Dispenser for adhesive-backed articles

• US 20020170918A1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASO Corporation (Aso International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ASO Corporation (Aso International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peacock, Elizabeth, Solovay, Kenneth S., Layer, James H., Madden, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 6,755,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/73
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/002 dispensers for web or tape like bandages

Abstract

A dispenser that is mountable on a vertical or horizontal surface for dispensing adhesive-backed articles from a bulk stock using a single hand. The dispenser includes a housing having a bucket portion for receiving and containing the adhesive-backed articles to be dispensed and a cover connected to the bucket portion. The cover includes a window through which the adhesive-backed articles can be removed from the backing sheet and applied to a person on other animal using a single hand. The dispenser also includes a support member secured within the housing such that at least one of the cover and the support member is biased toward the other for preventing movement of the backing sheet as one of the adhesive-backed articles is removed from the backing sheet through the window.

Claims

1. A dispenser for adhesive-backed articles carried on a backing sheet, said dispenser comprising:

a housing including a bucket portion for receiving and containing the adhesive-backed articles to be dispensed and a cover connected to said bucket portion, said cover including a window through which the adhesive-backed articles can be removed from the backing sheet; and

a support member secured within said housing such that said support member contacts an interior surface of said housing when said window is free of the backing sheet and cooperates with said interior surface of said housing to prevent a longitudinal side edge of the backing sheet from entering said window as one of the adhesive-backed articles is removed from the backing sheet.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said support member is pivotally connected to said housing.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said interior surface of said housing includes said inside surface of said cover, and said support member includes a plate biased against said inside surface of said cover.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said support member is coextensive with said window.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cover is pivotally connected to said bucket portion of said housing.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein said cover is pivotally connected to said bucket portion at a first position along a sidewall panel of said bucket and at a second position along said sidewall panel spaced from said first position such that said cover is capable of pivoting relative to the bucket portion about either said position.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein a spring connects said cover to said sidewall panel at said second position.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein said cover is capable of moving relative to said bucket when the backing layer is pulled at a discharge end of the housing that is proximate said second position.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said spring is secured to the bucket portion such that said spring resists movement of said cover away from said bucket portion and biases said cover toward said support member.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cover is biased toward said support member.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a discharge opening at a discharge end of the cover.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said portion of said housing is rotatable relative to said cover and said member, and wherein said backing layer can be advanced when said member and said portion of said housing are rotated.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein said portion of said housing and said member are rollers.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 further including a rotatable handle, and wherein one of said rollers is driven by movement of said handle.

16. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said portion of said housing includes an inner surface of said cover.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein said cover is pivotally connected to a sidewall panel of said housing at two spaced positions such that said cover is capable of pivoting relative to the sidewall panel about either said position.

18. The dispenser of claim 17 wherein a spring connects said cover to said sidewall panel at the second position.

19. The dispenser of claim 18 wherein said cover is capable of moving relative to said sidewall panel when the backing layer is pulled at a discharge end of the housing that is proximate said second position.

20. The dispenser of claim 19 wherein said spring is secured to said sidewall panel such that said spring resists movement of said cover away from the sidewall panel and biases said cover toward said member.

21. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein said cover is biased toward said member.

12. A dispenser for adhesive-backed articles positioned on an elongated backing sheet, said dispenser comprising:

a housing including a region for receiving and storing the adhesive-backed articles, and a cover connected to the storing and receiving region, said cover having an open section through which the adhesive-backed articles can be removed without opening said cover; and

a member capable of rotary motion, said member cooperating with a portion of said housing to secure the backing sheet between said member and said portion of said housing when a portion of said backing sheet is coextensive with said opening so that said backing sheet does not move relative to the dispenser while one of the bandages is removed from the backing sheet.

22. A dispenser for adhesive-backed articles carried on a backing sheet, said dispenser comprising:

a housing including a bucket portion for receiving and containing the adhesive-backed articles to be dispensed and a cover connected to said bucket portion, said cover including a window through which the adhesive-backed articles can be removed from the backing sheet; and

a support member secured within said housing such that at least one of said cover and said support member is biased toward the other of said cover and support member for preventing movement of the backing sheet as one of the adhesive-backed articles is removed from the backing sheet through said window.

24. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein said opening is at a front portion of said housing which is opposite said rear portion.

25. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein said urging mechanism includes a support plate and a spring for biasing said support plate away from said rear portion.

26. The dispenser of claim 25 wherein said spring is positioned between said support plate and said rear portion.

27. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein said opening includes a slot within said housing.

28. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein said opening includes a window through which the adhesive-backed articles can be removed from the backing sheet using a single hand.

29. The dispenser of claim 23 wherein said housing includes a main body portion and a cover portion secured to the main body portion so that said cover portion is moveable relative to said main body portion.

30. The dispenser of claim 29 wherein said cover is pivotally secured to main body portion.

23. A dispenser for adhesive-backed articles carried on a backing sheet, said dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing for containing the adhesive-backed articles positioned on the backing sheet, said dispenser housing including an opening through which contained adhesive-backed articles can be dispensed; and

a mechanism positioned within said housing and moveable between a rear portion of said housing and said opening for urging adhesive-backed articles within said dispenser housing toward said opening so that the urged adhesive-backed articles can be dispensed though an opening in said dispenser housing.

31. A bandage roll comprising a plurality of bandages carried on a backing sheet for being dispensed by a bulk bandage dispenser, said backing sheet having first and second side edges that extend parallel to a path of travel of said bandages within the dispenser;

and said bandages being positioned adjacent each other on said backing sheet, each said bandage having a first surface carrying an adhesive and a second surface opposite said first surface, said first surface being releasably secured relative to said backing sheet and a portion of said second surface being releasably secured to a cover sheet, said cover sheet having a pull tab and first and second side edges extending parallel to said side edges of said backing sheet, and wherein said side edges of said cover sheet are spaced from said side edges of said backing sheet by a distance that will allow a dispenser to contact and hold the side edges of the backing sheet while one or more of the bandages is separated from the backing sheet.

32. The bandage roll of claim 31 wherein the backing sheet is perforated.

33. The bandage roll of claim 31 wherein the cover sheet is perforated.

34. The bandage roll of claim 31 wherein each bandage has a discrete cover sheet.