Article dispensing – Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article – By ejecting means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-15
2001-08-14
Cherry, Johnny D. (Department: 3652)
Article dispensing
Concurrent separation and distortion of flexible article
By ejecting means
C221S210000, C221S259000, C294S001200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273293
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cup shaped coffee filter housings, and more particularly to a combined filter housing, extractor and inserter.
2. Discussion of the Relevant Art
The applicant is aware of several devices that are designed to store and dispense cup shaped coffee filters.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,673 (Heath) there is disclosed a filter housing and extractor using an abrasive tipped arm to slide individual filters out of a housing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,396 (Mamalou) there is disclosed a filter housing with a cover assembly using tongs to remove individual filters.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,815 (Molloy) there is disclosed an adhesive tipped device for separating an individual filter from a stack of filters.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,870 (Mamalou) there is disclosed a filter housing with a cover assembly using an inverted V-shaped pincer to remove individual filters.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,217 (Ritson) there is disclosed a filter housing with a cover assembly using an adhesive tipped rod to remove individual filters.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,984 (Meisner) there is disclosed a filter housing using an adhesive tipped plunger assembly to remove individual filters.
While the devices disclosed in the foregoing patents will remove individual filters from a plurality of nested filters, they leave much to be desired for various reasons. For example, after the individual filters have been removed from the nested stack of filters in the foregoing patents, they have to be inserted into a coffee maker receptacle by hand.
The devices of Mamalou are difficult to operate, requiring strong fingers and are subject to flexing fatigue in the gripping mechanism. They are not suitable for vertical mounting.
The device of Ritson requires a rotating motion of the cover to free and extract an individual filter and has no means of retaining a plurality of filters when this is done. It can not be mounted vertically.
The device of Ritson has a cover that does not protect the filters from outside contamination.
The devices of Meisner and Heath are extremely complicated and difficult to manufacture.
The device of Molloy does not provide for a covered housing for the filters.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the general object of the instant invention to provide a coffee filter housing, extracting and inserting device that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.
It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a device that is compact and easy to manufacture.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a device that can be mounted horizontally or vertically.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a coffee filter housing, extracting and inserting device capable of extracting an individual filter from a plurality of nested filters and inserting the filter into a coffee maker filter receptacle without the filter being touched by the user's hand.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a device that could be mounted on top of a coffee maker or be a part of a coffee maker.
It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide an easy to use method of making, and using adhesive tips.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of the instant invention are achieved by providing a housing with an abrasive coated inner wall to retain a plurality of nested cup shaped coffee filters including a cover with an adhesive tipped rod element extending downward from the center of the cover to engage and extract an uppermost filter of the plurality of nested filters, and a plunger assembly arranged around the adhesive tipped rod, slidably co-operating with the rod to detach the filter from the adhesive tipped rod and insert it into a coffee maker filter receptacle when the cap attached to the top of the plunger is depressed. The length of the plunger assembly allows the use of a skirt on the cover of sufficient length for vertical mounting of the housing and still enables the plunger to insert the filter completely into a coffee maker filter receptacle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4214673 (1980-07-01), Heath
patent: 4676396 (1987-06-01), Mamolou
patent: 4848815 (1989-07-01), Molloy
patent: 4905870 (1990-03-01), Mamolou
patent: 5067627 (1991-11-01), Anderson
patent: 5097984 (1992-03-01), Meisner
patent: 6116459 (2000-09-01), Wilson
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