Plural Series Patents (Class 221/308)
  • Patent number: 11805928
    Abstract: A condiment bottle sleeve dispenser apparatus for applying a disposable sleeve to a condiment bottle includes a dispenser body having a body sidewall, a body top rim, and a body bottom rim. The body sidewall has a sidewall inner face and a sidewall outer face. A plurality of bottle sleeves is coupled to the dispenser body. The plurality of bottle sleeves is coupled adjacent the sidewall inner face. Each bottle sleeve has a sleeve bottom aperture and a sleeve top aperture. An innermost bottle sleeve of the plurality of bottle sleeves receives a condiment bottle through the sleeve bottom aperture. A nozzle of the condiment bottle is engageable through the sleeve top aperture. The condiment bottle passes through the dispenser body with the innermost bottle sleeve covering a bottle body of the condiment bottle with the nozzle remaining exposed through the sleeve top aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Jonathan Brown
  • Patent number: 9204734
    Abstract: The cup storage device includes a tube having opposing dispensing and terminal ends and inner and outer surfaces that define an inner volume. The inner volume receives cups stacked upon each other and stores them. The cup storage device includes a plurality of resilient cup restraining members disposed on the inner surface of the tube at the dispensing end. The cup restraining members extend from a mounting end proximate the inner surface of the tube to a contact end. A guide structure is positioned on the inner surface of the tube. The guide structure defines a recess. The contact ends of the plurality of cup restraining members are disposed within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus Jablonski, David M. Joyce, James Kasallis, Dusan N. Ivancevic
  • Patent number: 8894347
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling food products comprises an alignment trough disposed at an incline for holding a stack of the food products at an incline. The alignment trough defines a portion of a passage upon which the food products travel. The stack defines a bottom food product. At least one movable member extends into the passage to control the separation of the bottom food product from the remainder of the stack by moving to provide clearance for the food product to pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Malenke, Gary S. Rusch, Tod W. Heleniak, Brian Adamski, Larry D. Wierschke, Scott A. Adler
  • Patent number: 8857660
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved system and method for dispensing solid food product containers. It comprises a shaped dispensing tube (62) of a predetermined length, having a plurality of support clips (76) arranged inside the dispensing tube (62) for holding a stack of solid food product containers (70) in place within the tube (62). The dispensing tube (62) preferably includes a bracket (68) for mounting the entire device on a wall or the like. A nested stack of containers (70) is fed into the preferably open top (78) of the dispensing tube (62) until the bottommost container engages (or is engaged by) the support clips (76). This results in the bottommost container extending a predetermined distance below the bottom of the dispensing tube (62). By minimizing the amount the bottommost container extends below the dispensing tube (62), a user's ability to take more than one solid food container at a time is greatly minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: San Jamar, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Omdoll, Michael Young
  • Patent number: 7802697
    Abstract: A storage device for bottles with a neck, comprising at least one coupling member suitable for suspending the device beneath a shelf of a domestic refrigerator, and a hollow dispensing guide extending longitudinally from a rear end to a front end having a dispensing opening. The dispensing guide has a top face provided with the coupling member, a bottom face and a C-shaped cross section with an opening into the bottom face. The opening has a width suitable for allowing the narrowed portion of the neck of a bottle to slide freely and so that the longitudinal rims of the opening oriented toward the inside form bearing rails of a length more than twice the diameter of the widened portion of the neck of the bottle, on which this widened portion rests when the bottle is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Compagnie Gervais Danone
    Inventor: Christophe Martin
  • Patent number: 7487885
    Abstract: The dosing dispenser for essentially spherical items contained in a container is characterized in that it comprises a passage channel whose inner cross-section is larger than the items, and an exit opening which in the relaxed state of the dosing dispenser has an elongated shape whose width is smaller and whose length is larger than the items. The dosing dispenser consists of a soft elastic plastic material and can be deformed by the application of pressure such that the exit opening gets larger than the items. The dosing dispenser is of a simple construction and can be produced at low costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Gaplast GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Keller, Ingmar Kneer
  • Patent number: 7134571
    Abstract: A napkin dispenser has a container body for holding a stack of napkins, and a pair of interchangeable face plates each connectable to the container body. One of the face plates has a first elongated dispensing opening exposing a bottom region of the napkin stack, for one-by-one dispensing, and the other face plate has a second elongated dispensing opening exposing an edge region of the napkin stack, for dispensing a plurality of napkins simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: SCA Tissue North America LLC.
