108  that are properly oriented and positioned within the dispenser  100  for dispensing. As depicted, the spacers  108  can be stacked and a first of the tile spacers  108  (first tile spacer at a front end of the spacers  108 ) can be dispensed when the handle  104  is gripped/squeezed by a user. A mechanism, which in this example is a spring  110 , can be positioned between a last of the tile spacers  108  and a rear, interior surface of the dispenser  100  to apply forward pressure against the tile spacers  108  so that a first (forward most) of the tile spacers  108  is properly positioned to be dispensed. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1A  depicts a perspective view of the example dispenser  100  with a portion of a side surface  112  of the dispenser  100  removed to present the stacked and oriented spacers  108 , and the spring  110 . The tile spacers  108  can be stored within an internal chamber within the dispenser  100  and can be dispensed from the chamber one by one as the handle  104  is squeezed/gripped by a user. 
         [0030]    The chamber can be accessible in any of a variety of ways, such as through removable and/or hinged surfaces permitting access to the chamber. For instance, the example dispenser  100  includes a hinged top surface  114  that can be opened to insert tile spacers for dispensing. In some implementations, the hinged top surface  114  can draw the spring  110  backward when the hinged top surface  114  is opened, creating open space within the chamber for the addition of tile spacers to the stacked and oriented tile spacers  108 . 
         [0031]    Tile spacers can be individually added to the chamber of the dispenser  100  and/or as a group. For instance, the example a tile spacer cartridge  102 , which can include a group of tile spacers that are pre-stacked and pre-oriented in a particular manner such that they can be properly dispensed by the dispenser  100 , can be inserted into the dispenser  100  when the top surface  114  is opened. The tile spacer cartridge  102  can be a single-use and/or reusable cartridge. For example, the tile spacer cartridge  102  can be made of materials that are disposable/recyclable, such as paper, cardboard, and/or recyclable plastics, and can include a stack of tile spacers that are all properly oriented in a particular way for dispensing by one or more dispensing mechanisms of the dispenser  100 . In another example, the tile spacer cartridge  102  can be made out of a more durable material and can include one or more ways to gain access to the cartridge, such as through a hinged surface and/or removable end, to refill the cartridge with tile spacers. 
         [0032]    The dispenser  100  can additionally include example tile spacer retention mechanisms  116   a - b  that can retain the tile spacer being dispensed when the tile spacer is partway through the opening  106 . The depicted tile spacer retention mechanisms  116   a - b  in this example are flexible pieces of material (e.g., rubber, brush bristles) that are affixed to the dispenser  100  adjacent to top and bottom sides the opening  106  and that extend inward and impede upon the vertical spacing of the opening  106 . The retention mechanisms  116   a - b  can retain a tile spacer that partially extends through the opening  106  so that, once the tile spacer has been moved into such a position through a user gripping/squeezing the handle  104 , the tile spacer does not fall out of or back into the opening  106 , regardless of the angle of the dispenser  100  (e.g., downward angle so that the tile spacer extends vertically toward the ground, upward angle so that the tile spacer extends vertically toward a ceiling surface) without further movement of the handle  104  by the user. 
         [0033]    Other implementations of the retentions mechanisms  116   a - b  are also possible. For example, retention mechanisms can be positioned additionally and/or alternatively adjacent to the right and left sides of the opening  106  and can impede upon the horizontal spacing of the opening  106 . In another example, the retention mechanisms  116   a - b  can be pieces of compressible materials that are affixed to one or more of the inner surfaces of the opening  106 . Other implementations are also possible. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1B-E  depict side views the tile spacer dispenser  100  and an example dispensing mechanism, with components  120 ,  122 ,  124 , of the dispenser  100  for dispensing a first tile spacer  118  from the internal storage chamber of the dispenser  100 . The example dispensing mechanism includes a channel  120  through the tile spacer  118  can travel from its initial position, as depicted in  FIG. 1B , and out of the opening  106 , as depicted in  FIG. 1E ; an plunger  122  that is shaped and sized to contact and to move the tile spacer  118  down the channel  120 ; and drive mechanism  124  that is connected to the plunger  122  and that is configured to move the plunger forward and backward along the channel  120  based on the handle  104  being gripped/squeezed and released by a user (drawing the handle  104  up into/toward the body of the dispenser  100  and releasing the handle  104  so that it moves outward/away from the body of the dispenser  100 ). 
         [0035]    The channel  120  can be curved in one or more dimensions and can cause the tile spacer  118  to be rotated from a first orientation in its starting position in  FIG. 1B  to a different, second orientation as it exits the opening  106 , as depicted in  FIG. 1E . For instance, the example channel  120  extend vertically from the starting position of the tile spacer  118 , then is curved to the left so as to cause the tile spacer  118  to rotate more than 90 degrees counter-clockwise, and then toward the opening  106  is curved to the right to cause the tile spacer  118  to rotate clockwise. The ending orientation of the tile spacer  118  from this example channel  120  is an approximately 90 degree rotation in a counter-clockwise direction (from the side vantage point depicted in  FIGS. 1B-E ) from its starting orientation, as depicted in  FIG. 1B . The channel  120  can be defined by one or more interior surfaces with curved and straight portions that are sized for the tile spacer  118 . Angles for the curved portions of the channel  120  can be selected so as not to exceed an angle at which the tile spacer  118  can bend/flex with a threshold degree of resistance or less along the channel  120 . The tile spacer  118  can be made of a flexible material, such as plastic materials, rubber materials, or other suitable materials. Likewise, the plunger  122  and the drive mechanism  124  can be made of flexible materials that are able to bend/flex along the path of the channel  120 . 
         [0036]    Also depicted in  FIGS. 1B-E , the tile spacers can be stored in the dispenser  100  and dispensed from within the example cartridge  102  of tile spacers. For example, the example spring  110  can pass through an opening at the end of the cartridge, such as the opening  126  depicted in  FIG. 1F , that is sized to permit a cap  128  affixed to the end of the spring  110  to pass through the opening (e.g., the opening  126 ) while restricting the tiles spacers (e.g., the tile spacer  118 ) from passing through the opening. The cartridge  102  can also include openings in its top and bottom surfaces, such as openings  130  and  132  depicted in  FIGS. 1F and 1G , that are sized and positioned along the cartridge  102  so as to permit the plunger  122  and the drive mechanism  124  to pass through the them (openings in top and bottom surfaces of the cartridge  102 ) and into the channel  120  with the tile spacer  118 . The openings in the top and bottom surfaces (e.g., the openings  130  and  132 ) can initially covered by an easily breakable/removable material (e.g., plastic wrap, paper) that can keep the tile spacers  118  from falling out of or otherwise passing through the openings until removed/broken. For example, a user can place the cartridge  102  in the dispenser  100  with top and bottom surface openings being covered and can puncture the material covering the openings by simply squeezing/gripping the handle  104  so as to drive the plunger  122  through material covering the bottom opening and the tile spacer  118  through the material covering the top opening. The user can then proceed to dispense the tile spacer  118  and the other tiles spacers in the cartridge  102  until all of the tile spacers have been dispensed and the cartridge  102  is ready to be replaced. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , in an example starting position for dispensing tile spacers from the dispenser  100 , the tile spacer  118  is currently in the first/front position of the cartridge  102  and is the next tile spacer to be dispensed by the dispenser  100 . The plunger  122  and the drive mechanism  124  are in a retracted position below the cartridge  102 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 1C , the user has squeezed/gripped the handle  104  by drawing the handle  104  partway up/into the body of the dispenser  100 , which has caused the drive mechanism  124  to move forward into the cartridge  102  and down the channel  120 , which in turn has caused the plunger  122  (affixed to the drive mechanism  124 ) to physically contact and push the tile spacer  118  out of the cartridge  102  and along the channel  120 . As depicted in  FIG. 1C , the tile spacer  118  is positioned partway down the channel  120  and between its starting position in the cartridge  102  and the opening  106  at the end of the channel  120 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1D , the user has continued to squeeze/grip the handle  104  by drawing the handle  104  further up/into the body of the dispenser  100 , which has caused the tile spacer  118  to move further along the channel  120  and to extend partway through the opening  106 . In this position, the tile spacer  118  can physically contact the tile spacer retention mechanisms  116   a - b  which, through the physical contact, can retain the tile spacer  118  in that position and can keep the tile spacer  118  from falling out of the opening  106 . For example, if the dispenser  100  with the tile spacer  118  partially extending out of the opening  106  were to be oriented by a user so that the opening  106  is facing (parallel to) the ground and an outward gravitational force is exerted on the tile spacer  118  (gravitational force in direction from right to left from the vantage point depicted in  FIG. 1D ), the retention mechanisms  116   a - b  can retain the tile spacer  118  in its position and keep the tile spacer  118  from falling out of the opening  106 . 
