NO TOUCH UTENSIL DISPENSER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispenser device for dispensing utensils seriatim, comprising:
- a housing configured for holding a plurality of cutlery articles, said housing comprising a rear wall and a front wall oppositely disposed thereto;
at least one alignment guide configured to maintain said plurality of cutlery articles in a stack within said housing, said plurality of cutlery articles being co-aligned in the stack to provide a plurality of handle ends proximate said front wall, and a plurality of distal ends proximate said rear wall;
a dispensing position proximate an exit area of said dispenser device, said dispensing position being configured to maintain a handle portion of a first cutlery article at least partially accessible to a user; and
an actuator mechanism configured for being activated as said user grasps said handle portion of said first cutlery article in said dispensing position and removes said first cutlery article from said dispenser device, said actuator mechanism being configured to operate mechanically when activated by said user to release a replacement cutlery article from said stack of said plurality of cutlery articles, and to deliver the replacement cutlery article to said dispensing position, said replacement cutlery article being removable by a next user upon grasping a handle portion thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for dispensing cutlery utensils individually, having a housing containing a quantity of utensils with the housing having sides and product guides within. The front wall contains an opposing leaf escapement mechanism connected to it, to hold and singulate the utensils such that they dispense seriatim, without a user being required to physically touch or interface with any part of dispenser other than the actual desired utensil.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A dispenser device for dispensing utensils seriatim, comprising:
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a housing configured for holding a plurality of cutlery articles, said housing comprising a rear wall and a front wall oppositely disposed thereto; at least one alignment guide configured to maintain said plurality of cutlery articles in a stack within said housing, said plurality of cutlery articles being co-aligned in the stack to provide a plurality of handle ends proximate said front wall, and a plurality of distal ends proximate said rear wall; a dispensing position proximate an exit area of said dispenser device, said dispensing position being configured to maintain a handle portion of a first cutlery article at least partially accessible to a user; and an actuator mechanism configured for being activated as said user grasps said handle portion of said first cutlery article in said dispensing position and removes said first cutlery article from said dispenser device, said actuator mechanism being configured to operate mechanically when activated by said user to release a replacement cutlery article from said stack of said plurality of cutlery articles, and to deliver the replacement cutlery article to said dispensing position, said replacement cutlery article being removable by a next user upon grasping a handle portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A cutlery dispenser device comprising:
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a housing configured for holding a plurality of cutlery articles, said housing comprising a rear wall and a front wall oppositely disposed thereto; at least one alignment guide configured to maintain said plurality of cutlery articles in a stack within said housing, whereby said plurality of cutlery articles are co-aligned in the stack to provide a plurality of handle ends proximate said front wall, and a plurality of distal ends proximate said rear wall; a dispensing position configured to maintain a first cutlery article proximate an exit area of said dispenser device, such that a handle portion of said first cutlery article is at least partially accessible to a user; and an actuator mechanism configured for being activated as said user grasps said handle portion of said first cutlery article in said dispensing position and removes said first cutlery article from said dispenser device, said actuator mechanism being configured to operate mechanically when activated by said user to release a replacement cutlery article from said stack of said plurality of cutlery articles, and to deliver the replacement cutlery article to said dispensing position, said replacement cutlery article being removable by a next user upon grasping a handle portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification