TREA

Front loading cutlery dispenser

Follow

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 9693640
  • Patent Number
    9,693,640
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, August 7, 2014
    10 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 4, 2017
    7 years ago
Information
Abstract
The present application provides a cutlery dispenser for use with a number of cutlery utensils. The cutlery dispenser may include a housing and a front cover. The front cover may include a dispensing opening and a spring loaded retainer such that the cutlery utensils may be loaded through the front cover and may be dispensed therefrom.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present application relates generally to dispensers for cutlery utensils and more particularly relates to a front loading cutlery dispenser with a front cover having spring loaded retainers for ease of loading and dispensing the cutlery utensils therefrom.


BACKGROUND

Restaurants and other types of retail outlets often provide cutlery utensils in open self-serve dispensing bins. Consumers may retrieve a fork, a spoon, a knife, a spork, and the like directly therefrom. Such open dispensing bins, however, may have at least the appearance of being somewhat unhygienic in that the cutlery utensils are not enclosed. Consumers may react negatively in that the remaining utensils thus may be touched or otherwise contacted while a selected utensil is being removed from the dispensing bin.


To address these concerns relating to the cutlery utensils, enclosed cutlery dispensers have been used. The cutlery utensils may be placed in a utensil compartment and may be dispensed one at a time on command. Generally described, these dispensers may operate via a dispensing lever, a rotating belt, and/or other type of dispensing mechanism. The mechanics of these dispensers, however, may be complex and hence may be subject to malfunction. Further these dispensers typically may be somewhat bulky and may occupy a significant footprint on an already crowded countertop and the like.


There is thus a desire for an improved dispenser for cutlery utensils and the like. Preferably such an improved dispenser may be easy and hygienic to load and to dispense the cutlery utensils therefrom with a reduced overall footprint and simplified mechanics.


SUMMARY

The present application thus provides a cutlery dispenser for use with a number of cutlery utensils. The cutlery dispenser may include a housing and a front cover. The front cover may include a dispensing opening and a spring loaded retainer such that the cutlery utensils may be loaded through the front cover and may be dispensed therefrom.


The present application further provides a method of dispensing cutlery utensils from a dispenser. The method may include the steps of arranging the cutlery utensils in a stack via a joinder member, pushing the stack into a front cover of the dispenser, pivoting a retainer into a first position along the front cover while the stack is pushed therein, pivoting the retainer into a second position once the stack is within the dispenser, removing the joinder member from the stack, and dispensing the cutlery utensils through the front cover.


The present application further provides a cutlery dispenser. The cutlery dispenser may include a housing, a stack of cutlery utensils, a dispensing opening, and a retainer positioned about the dispensing opening such that the stack of cutlery utensils may be loaded through the dispensing opening and may be dispensed therefrom.


These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutlery dispenser as may be described herein.



FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1 showing a housing, a front cover, and an end cap.



FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front cover of the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1.



FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rear of the front cover of FIG. 3.



FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front cover of FIG. 3 with a utensil therein.



FIG. 6 is a perspective view of stack of utensils for use with the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1.



FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the loading of the cutlery utensils in the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1.



FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the dispensing of a cutlery utensil from the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1.



FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a stack of utensils for use with the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1.



FIG. 10 is a side view of a stack of cutlery utensils for use with the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1.



FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an example of a pushing assembly as may be used with the cutlery dispenser of FIG. 1.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an example of a cutlery dispenser 100 as may be described herein. The cutlery dispenser 100 may include a housing 110. The housing 110 may be enclosed by a front cover 120 on one end and an end cap 130 on the other. The cutlery dispenser 100, and the components thereof, may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. Specifically, the cutlery dispenser 100, and the components thereof, may be sized to accommodate various types of cutlery utensils for loading therein and for dispensing therefrom. The cutlery dispensers 100, and the components thereof, may be made out of any suitable type of substantially rigid material including thermoplastic such as polypropylene, metals such as aluminum, composite materials, and the like. Different types of materials may be used herein together for the various components.


The cutlery dispenser 100 also may include a trough 140 and a guide 150 positioned within the housing 110. The trough 140 and the guide 150 may be largely “U” shaped and may be sized to accommodate the cutlery utensils therein. The trough 140 and the guide 150 may be integrally formed within the housing 110 and/or fixed therein. The trough 140 and the guide 150 may help maintain the orientation of the cutlery utensils during loading and dispensing. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.



