Abstract:
A device for dispensing articles such as paper clips and pins having a body chamber to contain a stack of the articles, a head assembly to eject the articles, and a base assembly containing a spring mechanism to bias the stack of articles toward the head assembly. Additional aspects of the invention are paper clips and pins designed to be used in conjunction with the dispenser having generally flat top surface and bottom surfaces, these surfaces being essentially parallel to one another to facilitate stacking.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/707,310 filed on Aug. 11, 2005 entitled “Clip Dispenser and Clips.” 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to a dispensing device for commonly used articles and more specifically to a dispensing device able to hold a plurality of clip fasteners or pins, singly dispense a clip or pin, and be quickly and easily refilled with clips or pins.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Since the invention of paper, man has endeavored to find means to attach sheets of paper to one another. One of the earliest recorded methods was that used by European merchants in the 13 th  century whereby slits were cut into the paper and a ribbon used to tie the sheets together. Metal pins came into use in the early 1800s, followed by the modern paper clip which was patented in 1899. Today, it is estimated that 20 billion paper clips are sold annually. Thus, paper clips have become a commodity item, and one brand is rarely selected over another for performance characteristics. The public perception is that all such fasteners are alike.  
         [0004]     Likewise, the origin of pins and needles dates back to prehistoric times. Needles have been discovered in Egyptian tombs as well as prehistoric caves, and early pins were typically large and cumbersome, made of fish bones, ivory, and wood. During the Bronze Age, the first metallic pins were made, and automated production methods were introduced in the 19 th  Century. Current annual production of pins and needles numbers in the billions.  
         [0005]     The most widely used means to store and dispense clip-type fasteners, such as paperclips, are the box they are sold in and a container with a magnet positioned near the opening. With either of these storage and dispensing means, the clips are arranged randomly and are often entangled with one another. The user must then free up both hands in order to individually select a single clip or separate the tangled clips, resulting in a cumbersome and inefficient process. Additionally, loose clips often end up strewn in the bottom of desk drawers, contributing to clutter.  
         [0006]     Devices to dispense clips one at a time have not gained wide acceptance in the marketplace. Most designs are complex and require the user to manually insert each individual clip. This results in a high cost for the dispenser relative to the clips and requires a time-consuming loading effort that defeats the purpose of the dispenser. For all practical purposes, the consumer has had a negative response to these previous designs because they refuse to spend any more time than they must dealing with an inexpensive commodity product.  
         [0007]     Similar problems have been encountered with dispensers for pins, namely push pins used to releasably attach items to a surface. Because of the sharp point on each pin, handling of a supply of pins raises safety concerns. While trying to obtain a single pin from a container holding many pins in a random arrangement, it is difficult to avoid being stuck by one of the sharp points. This can lead to bleeding, which in turn can lead to infection or the spread of disease. Current designs of pin dispensers are also cumbersome and complex, resulting in little marketing success.  
         [0008]     There exists, then, a need for a convenient, efficient, inexpensive, and practical dispenser for dispensing articles such as paperclips and pins one at a time, as well as novel clips and pins to work in conjunction with these dispensers. There also exists the need for disposable dispensers designed for a single use, and dispensers that are easily refillable by means of a pre-filled cartridge or container. There is a further need for a pin dispenser that eliminates the danger of being stuck by the sharp point of the pin. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of the refillable and disposable embodiments of the dispenser for paperclips.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of a desktop embodiment of the dispenser for paperclips.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the dispenser of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  and a clip held by the dispenser showing an example placement of a logo on the dispenser and the clip.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the refillable and disposal embodiments of the dispenser for pins.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the dispenser of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  shows isometric views of a pin suitable for use in the dispenser of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     It is understood that the embodiments described herein are intended to serve as illustrative examples of certain embodiments of the present invention. Other arrangements, variations, and modifications of the described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood from this disclosure, and any such arrangements, variations, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Stated ranges include the end points of the ranges and all intermediate points within the end points.