Ticket dispenser

Abstract

The ticket dispenser is configured for holding and dispensing a double roll of laterally paired tickets, i.e., a ticket roll having two laterally joined and identically numbered tickets for each sequentially numbered position along the roll. Such tickets are commonly used for raffles, door prizes, etc., where the participant keeps one ticket and the other identically numbered ticket is placed in a container for a random drawing. The ticket dispenser includes a splitter which automatically separates the two identically numbered and laterally joined tickets as they are dispensed from the device, and may include an edge for separating sequentially numbered tickets from one another as well. A friction adjustment is provided for the ticket roll to prevent accidental unwinding of the loose roll of tickets contained in the holder. A neck or shoulder strap, belt loop, etc. may be provided to support the device from the person.

1 . A ticket dispenser, comprising: 
 an elongate ticket dispensing extension having an upper portion, a lower portion opposite the upper portion, mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, a ticket entry end, and a ticket dispensing end opposite the ticket entry end, the upper portion, lower portion, and first and second lateral edges defining a wide, thin, ticket passage for laterally paired tickets, the passage extending from the ticket entry end to the ticket dispensing end;    a splitter disposed within the passage defined in the ticket dispensing extension adjacent the ticket dispensing end thereof, the splitter being adapted for separating the laterally paired tickets so that the tickets are no longer paired laterally; and    a ticket roll holder extending from the ticket entry end of the ticket dispensing extension.    
   
   
       2 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said ticket holder comprises: 
 first and second ticket roll holder arms extending from the first and second lateral edges of said ticket dispensing extension, respectively, adjacent the ticket entry end thereof, each of the arms having a distal end;    a ticket roll axle disposed across each of the arms through the distal end thereof, the axle having a fixed end and an adjustment end opposite the fixed end; and    an adjustment clamp disposed upon the adjustment end of the axle selectively bearing against the distal end of the first ticket roll holder arm, thereby selectively urging the distal end of the first arm toward the distal end of the opposite second arm and frictionally gripping the arms against a ticket roll disposed between the first and second arms.    
   
   
       3 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has a key passage defined therein adjacent the ticket dispensing end, said splitter comprising: 
 a ticket splitter key having a distal end, the key defining a laterally disposed slot; and    a ticket splitter element disposed across the slot, the distal end of the key being adjustably disposed within the key passage defined in said ticket dispensing extension.    
   
   
       4 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has a ticket splitter alignment port defined in the upper portion adjacent the ticket dispensing end thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising means attached to said ticket holder for carrying the dispenser, the carrying means being selected from the group consisting of at least one laterally disposed belt loop and an elongate shoulder strap.  
   
   
       6 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 1 , further including a laterally disposed ticket tear-off blade extending from and beyond the ticket dispensing end of said ticket dispensing extension for separating the laterally paired tickets from the roll sequentially.  
   
   
       7 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 1 , further including a stepped ticket tear-off edge extending from the lower portion of the ticket dispensing end of said ticket dispensing extension and beyond the upper portion thereof for separating the laterally paired tickets from the roll sequentially.  
   
   
       8 . A ticket dispenser, comprising: 
 an elongate ticket dispensing extension having a ticket entry end, a ticket dispensing end opposite the ticket entry end, and mutually opposed first and second lateral edges;    first and second ticket roll holder arms extending from the first and second lateral edges of the ticket dispensing extension, respectively, adjacent the ticket entry end thereof, each of the arms having a distal end;    a ticket roll axle disposed across each of the arms through the distal end thereof, the axle having a fixed end and an adjustment end opposite the fixed end; and    an adjustment clamp disposed upon the adjustment end of the axle selectively bearing against the distal end of the first ticket roll holder arm, thereby selectively urging the distal end of the first arm toward the distal end of the opposite second arm and frictionally gripping the arms against a ticket roll disposed between the first and second arms.    
   
   
       9 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has an upper portion and a lower portion opposite the upper portion, the upper and lower portions and the first and second lateral edges defining a wide, thin, laterally paired ticket passage extending through said extension from the ticket entry end to the ticket dispensing end, the dispenser further comprising a splitter disposed within the passage of said extension adjacent the ticket dispensing end thereof, the splitter being adapted for separating laterally paired tickets so that the tickets are no longer paired laterally.  
   
   
       10 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 9 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has a key passage defined therein adjacent the ticket dispensing end, said splitter comprising: 
 a ticket splitter key having a distal end, the key defining a laterally disposed slot; and    a ticket splitter element disposed across the slot, the distal end of the key being adjustably disposed within the key passage defined in said ticket dispensing extension.    
   
   
       11 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 9 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has a ticket splitter alignment port defined in the upper portion adjacent the ticket dispensing end thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 8 , further comprising means attached to said ticket holder for carrying the dispenser, the carrying means being selected from the group consisting of at least one laterally disposed belt loop and an elongate shoulder strap.  
   
   
       13 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 8 , further including a laterally disposed ticket tear-off blade extending from and beyond the ticket dispensing end of said ticket dispensing extension for separating the laterally paired tickets from the roll sequentially.  
   
   
       14 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has an upper portion and a lower portion opposite the upper portion, the dispenser further including a stepped ticket tear-off edge extending from the lower portion of the ticket dispensing end of said ticket dispensing extension and beyond the upper portion thereof for separating the laterally paired tickets from the roll sequentially.  
   
   
       15 . A ticket dispenser, comprising: 
 an elongate ticket dispensing extension having an upper portion, a lower portion opposite the upper portion, mutually opposed first and second lateral edges, a ticket entry end, and a ticket dispensing end opposite the ticket entry end, the upper portion and lower portions and the first and second lateral edges defining a wide, thin, laterally paired ticket passage extending through the extension from the ticket entry end to the ticket dispensing end;    a laterally paired ticket splitter disposed within the passage defined in the extension adjacent the ticket dispensing end thereof, the splitter being adapted for separating laterally paired tickets so that the tickets are no longer paired laterally;    first and second ticket roll holder arms extending from the first and second lateral edges of the ticket dispensing extension, respectively, adjacent the ticket entry end thereof, each of the arms having a distal end;    a ticket roll axle disposed across each of the arms through the distal end thereof, the axle having a fixed end and an adjustment end opposite the fixed end; and    an adjustment clamp disposed upon the adjustment end of the axle selectively bearing against the distal end of the first ticket roll holder arm, thereby selectively urging the distal end of the first arm toward the distal end of the opposite second arm and frictionally gripping the arms against a ticket roll disposed between the first and second arms.    
   
   
       16 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 15 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has a key passage defined therein adjacent the ticket dispensing end, said splitter comprising: 
 a ticket splitter key having a distal end, the key defining a laterally disposed slot; and    a ticket splitter element disposed across the slot, the distal end of the key being adjustably disposed within the key passage defined in said ticket dispensing extension.    
   
   
       17 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein said ticket dispensing extension has a ticket splitter alignment port defined in the upper portion adjacent the ticket dispensing end thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 15 , further comprising means attached to said ticket holder for carrying the dispenser, the carrying means being selected from the group consisting of at least one laterally disposed belt loop and an elongate shoulder strap.  
   
   
       19 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 15 , further including a laterally disposed ticket tear-off blade extending from and beyond the ticket dispensing end of said ticket dispensing extension for separating the laterally paired tickets from the roll sequentially.  
   
   
       20 . The ticket dispenser according to  claim 15 , further including a stepped ticket tear-off edge extending from the lower portion of the ticket dispensing end of said ticket dispensing extension and beyond the upper portion thereof for separating the laterally paired tickets from the roll sequentially.