FIGS. 2-5 show an example of the front cover 120. The front cover 120 may include a frame 160. The frame 160 may surround, in whole or in part, a dispensing opening 170. The frame 160 may be sized so as to mate or otherwise attach to the housing 110. The frame 160 may mate with the housing 110 in any convenient manner including a snap fit and/or for the use of suitable types of retainers. The dispensing opening 170 may be sized to allow a cutlery utensil to be loaded and dispensed therethrough although any suitable size, shape, or configuration may be used herein. The dispensing opening 170 also may have one or more side notches 180 so as allow a cutlery utensil to be grasped therein.


The front cover 120 may include a number of retainers 190 attached to the frame 160 or otherwise. The retainers 190 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. In this example, a bottom retainer 200 and a side retainer 210 are shown. Any suitable number of retainers 190 may be used herein in any suitable position. The bottom retainer 200 may be attached to the frame 160 via a bottom retainer spring 220 or other type of pivoting device. The bottom retainer 200 may be largely flat with a pair of side flanges 230. The side flanges 230 may extend beyond the edges of the frame 160 so as to prevent forward movement of the bottom retainer 200 outside of the front of the frame 160. In a closed position, the front of the bottom retainer 200 may be substantially flush with the front of the frame 160. The bottom retainer 200 may have a sufficient length so as to maintain the cutlery utensils therein while allowing a first one to be removed through the dispensing opening 170.


The side retainer 210 may be positioned about the side notch 180 or elsewhere about the dispensing opening 170. The side retainer 210 may be attached to the frame via a side retainer spring 240 or other type of pivoting device. The side retainer 210 may have a substantially curved shape 250 extending outside of the frame 160. The curved shape 250 of the side retainer 210 supports the cutlery utensils therein with at least the first one leaning in a fanned position for easy removal. The side retainer 210 may have a sufficient width so as to maintain the remainder of the stack of cutlery utensils therein while allowing a first one to be removed through the dispensing opening 170. FIG. 5 shows the retainers 190 in a closed position with a cutlery utensil 270 positioned within the front cover 120. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.



FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an example of a stack 280 of cutlery utensils 270. The stack 280 may be nested or otherwise oriented. In this example, the cutlery utensils 270 in the stack 280 are in the form of a number of forks 290 although any type of cutlery utensil may be used herein. The cutlery utensils 270 may have one or more skewer apertures 300 formed therein. The skewer apertures 300 may be sized and shaped for a skewer 310 or other type of a joinder member 315. Any type of joinder members 315 or other types of connection devices may be used herein. In this example, the skewer 310 may have a loop 320 at one end and a barb 330 and the like at the other. The skewer 310 may be positioned through the skewer apertures 300 of each utensil 270 in the stack of utensils 280. The stack 280 may be transported via the loop 320. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.


As is shown in FIG. 7, the stack 280 may be positioned within the cutlery dispenser 100 via the front cover 120. Specifically, the stack 280 may be pushed through the retainers 190 on the dispensing opening 170 of the front cover 120. Once the stack 280 is positioned within the housing 110, the retainers 190 may spring forward so as to maintain the stack 280 therein. The skewer 310 then may be removed from the stack 280. The cutlery utensils 270 are now available for dispensing. A consumer may grasp the first cutlery utensil 270 via the side notch 180 and remove the cutlery utensils 270 one by one or otherwise. The cutlery utensils 270 may have a fanned orientation about the dispensing opening 170 given the use of the curved shaped 250 of the side retainer 210 in coordination with the bottom retainer 200. Other components and other configurations also may be used herein.



FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of a stack of utensils 340. In this example, the stack 340 may be surrounded by a joinder member 315 in the form of a shrink band 350. The shrink band 350 may be made out of any type of suitable thermoplastic and the like. The shrink band 350 surrounds the stack 340 for transport. The stack 340 may be positioned within the cutlery dispenser 100 as is described above. Once the stack 340 is positioned therein, the shrink band 350 may be torn and removed therefrom. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.



FIG. 10 shows a further example of a stack of cutlery utensils 360. In this example, the stack of cutlery utensils 360 may be a nested stack of knives 370. Other types of cutlery utensils may be used herein. The knives 370 may include one or more triangles of contact 380. The triangles of contact 380 produce an angle between the knives 370 and the stack 360 so as to accommodate the shrink band or other type of connection while also promoting a fanning position so as to make the front utensil easier to select and remove. Other components and other configurations also may be used herein.


The cutlery dispenser 110 also may include a pushing assembly 400. The pushing assembly 400 may assist in forcing the cutlery utensils towards the front cover 120 during dispensing. An example of a pushing assembly suitable for use herein is shown in commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0143272 A1, entitled “Cutlery Dispenser” in the name of Oakes. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0143272 A1 is incorporated by reference herein full. As is shown in FIG. 11, the pushing assembly 400 may include a support member 410 and at least one biasing member 420. The pushing assembly 400 may be supported within the housing 410 by aligning with the trough 140, the guide 150, or otherwise. The support member 410 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The support member 410 may contact the cutlery utensils 270 while the biasing member 420 urges the support member 410 towards the front cover 120. The biasing member 420 may include springs, rubber bands, magnets, and the like. In this example, the biasing members 420 may be in the form of a pair of coil springs 430. Other types of pushing assemblies and the like may be used herein to urge the cutlery utensils 270 towards the front cover 120. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.


