Bandage dispenser

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus comprises the combination of a bandage case and a roll of bandages, the bandage case including a bottom panel and a side wall peripherally mounted integrally to the bottom panel, and a top panel extending from a tab mounted on the peripheral side wall at a living hinge adapted for folding the top panel into surface contact with a top edge of the peripheral side wall. This structure is a single molded part. The top panel is in airtight contact with the sidewall and is secured by a pin-in-hole engagement. The side wall provides a tape exit comprising a pair of side wall portions in side-by-side positions with a tape exit aperture and a tape dispensing cutoff element. The exit aperture provides flexible closure lips enabled for tape sliding contact to exclude dust from the interior of the case. The roll of bandages comprises a coiled tape carrier mounted between the top and bottom panels, one end of the tape carrier extending through the tape exit aperture in a position for being manually grasped for pulling the tape carrier from the bandage case for receiving each of a sequentially positioned series of bandages mounted on the coil.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dispensing apparatus comprising in combination: a bandage case and a roll of bandages, the bandage case including a case bottom panel and a side wall peripherally mounted integrally to the bottom panel, and a top panel extending from a tab mounted on the peripheral side wall at a living hinge adapted for folding the top panel into surface contact with a top edge of the peripheral side wall, the top panel thereby positionable in airtight contact therewith and secured by a pin-in-hole engagement means, the side wall providing a tape exit aperture comprising a pair of flexible lips enabled for tape sliding contact therewith and a tape cutoff means; the roll of bandages comprising a coiled tape carrier mounted thereon between the top and bottom panels, one end of the tape carrier extending through the tape exit aperture in a position for manually grasping and pulling the tape carrier from the bandage case for receiving each of a sequentially positioned series of bandages, in turn as the tape carrier emerges from the tape cutoff means.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bandages are fixed to the coiled tape carrier with a contact adhesive of a type enabling the bandages to be manually stripped from the tape carrier.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tape cutoff means provides a cutoff means cover notch adapted for shielding the cutoff means when not in use.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flexible lips are adapted for air tight sliding contact with the tape carrier.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an indicia printed onto the tape carrier for identifying each of the bandages for enabling a determination of the quantity of the bandages remaining in the bandage case.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the bandages includes a bandage adhesive strip and a gauze pad, the gauze pad containing an antibiotic solution therein.