    Inventors: Robert C Hochtritt, Andrew M Conger
  • Patent number: 6427868
    Abstract: The invention provides a cup dispenser for sequentially dispensing individual, disposable, rimmed cups having diameters varying from each other by several centimeters, from a stacked column thereof, comprising a cup-retaining and dispensing body provided with a tubular opening having a lower edge and with retaining means consisting essentially of at least two opposed flexible tongue-like members descending from the inner wall thereof, each of the members being subdivided into two portions, a first portion of the first member, in conjunction with the opposed first portion of the second member underriding and supporting the rim of a lowermost cup of the stacked column placed therein, and a second portion of the first member, in conjunction with the opposed second portion of the second member, simultaneously overriding the rim of the lowermost cup, and underriding and supporting the rim of the next to lowermost cup in the stack, whereby the pair of first portions retain the lowermost cup until the removal thereo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Menacham Vine
  • Patent number: 6398072
    Abstract: In order to offer a cup dispenser which does not require to change cylinders to meet with different cup sizes and allows to change cup sizes easily by adjusting a stopper means in accordance with various sizes of cups to be stored, and the cup dispenser is made to be composed of an outer cylinder where cups are stored, an inner cylinder fitted at the cup-outlet side of the outer cylinder and a single or plural number of springs mounted at the above mentioned outer cylinder. The outer cylinder is made of a metallic material, and the inner cylinder is made of a joint-free synthetic resin. A few cup size grooves are etched along a perimeter of the body of the inner cylinder for a free end of a spring stopper held by the above mentioned outer cylinder with the other end to be hooked and released freely. At the same time, a flange placed at the cup-outlet end of the above mentioned outer cylinder has an indication to indicate a few different cup sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignees: Sun Wave Corporation, Mitachi Ouyou Kakou Corporation
    Inventors: Hideharu Nitta, Yasuhiko Kubosaki, Kouichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 6347722
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a dispenser having a flanged tubular container removably engaged in a bracket. The container has an interior space for holding pacifiers and a flexible gasket at the bottom of the container to retain the pacifies in the container. The pacifiers are placed in the container with the nipple facing downward. The body of the pacifier is held inside the container by the gasket. By grasping the pacifier at the side openings of the container and pulling downward, he gasket will deform and the pacifier will be released from the container. The gasket will return to its original shape and the next pacifier will be held until needed The bracket may be fixedly mounted to a wall or it may be attached to a crib by a pair of velcro straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventor: Gregory F. Fenlon
  • Patent number: 6189734
    Abstract: A gravity feed merchandise dispensing device comprises at least one plastic track capable of supporting in tandem a row of similar bottles of the type having an annular neck flange, and has a lead bottle support basket suspended at the front end of the track which is removable and interchangeable with other lead bottle supports so as to accommodate bottles of different heights. The rails of the track have a sloped transition section at the front end of the track which eases movement of bottles off the track and into the basket, and facilitates the front loading of bottles into the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: William P. Apps, Frank Becker, Philip C. Hwang, Jerry Koefelda
  • Patent number: 5586687
    Abstract: A bottle dispenser has a gate mechanism to maintain the foremost one of the track-supported bottles substantially vertical. The dispenser includes an elongate track which defines a longitudinally extending pathway, a support assembly for the track, and a stopper provided at the front end of the track. The track supports a row of flanged bottles such that the bottles are suspended by their neck flanges for movement along the pathway and removable from the pathway through the front end of the track. The support assembly supports the track such that the track is inclined toward its front end whereby the suspended bottles are allowed to gravity feed toward the front end when the leading bottle in the row is removed from the track. The stopper engages with the leading bottle to prevent its accidental removal through the front end. The gate mechanism blocks the pathway at a position between the front and rear ends of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Spamer, J. Marshall Suttles, Dennis E. Parham, James D. Whiten
  • Patent number: 5335810
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for use in an article handling system having a conduit through which articles such as can ends in a facewise nested condition are conveyed from a first location to a second location. The control apparatus comprises a housing operatively interposed in the conduit and an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in the housing and defining a through passage of a shape generally complementary to the shape of the articles. The tubular sleeve member is responsive to the level of pressure in a pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Fleetwood Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter W. Holloway
  • Patent number: 5131564
