Disposable cup dispenser

Abstract

A disposable cup dispenser includes a housing defining a cavity for receiving a plurality of associated disposable cups and a plurality of fingers extending from the housing into the cavity. The plurality of fingers includes a first finger and a second finger positioned above the first finger. The first finger is disposed closer to a closed end of the cavity as compared to an open end of the cavity.

1 . A disposable cup dispenser comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity for receiving a plurality of associated disposable cups; and   a plurality of flexible fingers extending from the housing into the cavity, the plurality of fingers including a first finger and a second finger, the first finger being disposed closer to a closed end of the cavity as compared to an open end of the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the second finger is positioned closer to the open end of the cavity as compared to the first finger. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fingers includes fingers interposed between the first finger and the second finger. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fingers are centered along a vertical line. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the second finger is longer than the first finger. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fingers each extend from a base, and the plurality of fingers and the base are an integrally formed cup gripping member. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the housing includes an inner housing and an outer housing, wherein the base is sandwiched between the inner housing and the outer housing and the inner housing includes an elongate opening through which at least one of a pedestal, which extends from the base, and the plurality of fingers extend. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the cup gripping member is formed from silicone. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fingers includes a first plurality of fingers and a second plurality of fingers circumferentially spaced from the first plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the first plurality of fingers are circumferentially spaced about 180 degrees from the second plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a first slot and a second slot each extending from an open end edge of the housing, wherein the first slot is circumferentially spaced about 180 degrees from the second slot. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a slot extending down from an open end edge of the housing, wherein the slot is circumferentially disposed between the first plurality of fingers and the second plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers are generally rectangular in plan view. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the housing defines a central axis and a distal end of each finger is spaced from the central axis a horizontal distance, which is less than a radius of a conventional 3 ounce bath cup measured at an upper lip of the conventional 3 ounce bath cup. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a cup support positioned in the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the cup support is an upside down cup-shaped support. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the upside down cup-shaped support includes a cylindrical wall section and a conical wall section. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the conical upper wall section conforms substantially to a side wall of a conventional 3 ounce bath cup. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a slot extending from an open end edge of the housing, wherein a platform of the cup support is positioned closer to the open end edge of the housing as compared to a curved closed end of the slot. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising a weight connected with the housing, the weight weighing more than a force required to pull a conventional paper or plastic 3 ounce bath cup past each of the fingers of the plurality of fingers.