         [0040]    Additionally, when the tile spacer  118  reaches and physically contacts the retention mechanisms  116   a - b , a greater level of resistance may be encountered by the drive mechanism  124  than when the tile spacer  118  is moving along the channel  120 . This greater level of resistance can be felt through the handle  104 , which may be more difficult for a user to squeeze/grip (require a greater level of force) when the tile spacer  118  reaches the retention mechanisms  116   a - b . This resistance can provide haptic feedback to the user as to when the tile spacer  118  has reached the opening  106 , which can provide a user with an indication as to when he/she should move the dispenser  100  to a location where the tile spacer  118  is intended to be dispensed. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 1E , the handle  104  has been further squeezed/gripped so that the handle  104  is further drawn up/into the body of the dispenser  100 , which has caused the tile spacer  118  to be forced out of the opening  106  and past the retention mechanisms  116   a - b  by the plunger  122  and the drive mechanism  124 . For example, the user can place the tile spacer  118  as it is partially extended through the opening  106 , as depicted in  FIG. 1D , in a gap between two adjacent tiles and then proceed to squeeze/grip the handle  104  to fully dispense the tile spacer  118  into the gap, as depicted in  FIG. 1E . 
         [0042]    Although not depicted, a user can retract the plunger  122  and drive mechanism  124  by releasing the handle  104 , which may return to its starting position (as depicted in  FIG. 1B ) either automatically (e.g., through the use of internal mechanisms that have built up potential energy when the handle  104  was gripped/squeezed, such as one or more springs or bows) or manually (e.g., by the user extending the handle  104  outward and away from the body of the dispenser  100 ). As the handle  104  returns to its starting position, it can draw the drive mechanism  124  and the plunger  122  backward along the channel  120  so that they are properly positioned to dispense a next tile spacer from the cartridge  102  which, once the plunger  122  has returned to its position below the cartridge  122 , can be forced into the front/first position by the spring  110  and the cap  128 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 1F-G , the cartridge  102  can be symmetric along one or more dimensions. For example, the example cartridge  102  includes the opening  130  at a first end  134  of the cartridge and the opening  132  at the second end  136  of the cartridge, which can allow the cartridge  102  to function properly regardless of whether the first end  134  or the second end  136  is inserted into the dispenser  100  as the leading/front end of the cartridge  102 . Additionally, both the top surface  138  and the bottom surface  140  of the cartridge  102  can include such symmetric openings (e.g., the top surface  138  and the bottom surface  140  can both resemble the surface depicted in  FIG. 1G ). Additionally, the second end  136  of the cartridge  102  can include an opening similar to the opening  126  in the first end  134 . By having symmetry along one or more dimensions, there can be multiple permissible orientations of the cartridge  102  within the dispenser  100  that are usable. For example, the cartridge  102  can function properly regardless of whether it is inserted with the top surface  138  facing upward or downward, and regardless of whether the first end  134  is the front/leading end or the trailing end within the dispenser  100 . Such symmetry can allow a user can more readily and quickly place the cartridge  102  in the dispenser  100  in a useable orientation by providing more possible usable orientations. 
         [0044]      FIG. 1H  is a view of example internal surfaces  142  and  144  within the cartridge  102  that are sized and located so as to keep tile spacers within the cartridge  102  in a particular orientation. For example, the internal surfaces  142  and  144  extend into the space between adjacent arms of the ‘X’ shaped tile spacers when oriented vertically and in a stacked configuration. The example internal surfaces  142  and  144  are positioned in opposite corners of the interior of the cartridge  102  and can extend the length of the cartridge  102 . Other configurations, orientations of tile spacers, and other internal surfaces are also possible. 
         [0045]      FIG. 1I  depicts an example configuration of gears  146 - 148  to move the drive mechanism  124  based on upward and downward movement the handle  104  relative to the body of the dispenser  100 . For example, a first gear  146  is in contact with an interior surface of the handle  104  inside of the body of the dispenser  100 , and a second gear  148  is in contact with the first gear  146  on one side and the drive mechanism  124  on another side. As the handle  104  is moved upward, the first gear  146  can rotate in a clockwise direction, which can cause the second gear  148  to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and can cause the drive mechanism  124  (and the plunger  122 ) to move in a forward direction (e.g., down the channel  120 ), as indicated by the arrows. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 2A-J  depict an example tile spacer dispenser  200  and components thereof. The example dispenser  200  and its components can be similar to the dispenser  100  and its components described above with regard to  FIGS. 1A-I . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , which is a perspective view, the dispenser  200  includes a button  202  on a top surface of the dispenser  200  that, when depressed by a user (e.g., depressed by the user&#39;s thumb) can cause one of the tile spacers  204  in a chamber of the dispenser  200  to be dispensed through an opening  206  in a front surface of the dispenser  200 . The dispenser  200  can include tile spacer retention mechanisms  208   a - b  affixed near the opening  206  that are similar to the tile spacer retention mechanisms  116   a - b  described above with regard to  FIGS. 1A-I . The dispenser  200  can also include a hinged top surface  210  (similar to the top surface  114 ) through which the tile spacers  204  can be loaded into a storage chamber of the dispenser  200 , such as through a cartridge. The dispenser  200  also includes a spring  212  and cap  214  that can be used to force the tile spacers  204  into an appropriate position for dispensing. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 2B-D , side views of the dispenser  200  as it dispenses a first tile spacer  216  are depicted. Like the channel  120 , the plunger  122 , and the drive mechanism  124  described above with regard to  FIGS. 1B-E , the dispenser  200  includes a channel  218  along which the tile spacer  216  can travel to the opening  206 , a plunger  220  that can contact the tile spacer  216  and apply force to the tile spacer  216  to move it along the channel  218 , and a drive mechanism  222  that is affixed to a rear portion of the plunger  220  and that, in response to a user pressing and releasing the button  202 , moves forward and backward along the channel  218 . In this depicted example, the plunger  220  and drive mechanism  222  have a starting position that is above the tile spacers  204 , which in this example are located within a cartridge  224  (similar to the cartridge  102 ). In response to a user pressing the button  202 , the drive mechanism  222  and the plunger  220  extend downward into the cartridge  224  through an opening in a top surface of the cartridge  224  (similar to the opening  130  in the cartridge  102 ) and push the tile spacer  216  out of the an opening in the bottom surface of the cartridge  224 , down the channel  218 , and out of the opening  206  of the dispenser  200 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , the dispenser  200  is depicted in a starting position with the tile spacer  216  being located at the front of the stack of tile spacers  204  in the cartridge  224 , the button  202  being fully extended/released, and the plunger  220  and the drive mechanism  222  being retracted. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 2C , a user has pressed the button  202  at least partway down and into the body of the dispenser  200 , which has caused the drive mechanism  222  and the plunger  220  to push the tile spacer  216  out of the cartridge  224  and along the channel  218 . As depicted in the example, the tile spacer  216  has been pushed so that it extends partially out of the opening  206  and is in contact with the resistance mechanisms  208   a - b  (similar to the tile spacer  118  being in contact with the resistance mechanisms  116   a - b  described above with regard to  FIG. 1D ). Such contact between the tile spacer  216  and the resistance mechanisms  208   a - b  can create additional resistance for the drive mechanism  222 , which can provide haptic feedback to a user through the button  202 , which can be harder (require more force) for a user to depress once the tile spacer  216  has contacted the resistance mechanisms  208   a - b.    
