Cup dispenser

Abstract

A cup dispenser having a plurality of resilient adjustable clips for engaging and dispensing cups without marring the surface of the dispensed cups. The clips include a cup engagement portion that exceeds the deformed width of the portion of a cup with which the clips are engaged.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 946,984, filed Jun. 25, 2007; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to dispensers and more particularly to a cup dispenser that dispenses cups one at a time without causing damage to the cup as it is dispensed.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Dispensers are widely used to store and dispense beverage cups. Typically, a stack of nested cups is held by a dispenser so that a portion of the bottom-most cup is exposed. An individual desiring a cup simply pulls on the exposed portion of the cup, and removes the bottom-most cup from the dispenser.[0004]Currently, three types of cup dispensers are generally used in the commercial and industrial food markets. All three types of dispensers have an opening and generally use a spring biased platform to urge cups towards the opening. The three types of dispenser...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided that employs multiple adjustable clips having a relatively wide line of contact with the bottom-most cup in a stack of cups. The width of the line of contact with the bottom-most cup spreads the retaining pressure on the cup out over a wider area than prior art devices, and when replicated among multiple clips, serves to minimize or eliminate the marring on the cup which would otherwise occur with the narrower lines of contact.

[0009]The clip shape of the present invention also permits improved loading of a stack of cups. The adjustable clips preferably include lead-in ramps which, unlike the prior art, provide a gentle egress into the dispenser with little or no marring of any cups in the stack.

[0010]The improvement in cup dispensing may be further enhanced by selecting materials that permit a balance between the rigidity and flexibility of the clip itself. Constructing the clips of the present invention with the appropriate flexibility permits the dispenser to dispense relatively efficiently despite minor misadjustments. It also contributes to the ability of the cup dispenser of the present invention to dispense cups without marring or cracking the cups.

Problems solved by technology

However, they cannot accommodate different cups sizes so that many different dispensers are required to meet all cup needs.

In order to adjust for even the slightest variation in cup size, a customer must purchase or deploy a new dispenser at a substantial cost.

While these dispensers are adjustable to accommodate different cup sizes and do not exhibit much wear from use, these designs have a tendency to mar or crack certain types of cups, e.g., foam cups.

Flexible diaphragms, however, are subject to wear.

As such, they need to be periodically replaced and thus, have ongoing costs associated with their use.

The current dispensers suffer from certain drawbacks and limitations.

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