Article dispensing – With dispensing-type outlet – Resilient
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-08
2001-03-13
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
With dispensing-type outlet
Resilient
C221S221000, C221S063000, C221S303000, C221S304000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199723
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to cup dispensers and, more particularly, to dispensers for dispensing beverage cups and the like.
In some commercial establishments, particularly fast food establishments and convenience stores, paper or foam cups typically are dispensed from dispensers including a tubular housing containing a stack of cups and mounted on a wall, supported on some kind of base resting on a counter or mounted beneath a counter. The housing of a wall-mounted dispenser usually is mounted in vertical position. The housing for base-supported dispensers is vertical, horizontal or at an acute angle. In both cases, the rim of the outer most cup in the stack is supported on or restrained by a flexible retainer, such as ledges, tabs or some kind of diaphragm, located in the lower or outer end of the housing. By pulling on the outermost cup, the rim of the cup can pass over the retainer and be withdrawn from the housing.
With counter-mounted dispensers, the housing is located beneath the counter with the upper end accessible from above the counter top. This stack of cups is urged upwardly within the housing by a spring and the rim of the uppermost cup is supported beneath a flexible retainer located adjacent to the upper end of the housing. As a cup is withdrawn from the housing, the spring force urges the stack upwardly to a location where the next cup can be withdrawn.
One type cup dispenser includes a collar or mounting ring surrounding the discharge end of the housing for removably receiving a trim or retaining ring carrying a diaphragm or other cup restraining means. This collar or mounting ring typically is a separate part permanently affixed to the housing by some kind of fastener, particularly when the housing is formed from a synthetic thermoplastic material. Some fasteners, such as rivets, can create crevices and/or other cavities in which bacteria can be trapped. To qualify for certification by the National Sanitary Foundation, cup dispensers cannot include such crevices or small cavities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a cup dispenser including a housing and a collar or mounting ring surrounding the discharge end of the housing which does not include crevices and/or small cavities susceptible to trapping bacteria.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a cup dispenser including a removably mounted collar or mounting ring and arranged to positively lock the collar or mounting ring on the housing.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a cup dispenser including a cylindrical housing and means for insuring that, in the event the discharge end of the housing is out of its normally round shape, it is returned to its normal shape upon assembly with the collar or mounting ring.
The invention provides a cup dispenser including an elongated tubular housing for storing a plurality of cups nested in a stack, an annular collar surrounding an exterior surface of the housing, a locking arrangement on the collar and the housing cooperating to provide a removable connection therebetween at a location adjacent the discharge end of the housing. The locking arrangement also cooperates to afford relative movement of the collar and housing between a locked position wherein relative longitudinal and rotational movement of the collar and housing are restrained and an unlocked position wherein relative movement of the collar and housing is permitted to separate one from the other. An annular retaining ring carrying a cup holding member is removably mounted on the collar such that the cup holding member is disposed over the discharge end of the housing to control removal of cups from the stack. Portions of the inner surface of the collar and the locking arrangement exposed to the interior of the housing and the interior surface of the housing in the vicinity of the discharge end are substantially free from crevices or cavities which can trap bacteria.
In one embodiment, the locking arrangement includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, generally J-shaped slots extending from the top or outer edge of the housing, each of which is arranged to receive a radially inwardly projecting lug on the collar and each of which cooperates with the outer edge of the housing to define a tab-like portion which is flexed in a direction toward the top edge of the housing from its normal position to a flexed position during relative movement of the housing and the collar between locked and unlocked positions. The collar includes a circumferentially extending ledge which projects radially inwardly from the inner surface of the collar, extends over the outer edge of the housing and has recesses in the vicinity of the tab-like housing portions for accommodating movement of the tab-like portion to the flexed position.
In another embodiment, the housing normally has a circular cross sectional or round shape and the collar includes a plurality of circumferentially, radially inwardly projecting guide members which are arranged to engage the discharge end of the housing, when it does not have its normal shape, and move it back to its normal round shape during assembly of the collar and housing.
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San Jamar Diaphragm Drawing No. C2515: 1997.
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Collins Scott J.
Walsh James R.
Ellis Christopher P.
Mackey Patrick
Michael & Best & Friedrich LLP
The Colman Group, Inc.
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