Abstract:
A beverage container lid separator and dispenser is provided which allows individual beverage container lids to be dispensed in a neat and sanitary manner. The invention generally includes a vessel and an actuator, wherein a stack of lids is maintained in the vessel optionally within a housing. The vessel has an aperture at its lower end for dispensing the lids therefrom. The actuator is positioned below the vessel and extending up through a horizontal floor below the vessel, the floor supporting the lids thereon. In operation, the vessel preferably pivots to allow a bottom-most lid within the vessel to be pulled from underneath the vessel by the actuator. The vessel catches and maintains the remaining stack of lids for later dispensing by a subsequent user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit under Title 35, United States Code §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/536,131 filed on Jan. 12, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to beverage container lid dispensers, and more specifically to a device for separating and dispensing individual beverage container lids from a stack of nested beverage container lids and a method for use of such a device in dispensing beverage container lids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various self-service devices for dispensing straws, cups, glasses, mugs and other beverage containers are known and readily available, wherein such straws and containers are dispensed in a sanitary manner. Unfortunately, however, similar suitable devices are not available for the sanitary dispensing of beverage container lids. Although there have been prior attempts to resolve the need for a sanitary beverage lid dispenser, an inexpensive, reliable, practical, sanitary, and self-service device and method for dispensing beverage lids had not yet been realized. 
     Beverage cup lids are typically dispensed to customers in a vertical stack or in elongated horizontal trays. When cup lids are tendered in a vertical stack, customers must grab a lid from the top of the stack. Customers of varying heights are not all able to conveniently reach the top of the stack. Because the lids are nested and held together via frictional fit, they will often stick together so that a customer will pick up more than one lid. The excess lids are normally put back on the stack, dropped on the counter, or thrown into the trash. When cup lids are presented in a tray or bin, two hands are often needed by a customer to separate the nested lids. Additionally, such lids frequently become disordered and are often handled by more than one customer, thus resulting in increased risk of unsanitary conditions. 
     In an attempt to solve these problems, some vendors store cup lids behind a counter, thereby requiring an employee to hand out lids as needed. In addition to being inefficient, this solution merely hides the problem from the public view rather than solving it. Still other vendors provide mechanical dispensers for tendering cup lids; however, such dispensers suffer from structural design flaws that render the dispensers deficient and commercially unsatisfactory. For example, many lid dispensers may only be utilized for specific lid sizes, shapes and/or styles. Further, some lid dispensers require a large number of parts, thereby making them expensive and difficult to manufacture and/or maintain. Less complicated lid dispensers are available, however, such dispensers fail to adequately deal with the problems of sanitation and waste. 
     Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a beverage container lid separator and dispenser, wherein cup lids are dispensed in an orderly and sanitary manner. Moreover, there is a need for such a device that may be utilized with lids of varying sizes, shapes, and/or styles and is inexpensive to manufacture and/or maintain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing the lid separator and dispensing device of this invention. 
     According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form is a lid separator/dispenser having, in general, a housing and an actuator. The housing is a receptacle for storing beverage lid containers, and the actuator facilitates the separating and dispensing of lids from the housing. A stack of lids is maintained within the housing, with the lids preferably pivotally secured therewithin. The actuator preferably includes some form of a pull assembly positioned below the vessel. The pull assembly or other actuator preferably includes some form of a hook or related structure to engage and pull lids individually from a bottom of the stack of lids, while some form of abutment is provided to keep the other lids in the stack of lids from being pulled. 
     To operate the dispenser, the actuator, such as the pull assembly, is pulled or otherwise operated by a user, wherein the hook or similar structure catches the bottom-most lid from the stack of lids and pulls the stack of lids until they contact the abutment. Upon contact with the stack of lids, the abutment optionally and preferably moves upwards, thereby allowing the bottom-most lid to be removed from the stack, and subsequently dispensed. Upon removal of the bottom-most lid, the stack is returned to its original position. The actuator, such as the pull assembly, is also returned to its original position wherein the device is reset to dispense another lid to a subsequent user. 
     Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to separate beverage container lids from a stack of such lids and selectively dispense individual lids one-at-a-time. 
     Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to dispense beverage container lids in a neat and sanitary manner. 
     Still another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to dispense beverage container lids of virtually all sizes, shapes and/or styles. 
     Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its minimal number of parts, thereby creating a device that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and/or maintain. 
     Still yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ease of use. 
     A further feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to dispense beverage container lids from a stack of such lids, wherein direct user contact with the stack of lids is eliminated, thereby preventing the unsanitary conditions which occur when multiple users handle a stack of such lids. 
     Still another feature and advantage of the present invention is that reduction in waste is afforded by its use. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a lid separator and dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top cross-sectional view along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  of the lid separator and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  of the lid separator and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a right side cross-sectional view along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  of the lid separator and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial front cross-sectional front view of a channel and hook of the lid separator and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the channel and hook of the lid separator and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a pull assembly and vessel in a default position. 
         FIGS. 8-14  are right side cross-sectional views of the lid separator and dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the pull assembly in sequential stages of operation. 
         FIG. 15  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a stack of lids being held within a vessel and on top of a base, before use of the invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device generally showing the operative features the present invention, showing the stack of lids being held adjacent an abutment and on top of a base, wherein the stack of lids are contacting the vessel in a first stage in the use of the invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device of  FIG. 16 , showing the stack of lids being held adjacent an abutment and on top of a base, wherein the vessel is being pivoted upwards in a second stage in the use of the invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device of  FIG. 16 , showing the stack of lids being held adjacent an abutment and on top of the base, wherein a bottom lid is being pulled out from under the stack in a third stage in the use of the invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device of  FIG. 16 , showing the stack of lids being held adjacent an abutment and on top of the base, wherein the bottom lid is being pulled out from under the stack in a fourth stage in the use of the invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device of  FIG. 16 , showing the stack of lids being held adjacent an abutment and on top of the base, wherein the previous bottom lid has been pulled out from under the stack in a fifth stage in the use of the invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a right side cross-sectional view of the lid separator and dispensing device of  FIG. 16 , showing the stack of lids being held adjacent an abutment and on top of the base after completion of a full lid removal process of the invention, with the lid separator and dispensing device returned to the initial position of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-21 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-14 , the present invention in a preferred embodiment is dispenser  10 , wherein dispenser  10  generally comprises housing  20  and pull assembly  30 . Dispenser  10  is preferably utilized for storing and dispensing beverage container lids; however, it is contemplated that dispenser  10  could be utilized to store and dispense other articles, such as, for exemplary purposes only, disks, plates, bowls, saucers, caps, rings and other similarly shaped articles. Preferably, dispenser  10  and its unique configuration of components are adapted to receive, store and dispense beverage container lids of virtually all sizes, shapes and/or styles. Dispenser  10  is preferably formed from plastic, although it is recognized that other alternatively suitable materials could be utilized to form dispenser  10 , such as, for exemplary purposes only, cardboard, glass, metal, metal alloys, composites, or any other synthetic materials. 
     Preferably, housing  20  is of an orthorhombic shape, wherein housing  20  generally comprises top surface  22 , front surface  24 , back surface  26 , first side surface  28 , second side surface  29 , base  32  and impediment  34 , wherein top surface  22 , front surface  24 , back surface  26 , first side surface  28 , second side surface  29  are preferably formed to create a casing for storing beverage container lids therewithin. The top surface  22  is preferably either removable or otherwise includes a door to allow lids to be loaded into the housing  20 . 
     Preferably, front surface  24  comprises apertures  36  and  38 , wherein an optional door  40  and base  32  are situated within aperture  36 . Preferably, aperture  36 , door  40  and base  32  are rectangular-shaped, wherein door  40  is situated within an upper portion of aperture  36 , and wherein base  32  is perpendicularly disposed within a lower portion of aperture  36 . Door  40  is preferably hingedly connected to front surface  24  to permit access to the interior of housing  20 . Base  32  is preferably secured within aperture  36  via adhesives, although it is contemplated in alternative embodiments that other suitable fasteners may be utilized, such as, for exemplary purposes only, bolts, screws, pins, pegs, clamps, clasps, clips, a tab and slot system, frictional fit, or alternatively base  32  could be integrally formed to housing  20 . 
     Preferably, base  32  comprises channel  42 , wherein channel  42  is an elongated slit that is centrally disposed within base  32 . Best seen with reference to  FIG. 5 , channel  42  preferably possesses a cross-shaped cross-section. Base  32  preferably functions to retain beverage container lids thereon, as more fully described below. 