         [0051]    In  FIG. 2D , the user has pressed the button  202  down further so as to force the tile spacer  216  out of the opening  206 . To retract the plunger  220  and the drive mechanism  222  from this position, the user can release pressure on the button  202 , which can automatically return to its starting position as depicted in  FIG. 2B . The button  202  returning to its starting position can cause the drive mechanism  222  and the plunger  220  to return to their starting positions as well, and for a next one of the tile spacers  204  to move into the first/forward position within the cartridge  224  for dispensing. 
         [0052]    The example dispensers  100  and  200  both include dispensing openings  106  and  206 , respectively, which are located near a bottom of a front end of the dispensers  100  and  200 . Other positioning of the openings  106  and  206  are also possible. For instance,  FIG. 2E  depicts an example opening  226  for dispensing tile spacers being located at or near the top of the front end of a dispenser  228 , and  FIG. 2F  depicts an example opening  230  for dispensing tile spacers being located at or near the middle of the front end of a dispenser  232 . The example dispensers  228  and  232  can be similar to the dispensers  100  and  200 , and can include handles, buttons, or other mechanisms through which users can dispense tile spacers. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 2G-J  depict a close-up view of the example plunger  220  and its physical interaction with the tile spacer  216 . In particular, the example plunger  220  includes a cutout portion  234  that is shaped and dimensioned to fit one of the ends of the tile spacer  216  so that, as the tile spacer  216  is moved along the channel  218 , the tile spacer  216  does not unexpectedly change alignment or orientation.  FIG. 2G  depicts a top view and  FIG. 2H  depicts a side view of one end of the tile spacer  216  fitting into and physically contacting the cutout portion  234  of the plunger  220 .  FIG. 2I  depicts a top view and  FIG. 2J  depicts a side view of the tile spacer  216  before it has been in physical contact with the plunger  220 , and after it has been released, respectively. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 3A-C  depict an example of a tile spacer cartridge  308  being inserted into a tile spacer dispenser  300 . The tile spacer dispenser  300  can be similar to the other tile spacer dispensers discussed in this document (e.g., the tile spacer dispensers  100  and/or  200 ) and the tile spacer cartridge can be similar to the other cartridges discussed in this document (e.g., the tile spacer cartridges  102  and/or  224 ). 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 3A , the dispenser  300  has a hinged top surface  302 , a spring  304 , and a cap  306  for the spring  304 . Referring to  FIG. 3B , a user has opened the top surface  302 , which has caused the spring  304  and the cap  306  to retract backward, toward a rear end of the dispenser  300 . Such a retraction of the spring  304  and the cap  306  can make way within the dispenser  300  for the cartridge  308  to be inserted. Referring to  FIG. 3C , once the cartridge  308  has been positioned and the top surface  302  has been closed, the spring  304  and the cap  306  can be released, which can allow them to move forward so as to contact a last/rear tile spacer  310  and to apply forward pressure against the stack of tile spacers within the cartridge  308 . 
         [0056]      FIGS. 4A-C  depict an example tile spacer dispenser  400 . The example dispenser  400  includes a button  402  that a user can press to dispense a tile spacer out of an opening  404  of the dispenser  400 . The button  402  is connected to a post  406  and a plunger  408  that move up and down based on a user pressing and releasing the button  402 . When the button  402  is pressed, the plunger  408  physically contacts and pushes a tile spacer  410  out of the opening  404  of the dispenser  400 . Like the openings of the dispensers  100  and  200  described above with regard to  FIGS. 1-2 , the dispenser  400  can include tile spacer retention mechanisms  412   a - b  that are affixed adjacent to the opening  404  and that physically contact the tile spacer  410  as it exits the opening  404  so as to retain and keep the spacer  410  from falling out of the opening  406 . 
         [0057]    The example dispenser  400  is also depicted as including a tile spacer cartridge  414  that contains oriented and stacked tile spacers  416 . The dispenser  400  can also include a spring  418  and a cap  420  that are configured to apply force to the tile spacers  416  so as to move a first/forward most tile spacer into an appropriate position for dispensing by the plunger  408 . 
         [0058]    Unlike the dispensers  100  and  200  described above, the dispenser  400  dispenses the tile spacer  410  in substantially the same orientation as tile spacer  410  is stored in the cartridge  414 . In contrast, as discussed above, the dispensers  100  and  200  rotate and dispense the tile spacers in an orientation (e.g., horizontal orientation) that is different from the orientation of the tiles spacers as stored within the dispensers  100  and  200  (e.g., vertical orientation). 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 4A , the tile spacer  410  is the first/forward most of the tile spacers  416  within the cartridge  414 , and the button  402 , post  406 , and plunger  408  are in starting positions that correspond with the button  402  being fully released (not pressed by a user). The cartridge  414  can be similar to the cartridges discussed above with regard to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and can include openings in its top and bottom surfaces through which the tile spacer  410 , the plunger  408 , and the post  406  can pass. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 4B , a user has depressed the button  402  partway down, which has caused the plunger  408  to physically contact and push the tile spacer  410  partway out of the opening  404 . As discussed above, in this position the tile spacer  410  can be retained by the retention mechanisms  412   a - b  such that it will not fall out of dispenser without further force being applied to the button  402  by the user. In response to such force being applied to the button  402 , the button  402  can be depressed further and the tile spacer  410  can be expelled from the opening  404 , as depicted in  FIG. 4C . 
         [0061]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an example technique  500  for dispensing tile spacers using tile spacer dispensers. The technique  500  can be implemented using any of a variety of appropriate tile spacer dispensers, such as the tile spacer dispensers described in this document (e.g., dispensers  100 ,  200 ,  300 , and  400 ) or other appropriate dispensers. 
         [0062]    A user can load tile spacers into a tile spacer dispenser ( 502 ). For example, a user can load a cartridge of tile spacers into a tile spacer dispenser, as described above with regard to  FIGS. 3A-C . 
         [0063]    The user can hold/grasp the dispenser and move the dispensing mechanism of the dispenser at least a first distance, which can cause a tile spacer to extend partway through an opening of the dispenser ( 504 ). For example, the user can squeeze the handle  104  (example dispensing mechanism) a first distance so that the tile spacer  118  extends partially through the opening  106 , as described above with regard to  FIGS. 1B-D . 
