Dispenser for swabs

Abstract

A swab dispensing carton is provided which includes a housing defining a hollow receiving space and a drawer disposed within the receiving space, and containing multiple rows of swabs. The housing includes a pair of first side walls, a pair of second side walls, and a closure panel covering one end of the receiving space and being opposite an open mouth. The drawer includes a pair of first side panels, a pair of second side panels, and a floor opposite a dispensing opening. The floor is provided with at least three interleaved flaps having a strength to resist a pressure of at least 30 pounds of force. The dispensing opening is oriented to face one of the first or second side walls of the housing.

1 . A swab dispensing carton comprising:
 a housing defining a hollow receiving space and comprising a pair of parallel oppositely disposed first side walls, a pair of second side walls orthogonally oriented to the first side walls, a closure panel covering one end of the receiving space and at an opposite end an open mouth defined by upper edges of each of the first and second side walls;   a drawer disposed within the hollow receiving space of the housing, the drawer comprising a pair of parallel oppositely disposed first side panels, a pair of second side panels orthogonally oriented to the first side panels, a floor orthogonally oriented to each of the first and second side panels, the floor comprising at least three interleaved flaps, the first and second side panels having respective upper edges defining a dispensing opening, the opening being juxtaposed opposite the floor;   an array of swabs arranged within a cavity of the drawer; and   wherein the floor has a strength to resist a pressure of at least 30 pounds of force, the drawer being slideably movable from an open to a closed position, the open position having the drawer partially outside the receiving space, and the dispensing opening being oriented to face one of the first or second side walls.   
   
   
       2 . The carton according to  claim 1  further comprising a mouth edge flap adhesively attached to an interior surface of the second side wall. 
   
   
       3 . The carton according to  claim 2  wherein the mouth edge flap has a coefficient of friction less than other areas of the interior surface of the second side wall. 
   
   
       4 . The carton according to  claim 3  wherein the mouth edge flap comprises a pair of foot members straddling a curved window. 
   
   
       5 . The carton according to  claim 1  wherein the array comprises from 10 to 25 layers and from 10 to 25 rows within each layer. 
   
   
       6 . The carton according to  claim 1  wherein the interleaved flaps are four in number. 
   
   
       7 . The carton according to  claim 6  wherein one of the interleaved flaps has a truncated area and is bounded by inward tapering edges. 
   
   
       8 . The carton according to  claim 1  wherein one of the interleaved flaps has left and right arms bordering a gap area. 
   
   
       9 . A cardboard blank for a swab dispensing housing comprising:
 a first side wall;   a second side wall adjoining the first side wall;   a further second side wall adjoining the first side wall;   a further first side wall adjoining the further second side wall;   a mouth edge flap comprising left and right foot members, the foot members adjoining the second side wall;   a curved window arranged between the mouth edge flap and the second side wall;   a further mouth edge flap comprising further left and right foot members adjoining the further second side wall;   a further curved window arranged between the further mouth edge flap and the further second side wall; and   a pair of connected mouth edge flaps, a first of the connected mouth edge flaps being attached to the first side wall and a second of the connected mouth edge flaps being attached to the further first side wall.   
   
   
       10 . The cardboard blank according to  claim 9  wherein a surface of the mouth edge flaps and connected mouth edge flaps are coated with a gloss finish.