Cutlery dispenser and related methods

• US 10,220,997 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Oakes, Shawn A., Case, Abby C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US14/336,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 221 1, 221 26, 221 32
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/06 for restaurant service systems table equipment A47G ; dirty crockery transport in association with crockery washing machines A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/42 Chains of interconnected packages

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a cutlery dispenser for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The cutlery dispenser may include a wrapped cutlery band comprising a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner. The cutlery dispenser also may include a nozzle assembly configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed therethrough. The present disclosure also provides a method for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The method may include the step of providing a cutlery dispenser comprising a nozzle assembly and a wrapped cutlery band, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner. The method also may include the step of dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly.

Claims

1. A cutlery dispenser for dispensing wrapped cutlery, the dispenser comprising:

a wrapped cutlery band comprising a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner, wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, wherein the cutlery utensil comprises a head and a handle, and wherein a maximum width of the head is greater than a maximum width of the handle; and

a nozzle assembly configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed therethrough, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a flexible or expandable nozzle defining an orifice extending therethrough, wherein the nozzle is configured such that a pulling force required to pull the head through the orifice is greater than a tensile force required to separate adjacent cutlery packets and such that a pulling force required to pull the handle through the orifice is less than the tensile force required to separate adjacent cutlery packets, wherein the orifice has a natural state dimension extending across the orifice and between opposing sides of the orifice when the nozzle is in a natural state, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is less than the maximum width of the head.

2. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the maximum width of the head is located along an intermediate portion of the head spaced apart from opposite ends of the head, and wherein the maximum width of the handle is located along an intermediate portion of the handle spaced apart from opposite ends of the handle.

3. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein each cutlery packet is individually sealed by one or more seals extending along the pouch.

4. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cutlery packets are separably connected to one another by zones of weakness extending between adjacent cutlery packets.

5. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cutlery packets have an elongated shape and are connected end to end.

6. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed one at a time through the orifice.

7. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is formed of an elastomeric material configured to expand to allow the cutlery packets to be pulled through the orifice.

8. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the orifice has a circular shape such that the natural state dimension of the orifice is a natural state diameter of the orifice.

9. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is less than the maximum width of the handle.

10. The cutlery dispenser of claim 9, wherein the cutlery utensil further comprises a neck positioned between the head and the handle, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is greater than a maximum width of the neck.

11. The cutlery dispenser of claim 9, wherein the cutlery utensil further comprises a neck positioned between the head and the handle, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is less than a maximum width of the neck.

12. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cutlery packets are separably connected to one another by zones of weakness extending between adjacent cutlery packets, and wherein each zone of weakness is configured such that a tensile force required to break the zone of weakness is less than the pulling force required to pull the head through the orifice.

13. The cutlery dispenser of claim 12, wherein each zone of weakness comprises a plurality of perforations.

14. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a nozzle housing, and wherein the nozzle is supported by the nozzle housing.

15. The cutlery dispenser of claim 14, wherein the nozzle housing comprises a mounting portion and a support portion, wherein the mounting portion is adapted to be mounted on a wall, and wherein the support portion supports the nozzle.

16. The cutlery dispenser of claim 14, wherein the nozzle housing comprises an opening defined therethrough, and wherein the nozzle is disposed at least partially within the opening.

17. The cutlery dispenser of claim 14, wherein the nozzle housing comprises a utensil indicator configured to indicate a type of cutlery utensil to be dispensed from the nozzle assembly.

18. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a cabinet, wherein the nozzle assembly is mounted on the cabinet.

19. The cutlery dispenser of claim 18, further comprising a case, wherein the case is disposed within a storage space of the cabinet, and wherein a portion of the wrapped cutlery band is disposed within the case.

