Patent Publication Number: US-2007095717-A1

Title: Cutlery dispenser system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      (Not Applicable)  
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
      (Not Applicable)  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates in general to hand-operable dispenser systems for dispensing goods and, more particularly, to a uniquely configured cutlery dispenser system specifically adapted for dispensing eating utensils one-at-a-time.  
      The fast-food, self-serve restaurant industry has become a major, if not primary, destination of individuals and families who are now eating out more often for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While such restaurants provide a generally pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy adequately nutritious fare, these restaurants generally do not provide the more refined amenities that may be found in typical sit-down restaurants with wait service.  
      One area of concern in such fast-food, self-serve restaurants concerns sanitation or cleanliness in dispensing cutlery utensils and, more specifically, the manner in which cutlery utensils are provided for self-selection by customers. Self-serve restaurants provide customers with only a few approaches regarding self-selection of cutlery utensils: (1) providing individually wrapped utensils, or (2) providing a container or bin filled with unwrapped utensils into which customers place their hands to retrieve a fork, knife, or spoon. As is apparent, the former approach assures cleanliness but is relatively costly. The latter approach is more economical but may allow the spread of hand-carried bacteria to the unwrapped utensils in the bin for potential transmission to future customers.  
      Included in the prior art are a few devices directed towards dispensing utensils in a sanitary manner. U.S. Pat. No. 2,421,782 issued to Gibbs et al. (the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;282 reference) discloses an open front and top storage and dispensing device for dispensing spoons. The dispensing device includes extensions that generally define the outline of a handle portion. The extension is formed such that an operative part of the spoon may not pass through the extension. The dispensing device includes a latch that permits upward withdrawal of the spoon from the dispensing device while preventing replacement of the spoon back into the extension. As understood, the dispensing device of the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;282 reference appears to prevent contamination of spoons. However, the U.S. Pat. No. &#39;282 reference unfortunately includes the latch which adds complexity and cost to the dispensing device.  
      In light of the above-described drawbacks of prior art utensil dispensers and in view of the important sanitation concerns of bin-held utensils as balanced by economic concerns in providing individually wrapped utensils, it is apparent that there exists a need for a cutlery dispenser system that can maintain and supply clean cutlery utensils without the costs associated with individually wrapped knives, forks, and spoons. In addition, there exists a need in the art for a cutlery dispenser system capable of dispensing utensils such that remaining utensils in the dispenser system do not become contaminated.  
      Additionally, there exists a need in the art for a cutlery dispenser system wherein a cartridge may be filled with utensils such that the utensils in the cartridge may be retrieved by a user in one-at-a-time fashion. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a cutlery dispenser system configured for accommodating identically constructed cartridges with each cartridge being capable of housing knives, forks and spoons or any combination thereof.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Provided is a cutlery dispenser system configured to dispense cutlery utensils such as disposable utensils as are commonly utilized in fast food restaurants. Each one of the utensils may have an eating portion with a handle extending therefrom. The utensils may be arranged in a stack in the cartridge such that a user may selectively withdraw a utensil. The cartridge is configured such that the handle of each one of the utensils extends laterally out of the cartridge such that the user may withdraw the utensil by grasping the handle and lifting the utensil upwardly out of the cartridge. The eating portion of each one of the utensils is disposed within the cartridge to prevent contamination thereof.  
      The stacks of utensils contained within the cartridge may be a combination of stacks of knifes and/or stacks of forks and/or stacks of spoons although various other combinations of stacks of utensils may be accommodated within the cartridge. The cutlery dispenser system may be comprised of at least one bin and at least one cartridge although multiple bins and cartridges may be included. The bin has an open bin front such that the cartridge may be removably insertable into the bin. A bin cover  86  may be disposed or attached to a bin top  30  of the bin  26 . The cartridge has at least one vertical slot opening to a cartridge top and a cartridge side with the vertical slot being configured to contain the stack of the utensils. The vertical slot is configured such that at least one of the utensils may be removed by upward movement thereof beyond the cartridge top.  
