Dispenser for cup-shaped articles and adjustable retainer for same
View Patent ↗A dispenser for cup-shaped articles includes a housing defining a storage portion adapted to receive an associated stack of nested cup-shaped articles. The housing includes an open end that communicates with the storage portion. A cup retainer mounting base is located adjacent the open end of the housing. The mounting base defines an opening that communicates with the open end of the housing. The mounting base also defines a first plurality of mounting openings and a second plurality of mounting openings. A cup retainer is connected to the mounting base and restricts the opening of said mounting base. The cup retainer is movable between at least first and second operative positions wherein the cup retainer restricts the opening of the mounting base more in the first operative position as compared to the second operative position. The cup retainer is defined as separate stud members each including a resilient finger or as an annular band including a plurality of resilient fingers.
1. A dispenser for cup-shaped articles comprising:
a housing defining a storage portion adapted to receive an associated stack of nested cup-shaped articles, said housing comprising an open end that communicates with the storage portion;
a cup retainer mounting base located adjacent said open end of said housing, said mounting base defining an opening that communicates with the open end of the housing, a first plurality of mounting openings, and a second plurality of mounting openings; and,
a cup retainer connected to said mounting base and restricting said opening of said mounting base, said cup retainer movable between at least first and second operative positions wherein said cup retainer restricts said opening of said mounting base more in said first operative position as compared to said second operative position.
2. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said cup retainer comprises a plurality of resilient cup-retention fingers that extend radially inwardly from said mounting base.
3. The dispenser as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said plurality of fingers are all connected to an annular band that circumscribes said mounting base.
4. The dispenser as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said band is resiliently radially expandable.
5. The dispenser as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said band and said fingers are defined as a one-piece molded construction.
6. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fingers project respectively through said first plurality of mounting openings when said cup retainer is located in said first operative position and said plurality of fingers project respectively through said second plurality of mounting openings when said cup retainer is located in said second operative position.
7. The dispenser as set forth in claim 6 , wherein first and second said plurality of mounting openings comprise apertures defined through said mounting base.
8. The dispenser as set forth in claim 2 , wherein a first tip-to-tip distance is defined between successive fingers when said cup retainer is located in said first operative position and a second tip-to-tip distance is defined between successive fingers when said cup retainer is located in said second operative position, and wherein said second tip-to-tip distance is greater than said first tip-to-tip distance.
9. The dispenser as set forth in claim 2 , wherein at least one of said fingers comprises a groove defined therein, said at least one finger flexing at said groove more easily in a first direction as compared to a second direction.
10. The dispenser as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of cup retention fingers is defined as part of a stud member, each of said stud members being separate from the other stud members.
11. The dispenser as set forth in claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of stud members comprises a base, and wherein each of said stud members is selectively fixedly secured to said cup retainer mounting base by engagement of said stud member base with said cup retainer mounting base.
12. The dispenser as set forth in claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of stud members comprises a base, and wherein each of said stud members is selectively fixedly secured to said cup retainer mounting base by engagement of said stud member base with said cup retainer mounting base.
13. A retainer for cup-shaped articles, said retainer comprising:
a resilient annular member; and,
a plurality of fingers connected to and projecting radially inwardly from said annular member, said fingers defining therebetween a space for passage of cup-shaped articles, said annular member selectively radially expandable to increase a distance between said fingers to accommodate larger sized cup-shaped articles in said space, wherein said fingers are resiliently flexible in first and second directions.
14. The retainer as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said annular member and said plurality of fingers are defined together as a one-piece construction.
15. A dispenser for cup-shaped articles, said dispenser comprising:
a body comprising an open end;
a plurality of resilient fingers connected to said body adjacent said open end, wherein at least some of said fingers are selectively movable between different operative positions to adjust spacing between said fingers when said fingers are in an unflexed state, wherein said fingers flex in a first direction during dispensing operations and flex in a second direction during loading operations, and wherein said fingers are interconnected by a resilient annular band.
16. The dispenser as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said fingers and said annular band are defined as a one-piece construction.
17. The dispenser as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said fingers are conformed to flex more easily in said second direction as compared to said first direction.