DISPENSER FOR DISPOSABLE CUTLERY AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR

• US 20070193968A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Patrick, Sorensen, Thomas, Kilgore, Michael, Honan, David, Kirkpatrick, Andy, Jadin, Timothy, Lore, Vito
• Granted Patent: US 8,210,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/70.7
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/10 having mechanical dispensing means , e.g. with buttons or handles
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2001/103 for cutlery

Abstract

The present invention relates to dispensers for disposable cutlery. The invention also relates to pluralities 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.

Claims

1. ) A configuration of disposable cutlery comprising:

a) a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces suitable for loading in a disposable cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is not constrained by a cartridge when loaded into the cutlery dispenser, and wherein the plurality is in a substantially unfanned orientation after loading of the plurality into a cutlery dispenser.

2. ) The configuration of claim 1, wherein the plurality consists essentially of one cutlery type.

3. ) The configuration of claim 1, wherein the plurality is constrained by a band prior to loading into the cutlery dispenser.

4. ) The configuration of claim 3, wherein the band comprises paperboard and a flexible polymeric material.

5. ) The configuration of claim 1, wherein the plurality comprises from about 10 to about 200 pieces.

6. ) The configuration of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises a food contact portion and a handle having an upper side and a lower side, and wherein the lower side of the piece comprises a raised portion at an end portion.

7. ) The configuration of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises a food contact portion and a handle having an upper side and a lower side, and wherein the upper side of the piece is substantially smooth, thereby providing a plurality that exhibits reduced interlocking when loaded in the cutlery dispenser.

8. ) The configuration of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises a food contact portion and a handle having an upper side and a lower side, and wherein the upper side of the piece is substantially smooth, thereby providing a plurality that exhibits reduced interlocking when loaded in the cutlery dispenser.

9. ) A disposable cutlery piece comprising:

a) a food contact portion;

b) a handle having an upper side and a lower side and a handle end portion, wherein the lower side of the handle end portion comprises a protuberance suitable to provide a plurality of at least 10 cutlery pieces in a substantially unfanned orientation, and where the handle upper side is substantially smooth.

10. ) A dispenser for disposable cutlery comprising;

a) an actuator for engagement by a user;

b) a storage chute configured to hold a plurality of disposable cutlery therein, wherein the plurality is not constrained by a cartridge when loaded into the cutlery dispenser, and wherein the plurality is arranged in a substantially unfanned orientation after loading in the cutlery dispenser; and

c) a cutlery dispensing apparatus, wherein the apparatus is in engaged with the actuator, and wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured to reliably release a single cutlery piece from the plurality upon engagement of the actuator by a user; and

d) an opening suitable for presenting the cutlery piece to the user.

11. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises a handle or a knob.

12. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the dispensing apparatus comprises at least one cam mounted on a rotatable shaft, wherein the at least one cam comprises at least one cutlery positioning area suitable for positioning at least one cutlery piece for release to the user.

13. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the dispensing apparatus comprises at least two cams mounted on a rotatable shaft, wherein the at least two cams each, independently, comprise cutlery positioning areas suitable for positioning at least one cutlery piece for release to the user.

14. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the dispenser further comprises a cutlery collection area, and wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured to release the cutlery piece into the collection area upon engagement of the actuator by the user.

15. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured to release a handle portion in advance of a food contact portion of the cutlery piece, thereby allowing a user to obtain the cutlery piece without the cutlery piece coming in contact with a cutlery collection area.

16. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the at least two cams comprise rocking cams having a lateral displacement surface and a clearance surface.

17. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein at least one of the rocking cams is in an offset position from an adjacent cam.

18. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the at least two cams comprise rotatable cams, wherein each rotatable cam, independently, comprises from about 5 to about 15 depressions around a circumference of each cam, and wherein the depressions are configured to work cooperatively so as to hold the first cutlery piece in a storage position.

19. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the storage chute is defined by guide rails positioned in the cutlery dispenser.

20. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, comprising a flexible retention rail that is movably engaged upon application of a forward force to the rail, thereby allowing at least one cutlery piece to be released to the user.

21. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the storage chute is configured to store from at least about 20 to about 1000 pieces of cutlery.

22. ) The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a stand upon which the cutlery dispenser is mounted, wherein the cutlery dispenser is rotatable on the stand.

23. ) A system for dispensing disposable cutlery comprising:

a) a cutlery dispenser comprising;

i) an actuator for engagement by a user;

ii) a storage chute configured to hold a plurality of disposable cutlery therein, wherein the plurality is not constrained by a cartridge when loaded into the cutlery dispenser, and wherein the plurality is arranged in a substantially unfanned orientation when loaded in the cutlery dispenser; and

iii) a cutlery dispensing apparatus, wherein the apparatus is engaged with the actuator, and wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured to reliably release at least one cutlery piece from the plurality; and

iv) an opening suitable for presenting the cutlery piece to the user upon engagement of the actuator; and

b) a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces situated in a substantially unfanned orientation in the cutlery dispenser upon loading of the plurality in the dispenser.