Patent ID: 8870510

Claim:
A dispenser for wire mesh preforms for use in forming wire mesh isolators, said dispenser comprising: (I) a flexible strip having a plurality of apertures, and (II) at least one wire mesh preform in one of the apertures, wherein: (a) the at least one wire mesh preform comprises a collar and a shank in a configuration of an unused rivet, (b) the apertures are sized to retain the shank and to allow the collar to be pushed through the aperture, (c) each aperture comprises a plurality of circumferential flexible fingers formed by slits in the flexible strip, and (d) the at least one wire mesh preform comprises: (i) a unitary wire mesh structure which has a central bore and comprises the preform's collar and the preform's shank; and (ii) a metal insert at least a part of which is within the central bore, the metal insert comprising a wall which has an exterior surface and the exterior surface comprising at least two apertures for engaging the wire mesh of the central bore of the unitary wire mesh structure.