         [0064]    The user can position the dispenser at an appropriate location to which the tile spacer should be placed ( 506 ). For example, the user can move the dispenser  100  so that the tile spacer  118 , while extending partway through the opening  106  (as depicted in  FIG. 1D ), is positioned in a gap between two adjacent tiles. 
         [0065]    The user can move the dispensing mechanism a second distance to release/expel the tile spacer from the dispenser ( 508 ). For example, the user can squeeze the handle  104  further (a second distance) so that the tile spacer  118  is released/expelled from the dispenser, as depicted in  FIG. 1E . 
         [0066]    The user can then reposition the dispenser for dispensing of the next tile spacer ( 510 ). For example, the user can release the handle  104  so that the plunger  122  and drive mechanism  124  are retracted to a starting position, and so that the next tile spacer from the cartridge  102  is pushed forward into a dispensing position by the spring  110  and the spring cap  118 . 
         [0067]      FIGS. 6A-J  depict an example tile spacer dispenser  600 , an example tile spacer  602 , and an example cartridge  604  of tile spacers. 
         [0068]    The example tile spacer dispenser  600  includes a slide button  606  that a user can move along a guide path  608  to dispense tile spacers  612  out of an opening  614  of the dispenser  600 .  FIG. 6A  depicts a perspective view of the dispenser  600 ;  FIG. 6B  depicts a front view of the dispenser  600 ;  FIG. 6C  depicts a rear view of the dispenser  600 ;  FIG. 6D  depicts a side view of the dispenser  600 ; and  FIG. 6E  depicts a top view of the dispenser  600 . 
         [0069]    The dispenser  600  can be similar to the dispenser described above, such as the dispensers  100 ,  200 ,  300 , and  400 . For example, the dispenser  600  can dispense tile spacers that are loaded into the dispenser  600  as part of the cartridge  604 . 
         [0070]    However, the dispenser  600  can include some features that are different from the other dispensers described above. For instance, the example dispenser  600  is not depicted as including retention mechanisms that are affixed near the opening  614 . Instead, the dispenser  600  can include internal retention mechanisms to retain and keep a tile spacer that has been partially extended through the opening  614  from falling out of the opening  614  without further input by a user. For example, the dispenser  600  can include retention mechanisms similar to those discussed above (e.g., the retention mechanisms  116   a - b ) that are located internally within the dispenser  600 . In another example, the dispenser  600  can include mechanisms that grip tile spacers and that release the grip on the tile spacers based on particular user input through the slide button  606 . For instance, such an internal mechanism can grip a tile spacer as the slide button  606  is moved forward and then release the grip on the tile spacer when the slide button  606  is retracted. An example of such an internal mechanism is depicted and described with regard to  FIGS. 7-8 . 
         [0071]    The dispenser  600  is also depicted as including a rear opening  616  through which the cartridge  604  can be inserted into the dispenser  600 . In this example, the opening  616  is a square opening that is at a 45 degree angle to the dispenser  600  (appears as a diamond shape). Other configurations and orientations of the opening  616  are also possible. 
         [0072]    An example ‘X’ shaped tile spacer  602  that can be included in the cartridge  604  and dispensed by the dispenser  600  is depicted in  FIGS. 6F-H .  FIG. 6F  is a perspective view of the tile spacer  602 ,  FIG. 6G  is a front view of the tile spacer  602 , and  FIG. 6H  is a side view of the tile spacer  602 . Other shapes and sizes of tile spacers can also be used, such as ‘T’ shaped tile spacers. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 6I and 6J  depict the cartridge  604 , with  FIG. 6I  depicting a perspective view, and  FIG. 6J  depicting a rear view. The cartridge  604  also includes tabs  620  positioned in two or more corners (three corners in the depicted example: left, right, bottom) of a rear opening  622  of the cartridge  604  that keep the tile spacers  612  from being prematurely pushed out of the cartridge  604 . In some implementations, the tabs  620  are automatically removed by the dispenser  600  when the cartridge  600  is fully inserted into the dispenser  600 . In some implementations, the tabs  620  are made of a flexible material that can allow tile spacers to be individually removed from the cartridge  604  for dispensing. The cartridge  604  generally includes four outer walls, and as can be best seen in  FIG. 6J , two of the outer walls of the cartridge can be partial walls so that the cartridge includes an opening in a top portion of the cartridge when the cartridge  604  is oriented for insertion into the dispenser  600 , as depicted in  FIG. 6J . The cartridge  604  includes an opening (not shown) in a forward surface (opposite the rear surface) of the cartridge  604 , and the tile spacers  612  can be pushed out of the opening in the forward surface of the cartridge  604  and out of the opening  614  in the dispenser  600  for placement. As will be described in further detail below, cartridge  604  can be used with dispenser  1000  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ) in some examples. 
         [0074]      FIGS. 7A-F  depict an example of a user  700  dispensing a tile spacer  702  using an example tile spacer dispenser  704 . In the depicted example, the dispenser  704  has a slide button  706  that the user  700  can slide forward to partially extend the tile spacer  702  while the tile spacer  702  is still being retained by the dispenser  704 , and that will release/expel the tile spacer  702  when the slide button  706  is retracted. The dispenser  704  can be similar to the tile spacer dispenser  600  described above with regard to  FIG. 6 . The example depicted in  FIGS. 7A-F , and/or variations thereof, can be performed using other tile spacer dispensers, such as the dispensers  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 , and/or other appropriate tile spacer dispensers. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , the slide button  706  is retracted and the tile spacer  702  is in a starting position within the dispenser  700  and with a starting orientation. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 7B , the user  700  has slid the slide button  706  partway forward along a guide, which has caused the tile spacer  702  to be partially rotated toward a second orientation at which the tile spacer  702  will be released/dispensed from the dispenser  704 . 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 7C , the user  700  has fully extended the slide button  706  along the guide, which has caused the tile spacer  702  to be partially extended out of an opening in a front end of the dispenser  704 . The tile spacer  702  can be in the second orientation when it is partially extended from the dispenser  704 . The second orientation is different from the first orientation. When in this position, the tile spacer  702  can be gripped by an internal mechanism of the dispenser  704  so that the tile spacer  702  does not fall out of the dispenser  704  prematurely. The user  700  can position the dispenser  704  at or near a location where the tile space  702  is intended to be placed. For instance, the dispenser  704  is positioned above a gap between a tile  708   b  and adjacent tile located behind the tile  708   b . Other tile spacers  710   a  and  710   b  are depicted as already having been positioned between tiles  708   a  and  708   b , and between tiles  708   b  and  708   c , respectively. 
         [0078]    Referring to  FIG. 7D , the user  700  has lowered the tile spacer  702  into the gap between the tile  708   b  and the adjacent tile (not visible) located behind the tile  708   b . While in such a position, the user  700  may adjust the positioning of the tile  708   b  and/or the adjacent tile so that they contact the tile spacer  702 , which can ensure that uniform gaps between the tiles are formed and, when grout is applied, that the grout lines are uniform as well. The user  700  can position the tile spacer  702  while keeping the slider button  706  in the extended position. 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIG. 7E , the user  700  can retract the slider button  706 , which can cause the tile spacer  702  to be released by the internal mechanism of the dispenser  700  that was gripping the tile spacer  702 . 
         [0080]    Referring to  FIG. 7F , the user  700  can further retract the slider button  706  to the same starting position depicted in  FIG. 7A  so that the dispenser  704  is ready to dispense a next tile spacer  712 . The user  700  can also withdraw the dispenser  704  from the placement location of the tile spacer  702 , and the tile spacer  702  can remain in its position between the tile  708   b  and the adjacent tile. 
