Tableware dispensing system and method

Abstract

An escapement mechanism of a cutlery dispenser causes cutlery items to fall from a vertical stack onto a slide rail that guides the cutlery items to a dispensing position. The chute of the slide rail and the head channel can laterally restrain the tableware items. The damping surface may reduce bounce and skew of the tableware. The escapement may include at least three pivots and / or helical return springs. The dispenser may be mounted in any desired combination in the base and retained in the base by compatible features such as flanges and slots that prevent tilt of the dispenser. In embodiments, individual dispensers may be partially slid horizontally away from the base to access the side feature that would otherwise be occluded by adjacent dispensers. A cutlery quantity indicator may laterally contact the cutlery stack and may pivot to display a low cutlery signal when the cutlery stack is lowered below the indicator height.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application with application number 202080024630.6, application date March 26, 2020, and name "Tableware Dispensing System and Method".

[0002] References to related applications

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 824,002, filed on March 26, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to cutlery dispensers and methods of dispensing cutlery, and more particularly to mechanical, gravity-fed cutlery dispensers that dispense cutlery in a sanitary manner. Background Art

[0005] Many food service providers, such as restaurants and cafeterias, provide tableware and related articles for customers to consume food.Usually, when providing food in the form of "buffet", required tableware is directly placed on the buffet table or placed on the table in a suitable container, dispenser or can, and each consumer can select the tableware supplies they need from these tableware according to their preferences and / or the individual food selected.Similarly, when a consumer orders food in a fast service restaurant, tableware supplies and other condiments are usually set to self-service, and are taken out from a box or dispenser by the consumer.The tableware can be permanent or disposable.One of the advantages of making tableware available for self-service is to reduce the workload imposed on restaurants or catering service personnel.Making tableware supplies available for self-service allows restaurant employees to focus on filling food orders, and when tableware boxes or dispensers are insufficient, only their small amount of time is transferred to regularly refill them.

[0006] A simple method of self-service tableware distribution is to provide an open container or canister in which commonly used tableware is placed so that the user can easily select and grasp it. The advantages of this method are low cost, little maintenance, and enable employees to easily see from a distance whether the container needs to be refilled. However, this method is often unsanitary because it may be difficult for consumers to grasp and remove individual tableware items without touching other tableware items that are later retained for selection and use by others. Therefore, the process of removing tableware from the container or box itself creates unsanitary conditions.

[0007] In addition, if the tableware is inserted into the box, and their heads are downward, the user may also be difficult to quickly identify which tableware is in which box. On the other hand, if the tableware is placed in these boxes and their heads are exposed, the user can hardly select a tableware without contacting the heads of other tableware in the box. Therefore, many consumers are concerned about hygiene when selecting their own tableware from the supplies that are usually available. Many consumers wish to make sure that their tableware is clean, sanitary, new or just washed, and they wish to make sure that the tableware has not been used before and has not been handled in an unsanitary manner by others. The cross contamination produced on food utensils due to the handling and contact of multiple users can also cause the spread of infectious diseases, and is very concerning from the perspective of public health. In addition, this "open box" method usually requires a large amount of space dedicated to the tableware container, so that the tableware station has a large "floor area", which may be inconvenient.

[0008] Another method of ensuring the hygienic self-service distribution of disposable tableware is to provide pre-tableware supplies or "tableware sets", which are usually single tableware supplies or grouped sets of items (such as sets including forks, spoons, knives and napkins), wrapped in a plastic outer film or placed in a bag. However, individually wrapping tableware or tableware sets increases costs and produces excessive waste at least in the form of discarded outer wrappers. This method is also inconvenient for customers who need to remove the outer wrapper to access the tableware. In addition, pre-packed tableware sets with multiple tableware supplies prevent consumers from selecting only the tableware supplies they need, and may thus result in wasteful, unused tableware, which further increases costs and excessive waste disposal.

[0009] Another method of self-service dispensing of disposable tableware is to provide delivery of tableware from a dispenser. In commercial use, a common type of dispenser requires the user to press a lever or similar element to activate the dispenser and begin conveying a single tableware item to a retracted position such as a tray or compartment. Unfortunately, in practice, this method requires that each consumer touches the operating lever or handle before retrieving tableware from the dispenser tray, making these dispenser components themselves possible carriers of contamination, and in the process of actuating the tableware dispenser and retrieving tableware therefrom, by transferring viruses, bacteria and / or other microorganisms from the lever, handle or tray to the consumer, cross contamination between users may actually occur.

[0010] In addition, such dispensers typically store and dispense cutlery laterally, i.e., sideways, so that the heads and handles of the cutlery are typically equidistant from the user. However, such "broadside" transport of cutlery can cause the user to inadvertently grab the heads of the cutlery instead of the handles, thereby contaminating the food contact end and reducing hygiene. In addition, such a lateral storage and dispensing method requires that the dispenser must be slightly wider than the length of the cutlery being dispensed, causing the dispenser to occupy valuable space that may be needed for other devices and supplies such as condiments, napkins, etc. As a result, such cutlery dispensers are typically arranged in separate areas and are often located in different locations within a crowded service area depending on the available space, requiring the user to find them individually.

[0011] Other cutlery dispensing solutions include electrically actuated mechanisms that physically transfer cutlery from an inaccessible storage area to a user-accessible receiving area. Such electrically actuated dispensers tend to be more complex to construct than mechanical dispensers, and they require a power source, thereby limiting installation locations if an AC outlet is required, or requiring periodic battery replacement if batteries are required. Furthermore, electrically actuated dispensers tend to be bulky and prone to clogging and / or misfeeding.

[0012] Another problem with the dispensers of the prior art is that it is difficult for a restaurant or cafeteria employee to visually discern when the dispenser needs to be refilled, especially from a distance. As a result, users are often annoyed by an empty dispenser and are required to find restaurant staff and request that the dispenser be refilled.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need for a cutlery dispensing system and method that delivers cutlery to a user on demand, which ensures hygiene, has a reduced footprint, is intuitive and easy to use for the consumer and operator, is easily adapted to meet specific cutlery requirements, is inexpensive to manufacture and operate, and is easy to maintain. The present device and method meet these and other needs, as will appear below. Summary of the invention

[0014] The present invention is a gravity-fed cutlery dispensing system and method for delivering cutlery to a user on demand, which system and method particularly ensure hygiene, have a reduced footprint, and are easily adapted to meet specific cutlery requirements, while being intuitive and easy to use, refill and maintain for consumers and operators, and which overcomes other shortcomings of prior art dispensers.

[0015] Recently, a gravity-fed cutlery dispenser has been disclosed that presents the cutlery to the user "end-on" or longitudinally rather than laterally, i.e., with a narrow width and extended depth facing the user. This longitudinal cutlery dispenser is disclosed in U.S. Patent 8,272,533, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. According to this method, cutlery is provided to the user "handle-first". Although this "end-on" approach has many advantages over the lateral dispenser approach, the end-on design exhibits some disadvantages. One problem is directional stability, because the narrow footprint relative to the height of the dispenser creates a tendency for the dispenser to tip over when it is bumped or jostled. Although this tipping tendency can be addressed by providing a relatively wide dispenser base or bottom, doing so negates the footprint advantage obtained by utilizing an end-on dispenser. On the other hand, if the dispenser is made shorter to provide increased stability, the cutlery capacity is reduced, which requires frequent refilling of the dispenser.

[0016] In addition, if a group of similar end-to-end dispensers are arranged or fixed side by side, only the front and top of the dispenser are accessible for the dispenser in the middle of the group. Usually, for ease of loading, a plurality of cutlery items are bundled into "packs" and loaded into the dispenser from the top, after which any pack associated with the pack must be removed. Only limited access to the top and front of the dispenser may make it very complicated to refill the cutlery dispenser with new cutlery and prepare it for distribution, for example, due to the removal of the pack after the cutlery pack is installed. Lack of side access also makes it more difficult to maintain the dispenser and clear any debris that may fall into the dispenser, and / or remove cutlery items that become blocked.

[0017] Another problem that may exist with longitudinal or end dispensers is the possibility of mechanical failure under heavy use. This problem may be caused by repeated bending of a return spring such as a leaf spring, which may lead to deformation of the spring, metal fatigue and eventual failure of the mechanism.

[0018] Furthermore, as discussed above, and as is typically the case with most cutlery dispensers currently in use, it can be difficult for an operator to easily discern the level of cutlery remaining in the dispenser, so that these dispensers must be frequently opened and checked to ensure that the user is not inconvenienced by an empty dispenser.

[0019] The present invention solves these and other problems existing in the prior art. In particular, the present invention provides a novel dispensing system, which in embodiments provides lateral access to (multiple) end-to-end dispensers for loading and maintenance purposes while maintaining a compact dispenser footprint. It should be noted that the description of the present invention herein is with reference to the dispensing of tableware items such as forks, spoons, knives and spoons that are commonly used to consume food. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the dispensing of such tableware, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may exemplify and utilize the systems and methods disclosed herein to dispense other elongated objects including a proximal handle portion for grasping and a distal head.

[0020] The dispenser system of the present invention includes at least one end cutlery dispenser configured to accommodate a generally vertical stack of identical, mutually aligned cutlery items having longitudinal axes substantially aligned horizontally, and a first cutlery item that is tilted downward and held in a dispensing position. The dispenser system further includes a dispensing escapement that is automatically activated when a user removes the first cutlery item.

[0021] More specifically, a handle portion of the first cutlery item extends from an opening in a user-facing front panel of the dispenser so that a user can grasp the handle portion to remove the first cutlery item from the dispenser. When the user manually grasps the handle portion and moves the first cutlery item away from the dispensing position, the head of the first cutlery item actuates an escapement member, which causes the escapement to separate from the bottom of the stack and release the "bottom-most" cutlery item, thereby allowing the bottom-most cutlery item to point downwardly to the dispensing position under the action of gravity along an inclined surface or track, whereby it replaces the dispensed first cutlery item.

[0022] In addition to the escapement member, the escapement includes lower and upper retaining surfaces interconnected by a plurality of pivots and a pair of durable coil springs for actuating or cycling the escapement to provide consistent and reliable singulation and dispensing from the stacked cutlery items. In various embodiments, the improved escapement is less prone to mechanical fatigue and deformation than conventional dispensing mechanisms, even when the cutlery dispenser is subjected to heavy use in busy locations.

[0023] The end "handle first" construction of the disclosed dispenser system makes the housing only slightly wider than the width of the dispensed cutlery, thereby significantly saving space and achieving other advantages compared to lateral "wide-edge" dispensers. Certain embodiments of the present invention further provide a base unit having multiple compartments for mounting and accommodating multiple dispensers, wherein any of the compartments can receive any of the cutlery dispensers in an interchangeable manner. According to these embodiments, the base unit can accommodate multiple dispensers placed side by side, thereby providing a stable dispenser system that is difficult to tip over, while enabling users to select their desired cutlery from a single location or station within the service area, so that users do not need to search multiple dispensers and do not need to navigate through the traffic of other users when they search for a dispenser that provides the cutlery they need.

[0024] In an embodiment, the bottom end of each dispenser is inserted forward into a compatible slot disposed in the base unit. In some of these embodiments, the bottom of each dispenser includes an engagement feature, such as a flange or projection, which cooperates with the compatible slot in the base unit so that even when the dispenser partially slides out of the base, the lateral tipping of the dispenser is prevented. This method enables an operator to easily access the side panels of the dispenser to refill and / or clear the debris and cutlery jams of the dispenser, even if the dispenser is located between adjacent dispensers, simply by temporarily pulling the dispenser forward partially out of the base, and then returning it completely to the base after the dispenser has been refilled and / or cleared. In other embodiments, the base unit includes one or more flanges or projections that engage with the corresponding slots disposed at the bottom of the dispenser.

[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment, the base can hold three dispensing units that can be selected from a variety of different available dispenser types, wherein the selected set of dispensers can be easily changed as needed. For example, a cafeteria operator can choose to place a fork dispenser, a knife dispenser, and a spoon dispenser on the base to provide users with their choice of all major tableware items. Alternatively, the operator can choose to place any selection of dispensers on the tableware base according to the event, and can even choose to change the selection of dispensers during the event. For example, two fork dispensers and a knife dispenser can be installed in the base for use during the main process, and then two spoon dispensers and a fork dispenser can be installed in the base for use during the dessert process.

[0026] Therefore, mounting multiple vertical dispensers on a single base provides a customizable, compact cutlery dispensing system having an equivalent or smaller footprint than conventional "broadside" dispenser units that dispense only a single type of cutlery, as currently available on the market. The narrow width provided by the dispenser of the present invention thus leaves more available space in which an operator can position additional dispensing systems and / or other items for consumers as desired. Alternatively, depending on the type of cutlery required, particularly for use where space is at a premium, the base unit can be constructed to have only two compartments, or even a single compartment. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the dispenser base may also be constructed to have more than three compartments to accommodate additional dispensers for high flow situations and / or for providing additional cutlery options.

[0027] In an embodiment, the dispenser base is modular and includes a plurality of spaced base units that can be interconnected by interconnecting features that allow the spaced base units to be combined together to obtain a base configuration with multiple compartments. For example, two compartment base units can be connected side by side with an interconnecting feature located between them to provide a two-compartment dispenser base. Similarly, three or more spaced base units can be combined together using a plurality of interconnecting features, thereby enabling any desired number of compartment base units to be combined together as building blocks to form a base with an arbitrarily large number of compartments.

[0028] Thus, in various embodiments, the spaced base units are connected in series as building blocks via at least one interconnecting feature therebetween to yield two-compartment base units, three-compartment base units, four-compartment base units, five-compartment base units, six-compartment base units, or more.

[0029] In some embodiments, each spaced base unit can be configured to operate as an independent dispenser base and can also be assembled in series with one or more additional spaced base units to form a spaced base unit chain or group by installing a universal interconnection feature between each pair of adjacent spaced base units. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that any two adjacent spaced base units used as building blocks in the grouped structure of the multi-compartment base can be identical to each other or different from each other. For example, a first structural unit can include a single compartment and a second structural unit can include multiple compartments.

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention include a low cutlery indicator that provides a visible indication or signal to an operator or user that the cutlery level in a dispenser is running low. The low cutlery indicator includes an indicator arm and a contact arm mounted on an indicator pivot and positioned so that the contact arm contacts the stored cutlery stack. Once the stored cutlery stack drops below a certain amount, the contact arm loses contact with the cutlery stack, allowing the low cutlery indicator to rotate around the indicator pivot so that the low cutlery signal provided on the indicator arm becomes visible through an indicator window provided in the housing of the dispenser, which notifies the operator or user that the dispenser should be refilled. In similar embodiments, the low cutlery signal is not visible through an indicator window opening in the dispenser housing, but is visible through a transparent or translucent housing or section of the housing. The disclosed low cutlery indicator is a non-electronic, purely mechanical solution that can be applied to any dispenser or dispenser system that dispenses cutlery from a vertical or inclined stack.

[0031] Although reference is made herein to a single "low cutlery" indicator, it will be appreciated that other embodiments include multiple such indicators and that each indicator may provide a separate cutlery height signal to visually display that the cutlery stack has dropped below a certain height, whether or not that fact indicates a need to refill the dispenser.

[0032] The dispenser of the present invention further comprises a sliding track, which guides the tableware item when each tableware item is converted from the tableware items stored in the stack to the dispensing position, thereby minimizing tableware jamming. The sliding track comprises a sliding channel for guiding the handle of the bottommost tableware item when it falls from the stack and slides to the dispensing position. In a plurality of embodiments, for at least some of the dispensers included in the present invention, the entire tableware item is kept in the sliding channel during the transfer to the dispensing position. In other embodiments of the present invention, in addition to the sliding channel for guiding the tableware handles, the sliding track further comprises a sliding surface, which is arranged on either side of the side channel, and when the bottommost tableware item slides to the dispensing position, the sliding surface supports the head of the tableware item in an elevated position above the handle portion. In a plurality of embodiments, the sliding track further comprises a guide skirt, which laterally restricts the tableware item after each tableware item has been released from the vertical stack, so that the tableware item falls onto the sliding track under gravity in a desired manner and reaches the dispensing position in a desired orientation.

[0033] In various embodiments, other features are provided, such as a handle deflector and / or a vertical suspension arm that transitions downward from the cutlery storage chamber to the slide track area, which further assist in directing the falling cutlery items onto the slide track and / or prevent undesired contact between the cutlery items and other dispenser components. In addition, the slide track is oriented at an angle that provides an optimal slope for each cutlery item to slide downward to the dispensing position in a controlled manner by gravity without gathering excessive momentum when the cutlery items reach the dispensing position, causing rotation, twisting, jamming, or accidental activation of the escapement member.

[0034] The dispenser of the present invention can be configured to dispense specific tableware items with or without rotation or twisting, depending on the shape of the tableware items to be dispensed. Some dispensers of the present invention maintain their orientation when each tableware item is delivered to the dispensing position, except that the handle is deflected downward compared to the head. However, for some tableware shapes, each tableware item must be reoriented when it is delivered to the dispensing position so that it can be maintained by the escapement member.

[0035] In particular, some dispenser embodiments configured to dispense knives include a feature that redirects each knife from a stacked horizontal orientation to a semi-vertical or vertical orientation in the dispensing position whereby a nose portion of the blade is directed upwardly so that it contacts a detent member and holds the knife in the dispensing position.

[0036] More specifically, some knife dispenser embodiments include one or more alignment guides that help guide and hold the heads of the stack of knives in a particular arrangement whereby the head of the bottom-most knife is laterally offset by a small amount from the remainder of the stack, thereby improving segmentation and rotation of the bottom-most knife as it is conveyed to the dispensing position. In some of these embodiments, a ramp is provided near the bottom of the alignment guide or guides that extends laterally and pushes the head of the bottom-most knife away from underneath the remainder of the stack.

[0037] Embodiments also provide one or more rollers that assist in rotating and transferring the knives from their horizontal stacked position to a vertical orientation. In some of these embodiments, the bottom-most knife or a portion thereof rests on or is suspended above one or more rollers. Once the bottom-most knife is released for dispensing, the end of its handle begins to fall downward, and the rest of the handle and the head follow. The roller (or each roller) is supported by a pivot that is configured to rotate when the full weight of the bottom-most knife is applied to the roller, which causes the knife to rotate along its longitudinal axis as it falls onto the slide track under the action of gravity.

[0038] For each of the one or more rollers, the roller pivot is configured to return the roller to its initial position once the bottom-most knife has slid over it and its weight has been removed from the roller. The rollers may be included alone or in conjunction with one or more platforms or alignment guides configured to contact the falling knife and align the falling knife to a full 90 degree rotation or other desired tilt angle as it falls onto the slide track. In a similar embodiment, one or more such platforms are used without rollers.

[0039] In a number of embodiments, the sliding track further includes at least one damping surface, which is made of a specially selected material that is less rigid than the rest of the sliding track and reduces the rebound and deflection of the tableware items when the tableware items fall under gravity and hit the sliding track. In a number of embodiments, the damping surface is an area of ​​reduced rigidity on the sliding channel floor that reduces rebound when the handle of the falling tableware hits the sliding channel. In some embodiments, the damping surface is located in an area of ​​the chute floor that is directly below the proximal end of the bottom tableware handle. The damping surface can also be configured on the sliding surface to cushion the initial fall of the head of each bottom tableware item when it falls from the vertical stack, and / or reduce the rebound of any or all parts of the bottom tableware item when it hits the sliding track.

[0040] In some embodiments, the damping surface is configured as a thin, semi-rigid metal base or foil that is suspended above an open area or chamber, thereby allowing temporary and slight deformation of the damping surface, which reduces excessive bounce or skew of dropped cutlery while maintaining a low friction surface for the cutlery to slide along the slide track to the dispensing position.

[0041] In various embodiments, the slide track mount includes a pivot at its distal end and a latch at its proximal end that is accessible to an operator to allow the entire slide track to swing down for cleaning, unjamming, and / or other maintenance.

[0042] A first general aspect of the present invention is a cutlery dispenser configured to sequentially dispense a plurality of cutlery items, each of which has a handle and a head arranged at opposite ends of a major axis of the cutlery item, the head being at least one of wider and taller than the handle. The cutlery dispenser includes a housing having a front, a rear, two side portions, a top, and a bottom, the width of the housing facing the front being less than the depth of the housing facing the side portions, the dispenser chamber being located in an upper region of the dispenser within the housing, the dispenser chamber being configured to contain a vertical stack of the cutlery items, the vertical stack being terminated at its bottom end by a bottommost cutlery item in the vertical stack, and an escapement configured to hold a first cutlery item of the plurality of cutlery items in a dispensing position whereby the handle of the first cutlery item extends beyond the front of the dispenser housing.

[0043] The escapement is configured such that a user actuates the escapement by removing the first cutlery item from the dispenser by grasping and pulling its handle, thereby causing the bottom-most cutlery item to be separated from the stack and gravity-shifted to the dispensing position while the remainder of the stack is retained in the dispenser chamber, whereby the bottom-most cutlery item becomes a replacement first cutlery item and the next cutlery item in the stack becomes a replacement bottom-most cutlery item. The escapement comprises at least three pivoting members interconnected by at least three different pivots.

[0044] In various embodiments, the escapement mechanism includes an escapement member configured to hold the first cutlery item in a dispensing position by contact between the head of the first cutlery item and the bottom end of the escapement member, a lower retaining surface that cooperates with the escapement member and is configured to support the proximal end of the bottom-most cutlery, while the distal end of the bottom-most cutlery is supported by a support surface that is adjacent to the distal end of the track, a swinging member that is pivotally engaged with the escapement member, and an upper retaining surface that cooperates with the swinging member and is positioned at a height between the proximal end of the handle of the bottom-most cutlery item and the next cutlery item in the vertical stack.

[0045] The escapement mechanism is configured such that when the handle of the first cutlery item is grasped by the user and the first cutlery item is taken out of the dispenser, as the first cutlery item passes under the escapement member, the bottom end of the escapement member is pulled forward by the head of the first cutlery item, the first retaining surface is withdrawn from under the proximal end of the bottom-most cutlery item, the swing arm is actuated by the escapement member, thereby causing the second retaining member to pivot and be inserted under the proximal end of the handle of the next cutlery item, the bottom-most cutlery item falls downward from the vertical stack onto the sliding track and is guided by the sliding track as it slides by gravity to the dispensing position, the escapement member recovers from actuation, thereby retaining the bottom-most cutlery item in the dispensing position as the replaced first cutlery item.

[0046] When the escapement member is retracted, the lower retaining surface is reinserted under the proximal end of the handle of the next cutlery item and the upper retaining surface is withdrawn from under the proximal end of the handle of the next cutlery item, whereby the proximal end of the next cutlery item falls on the lower retaining surface, the next cutlery item thereby becoming the bottom-most cutlery item to be replaced.

[0047] In any of the above embodiments, the escapement may further include a helical return spring configured to return the escapement to a rest configuration after actuation thereof. In some of these embodiments, the escapement includes a plurality of helical return springs.

[0048] A second general aspect of the present invention is a cutlery dispenser configured to dispense a plurality of cutlery items in series, each cutlery item having a handle and a head arranged at opposite ends of a long axis of the cutlery item, the head being at least one of wider and taller than the handle. The cutlery dispenser comprises a housing having a front, a rear, two side portions, a top, and a bottom, the width of the housing facing the front being less than the depth of the housing facing the side portions, the dispenser chamber being located in an upper region of the dispenser within the housing, the dispenser chamber being configured to contain a vertical stack of the cutlery items, the vertical stack being terminated at its bottom end by the bottommost cutlery item in the vertical stack, and an escapement configured to hold a first cutlery item of the plurality of cutlery items in a dispensing position whereby the handle of the first cutlery item extends beyond the front of the dispenser housing.

[0049] The escapement is configured such that a user removes the first cutlery item from the dispenser by grasping and pulling its handle, actuating the escapement, causing the bottom-most cutlery item to be separated from the vertical stack and guided by the downwardly inclined sliding track to the dispensing position under the action of gravity, while the remainder of the vertical stack is retained in the dispenser chamber, whereby the bottom-most cutlery item becomes the replaced first cutlery item and the next cutlery item in the stack becomes the replaced bottom-most cutlery item.

[0050] The slide track includes a slide channel configured to laterally restrain the handle of the bottom-most cutlery item, and a head channel configured to laterally restrain the head of the bottom-most cutlery item when the bottom-most cutlery item slides by gravity to the dispensing position.

[0051] In some embodiments, the head channel is wider than the sliding channel, the head channel includes a sliding surface, when the bottom-most tableware item slides to the dispensing position, the head of the bottom-most tableware item rests on the sliding surface; and the sliding track is formed in a central area of ​​the sliding surface.

[0052] In other embodiments, the head channel is the slide channel and is configured to accommodate both the handle and the head of the bottom-most cutlery item when the bottom-most cutlery item is slid into the dispensing position.

[0053] In some embodiments, wherein the head channel is the slide channel and is configured to accommodate the handle and the head of the bottom-most cutlery item when the bottom-most cutlery item slides to the dispensing position, the dispenser is configured to rotate the bottom-most cutlery item about its long axis from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation when the bottom-most cutlery item falls from the stack into the slide channel, such that the head of the bottom-most cutlery item extends upwardly over the slide channel and is held in the first position by the escapement. Some of these embodiments further include at least one pivot support that is vertically impacted by the bottom-most cutlery item when the bottom-most cutlery item is released from the stack, the pivot support being configured to pivot in response to a gravity force exerted thereon by the bottom-most cutlery item, thereby causing rotation of the bottom-most cutlery item about its long axis. In any of these embodiments, the slide track may further include at least one inwardly inclined surface configured to guide the bottom-most cutlery item from a partially rotated configuration to a fully rotated configuration as it falls into the slide channel. In any of these embodiments, before the bottom-most cutlery item is separated and released from the stack, the distal end of its head may be supported by a head support surface that extends only partially below the distal end, so that when the proximal end of the handle of the bottom-most cutlery item is released by the escapement, the head support surface applies a rotational torque about its long axis to the bottom-most cutlery item as the bottom-most cutlery item falls toward the slide track.

[0054] In any embodiment of the second general aspect, the sliding channel may further include a damping surface configured to reduce rebound and deflection of the bottom-most tableware item when the proximal end of the bottom-most tableware item falls on the damping surface. Some of these embodiments also include a damping space disposed below the damping surface, the damping space enabling the damping surface to elastically expand into the damping space when the proximal end of the bottom-most tableware item falls on the damping surface.

[0055] And in any of these embodiments, the slide track can be configured to cause the first cutlery item to slide toward the dispensing position at an angle of approximately 27 degrees from horizontal.

[0056] A third general aspect of the present invention is a cutlery dispensing system that includes a base including a base front, a base rear, and at least one base compartment, wherein each of the base compartments includes a first retention feature.

[0057] The cutlery dispensing system further includes at least one cutlery dispenser, the cutlery dispenser including an internal dispenser chamber within a dispenser housing, the dispenser housing having a dispenser front, a dispenser rear, a dispenser first side, a dispenser second side, a dispenser top, a dispenser bottom, and a second retaining feature adjacent to the dispenser bottom, the internal dispenser chamber being configured to store a plurality of cutlery items in a stack of cutlery items and to dispense the plurality of cutlery items sequentially from the dispenser front. The cutlery dispenser is configured to be installed in the base by mutual engagement of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature when the dispenser is inserted into one of the at least one base compartments in the base, wherein the mutual engagement of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature prevents the cutlery dispenser from tipping over after the cutlery dispenser is installed in the base.

[0058] In an embodiment, a first retention feature in the base extends horizontally from the front of the base to a position proximate the rear of the base, the first retention feature being configured as one of a track, a groove, a channel, a slot, and a recess.

[0059] In any of these embodiments, a second retention feature may extend horizontally from the dispenser front to a location proximate the dispenser rear, the second retention feature being configured as one of a flange, a protrusion, a rib, a roller, and a projection.

[0060] In any of the above embodiments, the first retaining feature in the base may include a horizontally extending slot into which the second retaining feature is slidingly inserted when the cutlery dispenser is installed in the base.

[0061] In any of the above embodiments, the second retaining feature may include a horizontally extending flange that is slidingly inserted into the first retaining feature when the cutlery dispenser is installed in the base.

[0062] In any of the above embodiments, the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature can be configured to allow the cutlery dispenser to be horizontally slidably inserted into the base during the installation process, and to be configured to slide halfway out of the base to provide access to at least a first side of the dispenser for refilling the cutlery dispenser after the plurality of cutlery items have been at least partially exhausted.

[0063] In any of the above embodiments, the base may include multiple base compartments, and all first retaining features in the multiple base compartments may be identical to each other, and the multiple base compartments are configured to receive multiple cutlery dispensers, wherein all second retaining features in the multiple cutlery dispensers are identical to each other, so that the multiple cutlery dispensers can be installed in the multiple base compartments in the base in any positioning order.

[0064] In any of the above embodiments, the base may include a plurality of base compartments having a plurality of cutlery dispensers mounted therein, the plurality of mounted cutlery dispensers being selected from a larger plurality of cutlery dispensers including a number of cutlery dispensers exceeding the number of mounted cutlery dispensers included in the base, such that any subset of the larger plurality of cutlery dispensers may be selected and mounted in the base in any positioning order.

[0065] In any of the above embodiments, the base may include a plurality of base compartments, and each of the base compartments may be separated from an adjacent base compartment in the base by a distance of at least 0.25 inches.

[0066] In any of the above embodiments, the base may include at least two base compartments, and the base front may have a width of less than 9.5 inches.

[0067] In any of the above embodiments, the base may include at least three base compartments for receiving at least three cutlery dispensers, and the base front may have a width of less than 14 inches.

[0068] In any of the above embodiments, the base may include at least three base compartments, and the base front may have a width of less than 13 inches.

[0069] In any of the above embodiments, the base may include a first compartment base unit, the first compartment base unit including at least one base compartment, the first compartment base unit including a unit attachment feature that enables the side of the first compartment base unit to be attached to the side of the second compartment base unit. Some of these embodiments also include a pair of end caps, the end caps being attached to the ends of the base by end cap attachment features compatible with the unit attachment features. In any of these embodiments, the base may also include a second compartment base unit, the adjacent sides of the first and second base compartment units being interconnected by an interconnection feature structure, the interconnection feature structure including an interconnection attachment feature structure on its first and second opposite sides, the interconnection attachment feature structure engaging with the unit attachment feature structure of the adjacent first and second compartment base units. In some of these embodiments, the first and second compartment base units include different numbers of compartments. In any of these embodiments, the base may also include a third compartment base unit attached to the side of the second compartment base unit by a second interconnection feature.

[0070] A third general aspect of the present invention is a cutlery dispenser configured to dispense a plurality of cutlery items in a row. The cutlery dispenser includes a dispenser housing having a dispenser front, a dispenser rear, a dispenser first side, a dispenser second side, a dispenser top, and a dispenser bottom, an interior dispenser chamber within the dispenser housing, the interior dispenser chamber being configured to store a plurality of cutlery items in a cutlery item stack, and a cutlery item quantity indicator.

[0071] The tableware item quantity indicator includes: an indicator arm that pivots about an indicator pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a contact arm that cooperates with the indicator arm and is configured to laterally contact the stack of tableware items at an indicator height of the stack of tableware items, the contact arm maintaining the indicator arm in the engaged position when in contact with the stack of tableware items; and an indicator signal that cooperates with the indicator arm and is configured to be externally visible when the indicator arm is in the disengaged position and to be externally invisible when the indicator arm is in the engaged position.

[0072] The cutlery item level indicator is operable such that when the height of the cutlery item stack is lowered below the indicator height, the contact arm is released from contact with the cutlery item stack, thereby causing the indicator arm to pivot to the unengaged position, thereby causing the indicator signal to become externally visible.

[0073] In an embodiment, the dispenser front includes an indicator window through which the indicator signal is visible when the indicator arm is in the disengaged position.

[0074] In any of the above embodiments, the contact arm may be configured to laterally contact a proximal end of at least one cutlery item included in the stack of cutlery items when the indicator arm is in the engaged position.

[0075] In any of the above embodiments, after the indicator signal is activated to be visible, the indicator height may be set at a level sufficiently high from the bottommost cutlery item in the stack of cutlery items to provide at least one cutlery item remaining in the stack of cutlery items.

[0076] And any of the above embodiments may further include a plurality of tableware item quantity indicators configured to be released at a corresponding plurality of different indicator heights of the tableware item stack.

[0077] It should be noted that the dispenser of any embodiment of the first general aspect may further include the sliding track of any embodiment of the second general aspect, may be compatibly mounted in any base of the third general aspect, and / or may further include the tableware item quantity indicator of any embodiment of the fourth general aspect.

[0078] The dispenser of any embodiment of the second general aspect may further include the escapement mechanism of any embodiment of the first general aspect, may be compatibly mounted in any base of the third general aspect, and / or may further include (one or more) tableware item quantity indicators of any embodiment of the fourth general aspect.

[0079] Any dispenser included in the dispenser system of any embodiment of the third general aspect may further include the escapement mechanism of any embodiment of the first general aspect, may further include the sliding track of any embodiment of the second general aspect, and / or may further include the tableware item quantity indicator of any embodiment of the fourth general aspect.

[0080] Furthermore, the dispenser of any embodiment of the fourth general aspect may further include the escapement mechanism of any embodiment of the first general aspect, may further include the sliding track of any embodiment of the second general aspect, and / or may be compatibly mounted in any base of the third general aspect.

[0081] The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive, and expressly, many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the drawings, the specification, and the claims. In addition, it should be noted that the language used in the specification is primarily selected for readability and instructional purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0082] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a dispenser assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser assembly including three cutlery dispensers attached to a base;

[0083] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A a front view of a dispenser assembly of wherein each dispenser has a piece of cutlery loaded into a dispensing position;

[0084] Figure 1C yes Figure 1A a right side view of the distributor assembly showing the access door;

[0085] Figure 1D yes Figure 1A A left side view of the dispenser assembly of , showing the viewing window;

[0086] Figure 1E is a top view of the dispenser assembly showing a cutlery loading door of each dispenser;

[0087] Figures 1F to 1K is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the disclosed cutlery dispenser during various stages of refilling and preparation for dispensing;

[0088] Figure 1L It is a summary Figures 1F to 1K A flowchart of the steps shown;

[0089] Figure 2A yes Figure 1A A perspective view of a fork dispenser with all of the exterior housing and doors removed except for the front portion;

[0090] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A A side view of a dispenser of , showing four major components of the dispenser, including a guide rail, an escapement assembly, a slide track, and a cutlery indicator;

[0091] Figure 2C yes Figure 1A a top view of the dispenser assembly of with a loading door of each dispenser removed;

[0092] Figures 3A-3D An escapement assembly for a fork dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown with the bottom-most cutlery in a released position and the slide track having the first cutlery aligned in the dispensing position;

[0093] Figure 3E-3F Show Figure 3A In the embodiment shown, there is no cutlery;

[0094] Figure 3G and 3H yes Figure 3F Transparent side view of the escapement assembly, showing the rest and actuated configurations respectively.

[0095] Figures 4A-4E Shown Figure 3A Embodiments of the present invention, wherein cutlery in a dispensing position and a stack of cutlery stored and ready for dispensing are shown;

[0096] Figure 5 yes Figures 3A-3E , showing the position of the cutlery in the dispenser when the escapement member has just returned to its rest position after being actuated by the head of the first cutlery;

[0097] Figures 6A-6C An escapement assembly of a knife dispenser in an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0098] Figures 7A-7G Shown is the Figures 6A-6C an alignment guide and roller for dispensing knives of a knife dispenser;

[0099] Fig. 8A yes Figure 1A A perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing the sliding tracks of each dispenser from a fork, a spoon and a knife;

[0100] Figure 8B yes Fig. 8A A top view of the slide track of the dispenser showing cutlery items in a dispensing position in each of the dispensers;

[0101] Figure 8C yes Fig. 8A A top view of the slide track of , showing cutlery in the bottom-most position in each dispenser;

[0102] Fig.8D yes Fig. 8A A top view of the sliding track of the embodiment of the present invention, showing no cutlery;

[0103] Fig.9A yes Figure 1A a side view of the interior of the middle dispenser showing the low cutlery indicator in its engaged position;

[0104] Fig. 9B yes Fig.9A Stereoscopic image of

[0105] Fig. 9C yes Fig.9A , showing the low cutlery indicator in its engaged position prior to transitioning to its unengaged position;

[0106] Fig.9D yes Fig.9A, showing a side view of the low cutlery indicator in its disengaged position;

[0107] Fig. 10A is a perspective view of a 3-compartment base that can accommodate three dispensers;

[0108] Fig. 10B is with Fig. 10A A perspective view of a fork dispenser compatible with but shown external to the base;

[0109] Fig. 10C yes Fig. 10B A front view of a fork dispenser;

[0110] Fig. 10D is with Fig. 10A A perspective view of a scoop dispenser compatible with the base but shown outside the base;

[0111] Fig.10E yes Fig. 10D A front view of a scoop dispenser;

[0112] Fig.10F is with Fig. 10A A perspective view of a knife dispenser compatible with but shown external to the base;

[0113] Figure 10G yes Fig.10F A front view of a knife dispenser; and

[0114] Figures 10H-10J are side views of a refill package configured for a fork, spoon, and knife dispenser, respectively;

[0115] Fig.11A is a perspective view of a compartmented base unit configured as a 1-compartment dispenser base in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0116] Fig. 11B is by placing two Fig.11A A perspective view of a 2-compartment dispenser base constructed by combining spaced base units of the type shown;

[0117] Fig. 11C is with Fig.11A and 11B A perspective view of the end caps compatible with the use of the spaced base unit shown;

[0118] Fig.11D is a stereoscopic end view of an interconnect feature, which is compatible with interconnects such as Fig.11A and 11B Base unit with spacing shown.

[0119] Fig.11Eis a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a four-compartment base formed by combining two spaced-apart base units, each compartment base unit including two compartments;

[0120] Fig.11F yes Fig.11E An exploded perspective view of a four-compartment base; and

[0121] Figures 11G-11H An exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view are respectively a four-compartment base unit formed by combining a single-compartment base unit with a three-compartment base unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0122] The present invention is a novel system and method for dispensing cutlery which provides improved sanitation assurance, easy access to multiple different types of cutlery such as forks, spoons, and knives from a single station without requiring the user to move or walk from dispenser to another, a compact footprint and space savings, a low cutlery signal visible from a distance, easy refilling, automatic actuation of the next cutlery item purely mechanically by gravity without the need for electrical connections or periodic replenishing of batteries, easy maintenance, easy adaptability to meet specific cutlery requirements, and many other improvements over prior art dispensers.

[0123] Although the present invention is described herein with reference to only a few specific embodiments, which describe in detail the dispensing of disposable forks, knives and spoons, it should be understood that the description herein is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments or features shown or described. The present invention and representative embodiments are capable of various modifications and variations that can be conceived by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation to dispense other types of tableware, such as spoons, stirrers or chopsticks, and all such modifications and variations are considered to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0124] In addition, both disposable and permanent tableware items can be dispensed by the system and method of the present invention. In general, it should be understood that the present invention can be adapted to dispense substantially any elongated object comprising a handle portion and a head portion. Thus, the dispenser of the present invention is also suitable for dispensing elongated shaped items, such as various medical and dental tools, and other objects not involving food consumption.

[0125] Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the disclosed dispenser can have a size and shape consistent with the size and shape of the cutlery to be dispensed, and the storage capacity of the cutlery can be easily adjusted as required by the specific application. The following description and accompanying drawings provide further details and examples of the present invention and its embodiments, wherein the same reference numerals represent the same components.

[0126] Figures 1A to 1D An external view of an embodiment of the disclosed dispenser system 100 is shown. Figures 10A to 10G A view of the individual components of the dispenser system 100 is shown. Figure 1A , the embodiment of the dispenser system 100 shown comprises a common base 101 with three chambers for accommodating three cutlery dispensers. In the embodiment shown, the dispensers installed are a fork dispenser 103, a spoon dispenser 104 and a knife dispenser 105. Fig. 10A The base 101 is shown without the dispenser mounted. The base 101 features side rails 208 that extend from the front to the rear of the base 101 on either side of each of the three compartments. Fig. 10A Each compartment in the illustrated base 101 includes a pair of channels or slots, namely slots 202, 204, and 206. Each slot in the base 101 is configured to receive a corresponding engagement feature provided in the dispenser, as described below. Figures 10B-10G A perspective view and a front view, respectively, of the fork, spoon and knife dispenser before being installed in the base 101 .

[0127] The cutlery dispensers 103, 104 and 105 and the base 101 have a modular structure to allow for interchangeability of the cutlery dispensers and their relative positions within the base 101. For example, the dispensers 103, 104, 105 may be configured as follows: Figure 1A The three compartments are shown arranged from left to right, such as knife, fork and spoon (in abbreviated form as KFS), or in any other arrangement sequence, such as KSF, FKS, FSK, SFK and SKF. In addition, depending on the type of food served at a particular event, the base 101 can be equipped with any combination of dispensers, such as fork only dispensers (FFF), spoon only dispensers (SSS), knife only dispensers (KKK), fork and knife dispensers (FFK or FKK), fork and spoon dispensers (FFS or FSS) or any other arrangement or combination of dispensers.

[0128] Since the widths of the three distributors 103, 104 and 105 are narrow, Figure 1A The entire dispensing system in the embodiment is approximately equal in width to a single lateral or "broadside" dispenser of the prior art, thus providing a space advantage of almost 3 times that of a broadside dispenser. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the base 101 can be expanded to include additional compartments for accommodating more than three dispensers. Alternatively, the base 101 can be configured to have a single compartment for accommodating a single dispenser, or to have two compartments for accommodating two dispensers.

[0129] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the dispensers 103, 104, and 105 includes an engagement feature on its bottom that matingly engages with a corresponding channel or slot provided in each compartment of the base 101 for sliding the dispenser in and out of the base in a stable manner and maintaining the dispenser upright within the base 101. Fig. 10B and 10C As shown, the fork dispenser 103 includes engagement features or flanges 212 on either side of its bottom for insertion and alignment into one of the slots 202, 204, or 206 of the base 101. Similarly, the spoon dispenser 104 and the knife dispenser 105 have respective engagement features or flanges 214 and 216 that are configured to engage with any of the slots 202, 204, or 206 of the base 101 (see FIG. Figures 10C to 10F ). Thus, any of these dispensers 103, 104, 105 may be fully mounted within the base 101 by inserting and aligning the dispenser engagement features within a channel or slot provided in any compartment of the base 101.

[0130] Once installed in the dispenser base 101, any one of the installed dispensers 103, 104, 105 can partially slide out of its compartment to provide a path for refilling cutlery into the dispenser. Any one of the dispensers 103, 104, 105 can also be completely removed from the base 101 by completely sliding it out of its channel or slot, which may be necessary when, for example, replacing or exchanging the dispenser. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that each of the dispensers 103, 104 and 105 can be partially pulled out of the base 101 for cutlery refilling purposes, clearing blockages and debris, etc., and then reinstalled in the base 101 without unduly interfering with the cutlery stacking maintained in the dispenser, while keeping the longitudinal axes of the stacked cutlery items in a mutually parallel relationship, thereby facilitating trouble-free distribution and maintenance.

[0131] The engagement features 212, 214, 216 included on the bottom of the respective dispenser may also include a series of protruding ribs or ridges 220 that ensure proper guidance and alignment of the engagement features 212, 214, 216 within the channel slots 202, 204, 206 in the base 101. The engagement features 212, 214, 216 may be constructed of a material that reduces friction between the engagement features 212, 214, 216 and the mating channels provided in the base 101.

[0132] Similarly, in various embodiments, other engaging means are provided for fitting the dispenser in the base in a safe and stable manner, which prevents the dispenser from accidentally tipping over during use or loading. It can be appreciated that the engaging feature can be reversed so that a channel or slot is provided on the dispenser for mating engagement with a protrusion provided in the base. In some embodiments, other locking features or mechanisms are included for retaining the dispenser in the base, such as a spring lock, a screw lock, a latch or a toggle on the dispenser and / or the base. In various embodiments, any one of various guiding features is provided, such as a freely rotating roller or a bearing provided on the dispenser and / or the base, so as to align and reduce friction.

[0133] Continue to see Figure 1A , the dispensers 103, 104, and 105 of the dispenser system 100 are shown with the corresponding "first" cutlery items indicated by the numeral 109 in the "dispensing position" so that the corresponding handles of the first cutlery items 109 extend outwardly from the dispenser front panel so that they can be easily grasped by the consumer and removed from the corresponding dispenser. When in the dispensing position, the first cutlery item 109 in each dispenser is oriented so that its handle extends outwardly from the dispenser outlet area so that the user can easily see and touch it for grasping and removing. The action of grasping and removing the first cutlery item from one of the dispensers 103, 104, and 105 mechanically activates the escapement mechanism 150 (see Figure 2B ), which releases a replacement "bottom-most" cutlery item from the stack for transfer to a dispensing position where it can be grasped and removed by a next user or consumer.

[0134] Since the consumer grasps and removes cutlery directly from the dispenser exit area, with no external lever to operate or receive the tray or bin, the potential for cross contamination due to cutlery falling into a previously contaminated bin or tray or by contact with a lever that has been touched by multiple users is eliminated. Additionally, once a user removes cutlery items directly from the dispenser, the user is less likely to mistakenly re-activate the dispenser as often occurs with lever-actuated dispensers.

[0135] The front panel 122 of each of the dispensers 103, 104 and 105 may include identifying indicia 113 that indicate the type of cutlery items present in each dispenser and may also include a brand name, logo, image, graphic and / or description (see Figure 1A-1B, 1F-1K and 10B-10G). The front plate 122 can be removably attached to the dispenser using standard attachment features, such as snap fits, friction fit posts, screws, hooks and loops, etc., as known in the art. The removable front plate 122 can also facilitate customizing the front plate and updating its appearance and messaging for various customers, restaurants, cafeterias, events, and commercial settings, and / or replacing worn or damaged front plates. In other embodiments, the front plate includes features such as narrow slots or transparent pockets into which graphics can be inserted and removed to flexibly change the displayed colors, logos, and / or other indicia.

[0136] The top assembly 116 of the distributors 103, 104, 105 is Figure 1A It is also visible in the following. Figure 1E Discussed in greater detail, the top assembly 116 includes a top loading door 134 mounted to the dispenser by hinges 138 and secured closed by latches 136 .

[0137] exist Figures 1A to 1D In the embodiment of the present invention, the dispensers 103, 104 and 105 also include a cutlery height indicator, which serves as a "low cutlery" or refill reminder. Figure 1B As shown, a low cutlery indicator window 124 is located on the front panel 122 of each dispenser 103, 104 and 105 to provide a visible indication that allows an operator or user to easily determine from a distance whether the supply of cutlery held in the dispenser is almost exhausted and the dispenser needs to be refilled. Specifically, if a low cutlery signal 198 (shown only on dispenser 103 in the figure) is visible through the cutlery indicator window 124, an observer can quickly determine that the amount of cutlery remaining in the dispenser is below a certain level, and thereby quickly determine whether the dispenser needs to be refilled.

[0138] Figure 1B The embodiment of the invention includes only a single cutlery indicator window 124 on each dispenser 103, 104, or 105. Figure 1B As shown, the low cutlery signal 198 of the fork dispenser 103 is visible as a dark portion within the indicator window 124. In other embodiments, the low cutlery signal 198 is provided as a bright color portion that is easily visible from a distance so that restaurant employees or cafeteria attendees can quickly refill the dispenser. Alternatively, the low cutlery signal can be configured to display a written message, such as "low" or "REFILL", or a pictorial image that notifies the operator that the number of cutlery remaining in the dispenser is below a certain level and the dispenser needs to be refilled.

[0139] Other embodiments provide more than one cutlery indicator window arranged at different levels or heights on the front of each dispenser, such as with different color indicators to provide a series of visual signals of remaining amounts as cutlery items are consumed from the dispenser, such as green indicating a full dispenser, yellow indicating a medium level, and red indicating a low level that the dispenser should be refilled. Still other embodiments may include a transparent or translucent bar or window through which the height of the cutlery can be observed as the cutlery is consumed or removed from the dispenser.

[0140] Figure 1C is from Figure 1A 1, a side view of a first side 112 of the dispenser of the dispenser assembly 100 viewed from the right side of the dispenser assembly 100, which in the illustrated embodiment includes an access door 126 and an access door latch 130. The access door 126 can be opened to allow access to the interior dispenser chamber 140, and is preferably translucent or fully transparent, thereby enabling an operator to visually assess the amount of cutlery within the dispenser. The access door 126 spans the vertical length of the interior dispenser chamber 140 (at Figure 2A ), thereby allowing an operator to physically access the dispenser chamber 140 to assist in loading supplemental cutlery and / or for clearing any items that may accidentally have become stuck therein.

[0141] Figure 1D Shows from Figure 1A A side view of the second side 114 of the dispenser of the dispenser assembly 100 as viewed from the left side of the dispenser assembly 100, which in the illustrated embodiment includes an observation window 132 near the bottom area of ​​the dispenser. The observation window 132 provides visual access to the internal dispenser chamber 140, thereby allowing an operator to determine the general amount of cutlery remaining in the dispenser and whether the dispenser needs to be refilled. It will be appreciated that one or more windows of any desired size and location may be provided on the second side 114 of the dispenser. Alternatively, the observation window 132 on the second side 114 may be in the form of an access door similar to the access door 126 on the first side 112. Thus, Figure 1A The first side 112 and the second side 114 of any dispenser shown may include any combination of access doors and / or windows, however, so long as at least one side enables physical access to the interior dispenser chamber 140 for loading cutlery, refilling cutlery, and general maintenance.

[0142] Figure 1EA partial top perspective view of the dispenser assembly 100 is shown, wherein each of the dispensers 103, 104, and 105 includes a top loading door 134 that allows for loading of cutlery, and the knife dispenser 105 has been mounted on the right side of the base 100 and is shown with its top loading door 134 and side access door 126 open. A user can open the top loading door 134 and side access door 126 to expose a loading guide opening 144 disposed in a loading guide 146 and access the interior dispenser chamber 140 so that the cutlery stack 107 can be inserted into the dispenser chamber 140 through the loading guide opening 144. In the figure, the cutlery stack 107 can be inserted into the dispenser chamber 140 through the loading guide opening 144. Figure 1E Through the side door opening in the middle, the stack of knives 107 is visible.

[0143] In the illustrated embodiment, each top loading door 134 is connected to its dispenser by a pair of hinges 138. Latch 136 is located on the opposite side of hinge 138 to allow the user to open the top loading door 134. Latch 136 may include a simple lifting piece, or may be any other type of latch, release or locking mechanism known in the art. The arrangement of hinge 138 and latch 136 is configured to allow the top loading door 134 and channel door 126 to cooperate to provide convenient access to the internal dispenser chamber 140 so that the cutlery stack 107 is loaded therein. In other embodiments, one or more hinges 138 are positioned at the rear of each dispenser 103, 104 or 105, and latch 136 is correspondingly opposite to the hinge and positioned at the front of the dispenser, thereby allowing the top loading door to be lifted and opened from the front of the dispenser rather than from the side.

[0144] The process of reloading an empty dispenser is Figures 1F to 1K is shown in and Figure 1L For ease of illustration, Figures 1F-1K The rightmost dispenser 105 is refilled, but the method shown is applicable to all dispensers 103-105. Figure 1F , when the low cutlery indicator 198 provides an indication that the dispenser 105 should be refilled, the dispenser 105 slides forward to halfway away from the base 101 ( Figure 1L 300), thereby allowing access to the access door 126, the cutlery release rod window 131 and the cocking rod end 157a. It can be seen that when any of the other two dispensers 103, 104 is refilled, it is also necessary to slide the dispenser forward to access the access door 126, and in the illustrated embodiment, when they are fully inserted into the base 101, the base 101 prevents all dispensers 103, 104, 105 from accessing the cutlery release rod window 131 and the cocking rod end 157a (see Figure 1K ). Figures 10B-10GThe fork, spoon and knife dispensers are shown as they would appear when removed from the base 101, clearly showing the cutlery release lever window 131 and cocking lever end 157a of each of the three dispensers.

[0145] To facilitate efficient and convenient loading of multiple cutlery items into a dispenser, the cutlery items are stacked and bundled into refill packs. Figures 10H-10J A fork refill pack 230, a spoon refill pack 240, and a knife refill pack 250 are shown separately. Each refill pack is held together by a strap 102 applied to one side of the stack of cutlery items. The strap may also include an upper joint 222 and a lower joint 224 that provide for convenient handling of the cutlery refill packs.

[0146] After opening the top loading door 134 and the access door 126 ( Figure 1G ; Step 302, Figure 1L ) after which the operator can move the cutlery refill pack 250 downward ( Figure 1H ) is lowered through the loading guide opening 144 provided in the loading guide 146 into the dispenser chamber 140 (step 304; Figure 1L ). The top end 222 of the strap 102 holding the refill pack 250 can be used as a handle to hang the refill pack 250 as it is lowered into the dispenser 105. Inserting the refill pack 250 into the dispenser 105 automatically resets the low cutlery signal 198, which no longer appears in the low utensil window 124.

[0147] Once the refill pack 250 is loaded into the dispenser 105, the strip 102 is pulled away from the cutlery stack through the side door opening and the strip 102 is removed from the stack 107 ( Fig. 1I ; Step 306, Figure 1L In some embodiments featuring a high capacity dispenser, multiple refill packs may be introduced into the dispenser in order to fill the dispenser 105 to a desired level. The top loading door 134 and access door 126 are then closed and the arming lever end 157a is actuated (step 308, Figure 1L ) in order to deliver the bottommost cutlery item 108 from the cutlery stack 107 in the dispenser 105 to the dispensing position 109 ( Figure 1J ).

[0148] Finally, refer to Figure 1K , the refilled dispenser 105 slides back into position in the base 101 (step 310, Figure 1L ).

[0149] Figure 2A-2BAn internal view of a fork dispenser 103 is shown without the base 101, loading door 134 and the outer protective housing enclosure on the sides 112, 114 and back of the dispenser 103. In the illustrated embodiment, two guide rails 142 and 143 extend vertically downward from the top loading guide 146, at least through the resting position of the bottommost cutlery item 108. The guide rail 142 serves as an alignment guide for the head of the cutlery item, while the guide rail 143 serves as an alignment guide for the handle portion of the cutlery item. The guide rails 142 and 143 facilitate loading cutlery and keeping the cutlery in a stack, whereby the guide rails 142 and 143 define a dispenser chamber 140 between them. Each of the guide rails 142 and 143 can be in the form of a U-shaped channel. Other embodiments include various configurations and shapes of the guide rails 142 and 143, which can be simply in the form of a rod or bar, providing multiple guide rails, such as three, four, five, six or more guide rails, to replace the two guide rails shown in the illustrated embodiment.

[0150] During the cutlery loading process, these guides 142 and 143 ensure that each cutlery item 106 in the cutlery stack 107 remains in the proper stacked configuration. Figure 2A and 2B Visible in the middle portion are the escapement assembly 150, the slide track 170, and the cutlery piece level indicator system 190, each of which will be discussed in more detail below. Figure 1G and Figure 2A As shown, through the cutlery indicator window 124 located on the front panel 122, the low cutlery indication 198 of the cutlery height indicator 190 is visible as a darkened portion.

[0151] Figure 2C 1 is a top view of the loading guides 146 of three dispensers 103, 104, and 105, with a cutlery stack 107 being loaded into each dispenser chamber 140. The loading guides 146 in each dispenser have an opening 144 of appropriate shape to allow the cutlery stack 107 to pass through and be guided into the dispenser chamber 140. In the illustrated embodiment, each loading guide opening 144 corresponds closely in shape to the contour of the intended cutlery stack 107 and is slightly larger than the contour of the intended cutlery type, so as to help the operator guide and load the cutlery stack into their respective dispensers 103, 104, or 105, while avoiding inadvertently loading a cutlery stack into a dispenser configured for a different type of cutlery, such as preventing a stack of forks or knives from being inserted into a dispenser 104 configured for dispensing spoons. However, these embodiments may include any size, shape, or contour of the opening 144 in the loading guide 146 that is slightly larger than the contour of the intended cutlery stack 107.

[0152] exist Figure 2C, the top loading door 134 has been removed to allow the hinges 138 to be more clearly visible on each dispenser 103, 104, and 105. The top of the access door 126 is visible in the figure. Typically, an operator will open the top loading door 134 and the access door 126 to load cutlery refills into the dispenser chamber 140.

[0153] Figures 3A-3D Various views of the escapement assembly 150 are given showing the lowermost cutlery item 108 in the release position and the slide track 170 having the first cutlery item 109 aligned in the dispensing position with the handle portion of the first cutlery item 109 accessible to a user for grasping and removal. Figure 3E is similar to Figure 3D , but with tableware items 108, 109 omitted. Figure 3F is a perspective view of the escapement assembly 150 shown along with the sliding track and other features. Figure 3G and 3H is a side view of the escapement 150, shown in a rest configuration and an actuated configuration, respectively

[0154] Reference Figure 3F-3H , the escapement assembly 150 includes a plurality of components connected to one another by four pivot pins 164a-d, including a mounting block 152, a swinging member 158 having an upper retaining surface 159 attached thereto, a connecting rod 160, and an escapement member 154. The escapement member 154 has a lower retaining surface 156 attached thereto. Note that in the illustrated embodiment, the distribution of the mechanism over four pivots, rather than having only one or two pivots, serves to reduce wear on each pivot, thereby extending the life of the dispenser.

[0155] The mounting block 152 of the escapement assembly 150 may be secured to a dispenser housing or another structure that may include one or more rails 143 (see FIG. Figure 2A ), and is preferably located at the front of the dispenser 103, 104 or 105. The swing member 158 is pivotally connected to the mounting block 152 by a pivot pin 164a, wherein the swing member is generally vertically oriented and in line with the mounting block. The swing member 158 extends downwardly to an upper retaining surface 159 of a generally horizontal projection, which protrudes inwardly from the swing member 158 toward the dispenser chamber 140. The upper end of the escapement member 154 is also pivotally connected to the mounting block 152 by a pivot pin 164d.

[0156] The swing member 158 is pivotally connected to the distal end of the link 160 by a pivot pin 164 b near its top end, while the proximal end of the link 160 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 164 c near the upper end of the disengagement member 154 .

[0157] The escapement assembly 150 is configured such that when a user grasps the first cutlery piece 109 and moves it away from the dispensing position, the escapement member 154 ( Figure 3G ) causes opposite horizontal movement of the upper retaining surface 159 and the lower retaining surface 156, whereby the movement of the escapement member 154 causes the lower retaining surface 156 to be withdrawn from below the cutlery stack 107, while the upper retaining surface is simultaneously inserted into the cutlery stack 107 at a position directly above the bottom-most cutlery item 108, thereby allowing the bottom-most cutlery item 108 to be released from the stack and transferred to the dispensing position for retrieval by the next user. The vertical gap between the lower retaining surface 156 and the upper retaining surface 159 is configured to allow the upper retaining surface 159 to be inserted directly above the bottom-most cutlery item 108, while the cutlery stack 107 is configured to provide a gap between the proximal ends of the cutlery items in the stack 107 so that the upper retaining surface 159 can be inserted between the bottom-most cutlery item 108 and the items in the cutlery stack 107 directly above it. Similarly, restoration of the escapement member 154 to its original position causes the upper retaining surface 159 to be withdrawn and the lower retaining surface to be reinserted beneath the stack so as to retain the replaced bottommost cutlery item.

[0158] Reference Figure 3B and 3C , when in a stationary configuration, the proximal end of the handle of the bottommost cutlery item 108 is stationary on the lower retaining surface 156, and the distal end of the head of the bottommost cutlery item is stationary on the retaining ledge, thereby maintaining the bottommost cutlery item 108 and the cutlery stack 107 as a whole in a generally horizontal orientation. In different embodiments, the distal end of the head of the bottommost cutlery item 108 can be supported in any of a variety of ways, such as by resting on a ledge or shelf, by resting on a column, or by a matching retaining device such as a protrusion. In a plurality of embodiments, the cutlery items 106 are configured to include compatible features at their distal ends, such as corresponding recesses, which cooperate to enhance the hanging and release of the cutlery items 106.

[0159] As shown in the figure, the escapement member 154 extends generally vertically downward, and its lower end 155 is configured to contact and intercept the head of the first cutlery item 109 when the first cutlery item rests on the sliding track 170, thereby preventing the first cutlery item 109 from moving past the defined dispensing position under the action of gravity until it is pulled out by the user (see Figure 3C ). The lower retaining surface 156 extends horizontally and is positioned near the upper end of the escapement member 154 and is configured to extend horizontally into the dispenser chamber 140. When the escapement member 154 is in its rest position ( Figure 3F-G), the lower retaining surface 156 is configured to act as a stop to hold and retain the proximal end of the bottommost cutlery item 108 in the cutlery stack 107 within the dispenser chamber. The lower retaining surface 156 can be of any size or shape and can be positioned at any desired location. It should be noted that the upper retaining surface 159 and the lower retaining surface 156 do not have to be integrally structured with the swing member 158 and / or the escapement member 154, respectively, and can be separate components that can be attached accordingly.

[0160] Figures 4A-4E The first cutlery item 109 is shown being dispensed from the dispenser 103 (fork dispenser). When a user (not shown) grasps the handle of the first cutlery item 109 and pulls it out, the lower end 155 of the detent member 154 is forced to pivot outward away from the dispenser chamber 140 due to contact with the protruding head of the first cutlery item 109, while the upper end of the detent member pivots at the pivot pin 164d. This movement withdraws the lower retaining surface 156 from under the bottommost cutlery item 108.

[0161] When the lower holding surface 156 is withdrawn, the bottommost cutlery item 108 is thus released from the cutlery stack 107, and its proximal end is pushed downward by gravity. When the escapement member 154 pivots, the connecting rod 160 moves, forcing the upper end of the swing member 158 to pivot inward, so that the upper holding surface 159 enters the vertical plane of the dispenser chamber 140. When the upper holding surface 159 enters the vertical plane of the dispenser chamber 140, the bottom of the "next" cutlery item in the cutlery stack 107 contacts the upper holding surface 159, so that the cutlery stack 107 is maintained and maintained in place. The bottommost cutlery 108 is thus separated from the remainder of the stack 107. Once the first cutlery item 109 is dispensed from the dispenser and the contact between the first cutlery item 109 and the escapement member 154 ends, the escapement member 154 is pulled back to the static position by a pair of spiral return springs 162.

[0162] When the escapement member 154 returns to its rest position, the link 160 and the swing member 158 correspondingly pivot back to their rest positions, causing the lower retaining surface 156 to be reinserted under the replaced bottom-most cutlery item 108, while the upper retaining surface 159 is withdrawn from under the cutlery stack 107, causing the proximal end of the cutlery stack 107, no longer held and maintained by the upper retaining surface 159, to fall onto the lower retaining surface 156, thereby resetting the dispenser and causing the "next" cutlery item to become the replaced bottom-most cutlery item 108. Note that the use of a pair of coil springs and a 4-pin pivot arrangement to sequence the lower and upper retaining surfaces significantly extends the useful life of the dispenser and the number of cutlery dispensing cycles that the dispenser can undergo.

[0163] Figure 5 yes Figures 4A-4E The side view of the illustrated embodiment shows the position of the cutlery in the dispenser when the escapement member 154 has just returned to its rest position after being actuated by the head of the first cutlery item 109. The figure shows the first cutlery item 109 completing its downward and outward movement from the slide track 170 and leaving the dispenser. The handle proximal end of the bottom-most cutlery item 108 has dropped below the lower retaining surface 156 and is lowered toward the slide track 170 to replace the first cutlery item 109, while the handle proximal end of the next cutlery item 111 in the stack, which was previously retained by the upper retaining surface 159 (now withdrawn and not visible in the figure), is lowered toward the lower retaining surface 156 when the next cutlery item 111 is about to become the bottom-most cutlery item 108 to be replaced.

[0164] Figures 6A-7G An internal view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is configured as a knife dispenser 105. Unlike a fork or spoon, the head of a knife, while wider than the handle, is not taller than the handle. For this reason, if the knife is held in a horizontal orientation, the knife is not easily retained in the dispensing position by the escapement member 154. Instead, the knife dispenser 105 in the illustrated embodiment includes a feature that causes the bottommost knife 108 to rotate 90 degrees about its long axis as it falls toward the slide track 170. Thus, the knife is oriented in the slide track 170 so that the wider blade of the knife extends upward relative to the handle and is retained by the lower end of the escapement member 154 when the knife reaches the dispensing position.

[0165] Specifically, Fig. 7A As shown, the guide 146 and the angle guide 145 at the distal end of the dispenser 105 are configured to guide the head (i.e., blade) portion of the bottommost cutlery 108 to rest on the cutlery head retaining surface 147. Figure 7B As can be seen in the rear view of FIG, the blade retaining surface 147 is configured to contact only a portion of the distal end of the bottommost blade 108. For example, in Fig. 7A and 7C It can be seen that the blade of the bottom-most knife 108 also rests on or just above a roller 148 connected to the dispenser 105 via a roller pivot pin 149.

[0166] refer to Figure 7F and 7G In some knife dispenser embodiments, the first knife 109 is pulled out of the dispenser 105 by the user, as described above, by withdrawing the lower retaining surface 156, leaving no support for the proximal end of the handle of the bottom-most knife 108, while the upper retaining surface 159 retains the rest of the stack 107, so that the bottom-most knife 108 is separated from the stack 107 of stored knives 106 (not shown). Figure 7FAs shown, when the proximal end of the bottom-most cutlery 108 begins to descend, the weight of the cutlery 108 forces the roller 148 located near the midpoint of the cutlery to rotate on the roller pivot pin 149, causing the cutlery 108 to rotate from its stacked horizontal position to a vertical position, while the distal blade end of the cutlery 108 is pulled away from the blade holding surface 147 and falls therefrom. Figure 7G shows that after a short time interval Figure 7F Configuration, wherein the bottommost cutlery 108 has fallen out of roller 148 and is in an almost vertical orientation. As can be seen, when cutlery 108 continues to fall, it will be guided to a completely vertical position by the guide 178 disposed in the slide track 170.

[0167] Reference again Figure 6C , an embodiment of the cutlery dispenser includes an actuating lever 157 that can be used to actuate the escapement 150 when no cutlery items are in the dispensing position, thereby "priming" the dispenser by transferring the bottommost cutlery item 108 to the dispensing position. The illustrated embodiment includes a cutout in the housing corresponding to the bottom end 157a of the cocking lever 157, allowing an operator to access the lever 157 and pull the lever 157 through the cutlery release lever window 131 so that when the dispenser 105 is initially loaded with cutlery (e.g., see Figure 1J ), conveniently delivering the starting cutlery item (first cutlery item 109) from the stack 107 to the dispensing position. As described above, in various embodiments, the dispenser can be partially slid out of the base 101 so as to be able to access the cutlery release rod window 131 and the starter rod 157.

[0168] Fig. 8A Presented for Figure 1A 1 is a perspective view of a slide track 170 of each of the dispensers 103 (fork), 104 (spoon) and 105 (knife), wherein the corresponding first cutlery item 109 is arranged in a dispensing position on the slide track 170. Figures 8B-8D Various top views of the sliding tracks 170 of three dispensers 103, 104 and 105 are shown, each having a slideway 175 configured to receive at least the handle of the bottommost cutlery 108, or in the case of a rotary knife, the entire length of the knife, including the head. At the far end of each sliding track 170, a retaining surface 172 (fork and spoon), 147 (knife) is provided to support the head of the bottommost cutlery item 108 of the cutlery stack 107 that has been loaded into the dispenser 103, 104 and 105. Dispensers 103, 104 and 105 each have one or more guide skirts 178, which are configured to divert the bottommost cutlery 108 when it falls toward the sliding track 170 under gravity. Figure 8B yes Fig. 8AThe guide skirt 178 is of a suitable size and shape so as to serve as an alignment guide for the bottommost cutlery item 108 as it is released from the cutlery stack 107 and conveyed to the dispensing position under the action of gravity. For the knife dispenser 103, the guide skirt 178 is also used to complete the rotation of the bottommost fork to a vertical orientation.

[0169] As in Figure 8B As can be more clearly seen in the drawings, the slide tracks 170 for each of the dispensers 103, 104, and 105 generally include a central slide 175 for guiding the bottom-most cutlery as it is released and forced by gravity toward the dispensing position to become the first cutlery item 109. In the illustrated embodiment, the slide channel 175 is configured to accommodate the handle width of the fork and spoon cutlery items to avoid misalignment or skew, while the adjacent slide surface 174 is configured to support the head of the fork and spoon cutlery items. In some embodiments, a pair of guide plates 143 (see Fig.9A ) to hold the handles of spoon and fork cutlery items within the central side channel 175.

[0170] In a preferred embodiment, the sliding surface 174 and the chute 175 are all set to an angle of inclination ranging from about 25 degrees to about 30 degrees. The inclined surface of the sliding surface 174 and the sliding channel 175 can be configured to be different angles from each other in the sliding track assembly 170, and can also change between one type and another type of the tableware items according to the geometry of these tableware items, the quality of these tableware items, and the contact area between the corresponding area of ​​these tableware items and the sliding track, so as to control or enhance the sliding of the bottom tableware. Usually, the sliding surface 174 and the sliding channel 175 can be inclined at an angle between 15 degrees and 35 degrees. In a specific preferred embodiment, the sliding surface 174 and / or the sliding channel 175 are set to an angle of inclination of about 27 degrees, to help the bottom tableware items 108 slide to the distribution position under the action of gravity. In the case of the knife dispenser 105, the sliding channel 175 has an appropriate width to adapt to the thickness of the knife items and the knife items are maintained in a rotational orientation along the edge in the sliding channel 175.

[0171] Embodiments further include a damping surface 177 provided on the bottom surface of the slide channel 175 to reduce or limit the rebound of the handle of the bottommost cutlery item 108 when it falls and contacts the slide channel 175 (see Fig.9D). The damping surface 177 can be made of a semi-rigid material that can be flexed or deformed momentarily, thereby reducing or limiting the rebound of the falling cutlery handle and reducing or eliminating the skewing and / or jumping of the bottom-most cutlery item 108 within the slide track 170. In some embodiments, the damping surface 177 is constructed as a thin semi-rigid metal substrate or foil suspended above the open area or cavity, thereby allowing momentary deformation or bending of the damping surface to reduce excessive bounce or skewing of the falling cutlery.

[0172] In various embodiments, the slide track mount includes a pivot 180 at its distal end and a latch at its proximal end that is accessible to an operator to allow the entire slide track to swing down for cleaning and / or maintenance. In multiple embodiments, an access latch 182 is located at the proximal end of each slide track 170, thereby providing a means for disengaging the proximal end of the slide track from the housing of the dispenser 103, 104, or 105, whereby, in combination with the pivot pin 180, the slide track 170 can be partially rotated downward from the dispenser to allow the operator's hand to access the slide track 170 for cleaning and / or removal of trapped cutlery items or any other foreign matter.

[0173] The sliding surface 174 and / or the sliding channel 175 can be provided at an inclination of 20° to 30° from at least the midpoint of the sliding track through the proximal end of the sliding track 170 to allow the cutlery item 108 to slide smoothly downward along the sliding surfaces 174, 175 under the influence of gravity alone, thereby allowing a portion of the handle of the cutlery item 108 to exit from the dispensing area 120, so that the positioning of the cutlery item 108 in the dispensing position is similar to Figure 1A 109 shown in the tableware items 109. As previously described, the inclination of the sliding surface 174 and the sliding slot 175 can be configured to be at different angles to each other within the sliding track 170 to enhance the sliding of the bottommost cutlery items 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding slot 175 for the fork and spoon sliding track 170 is configured at a lower plane than the sliding surface 174 to receive the handle of the cutlery item 106 and is provided to increase the gravity pull on the cutlery item by guiding the cutlery handle at an increasing downward angle as the cutlery item descends along the sliding track 170.

[0174] Figures 9A-9D The structure and operation of a low cutlery indicator 190 in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the low cutlery indicator 190 includes a contact arm 192 and an indicator arm 196 that are pivotally connected to each other via a pivot 194. Fig.9A1 is a side view showing the indicator 190 in its engaged position, wherein the contact arm 192 contacts the proximal end of the cutlery 106 in the cutlery stack 107, so that the cutlery stack 107 holds the distal end of the contact arm 192 downward, which in turn prevents the indicator arm 196 from pivoting about the pivot 194 so that the indicator arm 196 cannot fall downward. In various embodiments, the low cutlery indicator 190 can be positioned within the dispenser 103, 104, or 105 as desired and can contact the distal end of the cutlery stack 107 or anywhere between the proximal and distal ends of the cutlery in the stack 107. Fig. 9B yes Fig.9A A stereogram of the configuration.

[0175] Reference Fig. 9C As cutlery items are dispensed from the stack 107, the height of the stack 107 decreases until the top of the stack falls below the contact arm 192, as shown. At this point, because the distal end of the contact arm 192 is not constrained by any of the cutlery stack 107, the indicator 190 is free to pivot about the pivot 194 to its unengaged position, causing the indicator arm 196 to rotate to its rest position, as shown. Fig.9D Once the indicator arm 196 is rotated to its rest position, the low tableware signal 198 located at the proximal end of the indicator arm is transmitted as shown in FIG. Figure 1B A cutlery indicator window 124 is shown visible to an operator or user.

[0176] The low cutlery signal 198 thus provides a visual indication to the operator or user as to whether the cutlery stack 107 is at or below a certain cutlery level or quantity. Depending on the embodiment, the low cutlery signal 198 may present a single color, such as red, or may present a symbol or image to indicate a low quantity of cutlery 106 within the dispenser. As discussed above, in other embodiments, more than one cutlery level indicator 190 may be provided in a single dispenser, wherein each cutlery level indicator 190 has its own corresponding cutlery indicator window 124 to provide the user with several visual cues regarding the quantity of cutlery remaining in the dispenser.

[0177] exist Fig.9A , 9C Also visible in 9D are handle deflectors 143 located on each side of the dispenser below the bottom-most cutlery item 108. The handle deflectors 143 are included in embodiments to prevent the dispenser from clogging by helping to direct the handle portion of the bottom-most cutlery item 108 downward into the slide channel. Fig.9A , C and D, the blocking member 166 can be seen, which is pivotally attached to the mounting block 152 (see Figure 3F), and is configured to be swung out with the first cutlery item 109 when it is dispensed, thereby preventing the user from pushing the first cutlery item 109 back into the dispenser and causing a jam.

[0178] In an embodiment, the dispenser parts can be constructed of metal or plastic according to their purposes, function, characteristic and ease of manufacture and cost.The one or more parts of the distribution assembly can be manufactured by at least one of thermoforming, injection molding, compression molding, vacuum forming, pressure forming, hydraulic forming or any other known method.In some embodiments, dispenser, base or any part thereof can be any desired color, and can be transparent, frosted or translucent.It should be noted that the term "tableware" is widely used here, so that it comprises any tableware items or tableware supplies, including but not limited to fork, knife, spoon and spoon.It should also be noted that the tableware distributed can be disposable, such as plastic tableware, or a permanent utensil, such as metal tableware.

[0179] Reference Fig.11A , shows a perspective view of a compartment base unit 504 having a single compartment that can be used as a stand-alone base 500 for receiving any of the above-described dispensers 103, 104, or 105 where space is limited or a single cutlery dispenser is desired, such as a spoon for dessert service only. The compartment base unit 504 shown features side rails 508 extending from the front to the rear of the compartment base unit 504 on either side of the compartment formed by a pair of channels or slots 502 for receiving a cutlery dispenser as described above with reference to FIG. Fig. 10A The illustrated three-compartment base 101 is provided with a corresponding flange 212 for any dispenser described. The assembled single compartment base 500 also includes a pair of end caps or side panels 510 and 520 attached to the compartment base unit 504. A second identical base 500' is shown in the figure, which includes a compartment base unit 504' and a pair of end caps 510', 520'.

[0180] Fig. 11B is a perspective view of a two-compartment base 600 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is formed by Fig.11A The first compartment base unit 504 is Fig.11A The second base unit 504' is constructed by combining the interconnection features 550. Fig.11A Two compartment base units 500, 500' of the type shown are intended for assembly with one another, with the inwardly facing end caps 510 and 520' omitted (or removed), and the interconnecting features 550 installed in their place.

[0181] Fig. 11C5 is a perspective view of an end cap 510 in an exemplary embodiment, the end cap being equipped with a plurality of attachment features 530 configured as a snap fit protruding from an inwardly facing surface 505 of the end cap 510, the attachment features 530 being configured to engage with corresponding receptacles ( Fig.11F and 11H The snap-fit ​​attachment features 530 of the end caps 510 and 520 allow for easy assembly and disassembly with the compartment base unit 504, so that the compartment base unit 500 can be customized and combined with other base units as desired.

[0182] Fig.11D 5 is an end perspective view of an interconnection feature 550 in an exemplary embodiment, wherein the interconnection feature 550 is equipped with a plurality of snap-fit ​​portions 530 extending outwardly from both sides of a central wall 555 of the interconnection feature for engaging with corresponding sockets 535 disposed in the compartment base unit 504, 504'. It should be understood that in embodiments, the attachment feature portion may include latches, hooks, interference fit projections, hook and loop portions, screws, adhesives, screws, and any other type of attachment feature portion known in the art.

[0183] In addition, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that multiple interconnecting features 550 can be used between adjacent compartment base units to interconnect multiple compartment base units together to provide a base configuration having any desired number of compartments, including two, three, four, five, six, or more than six compartments.

[0184] Fig.11E and 11F 3 are assembled and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a four compartment base 625 obtained by combining two compartment base units 600 and 600' using a single interconnecting feature 550, wherein each compartment base unit 600, 600' provides two compartments.

