Cotton swab shipping container and dispenser

• US 4,989,730 A
• Filed: 05/01/1989
• Issued: 02/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philippe Lemoine
• Original Assignee: Philippe Lemoine
• Inventors: Lemoine, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US07/345,778
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 206/362, 206/370, 206/628, 206/634, 206/620, 206/815, 221/303, 221/312 R, 221/309, 221/310, 221/302, 312/73, 229/122, 229/122.1, 229/122.2, 220/356, 220/362
• US Class Current: 206/362
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/02 for dispensing rod-shaped articles, e.g. needles packages for cigarettes provided with dispensing means B65D85/1009; dispensers for drinking straws A47G21/184
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/815 Finger opening

Abstract

A plastic shipping container for cotton swabs that has a T-section at the bottom of the container front panel that at the shipping destination is readily removed to form a dispensing opening for the cotton swabs.

Claims

1. For use with cotton swabs, a combination shipping container and dispenser comprising a hollow rectangular body of plastic construction material having a removable front panel, said front panel fastened to said body by selectively removable attachment means, a removable portion in the lower end of said front panel consisting of a T-shape having a top which is located proximate the edge of said panel, delineated in said front panel by a groove except for a selected number of connecting bridges therebetween at spaced intervals along said groove, a fingergrip opening in the top portion of said T-shape to facilitate the gripping thereof incident to the rupturing of said connecting bridges, and a pair of lips in adjacent position to the top of said T-shape and extending laterally of said front panel so as to obviate contact against said T-shape as might cause the inadvertent detachment thereof during shipment of said cotton swabs, said lips located beyond the corresponding margin of said body, and being clear of the horizontal extend of the top portion of said T-shape to facilitate finger access to the central portion of the dispensed swabs, whereby the removal of said T-shape provides an access opening to the cotton swabs stored in said body and covers said body from a shipping container to a cotton swab dispenser.