         [0081]      FIGS. 8A-H  depict an example internal mechanism of a tile spacer dispenser  800  for gripping and releasing tile spacers at appropriate times. The example dispenser  800  can be similar to the dispensers  600  and  704  described above with regard to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The depicted internal mechanism may also be applied to other tile spacer dispensers, such as the tile spacer dispensers  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 , and/or other appropriate tile spacer dispensers. 
         [0082]    The dispenser  800  includes a slider button  802  that is affixed to a series of teeth/grooves  804  that are configured to engage and drive a gear  806 . The gear  806  can in turn physically engage a gear  808  to which arms  810   a - b  are attached by hinges. The arms  810   a - b  can travel along curvilinear tracks with raised portions  812   a - b  and lowered portions  814   a - b . When traveling along the raised portions  812   a - b , the arms  810   a - b  can be forced inward so as to grip a tile spacer  816 . When traveling along the lowered portions  814   a - b , the arms  810   a - b  can expand laterally (inward force can be removed) so as to release the grip on the tile spacer  816  (e.g., distance between the arms  810   a - b  can be greater than the width of the arm of the tile spacer  816 ). 
         [0083]    Additionally, affixed to the gear  808  are stops  818   a - b  that are positioned to allow for the portion of the arms  810   a - b  that extend beyond the edge of the gear  808  to change as the arms travel along the tracks with the raised portions  812   a - b  and lowered portions  814   a - b . For instance, the stops  818   a - b  can cause the arms  810   a - b  to extend beyond the edge of the gear  808  by a greater distance when the approach and grip the tile spacer  816  (travel along the raised portion  812   a ) than when they release and prepare to grip a next tile spacer (travel along the lowered portion  814   a - b ). 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIG. 8A , the arm  810   a  is depicted as transitioning from the lowered portion  814   a  to the raised portion  812   a  of the track and to be in contact with the stop  818   b , which provides for the arm  810   a  to extend beyond the edge of the gear  808  by a shorter distance. 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 8B , the arm  810   a  has transitioned to the raised portion  812   a  of the track and is in physical contact with the stop  818   a , which provides for the arm  810   a  to extend further beyond the edge of the gear  808  than in  FIG. 8A , allowing for the arm  810   a  to reach out to and grip the tile spacer  816 . 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 8C , the arm  810   a  continues to travel along the raised portion  812   a  of the track while in physical contact with the stop  818   a , which provides for the arm  810   a  to continue to grip the tile spacer  816  while at the same time rotating the tile spacer  816  from its original orientation. 
         [0087]    Referring to  FIG. 8D , the arm  810   a  has travelled to an end of the raised portion  812   a  of the track, which can correspond to an end point on the guide for the slide button  802 . In this position, the arm  810   a  can grip the tile spacer  816  while extending the tile spacer  816  partially through an opening  820  of the dispenser  800 . 
         [0088]    Referring to  FIG. 8E , as the user reverses the direction of the gear  808  by retracting the slider button  802 , the arm  810   a  can travel along the lowered portion  814   a  of the track instead of along the raised portion of the track  812   a . By transitioning to the lowered portion  814   a  of the track, the arms  810   a - b  can expand in their distance between each other and can release their grip on the tile spacer  816 , allowing the tile spacer  816  to pass freely through the opening  820 . While travelling along the lowered portion  814   a  of the track, the arm  810   a  can additionally be in physical contact with the stop  818   b , which can cause the arm  810   a  to extend beyond the edge of the gear  808  by a shorter distance than when it is in physical contact with the stop  818   a.    
         [0089]    Referring to  FIG. 8F , the arm  810   a  can return to its starting position in  FIG. 8A  as the user continues to retract the slider button  802  by travelling along the lowered portion  814   a  of the track and while in physical contact with the stop  818   b.    
         [0090]      FIGS. 8G-H  depict a top down view of the gear  808 , the arms  810   a - b , the raised portions  812   a - b  of the tracks, the lowered portions  814   a - b  of the tracks, and the tile spacer  816 .  FIG. 8G  depicts a view while the arms  810   a - b , which can include posts that extend down into the tracks, while they travel along the lowered portions  814   a - b  of the tracks.  FIG. 8H  depicts a view while the arms  810   a - b  travel along the raised portions  812   a - b  of the tracks. In addition to having posts extending down into the tracks, the arms  810   a - b  can be laterally hinged so that the distance separating them can change, and they can be connected by a spring  822  (or other mechanical mechanism) that is capable of forcing the arms  810   a - b  apart from each other. 
         [0091]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an example technique  900  for dispensing tile spacers using tile spacer dispensers. The technique  900  can be implemented using any of a variety of appropriate tile spacer dispenser, such as the tile spacer dispensers described in this document (e.g., dispensers  600 ,  704 , and  800 ) or other appropriate dispensers. 
         [0092]    A user can load tile spacers into a tile spacer dispenser ( 902 ). For example, a user can load a cartridge of tile spacers into a tile spacer dispenser, as described above with regard to  FIGS. 3A-C  and  FIGS. 6A-J . 
         [0093]    The user can grip the dispenser and slide a button forward along a track, which can cause a tile spacer to extend partway through an opening of the dispenser ( 904 ). For example, the user can slide the slide handle  706  forward so that the tile spacer  702  extends partially through the opening of the dispenser  700 , as described above with regard to  FIGS. 7A-C . 
         [0094]    The user can position the dispenser at an appropriate location to which the tile spacer should be placed ( 706 ). For example, the user can move the dispenser  700  so that the tile spacer  702 , while extending partway through the opening (as depicted in  FIGS. 7C-D ), is positioned in a gap between two adjacent tiles. 
         [0095]    The user can retract the button to release the tile spacer from the grasp of the dispenser ( 908 ). For example, the user can slide the slide button  706  backward which can cause the tile spacer  702  to be released by the dispenser  700 , as depicted in  FIG. 7E . 
         [0096]    The user can then reposition the dispenser for dispensing of the next tile spacer ( 910 ). For example, the user can slide the slide button  706  back fully and can position the dispenser  700  at a next location where a tile spacer is needed. 
         [0097]      FIGS. 10A-E  depict an example tile spacer dispenser  1000  and example tile spacer cartridges  1002  and  1040 . In the depicted example, the tile spacer dispenser  1000  includes an example palm trigger  1004  that can be gripped/squeezed/depressed (e.g., drawn into the body of the dispenser  1000 ) by a user to dispense a tile spacer  1008  out of an opening  1006  at a front of the dispenser  1000 . The tile spacer dispenser  1000  can store tile spacers  1008  that are properly oriented and positioned within the dispenser  1000  for dispensing. As depicted, the spacers  1008  can be stacked within a cartridge (e.g., cartridge  1002  or cartridge  1040 ), and a first of the tile spacers (e.g., a tile spacer at a front end of the spacers  1008 ) can be dispensed when the palm trigger  1004  is gripped/squeezed by the user. A forward-pressure mechanism  1010 , which in this example includes a spring  1012  and a cap  1014 , can be positioned between a last of the tile spacers and a rear, interior surface of the dispenser  1000  to apply forward pressure against the tile spacers  1008  so that a first (e.g., forward-most) of the tile spacers is properly positioned to be dispensed. In the depicted example, the cap  1014  can slide along a rod  1016  within the dispenser  1000 . The cap  1014 , or a portion of the cap (e.g., an engagement portion), can pass through an opening at a rear end of the cartridge to apply forward pressure against the tile spacers  1008 . The forward-pressure mechanism  1010  can include the rear surface  1052  of the dispenser  1000  in some examples (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10E ), and in other examples the rear surface  1052  may not be attached to the forward-pressure mechanism  1010 . In some examples, one or more guides  1017  (e.g., one, two, three, or more; two guides  1017  are shown in  FIG. 10B ) may be included within the dispenser  1000 , and the rod  1016  may extend through a void in the one or more guides  1017 . In some examples, the one or more guides  1017  may provide a downward stop to the palm trigger  1004  when a user depresses the palm trigger  1004 . 
