Brian M Durant

US Patent:

8360273, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Oct 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/247805

Inventors:

Christopher M. Reinsel - Neenah WI, US
Brian Durant - Kennesaw GA, US
Stephen J. Drabant - Lawrenceville GA, US
Thomas J. Steimer - Athens GA, US

Assignee:

Dixie Consumer Products LLC - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G07F 11/00
B65H 1/00
B65H 3/44
A47F 7/00

US Classification:

221131, 221129, 221 97, 221 1, 221133, 221163, 221124, 221112, 221258, 221 9, 211 701, 211 491

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.

US Patent:

20110226797, Sep 22, 2011

Filed:

Mar 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/047921

Inventors:

Christopher M. Reinsel - Neenah WI, US
Brian M. Durant - Kennesaw GA, US
Michael R. Kilgore - Little Suamico WI, US
Matthew K. F. Williquette - Sobieski WI, US

Assignee:

DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

B65D 83/00

US Classification:

221 97

Abstract:

A cutlery utensil dispenser has a housing that includes a first zone for holding a utensil to be dispensed, a second zone for receiving the utensil during dispensing, and a third zone for delivering the dispensed utensil to a user. The first, second and third zones are cooperatively configured and adapted to maintain, and present to the user, one end of the utensil ahead of an opposing end of the utensil during a dispensing operation.