"A PACK OF A PLURALITY OF ICE-CREAM SPOONS OR THE LIKE, THAT CAN BE HANDLED IN ORDER TO REFILL SPOON DISPENSERS" DESCRIPTION The invention solves the problem of hygienically handling disposable plastic spoons which are made available in public places via a dispenser, in such a way that just one spoon at a time can be taken from the housing in which a stack of such spoons is placed. The shopkeeper has to refill this housing frequently, taking care not to touch the spoons for reasons of hygiene; such refilling operations also need to be easy to carry out, using a quick and simple method, and the dispensing unit must be made such that it takes up as little space as possible in public areas and such that it has a high spoon-holding capacity so as to limit the frequency with which me spoons need to be refilled.

All these objects and others-which will become apparent on reading the following text-are achieved by the invention.

A first subject of the invention is a pack of a plurality of ice-cream spoons or the like which can be handled easily and hygienically in order to refill dispensers for such spoons. The pack is characterized in that each spoon has at least one through aperture and in that a rod is inserted through the aligned apertures in a stack of said spoons, this rod having at one end a grip part and a retaining abutment which holds a terminal spoon in the stack in place and, at the other end, an elastic retaining projection which holds the other terminal spoon in place; the rod can be extracted by elastically retracting said elastic retaining projection as the first step in the extraction operation.

The through apertures in the spoons can take the form of slits, and the rod can be made flat so that a single rod can be used to hold the spoons neatly stacked in place. As an alternative, a double rod could be used which would be accommodated in two holes formed in each spoon. The elastic retaining projection can be formed by providing a longitudinal slit; the projection can be single or double.

At its retaining abutment end, the rod can extend beyond said abutment to form a projecting grip to aid its extraction; said extraction is

carried out once the stack of spoons has been positioned in the housing provided for them in the dispenser.

The slit for the flat rod is preferably formed towards the end of the handle of the spoon.

The pack of spoons-which is held in a stack on the rod-can be partially covered by a strip of paper or other material or it can be enclosed in a wrapper which allows the projecting grip to protrude out of said wrapper.

A second subject of the invention is a spoon that can be packed in the manner described above and has at least one through aperture, advantageously a longitudinal through aperture, which accommodates the abovementioned rod.

A third subject of the invention is a spoon dispenser tnat can be refilled with a pack of spoons as defined above. This dispenser comprises at least one housing, which is open at the top in order to be able to accommodate a stack of spoons, and a corresponding device for extracting the spoon lying at the bottom of the stack, or a plurality of such housings, and is characterized in that a lid is provided which fits on top of the compartment containing the housing or housings for the stacks of spoons to be dispensed so as to close it off and has an aperture, such as a slit, located in line with and immediately above the housing or each housing, through which aperture the projecting grip of the rod can protrude and through which said rod can be extracted.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by following the description and the appended drawing which shows a practical embodiment of the pack in question and also a dispenser that can be refilled with these packs. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows, in isolation, a pack of spoons that can be handled in order to be loaded into a housing in a dispenser as illustrated; Figs 2,3 and 4 illustrate a partially sectioned side view, a plan view on the plane III-III of Fig. 2 and a sectional view on the plane IV-IV of Fig. 2, of a spoon designed to be packed in the manner indicated; Fig. 5 shows a front view, with some parts removed or in section,

of a dispenser for spoons packed as shown in Figs 1 to 4; Fig. 6 shows a side view in partial section on the plane VI-VI of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a plan view in partial section on the broken plane VII-VII of Figs 5 and 6; Figs 8 and 9 show partial sections similar to those of Fig. 6 which illustrate the action of extracting the pack rod from the stack of spoons and the position assumed when extracting a spoon using the extraction mechanism; Fig. 10 shows a view from below on the plane X-X of Figs 6 and 9, with some parts removed; Fig. 11 illustrates, in isolation and, disconnected, the two haif- shells which form the dispenser box, shown in horizontal section similar to that of Fig. 7 but at various levels; and Figs 12 and 13 show, in isolation and on an enlarged scale, a component of the extraction means, in a side view in partial section on the plane XII-XII in Fig. 13, and in a view taken on XIII-XIII in Fig. 12.

As illustrated in the appended drawing (Figs 2 to 4), a spoon 1 has a longitudinal slit 3 along its handle 1A, adjacent to the end opposite the bowl end 1B of the spoon. The cross section of the spoon 1 is such as to allow one spoon to fit partially inside another so that the spoons in each pack are stabilized in the form of a stack P.

In order to be able to handle a stack P of spoons 1, a flat rod 5 (Figs 1,6,8) is provided which has a grip end 5A, an abutment 5B adjacent to said grip end, a main portion 5C whose dimensions are such that it can be inserted into the slits 3 in the spoons 1 of the stack P, and an end 5E which forms a pair of projections 5F and an elongate longitudinal slit 5G, the latter being formed so as to make the projections 5F elastic, which projections need to be able to be pushed closer together in order to allow the rod to be pulled out of the stack P of spoons 1. The stack of spoons is held in place by the rod 5 between the abutment 5B which engages with the topmost spoon 1X, and the pair of projections 5F which engage with the bottommost spoon 1Y and

prevent the spoons in the stack from spontaneously slipping off until such time as the two projections 5F are pushed slightly closer together. The two projections 5F can also be of different sizes, with the larger one being more rigid and the thinner one being more elastic.

