Chain dispenser

Claim 1

The combination of a container having an opening in one wall, a length of chain stored within said container for dispensing, and of a dispenser plate constructed of relatively rigid, yet resilient material and secured to said container wall coveringly of said opening, said plate having a central aperture and intersecting elongated slots with the point of intersection coinciding with the said aperture, first and second pair of opposed gripping fingers defined by said plate aperture and slots; said fingers being inherently biased into planar aligned condition with respect to said plate; said first pair of gripping fingers being resiliently bendable about an axis normal to the corresponding axis of said second pair of gripping fingers, said chain being lengthwise dispensable through said aperture; said aperture having a transverse extent less than the width of said chain so that upon the application of a withdrawal force upon same, said gripping fingers will be flexingly urged by said chain against their inherent bias outwardly of the plane of said plate to permit passage of said chain and upon termination of chain withdrawal said gripping fingers will be returned inwardly toward the plane of said plate under influence of said inherent bias for effecting snug engagement of the adjacent portiOn of said chain therebetween to prevent return of same to within the container.