Information sheet dispensing device

Abstract

An information sheet dispensing device including a housing having a front side, a back panel, an open top end and a bottom end closed by a bottom sloping at a downward angle from the back panel to the front side, a dispensing slot formed in the housing proximate the bottom end, and a cap movable between an engaged position closing the open top end of the housing and a disengaged position allowing access through the open top end. A dispensing mechanism is carried within the housing and includes a roller assembly rotatably carried within the housing above the bottom, a dispensing control coupled to the roller assembly for rotating the roller assembly to dispense information sheets singly; and a cassette pivotally carried within the housing at an offset pivot point and having an open top end and an open lower end, the open lower end positioned rearward of and above the roller assembly, the offset pivot point biasing the open bottom end of the cassette forwardly.

1 . An information sheet dispensing device comprising:
 a housing having a front side, a back panel, an open top end and a bottom end closed by a bottom sloping at a downward angle from the back panel to the front side;   a dispensing slot formed in the housing proximate the bottom end;   a cap movable between an engaged position closing the open top end of the housing and a disengaged position allowing access through the open top end;   a dispensing mechanism carried within the housing, the dispensing mechanism for receiving a stack of information sheets through the open top end with the cap in the disengaged position and dispensing single sheets from the stack through the dispensing slot upon actuation of the dispensing mechanism; and   a dispensing control for actuating the dispensing mechanism to dispense a single information sheet.   
   
   
       2 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism includes:
 a roller assembly rotatably carried within the housing above the bottom and coupled to the dispensing control;   a cassette pivotally carried within the housing and having an open top end and an open lower end, the open lower end positioned rearward of and above the roller assembly; and   a biasing mechanism biasing the open bottom end of the cassette forwardly.   
   
   
       3 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the biasing mechanism includes a lever arm extending outward in a forward direction from the cassette proximate the open upper end and terminating in an aperture pivotally hung on a pivot rod carried by the housing. 
   
   
       4 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the biasing mechanism further includes a biasing member carried between the cassette and the back panel of the housing. 
   
   
       5 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the roller assembly includes an axle extending between sidewalls of the housing and terminating in the dispensing control, and at least one roller carried by the axle. 
   
   
       6 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the dispensing control is a crank handle. 
   
   
       7 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the front side of the housing is a display panel which includes a front plate of transparent material through which a display information sheet can be seen, and a back plate spaced from the front plate with a gap therebetween for receiving a display sheet. 
   
   
       8 . An information sheet dispensing device comprising:
 a housing having a front side, a back panel, an open top end and a bottom end closed by a bottom sloping at a downward angle from the back panel to the front side;   a dispensing slot formed in the housing proximate the bottom end;   a cap movable between an engaged position closing the open top end of the housing and a disengaged position allowing access through the open top end; and   a dispensing mechanism carried within the housing, the dispensing mechanism comprising:
 a roller assembly rotatably carried within the housing above the bottom; 
 a dispensing control coupled to the roller assembly for rotating the roller assembly to dispense information sheets singly; and 
 a cassette pivotally carried within the housing at an offset pivot point and having an open top end and an open lower end, the open lower end positioned rearward of and above the roller assembly, the offset pivot point biasing the open bottom end of the cassette forwardly. 
   
   
   
       9 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the cassette includes a lever arm extending outward in a forward direction from the cassette proximate the open upper end and terminating in an aperture pivotally hung on a pivot rod carried by the housing, establishing the offset pivot point. 
   
   
       10 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 8  further including a biasing member carried between the cassette and the back panel of the housing. 
   
   
       11 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the roller assembly includes an axle extending between sidewalls of the housing and terminating in the dispensing control, and at least one roller carried by the axle. 
   
   
       12 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the dispensing control is a crank handle. 
   
   
       13 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the front side of the housing is a display panel which includes a front plate of transparent material through which a display information sheet can be seen, and a back plate spaced from the front plate with a gap therebetween for receiving a display sheet. 
   
   
       14 . An information sheet dispensing device comprising:
 a housing having a front side, a back panel, an open top end and a bottom end closed by a bottom sloping at a downward angle from the back panel to the front side;   a dispensing slot formed in the housing proximate the bottom end at the sloped bottom;   a cap movable between an engaged position closing the open top end of the housing and a disengaged position allowing access through the open top end;   a dispensing mechanism carried within the housing, the dispensing mechanism comprising:
 a roller assembly including an axle extending between sidewalls of the housing and carried within the housing above the bottom, and at least one roller carried by the axle; 
 a dispensing control coupled to the axle of the roller assembly; and 
 a cassette pivotally carried within the housing at an offset pivot point and having an open top end and an open lower end, the open lower end positioned rearward of and above the roller assembly, the offset pivot point biasing the open bottom end of the cassette forwardly; and 
   a stack of information sheets carried by the cassette, the stack of information sheets having an end resting on the sloped bottom and biased forwardly with the cassette, with the at least one roller contacting the stack proximate the end resting on the bottom, whereby rotation of the roller assembly by the dispensing control dispenses information sheets singly.   
   
   
       15 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the cassette includes a lever arm extending outward in a forward direction from the cassette proximate the open upper end and terminating in an aperture pivotally hung on a pivot rod carried by the housing, establishing the offset pivot point. 
   
   
       16 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 14  further including a biasing member carried between the cassette and the back panel of the housing. 
   
   
       17 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the dispensing control is a crank handle. 
   
   
       18 . An information sheet dispensing device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the front side of the housing is a display panel which includes a front plate of transparent material through which a display information sheet can be seen, and a back plate spaced from the front plate with a gap therebetween for receiving a display sheet.