Patents by Inventor William J. Knope

William J. Knope 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: D243437
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: International Silver Company
    Inventor: William J. Knope
  • Patent number: D249114
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: International Silver Company
    Inventors: William J. Knope, Frank K. Guodace
  • Patent number: D254470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Inventor: William J. Knope
  • Patent number: D254947
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: International Silver Company
    Inventor: William J. Knope
  • Patent number: D257610
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: International Silver Company
    Inventor: William J. Knope
  • Patent number: D257658
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1980
    Assignee: International Silver Company
    Inventor: William J. Knope