Drink container lid dispenser

• US 9,049,949 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James M Taylor
• Original Assignee: James M Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Randall, Jr., Kelvin L
• Application Number:
  US13/102,097
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 221/191, 221/194, 221/195, 221/208, 221/210, 221/221, 221/222, 221/223, 221/224, 221/255, 221/268
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/085 for nested articles, e.g. cups, cones A47F1/106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/106 for nested articles, e.g. cups, cones

Abstract

A dispensing device and method is provided for separating individual food or drink container lids from a multiple-lid stack for use. The device supports a vertical stack of nested lids and allows a single bottom-most lid to fall away from the remaining lids in the stack. The device may be incorporated in a stand-alone dispenser for consumer use or be incorporated into existing or other incidental structures such as fast food restaurant countertops.

Claims

1. A food container lid dispenser comprising:

multiple support surfaces, mutually coplanar and horizontal in a support condition;

multiple grippers arranged symmetrically about a vertical axis and movable alternatively towards and away from the vertical axis, each gripper configured to engage lid edges of a portion of a vertical lid stack located on the support surfaces without transmitting substantial force to the stack;

a moveable lid separator configured to be moved into a location between the two bottom-most lids in the lid stack; and

a dispensing operator configured to cause the grippers to move toward the vertical axis to engage the lid stack and place the separator between the two bottom-most lids, and subsequently move the support surfaces away from the vertical axis to allow a bottom lid to fall from the lid stack; and

wherein;

the dispensing operator further comprises multiple magnetic pairs, each pair arranged to mutually repel each other to force a respective gripper or support surface away from the vertical axis.