Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
First Claim
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1. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
- a housing comprising;
(a) an actuator, the actuator generally facing in a direction associated with a side of the housing;
(b) an opening for loading disposable cutlery;
(c) a dispensing chute through which the cutlery passes prior to ejection from the housing; and
(d) at least one rocking cam comprising a displacement surface and having a first position and a second position, wherein upon activation of the actuator, the rocking cam moves from the first position to the second position and the displacement surface contacts at least one piece of cutlery, moving the at least one piece of cutlery in a generally lateral direction and toward the dispensing chute, wherein the generally lateral direction is towards the side of the housing in which the actuator is generally facing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to dispensers for disposable cutlery. The invention also relates to pluralities of disposable cutlery that can be used in the cutlery dispenser of the present invention, as well as other cutlery dispensers that do not use a cartridge therein. The present invention also relates to disposable cutlery that has been adapted to make it better suited to stacking, such as for use in cutlery dispensers that do not include a cartridge.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
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a housing comprising; (a) an actuator, the actuator generally facing in a direction associated with a side of the housing; (b) an opening for loading disposable cutlery; (c) a dispensing chute through which the cutlery passes prior to ejection from the housing; and (d) at least one rocking cam comprising a displacement surface and having a first position and a second position, wherein upon activation of the actuator, the rocking cam moves from the first position to the second position and the displacement surface contacts at least one piece of cutlery, moving the at least one piece of cutlery in a generally lateral direction and toward the dispensing chute, wherein the generally lateral direction is towards the side of the housing in which the actuator is generally facing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
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a housing comprising; (a) an actuator, the actuator generally facing in a direction associated with a side of the housing; (b) an opening for loading disposable cutlery, the opening accessible when the housing is in a substantially upright orientation; and (c) at least one rocking cam comprising a displacement surface and having a first position and a second position, wherein upon activation of the actuator, the rocking cam moves from the first position to the second position and the displacement surface contacts the at least one piece of cutlery, displacing the at least one piece of cutlery in a generally lateral direction to facilitate ejection of the cutlery from the housing, wherein the generally lateral direction is towards the side of the housing in which the actuator is generally facing.
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Specification