It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims
  • 1. A cutlery dispenser for use with a number of cutlery utensils, comprising: a housing; anda front cover;the front cover defining a dispensing opening and comprising a spring loaded retainer such that the number of cutlery utensils may be loaded through the dispensing opening and past the spring loaded retainer on the front cover into the housing and may be dispensed out of the dispensing opening.
  • 2. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a horizontal trough therein.
  • 3. The cutlery dispenser of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a guide therein positioned over the trough.
  • 4. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an end cap positioned parallel to the front cover.
  • 5. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the front cover comprises a frame surrounding the dispensing opening in whole or in part.
  • 6. The cutlery dispenser of claim 5, wherein the frame defines one or more side notches in the dispensing opening for one of the number of cutlery utensils to be grasped therein.
  • 7. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded retainer comprises a bottom retainer positioned about the dispensing opening.
  • 8. The cutlery dispenser of claim 7, wherein the bottom retainer comprises a bottom retainer spring.
  • 9. The cutlery dispenser of claim 7, wherein the bottom retainer comprises a side flange extending beyond an edge of the dispensing opening.
  • 10. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded retainer comprises a side retainer positioned about the dispensing opening.
  • 11. The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the side retainer comprises a side retainer spring.
  • 12. The cutlery dispenser of claim 10, wherein the side retainer comprises a curved shape to retain the number of cutlery utensils within the housing.
  • 13. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a horizontal pushing assembly.
  • 14. The cutlery dispenser of claim 1, wherein the number of utensils comprises a stack positioned along a horizontal axis.
  • 15. A method of dispensing cutlery utensils from a dispenser, comprising: arranging the cutlery utensils in a stack via a joinder member;loading the stack into a dispensing opening defined through a front cover of the dispenser;pivoting a retainer into a first position along the front cover while the stack is pushed beyond the retainer;pivoting the retainer into a second position once the stack is within the dispenser;removing the joinder member from the stack; and dispensing the cutlery utensils through the dispensing opening on the front cover.
  • 16. A cutlery dispenser, comprising: a housing;a stack of cutlery utensils;a dispensing opening defined through a front cover; anda spring loaded retainer positioned about the dispensing opening such that the stack of cutlery utensils may pivot the spring loaded retainer so as to be loaded through the dispensing opening into the housing and then be dispensed out of the dispensing opening.
  • 17. The cutlery dispenser of claim 16, wherein the stack of cutlery utensils comprises a joinder member.
  • 18. The cutlery dispenser of claim 17, wherein the joinder member comprises a skewer.
  • 19. The cutlery dispenser of claim 17, wherein the joinder member comprises a shrink band.
  • 20. The cutlery dispenser of claim 16, wherein the stack of cutlery utensils comprises a plurality of cutlery utensils with one or more triangles of contact.
US Referenced Citations (397)
Number Name Date Kind
46832 Thorne Mar 1865 A
592105 Barnes Oct 1897 A
D32913 Graf Jul 1900 S
703718 Cammann Jul 1902 A
716058 Lang et al. Dec 1902 A
925485 Lafler Jun 1909 A
999837 Morris et al. Aug 1911 A
1053387 Hawley Feb 1913 A