    Abstract: The apparatus stores and dispenses a plurality of disposable razors, the dispenser being affixable to a bathroom wall. The razors are initially loaded into the dispenser apparatus and retained therein by a pair of opposed support members, the support members extending inwardly from a pair of parallel sidewalls, the support members having a centrally disposed channel. The support members are sloped downwardly to facilitate gravitational loading of the individual razors. A flexible member is affixed to each of the support members. The dispenser apparatus has an open bottom, enabling the razors stored therewithin to be withdrawn in the same sequence that they are loaded thereinto. The opposed sidewalls of the dispenser apparatus are transparent, enabling the razors stored therewithin to be readily viewed. The dispenser apparatus also includes a razor holder mounted on the top thereof, to retain the razor currently being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Inventor: Theodore N. Plonkey
  • Patent number: 5014878
    Abstract: A cup dispenser for accommodating conically shaped cups of different diameters includes a discharge unit having multiple diaphragms. An outer diaphragm has a series of inwardly extending circumferentially spaced flat fingers for gripping the outer surface of the cup. An inner diaphragm is similarly constructed. The circumferentially spaced flat fingers of the inner diaphragm differ in length one from the other, all of the inner diaphragm fingers being shorter than the outer diaphragm fingers. Preferably, the inner diaphragm is constructed to provide a series of fingers having a first length arranged alternately with a series of fingers having a second, shorter length. The outer diaphragm fingers resiliently grip the outermost cup to require positive pulling of the cup from the dispenser. The inner diaphragm fingers engage the larger end of the stacked cups as the outermost cup is pulled therefrom, to retain the stack within a tubular cup support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Inventor: Ronald J. Janz
  • Patent number: 4925058
    Abstract: The cup dispenser is disposed of an opening or openings 1b formed on one side face of the casing 1 of the dispenser and a receiving container 4 attached to each opening 1b provided with a cup pusher 41 connected to a coil spring 42. The opening 1b is attached with a delivery opening 3 which incorporates a membrane or membranes 32 each having a circular opening 32a. The set of cups 7 received in the receiving container 4 can be pulled out one by one through the delivery opening 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Mizuno Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Ozawa
  • Patent number: 4863168
    Abstract: A dispenser for the insertion of spacers between the strings of tennis, squash and badminton rackets includes a body having a delivery groove formed therein. The delivery groove is adapted to receive an interconnected strip of spacers and dispense the spacers individually between intersecting strings of a racket. The delivery groove may include a raised portion to allow the strip of spacers to be manually advanced within the device and a pair of prong-like projections for separating a pair of intersecting racket strings. The prong-like projections may have an abutment edge for positioning the interconnected strip of spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventors: Gerold Anderka, Walter Jozat
  • Patent number: 4721237
    Abstract: A portable cooler which may be carried in back-pack style is adapted to store and automatically dispense a number of cans of beverage. The cooler is comprised of a box-like chamber having self-supporting thermally insulative material on its exterior surfaces. One or more removable coolant-confining containers are positioned within the chamber, each container having a serpentine contour of horizontally elongated recesses adapted to hold beverage cans and permit their vertical descent to a door positioned adjacent the bottom of the chamber. The chamber is held within a snug-fitting fabric carrying jacket having a zippered lid and closure for the door, and carrying straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Inventor: Peter C. Leslie
  • Patent number: 4708261
    Abstract: A clip dispenser for dispensing resilient, generally U-shaped plastic clips. The clips are useful in holding closed the folded over ends of a paperboard container for a foodstuff, such as a portable liquid. The dispenser is in the general form of a vertically disposed rack having a horizontal lower portion, the horizontal lower portion being twisted at about 35.degree. with respect to the horizontal. In use, a foodstuff container having a folded over and generally top portion is inserted upwardly into the endmost part of the horizontal portion to receive a clip. The container is then withdrawn, the clip pushed down upon the horizontal portions of the container, thereby concealing the container. The dispenser includes a reciprocating blocking gate for use when the rack is loaded with a new supply of clips. The end of the horizontal portion carries a recess through which the clips are dispensed, the recessed provided with a plurality of spring-urged detents which serve to maintain the clips in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventor: Michael Sinocchi
  • Patent number: 4079858
    Abstract: A nested cone holder and dispenser making use of an adjustable cone release mechanism for safely dispensing different selected sizes of fragile products such as ice cream cones, cups and the like. The device employs an elongate flexible container for holding cones, cups and the like nested items to be dispensed, together with the cooperating adjustable release mechanism which dispenses individual nested items from the bottom without crushing the edges of the same. The release mechanism includes pads of brush-like material carried at the lower end or edge margin of the container and positioned adjacent the discharge opening. The pads are mounted on rigid U-shaped clips which are readily removable and which can be disposed variously around the lower edge margin to vary the effective size of the dispensing opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1978
    Assignee: Safe-T Pacific Company
    Inventor: Gunter G. Fuss