      The vertical slots may be shaped complementary to an outline of one of the utensils. The cartridge may include at least one but preferably three of the vertical slots disposed in side-be-side arrangement. The vertical slots may be aligned with one another or the vertical slots may be arranged in a staggered formation and may be substantially identically shaped and sized. In this regard, the vertical slots may be sized to accommodate knives, forks and spoons in any one of the three compartments. The vertical slots may include a step that is sized and configured to be complementary to a profile of one of the utensils such that handles of the utensils may be substantially horizontally oriented when utensils are stacked in the vertical slots. The cartridge may have a lid member that is removably engagable to the cartridge top such that the eating surface of each one of the pieces of cutlery is covered in order to provide some measure of protection against contamination.  
      The bin may have a plurality of bays disposed in side-by-side arrangement with adjacent ones of the bays being separated by a divider panel. The bin may be configured to have any number of bays with each one of the bays being configured to contain any number of the cartridges. The bin may have a bottom panel, a rear wall and opposing side walls interconnected by the bottom panel and the rear wall. The bin cover may be bonded to the bin or the bin cover may be integrally formed with the bin. The bottom panel may have a vertical lip extending upwardly therefrom to restrict movement of the cartridge. The cartridge may be configured to be accommodated within standard-sized condiment containers that are commonly used in the food service industry. Such condiment containers are typically used to dispense various items such as napkins or packets of ketchup, mayonnaise, relish and the like.  
      The cutlery dispenser system may further include a support rack configured to removably mount the bin thereto by means of an elongate groove formed in an upper portion of the support rack. The bin may have a hook flange configured to be removably engagable to the groove for securing the bin to the support rack. The support rack may be sized and configured to support a plurality of bins in side-by-side arrangement or to support a single one of the bins. The support rack may be comprised of a pair of opposing side members interconnected by a first transverse member. Optionally, a second transverse member may be disposed in generally parallel spaced arrangement to the first transverse member in a tiered configuration such that bins may be mounted on the support rack in a tiered arrangement.  
      The cartridge, the lid member, the bin, the bin cover and the support rack may be fabricated of any material but, preferably, polymeric material such as polyethylene may be used due to its favorable durability characteristics and its capability to withstand high temperatures typical of dishwashing machines. The cutlery dispenser system may be mounted to a rotatable base wherein the support rack is configured in a square shape to provide two identically constructed opposing sides upon which bins may be mounted. In this regard, the support rack may be rotated on the rotatable base in order to improve access to utensils contained within the cartridges.  
      In operation, utensils may be initially inserted into the vertical slots in the stack arrangement. Once loaded with utensils, the lid member may be engaged to the cartridge top during transit. In preparing the cutlery dispenser system for dispensing the utensils, the layer of elastomeric material may be removed and the cartridge may be inserted into one of the bins. The lid member may be removed exposing an uppermost one of the utensils in each one of the stacks. The bins may be mounted on the support rack by engaging the hook flange to the groove. If the support rack is provided in a tiered configuration, lower ones of the bins may be filled with condiment packets, napkins and the like although both upper and lower ones of the bins may be utilized to contain cartridges of utensils. The user withdraws one of the utensils by grasping the handle and lifting the utensil upwardly beyond the cartridge top to remove the utensil from the vertical slot. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These as well as other features of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the cutlery dispenser system in an aspect of the invention illustrating a cartridge containing a plurality of cutlery utensils having handles extending laterally out of the cartridge;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the cartridge taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  showing a lid member disposed above the cartridge;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional front view of the cartridge taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  illustrating a plurality of vertical slots formed within the cartridge and in which the utensils may be stacked;  
       FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  showing the lid member secured to a cartridge top;  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the cartridge illustrating the vertical slots as may be included with the cartridge;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cartridge having the utensils stacked therewithin and further illustrating the cartridge encapsulated in a layer of elastomeric material;  
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of the cutlery dispenser system in another aspect of the invention illustrating a cartridge containing a plurality of a single type of utensil;  
       FIG. 8  is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the cartridge taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  showing spoons contained within the cartridge;  
       FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the cartridge taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 7  illustrating the vertical slots;  
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser system in another aspect of the invention illustrating bins that are engagable to a support rack and further illustrating a cartridge disposed above one of the bins;  
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of one of the bins taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of the bin taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  illustrating a bin cover disposed on a bin top;  
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional front view of the bin taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a plan view of the dispenser system in another aspect of the invention illustrating a pair of the cartridges disposed on opposing sides of the support rack;  
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the support rack taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14  illustrating the support rack mounted on a rotatable base; and  
       FIG. 16  is a bottom view of the support rack taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIGS. 1-6  illustrate a cartridge  46  of the cutlery dispenser system  10  wherein the cartridge  46  contains a plurality of cutlery utensils  12 . The utensils  12  may be disposable plastic or polypropylene utensils  12  such as are commonly utilized in fast food restaurants. However, it is contemplated that the utensils  12  may be silverware as is commonly utilized in wait service restaurants. In this regard, the utensils  12  may be fabricated from any suitable material. Each one of the utensils  12  may have an eating portion  16  with a handle  14  extending therefrom. The utensils  12  may be arranged in a stack  18  in the cartridge  46  such that a user may selectively withdraw at least one utensil  12 . The cartridge  46  is configured such that the handle  14  of each one of the utensils  12  extends laterally out of the cartridge  46 . In this manner, the user may withdraw the utensil  12  by grasping the handle  14  and lifting the utensil  12  upwardly out of the cartridge  46 .  
      As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the eating portion  16  of each one of the utensils  12  is disposed within the cartridge  46  to prevent contamination thereof. For example, in the case where the utensil  12  is a spoon  24  having a bowl portion as the eating portion  16 , the cartridge  46  is configured such that the bowl portion is contained within the cartridge  46  in order to reduce the risk of contamination due to human contact, as can be seen in  FIGS. 7-9 . Similarly, for the case where the utensil  12  is a fork  22  having a plurality of tines as the eating portion  16 , the cartridge  46  is configured such that the tines of the fork  22  are contained within the cartridge  46 . Likewise, for the case where the utensil  12  is a knife  20  having a blade portion as the eating portion  16 , the cartridge  46  is configured such that the blade portion is contained within the cartridge  46  in order to reduce the risk of contamination.  
      Referring briefly to  FIG. 6 , shown is the cartridge  46  and utensil  12  stacks  18  hermetically sealed or encapsulated by a film or layer of elastomeric material  78  such as clear polyvinylchloride (PVC) film which is more commonly referred to as shrink-wrap. However, it should be noted that many other elastomeric materials may be used to encapsulate the cartridge  46  and utensil  12  stacks  18 . Preferably, the clear PVC layer may be used as it conforms to difficult shapes while meeting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for indirect food contact. The layer of elastomeric material  78  encapsulating the cartridge  46  and stacks  18  of the utensils  12  protects the utensils  12  during shipping, handling and storage against contamination from human contact or from airborne bacteria, dirt, germs, etc.  
      The stacks  18  of utensils  12  contained within the cartridge  46  may be a combination of stacks  18  of knives  20  and/or stacks  18  of forks  22  and/or stacks  18  of spoons  24  although various other combinations of stacks  18  of utensils  12  may be accommodated within the cartridge  46 . Furthermore, the cartridge  46  may be configured such that stacks  18  of utensils  12  may be comprised of a single type of utensil  12 . For example, the cartridge  46  may be configured to contain stacks  18  of spoons  24  in a staggered arrangement, as is shown in  FIGS. 7-9 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 10-13 , the cutlery dispenser system  10  may be comprised of at least one bin  26  and at least one of the cartridges  46  although multiple ones of the bins  26  and multiple ones of the cartridges  46  may be included with the cutlery dispenser system  10 . Furthermore, the cutlery dispenser system  10  may include a support rack  62  configured to removably mount the bin  26  in a manner that will be described in greater detail below. As can be seen in  FIG. 10 , the bin  26  has an open bin front  28  through which the cartridge  46  may be inserted and placed into the bin  26 . The cutlery dispenser system  10  may include a bin cover  86  that may be disposed on a bin top  30 .  
