Patent Publication Number: US-7721885-B2

Title: Portable dispensers for articles

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/446,642, filed May 28, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,748. 

   The present invention relates generally to portable dispensers for temporarily holding and presenting a plurality of articles. 
   More particularly, the present invention relates to portable dispensers of coiled roofing nails, nail strips, roof staples, sheathing staples, welding rods, roofing nails, cartridge holders for diagonal nails which are put in a cartridge nail gin, framing nails, trim nails, and the like. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Tradesmen and other persons working in the construction field, such as roofers and welders, require their equipment and supplies to be readily accessible and portable. 
   The prior art is exemplified by: Stuart et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,555,380; Jeanfavre U.S. Pat. No. 3,390,761; Bader U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,354; Leedy U.S. Pat. No. 3,831,743; Dallas et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,663; and Letson U.S. Design Pat. 404,199. 
   It is a desideratum of the present invention to provide novel and unique portable dispensers for a plurality of articles, while avoiding the animadversions of the prior art and conventional dispensers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a portable dispenser for a plurality of articles comprising: an open top container provided with first means therein for temporarily holding said plurality of articles and for making aid plurality of articles readily accessible to a user of said portable dispenser; and second means provided on a most exterior surface or said top container for removably and selectively attaching said portable dispenser to a belt of said user of said portable dispenser. 
   One object of the present invention is to provide a portable dispenser as described hereinabove, wherein the dispenser is substantially cylindrical in shape and holds coiled roofing nails in a stack of six to eight coils. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable dispenser as described hereinabove, wherein the dispenser is designed to hold coiled roofing nails so that they will not uncoil and remain whole. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable dispenser as described hereinabove, wherein the dispenser is secured on the belt of the user of the dispenser so as to be accessible with one hand of the user while holding a nail gun with the other hand, thus readily enabling the retrieving to nails on the move. 
   Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide portable dispensers as described hereinabove, wherein the dispenser may be attached to the roofer&#39;s belt and which allows for quick and easy access to the coils of roofing nails from the top of the dispenser. 
   An additional object of the present invention is to provide the novel portable dispensers as described hereinabove, wherein by attaching a knife and a snip holder, the roofer can have all of his necessary tools at his fingertips, mounted on the outside of the dispenser. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide portable dispensers as described hereinabove, wherein the portable dispenser is provided with means for removably holding a tape measure thereon. 
   An additional object of the present invention is to provide a portable dispenser as described hereinabove, wherein the dispenser can be used for holding welding rods therein. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable dispenser as described hereinabove, wherein there is provided on the exterior of the dispenser means for holding soapstone. 
   Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to others after being exposed to the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable dispenser in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a vertical cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a vertical elevational view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a portable dispenser in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a top view of the  FIG. 5  embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a portable dispenser in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  depicts an elevational view taken from one side of the  FIG. 8  embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  depicts a top plan view of the  FIG. 8  embodiment. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an elevational view taken from another side of the  FIG. 8  embodiment, 
       FIG. 12  depicts a perspective view of a portable dispenser in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  depicts a side elevational view of the  FIG. 12  embodiment. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a top plan view of the  FIG. 12  embodiment. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an elevational view of the  FIG. 12  embodiment facing the major opening in the side of the portable dispenser. 
       FIG. 16  depicts a perspective view of a portable dispenser in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates an elevational view of the back of the  FIG. 16  embodiment. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates a top plan view of the  FIG. 16  embodiment. 
       FIG. 19  depicts a side elevational view of the  FIG. 16  embodiment. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates a perspective view of a portable dispenser in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 21  depicts a side elevational view of the  FIG. 20  embodiment. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a top plan view of the  FIG. 20  embodiment. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a front elevational view of the  FIG. 20  embodiment. 
       FIG. 24  depicts a perspective view of a staple holder unit structure which may be used in conjunction with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 20-23 . 
       FIG. 25  illustrates a front elevational view of the  FIG. 24  structure. 
       FIG. 26  depicts a top plan view of the  FIG. 24  structure. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a side elevational view of the  FIG. 24  structure. 