         [0098]      FIG. 10A  depicts a perspective cutaway view of the example dispenser  1000 . The tile spacers  1008  can be stored within a cartridge  1002  positioned within a chamber  1050  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10E ) within the dispenser  1000 , and can be dispensed one by one as the palm trigger  1004  is squeezed/gripped/depressed by a user. The chamber  1050  can be accessible in any of a variety of ways, such as through removable (or hinged) rear surface  1052  (or surfaces) to permit access to the chamber  1050 . In the depicted example, the rear surface  1052  can be removed and a new cartridge  1002  (or  1040 ) of spacers  1008  can be inserted into the chamber  1050  of the dispenser  1000 . 
         [0099]    In some examples, the cartridge  1002  (or  1040 ) is a disposable, one-time-use cartridge, and when a last of the spacers has been dispensed, the empty cartridge can be removed from the tile spacer dispenser  1000  and a new cartridge can be loaded into the dispenser  1000 . The cartridge may be made out of a plastic or recyclable plastic material, or cardboard material, for example, or any other appropriate material choice. In other examples (not shown), the dispenser  1000  can provide alternative ways of replacing or accessing the cartridge, such as by including a hinged or removable top surface (or bottom surface) of the dispenser than can be opened or removed to insert a new cartridge  1002  or  1040 , with appropriate modifications to the channel  1050  to receive the cartridge from above or below, for example. 
         [0100]    In some examples, the cartridge  1002  (or  1040 ) can be reusable, and additional spacers  1008  can be loaded into a previously used cartridge, as by removing the rear surface  1052  of the dispenser  1000  and adding the spacers  1008  to the cartridge, or by first removing the cartridge from the dispenser  1000 , adding the spacers  1008 , replacing the cartridge in the chamber  1050  of the dispenser  1000 , and replacing the rear surface  1052  and forward-pressure mechanism  1010 . As another example, the dispenser  1000  can include a hinged rear surface (not shown) that can be opened to insert a new cartridge  1002  or  1040  of tile spacers  1008 , or to load additional tile spacers  1008  into the cartridge for dispensing. 
         [0101]      FIGS. 10C and 10D  show, respectively, a perspective view of a first example cartridge  1002  and a bottom view of a second example cartridge  1040 . Cartridges  1002  and  1040  are similar, but cartridge  1002  includes a solid lower surface (not shown in  FIG. 10C ), while cartridge  1040  includes a channel  1042  in a lower surface  1043  of the cartridge  1040 . Either of cartridges  1002  or  1040  can be used with tile spacer dispenser  1000 , for example. Cartridge  1002  includes an angled front surface  1018  that defines an angle  1019  between the front surface  1018  of the cartridge  1002  and the lower surface of cartridge  1002 . Cartridge  1040  includes an angled front surface  1020  that defines an angle  1021  between the front surface  1020  of the cartridge  1040  and the lower surface  1043  of cartridge  1040 . In some examples, the angled front surfaces  1018  and  1020  may be the same or similar, and the angles  1019  and  1021  defined by the front surfaces may be the same or similar, such as about 45 degrees in some examples. Each of the cartridges  1002  and  1040  may include a group of tile spacers that are pre-stacked and pre-oriented in a particular manner within the cartridge such that the spacers can be properly dispensed from the dispenser  1000 . Referring again to  FIGS. 6I and 6J , cartridge  604  can be used with dispenser  1000  in some implementations. In some examples, chamber  1050  of dispenser  1000  can be modified to receive cartridge  604 , for example. Cartridge  604  may be oriented as shown in  FIG. 6J , and loaded into the chamber  1050  (or an appropriately modified chamber  1050  in some examples) of the dispenser  1000 . 
         [0102]    The dispenser  1000  can additionally include an example tile spacer retention mechanism (not shown in  FIG. 10A  for simplicity) that can retain the tile spacer being dispensed when the tile spacer is partway through the opening  1006 . One example of the tile spacer retention mechanism includes a rubber coating (or a coating of another compressible or flexible material) located on a top-side and a bottom-side of the opening  1006 . As another example, the tile spacer retention mechanism may be similar to the retention mechanisms  116   a  and  116   b  of  FIG. 1 , such as flexible pieces of material (e.g., rubber, brush bristles) that are affixed to the dispenser adjacent to top and bottom sides the opening  1006  and which may extend inward and impede upon the vertical spacing of the opening  1006 , in some examples (see, e.g., discussion above with reference to  FIG. 1 ). As yet other examples, the dispenser  1000  can include a tile spacer retention mechanism to prevent the spacers  1008  from falling out the opening  1006  that is the same or similar to other retention mechanisms discussed herein (e.g., mechanisms  208 ,  412 ). In various implementations, the tile spacer retention mechanism may be at the opening  1006 , may extend outward from the opening  1006 , or may be interior of the dispenser  1000  and inward of the opening  1006 . 
         [0103]    In some examples, the retention mechanism can retain a tile spacer  1008  that partially extends through the opening  1006  so that, once the tile spacer has been moved into such a position through a user gripping/squeezing/depressing the palm trigger  1004 , the tile spacer  1008  does not fall out of the opening  1006 , or fall back into the opening  1006 , regardless of the angle of the dispenser  1000  (e.g., downward angle so that the tile spacer extends vertically toward the ground, upward angle so that the tile spacer extends vertically toward a ceiling surface, or angles between the upward and downward angles) without further movement of the palm trigger  1004  by the user. Other implementations of the tile spacer retention mechanisms are also possible. For example, retention mechanisms can be positioned additionally and/or alternatively at the right-side of the opening  1006  and left-side of the opening  1006 , or adjacent to the right and left sides of the opening  1006 , and can impede upon the horizontal spacing of the opening  1006 . Other implementations are also possible. 
         [0104]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  depict views of the tile spacer dispenser  1000  and an example dispensing mechanism  1024  of the dispenser  1000  for dispensing a first tile spacer from the cartridge (e.g.,  1002  or  1040 ) of the dispenser  1000 . The example dispensing mechanism  1024  is similar to the plunger  220  of  FIG. 2 , and in this example is integral with the palm trigger  1004 . The dispensing mechanism  1024  extends downward and forward from the palm trigger  1004  at an angle. The dispensing mechanism  1024  can contact a tile spacer  1008  and apply a downward and forward force to the tile spacer  1008  when the palm trigger  1004  is gripped/squeezed/depressed by a user. In response to a user depressing the palm trigger  1004 , the dispensing mechanism extends downward and forward into the cartridge  1002  through an opening  1030  in a top surface  1031  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10C ) of the cartridge  1002  and pushes the tile spacer  1008  downward and forward out of the an opening (not shown) in the bottom surface of the cartridge  1002  (e.g., which opening may be the same or similar to opening  1042  shown in  FIG. 10D  in the bottom surface  1043  of cartridge  1040 ), and out of the opening  1006  of the dispenser  1000 . 
