Cutlery dispenser
First Claim
1. A utensil dispenser for selectively dispensing a lowermost utensil from a stack of utensils loaded within the utensil dispenser wherein each utensil has a working end and a handle portion, the utensil dispenser comprising:
- a first dispensing chamber;
a utensil channel in the first dispensing chamber adapted to receive and retain the stack of utensils wherein the utensil channel has a dispensing portion;
a dispensing mechanism selectively operable relative to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to dispense the lowermost utensil from the stack of utensils, the dispensing mechanism comprising;
a movable support structure with a first condition wherein the movable support structure is disposed in a support position with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to support the lowermost utensil and a second condition wherein the movable support structure is moved out of the support position with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel so that the movable support structure does not provide support to the lowermost utensil;
an actuated support structure with a first position wherein the actuated support structure is not disposed to support the stack of utensils to a second position wherein the actuated support structure is interposed between the lowermost utensil and a second lowermost utensil above the lowermost utensil to provide support to the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil by direct support of the second lowermost utensil; and
an actuator selectively adjustable to an actuated condition wherein the actuator is operative to induce the movable support structure from the first condition to the second condition and the actuated support structure from the first position to the second position whereby, when the actuator is in the actuated condition, the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil is supported by the actuated support structure while the lowermost utensil is supported by neither the movable support structure nor the actuated support structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A utensil dispenser that selectively dispenses a lowermost utensil from a stack of utensils. A main housing retains plural dispensing chambers. A selectively operable dispensing mechanism has a movable support structure, an actuated support structure, and an actuation structure retained by a manual actuator. First and second arms form the movable support structure with distal portions that are in proximity to support the lowermost utensil when in a first condition and that are separated when in a second condition. A shelf member retained by the actuator forms the actuated support structure to be selectively interposed between the lowermost and second lowermost utensil. An actuation structure, such as opposed ramp surfaces, is retained by the actuator to separate the first and second arms on actuation of the actuator. When the actuator is actuated, the stack of utensils, except for the lowermost utensil, is supported so that the lowermost utensil is dispensed.
41 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A utensil dispenser for selectively dispensing a lowermost utensil from a stack of utensils loaded within the utensil dispenser wherein each utensil has a working end and a handle portion, the utensil dispenser comprising:
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a first dispensing chamber; a utensil channel in the first dispensing chamber adapted to receive and retain the stack of utensils wherein the utensil channel has a dispensing portion; a dispensing mechanism selectively operable relative to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to dispense the lowermost utensil from the stack of utensils, the dispensing mechanism comprising; a movable support structure with a first condition wherein the movable support structure is disposed in a support position with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to support the lowermost utensil and a second condition wherein the movable support structure is moved out of the support position with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel so that the movable support structure does not provide support to the lowermost utensil; an actuated support structure with a first position wherein the actuated support structure is not disposed to support the stack of utensils to a second position wherein the actuated support structure is interposed between the lowermost utensil and a second lowermost utensil above the lowermost utensil to provide support to the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil by direct support of the second lowermost utensil; and an actuator selectively adjustable to an actuated condition wherein the actuator is operative to induce the movable support structure from the first condition to the second condition and the actuated support structure from the first position to the second position whereby, when the actuator is in the actuated condition, the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil is supported by the actuated support structure while the lowermost utensil is supported by neither the movable support structure nor the actuated support structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A utensil dispenser for selectively dispensing a lowermost utensil from a stack of utensils loaded within the utensil dispenser wherein each utensil has a working end with a distal tip and a handle portion with a proximal end, the utensil dispenser comprising:
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a first dispensing chamber; a utensil channel in the first dispensing chamber adapted to receive and retain the stack of utensils wherein the utensil channel has a dispensing portion, wherein the utensil channel has a shape corresponding to a peripheral shape of the working end of the utensil, wherein the utensil channel has a longitudinal slot contiguous with the shape corresponding to the peripheral shape of the working end of the utensil, the longitudinal slot for receiving the handle portions of the utensils of the stack of utensils; a dispensing mechanism selectively operable relative to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to dispense the lowermost utensil from the stack of utensils, the dispensing mechanism comprising; a movable support structure comprising at least one movable member with a first condition wherein the at least one movable member is disposed in a support position with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to support the lowermost utensil and a second condition wherein the at least one movable member is moved out of the support position with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel so that the at least one movable member does not provide support to the lowermost utensil; an actuated support structure with a first position wherein the actuated support structure is not disposed to support the stack of utensils to a second position wherein the actuated support structure is interposed between the lowermost utensil and a second lowermost utensil above the lowermost utensil to provide support to the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil by direct support of the second lowermost utensil; a manual actuator selectively repositionable from a first position wherein the manual actuator is not actuated to a second, actuated position wherein the manual actuator is actuated wherein the manual actuator is operative to induce the movable support structure from the first condition to the second condition and the actuated support structure from the first position to the second position whereby, when the manual actuator is in the actuated condition, the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil is supported by the actuated support structure while the lowermost utensil is supported by neither the movable support structure nor the actuated support structure; an actuation structure retained by the manual actuator to move into engagement with the movable support structure when the manual actuator is repositioned from the first condition to the second condition wherein the actuation structure is operable to induce the movable support structure from the first condition to the second condition when the actuator is repositioned from the first condition to the second condition; wherein the actuated support structure is retained by the manual actuator to move from the first position into the second position when the manual actuator is repositioned from the first condition to the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A utensil dispenser for selectively dispensing a lowermost utensil from a stack of utensils loaded within the utensil dispenser wherein each utensil has a working end with a distal tip and a handle portion with a proximal end, the utensil dispenser comprising:
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plural dispensing chambers; a main housing for retaining the plural dispensing chambers; each dispensing chamber comprising; a utensil channel in the dispensing chamber adapted to receive and retain the stack of utensils wherein the utensil channel has a dispensing portion, wherein the utensil channel has a shape corresponding to a peripheral shape of the working end of the utensil, wherein the utensil channel has a longitudinal slot contiguous with the shape corresponding to the peripheral shape of the working end of the utensil, the longitudinal slot for receiving the handle portions of the utensils of the stack of utensils; a dispensing mechanism selectively operable relative to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to dispense the lowermost utensil from the stack of utensils, the dispensing mechanism comprising; a movable support structure comprising first and second movable members disposed in opposition wherein each movable member has a distal portion, wherein the distal portions of the movable members are disposed in proximity when the movable support structure is in a first condition with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel to support the lowermost utensil, and wherein the distal portions of the movable members are moved away from one another when the movable support structure is in a second condition with respect to the dispensing portion of the utensil channel so that the first and second movable members do not provide support to the lowermost utensil; a manual actuator selectively repositionable from a first position wherein the manual actuator is not actuated to a second, actuated position wherein the manual actuator is actuated; an actuated support structure retained by the manual actuator to move from a first position wherein the actuated support structure is not disposed to support the stack of utensils to a second position wherein the actuated support structure is interposed between the lowermost utensil and a second lowermost utensil above the lowermost utensil to provide support to the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil by direct support of the second lowermost utensil; and an actuation structure retained by the manual actuator to move into engagement with the first and second movable members of the movable support structure when the manual actuator is repositioned from the first condition to the second condition wherein the actuation structure is operable to induce the first and second members of the movable support structure from the first condition to the second condition when the manual actuator is repositioned from the first condition to the second condition; whereby, when the manual actuator is in the actuated position, the stack of utensils above the lowermost utensil is supported by the actuated support structure while the lowermost utensil is supported by neither the movable support structure nor the actuated support structure. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification