Utensil dispensers with stack gauge
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils comprising:
- a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils therein, the housing comprising at least one gauge opening formed therethrough; and
a stack gauge comprising an indicator portion in communication with a stack gauge arm, the stack gauge arm having at least one prong extending therefrom that is configured to pass through one of the gauge openings,wherein the stack gauge is configured to move from a first position where the at least one prong is in contact with the stack of the utensils to a second position where the at least one prong is not in contact with the stack of utensils to indicate a quantity of utensils in the stack of the utensils in the housing, andwherein the indicator portion of the stack gauge is visible from outside the housing and the dispenser.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using same. In some examples, the utensil dispensers can include a housing configured to contain a stack of utensils. A stack gauge comprising a gauge arm can be configured to indicate a quantity of utensils in the stack of the utensils in the housing and is visible from outside the housing and the dispenser.
109 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils comprising:
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a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils therein, the housing comprising at least one gauge opening formed therethrough; and a stack gauge comprising an indicator portion in communication with a stack gauge arm, the stack gauge arm having at least one prong extending therefrom that is configured to pass through one of the gauge openings, wherein the stack gauge is configured to move from a first position where the at least one prong is in contact with the stack of the utensils to a second position where the at least one prong is not in contact with the stack of utensils to indicate a quantity of utensils in the stack of the utensils in the housing, and wherein the indicator portion of the stack gauge is visible from outside the housing and the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils comprising:
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a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils therein, wherein the stack of the utensils comprises at least one utensil in addition to a next utensil, a drive mechanism configured to contact and push the next utensil, allowing the next utensil to release and fall from the stack of the utensils and become a released utensil; and a stack gauge comprising a stack gauge arm and a first prong, wherein the stack gauge indicates a quantity of utensils in the stack of the utensils in the housing and is visible from outside the housing and the dispenser and wherein the stack gauge arm is configured to move from a first position wherein the first prong is in contact with the stack of the utensils to a second position when the first prong is not in contact with the stack of utensils, wherein the utensil stack gauge indicates a second quantity of utensils in the housing that is less than a first quantity of utensils in the housing when the stack gauge arm is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils comprising:
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a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils therein, wherein the stack of the utensils comprises a next utensil and wherein the housing comprises a gauge window; a drive mechanism configured to contact and push the next utensil, allowing the next utensil to release and fall from the stack of the utensils and become a released utensil; and a stack gauge comprising an indicator portion that indicates a quantity of utensils in the stack of the utensils in the housing and is visible from outside the housing and the dispenser, a stack gauge arm, and a first prong, wherein the stack gauge arm is configured to move from a first position wherein the first prong is in contact with the stack of the utensils to a second position when the first prong is not in contact with the stack of utensils, wherein the indicator portion indicates a second quantity of utensils in the housing that is less than a first quantity of utensils in the housing when the stack gauge arm is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification