Candy dispenser

• US 6,206,235 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel Green
• Original Assignee: Daniel Green
• Inventors: Green, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Application Number:
  US09/348,786
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 221/168, 221/190, 221/204, 221/205, 221/227, 221/228, 221/235, 221/251, 221/252, 221/257, 221/263, 221/276, 221/288, 221/293
• US Class Current: 221/251
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence

Abstract

A candy dispenser includes a container defining a chamber adapted to hold a plurality of pieces of candy in a random fashion. The container has sides, a top, and a bottom which define the chamber. A dispensing tube extends along one side of the container. An opening in the container places the chamber in communication with the dispensing tube. The opening is sized to admit a piece of candy from the chamber to the dispensing tube. A leaf spring is mounted to the bottom of the container. The spring has a spring arm which closes the bottom of the dispensing tube and an upwardly extending finger on the spring arm which is received in the dispensing tube. A plunger associated with the dispenser moves the leaf spring from a relaxed state in which the spring finger is in the dispensing tube and closes the opening to a primed state in which the spring arm is urged away from the dispensing tube a distance sufficient for the spring finger to clear the opening to allow a piece of candy to enter the dispensing tube. Upon release of the spring, the candy is urged up and out of the dispensing tube.

Claims

1. A candy dispenser comprising:

a container defining a chamber adapted to hold a plurality of pieces of candy in a random fashion;

the container having sides, a top, and a bottom which define the chamber;

a hollow dispensing tube extending along one side of the container, the dispensing tube being open at a top thereof and having an opening in a bottom thereof;

an opening between the container and the dispensing tube to place the container chamber in communication with the dispensing tube;

the opening being sized to admit a piece of candy from the chamber to the dispensing tube; and

a leaf spring on the bottom of the container;

the spring having a spring arm which closes the opening in the bottom of the dispensing tube and an upwardly extending finger on the spring arm which extends through the dispensing tube bottom opening to be received in the dispensing tube;

the leaf spring being movable from a relaxed state in which the spring finger is in the dispensing tube and closes the opening between the chamber and the dispensing tube to a primed state in which the spring arm is urged away from the dispensing tube a distance sufficient for the spring finger to clear the opening to allow a piece of candy to enter the dispensing tube;

whereby, upon release of the spring, the spring finger contacts the candy and imparts sufficient force to the candy to urge the candy up and out of the dispensing tube.

2. The candy dispenser of claim 1 wherein the spring includes a mounting portion which is adhered to the bottom of the container, a transition portion extending from the mounting portion, the spring arm extending from the transition portion.

3. The candy dispenser of claim 1 wherein the opening between the chamber and the dispensing tube is sized to admit a single piece of candy into the dispensing tube.

4. The candy dispenser of claim 1 including a plunger;

the plunger being operable to move the spring from its relaxed state to its primed state.

5. The candy dispenser of claim 4, wherein the plunger slides in a channel formed in an inner surface of the container wall.

6. The candy dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the container bottom is sloped towards the container opening.

7. The candy dispenser of claim 6 wherein the container opening is near the bottom of the container.

8. A candy dispenser comprising:

a container defining a chamber adapted to hold a plurality of pieces of candy;

the container having sides, a top, and a bottom which define the chamber;

a dispensing tube extending along one side of the container, the dispensing tube being open at a top and a bottom thereof;

an opening in a side of the container to place the chamber in communication with the dispensing tube;

the opening being sized to admit a piece of candy from the chamber to the dispensing tube;

a leaf spring on the bottom of the container;

the spring having a spring arm which closes the bottom of the dispensing tube and an upwardly extending finger on the spring arm which is received in the dispensing tube;

the leaf spring being movable from a relaxed state in which the spring finger is in the dispensing tube and closes the opening between the chamber and the dispensing tube to a primed state in which the spring arm is urged away from the dispensing tube a distance sufficient for the spring finger to clear the opening to allow a piece of candy to enter the dispensing tube;

whereby, upon release of the spring, the candy is urged up and out of the dispensing tube; and

a plunger;

the plunger being operable to move the spring from its relaxed state to its primed state;

the plunger sliding in a channel formed in an inner surface of the container wall;

the plunger including at least one finger extending down from a bottom of the plunger;

the dispenser container having an opening in the bottom through which the plunger finger extends;

the plunger finger contacting the spring arm to move the spring arm from its relaxed state to its primed state when the plunger is depressed.

9. A candy dispenser comprising:

a container defining a chamber adapted to hold a plurality of pieces of candy;

the container having sides, a top, and a bottom which define the chamber;

a dispensing tube extending along one side of the container, the dispensing tube being open at a top and a bottom thereof;

an opening in a side of the container to place the chamber in communication with the dispensing tube;

the opening being sized to admit a piece of candy from the chamber to the dispensing tube; and

a leaf spring on the bottom of the container;

the spring having a spring arm which closes the bottom of the dispensing tube and an upwardly extending finger on the spring arm which is received in the dispensing tube;

the leaf spring being movable from a relaxed state in which the spring finger is in the dispensing tube and closes the opening between the chamber and the dispensing tube to a primed state in which the spring arm is urged away from the dispensing tube a distance sufficient for the spring finger to clear the opening to allow a piece of candy to enter the dispensing tube;

whereby, upon release of the spring, the candy is urged up and out of the dispensing tube; and

a plunger;

the plunger being operable to move the spring from its relaxed state to its primed state;

the plunger sliding in a channel formed in an inner surface of the container wall and having a bottom;

the bottom of the plunger defining a knife edge which closes the opening when the plunger is depressed.

10. A candy dispenser comprising:

a container defining a chamber adapted to hold a plurality of pieces of candy;

the container having sides, a top, and a bottom which define the chamber;

a dispensing tube extending along one side of the container, the dispensing tube being open at a top and a bottom thereof;

a pair of guide tubes;

an opening in a side of the container to place the chamber in communication with the dispensing tube;

the opening being sized to admit a piece of candy from the chamber to the dispensing tube; and

a leaf spring on the bottom of the container;

the spring having a spring arm which closes the bottom of the dispensing tube and an upwardly extending finger on the spring arm which is received in the dispensing tube;

the leaf spring being movable from a relaxed state in which the spring finger is in the dispensing tube and closes the opening between the chamber and the dispensing tube to a primed state in which the spring arm is urged away from the dispensing tube a distance sufficient for the spring finger to clear the opening to allow a piece of candy to enter the dispensing tube;

whereby, upon release of the spring, the candy is urged up and out of the dispensing tube; and

a plunger;

the plunger being operable to move the spring from its relaxed state to its primed state;

the plunger including two arms which extend through the guide tubes;

the plunger arms being connected by a thumb portion;

the spring arm being sized to extend below the guide tubes;

the plunger arms being of a sufficient length to move the spring from its relaxed state to its primed state.