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a handheld clip dispenser according to the present invention. The body chamber  5  is typically cylindrical in shape and functions to hold a plurality of clips  9  in an organized manner stacked one on top of the other. The body chamber defines a longitudinal direction from the top end to the bottom end. Shapes other than cylindrical can be used for the body chamber  5 , such as rectangular, triangular, or polygonal, depending on the shape of the clips  9  being dispensed. However, the cylindrical shape generally allows for simplified manufacture and use. The body chamber  5  may be clear, translucent, or opaque. It is advantageous for the body chamber  5  to be clear or translucent so that the quantity of clips  9  in the dispenser can be readily monitored. The head assembly is releasably attached to the top portion of the body chamber  5 . The head assembly consists of a bottom housing  2  and top housing  1  that define a hollow space, plunger  3 , and return spring  4 . There is an opening in the bottom housing  2  to receive clips  9  from the body chamber  5  into the hollow space. The opening is shaped so that the top portion of the body chamber  5  fits securely but releasably into the bottom housing  2 . The bottom housing  2  and body chamber  5  may be releasably secured to one another by press fit as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a threaded connection (not shown), a snap connection (not shown), lock ribs (not shown), or any other means known in the art. In another embodiment, the head assembly may be formed with the body chamber  5  as shown more fully in  FIG. 7 . For simplified reference both embodiments, the head assembly being releasably attached to the body chamber  5  and the head assembly formed with the body chamber  5 , are hereinafter referred to as “integral to” the body chamber  5 . The bottom housing  2  and body chamber  5  may also be non-releasably secured together or molded as a single part. The top housing  1  is secured to the bottom housing  2 , forming a generally hollow space. The plunger  3  is located between the top housing  1  and bottom housing  2 , and slides through the hollow space when a pushing force is applied to the end of the plunger  3  exposed outside the head assembly. The plunger  3  engages the topmost clip in the stack  9  and displaces the clip at least partially out of the head assembly. The direction of movement of the plunger is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction defined by the body chamber  5 . A return spring  4  urges the plunger into a fully extended position to allow the next clip  9  to be dispensed to enter the head assembly. The return spring  4  may be any type of spring or spring mechanism known in the art including, but not limited to, a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, or elastic band or combination thereof. Releasably attached to the bottom portion of the body chamber  5  is the base assembly. The base assembly consists of the base cap  8 , load spring  7 , and spring cap  6 . The load spring  7  is secured to the inside of the bottom cap  8  so that the load spring  7  extends into the body chamber  5  when the bottom cap  8  is releasably secured to the body chamber  5 . The load spring  7  may be any type of spring or spring mechanism known in the art including, but not limited to, a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, or elastic band or combination thereof. Similar to the bottom housing  2 , the bottom cap  8  may be releasably secured to the body chamber  5  by any means known in the art. Located on the end of the load spring  7  opposite the end attached to the bottom cap  8  is a spring cap  6 . The spring cap  6  provides a uniform surface for the load spring  7  to act upon the endmost clip in the stack of clips  9  contained in the body chamber  5 .  
         [0020]     The load spring  7  exerts an upward force on the stack of clips  9  in the body chamber  5  such that the first clip  9  of the stack is held within the hollow chamber of the head assembly in the path of movement of the plunger  3 . When a pushing force is applied to the plunger  3 , the plunger  3  travels through the head assembly and engages the side edge of the first clip  9  of the stack and causes the clip  9  to be dispensed from the head assembly. Because the plunger  3  engages only one clip  9  at a time, the plunger  3  also serves to confine the movement of the stack of clips  9  while the first clip  9  of the stack is being dispensed. After dispensing the first clip  9 , the return spring  4  urges the plunger  3  to the fully extended position, allowing the next clip  9  of the stack to move into place in the hollow chamber of the head assembly, ready to be dispensed.  
         [0021]     One embodiment of the present invention facilitates the convenient and efficient nature of the present invention by prepackaging a plurality of clips  9  in a cartridge (not shown) that will fit within the body chamber  5 . In this embodiment, the dispenser is quickly and easily refilled by removing the base assembly from the body chamber  5 , inserting the prepackaged cartridge of clips  9  into the body chamber  5 , and reattaching the base assembly. Such an embodiment eliminates the undesirable characteristics of the present art, namely the unorganized storage and cumbersome handling of a plurality of clips, by enclosing the clips in a simple, ready-to-use, pre-filled package that can be quickly and simply inserted into the dispenser. In another embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge can be used to aid in the loading of stacked clips  9  by inserting the cartridge into the body chamber  5 , turning the dispenser upside down, and sliding out the cartridge, leaving the clips  9  in the body chamber  5 .  
