CUP DISPENSER
A cup dispenser having a plurality of resilient adjustable clips for engaging and dispensing cups without marring the surface of the dispensed cups. The clips include a cup engagement portion that exceeds the deformed width of the portion of a cup with which the clips are engaged.
1 . A cup dispenser comprising:
a tubular receptacle for holding a plurality of cups to be dispensed; and
a plurality of resilient, adjustable clips each clip having a cup engagement portion, wherein said cup engagement portion is wider than a deformed engaged portion of a cup in said tubular receptacle such that the edge of said engagement portion does not contact the surface of a cup.
2 . The cup dispenser of claim 1 wherein the each clip includes:
a leg section that extends upwardly into the tubular receptacle;
a first bent section extending from the leg section at a first angle; and
a second bent section extending from the first bent section and a second angle different from the first angle.
3 . The cup dispenser of claim 2 wherein the engaged portion is defined at the intersection of the first bent section and the second bent section.
4 . The cup dispenser of claim 2 wherein the first angle is between 95 degrees and 180 degrees.
5 . The cup dispenser of claim 4 wherein first angle is between 125 degrees and 160 degrees.
6 . The cup dispenser of claim 5 wherein the first angle is approximately 147 degrees.
7 . The cup dispenser of claim 2 wherein the second angle is between 65 degrees and 170 degrees.
8 . The cup dispenser of claim 7 wherein the second angle is between 95 degrees and 140 degrees.
9 . The cup dispenser of claim 8 wherein the second angle is approximately 126 degrees.
10 . The cup dispenser of claim 2 wherein each clip includes a third bent section that extends from the second bent section at a third angle.
11 . The cup dispenser of claim 10 wherein the third angle is between 100 degrees and 140 degrees.
12 . The cup dispenser of claim 11 wherein the third angle is between 110 degrees and 125 degrees.
13 . The cup dispenser of claim 12 wherein the third angle is approximately 117 degrees.
14 . The cup dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of clips cooperate to limit cup removal from the tubular receptacle to one cup at a time.
15 . The cup dispenser of claim 10 wherein the tubular receptacle comprises a generally circular collar and a plurality of slots formed in the collar, and wherein each clip comprises a tab extending from the third section, and wherein each tab is configured to be received in a respective slot.
16 . The cup dispenser of claim 15 wherein each slot is defined by two sets of teeth spaced from one another.
17 . The cup dispenser of claim 16 wherein each tab includes teeth that engage the two sets of teeth to engage the clip with the collar.
18 . The cup dispenser of claim 16 wherein the two sets of teeth define a range of positions at which the clip may be engaged with the collar to adjust a radial spacing of the plurality of clips.
19 . The cup dispenser of claim 1 wherein each clip is formed of molded plastic and the deformed engaged portion is free of a mold line.
20 . A clip for use with a container dispenser, the clip comprising:
an elongated leg section;
a first bent section extending from the elongated leg section at a first angle;
a second bent section extending from the first bent section and a second angle different from the first angle; and
a cup engagement portion defined at the union of the first bent section and the second bent section.
21 . The clip of claim 20 formed of molded plastic, and wherein the cup engagement portion has a cup engagement surface free of any mold lines.
22 . The clip of claim 20 wherein the first angle is between 95 degrees and 180 degrees.
23 . The clip of claim 22 wherein first angle is between 125 degrees and 160 degrees.
24 . The clip of claim 23 wherein the first angle is approximately 147 degrees.
25 . The clip of claim 20 wherein the second angle is between 65 degrees and 170 degrees.
26 . The clip of claim 25 wherein the second angle is between 95 degrees and 140 degrees.
27 . The clip of claim 26 wherein the second angle is approximately 126 degrees.
28 . The clip of claim 20 further comprising a third bent section that extends from the second bent section at a third angle.
29 . The clip of claim 28 wherein the third angle is between 100 degrees and 140 degrees.
30 . The clip of claim 29 wherein the third angle is between 110 degrees and 125 degrees.
31 . The clip of claim 30 wherein the third angle is approximately 117 degrees.
32 . A container retention apparatus for use with a beverage cup dispenser, comprising:
a collar adapted to be connected to a dispensing receptacle;
a series of channels formed in the collar; and
plurality of resilient, adjustable clips, each clip configured to be received in a respective channel and having a container engagement portion, wherein said container engagement portion is wider than a deformed engaged portion of a container in the dispensing receptacle such that the edge of said engagement portion does not contact the surface of a container.
33 . The cup retention apparatus of claim 32 wherein each clip includes an end section configured to engage a wall of the dispensing receptacle.