U.S. patent application number 13/135954 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-24 for food dispensers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steven Ang, Lee Thomas Luft. Invention is credited to Steven Ang, Lee Thomas Luft.
Application Number | 20130019631 13/135954 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47554793 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130019631 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luft; Lee Thomas ; et
al. |
January 24, 2013 |
Food dispensers
Abstract
A food product dispenser has removably-mounted self-aligning and
self-orienting e.g. trapezoidal or triangular legs which, when
mounted to the dispenser, tilt the top frontwardly, and/or a lid,
hinged at the rear of the receptacle, which can be converted
between a self-closing lid and a lid which is not self-closing and
which can be retained open by gravity, including while the
dispenser is in the frontwardly-tilted orientation. The dispenser
tilting frontward such that a first imaginary plane extending
across the receptacle, rear to front, at the top of the receptacle,
intersects a second imaginary plane extending through the bottoms
of the legs, in front of the receptacle, the hinge structure, the
lid, and the receptacle as a whole, including the legs, cooperate
to enable the lid to be opened at a sufficiently great angle
relative to the tilted top of the receptacle, that the lid can be
held open by gravity.
Inventors: |
Luft; Lee Thomas; (Kewaunee,
WI) ; Ang; Steven; (Seattle, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Luft; Lee Thomas
Ang; Steven |
Kewaunee
Seattle |
WI
WA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47554793 |
Appl. No.: |
13/135954 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/440 ;
220/810 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 47/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/440 ;
220/810 |
International
Class: |
A47B 57/00 20060101
A47B057/00; B65D 51/04 20060101 B65D051/04 |
Claims
1. A condiment container, comprising: (a) a receptacle, said
receptacle having a front and a rear, and opposing sides, and
comprising (i) a bottom wall, (ii) one or more upstanding walls
extending upwardly from said bottom wall, to tops of the respective
said one or more upstanding walls, and (iii) a top opening defined
inwardly of the tops of respective ones of said upstanding walls,
said bottom wall and said upstanding walls collectively defining a
cavity inside said receptacle and accessible through the top
opening, said bottom wall having an inner surface facing toward the
cavity and an outer surface facing away from the cavity; (b) a lid
overlying at least a portion of the cavity; and (c) at least one
leg removably mounted to the outer surface of said bottom wall,
said at least one leg comprising a leg top and a leg bottom, the
combination of the top of said at least one leg and the outer
surface of said receptacle comprising one or more cooperating sets
of recesses and projections, and wherein such sets of cooperating
recesses and projections define self-aligning and self-orienting
structure which selectively fits together the respective
projections in the respective recesses only when the fronts of the
at least one legs are aligned with the front of said
receptacle.
2. A condiment container as in claim 1, said at least one leg
having a leg front corresponding to the front of said receptacle
and a leg rear corresponding to the rear of said receptacle, a
first height of said at least one leg at the front of said leg
being less than a second height of said at least one leg at the
rear of said leg, such that said leg presents a trapezoidal support
configuration to the bottom of said receptacle.
3. A condiment container as in claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of trays in the cavity, and wherein said lid self-closes
over said trays.
4. A condiment container as in claim 1, further comprising one or
more trays suspended from said receptacle flanges and extending
into the cavity, the cavity having sufficient depth below said one
or more trays to accommodate use of frozen chill product beneath
the one or more trays without physical interference with placement
of said one or more trays into the cavity.
5. A hinged-lid condiment container, comprising: (a) a receptacle,
said receptacle having a front and a rear, a top and a bottom, and
opposing sides, and comprising (i) a bottom wall, (ii) one or more
upstanding walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, to tops
of the respective said one or more upstanding walls, and (iii) a
top opening defined inwardly of the tops of respective ones of said
upstanding walls, said bottom wall and said upstanding walls
collectively defining a cavity inside said receptacle and
accessible through the top opening, said bottom wall having an
inner surface facing toward the cavity and an outer surface facing
away from the cavity; (b) a lid, having a front and a rear, said
lid and said receptacle collectively comprising hinge structure,
which engages said lid and said receptacle with each other, whereby
said lid can be opened and closed relative to said receptacle about
a generally rear-mounted hinge structure, said lid overlying the
cavity and, when closed, covering both the front and the rear of
the cavity; (c) at least one leg mounted to the outer surface of
said bottom wall, said at least one leg having a top and a bottom,
a leg front corresponding to the front of said receptacle and a leg
rear corresponding to the rear of said receptacle, a first height
of said at least one leg at the front of said leg being less than a
second height of said at least one leg at the rear of said leg,
such that said leg presents a trapezoidal or triangular support
configuration to the bottom of said receptacle, said condiment
dispenser, when supported by said one or more legs from a
horizontal surface, tilting frontward such that a first imaginary
plane extending across said receptacle, from the rear of said
receptacle at the top of said receptacle, to the front of said
receptacle at the top of said receptacle, intersects a second
imaginary plane extending through the bottoms of said at least one
leg, in front of said receptacle, and wherein said hinge structure,
said lid, and said receptacle, including said legs, cooperate to
enable said lid to be opened at a sufficiently great angle relative
to the tilted top of said receptacle, that said lid can be held
open by gravity.
