Cup dispenser

Abstract

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.