FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0101] The present application relates generally to dispensers for cutlery utensils and more particularly relates to a front loading cutlery dispenser with a front cover having spring loaded retainers for ease of loading and dispensing the cutlery utensils therefrom.

BACKGROUND

[0102] Restaurants and other types of retail outlets often provide cutlery utensils in open self-serve dispensing bins. Consumers may retrieve a fork, a spoon, a knife, a spork, and the like directly therefrom. Such open dispensing bins, however, may have at least the appearance of being somewhat unhygienic in that the cutlery utensils are not enclosed. Consumers may react negatively in that the remaining utensils thus may be touched or otherwise contacted while a selected utensil is being removed from the dispensing bin.

[0103] To address these concerns relating to the cutlery utensils, enclosed cutlery dispensers have been used. The cutlery utensils may be placed in a utensil compartment and may be dispensed one at a time on command. Generally described, these dispensers may operate via a dispensing lever, a rotating belt, and/or other type of dispensing mechanism. The mechanics of these dispensers, however, may be complex and hence may be subject to malfunction. Further these dispensers typically may be somewhat bulky and may occupy a significant footprint on an already crowded countertop and the like. [0104] There is thus a desire for an improved dispenser for cutlery utensils and the like. Preferably such an improved dispenser may be easy and hygienic to load and to dispense the cutlery utensils therefrom with a reduced overall footprint and simplified mechanics.

SUMMARY

[0105] The present application thus provides a cutlery dispenser for use with a number of cutlery utensils. The cutlery dispenser may include a housing and a front cover. The front cover may include a dispensing opening and a spring loaded retainer such that the cutlery utensils may be loaded through the front cover and may be dispensed therefrom.

[0106] The present application further provides a method of dispensing cutlery utensils from a dispenser. The method may include the steps of arranging the cutlery utensils in a stack via a joinder member, pushing the stack into a front cover of the dispenser, pivoting a retainer into a first position along the front cover while the stack is pushed therein, pivoting the retainer into a second position once the stack is within the dispenser, removing the joinder member from the stack, and dispensing the cutlery utensils through the front cover.

[0107] The present application further provides a cutlery dispenser. The cutlery dispenser may include a housing, a stack of cutlery utensils, a dispensing opening, and a retainer positioned about the dispensing opening such that the stack of cutlery utensils may be loaded through the dispensing opening and may be dispensed therefrom. [0108] These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0109] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cutlery dispenser as may be described herein.

[0110] Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the cutlery dispenser of Fig. 1 showing a housing, a front cover, and an end cap.

[0111] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front cover of the cutlery dispenser of

Fig. 1 .

[0112] Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear of the front cover of Fig. 3.

[0113] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front cover of Fig. 3 with a utensil therein.

[0114] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of stack of utensils for use with the cutlery dispenser of Fig. 1 .

[0115] Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the loading of the cutlery utensils in the cutlery dispenser of Fig. 1 .

[0116] Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the dispensing of a cutlery utensil from the cutlery dispenser of Fig. 1 .

[0117] Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of a stack of utensils for use with the cutlery dispenser of Fig. 1 . [0118] Fig. 10 is a side view of a stack of cutlery utensils for use with the cutlery dispenser of Fig. 1 .

[0119] Fig. 1 1 is a perspective view of an example of a pushing assembly as may be used with the cutlery dispenser of Fig. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0120] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show an example of a cutlery dispenser 100 as may be described herein. The cutlery dispenser 100 may include a housing 1 10. The housing 1 10 may be enclosed by a front cover 120 on one end and an end cap 130 on the other. The cutlery dispenser 100, and the components thereof, may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Specifically, the cutlery dispenser 100, and the components thereof, may be sized to accommodate various types of cutlery utensils for loading therein and for dispensing therefrom. The cutlery dispensers 100, and the components thereof, may be made out of any suitable type of substantially rigid material including thermoplastic such as polypropylene, metals such as aluminum, composite materials, and the like. Different types of materials may be used herein together for the various components.

[0121] The cutlery dispenser 100 also may include a trough 140 and a guide 150 positioned within the housing 1 10. The trough 140 and the guide 150 may be largely "U" shaped and may be sized to accommodate the cutlery utensils therein. The trough 140 and the guide 150 may be integrally formed within the housing 1 10 and/or fixed therein. The trough 140 and the guide 150 may help maintain the orientation of the cutlery utensils during loading and dispensing. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0122] Figs. 2-5 show an example of the front cover 120. The front cover 120 may include a frame 160. The frame 160 may surround, in whole or in part, a dispensing opening 170. The frame 160 may be sized so as to mate or otherwise attach to the housing 1 10. The frame 160 may mate with the housing 1 10 in any convenient manner including a snap fit and/or for the use of suitable types of retainers. The dispensing opening 170 may be sized to allow a cutlery utensil to be loaded and dispensed therethrough although any suitable size, shape, or configuration may be used herein. The dispensing opening 170 also may have one or more side notches 180 so as allow a cutlery utensil to be grasped therein.

