US3373900A

US3373900A - Combination cup dispenser and cap remover

Info

Publication number: US3373900A
Application number: US610171A
Authority: US
Inventors: David A Staley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-01-18
Filing date: 1967-01-18
Publication date: 1968-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1985-03-19

Description

March 19, 1968 Filed Jan. 18, 1967 D. A. STALEY COMBINATION CUP DISPENSER AND CAP REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR DAVID A. STALEY (fi /(EL ATTORNEY March 19, 19 68 D. A. STALEY COMBINATION CUP DISPENSER AND CAP REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1967 m m ML m ms A V MW ATTORNEY United States Patent M ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A support for the combination of a cup dispenser, a bottle cap remover and a flange on the dispenser adapted to accommodate a cup as a receptacle for removed bottle closures.

This invention relates to beverage container devices and more particularly to a combination device for opening beverage containers and for providing a supply of beverage receptacles.

Most beverages today such as soft drinks, beer, etc., are supplied for consumption in containers such as bottles, cans, and the like which are sealed with a suitable closure. By way of example, soft drinks are provided generally in bottles with a relatively narrow neck, the open end of which is closed by a removable crown cap. Many types of crown cap removers have been proposed most of which are provided with a prying lip for engagement with the flange of the crown cap and a fulcrum for simultaneously engaging the central portion of the crown cap to thereby permit the cap when inserted in the remover to be pried off the bottle.'As is well known, the crown cap thus removed from a bottle falls downward by gravity and the common practice has been to provide in association with the crown cap remover some type of enclosure or housing into which the caps, which fall after removal, are collected for periodic emptying. However, in many instances, a crown cap remover without such an enclosure is secured to a suitable support in some accessible location whereupon the caps are permitted to fall indiscriminately and subsequently scattered in the area in an unattractive and disorderly manner. Where the crown cap remover is associated with an enclosure or receptacle, such as an integral part of a soft drink dispensing machine, major design factors must be considered to accommodate the receptacle in association with the remover on the machine adding to its cost and sometimes to its size. Furthermore, some difiiculty is generally present in obtaining access to the cap receptacle on such machines for the periodic removal of cans which must be carried out.

On the other hand, the consumption of bottled beverages and the like, while generally accomplished directly from the bottle, is, in many instances, preferably accomplished by pouring the bevarage from the bottle into a suitable drinking vessel such as a glass, paper cup or the like. Since the paper cup is inexpensive and readily disposable, it has come into widespread use and various types of dispensers have been proposed for permitting single cups to be drawn one at a time for beverage consumption purposes. The popularity of the paper cup has led to the development ofmany types of such dispensers and paper cups of a wide range of sizes are now available. The dispensers available today are generally constructed for wall attachment and are generally designed to accommodate one specific size of paper cup. This means that the consumer must obtain more than one dispenser when cups of different sizes are to be made available for dispensing or the consumer must be content to use one size of cup if only one dispenser is available regardless of the quantit of liquid selected by the user on each occasion.

In addition, while openers such as crown cap removers of the wall mounted type or of the hand operated type are 3,373,900 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 generally available in households and similar areas, the cup dispenser is generally at some other location generally quite remote so that inconveninece is encountered in locating a paper cup for use such as when a bottled beverage has been opened. Frequently, the user finds out only after the bottled beverage has been opened that the supply of paper cups in the dispenser has been exhausted since the dispenser is not usually visible from the location of the opener. p

. Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a new and novel combination container opener and cup dispenser.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and'novel combination container opener and dispenser mounted on a mounting board attractively shaped as a beverage bottle which may be hung in any selected wall location. I,

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel combination container opener and paper cup dispenser in which one of the cups of the type dispensed is arranged to be removably supported as a receptacle in closure receiving position below the opener.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel combination bottle opener and paper cup dispenser in which the opener is arranged to open both cans and bottles selectively and in which the dispenser associated therewith serves both as a receptacle for crown caps removed from the bottle as well as a dispenser for paper cups.

v This invention further contemplates the provision of a new and novel combination container opener and cup dispenser which locates the cup dispenser adjacent the opener for ready availability, which is attractive in outer appearance, and in which the paper cup dispenser is selfadjusting for accommodating paper cups of ,varying sizes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel cup dispenser which is automatically self-adjusting to accommodate paper cups of various sizes and which is arranged to support one of the cups as a receptacle for closures removed from a beverage bottle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The objects stated and other related objects in this invention are accomplished by providing an elongate support having a front wall. An opener for a container having a closure is fixedly secured to the support front wall, A cup dispenser is mounted on the support front wall below the container opener and means are provided on the upper end of the dispenser for supporting one of the cups as a receptacle for receiving the closures removed from the containers by the opener. Cups are removable from the dispenser for use as a vessel for the liquid contained in the container.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the combination container opener and cup dispenser of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view partially in section of the invention of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view partially in phantom taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, partial, sectional view of the dispenser of the invention illustrating its self-adjusting feature; and

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a modification of the opener incorporated in the invention.

3 As generally illustrative of the invention, there is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 a combination container opener and cup dispenser which includes an elongate support designated generally by the numeral 11 having a front wall 12. A container opener such as a crown cap remover designated generally by the numeral 13 is secured to the support front wall 12 adjacent its upper end. A cup dispenser designated generally by the numeral 14 is also mounted on the support front Wall 12 adjacent the lower end of the support 11 below the crown cap remover 13. As specifically illustrative of the invention, the support 11 is substantially planar in shape having a side wall 16 and a rear wall 17 and is arranged to be attached to a wall member or the like in any suitable manner. The support 11 may also be hung from such a wall member and, to this end, the support 11 is provided with an opening 18 for receipt of a nail, pin, or the like from which the support is hung. The support 11 is also preferably provided with a configuration corresponding to a soft drink bottle and therefore comprises a neck portion 11a and a body portion 11b as shown best in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURES l, 2, the container opener 13 is fixedly secured by suitable means to the front wall 12 adjacent the neck portion 11a. In the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2, the opener 13 is preferably an opener commonly referred to as a crown cap remover of conventional construction which is arranged to remove crown caps from beverage bottles such as glass bottles for soft drinks, soda and the like. As is well known, the remover 13 also includes a forwardly projecting inter- 21, 22 suitably apertured to accommodate mounting

screws

23, 24 respectively for fixedly securing the opener to the support front wall 12 as shown. The crown cap remover 13 also includes a forwardly projecting intermediate portion 26 having an opening 27 in its lower face, a fulcrum pad 28 formed integrally with the open- -ing 13 which extends into the opening 27 with the upper edge of the opening 27 providing a prying lip or ledge 29 engageable with the fluted flange of a crown cap (not shown). 9

In the well known manner, the closure or crown cap positioned in sealing relationship on a container such as a beverage bottle or the like is inserted into the opening 27 with the fulcrum pad 28 engaging the central portion of the cap and the prying lip 29 engaging the underside of the cap flange. A downward, pivoting movement of the beverage bottle permits the prying lip 29 to distort the crown cap flange removing it from the bottle.

The cup dispenser 14 comprises a tubular member 31 preferably molded from plastic or the like having an open lower end 31a. In the illustrated embodiment, the tubular @member 31 has an interior 32 and is preferably formed in two sections, an upper section 33 and a lower section 34 arranged for interfitting engagement at a joint 36 to form the tubular member 31.

Means are provided for mounting the tubular member 31 on the front wall 12 of the support 11. More specifically, as shown in FIGURE 3, a mounting plate 37 is suitably secured by means such as screws 38 to the front wall 12 of support 11. The mounting plate 37 is rabbeted along each vertical edge to form

shoulders

39, 40. The mounting plate 37 is therefore arranged to be received, in the well-known manner, within a similarly formed recess 41 within an extension 42 of the tubular member section 34 shown generally in broken lines in FIGURE 3. As is well known, the corresponding surfaces of the mounting plate 37 and recess 41 adjacent the

shoulders

39, 40 are suitably tapered so as to wedge the mounting plate 37 in the recess 41 as the tubular member section 34 is moved downwardly into the mounting position of FIGURE 1.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 2, 4, the interior 32 of the tubular member 31 is arranged to accommodate a plurality of cups 46 in vertically stacked, nested relationship. The tubular member 31 is also provided with an open lower end 3141. for aQ fiS t0. the lowermost cup in the stack for anual withdrawal from the tubular member 31 in the well-known manner.

Means are provided on the upper end of the dispenser 14 for supporting one of the cups 46 to receive the closures or crown caps removed from the containers with the opener 13. More specifically, the tubular member upper section 33 is provided with an inwardly extending, annular flange 47 having an annular edge 47a defining an opening 48 for removably accommodating one of the cups 46 in supporting engagement beneath the crown cap remover 13 so as to receive the closure or crown caps removed by the opener. As shown best in FIGURE 2, the flange annular edge 47a engages the side Wall of the receptacle cup 46 for easy installation and removal when closures received therein are to be discarded. It should be understood that although one size of cup 46 is shown in FIGURE 2, larger sizes of cups may be supported by the annular flange 46 since the conventionally tapered body of such cups permit the larger cups to be supported higher on the flange annular edge 47a with increasing cup sizes.

Means are provided on the tubular member 31 for yieldingly retaining the plurality of vertically stacked nested cups 46 within the tubular member interior 32. More specifically, the upper portion of the tubular member section 34 is provided with an enlarged diameter forming a shoulder 49 as shown in FIGURES 2, 6 to which are attached the upper ends of a plurality of spring members 51 arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship within the interior 32 of the tubular member 31. Preferably a plurality of slots 52 are provided within the shoulder 49 in which are positioned the upper end 51a of the spring members 51 having body portions 51b extending downwardly within the interior 32 of section 34 as shown. The spring members 51 are provided with suitably formed lower ends 51c which are yieldingly engageable with the lowermost cup 46 in the stack.

