US3272386A - Sanitary sipping-straw dispenser having a reciprocating ejector - Google Patents

Description

I... A. WILLS Sept. 13, 1966 SANITARY SIPPING-STRAW DISPENSER HAVING A RECIPROCATING EJECTOR Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR United States Patent Filed July 6, 1964, S91. No. 380,530 2 Claims. Cl. 221-454 This invention relates to straw dispensers, and more particularly to straw dispensers of the type having vertically reciprocable straw dispensing means, and wherein straws are supported standing on end within a receptacle.

Many semi-automatic sanitary straw dispensers of the vertical reciprocating ejector type where straws stand on end in a receptacle have been designed and patented, but apparently none have been produced and marketed successfully in recent years in the United States. One or more of the following reasons seem obvious: Inadequate performance in dispensing straws, insufficient integrity of design, too expensive to fabricate and/or provide tooling for manufacture. The novel features of this invention are combined with the novel straw agitation, feeding, and positioning features of my copending patent application Serial No. 343,869, filing date February 10, 1964, now Patent No. 3,203,600, August 31, 1965, to show a straw dispenser embodiment that is intended to avoid the shortcomings of other devices.

A main object of this invention is to provide an improved sanitary straw dispenser having a novel straw receptacle which incorporates means in the receptacle vertical sidewall to provide housing, guidance, and alignment for the straw ejector means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved sanitary straw dispenser wherein the straw receptacle and ejector guidance and alignment means can be molded or formed integrally or in pieces that can be bonded together, while providing a device that is relatively inexpensive to fabricate, having a relatively simple and sturdy compact construction, efiectively protected against the entrance of contaminants, and can be operated smoothly and conveniently by the users.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions and claims and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 represents a vertical central cross-sectional view of the improved sanitary sipping-straw dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 represents a horizontal cross-sectional view of the improved dispenser, said view taken substantially on the line A-A of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 represents a horizontal cross-sectional view of the improved straw dispenser, said view being taken substantially on the line B--B of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 represents a perspective view of a straw agitator member.

FIGURE 5 represents a perspective view of a straw ejector member.

FIGURE 6 represents a perspective view of a slot closure bar.

FIGURE 7 represents a perspective view of a closure lid and straw retention member.

FIGURE 8 represents a perspective view of an agitator torsion spring.

FIGURE 9 represents a perspective view of an agitator pivot pin.

FIGURE 10 represents a perspective view of an ejector impact absorber spring.

FIGURE 11 represents a perspective view of a cavity closure plug.

A detailed description is given so that the construc- 3,272,386 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 tion, operation, and features of the invention may be clearly understood;

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, a sipping-straw dispenser is designated of the type where straws stand on end in a straw receptacle, a vertically reciprocating straw dispensing mechanism is employed to engage and dispense straws into a straw discharge opening in the receptacle cover lid, the straw ejector member of the straw dispensing mechanism being supported, guided, aligned, and largely contained within a slender vertical cylindrical cavity and vertical slots formed in the thickened vertical sidewall portion of the straw receptacle. Straw positioning cup means and straw agitation means are employed. The features and structure of the straw agitating element and other elements associated therewith are the same as shown by my copending patent application Serial No. 343,869, filing date February 10, 1964, now Patent No. 3,203,600.

A special configured, essentially cylindrical, receptacle 1, of plastic, wood, or glass material and of proper size and shape is employed for the straw container. The receptacle 1 is provided with a cover lid 2 which is upwardly funnel shaped. A straw discharge opening 23 is formed in cover lid 2 and provided with a closure and straw retention member 12 pivotally mounted on cover lid 2 (individual view of the closure and straw retention memher is shown in FIGURE 7).

Designated at 4 is a thickened vertical sidewall portion of the receptacle 1 which is formed and adapted to house and slidably support a vertically reciprocating straw ejector member 5 therein (individual view of the ejector member 5 is shown in FIGURE 5) and a slot closure bar 10 preferably of nylon material or such (individual view of the closure bar is shown in FIGURE 6). A slender vertical cylindrical cavity 6 is formed in wall portion 4 and the bar portion 22 (preferably of nylon material or such) of straw ejector member 5 is slidably mounted therein said cavity 6. A vertical slot 15 is formed in wall portion 4 and extends laterally from cavity 6 to the interior surface of the receptacle 1. Slot 15 is adapted to receive the flange portion 17 of ejector member 5 and permits vertical reciprocable movement of said flange portion therein, and the vertical sidewall surfaces of 'slot 15 serve as vertical guide surfaces for said flange portion. A vertical slot 14 is formed in the wall portion 4 and extends laterally from cavity 6 to the exterior surface of wall portion 4 of receptacle 1. The slot 14 is adapted to receive the lift arm portion 16 of ejector member 5 and permits vertical reciprocable movement of said lift arm therein, and the sidewall surfaces of slot 14 serve as vertical guide surfaces for the lift arm 16. A slender vertical cylindrical cavity 13 is: formed in wall portion 4 and is located such that the lower portion of cavity 13 extends into the slot area 14, the diameter of cylindrical cavity 13 being slightly larger than the width of slot opening 14. Slot closure bar 10 is contained and slidably mounted within cavity 13. The bottom end of bar 10 is supported on lif-t arm 16 when the ejector member 5 is elevated, and bar 10 is permitted to have vertical movement within cavity 13 as ejector member 5 moves upwardly and downwardly. When bar 10 is in the lowered position, with its bottom end sup ported at the bottom end 24 of cavity 13, the bar 10 serves to close the upper area of slot 14 which is between the top end of ejector bar 22 (when the ejector member 5 is at the lowered position) and the top end of slot 14. This means that when the ejector member 5 is in the normal (lowered) position no open area exists through slots 14 and 15 for the passage of contaminates such as dust, as such would be passage ways are closed by the presence of bar 10 and ejector bar 22. Cavity plug 21 (individual view is shown in FIGURE 11) closes the bottom end of cavity 6. Ejector impact absorber spring 8 (individual view is shown in FIGURE is located within cavity 6 and is supported on cavity plug 21. A suitable metal liner may be used'within cavity 6 to provide a more wear resistant surface for ejector reciprocating movement therein (not shown on the drawing).

A straw supporting cup 3 is integrally formed within receptacle 1 and has a narrow vertical slot 18 formed therein which is in a straight line with slot of wall portion 4 (slot 18 essentially being an extension of slot 15). The slot 18 extends vertically from the top surface of cup 3 into cavity 19 formed in the lower portion of receptacle 1. The slot 18 underlies the bottom ends of several inclined straws disposed on cup 3 as shown.

A straw agitator member 7 preferably of nylon material or such (individual view is shown in FIGURE 4) is located and pivotally mounted within receptacle cavity 19 by pivot pin 11 (individual view is shown in FIGURE 9) and is biased in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 1 by agitator torsion spring 9 (individual view is shown in FIGURE 8). This member is the same as described in my copending patent application Serial No. 343,869, filing date February 10, 1964.

The operation of the dispenser is described as follows:

When the lift arm 16 of the straw ejector member 5 is released by a user and allowed to move to the lowered position (bar 22 moves vertically downward in cavity 6), bar 10 is permitted to move downwardly in cavity 13 until its bottom end contacts the bottom end 24 of cavity 13, thereby closing the portion of slot 14 which lies between the upper end of ejector bar 22 and the top end of slot 14. The ejector member 5 continues downwardly and its bottom end contacts the straw agitator member 7 and causes it to rotate clockwise thereby agitating straws having their bottom ends positioned over slot 18 on cup 3. Downward movement of the ejector member 5 is arrested by spring 8 which absorbs ejector impact shock. As the lift arm 16, of the ejector member 5 is elevated from the lowered position, the straw engagement pin formed on said member 5 (adjacent to flange 17) engages the bottom end of a straw that is positioned over the slot 18 directly above the pin. The engaged straw is elevated by the ejector member 5 to the upper ejector position. The upper portion of the engaged straw exits through the straw discharge opening 23, causing the closure lid 12 to swing open. The closure lid 12 retains the straw in this position where a portion of said straw is accessible for grasping by the user. The cycle may now be repeated for the delivery of another straw. Of course, the ejector member 5 normally rests at the lowered position.

Advantages of the novel straw ejector support, guidance, and alignment means:

The cavity walls and surfaces of the slot areas forming the support, guidance, and alignment means for the straw ejector member can be formed integrally with the straw receptacle in an inexpensive manner which is clearly shown by the drawing. The vertical cavity and slot Wall surfaces provide guides and alignment means for the ejector flange, lift arm, and ejector bar, throughout their length of travel, forming a very secure and smooth operating mechanism. As the slot areas can be formed such that they are essentially extensions of each other (or essentially the same slot), no problem of misalignment of the slots exist. This alignment of slots is very important because the slot areas in contact with straw-s must be relatively narrow so that a straw will not move into the slot. Also, alignment of slots must be adequate or interference between edges of the slots and the ejector member will result.

To provide a sanitary straw receptacle, openings in the straw receptacle through which ejector actuating means operate must have covers or closure members to insure that the openings are covered when the dispenser is not being operated. This is uniquely provided by having the cylindrical reciprocating members slide within vertical cylindrical cavities and positioned such that the slotted areas are completely covered when the dispenser ejector means is at rest.

What is claimed is:

1. A straw dispenser comprising a straw receptacle and a straw ejector, said straw receptacle having a top wall, a bottom Wall and sidewall, said top wall having a dispensing aperture therein, said bottom wall having an upper article funneling surface and an opening in the funneling surface, said funneling surface adapted to permit the bottom ends of straws to flow to said opening by gravity, said receptacle sidewall having a thickened ver tical portion wherein is integrally formed a straight vertical cavity, a straight slender slot is integrally formed in said thickened sidewall portion and extends laterally from said vertical cavity to the interior surface of said receptacle, said slot connects with said receptacle bottom wall funneling surface opening, an exterior opening integrally formed in said receptacle thickened sidewall portion and extends from the said vertical cavity to the exterior receptacle surface, a portion of said straw ejector is positioned in the said exterior opening and is slidable therein and adapted for use as an operating handle, said straw ejector is movably mounted in said straight vertical cavity for vertical reciprocation from a lower position to an upper position, a portion of said ejector being slidably engaged in the said straight vertical cavity, and said ejector having a portion thereof which passes through said funneling surface opening and is movable in the said slender sidewall slot during movement of the ejector from the lower position, said ejector is adapted to engage the bottom end of a streaw whereas the raising of said ejector through the funneling surface opening may engage and elevate a straw into said dispensing aperture.

2. A straw dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said exterior receptacle opening is a slender slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,891 6/1926 Mazzoni et a1. 221254 2,701,663 2/1955 Pennington 221-259 2,862,644 12/1958 Johnson 221-268 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. A STRAW DISPENSER COMPRISING A STRAW RECEPTACLE AND A STRAW EJECTOR, SAID STRAW RECEPTACLE HAVING A TOP WALL, A BOTTOM WALL AND SIDEWALL, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A DISPENSING APERTURE THEREIN, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING AN UPPER ARTICLE FUNNELING SURFACE AND AN OPENING IN THE FUNNELING SURFACE, SAID FUNNELING SURFACE ADAPTED TO PERMIT THE BOTTOM ENDS OF STRAWS TO FLOW TO SAID OPENING BY GRAVITY, SAID RECEPTACLE SIDEWALL HAVING A THICKENED VERTICAL PORTION WHEREIN IS INTEGRALLY FORMED A STRAIGHT VERTICAL CAVITY, A STRAIGHT SLENDER SLOT IS INTEGRALLY FORMED IN SAID THICKENED SIDEWALL PORTION AND EXTENDS LATERALLY FROM SAID VERTICAL CAVITY TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID SLOT CONNECTS WITH SAID RECEPTACLE BOTTOM WALL FUNNELING SURFACE OPENING, AN EXTERIOR OPENING INTEGRALLY FORMED IN SAID RECEPTACLE THICKENED SIDEWALL PORTION AND EXTENDS FROM THE SAID VERTICAL CAVITY TO THE EXTERIOR RECEPTACLE SURFACE, A PORTION OF SAID STRAW EJECTOR

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