Dispenser for disposable cutlery and components therefor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
- a housing having a vertically oriented opening;
at least one banded stack of disposable cutlery disposed in the housing, the banded stack comprisinga plurality of disposable cutlery pieces disposed adjacent one another to provide a stack of the cutlery pieces; and
at least one band disposed about the stack between a first end and second end of the cutlery, wherein the band comprises an adhesive section that is only partially disposed on the band, wherein the adhesive section of the band makes contact and adheres to one longitudinal side of the stack and not the other longitudinal side, the band contacts a mid-section of the stack of cutlery pieces such that the band makes no contact with either end of the cutlery pieces, and the band holds the plurality of disposable cutlery pieces together until removed,wherein the vertically oriented opening in the housing allows user access to the band for the removal of the band from the housing, wherein the band is removed from the housing through the vertically oriented opening.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A configuration of disposable cutlery comprises a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces suitable for loading in a disposable cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is not constrained by a cartridge when loaded into the cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is in a substantially unfanned orientation after loading of the plurality into a cutlery dispenser, and wherein each piece comprises a solid handle.
265 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
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a housing having a vertically oriented opening; at least one banded stack of disposable cutlery disposed in the housing, the banded stack comprising a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces disposed adjacent one another to provide a stack of the cutlery pieces; and at least one band disposed about the stack between a first end and second end of the cutlery, wherein the band comprises an adhesive section that is only partially disposed on the band, wherein the adhesive section of the band makes contact and adheres to one longitudinal side of the stack and not the other longitudinal side, the band contacts a mid-section of the stack of cutlery pieces such that the band makes no contact with either end of the cutlery pieces, and the band holds the plurality of disposable cutlery pieces together until removed, wherein the vertically oriented opening in the housing allows user access to the band for the removal of the band from the housing, wherein the band is removed from the housing through the vertically oriented opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 22)
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9. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
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a housing having a vertically oriented opening; at least one banded stack of disposable cutlery vertically oriented within the housing, the banded stack comprising; a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces disposed adjacent one another to provide a stack of the cutlery pieces; and at least one band disposed about the stack between a first end and second end of the cutlery, wherein the band comprises a first portion disposed adjacent a first longitudinal side of the stack and a second portion disposed adjacent a second longitudinal side of the stack, the band contacts a mid-section of the stack such that the band makes no contact with either end of the cutlery pieces, and wherein the second portion of the band comprises an adhesive material at least partially disposed thereon that contacts a substantial portion of the second longitudinal side of the stack and not the first longitudinal side to bind the plurality of disposable cutlery pieces where contacted with the adhesive, and wherein the vertically oriented opening in the housing allows user access to the band for removal of the adhesive material from the stack and for removal of the band from the housing, wherein the band is removed from the housing through the vertically oriented opening. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A dispenser for disposable cutlery, comprising:
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a housing having a vertically oriented opening; at least one banded stack of disposable cutlery disposed in the housing, the banded stack comprising; a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces disposed one or top of the other, to provide a stack of the cutlery pieces; and at least one continuous band disposed around the stack, wherein the band comprises a first portion disposed adjacent a first side of the stack and a second portion disposed adjacent a second side of the stack, the second side being opposite of the first, wherein the second portion of the band comprises an adhesive material that contacts a substantial portion of the second side of the stack and not the first side to bind the plurality of disposable cutlery pieces where contacted with the adhesive, the band contacts a mid-section of the stack of cutlery pieces such that the band makes no contact with either end of the cutlery pieces, and the band holds the plurality of disposable cutlery pieces together until removed and wherein the adhesive material has a peel strength designed to release from the stack of disposable cutlery without substantially disturbing the stacked cutlery pieces while within the housing wherein the vertically oriented opening in the housing allows user access for the removal of the adhesive material from the stack, and for the removal of the band from the housing, wherein the band is removed from the housing through the vertically oriented opening. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification