Patent ID: 7918365

Claim:
A dispenser for storing and sequentially dispensing a plurality of containers, said dispenser comprising: a housing, said housing having an inlet opening through which said containers are loaded into said housing and an outlet for dispensing containers from said housing; a passageway disposed in said housing connecting said inlet with said outlet, said passageway comprising a first inclined ramp having a first end and a second end, said first end adjacent said inlet and said second end positioned lower than said first end of said first ramp to provide a pathway for a container to roll from said first end of said first ramp to said second end of said first ramp, and a second inclined ramp disposed in said housing, said second ramp having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second ramp positioned adjacent said outlet, and said second end of said second inclined ramp being higher than said first end of said second ramp to allow a container to roll from said second end of said second ramp towards said first end of said second ramp; an opening in said first ramp adjacent said second end of said first ramp; a channel wall within said housing, said channel wall at least partially defining a channel, said channel having a first end adjacent the second end of said second ramp, said channel extending upward from said second ramp and extending at least to adjacent said second end of said first ramp providing a pathway between said second end of said first ramp and said second end of said second ramp; a first shock absorbing member positioned within said housing under said second end of said second ramp, a second shock absorbing member supporting said second end of said second ramp; and a shock absorption ramp having a first end and a second free end, said first end of said shock absorption ramp being mounted in a fixed position adjacent channel wall with said free end of said shock absorption ramp spaced from said first ramp, said shock absorption ramp extending outwardly from said channel wall and into said channel, wherein a container dropping from said first ramp towards second ramp contacts said second shock absorbing member, said second shock absorbing member acting to absorb energy from said falling container, and said first shock absorption member also acting to absorb energy from a falling container as it contacts said second end of said second ramp.