US20060261078A1

US20060261078A1 - Label dispenser

Info

Publication number: US20060261078A1
Application number: US11/133,923
Authority: US
Inventors: Nick Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-20
Filing date: 2005-05-20
Publication date: 2006-11-23

Abstract

A label dispenser has a base and a cap, a side of which is connected to the base. A catch is provided on another side of the base and a hook is provided on another side of the cap thereby engaged with the catch. At least one outlet is defined in the cap, and a short side of one outlet is adjacent to a short side of another outlet and parallel to each other. Hence, the re-fill pads of tags can be received into the box thereby reducing the cost and rendering environmental protection.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a label dispenser, and more particularly to a dispenser which can be refilled.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 5, a conventional label dispenser has a rectangular body (50), which has a cap (51) made of plastic material. A flange (52) is formed around a lower end of the cap (51) and a base (60) made of paper is provided under the flange (52) so that a chamber (not numbered) is defined between the cap (51) and the base (60). A rectangular outlet (53) is provided on the cap and in communication with the chamber. Tags (40), which are received into the chamber prior to adhesion of the base (60) to the flange (52), can be taken from the chamber via the outlet (53) for usage.
However, when the tags are used up, the conventional label dispenser is useless. Furthermore, the plastic cap (52) is attached to the base (60) by glue thereby having a high cost and polluting the environment due to lack of capability of being recycled.
Therefore, the invention provides a label dispenser to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a label dispenser that has a low manufacture cost and is environmentally friendly.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a label dispenser wherein a lid is raised from a base;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the label dispenser in a closed status;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a label dispenser wherein a lid is raised from a base;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the box for the tags in a closed status; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional label dispenser in a closed status.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, a first preferred embodiment of a label dispenser is a substantially rectangular body (10). The body (10) comprises a base (11), and a cap (12) configured to snugly mount the base (11). A first short side of the cap (12) is flexibly connected to a first short side of the base (11) so that the cap (12) can be raised away from the base (11) and lowered to mount the base (11). A fastener (13) is composed of a catch (14) and a hook (15). The catch (14) is provided on a second short side of the base (11) opposed to the first short side of the base (11) and the hook (15) is provided on a second short side of the cap (12) opposed to the first short side of the cap (12). The catch (14) is hinged to the base (11), and defines a longitudinal slot (142). The hook (15) corresponds to and is selectively mated with the slot (142) of the catch (14). A chamber (111) is defined on the base (11) and an outlet (121) is provided on a center of the cap (12). A long side of the outlet (121) is parallel to the first short side of the cap (12) and a flange (122) is formed around the outlet (121).
With reference to FIGS. 3-4, a second preferred embodiment of a label dispenser is a substantially square body (20). The body (20) is composed of a base (21), and a cap (22). The cap (22) can be raised and lowered through a first side thereof being hinged to a first side of the base (21). A fastener (23) is composed of a catch (24) and a hook (25). The catch (24) is provided on a second side of the base (21) opposed to the first side of the base (21) and a hook (25) is provided on a second side of the cap (22) opposed to the first side of the cap (22). The catch (24) has a rectangular shape, pivotally extends out of a periphery of the base (21) and defines a longitudinal slot (242). The hook (25) corresponds to and is selectively mated with the slot (242) of the catch (24).
A square chamber (211) is defined in an interior of the base (21) and two parallel rectangular outlets (221) are respectively defined in a center of the cap (22). A short side of one outlet (221) is adjacent to a short side of the other outlet (221). A long side of each outlet (221) is parallel to the first side of the cap (22) and each outlet (221) further has a flange (222) formed therearound. With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the catch (14) is separated from the hook (15) to raise the cap (12) corresponding to the base (11). Then, the refill pad of tags (40) is received into the chamber (111) and an end of a topmost tag of the pad extends out of the outlet (121). Then, the cap (12) is lowered to mate with the base (I1) and the slot (142) of the catch (14) is engaged with the hook (15) thereby completing the assembly of the first preferred embodiment. It is to be appreciated that assembly of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
The advantages of the label dispenser are described as follows:
1. With the fastener, the cap can be raised or lowered repeatedly to receive the re-fill pad of tags thereby reducing the cost and rendering environmental protection.
2. The tags with different colors can be chosen from a single dispenser having more than one outlet by having a two tag pads each with a color different to the other one.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A label dispenser comprising:

a base and a cap a first side of the cap connected to a first side of the base a fastener composed of a catch provided on a second side of the base opposed to the first side of the base and a hook provided on a second side of the cap opposed to the first side of the cap and corresponding to and detachably mated with the catch and at least one outlet defined in a center of the cap.

wherein, at least one flange respectively is formed around a periphery of the at least one outlet: and

each one of the at least one outlet has a long side parallel to a short side of the cap.

2-3. (canceled)

4. The label dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein two outlets are respectively defined in the center of the cap and a short side of one outlet is adjacent to a short side of another outlet.