       FIG. 28  shows another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 29  depicts yet another embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a portable dispenser  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
   The portable dispenser  10  comprises an open top container  11  provided with first means therein, such as a sliding disc or other structure  12 , upon which may be stacked several coils of roofing nails  13 . 
   One such coil of roofing nails  13  is shown for illustration in  FIG. 3 . 
   The open top container  11  is provided with a longitudinal groove  14  within which is slidably positioned a thumb lever device  15  which is attached to the sliding disc  12 . The thumb lever device  15  is shown in phantom line at the bottom of  FIG. 1 , and is also shown in an elevated position in the upper central portion of  FIG. 1 . The user of the dispenser  10  merely hooks his thumb under the thumb lever device  15  and raises the sliding disc  12  with the coils of roofing nails  13  thereon by sliding it in the groove  14  until the coil of roofing nails  13  is accessible to the user near the open top of the container  11 . Upon taking an uppermost coil of roofing nails  13 , the disc  12  then slides down and returns to its lowermost position. 
   The dispenser  10  is provided with second means in the form of a belt loop device  16 , through which the belt of the user may be placed so that the portable dispenser  10  may be removably attached to the belt of the user. 
   The portable dispenser  10  may also be provided with a knife holder  17  for holding a knife for cutting roof shingles, and a sheath  18  for holding a snips tool. 
   The portable dispenser  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  is dimensioned to hold six to eight coils of roofing nails  13 . 
     FIGS. 5-7  illustrate a portable dispenser  20  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   The portable dispenser  20  comprises an open top container  21  within which a second container  22  is slidably disposed. Six to eight coils of roofing nails  13  may be held in the second container  22 . For illustration purposes, a coil of roofing nails  13  is shown in the second container  22  in  FIG. 7 . 
   The second slidable container  22  is provided with gripping means, such as a handle  23 , at the top end of the second container  22  to enable the user to move the second slidable container  22  upwardly to gain access to the topmost of the coils of roofing nails  13 . 
   The open top container  21  is provided with a longitudinal groove  24  to enable the user to readily see at a glance how many coils of roofing nails  13  are still left in the dispenser  20 . 
   The dispenser is also provided with a belt loop device  25 , similar to the device  16  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     FIGS. 8-11  illustrate a portable dispenser  30  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
   The portable dispenser  38  is provided with an open top container  38  having a plurality of compartments  31 ,  32  and  33  for temporarily holding a plurality of articles, such as welding rods  34 , and for making the welding rods  34  readily accessible to the user of the portable dispenser. 
   The portable dispenser  30  is provided with a clip  35  to enable the dispenser  30  to be clipped on to the belt of the user. The dispenser  30  is also provided with a pocket  36  for holding soapstone and the like. In addition, the dispenser  30  is provided with a clip  37  upon which a tape measure may be removably held. 
     FIGS. 12-15  illustrate a portable dispenser  40  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
   The dispenser  40  is provided with a substantially semi-cylindrical open top container  41 . From the bottom surface  42  of the open top container  41  there extends an elongated member  43  along the central elongated major axis of the open top container  41 . A plurality of articles, such as a plurality of coils of roofing nails  13 , may be readily placed on the elongated member  43  for temporarily holding same thereon. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the portable dispenser  40  is provided with a clip  44  for removably holding the dispenser  40  on the belt of the user there again, the dispenser  40  may hold six to eight coils of roofing nails  13 . 
     FIGS. 16-19  illustrate a portable dispenser  50  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
   The portable dispenser  50  comprises an open top container  51  for holding welding rods  34  and  34 ′ therein. The dispenser  50  is provided with a first compartment  52  and a second compartment  53 . The second compartment  53  surrounds the first compartment  52 , is coaxial therewith, and is similarly shaped thereto. 
   The dispenser  50  is provided with a swivelable clip  54  to enable the dispenser  50  to be clipped onto the belt of the user. In addition, the dispenser  50  is provided with holding means  55  for removably holding a small article, such as soapstone and the like. The dispenser  50  has an upper guard portion  56  to protect the user from being stuck with the welding rods when the user is bending. 
