Patents by Inventor William K. Schwartz

William K. Schwartz 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).

  • Method and apparatus for dispensing drinking straws
    Patent number: 5094659
    Abstract: Drinking straws are dispensed by providing an endless, substantially flattened flexible tube having a free end, cutting the free end of the tube to a desired length and opening the tube at its free end into a hollow tube. A refill cartridge is provided for this dispensing method which includes a substantially endless, substantially flattened flexible tube wound in substantially spiral form. The cartridge may comprise a spindle disposed at the center of the spirally wound tube, whereby the tube may be unwound from the outside of the spiral form, or the cartridge may include a cylindrical sleeve disposed around the outside circumference of the spirally wound tube, whereby the tube may be unwound from the inside of the spiral form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: William K. Schwartz
  • Method for dispensing drinking straws and a supply arrangement therefor
    Patent number: 5067629
    Abstract: Drinking straws are efficiently packaged, shipped, stored and dispensed by providing a plurality of flexible, hollow, cylindrical tubes, each having a convenient length and cross-section for a drinking straw; arranging the tubes substantially in parallel; and pressing the tubes to force them into a substantially flattened configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: William K. Schwartz