Patent · US Active

Cutlery utensil dispenser

US8360273B2 · kind B2 · utility

36Cited by
133References
46Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 8, 2008
Grant dateJan 29, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 7, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA47F2001/103
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A cutlery utensil dispenser having at least one utensil compartment and a dispensing mechanism is disclosed. Each utensil compartment is so dimensioned and configured to house a stack of utensils. The dispensing mechanism includes a drive member in operable communication with at least one driven member, each driven member being associated with a respective one of the compartments. Actuation of the drive member causes simultaneous actuation of each driven member that causes a utensil to be dispensed from each compartment in repeatable succession one at a time. Also disclosed is a cutlery utensil dispenser having an electric motor in operable communication with the dispensing mechanism, and a controller in operable communication with the motor. The controller includes a processing circuit responsive to computer executable instructions which when executed on the processing circuit facilitates dispensing of a utensil from the utensil compartment by operation of the motor on command.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.