      The bin cover  86  may be bonded to upper edges of a bin  26  perimeter, as can be seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . Alternatively, the bin cover  86  may be fastened to the bin top  30  by any suitable means. For example, the bin cover  86  may be mechanically fastened to the bin top  30 . The cartridge  46  is removably insertable into the bin  26  through the bin front  28 . The cartridge  46  has at least one vertical slot  48  opening to a cartridge top  50  and a cartridge side  52  with the vertical slot  48  being configured to contain the stack  18  of the utensils  12 . As was earlier mentioned and as is shown in  FIG. 10 , the handles  14  of the utensils  12  protrude laterally beyond the cartridge side  52 . In addition, the vertical slot  48  is configured such that at least one of the utensils  12  may be removed by upward movement thereof beyond the cartridge top  50 .  
      The vertical slot  48  may be shaped complementary to an outline of one of the utensils  12  although alternative shapes of the vertical slots  48  may be utilized. The cartridge  46  may include at least one but preferably three of the vertical slots  48  disposed in side-be-side arrangement, as shown in  FIGS. 1-10 . However, any number of vertical slots  48  may be incorporated into the cartridge  46 . If multiple ones of the vertical slots  48  are formed within the cartridge, the slots may be aligned with one another, as is shown in  FIGS. 1, 5  and  6 . Alternatively, in order to reduce an overall width of the cartridge  46 , the vertical slots  48  may be arranged in a staggered formation, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 .  
      The vertical slots  48  may be substantially identically shaped and sized although the vertical slots  48  may be uniquely shaped complementary to an outline of a particular type of utensil  12  to be stacked within the vertical slot  48 . In this regard, the vertical slots  48  may be sized to accommodate knives  20 , forks  22  and spoons  24  in any one of the vertical slots  48 . In a retail setting, one of the stacks  18  may contain knives  20 , another forks  22 , and another may contain spoons  24 . In an institutional setting, each stack  18  may contain the same type of utensil  12  (e.g., all forks  22  or all spoons  24 ). The vertical slots  48  may include a step  54  in a lower portion thereof, as is shown in  FIG. 2 . The step  54  of the vertical slot  48  may be sized and configured to be complementary to a profile of one of the utensils  12  so that handles  14  of the utensils  12  may be substantially horizontally oriented as the handles  14  extend laterally outwardly from the cartridge  46 .  
      Referring briefly now to  1 - 6 , shown is the cartridge  46  having a lid member  56  disposable thereon and configured to be removably engagable to the cartridge top  50 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the lid member  56  is sized and configured to be complementary to the cartridge  46  such that the lid member  56  substantially closes out the cartridge top  50 . The lid member  56  is configured such that the eating portion  16  of an uppermost one of each one of the utensils  12  in each of the stacks  18  is covered. In this manner, the lid member  56  covers the vertical slots  48  at the cartridge top  50  to secure the stacks  18  of utensils  12  during transit of the cartridge.  
      In addition, the lid member  56  provides some measure of protection of the eating portions  16  of the utensils  12  against contamination from human contact or contamination from airborne particles. The lid member  56  may include depressions  58 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 2, 3 ,  7  and  8 . The depressions  58  may be sized and configured to be complementary to a portion of the vertical slots  48  through which the handles  14  extend. By including the depressions  58  in the lid member  56 , the stacks  18  of utensils  12  may be more securely held within the cartridge  46  during transit. Referring to  FIG. 4 , shown is a partial cross-sectional view of the cartridge  46  showing the lid member  56  secured to a cartridge top  50  of the cartridge  46 . A perimeter of the lid member  56  is configured complementary to a perimeter of the cartridge top  50  such that the lid member  56  may be removably engaged to the cartridge top  50 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lid member  56  perimeter may include a downwardly extending vertical lid flange  74  having a recess  60  extending along the lid flange  74 .  
      The cartridge top  50  perimeter may include an outwardly extending rib  76 . The vertical flange is sized and configured to engage the recess  60  such that the lid member  56  may securely engage the rib  76 . The lid member  56  may be fabricated of resilient material to allow the vertical flange to extend over the rib such that the lid member  56  may be releaseably attached to the cartridge  46 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lid member  56  may be encapsulated within the shrink-wrap which may later be removed prior to placing the cartridge  46  in the bin  26 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 10-13 , shown is the bin  26  in an aspect of the invention wherein the bin  26  has a plurality of bays  42  disposed in side-by-side arrangement. Adjacent ones of the bays  42  may be separated by a divider panel  44 . As was earlier mentioned, the bin cover  86  may be disposed on the bin top  30  to provide some measure of protection against contamination of the utensils  12  in the cartridge  46 . The bin cover  86  is preferably configured to extend across a width of the bin  26  while accommodating insertion of the cartridge  46  through the bin front  28 . In addition, the bin cover  86  is preferably configured to be at least partially transparent to allow the user to see the utensils  12  such that the user may select the desired type of utensil  12  from the cartridge  46 .  
      It should be noted that the bin  26  may be configured to have a single one of the bays  42  for accommodating a single one of the cartridges  46  therein. However, the bin  26  may be configured to have any number of bays  42 . Furthermore, each one of the bays  42  may be configured to contain any number of the cartridges  46 . Thus, the cutlery dispenser system  10  is provided in a modular configuration wherein bins  26  of different configurations may be used with a support rack  62  to support any number of cartridges  46  from which utensils  12  may be self-dispensed.  
      As can be seen in  FIGS. 10-13 , the bin  26  may have a bottom panel  32 , a rear wall  34  and opposing side walls  38  interconnected by the bottom panel  32  and the rear wall  34 . The bin cover  86  may be disposed on the bin top  30  as was earlier described and as is shown in  FIGS. 10-14 . It is contemplated that the bin cover  86  may be integrally formed with the bin  30 . The side walls  38  and the rear wall  34  may have a ribbed design to add strength and stiffness to the bin  26 . The bottom panel  32  may have a vertical lip  40  extending upwardly therefrom to restrict movement of the cartridge  46 . The vertical lip  40  may be disposed on a side opposite that of the rear wall  34 .  
      The vertical lip  40  may be sized to extend upwardly to a level below that of a lower end of the vertical slot  48  on the cartridge  46 . By so positioning and sizing the vertical lip  40 , handles  14  of the utensils  12  extending out of the cartridge  46  may not interfere with the vertical lip  40 . The cartridge  46  may be configured to be accommodated within standard-sized condiment containers commonly used in the food service industry. Such condiment containers are typically used to dispense various items such as napkins or packets of ketchup, mayonnaise, relish, and the like.  
      Referring still to  FIG. 10 , the cutlery dispenser system  10  may further include the support rack  62  configured to removably mount the bin  26  thereto. As may be seen in  FIG. 10 , the support rack  62  may have an elongate groove  64  formed in an upper portion thereof. The bin  26  may have a hook flange  36  formed on a side opposite that of the bin front  28  with the hook flange  36  being formed complementary to the groove  64  such that the hook flange  36  is configured to be removably engagable to the groove  64  for securing the bin  26  to the support rack  62 .  
      The support rack  62  may be sized and configured to support a plurality of bins  26  in side-by-side arrangement, as is shown in  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, the support rack  62  may be sized and configured to support a single one of the bins  26 . Regarding its configuration, the support rack  62  may include a pair of spaced-apart opposing side members  66  interconnected by a first transverse member  68  with the elongate groove  64  being formed in an upper portion of the first transverse member  68 .  
      optionally, the support rack  62  may further include a second transverse member  70  disposed in generally parallel spaced arrangement to the first transverse member  68  in a tiered configuration, as shown in  FIG. 10 . Similar to the configuration of the first transverse member  68 , the second transverse member  70  may also be configured to support at least one of the bins  26  although the second transverse member  70  may be configured to support a plurality of bins  26 . In this regard, it is contemplated that any number of transverse members may be included with the support rack  62  in a multi-tiered arrangement.  
      Regarding materials from which the cutlery dispenser system  10  may be fabricated, it is contemplate that the cartridge  46 , the lid member  56 , the bin  26 , the bin cover  86  and the support rack  62  may each be fabricated of any material including, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, metal, fiberglass or any other appropriately rigid material. Preferably, the cartridge  46 , the lid member  56 , the bin  26  and the support rack  62  may each be fabricated of polymeric material such as polyethylene due to its favorable durability characteristics and its capability to withstand high temperatures typical of dishwashing machines. The bin cover  86  may be fabricated of substantially transparent material such as plexiglass although many other materials may be suitably used for the bin cover  86 .  
