Lift and drop ratchet stick dispenser

Claim 1

A dispenser, comprising: (a) a main hollow housing having an inside and an outside and having sidewalls, a base and a top, said base being open to receive an activator component and said top being at least partially open for dispensing material therethrough; (b) at least two sets of vertically aligned, horizontal housing ratchets located on the inside of said housing sidewalls, said ratchets being tapered downwardly so as to permit upward movement and restrict downward movement; (c) a push plate located within said housing and adapted so as to only be movable upwardly past said housing ratchets; (d) an activator component inserted into the bottom of said housing, said activator component being vertically and reciprocally movable within said housing, and having at least two sets of vertically aligned horizontal ratchets extending upwardly and aligned against the inside of said housing sidewalls, said ratchets being tapered downwardly so as to permit upward movement of said push plate, said activator component having a flexible spring portion biasing said activator component downwardly, whereby said activator component is reciprocally movable between a first, lower position and a second, higher position such that when said activator component is moved from a first, lower position to a second, higher position, its ratchets move said push plate upwardly at least one ratchet length, and when said activator component is moved from said second position back to said first position, it is reset to advance said push plate upwardly upon a next reciprocation.