The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 05, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1999
Michael Forbes Scholey, Pacoima, CA (US);
Fred Ryan, Venice, CA (US);
Moldex -Metric, Inc., Culver City, CA (US);
Abstract
An earplug dispenser for manual operation by a user includes a bottle member to receive a plurality of earplugs. A dispensing mechanism is located at an open end of the bottle member so that when the bottle member is turned upside down, the dispensing mechanism projects downward and the earplugs fall by gravity to the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism includes an impeller member having a plurality of impeller openings to have individual earplugs located within the impeller openings by gravity and additionally includes a knob member projecting downward from the impeller and including a ratchet mechanism so that the rotation of the knob provides for rotation of the impeller and any individual earplugs captured in the impeller openings in only one direction. The dispensing mechanism also includes a separate dispensing opening and a chute located adjacent the knob member and in line with the impeller openings so that as the knob is rotated progressive ones of the impeller openings containing individual earplugs are directed above the dispensing openings to allow the earplugs to fall out of the dispensing mechanism through the chute into the hand of the user.