When a pack as described above is accommodated in a housing in a dispenser such as the one illustrated, or at any rate one designed to hold the stack P of spoons neatly in place, it is then possible to extract the rod in the direction of the arrow f, by pulling it gently upward in the direction of the arrow f while holding the stack P of spoons 1 down so as to stop them from moving; in this way the projections 5F-which work through their contact with the ends of the slit 3 in the spoons 1-are able to be pushed closer together; then, by pulling the rod 5 in the direction of the arrow T, the rod is extracted from all the slits 3 and releases the spoons 1 which can thus be dispensed by extracting them one at a time, starting with the spoon 1 Y lying at the bottom of the stack P of spoons.

A pack of spoons as described above could also include a paper component which could take the form of an envelope or bag for containing said pack; alternatively, the paper component could be a strip of paper S (Fig. 1) wrapped around the middle of the spoons in the stack, the width of said strip being smaller than the length of the spoons. The paper bag can be torn away just before the pack is inserted in the housing in the dispenser; the strip S can be torn away before the pack is inserted or can be cut after the stack of packed spoons is inserted so that, irrespective of the method used, the spoons are released and can then be extracted individually.

A pack as described above can be accommodated in one housing of a plurality of adjacent housings formed in a dispenser as illustrated in the drawing (Figs 5 to 11) and indicated by the general reference 10.

The dispenser illustrated has a base 12 for a box which is denoted overall by the reference 14, the front and back walls of which are shaped with vertical recesses 16 so that opposite pairs of recesses 16 form the housings for the stacks P of spoons 1, the bowl ends 1 B of which are centered between side edges 18 which separate the various housings defined

by the shaped recesses 16 from one another. Provided at the bottom of each housing 16 is a lever 20 which is lowered against an antagonistic elastic action in order to cause a slide 22 to move in the direction of the arrow f2, this slide causing the handle 1A of the bottommost spoon in a stack of spoons to protrude partially (Fig. 9) through an aperture 24 formed in the bottom at least of the shaped recess 16 facing the user who is to remove the spoon; the spoon thus projects-as indicated by 1Z in Fig. 9-out of the slit 24 when the lever 20 has been pressed down and it is thus possible to extract a single spoon at a time from the bottom of the stack. The levers 20 are shaped such that a space is left (Fig. 6) for the ends 5E with the projections 5F of the rods 5, the latter being extracted as soon as the packs of spoon stacks have been inserted (Fig. 1).

Once the stacks of spoons have been placed in the individual housings 16,18 provided for the spoons in the box 14, said box 14 can be closed by a lid, taking care to allow the grip parts 5A to project through slits 26A formed in the lid 26 at precisely those points where the grip parts 5A of the rods 5 are positioned when the packs described are inserted in the individual housings 16,18 of the box 14 of the dispenser 10. Then, holding the lid 26 down on the box 14 which is closed by said lid, it is possible to extract the rods 5 individually, the stacks P of spoons 1 being held in place by the lid 26. This operation is carried out without in any way having to touch the spoons which have been placed in the dispenser box.

More specifically, according to the drawing, the box 14 and the base 12 of the dispensing device 10 illustrated consists of two components or half-shells which are identical and can thus be made from a single mold, being subsequently joined together as mirror images (see Fig. 11 in particular) along flanges 28 which are joined using snap-button means or at any rate by means of a seal obtained in some other way. The two components of the box 14 are shaped such as to offer the option of positioning the means for centering the stacks of spoons, the extraction means, the extraction slits and the seats for the extraction control means-such as the lever 20 and the slide 22-either way round.

Thus, the box will, more specifically, have outlet slits 24 and side edges 18 for centering the spoons 1 on both its front and back faces; vertical slits 30 adjoining the outlet slits 24 which are present on both the front and back faces will also be provided and will allow a visual check to be made on the rate at which the stacks of spoons are being used up. Sliding seats 32 are provided for each slide 22, but only those on the front face of the box-i. e. the opposite face to that on which the levers 20 are mounted-will be used. The reference 34 denotes lateral supports which serve to support the bowl ends 1 B of the spoons in the stack, with the bowl 1 B of the spoon resting on said ledges 34 and being centered between the vertical side edges 18.

