Forward advancing cutlery dispenser

• US 9,560,920 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oakes, Shawn Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): MACKEY, PATRICK HEWEY
• Application Number:
  US14/454,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 221/279
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

The present application provides a cutlery dispenser for dispensing a number of cutlery utensils. The cutlery dispenser may include a housing, a front cover enclosing the housing, a dispensing wedge, and a dispensing trough positioned on the front cover. The dispensing wedge angles a leading cutlery utensil into the dispensing trough for dispensing therethrough.

Claims

1. A cutlery dispenser for dispensing a number of cutlery utensils, comprising:

a housing;

a front cover enclosing the housing;

the front cover comprising a first end and a second end;

a dispensing aperture positioned about the first end of the front cover;

a dispensing wedge positioned about the second end of the front cover; and

an angled dispensing trough positioned on the front cover between the dispensing aperture and the dispensing wedge;

wherein the dispensing wedge angles a leading cutlery utensil into the angled dispensing trough for dispensing therethrough.

2. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of guide ribs formed or positioned therein.

3. The cutlery dispenser of claim 2, wherein the plurality of guide ribs conforms at least in part to the configuration of the number of cutlery utensils.

4. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a pusher assembly positioned within the housing so as to advance the number of cutlery utensils towards the front cover.

5. The cutlery dispenser of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of support tracks and wherein the pusher assembly is positioned about the plurality of support tracks for movement thereon.

6. The cutlery dispenser of claim 4, wherein the pusher assembly comprises an abutment surface intended for contact with a stack of the number of cutlery utensils.

7. The cutlery dispenser of claim 4, wherein the pusher assembly comprises a biasing member.

8. A cutlery dispenser for dispensing a number of cutlery utensils, comprising:

a housing;

a front cover enclosing the housing;

a dispensing wedge; and

an angled dispensing trough positioned on the front cover;

wherein the dispensing wedge angles a leading cutlery utensil into the angled dispensing trough for dispensing therethrough; and

wherein the housing comprises a plurality of flexors formed or positioned therein.

9. The cutlery dispenser of claim 8, wherein the plurality of flexors comprises a downwardly descending flange.

10. The cutlery dispenser of claim 8, wherein the plurality of flexors comprises a pivot arm.

11. A cutlery dispenser for dispensing a number of cutlery utensils, comprising:

a housing;

a front cover enclosing the housing;

a dispensing wedge;

a dispensing trough positioned on the front cover;

wherein the dispensing wedge angles a leading cutlery utensil into the dispensing trough for dispensing therethrough; and

wherein the housing comprises a spring loaded retainer positioned about the front cover.

12. The cutlery dispenser of claim 11, wherein the spring loaded retainer comprises a retainer aperture sized for the dispensing wedge to pass therethrough when the front cover is closed.

13. The cutlery dispenser of claim 11, wherein the spring loaded retainer comprises a retainer barb extending into the housing and intended for contact with the leading cutlery utensil when the front cover is open.

14. A method of dispensing cutlery utensils from a dispenser, comprising:

pushing a stack of cutlery utensils into the dispenser;

holding the stack of cutlery utensils in place via a pair of flexors when a front cover of the dispenser is open;

closing the front cover;

releasing the pair of flexors when the front cover is closed; and

pushing several of the cutlery utensils into a fanned position about the front cover.

15. A cutlery dispenser, comprising:

a housing;

a front cover enclosing the housing;

a dispensing wedge positioned about the front cover; and

a stack of cutlery utensils positioned within the housing;

a plurality of the cutlery utensils in the stack comprising a fanned position about the front cover; and

wherein the housing comprises a retainer with a retainer barb and wherein the plurality of cutlery utensils comprises a retainer notch formed therein.

16. The cutlery dispenser of claim 15, wherein the plurality of cutlery utensils comprises a skewer aperture therein sized for a skewer.

17. The cutlery dispenser of claim 15, wherein the plurality of cutlery utensils comprises an angled end.