Carousel-type gravity feed film dispenser and film cassette therefor

• US 5,191,997 A
• Filed: 06/03/1992
• Issued: 03/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mechtronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mechtronics Corporation
• Inventors: Squitieri, Anthony C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SKAGGS JR, H GRANT
• Application Number:
  US07/892,970
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 221/119, 221/120, 221/131, 221/132, 221/197, 221/281, 221/282, 221/287, 221/303, 221/312 R, 312/42, 312/45, 312/124, 312/125, 312/97.1, 312/135, 312/234.1, 312/350
• US Class Current: 221/119
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/08 dispensing from bottom
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/02 with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04 takes precedence; for cigars or cigarettes A24F15/04; for cigarette papers A24F17/00; for hand towels or toilet paper A47K; for photographic paper G03B; coin-freed G07F
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/02 Rotary display stands rotary show-cases A47F3/10

Abstract

A carousel for dispensing canisters of film having a film-holding base secured to a vertical spine mounted centrally of the base, a plurality of vertical dividers extending radially from, and circumferentially of, the spine, vertically-extending wall sections secured to the outermost edges of the dividers, so that the spine, the dividers, and the wall sections together form vertical channels to receive and hold the canisters. The uppermost portions of the wall sections are open to receive the canisters, and the lowermost ends of the wall sections are spaced from the base sufficiently to permit removal of individual canisters, and the base and with the upper end of the spine are pivoted where they are to be attached to a display device so the entire unit can be rotated. If desired, the canisters can have keys on their bodies or their caps, and the channels can have corresponding key slots, so that the canisters will be held in the channels with their labels outermost.

Claims

1. A carousel for dispensing canisters of film, said carousel including

a film-bonding base secured to a vertical spine mounted centrally of said base,

a plurality of vertical channels formed about said spine and proximate to one another, said channels having vertical slots therein narrower than said canisters, said slots being on that portion of said channels farthest removed from said spine,

the uppermost portions of said slots being widened and so dimensioned as to form openings to receive said canisters, and the lowermost ends of said channels having openings to permit removal of individual canisters, and

means associated with said base and with the upper end of said spine for pivotally securing said carousel to a display device, said last-named means including a bottom plate pivotally secured to said base and a top plate pivotally secured to said upper end of said spine.

2. A carousel as set forth in claim 1 including a display device having inner top and bottom surfaces with grooves therein and in which said bottom plate has downwardly extending side flanges and said top plate has upwardly extending side flanges, and said top and bottom flanges complement said grooves, whereby said flanges can be fitted into said grooves.

3. A carousel for dispensing canisters of film, said carousel including

a film-holding base secured to a vertical spine mounted centrally of said base,

a plurality of vertical dividers extending radially from said spine, vertically-extending wall sections secured to the outermost edges of said dividers, said spine, said dividers, and said wall sections together forming vertical channels to receive and hold said canisters,

the uppermost portions of said wall sections being so dimensioned as to form openings to receive said canisters, and the lowermost ends of said wall sections being spaced from said base sufficiently to permit removal of individual canisters, and

means associated with said base and with the upper end of said spine for pivotally securing same to a display device, said last-named means including a bottom plate pivotally secured to said base and a top plate pivotally secured to said upper end of said spine.

4. A carousel as set forth in claim 3 including a display device having inner top and bottom surfaces with grooves therein and in which said bottom plate has downwardly extending side flanges and said top plate has upwardly extending side flanges, and said top and bottom flanges complement said grooves, whereby said flanges can be fitted into said grooves.

5. A carousel for dispensing canisters of film, said carousel including

a bottom plate

a film-holding base secured to a vertical spine mounted centrally of said base,

a plurality of vertical dividers extending radially from said spine, vertically-extending wall sections secured to the outermost edges of said dividers, said spine, said dividers, and said wall sections together forming vertical channels to receive and hold said canisters,

the uppermost portions of said wall sections being so dimensioned as to form openings to receive said canisters, and the lowermost ends of said wall sections being spaced from said base sufficiently to permit removal of individual canisters,

said bottom plate being pivotally secured to the lower end of said spine,

a top plate pivotally secured to the upper end of said spine, and

means associated with said top and bottom plates for securing said plates to a display device.

6. A carousel as set forth in claim 5 in which said means for securing said plates are side flanges extending below said bottom plate and above said top plate, whereby said flanges can be interengaged with corresponding grooves on a display device.

7. A carousel as set forth in claim 6 including locking detents on said flanges.