Cutlery dispenser
First Claim
1. A flatware dispensing unit for dispensing flatware comprisinga housing having at least one compartment for receiving the flatware, said compartment having an elongated slot for exposing at least a portion of said flatware;
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said cartridge having a complimentary elongated slot substantially aligned with said elongated slot in said compartment when said cartridge is positioned in said compartment;
wherein a handle portion of the flatware extends from said elongated slot in said cartridge and said elongated slot in said compartment such that respective flatware can be sequentially removed from said cartridge retained in said compartment.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flatware dispensing unit for dispensing flatware is disclosed including a primary housing having at least one compartment for receiving flatware therein with the compartment having an elongated slot for exposing at least a portion of the flatware. In a first embodiment, a cartridge having a complimentary elongated slot substantially aligned with the elongated slot in the compartment when the cartridge is positioned within the compartment. The flatware cartridge includes a widened portion which when inserted into the compartment aligns with a widened portion of the elongated slot of the compartment. In doing so, the cartridge may be easily dropped into the compartment such that the flatware need not be individually handled by the person stocking the dispenser unit and limits the number of utensils which can be removed from the dispenser at one time. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flatware dispensing unit for dispensing flatware includes at least one flatware cartridge containing a plurality of flatware pieces temporarily receivable in the compartment. The cartridge itself includes a plurality of flatware oriented in the same manner forming a bulk oriented stack of flatware and a flexible enclosure enclosing the bulk oriented stack of flatware and maintaining an orientation of the bulk oriented stack of flatware with the bulk oriented stack of flatware in the flexible enclosure being positioned in the flatware dispenser, with the flexible enclosure being removable from the bulk oriented stack of flatware. A tearaway portion is preferably included to aid in removal of the flexible enclosure.
68 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A flatware dispensing unit for dispensing flatware comprising
a housing having at least one compartment for receiving the flatware, said compartment having an elongated slot for exposing at least a portion of said flatware; - and
at least one flatware cartridge receivable in said compartment;
said cartridge having a complimentary elongated slot substantially aligned with said elongated slot in said compartment when said cartridge is positioned in said compartment;wherein a handle portion of the flatware extends from said elongated slot in said cartridge and said elongated slot in said compartment such that respective flatware can be sequentially removed from said cartridge retained in said compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A flatware dispensing unit for dispensing flatware comprising;
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a primary housing having a substantially planar base, at least one compartment for accommodating flatware and a secondary housing for receiving elongated flatware, said at least one compartment having an elongated slot extending substantially perpendicular to said base for exposing at least a portion of said flatware; and at least one flatware cartridge receivable in said compartment, said cartridge having a complimentary elongated slot and retaining means for retaining the flatware within said cartridge; wherein a portion of said retaining means is removed from said cartridge before positioning said cartridge in said compartment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A paperboard container for containing a plurality of disposable flatware comprising;
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a top wall and a bottom wall; a plurality of sidewalls extending between said top wall and said bottom wall; a front wall adjacent said sidewalls and extending between said top wall and said bottom wall;
said front wall including an elongated opening for exposing a handle portion of the flatware; anda retaining means for retaining the flatware within the container, said retaining means including at least a portion of said front wall and a retaining tab extending from said top wall adjacent said elongated opening, wherein said retaining means contacts an expanded portion of the flatware to retain the flatware in the container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A flatware dispensing unit for dispensing flatware comprising;
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a housing having at least one compartment for receiving the flatware, said compartment having an elongated slot for exposing at least a portion of said flatware; and at least one flatware cartridge containing a plurality of flatware pieces temporarily receivable in said compartment; wherein said cartridge is removable from said compartment while the flatware is radiant in said compartment such that the flatware can be sequentially removed from said compartment. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A cartridge for positioning a plurality of disposable flatware in a flatware dispenser comprising;
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a plurality of flatware oriented in the same manner forming a bulk oriented stack of flatware; and a flexible enclosure enclosing said bulk oriented stack of flatware and maintaining an orientation of said bulk oriented stack of flatware; wherein said bulk oriented stack of flatware in said flexible enclosure is positioned in the flatware dispenser, with said flexible enclosure being removable from said bulk oriented stack of flatware. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of stocking a flatware dispenser comprising the steps of:
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providing a flatware dispensing unit for dispensing flatware, said dispensing unit including a housing having at least one compartment for receiving the flatware, said compartment having an elongated slot for exposing at least a portion of said flatware; providing a plurality of flatware oriented in the same manner forming a bulk oriented stack of flatware, said bulk oriented stack of flatware being enclosed in a flexible enclosure for maintaining an orientation of said bulk oriented stack of flatware; positioning said enclosed bulk oriented stack of flatware in said compartment having said portion of said flatware enclosed in said flexible enclosure extending from said compartment; and removing said flexible enclosure from said compartment leaving said bulk oriented stack of flatware retained in said compartment such that the flatware can be sequentially removed from said compartment. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification