US3669307A - Plastic cup dispenser - Google Patents
Plastic cup dispenser Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3669307A US3669307A US87450A US3669307DA US3669307A US 3669307 A US3669307 A US 3669307A US 87450 A US87450 A US 87450A US 3669307D A US3669307D A US 3669307DA US 3669307 A US3669307 A US 3669307A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- strip
- housing
- cups
- opening
- cup
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F1/00—Racks for dispensing merchandise; Containers for dispensing merchandise
- A47F1/04—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs
- A47F1/08—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom
- A47F1/085—Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles, e.g. by means of gravity or springs dispensing from bottom for nested articles, e.g. cups, cones
Definitions
- a plastic cup dispenser includes a housing to receive a stack of plastic cups, and a resilient plastic strip which is mounted within the housing above, and in encircling relation to the bottom opening of the housing so that projections extending inwardly from the strip in a circular array and having a special shape will be engaged by rims of the cups at the bottom of the stack to ensure the one-at-a-time withdrawal of the cups through that bottom opening.
- Each projection has an inwardly convex surface of substantial vertical extent formed with a central recess to achieve the desired one-at-a-time withdrawal, and each projection is preferably in the form of a bowed ribbon joined to the remainder of the strip only at its upper and lower ends.
- dispensers are available for the dispensing of paper cups, and such existing dispensers generally comprise a tubular housing for accommodating a substantially vertical stack of the cups and having an opening at the bottom of the housing to permit the passage therethrough of the cups.
- Such dispensers have elements at the interior of the housing above the bottom opening thereof which are engageable by the rim of the lowermost paper cup in the stack so as to retain the latter within the housing.
- cup dispensers particularly adapted for the dispensing of plastic cups, and which are constructed and arranged to ensure the one-at-a-time dispensing of such plastic cups.
- Another object is to provide plastic cup dispensers of relatively simple construction which can be inexpensively produced and which are reliable in operation.
- a dispenser for plastic cups comprises a housing for accommodating a substantially vertical stack of rimmed plastic cups and having an opening at the bottom of the housing to permit the passage therethrough of the cups, and a resiliently flexible plastic strip mounted within the housing above, and in encircling relation to the bottom opening, such strip having a plurality of projections extending therefrom so as to be directed radially inward in a circular array when the strip is mounted within the housing, each of the projections including an inwardly convex arcuate inner surface of substantial vertical extent which has an inwardly opening recess intermediate its upper and lower ends, with the projections extending sufficiently from the remainder of the strip to be engaged, at their arcuate inner surfaces, by the rims of the cups as the latter are withdrawn downwardly through the opening so that, as the lowermost cup in the stack is withdrawn, downward movement of the next cup thereabove is resisted by the engagement of its rim with the arcuate surfaces above the respective recesses and is then arrested by engagement of its
- each of the above-mentioned projections is in the form of an inwardly bowed ribbon that is centrally indented and connected to the remainder of the strip only at its upper and lower ends so as to be free to flex outwardly in response to radially outward pressure of a cup rim thereagainst.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic cup dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of this invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 on FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 2 and illustrating the manner in which'the structure there shown cooperates with a stack of plastic cups so as to ensure the one-at-a-time dispensing thereof;
- FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of a plastic strip included in the dispenser of FIGS. 1,2 and 3, and which is shown in its original straight form;
- FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but illustrating another embodiment of this invention.
- FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing the plastic strip of the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 5.
- a plastic cup dispenser 10 in accordance with this invention, as there illustrated generally comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 11 which is closed at its upper end either permanently or by a removable lid or closure, and which has an opening 12 at its bottom end dimensioned to permit the passage therethrough of plastic cups from a vertical stack thereof accommodated within housing 11.
- the housing 11 may be molded or otherwise formed of a suitable plastic, such as, for example, medium impact polystyrene, high density polyethylene or acetyl-butyratestyrate, or any other suitably rigid material.
- the stack of plastic cups is retained within housing 11 for dispensing one cup at a time through opening 12 by means of a resiliently flexible plastic strip 13 which is mounted within the lower portion of housing 11 above bottom opening 12 so as to encircle the latter.
- the strip 13 may be formed of any suitably resiliently flexible plastic, such as polyethylene or nylon.
- the strip 13 which may be molded or otherwise formed in a longitudinally straight configuration, as shown on FIG. 4, is provided with a length equal to the interior circumference of housing 11 so that the ends of the strip will abut when strip 13 is curved to form a ring seated within housing 11.
- Strip 13 is formed with a plurality of projections 14 extending therefrom so as to be directed radially inward in a circular array when strip 13 is mounted within housing 11.
- Each of the projections 14 is shown to include an arcuate inner surface 15 (FIG. 3) which is inwardly convex and which has an inwardly opening recess 16 intermediate its upper and lower ends.
- each of the projections 14 is in the form of an inwardly bowed ribbon that is centrally indented to define the recess 16 and connected to the longitudinal margins 17 of the strip only at the upper and lower ends of such ribbon.