         [0022]     Still another embodiment of the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a single use disposable design. In this embodiment, the dispenser is supplied to the consumer pre-filled with clips  9 , and the materials of construction of the dispenser are selected from inexpensive materials suitable for mass production.  
         [0023]     Another embodiment of the present invention is a dispenser adapted for use on a planar surface, such as a desktop, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The desktop dispenser is designed to allow dispensing of clips  9  without picking up the dispenser. The clips  9  are held in a cartridge  14  that holds a plurality of clips  9  in an organized manner stacked one on top of the other. The cartridge  14  defines a longitudinal direction from the front end to the back end of the cartridge  14 . The cartridge  14  is placed on the interior plate  18 . A clip load pusher  16  engages the endmost clip in the stack of clips  9  in the cartridge  14  and exerts a pushing force on the stack of clips  9 . This pushing force acts to press the stack of clips  9  toward the front end of the cartridge  14  so that the first clip  9  in the stack is in position for dispensing. The cartridge  14  has a slot in the bottom side that allows the clip load pusher  16  to travel the length of the cartridge  14  so that the pushing force is continually applied to the stack of clips  9  as each clip  9  is dispensed. Attached to the clip load pusher  16  is a load spring  19  that is the source of the pushing force that the clip load pusher  16  exerts on the stack of clips  9 . The interior plate  18  is attached to the bottom housing  17 . The top housing  15  is releasably and pivotally attached to the interior plate  18  and serves to hold the cartridge  14  in place. Secured to the top side of the top housing  15  is the head assembly. The head assembly consists of the button cover  12 , clip plunger  11 , button cap  10 , and return spring  13 . The plunger  11  is a blade-type plunger that fits within the button cover  12  so that the top portion of the plunger  11  extends out the top of the button cover  12 . The return spring  13  urges the plunger  11  to the fully extended position as shown in  FIG. 3 . The button cap  10  is secured to the top portion of the plunger  11  that extends out of the button cover  12  and provides a surface on which to apply a pushing force to push down the plunger  11  and thus dispense a clip  9 . When a pushing force is applied to the button cap  10 , the plunger  11  moves downward in a direction essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction defined by the cartridge  14 , and the blade portion of the plunger  11  is directed through a slot at one end of the cartridge  14 . The blade portion of the plunger  11  engages the first clip  9  in the cartridge  14  and causes the clip  9  to be ejected from the cartridge  14  into a receiving portion of the bottom housing  17 . Both the return spring  13  and load spring  19  may be any type of spring or spring mechanism know in the art including, but not limited to, a metal compression spring, a metal tension spring, a plastic spring, or an elastic band or combinations thereof.  
         [0024]     One embodiment of the desktop clip dispenser facilitates the convenient and efficient nature of the present invention by prepackaging a plurality of clips  9  in a cartridge  14 . In this embodiment, the dispenser is quickly and easily refilled by pivoting or removing the top housing  15 , removing the empty cartridge  14  from the dispenser, replacing the empty cartridge  14  with a prepackaged cartridge  14  of clips  9 , and replacing the top housing  15 . Such an embodiment eliminates the undesirable characteristics of the present art, namely the unorganized storage and cumbersome handling of a plurality of clips, by enclosing the clips in a simple, ready-to-use, pre-filled package that can be quickly and simply inserted into the dispenser.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the present invention adapted for use as a means of advertising by displaying a logo  20  on the body chamber. Such an invention has utility for advertising a company name, slogan, trademark, service mark, and the like on a useful and inexpensive device that can be given away to prospective customers. Industry trade shows and public demonstration shows are forums where companies will often give away items such as pens and pencils imprinted with the company&#39;s name. A problem associated with such products is that they are quickly consumed and discarded. Certain embodiments of the present invention are reusable so that the logo will be displayed for a longer period of time than conventional advertising means and has the potential for a higher marketing impact on the customer.  