[0185] It will also be appreciated that the compartment base units assembled to provide a multi-compartment base need not be identical to one another. Fig.11G and 11H The assembled view and exploded view are respectively of a four-compartment base 700 obtained by combining a compartment base unit 500 having a single compartment with a compartment base unit 705 having three compartments using a single interconnecting feature 550. It should be clear, therefore, that a variety of different base configurations can be obtained in various embodiments by selecting compartment base units of various configurations as building blocks and securing them together by inserting interconnecting features between each pair of adjacent compartment base units.

[0186] Furthermore, although the present invention is described exemplarily herein with reference to the dispensing of cutlery for consuming food, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the dispensing of such cutlery. Rather, it should be understood that the term "cutlery" is used broadly herein to refer to any elongated object comprising a handle portion and a head portion, wherein the head portion is wider than and / or taller than the handle portion. Thus, the dispenser of the present invention may be applied to the dispensing of many and various medical and dental tools, as well as other objects not involving the consumption of food.

[0187] The above description of the embodiments of the present invention is for the purpose of illustration and description rather than for limiting the scope of the present invention. Regardless of the form or position in the present application, each page of the present application and all the contents herein, whether characterized, identified or numbered, are considered to be the essential parts of the present application. This specification is not intended to be exhaustive. Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these forms, but various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. From the foregoing description, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that, according to the present disclosure, many modifications and changes to the embodiments shown herein are possible. Therefore, unless otherwise specified herein or clearly contradictory to the context, the subject matter claimed for protection includes any combination of the above elements in all possible variations thereof. In particular, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the restrictions presented in the following dependent claims can be combined with their corresponding independent claims in any number and in any order, unless the dependent claims are logically incompatible with each other.

Claims

1. A cutlery dispenser configured to dispense a plurality of cutlery items in series, each cutlery item having a handle and a head, the handle and the head being disposed at opposite ends of a long axis of the cutlery item, the head being at least one of wider and taller than the handle, wherein: The tableware dispenser comprises: a housing having a front, a rear, two sides, a top, and a bottom, the width of the housing facing the front being less than the depth of the housing facing the side; a dispenser chamber located in an upper region of the dispenser within the housing, the dispenser chamber being configured for accommodating a vertical stack of the cutlery items, the vertical stack being terminated at a bottom end thereof by a bottommost cutlery item of the vertical stack; an escapement configured to retain a first cutlery item of the plurality of cutlery items in a dispensing position whereby a handle of the first cutlery item extends beyond a front portion of the dispenser housing, the escapement configured such that a user removes the first cutlery item from the dispenser by grasping and pulling the handle of the first cutlery item to actuate the escapement, thereby causing the bottom-most cutlery item to be separated from the stack and gravity-transferred to the dispensing position while the remainder of the stack is retained in the dispenser chamber, whereby the bottom-most cutlery item becomes the replaced first cutlery item and the next cutlery item in the stack becomes the replaced bottom-most cutlery item; and Tableware item quantity indicator, including: an indicator arm pivotable about an indicator pivot axis between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a contact arm cooperating with the indicator arm and configured to laterally contact the stack of cutlery items at an indicator height of the stack of cutlery items, the contact arm maintaining the indicator arm in the engaged position when in contact with the stack of cutlery items; and an indicator signal engaged with the indicator arm and configured to be externally visible when the indicator arm is in the unengaged position and not externally visible when the indicator arm is in the engaged position; the cutlery item quantity indicator being operable such that when the height of the cutlery item stack decreases below the indicator height, the contact arm is released from contact with the cutlery item stack, thereby causing the indicator arm to pivot to the unengaged position, thereby causing the indicator signal to become externally visible, Wherein, the escapement mechanism comprises at least three pivoting members, and the at least three pivoting members are interconnected by at least three different pivots.

2. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: The escapement mechanism comprises: an escapement member configured to retain the first cutlery item in the dispensing position by contact between a head of the first cutlery item and a bottom end of the escapement member; a lower retaining surface cooperating with the escapement member and configured to support a proximal end of the bottom-most cutlery while a distal end of the bottom-most cutlery is supported by a support surface adjacent a distal end of the track; a swinging member pivotally engaged with the escapement member; and an upper retaining surface cooperating with the rocker member and positioned at a height between the bottommost cutlery item and a proximal end of the handle of the next cutlery item in the vertical stack; The escapement mechanism is configured such that when the handle of the first cutlery item is grasped by a user and the first cutlery item is removed from the dispenser: When the first tableware item passes under the escapement member, the bottom end of the escapement member is pulled forward by the head of the first tableware item; the lower retaining surface being withdrawn from beneath the proximal end of the bottom-most cutlery item; The swing member is actuated by the escapement member so as to cause the upper retaining surface to be inserted under the proximal end of the handle of the next cutlery item; The bottommost cutlery item falls from the vertical stack downwardly onto a slide track and is guided by the slide track as it gravity slides to the dispensing position; the escapement member recovers from actuation, thereby retaining the bottom-most cutlery item in the dispensing position as a replacement first cutlery item; and When restoring the escapement member: The lower retaining surface is re-secured beneath the proximal end of the handle of the next cutlery item; and The upper retaining surface is withdrawn from beneath the proximal end of the handle of the next cutlery item, whereby the proximal end of the next cutlery item falls onto the lower retaining surface, whereby the next cutlery item becomes the replaced bottom-most cutlery item.

3. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: The escapement also includes a helical return spring configured to return the escapement to a rest configuration after actuation of the escapement.

4. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 3, wherein: The escapement mechanism comprises a plurality of helical return springs.

5. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: When separated, the bottom-most cutlery item is gravity-guided to the dispensing position by a downwardly inclined sliding track, while the remainder of the vertical stack is retained in the dispenser chamber, and wherein the sliding track includes a sliding channel and a head channel, the sliding channel being configured to laterally restrain the handle of the bottom-most cutlery item, and the head channel being configured to laterally restrain the head of the bottom-most cutlery item when the bottom-most cutlery item slides to the dispensing position by gravity.

6. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 5, wherein: The head channel is wider than the slide channel; the head channel comprising a sliding surface on which the head of the bottom-most cutlery item rests when the bottom-most cutlery item slides to the dispensing position; and The sliding track is formed in a central area of ​​the sliding surface.

7. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 5, wherein: The head channel is the slide channel and is configured to accommodate both the handle and the head of the bottom-most cutlery item when the bottom-most cutlery item is slid to the dispensing position.

8. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 7, wherein: The dispenser is configured to rotate the bottom-most cutlery item from horizontal to vertical about its long axis as the bottom-most cutlery item falls from the stack into the sliding channel so that the head of the bottom-most cutlery item extends upwardly over the sliding channel and is held in the dispensing position by the escapement mechanism.

9. The cutlery dispenser of claim 8, further comprising at least one pivot support member, wherein the pivot support member is vertically impacted by the bottom-most cutlery item when the bottom-most cutlery item is released from the stack, the pivot support member being configured to pivot in response to a gravity force exerted thereon by the bottom-most cutlery item, thereby causing the bottom-most cutlery item to rotate about its long axis.

10. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 8, wherein: The slide track further includes at least one inwardly inclined surface configured to guide the bottom-most cutlery item from a partially rotated configuration to a fully rotated configuration as it falls into the slide channel.

11. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 8, wherein: Before the bottom-most cutlery item is separated and released from the stack, the distal end of its head is supported by a head support surface that extends only half the distance below the distal end, so that when the proximal end of the handle of the bottom-most cutlery item is released by the escapement mechanism, the head support surface applies a rotational torque to the bottom-most cutlery item about its long axis as the bottom-most cutlery item falls toward the slide track.

12. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 5, wherein: The slide channel also includes a damping surface configured to reduce bounce and deflection of the bottom-most cutlery item when a proximal end of the bottom-most cutlery item falls onto the damping surface.

13. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 12 further comprises a damping space, which is arranged below the damping surface, and when the proximal end of the bottommost cutlery item falls on the damping surface, the damping space enables the damping surface to elastically expand into the damping space.

14. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: The dispenser front includes an indicator window through which the indicator signal is visible when the indicator arm is in the disengaged position.

15. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: The contact arm is configured to laterally contact a proximal end of at least one cutlery item included in the stack of cutlery items when the indicator arm is in the engaged position.

16. The cutlery dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: The indicator height is disposed at a sufficient level from the bottom-most cutlery item in the stack of cutlery items to provide for at least one cutlery item remaining in the stack of cutlery items after the indicator signal is activated to be visible.

17. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cutlery item quantity indicators configured to be released at a corresponding plurality of different indicator heights of the stack of cutlery items.

18. A tableware dispensing system, comprising: a base comprising a base front, a base rear, a base left side, and a base right side and at least one base compartment, wherein each of the base compartments comprises a first retention feature; and The cutlery dispenser of any preceding claim, comprising a second retaining feature proximate a bottom of the cutlery dispenser; The cutlery dispenser is configured to be installed in the base by mutual engagement of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature when the dispenser is inserted into one of the at least one base compartment in the base, wherein the mutual engagement of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature prevents the cutlery dispenser from tipping over after the cutlery dispenser is installed in the base.

19. The cutlery dispensing system according to claim 18, wherein: The first retaining feature in the base extends horizontally from the front of the base to a position near the rear of the base, and the first retaining feature is configured as a track or a groove.

20. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 18, wherein: The second retaining feature extends horizontally from the front of the dispenser to a position proximate the rear of the dispenser, and the second retaining feature is configured as a flange.

21. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 18, wherein: The first retaining feature and the second retaining feature are configured to allow the cutlery dispenser to be horizontally slidably inserted into the base during the installation process and partially slid out of the base to provide access to at least a first side of the dispenser for refilling the cutlery dispenser after the plurality of cutlery items have been at least partially exhausted.

22. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 18, wherein: The base includes a plurality of base compartments, and wherein all first retaining features in the plurality of base compartments are identical to one another, the plurality of base compartments being configured to receive a plurality of cutlery dispensers, wherein all second retaining features in the plurality of cutlery dispensers are identical to one another, so that the plurality of cutlery dispensers can be installed in the base in any order positioned in the plurality of base compartments.

23. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 18, wherein: The base includes a plurality of base compartments having a plurality of cutlery dispensers mounted therein, the plurality of mounted cutlery dispensers being selected from a larger plurality of cutlery dispensers including a number of cutlery dispensers that exceeds the number of mounted cutlery dispensers included in the base, such that any subset of the larger plurality of cutlery dispensers can be selected and mounted in the base in any positioning order.

24. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 18, wherein: The base includes a first compartment base unit including the at least one base compartment, the first compartment base unit including a unit attachment feature that enables a side of the first compartment base unit to be attached to a side of a second compartment base unit.

25. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 24, further comprising a pair of end caps attached to the base left side and base right side via end cap attachment features compatible with the unit attachment features.

26. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 24, wherein: The base also includes a second compartment base unit, and the adjacent sides of the first compartment base unit and the second compartment base unit are interconnected by an interconnection feature, and the interconnection feature includes an interconnection attachment feature on its first opposite side and second opposite side, and the interconnection attachment feature is engaged with the unit attachment feature of the adjacent first compartment base unit and the second compartment base unit.

27. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 26, wherein: The first compartment base unit and the second compartment base unit include different numbers of compartments.

28. The cutlery dispensing system of claim 26, wherein: The base also includes a third compartment base unit attached to a side of the second compartment base unit via a second interconnection feature.

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