Patent attributes
The present invention defines a system (100) for one-at-a-time paper clip dispensing. The system includes a housing (102), and a retrieval receptacle (114) disposed somewhere along the exterior of the housing. A storage component (104) is disposed along or within the housing, and is adapted to receive loose paper clips. A gate component (106) is operably coupled to the storage component, and a sorting component is incorporated within the storage or gate component(s). An actuating system (110) is disposed somewhere within or along the housing. A retrieval system (112) is disposed between the receptacle and the storage component. The retrieval system is adapted to retrieve a single paper clip from the gate component, and deliver the paper clip to the receptacle, responsive to activation of the actuating system.