dispenser for lids

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus, kit and method for dispensing lids one at a time in a sanitary and effective manner. A stack of lids is placed inside a tube and substantially held in the tube by a cover piece. Preferably the cover piece is concave in shape and is opposed by a concave platform that biases the stack of lids towards said cover piece. The bottommost lid of the stack is available for dispensing while the next lid in the stack is restrained in place, preferably by elements associated with the cover piece.

1 . A lid dispensing system for dispensing the bottommost lid from a stack of lids comprising:
 a tube for holding a stack of lids;   a cover piece having a radius of curvature, wherein said cover piece interacts with the stack of lids to confine the stack of lids substantially in said tube.   
   
   
       2 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , further including a platform for supporting the stack of lids in said tube. 
   
   
       3 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 2 , wherein said platform is concave. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a collar extending said tube and, together with said cover piece, defining an opening through which lids are dispensed. 
   
   
       6 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 5 , wherein said collar includes at least one portion for substantially maintaining at least the next lid in the stack of lids when the bottommost lid is dispensed. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . A lid dispensing system according to claim  76 , wherein said cover piece is connected to said collar. 
   
   
       9 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 8 , wherein said cover piece is connected to said collar by a hinge. 
   
   
       10 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover piece is concave in shape. 
   
   
       11 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 10 , wherein said cover piece is in the shape of a clam shell. 
   
   
       12 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover piece is rotationally movable in a horizontal plane with respect to said tube to facilitate dispensing of lids in multiple directions. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A lid dispensing system for dispensing the bottommost lid from a stack of lids comprising:
 a tube for holding a stack of lids;   a platform located in said tube for supporting the stack of lids in said tube; and   a cover piece having a non-planar shape interacting with the stack of lids such that the stack of lids is interjacent said platform and said cover piece to confine the stack of lids substantially in said tube.   
   
   
       16 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 15 , wherein said platform is non-planar in shape. 
   
   
       17 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 16 , wherein said cover piece is concave in shape. 
   
   
       18 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 17 , wherein said platform is concave in shape. 
   
   
       19 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 18 , wherein the concavity of said cover piece and the concavity of said platform oppose one another other. 
   
   
       20 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 15 , wherein said platform and said cover piece are concave in shape and the concavity of said platform and said cover oppose one another. 
   
   
       21 . A lid dispensing system according to  claim 15 , wherein said cover piece is rotationally movable relative to said tube to facilitate dispensing of lids in multiple directions. 
   
   
       22 . A kit for retrofitting a cup dispenser having a storage tube to dispense lids comprising:
 a cover piece for substantially confining a stack of lids in said tube, wherein said cover piece has a radius of curvature; and   means for connecting said cover piece to said tube.   
   
   
       23 . A kit according to  claim 22 , wherein said cover piece is concave in shape. 
   
   
       24 . A kit according to  claim 23 , wherein said cover piece is in the shape of a clam shell. 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . A kit according to  claim 22 , further comprising a platform for supporting a stack of lids in said tube. 
   
   
       27 . A kit according to  claim 26 , wherein said platform has a radius of curvature. 
   
   
       28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A method of dispensing lids one at a time comprising:
 providing a tube for holding a stack of lids;   providing a non-planar cover piece for maintaining a stack of lids in said tube;   filling said tube with a stack of lids;   securing said cover piece in place to maintain the stack of lids in said tube;   grasping the bottommost lid in the stack of lids maintained in said tube; and   pulling said bottommost lid out of the stack of lids through a dispensing area defined at least in part by said cover piece.   
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the step of orienting said dispensing area in a predetermined dispensing position. 
   
   
       33 . A lid dispensing system for dispensing the bottommost lid from a stack of lids comprising:
 a tube for holding a stack of lids;   a platform having a radius of curvature, wherein said platform supports a stack of lids in said tube; and   a cover piece interacting with the stack of lids to confine the stack of lids substantially in said tube.