         [0026]     Another embodiment of the present invention are clips designed to work in harmony with the dispenser embodiment of the present invention. The clips must be amenable to stacking one on top of the other and, thus, have a generally flat top and bottom surface. The top and bottom surfaces area also essentially parallel to one another. Clips with a thickness in the range of about 0.03 inch to about 0.06 inch work well with a wide variety of paper types and can generally hold up to about 15 sheets of paper. When it is desired to have a greater number of clips in the dispenser, the clips can be less than 0.30 inch thick, with 0.01 inch being the lower limit for useful practicality. Heavy duty clips can have a thickness greater than 0.06 inch, with about 0.1 inch being the upper limit for practicality in the dispensers. The clips can be made of any material and forming process known in the art including, but not limited to, injection molded plastic, formed plastic, stamped metal, and formed wire.  
         [0027]     Yet another embodiment of the clips are clips that have a logo  21  imprinted or molded onto the flat surface of the clip as shown in  FIG. 5  for advertising purposes as described above for the dispenser.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the handheld dispenser of  FIG. 1  adapted for use with pins, namely push pins that are used to releasably attach an object to a surface such as a bulletin board, cork board, cubicle wall, and the like.  FIG. 7  shows this same dispenser in an exploded view. In this particular embodiment, the body chamber is constructed in two halves  22  and  23 . While the body chamber  22  and  23  can be any shape desired, a generally rectangular shape is shown in  FIG. 6 . As with the clip dispenser of  FIG. 1 , the body chamber  22  and  23  can be clear, translucent, or opaque, with clear or translucent being desired so that the number of remaining pins can be monitored. While the head assembly  24  can be constructed as one or more separate pieces that attach to the top end of the body chamber  22  and  23  as in  FIG. 1 , the head assembly  24  may be integral to the body chamber as shown more fully in  FIG. 7 . The head assembly  24  contains a plunger  25  that functions to discharge the topmost pin  26  from the stack of pins  27 . A return spring  28  serves to return the plunger  25  to the fully extended position after dispensing a pin  26 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the return spring  28  is a metal tension spring, but may be any type of spring or spring mechanism known in the art including, but not limited to, a metal compression spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band and combination thereof. The plunger  25  may be releasably secured in the fully depressed position by means of plunger lock  29  that engages a notch  30  in the plunger  25 . The base assembly releasably attaches to the bottom end of the body chamber  22  and  23 . The base assembly consists of the base cap  31 , load spring  32 , and spring cap  33 . The load spring  32  is held in place by a nipple  34  and extends into the body chamber  22  and  23 . Similar to the return spring  28 , the load spring  32  may be any type of spring or spring mechanism known in the art including, but not limited to, a metal tension spring, a metal compression spring, a plastic spring, and an elastic band and combinations thereof. Located on the end of the load spring  32  opposite the end attached to the base cap  31  is a spring cap  33  that provides a uniform surface for the load spring  32  to act upon the pins  27  contained in the body chamber  22  and  23 . The spring cap  33  may optionally extend outside of the body chamber  22  and  23  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . This embodiment allows the user to depress the load spring  32 , lowering the stack of pins  27  so that pins may be individually reloaded through the head assembly  24 . Internal ribs  35  and  36  define a slot for maintaining the pins  27  in proper orientation.  
         [0029]     The dispenser shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  can be operated such that the head assembly  24  is placed directly against the surface into which the pin  26  is to be inserted. By placing the item, such as a sheet of paper, to be releasably attached to the surface between the head assembly  24  and the surface then depressing the plunger  25 , the pin  26  is inserted into the surface without being touched by the operator. Thus, the dispenser eliminates the safety hazards associated with handling the pin  26 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  shows isometric views of one embodiment of the pins for use in the dispenser shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The pin comprises a generally cylindrical shaft  38  with one end tapered to form a point  39 . As is generally the case with the function of pins, they must be able to penetrate a surface, and this is facilitated by sharpening the end of the shaft  38 . The shaft is securely attached to one side  40  of the head  37 . The head  37  has a top and bottom surface, both of which are generally flat and parallel to one another. This shape facilitates stacking the pins. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the head may be rectangular in shape, but any round or polygonal shape desired may be chosen. This embodiment of the pin shows an optional groove  41  in the head  37  to increase grippability.