Patent Application
20230389720
Not Applicable
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The disclosure relates to dispenser device and more particularly pertains to a new dispenser device for dispensing drink container lids in a touchless manner. The device includes a lid housing and a lid dispenser unit attached to the lid housing, which is motion activated, to dispense a drink container lid when a user places their hand beneath the lid housing. The device includes a straw dispenser that is attached to the lid housing, which is motion activated, to dispense a drinking straw when the user places their hand beneath the straw dispenser. The device additionally includes a hand sanitizer dispenser, which is motion activated, to dispense hand sanitizer when the user places their hand beneath the hand sanitizer dispenser.
The prior art relates to dispenser devices including a manually operated lid dispenser that includes a lever and an extractor which removes a lid from a stack of lids when the lever is manipulated. The prior art discloses a lid dispensing device that includes a piston and a press plate for urging a lid onto a drink container. The prior art discloses a stackable object dispenser that includes a box with an opening and a retention member extending upwardly from the opening for holding a stock of objects to be dispensed through the opening. The prior art discloses a lid dispenser which includes a motion activated dispenser for dispensing a lid when a user approaches the lid dispenser. The prior art discloses a utensil dispenser that includes a housing and a skewer in the housing around which a stack of utensils is positioned.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a lid housing which contains a stack of drink container lids. A lid dispenser unit is movably integrated into the lid housing. The lid dispenser unit includes a lid screw which engages a bottommost lid in the stack of drink container lids thereby facilitating the bottommost lid to fall outwardly from the lid housing to deliver the bottommost lid to a user. A straw dispenser is coupled to the lid housing and the straw dispenser contains a stack of drinking straws. The straw dispenser includes a screw engaging a bottommost straw in the stack of drinking straws. The screw in the straw dispenser urges the bottommost straw outwardly from the straw dispenser when the straw dispenser is turned on to deliver the bottommost straw to the user.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A cover 24 is provided and the cover 24 is removably positioned on the lid housing 12 for closing the lid housing 12. The cover 24 has a bottom side 26 and a perimeter surface 28, and the bottom side 24 rests on the top end 16 of the lid housing 12 having the perimeter surface 28 being aligned with the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 thereby closing the top end 16. A lid dispenser unit 30 is movably integrated into the lid housing 12 and the lid dispenser unit 30 includes a lid screw 32 that engages a bottommost lid 34 in the stack of drink container lids 14. The lid screw 32 separates the bottommost lid 34 when the lid dispenser 30 is turned on thereby facilitating the bottommost lid 34 to fall outwardly from the lid housing 12. In this way the lid dispenser unit 30 delivers the bottommost lid 34 to a user 36 without requiring the user 36 to touch the stack of drink container lids 14 thereby reducing the likelihood of physical transmission of bacteria with respect to the drink container lids 14.
The lid dispenser unit 30 comprises a lid control circuit 38 that is integrated into the lid housing 12 and the lid control circuit 38 receives a dispense input. A lid motion sensor 40 is coupled to an inside surface 42 of the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the lid motion sensor 40 is positioned adjacent to the bottom end 18 of the lid housing 12. The lid motion sensor 40 senses motion such that the lid motion sensor 40 senses when the user's hand 44 is positioned beneath the lid housing 12. The lid motion sensor 40 is electrically coupled to the lid control circuit 38 and the lid control circuit 38 receives the dispense input when the lid motion sensor 40 senses motion. The lid motion sensor 40 may comprise an infrared motion sensor or other type of electronic motion sensor.
The lid dispenser unit 30 includes a lid motor 46 that is coupled to the inside surface 42 of the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the lid motor 46 is electrically coupled to the lid control circuit 38. The lid motor 46 rotates a predetermined number of revolutions in a first direction when the lid motor 46 is turned on and the lid motor 46 is turned on when the lid control circuit 38 receives the dispense input. The lid motor 46 has an output shaft 48 extending laterally away from the lid motor 46 and the lid motor 46 is positioned closer to the top end 16 of the lid housing 12 than the bottom end 18 of the lid housing 12. Furthermore, the lid motor 46 may comprise an electric motor or the like.