[0123] The front cover 120 may include a number of retainers 190 attached to the frame 160 or otherwise. The retainers 190 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. In this example, a bottom retainer 200 and a side retainer 210 are shown. Any suitable number of retainers 190 may be used herein in any suitable position. The bottom retainer 200 may be attached to the frame 160 via a bottom retainer spring 220 or other type of pivoting device. The bottom retainer 200 may be largely flat with a pair of side flanges 230. The side flanges 230 may extend beyond the edges of the frame 160 so as to prevent forward movement of the bottom retainer 200 outside of the front of the frame 160. In a closed position, the front of the bottom retainer 200 may be substantially flush with the front of the frame 160. The bottom retainer 200 may have a sufficient length so as to maintain the cutlery utensils therein while allowing a first one to be removed through the dispensing opening 170. [0124] The side retainer 210 may be positioned about the side notch 180 or elsewhere about the dispensing opening 170. The side retainer 210 may be attached to the frame via a side retainer spring 240 or other type of pivoting device. The side retainer 210 may have a substantially curved shape 250 extending outside of the frame 160. The curved shape 250 of the side retainer 210 supports the cutlery utensils therein with at least the first one leaning in a fanned position for easy removal. The side retainer 210 may have a sufficient width so as to maintain the remainder of the stack of cutlery utensils therein while allowing a first one to be removed through the dispensing opening 170. Fig. 5 shows the retainers 190 in a closed position with a cutlery utensil 270 positioned within the front cover 120. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0125] Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show an example of a stack 280 of cutlery utensils 270. The stack 280 may be nested or otherwise oriented. In this example, the cutlery utensils 270 in the stack 280 are in the form of a number of forks 290 although any type of cutlery utensil may be used herein. The cutlery utensils 270 may have one or more skewer apertures 300 formed therein. The skewer apertures 300 may be sized and shaped for a skewer 310 or other type of a joinder member 315. Any type of joinder members 315 or other types of connection devices may be used herein. In this example, the skewer 310 may have a loop 320 at one end and a barb 330 and the like at the other. The skewer 310 may be positioned through the skewer apertures 300 of each utensil 270 in the stack of utensils 280. The stack 280 may be transported via the loop 320. Other components and other configurations may be used herein. [0126] As is shown in Fig. 7, the stack 280 may be positioned within the cutlery dispenser 100 via the front cover 120. Specifically, the stack 280 may be pushed through the retainers 190 on the dispensing opening 170 of the front cover 120. Once the stack 280 is positioned within the housing 1 10, the retainers 190 may spring forward so as to maintain the stack 280 therein. The skewer 310 then may be removed from the stack 280. The cutlery utensils 270 are now available for dispensing. A consumer may grasp the first cutlery utensil 270 via the side notch 180 and remove the cutlery utensils 270 one by one or otherwise. The cutlery utensils 270 may have a fanned orientation about the dispensing opening 170 given the use of the curved shaped 250 of the side retainer 210 in coordination with the bottom retainer 200. Other components and other configurations also may be used herein.

[0127] Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of a stack of utensils 340. In this example, the stack 340 may be surrounded by a joinder member 315 in the form of a shrink band 350. The shrink band 350 may be made out of any type of suitable thermoplastic and the like. The shrink band 350 surrounds the stack 340 for transport. The stack 340 may be positioned within the cutlery dispenser 100 as is described above. Once the stack 340 is positioned therein, the shrink band 350 may be torn and removed therefrom. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0128] Fig. 10 shows a further example of a stack of cutlery utensils 360. In this example, the stack of cutlery utensils 360 may be a nested stack of knives 370. Other types of cutlery utensils may be used herein. The knives 370 may include one or more triangles of contact 380. The triangles of contact 380 produce an angle between the knives 370 and the stack 360 so as to accommodate the shrink band or other type of connection while also promoting a fanning position so as to make the front utensil easier to select and remove. Other components and other configurations also may be used herein.

[0129] The cutlery dispenser 1 10 also may include a pushing assembly 400. The pushing assembly 400 may assist in forcing the cutlery utensils towards the front cover 120 during dispensing. An example of a pushing assembly suitable for use herein is shown in commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0143272 A1 , entitled "Cutlery Dispenser" in the name of Oakes. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0143272 A1 is incorporated by reference herein full. As is shown in Fig. 1 1 , the pushing assembly 400 may include a support member 410 and at least one biasing member 420. The pushing assembly 400 may be supported within the housing 410 by aligning with the trough 140, the guide 150, or otherwise. The support member 410 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The support member 410 may contact the cutlery utensils 270 while the biasing member 420 urges the support member 410 towards the front cover 120. The biasing member 420 may include springs, rubber bands, magnets, and the like. In this example, the biasing members 420 may be in the form of a pair of coil springs 430. Other types of pushing assemblies and the like may be used herein to urge the cutlery utensils 270 towards the front cover 120. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0130] It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain

embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.