Dispenser for disposable utensils

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10799036-B2
Application number	US-201916532839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Sep 21, 2018
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using the same. In some examples, the utensil dispensers can include 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 and each utensil comprises at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom. A front pedestal can be disposed inside the housing and can be configured to support the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil. A moveable member can be disposed within the housing and configured to move from a ready position to a dispense position. The moveable member can have at least one extension arm configured with at least one engaging section capable of receiving the contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils, comprising:
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 and each utensil comprises at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom;
a front pedestal disposed inside the housing, the front pedestal configured to support the stack of utensils; and
a moveable member disposed within the housing, the moveable member having an engaging section capable of engaging at least one of the contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil while the front pedestal supports the stack of utensils, the moveable member configured to move from a ready position to a dispense position.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the front pedestal is configured to support at least one of the at least one contoured projections extending outwardly from the next utensil.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the moveable member comprises at least one extension arm and the engaging section of the moveable member is disposed on at least one of the at least one extension arms, the engaging section configured to move above the contoured projection.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the moveable member comprises at least one extension arm and the engaging section of the moveable member is disposed on at least one of the at least one extension arms, the engaging section configured to move beneath the contoured projection.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a rear pedestal disposed inside the housing, the rear pedestal configured to support one end of the next utensil.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the moveable member is substantially parallel with the next utensil.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the contoured projection on each utensil has a tapered outer surface.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the contoured projection fits within the engaging section of the moveable member.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the moveable member is configured to move about the contoured projection, allowing the contoured projection of the next utensil to at least partially reside within the engaging section of the moveable member.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the moveable member comprises at least one extension arm and the engaging section of the moveable member is disposed on at least one of the at least one extension arms, the at least one extension arm configured to flex outwardly when sliding about the contoured projection.

11. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils, comprising:
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 and each utensil comprises at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom;
a front pedestal disposed inside the housing, the front pedestal configured to support the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil; and
a moveable member disposed within the housing and configured to move from a ready position to a dispense position, the moveable member comprising at least one extension arm configured with at least one engaging section that is capable of receiving the contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil while the front pedestal supports the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the engaging section of the moveable member comprises a slot, notch or area of reduced wall thickness in the extension arm.

13. The dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the moveable member comprise two extension arms situated to flank opposing longitudinal sides of the next utensil.

14. The dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the engaging section of the moveable member is configured to move relative to the contoured projection, allowing the contoured projection of the next utensil to at least partially reside within the engaging section of the moveable member.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the extension arm of the moveable member is configured to flex outwardly as the engaging section of the moveable member move about the contoured projection.

16. The dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the engaging section of the moveable member is configured to move beneath the contoured projection.

17. The dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the engaging section of the moveable member is configured to move above the contoured projection.

18. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils, comprising:
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 and each utensil comprises at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom;
a front pedestal disposed inside the housing, the front pedestal configured to support the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil;
a rear pedestal disposed inside the housing, the rear pedestal configured to support a handle end of the next utensil;
a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing, the dispensing mechanism comprising at least two engaging surfaces configured to move back and forth;
a moveable member disposed within the housing and configured to move from a ready position to a dispense position due to the back and forth movement of the dispensing mechanism, the moveable member having at least one extension arm extending away from the rear pedestal and configured with at least one engaging section proximate a distal end thereof, wherein the engaging section is capable of receiving at least a portion of the contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil while the front pedestal supports the at least one contoured projection extending outwardly from the next utensil.

19. The dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the extension arm of the moveable member is configured to flex outwardly as the engaging section of the moveable member moves about the contoured projection.

20. The dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the engaging section of the moveable member is configured to move beneath the contoured projection.

21. The dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the engaging section of the moveable member is configured to move above the contoured projection.

22. A method for dispensing one or more utensils from a dispenser, comprising:
pulling a handle end of a utensil extending from a housing configured to contain a stack of utensils therein, each utensil comprising at least one contoured projection extending outwardly therefrom and supported on a front pedestal disposed inside the housing;
triggering a movement of a first portion of a dispensing mechanism to move an extension member within the housing, the extension member having an engaging section capable of receiving the contoured projection extending outwardly from a utensil while located at a bottom of the stack, wherein generally linear movement of the extension member releases the utensil from the bottom of the stack; and
retaining the released utensil within the housing using a second portion of the dispensing mechanism, the second portion located beneath the first portion and comprising an opening to allow the handle end of the released utensil to pass through and extend outside the housing.

23. The m

Assignees

• Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Goltz Ryan A
• Rozek Roy J
• Williquette Matthew K

Classifications

• A47F2001/103

  for cutlery · CPC title

• A47G21/04

  Spoons; Pastry servers · CPC title

• A47F1/10 Primary

  having mechanical dispensing means {, e.g. with buttons or handles} · CPC title

• A47G21/02

  Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers · CPC title