The lid dispenser unit 30 includes a first gear 50 that has an engaging face 52 and a coupling face 54, and the coupling face 54 is attached to the output shaft 48 such that the lid motor 46 rotates the first gear 50 when the lid motor 46 is turned on. Additionally, the engaging face 52 angles inwardly toward a centerline of the first gear 50. The lid dispenser unit 30 includes a lid drive shaft 56 that has an upper end 58 and a lower end and the lid drive shaft 56 is positioned within the lid housing 12. The lid drive shaft 56 is positioned between the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the stack of drink container lids 14. The lid dispenser 30 includes a second gear 62 that has an engaging face 64 and a coupling face 66, and the coupling face 66 of the second gear 62 is coupled to the upper end 58 of the lid drive shaft 56. The engaging face 64 of the second gear 62 angles inwardly toward a centerline of the second gear 62. Furthermore, the engaging face 64 of the second gear 62 engages the engaging face 52 of the first gear 50 such that each of the first gear 50 and the second gear 62 transfer rotational torque at a perpendicular angle, and the lid drive shaft 56 is rotated when the output shaft 48 rotates.
The lid screw 32 is coupled to the lower end 60 of the lid drive shaft 56 such that the lid screw 32 rotates about an axis extending between the upper end 58 and the lower end 60 of the lid drive shaft 56 when the lid drive shaft 56 is rotated. A thread 67 of the lid screw 32 engages the bottommost lid 34 on the stack of drink container lids 14 and the thread 67 urges the bottommost lid 34 downwardly when the lid screw 32 rotates. The lid screw 32 is rotated one full rotation when the lid motor 46 is turned on thereby facilitating the lid screw 32 to fully dislodge the bottommost lid 34 from the stack of drink container lids 14.
A hand sanitizer dispenser 68 is attached to the lid housing 12 and the hand sanitizer dispenser 68 contains a liquid hand sanitizer 69. The hand sanitizer dispenser 68 has a dispensing element 70 for releasing a pre-determined volume of the liquid hand sanitizer 69 when the user 36 positions their hand beneath the hand sanitizer dispenser 68.
The hand sanitizer dispenser 68 is positioned on an outside surface 72 of the outer wall of the lid housing 12 and the hand sanitizer dispenser 68 is positioned adjacent to the top end 16 of the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12. Furthermore, the hand sanitizer dispenser 68 has a pump 74 and a motion sensor 76 which together comprise the dispensing element 70 of the hand sanitizer dispenser 68. The pump 74 is directed downwardly on the hand sanitizer dispenser 6, the motion sensor 76 is electrically coupled to the pump 74 and the pump 74 is turned on when the motion sensor 76 senses motion. Furthermore, the pump 74 urges the pre-determined volume of the liquid hand sanitizer 69 outwardly from the hand sanitizer dispenser 68 when the pump 74 is turned on. The pump 74 may comprise an electric fluid pump or the like and the motion sensor 76 in the hand sanitizer dispenser 68 may comprise an infrared motion sensor or other type of electronic motion sensor.
A straw dispenser 78 is coupled to the lid housing 12 and the straw dispenser 78 contains a stack of drinking straws 80. The straw dispenser 78 includes a straw screw 82 which engages a bottommost straw 84 in the stack of drinking straws 80. The straw screw 82 urges the bottommost straw 84 outwardly from the straw dispenser 78 when the straw dispenser 78 is turned on. In this way the bottommost straw 84 can fall downwardly out of the straw dispenser 78 to deliver the bottommost straw 84 to the user 36.
The straw dispenser 78 comprises a straw housing 86 that is attached to the outer surface of the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the straw housing 86 has a lower end 88 that is open. A straw control circuit 90 is integrated into the lid housing 12 and the straw control circuit 90 receives a dispense input. A straw motion sensor 92 is coupled to an inside surface 93 of the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the straw motion sensor 92 is positioned adjacent to the bottom end 18 of the lid housing 12. The straw motion sensor 92 senses motion such that the straw motion sensor 92 senses when the user's hand 44 is positioned beneath the lid housing 12. The straw motion sensor 92 is electrically coupled to the straw control circuit 90 and the straw control circuit 90 receives the dispense input when the straw motion sensor 92 senses motion.
The straw dispenser 78 includes a straw motor 94 that is coupled to the inside surface 42 of the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the straw motor 94 is electrically coupled to the straw control circuit 90. The straw motor 94 rotates a predetermined number of revolutions in a first direction when the straw motor 94 is turned on and the straw motor 94 is turned on when the straw control circuit 90 receives the dispense input. The straw motor 94 has an output shaft 96 which extends laterally away from the straw motor 94 and the straw motor 94 is positioned closer to the top end 16 of the lid housing 12 than the bottom end 18 of the lid housing 12.
The straw dispenser 78 includes a primary gear 98 that has an engaging face 100 and a coupling face 102, and the coupling face 102 of the primary gear 98 is attached to the output shaft 96 of the straw motor 94 such that the straw motor 94 rotates the primary gear 98 when the straw motor 94 is turned on. The engaging face 100 of the primary gear 98 angles inwardly toward a centerline of the primary gear 98. The straw dispenser 78 includes a straw drive shaft 104 that has an upper end 106 and a lower end 108, and the straw drive shaft 104 is positioned within the straw housing 86. The straw drive shaft 104 is positioned between the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the stack of drinking straws 80.
The straw dispenser 78 includes a secondary gear 110 that has an engaging face 112 and a coupling face 114, and the coupling face 114 of the secondary gear 110 is coupled to the upper end 106 of the straw drive shaft 104. The engaging face 112 of the secondary gear 110 angles inwardly toward a centerline of the secondary gear 110. The engaging face 112 of the secondary gear 110 engages the engaging face 100 of the primary gear 98 such that each of the primary gear 98 and the secondary gear 110 transfer rotational torque at a perpendicular angle. Furthermore, the straw drive shaft 104 is rotated when the output shaft 96 of the straw motor 94 rotates.
The straw screw 82 is coupled to the lower end 108 of the straw drive shaft 104 such that the straw screw 82 rotates about an axis extending between the upper end 58 and the lower end 60 of the straw drive shaft 104 when the straw drive shaft 104 is rotated. A thread 116 of the straw screw 82 engages the bottommost straw 84 on the 25 stack of drinking straws 80 and the thread 116 on the straw screw 82 urges the bottommost straw 84 downwardly when the straw screw 82 rotates. The straw screw 82 is rotated one full rotation when the straw motor 94 is turned on thereby facilitating the straw screw 82 to fully dislodge the bottommost straw 84 from the stack of drinking straws 80.
A power supply 118 is provided and the power supply 118 is coupled to the lid housing 12. Additionally, the power supply 118 is electrically coupled to the lid control circuit 38 and the straw control circuit 90 and the pump 74 in the hand sanitizer dispenser 68. The power supply 118 includes a power cord 120 which extends away from the outer wall 20 of the lid housing 12 and the power cord 120 has a distal end 122 with respect to the outer wall 20. Additionally, a male plug 124 is electrically coupled to the distal end 122 and the male plug 124 engages a power source 126 comprising a female electrical outlet.
In use, the user 36 positions their hand 44 beneath the lid housing 12 thereby triggering the lid dispenser unit 30 dispense a drink container lid 14. In this way the user 36 can retrieve a drink container lid 14 without having to touch the stack of drink container lids 14. The user 36 positions their hand 44 beneath the straw dispenser 78 thereby triggering the straw dispenser 78 to dispense a drinking straw 80. In this way the user 36 can retrieve a drinking straw 80 without having to touch the stack of drinking straws 80. Furthermore, the user 36 can position their hand 44 beneath the hand sanitizer dispenser 68 thereby triggering the hand sanitizer dispenser 68 to dispense liquid hand sanitizer 69 for sanitizing the user's hands 44.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
