Article holder and dispenser

Abstract

An article holder and dispenser including a vertically extending elongate hollow container especially suitable for storing and dispensing a stack of nested articles such as ice-cream cones, cups and the like is disclosed herein along with a particular article release arrangement at the discharge end of the container. This arrangement utilizes a plurality of article retaining elements having upper gripping portions and lower supporting portions, the latter being adapted to engage the lowermost article in the stack for releasably retaining the engaged article and the rest of the stack within the container. The support portions of the article retaining elements are supported for movement against the urging of the lowermost article as the latter is withdrawn from the housing through its discharge opening while, at the same time, the movement causes the gripping portions to engage the next adjacent article in the stack in a way which retains the latter in place above the discharge opening until the lowermost article is entirely withdrawn from the discharge opening and out of engagement with the retaining elements.