     Preferably, aperture  38  is centrally disposed below aperture  36 , wherein aperture  38  is preferably circular-shaped. Aperture  38  functions to receive and retain pull assembly  30  therewithin, as more fully described below. 
     Vessel  34  is preferably a cylindrical vessel for holding the stack of beverage cup lids dispensed when dispenser  10  is in use, as more fully described below, wherein vessel  34  preferably comprises top edge  44 , peripheral wall  46 , rim  48 , aperture  50 , front notch  52  and rear notch  54 . Aperture  50  preferably assists the insertion of beverage cup lids within vessel  34 , which are loaded from above through the door in the top surface  22 , and allows the number of lids in the vessel  34  to be viewed. Front notch  52  provides a preferred form of gap or aperture which facilitates the dispensing of beverage cup lids therethrough, and rear notch  54  permits the tilting of vessel  34  within housing  20 . 
     Preferably, peripheral wall  46  of vessel  34  is pivotally attached to first side surface  28  and second side surface  29  of housing  20 . Vessel  34  is preferably attached to housing  20  via pivot  56 , wherein pivot  56  is preferably a conventional peg and slot system. It is recognized in an alternative embodiment, however, that pivot  56  could embody other suitable attachment means, such as, for exemplary purposes only, bearings, pins, bolts, dowels, swing cords, etc. or the vessel  34  could be non-pivoting, and rather remain stationary or experience only vertically sliding, a rotating motion or distortion/bending if the vessel  34  is formed of flexible material. 
     The vessel  34  could itself be omitted, or modified, provided that some form of abutment is provided against which at least some of the lids or similar items in the stack can touch, to keep these lids or similar items other than the bottom lid from sliding off of the bottom of the stack. For instance, the abutment could be a flat fixed wall with a gap at a bottom thereof only large enough to allow the bottom lid to slide past. The gap could be bordered on the abutment with a tooth or other divider extending away from the abutment and toward the stack which would slide between the bottom lid and other lids/items in the stack to separate the bottom lid/item from the stack. This abutment could be a surface of the housing itself. By pivoting of the abutment in the form of the vessel  34 , separation of the bottom lid/item from the stack and holding the stacks is particularly facilitated. 
     Preferably, pull assembly  30  facilitates the dispensing of beverage container lids from dispenser  10 , as more fully described below, wherein pull assembly  30  generally comprises rod  60 , handle  70  and hook  80 . Preferably, rod  60  is cylindrical-shaped, wherein rod  60  is disposed within aperture  38  of housing  20 , and wherein rod  60  preferably comprises first end  62 , second end  64  and upper rear portion  66 . Preferably, handle  70  is cylindrical-shaped, wherein handle  70  is integrally formed to first end  62  of rod  60 . Preferably, hook  80  is substantially fin-shaped, wherein hook  80  is integrally formed to upper rear portion  66  of rod  60 , and wherein hook  80  is situated within channel  42  of base  32  of housing  20 . As best shown with reference to  FIG. 5 , hook  80  comprises flanges  82  and  84 , wherein flanges  82  and  84  function to restrict the movement of hook  80  within channel  42  of base  32 , as more fully described below. 
     Preferably, pull assembly  30  is attached to back surface  26  of housing  20  via spring  90 , wherein spring  90  is a conventional metal coil that functions to return pull assembly  30  to its default position, as more fully described below. Preferably, spring  90  comprises first end  92  and second end  94 , wherein first end  92  of spring  90  is affixed to second end  64  of rod  60 , and wherein second end  94  of spring  90  is affixed to back surface  26  of housing  20 . 
     While this particularly described pull assembly  30  provides one form of actuator for the separator and dispenser  10  of this invention, other actuators could be used to provide the general function of engaging the bottom lid/item in the stack and exerting a force sliding the bottom lid/item laterally away from other lids/items remaining in the stack. Any means to engage and slide the bottom lid/item of the stack could similarly be used. 
     To operate dispenser  10 , beverage container lids are loaded into housing  20 , wherein the door in the top  22  of housing  20  is preferably opened, and beverage container lids are inserted into the vessel  34 . As best shown with reference to  FIGS. 7 ,  15  and  21 , stack S is formed within vessel  34 , wherein stack S preferably rests on base  32  of housing  20 , and wherein bottom lid L of stack S rests underneath hook  80  of pull assembly  30 . To dispense a beverage container lid with this embodiment of the invention, handle  70  of pull assembly  30  is grasped by a user&#39;s hand, wherein the user pulls pull assembly  30  to create force F, and wherein force F preferably draws hook  80  of pull assembly  30  through channel  42  of base  32 . Preferably, hook  80  grasps bottom lid L of stack S, wherein force F pulls stack S toward front surface  24  of housing  20  until stack S comes into contact with a front wall of the vessel  34 . Best shown with reference to  FIGS. 8-9  and  16 - 17 , as force F moves stack S into a position where it meets the resisting force of the vessel  34  wall, vessel  34  is preferably tilted, wherein top wall  44  of vessel  34  is preferably pivoted toward back surface  26  of housing  20 , and wherein rim  48  of vessel  34  is preferably pivoted toward front surface  24  of housing  20 . Consequently, front notch  52  of vessel  34  is preferably pivoted away from base  32 , and rear notch  54  is preferably pivoted toward base  32 . 
     Best shown with reference to  FIGS. 10-11  and  18 - 19 , as force F acts on the bottom lid L and causes the stack S and vessel  34  to pivot/lift, and preferably lifts front notch  52  of vessel  34  away from base  32 , force F preferably pulls bottom lid L away from stack S, wherein vessel  34  preferably catches stack S and lifts stack S slightly, thereby removing stack S from force F, maintaining stack S within housing  20 . Bottom lid L is preferably pulled between front notch  52  and base  32 , and through aperture  36  of housing  20 . As best shown with reference to  FIGS. 12-14  and  20 - 21 , the user preferably ceases pulling on handle  70  of pull assembly  30  when bottom lid L is completely removed from vessel  34 , wherein gravity preferably pivots vessel  34  to its default position on base  32 , and wherein spring  90  preferably returns pull assembly  30  to its default position within housing  20 . The fin-like shape of hook  80  preferably pushes stack S upwards to allow hook  80  to move underneath stack S, wherein dispenser  10  is reset to dispense another beverage container lid to a subsequent user. 
       FIGS. 15-21  more generally show an abutment that could optionally be a portion of the vessel  34 , to illustrate the most basic separation function of this invention. A support surface below the stacks could optionally be the base  32 . This support surface abuts the end lid L in the stack S. Some form of actuator, such as the pull assembly  30  with hook  80  passes through the support surface and engages the end lid L. This actuator could optionally be positioned more entirely above the base  32  or other support surface. In  FIGS. 15-21  no specific actuator is shown. 
     It is recognized in an alternative embodiment that vessel  34  could remain tilted after bottom lid L is dispensed from housing  20 , wherein upon returning to its default position within housing  20 , hook  80  of pull assembly  30  pushes stack S, and consequently vessel  34 , to its default position within housing  20 . Such an arrangement beneficially also can utilize the hook  80  to push the remaining lids L in the stack S away from the vessel  34  wall or other abutment, should the lids become lodged against the vessel  34  wall. 
     In another alternative embodiment, top wall  44  of vessel  34  and top surface  22  of housing  20  could be removable to facilitate refilling of beverage container lids therethrough. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, pull assembly  30  could embody a lever, wherein hook  80  is drawn through an arcuate shaped channel  42  in base  32  of housing  20 . It is further recognized in such an embodiment that spring  90  could be replaced by a weighted counterbalance to return pull assembly to its default position. 
     In a further alternate embodiment, spring  90  could embody any type of elastic retention member. 
     In still a further alternate embodiment, housing  20  could embody a base member with brackets, wherein vessel  34  is pivotally mounted to the brackets. 
     This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. For instance, while some references have been made to vertical and horizontal, with appropriate accommodation, such as a spring pressing down on the stack of lids/items, the parts of the separator/dispenser  10  could be reoriented to any desired orientation, such as with the stack extending diagonally, horizontally or upside down. Also, the actuator could be semi or fully automatic and actuated by pushing a button, etc. with all function controlled by servo-motors or other automatic force applying elements. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.