Universal dispenser for safety protection devices, packaging for use therewith, and method of dispensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9415926-B2
Application number	US-17875708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2008
Priority date	Jul 24, 2008
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A dispenser arrangement including an elongated strip of packaged safety protection devices disposed at an interior of the dispenser, a drive arrangement configured to advance and rupture the strip of packaged safety protection devices and to release the safety protection devices therefrom at the demand of a user, a waste arrangement configured to receive and retain the strip of packaging after release of the safety protection devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A universal dispenser arrangement, comprising:
an elongated strip of packaged safety protection devices disposed at an interior of the dispenser;
a drive arrangement configured to advance and rupture the strip of packaged safety protection devices and to release the safety protection devices therefrom upon demand of a user; and
a waste arrangement configured to receive and retain the strip of packaging after said release of the safety protection devices;
wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices includes one or more strips of material, and each strip of material includes a perforation which extends generally along a longitudinal length of the strip, wherein the perforation facilitates the rupture of each strip of material.

2. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices is wound about a spool disposed at the interior.

3. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices is made of plastic.

4. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices further comprises sealed areas extending across a width of the strip at intervals along the longitudinal length to delimit individual package pouches for containing individual safety protection devices.

5. The dispenser arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the safety protection devices comprise one or more earplugs disposed in the package pouches.

6. The dispenser arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the earplugs comprise one or more of a roll-down foam earplug, a push-in foam earplug, and a pre-molded reusable earplug.

7. The dispenser arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the safety protection devices each comprise a pair of earplugs connected together by a cord.

8. The dispenser arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the safety protection devices comprise one or more of a banded semi-aural device, an earmuff assembly, and a individual earmuff cup.

9. The dispenser arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the safety protection devices comprise one or more of a safety eyewear device, a respirator device, a face shield, a safety glove, and a fall protection device.

10. The dispenser arrangement of claim 4 , further comprising a guide configured to position the safety protection device centrally within the respective package pouch prior to said rupture.

11. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the drive arrangement comprises a pair of adjacent drive rollers disposed at the interior of the dispenser, wherein the drive rollers are configured for axial rotation and are engaged with one another such that rotation of a first drive roller correspondingly rotates a second drive roller.

12. The dispenser arrangement of claim 11 , further comprising an actuator disposed to be actuated by the user and configured to rotate the drive rollers.

13. The dispenser arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the waste arrangement comprises a pair of waste rollers, each disposed in engagement with one of the drive rollers such that rotation of drive rollers correspondingly rotates the waste rollers.

14. The dispenser arrangement of claim 13 , wherein strip of packaged safety protection devices extends between the drive rollers where the strip is separated longitudinally into a first strip portion which extends to and is engaged with a first of the waste rollers and a second strip portion which extends to and is engaged with a second of the waste rollers.

15. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the waste arrangement comprises a pair of waste bins, wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices extends between drive rollers where the strip is separated longitudinally into a first strip portion which extends into a first of the waste bins and a second strip portion which extends into the waste bins.

16. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices is disposed within a cartridge at the interior of the dispenser wherein the cartridge is releasably retained at the interior so as to be selectively removable.

17. The dispenser arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices include sealed portions across a width thereof at regular intervals along a length thereof, wherein the strip is disposed within the cartridge folded alternately at each sealed portion to form a “z” folded configuration.

18. The dispenser arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the cartridge includes a lower interior surface which extends at an angle relative to a horizontal and an opening at the lower interior surface through which passes the strip of packaged safety protection devices.

19. The dispenser arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the strip of packaged safety protection devices is disposed within a first cartridge removably disposed at the interior of the dispenser and wherein a spare strip of packaged safety protection devices is disposed within a second cartridge removably disposed at the interior generally adjacent to the first cartridge.

20. A method of dispensing safety protection devices, comprising:
disposing said safety protection devices at intervals within an elongated package strip that includes one or more strips of material;
perforating each of the one or more strips of material of the package strip along a longitudinal length of the elongated package strip;
storing the package strip within a dispenser;
advancing the package strip from the storage;
rupturing the package strip along the perforation of each of the one or more strips of material to release the intervally disposed safety protection devices from the interior of the package strip; and
collecting the package strip for disposal and recycling after said releasing of the safety protection devices.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said storing comprises winding the package strip around a spool within the dispenser.

22. The method claim 21 , wherein said storing comprises folding the package strip alternately at each interval within a cartridge disposable at the interior of the dispenser.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein said disposing safety protection devices comprises disposing one or more of a roll-down foam earplug, a push-in foam earplug, and a pre-molded reusable earplug.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein said disposing safety protection devices comprises disposing a pair of earplugs connected together by a cord.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein said disposing safety protection devices comprises disposing one or more of a banded semi-aural device, an earmuff assembly, and a individual earmuff cup.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein said disposing safety protection devices comprises disposing one or more of a safety eyewear device, a respirator device, a face shield, a safety glove, and a fall protection device.

27. The method of claim 21 , further comprising sealing the package strip at intervals along its length to create package pouches in the strip to contain the intervally disposed safety protection devices.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising positioning safety protection devices centrally within the respective package pouch prior to said rupturing.

Assignees

• Hamer Jeffery Lee
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Hamer Jeffery Lee

Classifications

• B65D83/0472

  the band being wound in flat spiral, folded in accordion or the like · CPC title

• B65D83/0454 Primary

  the whole forming a circular container with rotating parts (B65D83/0463 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H2701/1942

  Web supporting regularly spaced non-adhesive articles · CPC title

• B65H37/002

  Web delivery apparatus, the web serving as support for articles, material or another web · CPC title

• A61F11/08

  internal, e.g. earplugs · CPC title