      Optionally, the bins  26 , the cartridges  46  and the support rack  62  may be fabricated from stainless steel. The support rack  62  may include rubber feet (not shown) disposed on an underside thereof at spaced locations about a perimeter of the support rack  62 . Such rubber feet may prevent slippage of the support rack  62  while protecting counter tops from damage. The support rack  62  may be formed as a unitary structure as may be the cartridge  46  and the bin. For example, each one of the cartridges  46 , bins  26  and support rack  62  may be injected molded of polyethylene although any number of alternative materials and fabrication methods may be utilized to fabricate the cartridges  46 , bins  26  and support rack  62 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 14-16 , shown is an aspect of the invention wherein the cutlery dispenser system  10  is configured to be mounted to a rotatable base  72 . The rotatable base  72  may include a bearing  80  upon which the support rack  62  may be supported. Such a configuration may be utilized to dispense a relatively large amount of one type of utensil  12  or to dispense more than one utensil  12  (i.e., knife  20 , fork  22 , and spoon  24 ). More specifically, the aspect of the cutlery dispenser system  10  shown in  FIG. 14  includes the support rack  62  configured in a square shape that provides two identically constructed opposing sides upon which bins  26  may be mounted thereto. Although  FIG. 14  shows two of the bins  26  being mounted on each one of the opposing sides, it is recognized that any number of bins  26  may be mounted on each one of the opposing sides. Furthermore, the support rack  62  may be configured in any number of shapes and sizes.  
      Furthermore, it is contemplated that the support rack  62  may be configured such that bins  26  may be mounted to each one of four sides of the support rack  62 . The bins  26  may be configured to support any number of the cartridges  46 . The support rack  62  may be configured such that the support rack  62  is rotatably supported in a manner wherein multiple boxes and cartridges  46  may be supported by the support rack  62 . In this manner, the support rack  62  may be rotated on the rotatable base  72  in order to improve access to utensils  12  contained within the cartridges  46 . Two of the cartridges  46  may be supported on each side of the support rack  62  although any number of the bins  26  may be supported on either of the sides of the support rack  62 . As can be seen in  FIG. 16 , the support rack  62  may include a base portion  82  configured in a generally circular shape and having a pair of downwardly extending base ribs  84  to add strength and stiffness to the support rack  62 .  
      The operation of the cutlery dispenser system  10  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . Utensils  12  may be initially inserted into the vertical slots  48  in the stack  18  arrangement. For settings where it is expected that a heavy volume of a particular type of one of the utensils  12  may be used, each of the vertical slots  48  in the cartridges  46  may be loaded with the stack  18  of the particular type of utensil  12 . Once the vertical slots  48  are loaded with the stacks  18  of utensils  12  of the desired type, the lid member  56  may be engaged to the cartridge top  50  to cover the vertical slots  48  and to secure the stacks  18  of utensils  12  during transit. In addition, the lid member  56  provides some measure of protection of the utensils  12  against contamination. The layer of elastomeric material  78  such as clear polyvinylchloride (PVC) film may be applied in order to encapsulate the combination of the cartridge  46 , the stacks  18  of utensils  12  contained therewithin and the lid member  56 .  
      In preparing the cutlery dispenser system  10  for dispensing the utensils  12 , the layer of elastomeric material  78  may be removed and the cartridge  46  may be inserted into one of the bins  26 . The lid member  56  may be removed exposing an uppermost one of the utensils  12  in each one of the stacks  18 . If a support rack  62  is included with the cutlery dispenser system  10 , the bins  26  may be mounted on the support rack  62  such as by engaging the hook flange  36  to the groove  64  as shown in  FIG. 10 . If the support rack  62  is provided in a tiered configuration, lower ones of the bins  26  may be filled with condiment packets, napkins and the like. However, both upper and lower ones of the bins  26  may be utilized to contain cartridges  46  filled with utensils  12 . The cartridge  46  may be inserted into the bin  26  through the bin front  28 . The user desiring to remove one of the utensils  12  may grasp the utensil  12  by the handle  14  which extends laterally outwardly past the cartridge side  52 . The user then may lift the utensil  12  upwardly beyond the cartridge top  50  to remove the utensil  12  from the vertical slot  48 .  
      Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.