         [0105]    In the depicted example, the dispensing mechanism includes a first leg  1025  and a second leg  1027  that each may engage a portion (e.g., a left portion or left arm and a right portion or right arm) of a tile spacer  1008 . The example dispensing mechanism  1024  includes a void  1029 , disposed between the first leg  1025  and the second leg  1027 , where at least a portion of the void  1029  (e.g., a width of the void) is shaped and dimensioned to fit a portion (e.g., an upper portion or upper arm) of the tile spacer  1008  so that, as the tile spacer  1008  is moved by the dispensing mechanism  1024 , the tile spacer  1008  does not unexpectedly change alignment or orientation. 
         [0106]    The dispensing mechanism  1024 , and the first leg  1025  and second leg  1027  of the dispensing mechanism  1024 , may define an angle between the dispensing mechanism  1024  (or between the first leg  1025  and/or the second leg  1027 ) and the top surface  1031  of the cartridge  1002 , where the angle is the same or similar as the angle  1019 , described above with reference to  FIG. 10C . Similarly, the dispensing mechanism  1024 , and the first leg  1025  and second leg  1027  of the dispensing mechanism  1024 , may define an angle between the dispensing mechanism  1024  (or between the first leg  1025  and/or the second leg  1027 ) and the bottom surface of the cartridge  1002 , where the angle is the same or similar as the angle  1019 . 
         [0107]    In various examples, the spring  1012  may be attached at a first end of the spring to the rear panel  1052  of the dispenser, and at a second end of the spring to the cap  1014 . An engagement portion  1022  of the cap  1014  may be configured to contact a rear-most tile spacer in the group of tile spacers  1008  within the cartridge. The engagement portion  1022  of the cap  1014 , in this example, includes an angled front surface  1023  contacts the rear-most spacer in the group of tile spacers  1008  within the cartridge. In some examples, an angle defined by the angled front surface  1023  of the cap  1014  matches the angle ( 1019  or  1021 ) defined by front surface  1018  or  1020  of the cartridge  1002  or  1040 , respectively. The cap  1014  may include a void through which the rod  1016  passes, and the cap  1014  may slide along the rod  1016  (e.g., based on forward pressure applied by the spring  1012 ) to apply forward pressure against the tile spacers  1008  and keep the spacers  1008  aligned and oriented for dispensing from the dispenser  1000 . The tile spacers  1008  can be the same or similar to other tile spacers discussed herein above. In some examples, the front surface of the engagement portion  1022  may not be angled. 
         [0108]    The openings in the top and bottom surfaces, and the opening at the rear end of the tile spacer cartridge (e.g., cartridge  1002  or  1040 ) can initially be covered by an easily breakable/removable material (e.g., plastic wrap, paper) that can keep the tile spacers  1008  from falling out of or otherwise passing through the rear end opening and the top and bottom openings until removed/broken. For example, a user can place a cartridge  1002  in the dispenser  1000  with rear, top and bottom surface openings being covered and can puncture the material covering at the rear end of the cartridge with the engagement portion  1022  of the cap  1014  (described further below), and can puncture the material covering the top and bottom openings by simply squeezing/gripping the palm trigger  1004  so as to drive the dispensing mechanism  1024  or legs thereof through the material covering the top opening  1030  and the tile spacer  1008  (or dispensing mechanism  1024  or legs thereof) through the material covering the bottom opening. The user can then proceed to dispense the tile spacer  1008  and the other tiles spacers in the cartridge  1002  until all of the tile spacers  1008  have been dispensed and the cartridge  1002  is ready to be replaced. Alternatively, the cartridge (e.g., cartridge  1002  or  1040 ) can include two or more tabs (e.g., the same or similar to tabs  602 , see  FIGS. 6I ,  6 J) instead of the breakable/removable material at the rear of the cartridge in some examples, where the two or more tabs (e.g., three tabs) prevent the spacers from falling out of the rear end of the cartridge before the cartridge is loaded into the dispenser  1000 . 
         [0109]    When a user is ready to place a tile spacer  1008 , the user may apply a downward, or downward and forward force  1026  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10B ) by squeezing/gripping/depressing the palm trigger  1004  to depress the palm trigger  1004  a first distance into the body of the dispenser  1000 , which may cause the dispensing mechanism  1024  to move forward and downward into the cartridge (e.g., cartridge  1002  or  1040 ) and physically contact and push the tile spacer  1008  part way out of the cartridge through the opening  1006  in an exit direction  1028  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10B ). The tile spacer  1008  can physically contact the tile spacer retention mechanism, which, through friction and the physical contact, can retain the tile spacer  1008  in that position and can keep the tile spacer  1008  from falling out of the opening  1006 . For example, if the dispenser  1000  with the tile spacer  1008  partially extending out of the opening  1006  were to be oriented by a user so that the opening  1006  is facing (parallel to) the ground and an outward gravitational force is exerted on the tile spacer  1008 , the retention mechanism can retain the tile spacer  1008  in its position and keep the tile spacer  1008  from falling out of the opening  1006 . Additionally, when the tile spacer  1008  reaches and physically contacts the retention mechanism, a greater level of resistance may be encountered by the dispensing mechanism  1024  due to a friction force between the retention mechanism and the spacer  1008 . This greater level of resistance can be felt by the user through the palm trigger  1004 , and may inform the user that a greater level of force may be required at the palm trigger  1004  when the tile spacer  1008  reaches the retention mechanism to fully dispense the tile space  1008  from the dispenser  1000 . This resistance can provide haptic feedback to the user as to when the tile spacer  1008  has reached the opening  1006 , which can provide a user with an indication as to when he/she should move or position the dispenser  1000  to a location where the tile spacer  1008  is intended to be dispensed. 
         [0110]    When the user is ready to fully dispense the tile spacer  1008  from the dispenser  1000 , the user can apply additional force  1026  at the palm trigger  1004 , so that the palm trigger  1004  is further depressed into the body of the dispenser  1000 . The dispensing mechanism  1024  may push the tile spacer  1008  past the retention mechanism and out of the opening  1006 . For example, the user may place or (locate in a proper location) the tile spacer  1008  as it is partially extended through the opening  1006 , in a gap between two adjacent tiles and then may squeeze/grip/depress the palm trigger  1004  to fully dispense the tile spacer  1008  into the gap between the tiles. 
         [0111]    The user can release the palm trigger  1004  from its depressed state to retract the dispensing mechanism  1024 , which may cause the dispensing mechanism  1024  and the palm trigger  1003  to return to their starting positions. In various examples, the palm trigger  1004  and dispensing mechanism  1024  may return to their starting positions automatically (e.g., through the use of internal mechanisms that have built up potential energy when the palm trigger  1004  was gripped/squeezed/depressed, such as one or more springs or bows) or manually (e.g., by the user extending the palm trigger  1004  outward and away from the body of the dispenser  1000 ). For example, as the palm trigger  1004  returns to its starting position, the palm trigger  1004  can draw the dispensing mechanism  1024  upward or upward and back to its starting position. As the dispensing mechanism  1024  is drawn upward or upward and back, for example, the forward pressure exerted by the spring  1012  on the cap  1014 , and the forward pressure exerted by the front surface  1023  of the engagement portion  1022  of the cap  1014  against the tile spacers  1008 , may cause a next spacer to be moved into position (e.g., a first or forward position) within the cartridge for dispensing. In this manner, a next spacer in the group of spacers  1008  may be properly positioned within the cartridge to be dispensed the next time the user applies force  1026  at the palm trigger  1004 . 
         [0112]    As the tile spacers  1008  are pressed forward by the cap  1014 , and by the angled front surface  1023  of the engagement portion  1022  of the cap, and in conjunction with the angled front surface  1018  or  1020  of the cartridge  1002  or  1040 , respectively, the tile spacers may be held within the cartridge at an angle. In some examples, the angles of the front surface of the cartridge, the front surface  1023  of the engagement portion  1022  or the cap  1014 , and the angle that the tile spacers  1008  are held within the cartridge may be about 45 degrees (e.g., with respect to a lower or bottom surface of the tile spacer dispenser  1000 ). In other examples, the angles of the above-mentioned components may be varied. For example, the dispenser  1000  and cartridge may be configured such that the angles of the above-mentioned components are within a range of about 44-46 degrees, or within a range of about 43-47 degrees, or within a range of about 42-48 degrees, or within a range of about 41-49 degrees, or within a range of about 40-50 degrees, or within a range of about 35-55 degrees, or within a range of about 30-60 degrees, or within a range of about 25-65 degrees. 
         [0113]    In some examples, the tile spacer cartridge can include internal surfaces within the cartridge that are sized and located so as to keep tile spacers within the cartridge in a particular orientation. For example, a cartridge may include internal surfaces that extend into the space between adjacent portions or arms of the ‘X’ shaped tile spacers when oriented at an angle (e.g., at about a 45 degree angle) and in a stacked configuration. The example internal surfaces can be positioned in a variety of ways (e.g., in opposite corners of the interior of the cartridge) and can extend the length of the cartridge. Other configurations, orientations of tile spacers, and other internal surfaces are also possible. 
         [0114]      FIGS. 11A-D  depict an example of a user  1100  dispensing a tile spacer  1102  using an example tile spacer dispenser  1104 . In the depicted example, the dispenser  1104  has a palm trigger  1106  that the user  1100  can grip or depress to partially extend the tile spacer  1102  while the tile spacer  1102  is still being retained by the dispenser  1104 , and that will release/expel the tile spacer  1102  when the palm trigger  1106  is fully depressed, for example. The dispenser  1104  can be similar to the tile spacer dispenser  1000  described above with regard to  FIG. 10 . The example depicted in  FIGS. 11A-D , and/or variations thereof, can be performed using other tile spacer dispensers, such as the dispensers  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  700  and/or other appropriate tile spacer dispensers. 
         [0115]    Referring to  FIG. 11A , the palm trigger  1106  and the dispensing mechanism are retracted and in a starting position, and the tile spacer  1102  is in a starting position within the dispenser  1104  and with a starting orientation. Referring to  FIG. 11B , the user  1100  has partially depressed the palm trigger  1106 , which has caused the tile spacer  1102  to be pushed downward and forward by the dispensing mechanism so that the tile spacer  1102  is partially protruding from an opening at the front of the dispenser  1104 . The tile spacer  1102  may be retained by the retaining mechanism (which in this example may be a rubber or flexible coating on one or more surfaces (e.g., top and bottom) of the opening), which may prevent the tile spacer  1102  from falling out of the opening (e.g., opening  1006 , see  FIG. 10 ). Two other spacers  1110   a  and  1110   b  are shown as having previously been placed in  FIG. 11B . Spacer  1110   a  separates tile  1108   a  from tile  1108   b , for example so that grout may be dispensed in the space between the tiles  1108   a ,  1108   b ; similarly, spacer  1110   b  separates tile  1108   b  from tile  1108   c , for example so that grout may be dispensed in the space between the tiles  1108   b ,  1108   c . In the depicted example, the spacers  1110   a  and  1110   b  may define spaces for grout lines that run in a first direction, and spacer  1102  may be placed to define a space for a grout line that runs in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. For example, if spacers  1110   a  and  1110   b  define spaces for vertical grout lines, spacer  1102  may define space for a horizontal grout line, which is why spacer  1102  is placed at an orientation perpendicular to the orientation of spacers  1110   a  and  1110   b . In  FIG. 11B , the user  1100  is holding the dispenser  1104  above the tiles. The user  1100  can position the dispenser  1104  at or near a location where the tile space  1102  is intended to be placed. For instance, the dispenser  1104  can be positioned above a gap between the tile  1108   b  and an adjacent tile (not shown) that is located behind the tile  1108   b.    
         [0116]    Referring now to  FIG. 11C , the user  1100  positioned the dispenser  1104  at a location and with an orientation appropriate for dispensing spacer  1102 . Spacer  1102  remains partially extended from the opening of the dispenser  1104 , yet still retained by the retaining mechanism and partially within the dispenser  1104 . In this manner, the dispenser  1104  and the protruding portion of the spacer  1102  may be correctly positioned by the user, and the partial protrusion of the spacer  1102  from the dispenser  1104  may provide visual assistance to the user  1100  in making an accurate tile placement. 
         [0117]    In  FIG. 11C , the user  1100  has lowered the tile spacer  1102  into the gap between the tile  1108   b  and the adjacent tile (not visible) located behind the tile  1108   b . While in such a position, the user  1100  may adjust the positioning of the tile  1108   b  and/or the adjacent tile so that they contact the tile spacer  1102 , which can ensure that uniform gaps between the tiles are formed and, when grout is applied, that the grout lines are uniform as well. The user  1100  can position the tile spacer  1102  while keeping the palm trigger  1106  in the partially depressed position. When the user  1100  is satisfied with the positioning of the spacer  1102 , the user  1100  can fully depress the palm trigger  1106 , which may cause the dispensing mechanism of the dispenser  1104  to push the spacer  1102  past the retention mechanism of the dispenser and out of the opening of the dispenser  1104  to place the spacer  1102 . 
         [0118]    Referring to  FIG. 11D , the user  1100  has placed the spacer  1102 , and lifted the dispenser  1104  upward from the placement position. The user  1100  can release pressure on the palm trigger  1104 , which can cause the palm trigger  1104  and the dispensing mechanism to return to their starting positions. The forward-pressure mechanism  1010  may urge a next spacer  1112  into the forward-most position within the cartridge so that the next spacer  1112  is in position within the cartridge for placing, and the dispenser  1104  may be ready to dispense the next tile spacer  1112 . The tile spacer  1102  can remain in its position between the tile  1108   b  and the adjacent tile (not shown). 
         [0119]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of various tiles, already-placed tile spacers, and a user placing a tile spacer using an example tile spacer dispenser. The tile spacer dispenser may correspond to the dispenser  1100  of  FIG. 10  or  1104  of  FIG. 1I  in some examples, or in other examples may correspond to any of the dispensers discussed herein above. 
         [0120]    The above description provides examples of some implementations. Other implementations that are not explicitly described above are also possible, such as implementations based on modifications and/or variations of the features described above. For example, the techniques described above may be implemented in different orders, with the inclusion of one or more additional steps, and/or with the exclusion of one or more of the identified steps. Additionally, the steps and techniques described above as being performed by some tile spacer dispensers may alternatively, or additionally, be performed by other tile spacer dispensers that are described above or other tile spacer dispensers that are not explicitly described. Similarly, the systems, devices, and apparatuses may include one or more additional features, may exclude one or more of the identified features, and/or may include the identified features combined in a different way than presented above. Features that are described as singular may be implemented as a plurality of such features. Likewise, features that are described as a plurality may be implemented as singular instances of such features. The drawings are intended to be illustrative and may not precisely depict some implementations. Variations in sizing, placement, shapes, angles, and/or the positioning of features relative to each other are possible.