- each ribbonlike projection 14 is free to flex outwardly in response to radially outward pressure of a cup rim thereagainst, as hereinafter described.
- the strip 13 may be molded or otherwise formed with a suitably shaped cross-section, for example, as appearing in FIGS. 2 and 3, and with spaced apart slits 18 extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal edges of the strip for separating adjacent ribbon-like projections 14.
- the slits 18 preferably have widths that taper from maximum dimensions at the longitudinal medial line of the strip to minimum dimensions at the opposite ends of the slits.
- the slits 18 do not close completely at their central portions and thereby permit the outward flexing of the ribbonlike projections 14, as mentioned above.
- the latter may include a generally cylindrical body 19 and a separately formed ring 20 secured on the lower end of body 19 to define the opening 12 at the bottom of the housing.
- the ring 20 has an annular, upwardly opening groove 21 at the lower margin of its inner surface which receives and retains the lower longitudinal edge portion 17 of strip 13, and the body 19 has a downwardly facing annular shoulder 22 formed in its inner surface to engage the upper edge of strip 13 and thereby prevent upward disengagement of the strip from groove 21 upon the securing of ring 20 on body 19.
- a rabbetted joint 23 may be provided between body 19 and ring 20 by which the ring is frictionally held on body 19 or, if desired, after the assembly of ring 20 on body 19 at joint 23, heat and pressure or ultrasonic energy may be conventionally applied to joint 23 so as to prevent subsequent removal of ring 20 from body 19.
- projections 14 of strip 13 extend sufficiently from edge portions 17, that is, are dimensioned in the radially inward direction away from the surface 24 against which strip 13 seats or bears, so that such projections will be engaged, at their arcuate inner surface 15, by the rims of plastic cups in a stack S of such cups contained within housing 1 1.
- the cup C will have been moved downwardly to a sufficient extent to permit the resilient return of projections 14 radially inward to the position shown for secure engagement of the rim R of cup C in recesses 16.
- the described dispenser 10 embodying this invention is effective to ensure the one-at-a-time dispensing of plastic cups.
- the dispenser 10a according to that embodiment may be the same as the dispenser 10 described above with reference to FIGS. l4 apart from the configuration of the strip 13, and that corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numetals.
- the resiliently flexible plastic strip 13a of the dispenser 10a is imperforate and is molded or otherwise formed with hollow embossments constituting the projections 140 which are spaced apart in the direction of the length of strip 13a and elongated in the direction transverse to such length, as shown on FIG. 6.
- Each elongated hollow embossment constituting a projection 14a has an arcuate surface 15a (FIG.
- each hollow embossment 14a constituting a projection has a central dimple or indentation to define a recess 16a in the arcuate surface 15a. Since the projections 14a defined by hollow embossments are joined to the remainder 17a of strip at the entire periphery of each such embossment, it will be apparent that the projections 14a are not readily flexible under the influence of radially outward pressure exerted thereagainst by the rims of the plastic cups in stack S. Apart from the absence of such flexing action, the strip 13a, when mounted within housing 11 of dispenser 10a acts in the same manner as the previously described strip 13 to ensure the one-at-a-time dispensing of the plastic cups.
- a dispenser for plastic cups comprising a housing for accommodating a substantially vertical stack of rimmed plastic cups and having an opening at the bottom of the housing to permit the passage therethrough of the cups, and a resiliently flexible plastic strip mounted within said housing above, and in encircling relation to said opening, said strip having a plurality of projections extending therefrom so as to be directed radially inward in a circular array when said strip is mounted within said housing, each of said projections being in the form of an inwardly bowed ribbon that defines an arcuate inner surface of substantial vertical extent which is inwardly convex and which is centrally indented to define an inwardly opening recess intermediate its upper and lower ends, each said bowed ribbon being connected to the remainder of said strip only at said upper and lower ends of said ribbon so as to be free to flex outwardly in response to radially outward pressure of a cup rim thereagainst, said bowed ribbons extending sufficiently from the remainder of the strip to be engaged, at their arcuate inner surfaces,
- a dispenser for plastic cups according to claim 1 in which said strip has spaced apart slits separating adjacent bowed ribbons of the strip.
- a dispenser for plastic cups according to claim 1 in which said strip is molded straight and curved to have its ends abut upon mounting within said housing.
- a dispenser for plastic cups in which said housing includes a generally cylindrical body and a ring secured on the lower end of said body to define said opening at the bottom of the housing, said ring has an annular, upwardly opening groove adjacent its inner surface retaining the lower edge of said strip, and said body has a downwardly facing annular shoulder in its inner surface engaging the upper edge of said strip for preventing upward disengagement of the strip from said groove.
