CUTLERY DISPENSER AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20150028045A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oakes, Shawn A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,943,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/04 Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles , e.g. by means of gravity or springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/526 Containers with means for displaying items at different heights
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/42 Chains of interconnected packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/46 containing articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/00 Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents dispensing means incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured container closures B65D47/00; for shops, stores, offices, bars, or the like A47F1/04; showcases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements A47F3/02; magazines for screws or nuts in combination with spanners, wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/06; for use in connection with the handling of sheets, webs, or filamentary material B65H

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a cutlery dispenser for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The cutlery dispenser may include a case configured to expand from a compact configuration into an expanded configuration. The cutlery dispenser also may include a wrapped cutlery band disposed within the case and configured to be dispensed therefrom. The present disclosure also provides a method for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The method may include the step of providing a cutlery dispenser including a case and a wrapped cutlery band disposed within the case. The method also may include the step of expanding the case from a compact configuration into an expanded configuration. The method further may include the step of dispensing at least a portion of the wrapped cutlery band from the case.

Claims

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

a case configured to expand from a compact configuration into an expanded configuration; and

a wrapped cutlery band disposed within the case and configured to be dispensed therefrom.

2. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner, and wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch.

3. The cutlery dispenser of claim 2, wherein each cutlery packet is individually sealed by one or more seals extending along the pouch.

4. The cutlery dispenser of claim 2, wherein the cutlery packets are separably connected to one another by perforated zones extending between adjacent cutlery packets.

5. The cutlery dispenser of claim 2, wherein the cutlery packets have an elongated shape and are connected end to end.

6. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the wrapped cutlery band is disposed within the case in a serpentine manner.

7. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the wrapped cutlery band is disposed within the case in a rolled manner.

8. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the compact configuration defines a first internal volume, and wherein the expanded configuration defines a second internal volume greater than the first internal volume.

9. The cutlery dispenser of claim 8, wherein the wrapped cutlery band substantially fills the first internal volume prior to being dispensed from the case.

10. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the expanded configuration defines a headspace between the wrapped cutlery band and a wall of the case.

11. The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the headspace is configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to orient within the case for dispensing from the case.

12. The cutlery dispenser of claim 11, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets each comprising a cutlery utensil, and wherein a height of the headspace is greater than half of a length of the cutlery utensil.

13. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a lid configured to pivot to expand the case from the compact configuration into the expanded configuration.

14. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a lid configured to translate to expand the case from the compact configuration into the expanded configuration.

15. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the case comprises an opening defined in a wall of the case and configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to be dispensed therethrough.

16. The cutlery dispenser of claim 15, 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, and wherein the opening is configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed one at a time therethrough.

17. The cutlery dispenser of claim 16, wherein the wrapped cutlery band further comprises a starter strip positioned at a leading end of the wrapped cutlery band and extending through the opening, and wherein the starter strip is configured to facilitate pulling the wrapped cutlery band through the opening.

18. The cutlery dispenser of claim 15, further comprising a nozzle positioned within the opening and configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to be dispensed therethrough.

19. The cutlery dispenser of claim 18, 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, and wherein the nozzle is configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed one at a time therethrough.

20. The cutlery dispenser of claim 19, wherein the wrapped cutlery band further comprises a starter strip positioned at a leading end of the wrapped cutlery band and extending through the nozzle, and wherein the starter strip is configured to facilitate pulling the wrapped cutlery band through the nozzle.

21. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a stand adapted to be placed on a countertop, wherein the case is at least partially disposed within the stand and supported thereby.

22. The cutlery dispenser of claim 21, wherein the case comprises a lid configured to pivot to expand the case from the compact configuration into the expanded configuration, and wherein the stand is configured to orient the case such that the lid extends in a vertical manner when the case is in the expanded configuration.

23. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a vertical wall, wherein the case is at least partially disposed within the housing and supported thereby.

24. The cutlery dispenser of claim 23, wherein the case comprises a lid configured to pivot to expand the case from the compact configuration into the expanded configuration, and wherein the housing is configured to enclose the case when the case is in the expanded configuration.

25. The cutlery dispenser of claim 24, wherein the housing comprises a cover configured to pivot from an open position for inserting the case therein to a closed position for enclosing the case therein.

26. The cutlery dispenser of claim 25, wherein the lid comprises an opening defined therein and configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to be dispensed therethrough, and wherein the cover comprises an aperture defined therein and configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to be dispensed therethrough.

27. The cutlery dispenser of claim 26, further comprising a nozzle positioned within the opening and configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to be dispensed therethrough.

28. The cutlery dispenser of claim 27, 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, and wherein the nozzle is configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed one at a time therethrough.

29. A method for dispensing wrapped cutlery, the method comprising:

providing a cutlery dispenser comprising a case and a wrapped cutlery band disposed within the case;

expanding the case from a compact configuration into an expanded configuration; and

dispensing at least a portion of the wrapped cutlery band from the case.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein expanding the case from the compact configuration into the expanded configuration comprises creating a headspace between the wrapped cutlery band and a wall of the case.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the headspace is configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to orient within the case for dispensing from the case.

32. The cutlery dispenser of claim 30, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets each comprising a cutlery utensil, and wherein a height of the headspace is greater than half of a length of the cutlery utensil.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner, and wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein dispensing at least a portion of the wrapped cutlery band comprises pulling a first cutlery packet through an opening defined in the case.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein dispensing at least a portion of the wrapped cutlery band further comprises separating the first cutlery packet from a second cutlery packet.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein dispensing at least a portion of the wrapped cutlery band further comprises pulling a second cutlery packet partially through the opening.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the opening separates the first cutlery packet from the second cutlery packet.

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

a case configured to contain and allow a wrapped cutlery band to be dispensed therefrom, the wrapped cutlery band comprising a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another;

wherein the case is configured to expand from a compact configuration into an expanded configuration.

39. The cutlery dispenser of claim 38, wherein the expanded configuration defines a headspace between the wrapped cutlery band and a wall of the case.

40. The cutlery dispenser of claim 39, wherein the headspace is configured to allow the wrapped cutlery band to orient within the case for dispensing from the case.