Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. ) A banded configuration of disposable cutlery for use in a cutlery dispenser comprising:
- a) at least 20 pieces of disposable cutlery arranged in substantial vertical alignment;
b) at least one flexible band surrounding the pieces thereby providing a bound stack of disposable cutlery, wherein the flexible band is removable from the bound stack while the cutlery stack is positioned in a cutlery dispenser without substantial disruption of the vertical alignment of the stack, thereby providing a stack of cutlery suitable for use in a cutlery dispenser.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to dispensers for disposable cutlery. The invention also relates to banded packets of disposable cutlery that can be used in the cutlery dispenser of the present invention, as well as other cutlery dispensers that do not use a cartridge therein. The present invention also relates to disposable cutlery that has been adapted to make it better suited to stacking, such as for use in cutlery dispensers that do not include a cartridge.
127 Citations
22 Claims
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1. ) A banded configuration of disposable cutlery for use in a cutlery dispenser comprising:
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a) at least 20 pieces of disposable cutlery arranged in substantial vertical alignment;
b) at least one flexible band surrounding the pieces thereby providing a bound stack of disposable cutlery, wherein the flexible band is removable from the bound stack while the cutlery stack is positioned in a cutlery dispenser without substantial disruption of the vertical alignment of the stack, thereby providing a stack of cutlery suitable for use in a cutlery dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. ) A dispenser for disposable cutlery comprising;
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a) a housing;
b) a storage chute configured to hold a banded disposable cutlery stack therein;
c) a cutlery dispensing area, wherein the dispensing area comprises at least two cams mounted on an rotatable shaft, wherein the at least two cams each, independently, comprise one or more cutlery positioning areas, and wherein the positioning areas are configured to accept and release a first cutlery piece positioned at a bottom of the cutlery stack when the cutlery stack is positioned for dispensing in the chute;
d) an actuating handle engaged with the rotatable shaft; and
e) an opening suitable for dispensing the first cutlery piece, wherein the at least two cams are configured to work cooperatively so as to move the first cutlery piece from a storage position into the opening upon application of an actuating force to the handle by a user, thereby allowing the first cutlery piece to be dispensed from the cutlery dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. ) A method of dispensing individual pieces of disposable cutlery comprising:
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a) providing a cutlery dispenser comprising;
i) a housing;
ii) a storage chute configured to hold a banded disposable cutlery stack therein;
iii) a cutlery dispensing area, wherein the dispensing area comprises at least two cams mounted on an rotatable shaft, wherein the at least two cams each, independently, comprise one or more cutlery positioning areas, and wherein the positioning areas are configured to accept and release a first cutlery piece for dispensing;
iv) an actuating handle engaged with the rotatable shaft; and
v) an opening suitable for dispensing the first cutlery piece positioned at a bottom of the cutlery stack when the cutlery stack is positioned for dispensing in the storage chute, wherein the at least two cams are configured to work cooperatively so as to move the first cutlery piece from a storage position into the opening upon application of an actuating force to the handle, and b) applying a force sufficient to actuate the handle, thereby dispensing the first cutlery piece through the opening.
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Specification