   Retention means  80  and/or  81 , such as Astroturf-type doormat material, is glued to the interior surface of compartments  52  and  53 , respectively, to retain welding rods  34  and  34 ′ in place even if dispenser  50  is dropped or tipped over. 
     FIGS. 20-23  illustrate a portable dispenser  60  according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
   The portable dispenser  60  comprises an open top container  61  having a substantially rectangular cross section which is disposed substantially perpendicular to a vertical elongated axis of the container  61 . 
   The open top container  61  has a bottom portion formed by two surfaces  62  and  63  disposed oblique to the vertical elongated axis of the container  61 . The tallest surface  64  of the container  61  is provided with a loop device  65  through which the belt of the user may be passed for holding the dispenser  60  on the belt of the user. 
   A parallel opposite surface  66  of the container  61  is provided with an elongated notch  67  therein. 
   The portable dispenser  60  shown in  FIGS. 20-23  is adapted to be used with the staple holder unit structure  70  illustrated in  FIGS. 24-27 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 24-27 , there is shown a staple holder unit structure  70  for holding roof and/or sheathing staples  71 . 
   The staple holder unit structure  70  is provided with members  72  and  73  which fit on and mate with the bottom portion of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 20-23 . 
   It should be noted that the staples  71  may be arranged in rows and columns as illustrated in  FIGS. 24-27  if desired. 
     FIG. 28  shows a portable dispenser  90  which is somewhat similar to the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 16-19 . Accordingly, some of the similar components of dispensers  50  and  90  use similar reference numerals. 
   Dispenser  90  is similar to dispenser  50 , but dispenser  90  does not have a second or inner compartment  53 . The singular compartment  52  of the dispenser  90  is provided with retention means  80  secured to the inner surface of the compartment  52  to be retained therein. 
   The dispenser  90  is also provided with a belt clip  54  (shown in  FIGS. 17-19 ) which is hidden from view because it is provided on the side of the dispenser  90  away from the viewer toward the user of dispenser  90 . 
     FIG. 29  shows another embodiment in the form of a dispenser  100  having a first compartment  52  and a second compartment  53 . Dispenser  100  is also similar to the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 16-19 , and accordingly similar reference numerals are used to designate similar components. 
   With respect to dispensers  50 ,  90  and  100 , they are provided with retention means  80  or  81  which are glued along the interior surfaces of the dispensers and which function to retain the welding rods in place even in the dispenser is dropped or tipped over. The retention means  80  or  81  perform a very essential function. On the job and at the workplace, e.g. welding shops, it is not only desired to eliminate waste, but is also necessary to avoid safety hazards of failing welding rods from very high places such as structures which are 5, 10, 25, or 35 stories high. Steelworkers are fined the first time a welding rod is dropped and are fired when a welding rod falls a second time on a particular job. 
   The retention means  80  or  81 , such as for example, Astroturf type doormat material, functions to hold the rods in place until the rods are actually pulled out by the worker. The present invention uses the Astroturf-type doormat material only as one example, but the present invention covers all functional alternative materials for the retention means. 
   With reference to the embodiments of the invention described hereinabove which hold coiled roofing nails  13 , it should be noted that such coiled roofing nails  13  are held in a cylindrically-shaped dispense so that they will not uncoil and remain whole. The dispenser may be secured to the belt of the roofer or other user so as to be accessible with one hand while holding a nail gun in the other hand, thus retrieving the nails  13  on the move. 
   Preferably, but not necessarily, a fours inch diameter plastic portable dispenser will allow coiled one and one-quarter inch roofing nails  13  to be stacked on top of each other. 
   By attaching the portable dispenser to the roofer&#39;s belt, it permits for quick and easy access to the coils of roofing nails  13  from the top of the dispenser. Furthermore, by attaching knife and snip holders  17  and  18 , the roofer can have all of his necessary tools at his fingertips, mounted on the outside of the portable dispenser. 
   While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to several specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood that these are described by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. 
   The present invention embraces all modifications, variations and changes which come within the scope of the patent claims set forth hereinbelow.