Ejecting means

Claim 1

Means for selectively ejecting a generally flattened resilient elongate article away from a first zone comprising: a body member; a generally elongate support member movably mounted to said body member and having mutually perpendicular axes including a longitudinal axis, a first transverse axis, and a second transverse axis, said support member further having a first end, and a continuous, selectively contoured deflecting surface extending longitudinally from said first end a predetermined length; restraining means movably coupled to said support member generally adjacent said first end thereof and having a first surface resiliently biased towards said support member deflecting surface; and release means attached to said body member for selectively moving said restraining means first surface away from said support member deflecting surface; said deflecting surface comprising a succession of contiguous, longitudinally extending portions including a first portion generally adjacent said support member first end and planarly oriented substantially parallel to said first transverse axis, a second portion having a first angular displacement from said first transverse axis towards said second transverse axis, and having a first axial displacement along said second transverse axis, and at least one further portion having a second angular displacement from said first transverse axis towards said second transverse axis, and having a second axial displacement along said second transverse axis, said second angular and axial displacments being greater than said first angular and axial displacements, respectively whereby upon the placement of a generally flattened, resilient elongate arTicle against said deflecting surface in generally parallel longitudinal alignment therewith with one end of such article restrained intermediate said restraining means first surface and said deflecting surface first portion generally adjacent said support member first end, such article is thus caused to be subjected to deforming forces tending to both selectively planarly displace one porton of such article with respect to another, and selectively angularly rotate a portion of such article about its longitudinal axis, wherein upon the selective engagement of said release means with said restraining means causing the release of said restraining means from contact with said one end of such article, such article is free to return to its undeflected state, the stored forces therein being directed against said support member deflecting surface, causing such article to be ejected therefrom.