6. A hinged-lid condiment container as in claim 5, further
comprising a hinge stop engaging the combination of said lid and
said receptacle as said lid is opened, and thereby providing a
self-closing feature to said lid.
7. A hinged-lid condiment container as in claim 5, said one or more
upstanding walls comprising opposing side walls, receptacle flanges
extending outwardly and downwardly from said opposing side walls,
each said receptacle flange defining an outwardly-extending portion
and a downwardly-extending portion, further comprising a hinge
access opening in said downwardly-extending portion of a given said
receptacle flange.
8. A hinged-lid condiment container as in claim 6, said one or more
upstanding walls comprising opposing side walls, receptacle flanges
extending outwardly and downwardly from said opposing side walls,
and wherein said hinge stop comprises removable structure which
moves with said hinge leaf and thereby engages said
outwardly-extending portion of at least one of said receptacle
flanges.
9. A hinged-lid condiment container as in claim 5, said one or more
upstanding walls comprising opposing side walls, receptacle flanges
extending from said side walls, each said receptacle flange
comprising an outwardly-extending portion and a
downwardly-extending portion, said hinge structure comprising a
hinge, including a hinge leaf, extending downwardly from said lid,
further comprising an aperture in said hinge leaf, which aperture
is below the respective said outwardly-extending portion of a
respective one of said receptacle flanges when said lid is closed
over the respective portion of the opening, and an insert extending
from such aperture and operative to abut said outwardly-extending
portion of the respective said receptacle flange when said lid is
closed.
10. A hinged-lid condiment container as in claim 9 wherein said
insert comprises a rubber-like material on an engagement surface
which abuts said outwardly-extending portion of the respective said
receptacle flange when said lid is closed.
11. A hinged-lid condiment container as in claim 5 wherein said
hinge structure comprises a hinge, including a hinge leaf, and
wherein a hinge stop is mounted on said hinge leaf.
12. A hinged lid container as in claim 5, further comprising one or
more trays suspended from said receptacle flanges and extending
into the cavity, the cavity having sufficient depth below said one
or more trays to accommodate use of frozen chill product beneath
the trays without physical interference with placement of said one
or more trays into the cavity.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to containers/receptacles which are
used in food service operations to dispense condiments. A typical
use is in a bar or tavern setting where condiments are added to
mixed drinks, or in buffet/self-serve style settings where the
customer serves himself/herself from an array of food choices,
including condiments, displayed at a serving table. Another typical
use is at the condiment table in a fast-food restaurant. Still
another typical use is in a sandwich restaurant where workers
select product, including condiments, from among a variety of
choices displayed in a matrix of such products, while building a
sandwich for a customer.
[0002] In such environment, where the product is being transferred
from a tray/container, a certain amount of spillage of the product
occurs during the transfer of the product from the container to the
customer's plate or tray, or to a sandwich.
[0003] Thus, it would be desirable to provide a food dispenser
wherein spillage is typically reduced according to the design of
the dispenser.
[0004] Further, it would be desirable to provide a food dispenser
wherein the food service operator has the option of adding or
removing legs on the bottom of the dispenser whereby the dispenser
may be caused to automatically tilt frontward when seated on a
horizontal surface.
[0005] In addition, certain food products are susceptible to drying
out when left exposed to ambient atmosphere for an extended period
of time such as during a typical day of food service operations.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide automatic coverage of the
food container when food is not being dispensed.
[0006] Further, it would be desirable to provide a food
dispenser/container which can be tilted frontward by use of
trapezoidal legs while still providing for automatic closure of a
lid over the food product contents when the food product is not
being dispensed.
[0007] Yet further, it would be desirable to provide such food
dispenser/container which can be readily converted by the food
service operator, from a configuration which automatically tilts
the top of the dispenser/container frontward when placed on a
horizontal surface, to a configuration which maintains the top of
the dispenser/container horizontal when the dispenser/container is
placed on a horizontal surface.
[0008] Still further, it would be desirable to provide such
conversion in the form of one or more trapezoidal legs which can be
readily mounted to, or de-mounted from, the bottom wall of the
receptacle.
[0009] These and other needs are alleviated, or at least
attenuated, or partially or completely satisfied, by the novel
articles and methods of the invention. In the invention, the
condiments may be kept cool and fresh by the addition of ice or ice
packs which can be placed in the bottom of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] This invention provides removably-mounted legs at the bottom
of a food product dispenser, such as a condiment dispenser, where
the legs are readily oriented and mounted to the receptacle, and
cause the top of the dispenser receptacle to tilt toward the front
of the dispenser, while providing a hinged lid. Optionally, the lid
and receptacle collectively comprise hinge structure, which engages
the lid and the receptacle with each other. The lid can be opened
and closed relative to the receptacle about a generally
rear-mounted hinge structure, the lid overlying the cavity and,
when closed, covering both the front and the rear of the
cavity.
