CUTLERY DISPENSER TRAYS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
- (a) a housing for storing one or more stacks of utensils in a first orientation;
(b) a tray located below the one or more stacks of utensils and configured to receive a piece of cutlery from the one more stacks of utensils, the tray further comprising;
a front and at least one side;
(ii) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray;
(iii) a drop area for receiving a utility end of the piece of cutlery, wherein the drop area is not in the same plane as the presentation area;
(iv) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area;
(v) an angled receiving surface for receiving the piece of cutlery, the angled receiving surface located on the at least one side of the tray, wherein a handle end of the piece of cutlery contacts the angled receiving surface and is adapted to move ahead of the utility end of the piece of cutlery; and
(vi) a ledge for preventing over-rotation of the piece of cutlery as it rotates into a second orientation after contacting the angled receiving surface, the ledge promoting correct positioning of the piece of cutlery within the presentation area of the tray; and
(c) a presentation opening that is at least partially aligned with the presentation area of the tray.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A utensil dispensing tray that cooperates with a dispenser. The tray includes at least one feature that causes the utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation for presentation as the utensil drops into the tray. The tray also includes one or more features that result in the utensil being consistently positioned in its second orientation within a dispensing area of the tray.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
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(a) a housing for storing one or more stacks of utensils in a first orientation; (b) a tray located below the one or more stacks of utensils and configured to receive a piece of cutlery from the one more stacks of utensils, the tray further comprising; a front and at least one side; (ii) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; (iii) a drop area for receiving a utility end of the piece of cutlery, wherein the drop area is not in the same plane as the presentation area; (iv) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area; (v) an angled receiving surface for receiving the piece of cutlery, the angled receiving surface located on the at least one side of the tray, wherein a handle end of the piece of cutlery contacts the angled receiving surface and is adapted to move ahead of the utility end of the piece of cutlery; and (vi) a ledge for preventing over-rotation of the piece of cutlery as it rotates into a second orientation after contacting the angled receiving surface, the ledge promoting correct positioning of the piece of cutlery within the presentation area of the tray; and (c) a presentation opening that is at least partially aligned with the presentation area of the tray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tray for use within a cutlery dispenser for receiving and presenting single utensils, the tray comprising:
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(a) a front, a back, and two sides; (b) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; (c) a drop area for receiving a utility end of one of the single utensils, the drop area positioned in a plane lower than a plane of the presentation area; (d) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area, wherein the channel receives a mid-section of the utensil; (e) an angled utensil receiving surface located on one of the two sides of the tray such that when a handle end of the utensil contacts the angled receiving surface, the handle end is adapted to move toward the presentation area ahead of the utility end of the utensil; and a ledge adapted to prevent rotation of the utensil beyond about 45 degrees after the utensil contacts the angled receiving surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A tray for use within a cutlery dispenser for receiving and presenting utensils, the tray comprising:
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(a) a front, a back, and two sides; (b) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; (c) a drop area for receiving a utility end of one of the utensils, the drop area positioned in a plane lower than a plane of the presentation area; (d) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area, wherein the channel receives a mid-section of the utensil; and (e) an angled utensil receiving surface located on one of the two sides of the tray, wherein a handle of the utensil contacts the angled utensil receiving surface and is adapted to move toward the presentation area ahead of the utility end of the utensil. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A tray for use within a cutlery dispenser for receiving and presenting forks, the tray comprising:
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(a) a front, a back, and two sides; (b) a presentation area positioned along the front of the tray; (c) a drop area for receiving a utility end of one of the forks, the drop area positioned in a plane below a plane of the presentation area; (d) a channel connecting the drop area and the presentation area, the channel for receiving a mid-section of the fork; and (e) an angled fork receiving surface located on one of the two sides of the tray, wherein a handle of the fork contacts the angled fork receiving surface and is adapted to move toward the presentation area ahead of the utility end of the fork. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification