SANITARY SIPPING-STRAW DISPENSER

• US 3,613,948 A
• Filed: 10/20/1969
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leonard Atlee Wills
• Original Assignee: Leonard Atlee Wills
• Inventors: Wills, Leonard Atlee
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, Edwin D.
• Application Number:
  US04/867,734
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 221/247,250,254,267 206/63.5 222/544 220/24R 229/7S
• US Class Current: 221/250
• 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: A47G 21/184 Dispensers therefor

Abstract

A sanitary straw dispenser, of the type having vertically reciprocable straw-dispensing means and wherein straws are supported standing on end within a receptacle, is provided with a combination straw retention and straw discharge opening closure member. The straw retention closure member rests on the receptacle at the straw discharge opening and is adapted to provide a cover for the opening, and has a stem portion extending downwardly through the discharge opening into the interior of the receptacle with a widened portion at its end which serves to prevent detachment of the member from the receptacle top wall and adds weight at this location for proper operation. The member is adapted so that a straw being elevated into the discharge opening by the straw-dispensing means, displaces the member from its cover position sufficiently to permit passage of the straw; but at the same time the member is pressing the straw against the edge of the discharge opening (gravitationally resisting displacement), so that after the ejector is lowered, the straw is retained at its elevated position by friction for withdrawal by a user. Upon withdrawal of the straw, the member returns to its closed position over the opening by operation of gravity.

Claims

1. A straw dispenser comprising a receptacle having a top, bottom and side walls, the top wall having a straw-discharge opening, said receptacle being adapted to support straws standing on end therein, means for dispensing a straw into the said strawdischarge opening, a discharge opening closure supported on the receptacle at the discharge opening, said discharge opening closure having a first portion adapted to provide a cover for the discharge opening and movable to an open position by a straw being dispensed into the opening, said discharge opening closure having a second portion which extends through the straw discharge opening into the interior of the receptacle and is a shank portion that adds weight and moment for returning the closure to its closed position by operation of gravity upon withdrawal of a straw from the said discharge opening.

2. A straw dispenser as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that a widened portion of the said discharge opening closure second portion is greater in width than a portion of the closure is on the outside of the discharge opening and will not pass through the discharge opening and another portion of the closure is on the inside of the discharge opening and will not pass through the discharge opening.

3. A straw dispenser as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that the said discharge opening closure is not attached to the receptacle other than that a portion of the closure is on the outside of the discharge opening and will not pass through the discharge opening and another portion of the closure is on the inside of the discharge opening and will not pass through the discharge opening.

4. A straw dispenser comprising a receptacle having a top, bottom and sidewalls, the top wall having a straw discharge opening, said receptacle being adapted to support straws standing on end therein, means for dispensing a straw into the said straw discharge opening, closure means supported on the receptacle at the discharge opening and adapted to provide a cover for the discharge opening and movable to an open position by a straw being dispensed into the discharge opening and returnable to a closed position upon withdrawal of the straw from the discharge opening, and a portion of the said closure means extends downwardly through the discharge opening and is widened below the opening which prevents separation of the closure means from the receptacle top wall.