The spring members 51 are thus arranged for yielding, uniform, radial movement so as to be self-adjusting for retaining cups of various sizes in the dispenser 14 and thereby permitting successive withdrawal of the lowermost cup from the stack through the open lower end 31a of the tubular member 31. This selfadjusting feature of the cup dispenser 14, as shown best in FIGURE 4, permits the spring members 51 to move yieldingly in a selfa-djusting manner from the solid-line position to the dotted-line position shown to accommodate the large size cup C and the small size cup C respectively. It will be noted that the lower end 51c of the spring members 51 is maintained in engagement with the lowermost cup C, C in the vertically stacked nested cups.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, there is shown a modification of the container opener 13 of FIGURES l, 2. In the embodiment of FIGURE 5, the opener, designated generally by the numeral 54, includes a crown cap remover in combination with means for cutting a dispensing opening in the metal end 56 of a liquid container 57 such as a beer can or the like. More specifically, the intermediate portion 26' of the crown cap remover is provided with a forwardly projecting lip 58 which is arranged to engage the chime or head 59 on the container 57. The crown cap remover intermediate portion 26 also includes a pair of spaced ears 61 for supporting a pivot pin 62 for pivotally mounting a cutting blade 63 having an operating handle 64. If desired, the pivot pin 62 may be removably attached to the ears 61 for detachably mounting the cutting blade 63.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 5, the crown cap remover of the combined opener 54 may be used to remove closures or crown caps from bottles and the like in the manner described with respect to the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2. The crown caps removed fall into the receptacle cup 46' when removed as previously described. When it is desired to open a container 57, the can chime 59 is engaged with the lip 58 as shown in FIGURE 5 and the blade 63 pivoted manually by means of the op-- erating handle 64 from the dotted line to the solid line position of FIGURE 5 to cut and bend down a portion of the metal end 56 in the well-known manner thereby providing a dispensing opening.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A combination container opener and cup dispenser comprising, in combination, an elongate support having a front wall, an opener for a container having a closure, means for fixedly securing said container opener to said support front wall, a cup dispenser having an upper end and a lower end for dispensing cups, means for mounting said cup dispenser on said support front wall below said container opener, means adjacent said dispenser upper end for removably supporting one of said cups to receive the closures removed from said containers by said opener, said one cup supporting means comprises an inwardly extending annular flange on the upper end of said dispenser, said annular flange defining an opening for accommodating said one cup in supporting engagement therewith.

2. A combination opener and dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said container opener comprises a crown cap remover and wherein a receptacle for the crown caps removed by said opener is provided by said one cup.

3. A combination opener and dispenser in accordance with claim 2 wherein said container opener also includes means for cutting a dispensing opening in the metal end of a liquid container.

4. A combination opener and dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said cutting means includes a forwardly projecting cutting blade pivotally mounted on said crown cap remover, an operating handle connected to said blade for manually moving said blade into cutting engagement with said container metal end and means on said crown cap remover engageable with said container for positioning said container for cutting engagement of said metal end by said cutting blade.

5. A combination opener and dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support is substantially planar in shape and wherein said support front wall is provided with a configuration corresponding to a soft drink bottle having a neck portion and a body portion, said container opener being secured to said support front wall adjacent said neck portion and said cup dispenser being mounted on said front wall adjacent said body portion.

6. A combination opener and dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cup dispenser includes a tubular member having an interior arranged to accommodate a plurality of cups in vertically stacked, nested relationship, means for yieldingly retaining said plurality of cups in said tubular member interior, said tubular member lower end being open for access to the lowermost cup in said stack for manual removal from said tubular member, said cup retaining means being arranged for uniform radial movement for self-adjustment to retain cups of varying sizes in said tubular member interior.

7. A combination opener and cup dispenser in accordance with claim 6 wherein said self-adjusting cup retaining means comprises a plurality of spring fingers arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship within the interior of said tubular member, said spring members having upper ends attached to the inner wall of said tubular member and having body portions extending downwardly within said tubular member interior, said spring members having lower ends yieldingly engageable with the lowermost cup in said stack to adjustably retain cups of varying sizes and to permit successive withdrawal of the lowermost cup from said stack through the open lower end of said tubular member.

8. A self-adjusting cup dispenser comprising, in combination, a tubular member having an interior arranged to accommodate a plurality of cups in vertically stacked, nested relationship, said tubular member having an open lower end, a plurality of spring members arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship within the interior of said tubular member, said spring members having upper ends attached to the inner wall of said tubular member and having body portions extending downwardly within said tubular member interior, said spring members having lower ends yieldingly engageable with the lowermost cup in said stack to adjustably retain cups of varying sizes, and to permit successive withdrawal of the lowermost cup from said stack through the open lower end of said tubular member and including an inwardly extending, an-

nular flange on the upper end of said tubular member, said annular flange defining an opening for accommodating one of said cups in supporting engagement therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,787 4/1913 Nias 22l308 1,534,211 4/1925 Hamilton 81-33 1,975,649 10/ 1934 Reifsnyder 221-3 08 2,766,520 10/1956 Sheperak 16 FOREIGN PATENTS 943,935 12/ 1963 Great Britain.

WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.