1146447 Prommel Jul 1915 A
1182793 Richardson May 1916 A
1259927 Swift Mar 1918 A
1261835 Martin Apr 1918 A
1353109 Carr Sep 1920 A
1355583 Zeidler et al. Oct 1920 A
1482071 Duff et al. Jan 1924 A
1497585 Poole Jun 1924 A
1504098 Cathey Aug 1924 A
1546077 Hunter et al. Jul 1925 A
1547151 Watling Jul 1925 A
1560938 Lund Nov 1925 A
1577302 Schultz Mar 1926 A
1610001 Foster Dec 1926 A
1635386 Pierson Jul 1927 A
1675510 Nolan Jul 1928 A
1767634 Weiss Jun 1930 A
1821377 Cusick Mar 1931 A
1886378 George Nov 1932 A
1936057 Hodge Nov 1933 A
2052505 Vetrosky Aug 1936 A
2053828 Harper Sep 1936 A
2078984 Williamson May 1937 A
2089378 Jenkin Aug 1937 A
2110189 Zeidler Mar 1938 A
2141684 Diemer Dec 1938 A
2149098 Phinney Feb 1939 A
2149099 Phinney et al. Feb 1939 A
2160374 Veillette May 1939 A
2184029 Wicklund Dec 1939 A
2188573 Longo Jan 1940 A
D119760 Kopp Apr 1940 S
2207528 Witt Jul 1940 A
2223347 Axthelm Dec 1940 A
2239196 Lunvik Apr 1941 A
2246852 Kale Jun 1941 A
2260596 Young Oct 1941 A
2268596 Jerum Jan 1942 A
2268873 Hopkins et al. Jan 1942 A
2328486 Painter Aug 1943 A
2340561 Renfro Feb 1944 A
2497718 Earley et al. Jan 1945 A
2401534 Welch Jun 1946 A
2421782 Gibbs et al. Jun 1947 A
2427321 Casey et al. Sep 1947 A
2431121 Hunter Nov 1947 A
2433736 Carew Dec 1947 A
2445026 Frank Jul 1948 A
2472051 Testi May 1949 A
2503741 Johnson Apr 1950 A
2526136 Holzknecht Oct 1950 A
2571668 Booth et al. Oct 1951 A
2577344 Masure Dec 1951 A
2624093 Hatch et al. Jan 1953 A
2635025 Ziska Apr 1953 A
2646874 Testi Jul 1953 A
2651093 Lynch Sep 1953 A
2671555 Shnitzler Mar 1954 A
2692691 Harriss et al. Oct 1954 A
2695125 Bowen Nov 1954 A
2965262 Du Bois Sep 1955 A
2752678 Welch Jul 1956 A
2771214 Lefebvre Nov 1956 A
2800013 George Jul 1957 A
2806634 Baumgartner Sep 1957 A
2824369 Welch Feb 1958 A
2843909 Eilertsen Jul 1958 A
2845679 Baruch Aug 1958 A
2857645 Vogelsang Oct 1958 A
2868344 Shields Jan 1959 A
2870505 Hawie Jan 1959 A
2877490 Greninger Mar 1959 A
2877926 Abbe Mar 1959 A
2880907 Mainers Apr 1959 A
2881247 Levine et al. Apr 1959 A
2889076 Van Schie Jun 1959 A
2907512 Leone Oct 1959 A
2911127 Driss et al. Nov 1959 A
2924357 Kingsley et al. Feb 1960 A
2946431 Nissen Jul 1960 A
2946481 Carew Jul 1960 A
2953170 Bush Sep 1960 A
2954948 Johnson Oct 1960 A
3021919 Peters Feb 1962 A
3037257 Girodet Jun 1962 A
3052006 Jonas Sep 1962 A
3083879 Coleman Apr 1963 A
3095114 Tobias Jun 1963 A
3100842 Tellefsen Aug 1963 A
3114475 Etes Dec 1963 A
3115989 Strang Dec 1963 A
3116152 Smith Dec 1963 A
3132765 Florendo May 1964 A
3146908 Perri et al. Sep 1964 A
3163327 Maxwell Dec 1964 A
3180489 McGinn Apr 1965 A
3182345 Smith May 1965 A
3191802 Lasting Jun 1965 A
3217954 Grant et al. Nov 1965 A
3263860 Haas Aug 1966 A
3279652 Willvonseder Oct 1966 A
3300087 Kuypers Jan 1967 A
3310271 King Mar 1967 A
3313452 Katz Apr 1967 A
3325050 Wanamaker Jun 1967 A
3334784 Morrison Aug 1967 A
3338471 De Good Aug 1967 A
3371821 Abood et al. Mar 1968 A
3383018 Grimsley May 1968 A
3400435 Akesson-Rydin Sep 1968 A
3402441 Woskin Sep 1968 A
3407927 Jones Oct 1968 A
3408708 Hawie Nov 1968 A
3426941 Hovekamp Feb 1969 A
3435491 Shears Apr 1969 A
3472421 Albert Oct 1969 A
3499538 Sherard Mar 1970 A
3558006 Redmond et al. Jan 1971 A
3587922 Oriti Jun 1971 A
3593908 Desmond et al. Jul 1971 A
3654396 Biezeveld Apr 1972 A
3679096 Musser Jul 1972 A
3680736 Wiessmann Aug 1972 A
3709403 Harriman Jan 1973 A
3710535 Walter Jan 1973 A
3741410 Henschke et al. Jun 1973 A
3747803 Zoepf et al. Jul 1973 A
3786959 Greb et al. Jan 1974 A
3851762 Liblick Dec 1974 A
3854625 Kuebler Dec 1974 A
3861563 Lisbin Jan 1975 A
3862702 Johnson Jan 1975 A
3897886 Franklin Aug 1975 A
3932978 Kinney Jan 1976 A
3944128 Hogan et al. Mar 1976 A
3972118 Richard Aug 1976 A
3987901 Dullinger Oct 1976 A
3998238 Nigro Dec 1976 A
4005801 Musser et al. Feb 1977 A
4043203 Montesi Aug 1977 A
4048915 Martin Sep 1977 A
4091915 Claasen May 1978 A
4120662 Fosslien Oct 1978 A
4134519 Barnett et al. Jan 1979 A
4146123 Cottrell Mar 1979 A
4271999 Stravitz Jun 1981 A
4288003 Fries Sep 1981 A
4308974 Jones Jan 1982 A
4317284 Prindle Mar 1982 A
4382514 Williams et al. May 1983 A
4387831 Mcnally Jun 1983 A
4489854 Wenkman et al. Dec 1984 A
4524512 Formo et al. Jun 1985 A
4570536 Dodd Feb 1986 A
4571773 Yuda Feb 1986 A
4574423 Ito et al. Mar 1986 A
D284442 Chan Jul 1986 S
4601386 Antonello Jul 1986 A
4610087 Mickelson et al. Sep 1986 A
4614004 Oshida Sep 1986 A
4624616 Freese et al. Nov 1986 A
4638921 Sigl et al. Jan 1987 A
4662536 Powers May 1987 A
4666037 Weissman et al. May 1987 A
4666060 Bouldin May 1987 A
4676504 Ponza Jun 1987 A
4691811 Arakawa et al. Sep 1987 A
4697673 Omata Oct 1987 A
4707251 Jenkins et al. Nov 1987 A
4715514 Vidondo Dec 1987 A
4789064 Segal Dec 1988 A
4793539 Haenni et al. Dec 1988 A
4807753 Goldstein Feb 1989 A
4835864 Tang Jun 1989 A
4863033 Buj Sep 1989 A
4884718 Leahy Dec 1989 A
D305709 Blignaut Jan 1990 S
4896792 Marchand Jan 1990 A
4915578 Becker Apr 1990 A
4921106 Spatafora et al. May 1990 A
4950120 Barnes Aug 1990 A
4961684 Provan et al. Oct 1990 A
4963072 Miley et al. Oct 1990 A
RE33447 Rosman Nov 1990 E
4973037 Holbrook Nov 1990 A
4986442 Hinterreiter Jan 1991 A
4989730 Lemoine et al. Feb 1991 A
4995154 Bamber Feb 1991 A
5012927 Borst et al. May 1991 A
D318600 Lillelund et al. Jul 1991 S
5054640 Tucker et al. Oct 1991 A
5054649 Lemaire et al. Oct 1991 A
5064093 Davis et al. Nov 1991 A
5080257 Carnisio Jan 1992 A
5127546 Chen Jul 1992 A
5131586 Capy Jul 1992 A
5156266 Sykora et al. Oct 1992 A
5161268 Harrow Nov 1992 A
5176494 Nigrelli et al. Jan 1993 A
5191997 Squitieri Mar 1993 A
5199756 Bartlett et al. Apr 1993 A
5211267 Clark May 1993 A
D336047 Kim Jun 1993 S
5249705 Gates Oct 1993 A
5263596 Williams Nov 1993 A
D342648 Cautereels et al. Dec 1993 S
5269397 Kawamoto et al. Dec 1993 A
5288361 Konno Feb 1994 A
5305875 Meyer et al. Apr 1994 A
5325992 Schmid et al. Jul 1994 A
5327650 Rojas Jul 1994 A
D351085 Schmidt Oct 1994 S
5353935 Yeager et al. Oct 1994 A
5364016 Capy et al. Nov 1994 A
5413317 Spoerre May 1995 A
D362160 Brabeck et al. Sep 1995 S
5449054 Wiese et al. Sep 1995 A
5460252 Kosugi et al. Oct 1995 A
5469688 Dunbar et al. Nov 1995 A
5479708 Thomas Jan 1996 A
5497863 Schmidt et al. Mar 1996 A
5509522 Laidlaw Apr 1996 A
5518149 Lotspeich et al. May 1996 A
5542508 Van Erden et al. Aug 1996 A
5564594 Monfredo Oct 1996 A
5579910 Bennett Dec 1996 A
5586685 Dorner et al. Dec 1996 A
5590472 Yaakov Jan 1997 A
5605208 Friedrichsen et al. Feb 1997 A
5660252 Lafon Aug 1997 A
5762211 Ensign Jun 1998 A
5845403 Nivin Dec 1998 A
5853092 Goodman et al. Dec 1998 A
5904250 De Schutter May 1999 A
5921408 Groenewold et al. Jul 1999 A
5933918 Wallays Aug 1999 A
5950842 Baur Sep 1999 A
5961021 Koike et al. Oct 1999 A
D420887 Chen Feb 2000 S
6021919 Kelly Feb 2000 A
6023908 Vetsch Feb 2000 A
6023913 Gray et al. Feb 2000 A
D422431 Goins Apr 2000 S
6047830 Chang Apr 2000 A
6062424 Simile-Gravina et al. May 2000 A
6073795 Longstreth Jun 2000 A
6076670 Yeranossian Jun 2000 A
6085916 Kovacevic et al. Jul 2000 A
6098379 Spatafora et al. Aug 2000 A
6115921 Garneau Sep 2000 A
6134790 Watson Oct 2000 A
6202891 Mark Mar 2001 B1
6226845 Fink May 2001 B1
6250495 Bando Jun 2001 B1
6250498 Lovejoy Jun 2001 B1
6257443 LaCount Jul 2001 B1
6289889 Bell et al. Sep 2001 B1
6298960 Derr Oct 2001 B1
6336568 Tucker et al. Jan 2002 B1
6378729 Kodama Apr 2002 B1
D458070 Bennett et al. Jun 2002 S
6399079 Mehta et al. Jun 2002 B1
6412398 Norcross et al. Jul 2002 B1
6415465 Harrow Jul 2002 B1
6575313 Chen Jun 2003 B1
6626633 Jendzurski et al. Sep 2003 B2
6651841 Tsuchida Nov 2003 B2
6749074 Hileman et al. Jun 2004 B1
D492549 Welch Jul 2004 S
D493337 Welch Jul 2004 S
6763972 Graupner Jul 2004 B2
6786357 Renard Sep 2004 B2
6786359 Schroeder Sep 2004 B1
6832694 Goeking et al. Dec 2004 B2
6832698 Dybul Dec 2004 B1
6837028 Miano et al. Jan 2005 B1
6840353 Arisaka Jan 2005 B2
6840420 Hudson Jan 2005 B1
6863173 Bennett Mar 2005 B2
6880211 Jackson et al. Apr 2005 B2
6895672 Conforti May 2005 B2
6945427 Hieb Sep 2005 B2
6951266 Tournier Oct 2005 B2
6972033 McNicholas Dec 2005 B2
6976348 Miano et al. Dec 2005 B1
7013568 Schmidt Mar 2006 B2
7076932 Rubin Jul 2006 B2
7090455 Lamb Aug 2006 B2
7111369 Ho Sep 2006 B2
D533034 Wasserman Dec 2006 S
7156220 Olson et al. Jan 2007 B2
D536222 Heiberg et al. Feb 2007 S
7204406 Bone et al. Apr 2007 B2
7210279 Ahmed et al. May 2007 B1
7237700 Bulovic Jul 2007 B2
7249793 Jabr et al. Jul 2007 B1
7258233 Lee et al. Aug 2007 B2
7322172 Hoffman et al. Jan 2008 B2
D564819 Fosburg et al. Mar 2008 S
7412808 Lavi Aug 2008 B2
7424957 Luberto Sep 2008 B1
7434692 Ginsberg et al. Oct 2008 B2
D591104 Oakes Apr 2009 S
7513089 Rubin Apr 2009 B2
7516831 Chang Apr 2009 B2
7520247 Rutledge Apr 2009 B2
7669256 Harrow Mar 2010 B2
7690518 Fincher Apr 2010 B2
7716842 Sumner-Trivisani et al. May 2010 B2
7731899 Talmer et al. Jun 2010 B2
7819234 Herzog Oct 2010 B2
7856722 Lago-Arenas Dec 2010 B2
D631337 Prevost Jan 2011 S
8070013 Reinsel et al. Dec 2011 B2
8083058 Marcinkowski et al. Dec 2011 B2
8083097 Kaufman et al. Dec 2011 B2
8152004 Smith et al. Apr 2012 B2
8210364 Smith et al. Jul 2012 B2
8272533 D'Amelia et al. Sep 2012 B1
8296957 Muehlemann Oct 2012 B2
8297473 Smith Oct 2012 B2
8302269 Pitman Nov 2012 B2
8360273 Reinsel et al. Jan 2013 B2
8444006 Dixon May 2013 B2
8480954 Talmer et al. Jul 2013 B2
8776379 Walters et al. Jul 2014 B2
8839522 Walters et al. Sep 2014 B2
8844798 Linkel Sep 2014 B2
D772514 Wang Nov 2016 S
20010007308 Glassman et al. Jul 2001 A1
20010025856 Lefevre Du Grosriez et al. Oct 2001 A1
20020112445 Scaduto Aug 2002 A1
20030015824 Forbes et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030098344 Blake et al. May 2003 A1
20040045398 Hayashi Mar 2004 A1
20040045860 Edgerly et al. Mar 2004 A1
20040089670 Goeking et al. May 2004 A1
20040237311 Brown et al. Dec 2004 A1
20050035136 Dathe et al. Feb 2005 A1
20050082307 Tucker Apr 2005 A1
20050116482 Harris et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050155186 McGuyer et al. Jul 2005 A1
20050155229 Lee Jul 2005 A1
20050211722 Runnels Sep 2005 A1
20050252057 Lavi Nov 2005 A1
20060000190 Behnke et al. Jan 2006 A1
20060042986 Simkowski et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060053638 Sumner-Trivisani et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060218795 Santa Cruz et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060249531 Litchfield et al. Nov 2006 A1
20070035943 Wang Feb 2007 A1
20070108141 Smith May 2007 A1
20070131705 Behravesh et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070193968 Smith et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070214650 Tomazini Sep 2007 A1
20070250391 Prade et al. Oct 2007 A1
20080118609 Harlfinger et al. May 2008 A1
20080121650 Smith May 2008 A1
20080128445 Huang et al. Jun 2008 A1
20090194557 Van Deursen Aug 2009 A1
20100084418 Reinsel et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100147869 Iliffe et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100170915 Reinsel et al. Jul 2010 A1
20110180562 Reinsel et al. Jul 2011 A1
20110226797 Reinsel et al. Sep 2011 A1
20110296693 Oakes Dec 2011 A1
20120036724 Walters Feb 2012 A1
20120047744 Walters Mar 2012 A1
20120080444 Smith et al. Apr 2012 A1
20120110746 Serrano et al. May 2012 A1
20120145734 Walters Jun 2012 A1
20120145735 Erickson et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120145736 Walters Jun 2012 A1
20130032609 Righetti et al. Feb 2013 A1
20130043272 Oakes Feb 2013 A1
20130126548 Pourian et al. May 2013 A1
20130134211 Linkel May 2013 A1
20130152406 McFarland Jun 2013 A1
20130193157 Jongen et al. Aug 2013 A1
20140069930 Oakes Mar 2014 A1
20140117036 Smith et al. May 2014 A1
20140191024 Wnek et al. Jul 2014 A1
20140217112 Young et al. Aug 2014 A1
20140299656 Wintermute Oct 2014 A1
20150028045 Oakes et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150028046 Oakes et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150041363 Freeman et al. Feb 2015 A1
20150048108 Borke Feb 2015 A1
20150265108 Brickl Sep 2015 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (34)
Number Date Country
2545745 Nov 2006 CA
2865478 Feb 2007 CN
101495015 Jul 2009 CN
7033238 Nov 1970 DE
7127677 Nov 1971 DE
3151268 Jul 1983 DE
4139938 Jun 1993 DE
202005013647 Jul 2006 DE
0257109 Aug 1986 EP
0286538 Oct 1988 EP
0856272 Jan 1999 EP
1022107 Jul 2000 EP
1217923 Sep 2003 EP
1358827 Nov 2003 EP
1213985 Jun 2004 EP
1514497 Mar 2005 EP
1719438 Nov 2006 EP
1864596 Dec 2007 EP
2889507 Feb 2007 FR
H06121727 May 1994 JP
08011934 Jan 1996 JP
08-047440 Feb 1996 JP
3042582 Oct 1997 JP
2001354214 Dec 2001 JP
2004261336 Sep 2004 JP
2007319493 Dec 2007 JP
20-1991-0008085 Oct 1991 KR
10-2009-0071515 Jul 2009 KR
100954569 Apr 2010 KR
M287639 Feb 2006 TW
M293720 Jul 2006 TW
2004028309 Apr 2004 WO
2007049982 May 2007 WO
2009137367 Nov 2009 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (21)
Entry
Peel Adhesion for Single Coated Pressure-Sensitive Tapes 180 Angle, Aug. 1989, pp. 21-22.
Tack Rolling Ball, Aug. 1989, pp. 29-30.
Holding Power of Pressure-Sensitive Tape, Aug. 1989, pp. 31-33.
European Search Report for 060009258.2, mailed Jul. 24, 2006, five mages, Munich, Germany.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2011/044931, mailed Feb. 28, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2011/044934, mailed Mar. 6, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2011/064057, dated Feb. 29, 2012.
PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion PCT/US2007/083752, Mar. 11, 2008, 10 pages.
PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion PCT/US2007/083922 mailed Nov. 17, 2008, 10 pages.
Supplementary European Search Report for EP 11 79 3088 dated Sep. 25, 2013.
European Search Report for EP 08 014 387.8, mailed Nov. 11, 2008, four pages, European Patent Office, Munich, Germany.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2011/058329; dated Feb. 29, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2011/058767 mailed Feb. 29, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2009/059915, mailed Feb. 3, 2010, 13 pages, European Patent Office, Munich, Germany.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2010/000051, mailed Aug. 16, 2010, 6 pages.
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/047463”, mailed Nov. 26, 2014, 22 pages, Korean Intellectual Property Office, South Korea.
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/050166”, mailed Nov. 20, 2014, 11 pages, Korean Intellectual Property Office, South Korea.
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/050169”, mailed Jan. 9, 2015, 11 pages, Korean Intellectual Property Office, South Korea.
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/051632”, mailed Dec. 3, 2014, 9 pages, Korean Intellectual Property Office, South Korea.
International Searching Authority, “International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2014/051639”, mailed Dec. 9, 2014, 9 pages, Korean Intellectual Property Office, South Korea.
Supplementary European Search Report for European App. No. EP 14 83 4671.1, mailed by the European Patent Office on Feb. 16, 2017.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20150041484 A1 Feb 2015 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
61863484 Aug 2013 US