Patents by Inventor Frank L. Lenge

Frank L. Lenge has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9226598
    Abstract: A single-serve, sanitary, gravity-feed cutlery dispensing system without moving parts that holds 4-to-5 times the cutlery in prior art dispensers. Its base unit holds multiple refillable dispensing modules each having a valley at the bottom of a vertically-extending storage channel with a length dimension shorter than the cutlery housed therein, thus stored utensils have angled stacking while moving downwardly toward the valley. When one end of the bottommost utensil engages the valley, it becomes locked into a horizontally-extending dispensing position with opposing end user accessible. The utensil in the dispensing position blocks removal of stacked utensils remaining in the channel. Only withdrawal of the bottommost utensil causes a next utensil to drop down into the locked dispensing position. This arrangement also prevents reinsertion of dispensed utensils. Cutlery of any design is usable with the dispensing system, and dispensing occurs equally well with the handle or opposite end engaging the valley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventors: William J Knope, Frank L Lenge
  • Patent number: D623484
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Frank L. Lenge
  • Patent number: D623907
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Frank L. Lenge
  • Patent number: D637038
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Frank L. Lenge