Cup dispenser

Abstract

A cup dispenser for separating a bottom-most cup from a stack of cups having rims, the dispenser including a reciprocating separator defining an oblong opening for supporting the stack of cups, a portion of the opening having a diameter smaller than the rims, a wedge on each side of the separator adapted and configured for insertion between each side of a bottom-most cup and a second-to-bottom-most cup in the stack, so as to separate the bottom-most cup from the second-to-bottom-most cup, until the bottom-most cup falls through a wider diameter portion of the opening, and a stop member for engaging the stack during separation. The cup dispenser may further include a released cup holder and / or an adapter for changing the diameter of the opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to cup dispensers in general and, in particular, to a cup dispenser for disposable cups for dispensing one cup at a time.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Devices for dispensing disposable cups are known in the art. These generally include a tubular cup container affixable to a wall or water dispensing devices. The tubular container has an inward-facing lip which holds the rim of the bottom-most cup. When it is desired to release a cup, the user must move the cup back and forth in order to release the rim from the lip. However, generally more than one cup at a time is inadvertently pulled out of the dispenser, which is very annoying, and either the additional cups are thrown away, which is wasteful, or they are placed back on top of the container or in the stack, which is unhygienic. In addition, often such force is required to pull a cup out, that the cup is bent or distorted.[0003]A number of devices have been proposed for r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a cup dispenser, the method comprising providing a cup container for holding a stack of cups having a rim, mounting a separator unit for reciprocating motion in a housing beneath the cup container, the separator unit including a substantially planar body having an actuator rod at one end and a distal end, wherein the planar body defining an oblong opening, one end of the planar body and the distal end having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the rim of the cups

Problems solved by technology

However, generally more than one cup at a time is inadvertently pulled out of the dispenser, which is very annoying, and either the additional cups are thrown away, which is wasteful, or they are placed back on top of the container or in the stack, which is unhygienic.

In addition, often such force is required to pull a cup out, that the cup is bent or distorted.

Each of these devices has its disadvantages.

These two patents provide separation means but do not provide sufficient support for the stack, which tends to tilt when dispensing a cup.

When the stack tilts, the separation action is not smooth and cups often get stuck inside the dispenser.

A disadvantage in this dispenser is that the separated cup is often pulled into the slit by the separating member and gets stuck inside the dispenser.

In addition, these prior art dispensers are designed only for cups of one size.

Thus, these devices are unable to hold cups of different sizes and different lip finishes, as the device for releasing cups is of a pre-selected size.

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