As can also, and more particularly, be seen in Figs 12 and 13, each slide 22 is made by molding it in a single piece with the iever 20 which is right-angled and with the connecting strip which extends between the two components 20 and 22 and consists of a thin flat strip 38; the thinness of this strip gives it the flexibility of a foil and it is molded together with the parts 20 and 22. The slide 22 comprises a projection 22A on the top which is positioned in front of the terminal edge of the bowl 1 B of the spoon 1Y lying at the bottom of the stack, which spoon has its bowl 1 B resting on the ledges 34 and its handle 1A resting on the guide ledges 32 at the lever 20 end. A sheet, for example of card 40, can be placed between the opposing side edges 18 and so that it rests on the ledges 34 in order to complete the support and sliding surface for the bottommost spoons 1Y in each of the stacks. The two half-shells forming the box 14 of the dispenser 10 have pegs 42 located on the underside of the seat inside which each slide 22 slides; each slide 22 in turn has a peg 22C on its underside, corresponding to the one 42. Engaged around the two pegs 22C and 42 found on each of the housings for the stacks of spoons is a rubber band 44 of a type widely available on the market and thus easy to replace, said rubber band being held in place by terminal expansions on the two pegs 22C and 42. Each of the elastic bands 44 is engaged around the two pegs 22C and 42 such that it is taut between these two pegs even when the slide 22 abuts against a stop 12A when the lever 20 is in the raised position (Fig. 6), into which position the lever 20 is pulled by

the elastic band 44 which pulls the slide in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow f2. The lever 20 is approximately right-angled, with a recess at the top into which the end 5E of the rod 5 with the slit 5G and the elastic projections 5F already described can fit when the lever 20 is in the rest position shown in Fig. 4; it should be noted that the rod 5 fits into the space provided by this recess in the top of the lever 20 during loading operations, but is extracted completely prior to extraction of the spoons and therefore prior to operation of the individual levers 20. At the bottom of each lever 20, projecting coaxially on either side of it, are two pegs 20C which are housed in corresponding housings 46 formed in the base 12 of the box. As each lever 20 is positioned on the base 12 of the dispenser box, the pegs 20C fit into the housings 46, the slide 22 fits into the-iaterai sliaing seats 32, and the eiastic bands 44 engaged around the pegs 22C and 42 pull the slides 22 in the opposite direction to the arrow f2-such that the pegs 20C are pushed into the housings 46 so that the individual levers 20 are secured in position within the housings 46 against the action of the elastic bands 44-as far as an abutment provided for the slide 22 and/or against an abutment formed by the stops 12A of the base 12. In the position illustrated in Fig. 6, the projecting part of the lever 20 remains raised as a result of the elastic return action of the rubber bands 44. When one of the levers 20 is pressed down in the direction of the arrow f3 so that it reaches the lowered position shown in Fig. 9, the lever 20- by virtue of the flexible strip 38-pulls the slide 22 in the direction of the arrow f2, causing the projection 22A on the slide 22 to bring about the initial extraction (in the direction of the arrow f2) of the bottommost spoon 1Y in that particular stack through the slit 24 such that (position 1 Z in Fig. 9) the spoon can be extracted manually from the slit 24 through which it projects, thereby allowing the stack to drop down.

It should be noted that the dimensions of the extraction mechanism-which consists of the piece forming the lever 20 with the pegs 20C, the strip 38 and the slide 22 with the projections 22A and 22C-are no greater that those of each housing 16 for a stack of spoons. It is thus possible to position the stacks of spoons very closely next to each other in their

respective housings 16 and therefore to limit the width of the front of the box 14 of the dispenser, which is extremely advantageous in terms of making space available for other uses in those public places having a dispenser of the type described, and also advantageous in terms of the high spoon-holding capacity offered by the device.

As has already been stated, the dispenser box can be made from two half-shells (see Fig. 11) which are completely identical and can thus be molded using a single mold and are made so as to be able to take advantage of the assembly of the extraction means and of the systems for loading the packs which are totally identical and which do not interfere with operation on the side not being used. The fact that the housings 46 are completely symmetrical means that the levers can be positioned on either side; positioning of the slides 22 is also allowed by the completely symmetrical guide systems; the side edges 18 and the recesses 16 are symmetrical and the lid 26-which has only one row of slits 26A-can be positioned in either of two symmetrical and mirror-image positions, so that the slits 26A lie on the same side as the grip parts 5A of the rods 5 which have been loaded into the housings of the box.

The mechanisms for extracting the bottommost spoons in each stack can be assemble without any particular need for pins or other elements, but simply by hooking the elastic bands 44 around the pegs 42 and 22C from the underside of the box as the latter is held upside down; the elastic bands 44 can also be replaced very quickly.

All the above means that the components of the dispenser can be produced and assemble extremely simply and quickly.

As an alternative to the solution illustrated in Fig. 3, the spoons can be made with two apertures (such as two holes) set a certain distance apart instead of with the slit 3. Accordingly, the rod 5 would then take the form of two bars instead of the flat structure illustrated.

It should be understood that the drawing shows only one example given solely as a practical demonstration of the invention and that the forms and arrangements of the latter can vary without thereby departing from the scope of the underlying concept of said invention. The presence of reference numerals in the appended claims has the purpose of facilitating reading of the claims with reference to the description and the drawing and does not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.