Abstract
Description
Claims (4)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US8745070A | 1970-11-06 | 1970-11-06 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3669307A true US3669307A (en) | 1972-06-13 |
Family
ID=22205262
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US87450A Expired - Lifetime US3669307A (en) | 1970-11-06 | 1970-11-06 | Plastic cup dispenser |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3669307A (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3892334A (en) * | 1971-09-27 | 1975-07-01 | Ii Claude E Hand | Golf tee container |
US4239125A (en) * | 1979-01-12 | 1980-12-16 | American Can Company | Cup dispensing apparatus |
US4951837A (en) * | 1988-05-27 | 1990-08-28 | Lentsch Allen C | Dispenser for disposable funnels |
US5097756A (en) * | 1990-01-10 | 1992-03-24 | Nolte Ray J | Device for removing fats from cooked foods |
US5887243A (en) * | 1981-11-03 | 1999-03-23 | Personalized Media Communications, L.L.C. | Signal processing apparatus and methods |
US20090302051A1 (en) * | 2006-07-04 | 2009-12-10 | Anne-Mette Juhl Nygaard-Petersen | Cotton wool pad dispenser |
US8944251B1 (en) * | 2013-02-08 | 2015-02-03 | Ucan Products, Inc. | Packaging device |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1191995A (en) * | 1915-04-14 | 1916-07-25 | Individual Drinking Cup Company | Dispensing device. |
US1264950A (en) * | 1911-04-03 | 1918-05-07 | Individual Drinking Cup Company | Cup-container. |
US1346792A (en) * | 1919-07-10 | 1920-07-13 | Bergman Simon | Carton for cups and similar articles |
US2092745A (en) * | 1936-01-20 | 1937-09-14 | Cone Dispenser Corp | Dispensing device |
US3342375A (en) * | 1966-03-04 | 1967-09-19 | Solo Cup Co | Dispenser |
US3409183A (en) * | 1967-07-27 | 1968-11-05 | Packaging Corp America | Dispenser carton |
US3435988A (en) * | 1968-03-20 | 1969-04-01 | Sobel Ind Inc | Paper cup dispenser |
-
1970
- 1970-11-06 US US87450A patent/US3669307A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1264950A (en) * | 1911-04-03 | 1918-05-07 | Individual Drinking Cup Company | Cup-container. |
US1191995A (en) * | 1915-04-14 | 1916-07-25 | Individual Drinking Cup Company | Dispensing device. |
US1346792A (en) * | 1919-07-10 | 1920-07-13 | Bergman Simon | Carton for cups and similar articles |
US2092745A (en) * | 1936-01-20 | 1937-09-14 | Cone Dispenser Corp | Dispensing device |
US3342375A (en) * | 1966-03-04 | 1967-09-19 | Solo Cup Co | Dispenser |
US3409183A (en) * | 1967-07-27 | 1968-11-05 | Packaging Corp America | Dispenser carton |
US3435988A (en) * | 1968-03-20 | 1969-04-01 | Sobel Ind Inc | Paper cup dispenser |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3892334A (en) * | 1971-09-27 | 1975-07-01 | Ii Claude E Hand | Golf tee container |
US4239125A (en) * | 1979-01-12 | 1980-12-16 | American Can Company | Cup dispensing apparatus |
US5887243A (en) * | 1981-11-03 | 1999-03-23 | Personalized Media Communications, L.L.C. | Signal processing apparatus and methods |
US4951837A (en) * | 1988-05-27 | 1990-08-28 | Lentsch Allen C | Dispenser for disposable funnels |
US5097756A (en) * | 1990-01-10 | 1992-03-24 | Nolte Ray J | Device for removing fats from cooked foods |
US20090302051A1 (en) * | 2006-07-04 | 2009-12-10 | Anne-Mette Juhl Nygaard-Petersen | Cotton wool pad dispenser |
US8152022B2 (en) * | 2006-07-04 | 2012-04-10 | Eazy-Pac Danmark A/S | Cotton wool pad dispenser |
US8944251B1 (en) * | 2013-02-08 | 2015-02-03 | Ucan Products, Inc. | Packaging device |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NESTIER CORPORATION Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:MIDLAND-ROSS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:003921/0855 Effective date: 19811029 Owner name: MIDLAND-ROSS CORPORATION, 20600 CHAGRIN BLVD. CLEV Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NESTIER CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:003921/0847 Effective date: 19811030 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VANGUARD-MIDLAND-ROSS, INC., UNITED STATES Free format text: CERTIFIED COPY OF MERGED FILED IN THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE OF DELAWARE SHOWING MERGER OF ASSIGNORS AND CHANGE OF NAME OF THE SURVIVING CORP. EFFECTIVE 12-20-74;ASSIGNORS:MID-SOUTH PLASTICS, INC., A CORP. OF KY;BAXTER COMPANY, THE, A CORP. OF OH;SOBEL INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF PA (MERGED INTO);AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004048/0003 Effective date: 19741219 Owner name: VANGUARD-MIDLAND-ROSS, INC. Free format text: CERTIFIED COPY OF MERGED FILED IN THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE OF DELAWARE SHOWING MERGER OF ASSIGNORS AND CHANGE OF NAME OF THE SURVIVING CORP. EFFECTIVE 12-20-74;ASSIGNORS:MID-SOUTH PLASTICS, INC., A CORP. OF KY;BAXTER COMPANY, THE, A CORP. OF OH;SOBEL INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF PA (MERGED INTO);AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004048/0003 Effective date: 19741219 |