Label dispenser

Claim 1

A label dispenser adapted to be held in one hand comprising a thin rectangular body having a central panel characterized by flat top and bottom surfaces and a pair of upstanding sides forming a central recessed channel, said channel being open at both ends and of a width to receive and guide a ribbon-like label bearing web as it is moved lengthwise of said channel; between said sides the upper surface of said panel forming the bottom of said channel being smooth and flat whereby a web may slide over it with minimal friction; a slot adjacent one end of said channel extending from one side of the channel to the other; a bar extending between said sides defining the outer wall of said slot and having its upper surface co-planar with the bottom of said channel; a pair of ears, one projecting inwardly from each of said sides into said channel adjacent said slot and spaced from the plane of the upper surface of said panel a distance sufficient to permit a label transport web and the labels thereon to pass between them and said panel surface without interference, said ears collectively extending a minor portion of the width of the channel whereby a passage is provided between them of a width to permit an operator's thumb to pass the entire length of the body without obstruction, the wall of said slot intersecting the surface of the bottom of said channel at a major angle whereby said web is caused to make an abrupt change in direction and the labels on the web caused to separate from the web as the web initiates its directional change on passing into the slot and to be deposited on the top surface of said bar and extend outwardly generally parallel with the surface of said channel; the bottom surface of said panel having the same surface characteristics as the upper surface thereof forming the bottom of said channel; the width of said body being such that it can be seated in the palm of the operator's hand with the operator's thumb in a position to engage the web before it reaches the slot and the end of an operator's index finger can engage the central portion of the web and press and manipulate it against the panel's bottom surface whereby by simultaneous manipulation of the operator's thumb and index finger the web can be caused to move lengthwise of the dispenser to discharge its labels at said other end of the channel.