20. A method for dispensing wrapped cutlery from the cutlery dispenser of claim 1, the method comprising:

providing the cutlery dispenser; and

dispensing a portion of the wrapped cutlery band through the nozzle assembly.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the nozzle is configured such that a pulling force required to pull the handle through the orifice is less than the tensile force required to separate adjacent cutlery packets.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein dispensing a portion of the wrapped cutlery band through the nozzle assembly comprises dispensing two of the cutlery packets one at a time through the orifice.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein dispensing a portion of the wrapped cutlery band through the nozzle assembly comprises pulling a first cutlery packet through the orifice.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein dispensing a portion of the wrapped cutlery band through the nozzle assembly comprises expanding the orifice.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the orifice has a circular shape such that the natural state dimension of the orifice is a natural state diameter of the orifice.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the cutlery utensil further comprises a neck positioned between the head and the handle, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is greater than a maximum width of the neck.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is less than the maximum width of the handle.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein dispensing a portion of the wrapped cutlery band through the nozzle assembly comprises pulling a first cutlery packet through the orifice and pulling a second cutlery packet partially through the orifice.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the orifice comprises pulling the second cutlery packet by pulling the first cutlery packet.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the orifice separates the first cutlery packet from the second cutlery packet.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the first cutlery packet and the second cutlery packet are separably connected to one another by a zone of weakness.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the zone of weakness comprises a plurality of perforations.

33. A cutlery dispenser for dispensing wrapped cutlery, the dispenser comprising:

a case configured to move from a closed configuration into an open configuration, wherein the case comprises a base, a lid configured to move with respect to the base to move the case from the closed configuration into the open configuration, and an opening defined in a dispensing face of the case;

a flexible or expandable nozzle attached to the case and disposed about or within the opening, wherein the nozzle defines an orifice extending through the nozzle, and wherein the orifice is smaller than the opening; and

a wrapped cutlery band disposed within the case and configured to be dispensed therefrom through the opening and the orifice when the case is in the closed configuration, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner, wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, wherein the cutlery utensil comprises a head and a handle, wherein a maximum width of the head is greater than a maximum width of the handle, wherein the orifice has a natural state dimension extending across the orifice and between opposing sides of the orifice when the nozzle is in a natural state, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is less than the maximum width of the head and less than the maximum width of the handle.

34. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein the cutlery utensil further comprises a neck positioned between the head and the handle, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is greater than a maximum width of the neck.

35. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein the nozzle is formed of an elastomeric material configured to expand to allow the cutlery packets to be pulled through the orifice.

36. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch.

37. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein the nozzle is configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed one at a time through the orifice.

38. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein the nozzle comprises a first nozzle portion and a second nozzle portion separate from the first nozzle portion, and wherein the first nozzle portion and the second nozzle portion each define a portion of the orifice.

39. The cutlery dispenser of claim 38, wherein the first nozzle portion and the second nozzle portion are configured to separate to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed therebetween.

40. The cutlery dispenser of claim 38, wherein the first nozzle portion is supported by the lid and configured to move therewith when the case is moved from the closed configuration into the open configuration, and wherein the second nozzle portion is supported by the base and configured to remain stationary therewith when the case is moved from the closed configuration into the open configuration.

41. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein the nozzle is configured such that a pulling force required to pull one of the cutlery packets through the orifice is greater than a tensile force required to separate adjacent cutlery packets.

42. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein the nozzle has a unitary construction.

43. The cutlery dispenser of claim 42, wherein the nozzle is supported by the lid and configured to move therewith when the case is moved from the closed configuration into the open configuration.

44. The cutlery dispenser of claim 42, wherein the nozzle is supported by the base and configured to remain stationary therewith when the case is moved from the closed configuration into the open configuration.

45. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein a majority of the cutlery packets are disposed in a stack within a lower portion of the case, and wherein the dispenser defines a headspace between a top of the stack and the nozzle.

46. The cutlery dispenser of claim 45, wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, and wherein a height of the headspace is greater than half of a length of the cutlery utensil.

47. The cutlery dispenser of claim 45, wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, and wherein a height of the headspace is approximately equal to a length of the cutlery utensil.

48. The cutlery dispenser of claim 33, wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, wherein the cutlery utensil comprises a head and a handle, and wherein the nozzle is configured such that a pulling force required to pull the head through the orifice is greater than a tensile force required to separate adjacent cutlery packets.

49. The cutlery dispenser of claim 48, wherein the nozzle is configured such that a pulling force required to pull the handle through the orifice is less than the tensile force required to separate adjacent cutlery packets.