[0011] The lid overlies the dispenser, and can optionally be
maintained by gravity in an open configuration while the dispenser
is so tilted.
[0012] In a first family of embodiments, the invention comprehends
a condiment container, comprising a receptacle, the receptacle
having a front and a rear, and opposing sides, and comprising a
bottom wall, one or more upstanding walls extending upwardly from
the bottom wall, to tops of the respective one or more upstanding
walls, and a top opening defined inwardly of the tops of respective
ones of the upstanding walls, the bottom wall and the upstanding
walls collectively defining a cavity inside the receptacle and
accessible through the top opening, the bottom wall having an inner
surface facing toward the cavity and an outer surface facing away
from the cavity; a lid overlying at least a portion of the cavity;
and at least one leg removably mounted to the outer surface of the
bottom wall, the at least one leg comprising a leg top and a leg
bottom, the combination of the top of the at least one leg and the
outer surface of the receptacle comprising one or more sets of
cooperating recesses and projections, and wherein such sets of
cooperating recesses and projections define self-aligning and
self-orienting structure which selectively fits together the
respective projections in the respective recesses only when the
fronts of the at least one legs are aligned with the front of the
receptacle.
[0013] In some embodiments, the at least one leg has a leg front
corresponding to the front of the receptacle and a leg rear
corresponding to the rear of the receptacle, a first height of the
at least one leg at the front of the leg being less than a second
height of the at least one leg at the rear of the leg, such that
the leg presents a generally trapezoidal or triangular support
configuration to the bottom of the receptacle.
[0014] In some embodiments, the container further comprises a
plurality of trays in the cavity, and the lid self-closes over the
trays.
[0015] In a second family of embodiments, the invention comprehends
a hinged-lid condiment container, comprising a receptacle, the
receptacle having a front and a rear, a top and a bottom, and
opposing sides, and comprising a bottom wall, one or more
upstanding walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, to tops
of the respective one or more upstanding walls, and a top opening
defined inwardly of the tops of respective ones of the upstanding
walls, the bottom wall and the upstanding walls collectively
defining a cavity inside the receptacle and accessible through the
top opening, the bottom wall having an inner surface facing toward
the cavity and an outer surface facing away from the cavity; a lid
overlying at least a portion of the cavity, the lid and the
receptacle collectively comprising hinge structure, which engages
the lid and the receptacle with each other, whereby the lid can be
opened and closed relative to the receptacle about a generally
rear-mounted hinge structure, the lid overlying the cavity and,
when closed, covering both the front and the rear of the cavity, at
least one leg mounted to the outer surface of the bottom wall, the
at least one leg having a top and a bottom, a leg front
corresponding to the front of the receptacle and a leg rear
corresponding to the rear of the receptacle, a first height of the
at least one leg at the front of the leg being less than a second
height of the at least one leg at the rear of the leg, such that
the leg presents a generally trapezoidal or triangular support
configuration to the bottom of the receptacle, the condiment
dispenser, when supported by the one or more legs from a horizontal
surface, tilting frontward such that a first imaginary plane
extending across the receptacle, from the rear of the receptacle at
the top of the receptacle, to the front of the receptacle at the
top of the receptacle, intersects a second imaginary plane
extending through the bottoms of the at least one leg, in front of
the receptacle, and wherein the hinge structure, the lid, and the
receptacle, including the legs, cooperate to enable the lid to be
opened at a sufficiently great angle relative to the tilted top of
the receptacle, that the lid can be held open by gravity.
[0016] In some embodiments, the container further comprises a hinge
stop engaging the combination of the lid and the receptacle as the
lid is opened, and thereby providing a self-closing feature to the
lid.
[0017] In some embodiments, the one or more upstanding walls
comprise opposing side walls, receptacle flanges extending
outwardly and downwardly from the opposing side walls, each
receptacle flange defining an outwardly-extending portion and a
downwardly-extending portion, further comprising a hinge access
opening in the downwardly-extending portion of a given receptacle
flange.
[0018] In some embodiments, the one or more upstanding walls
comprise opposing side walls, receptacle flanges extend outwardly
and downwardly from the opposing side walls, and wherein the hinge
stop comprises removable structure which moves with the hinge leaf
and thereby engages the outwardly-extending portion of at least one
of the receptacle flanges.
[0019] In some embodiments, the one or more upstanding walls
comprise opposing side walls, and receptacle flanges extend from
the side walls, each receptacle flange comprising an
outwardly-extending portion, the hinge structure comprising a
hinge, including a hinge leaf, extending downwardly from the lid,
further comprising an aperture in the hinge leaf, which aperture is
below the respective outwardly-extending portion of a respective
one of the receptacle flanges when the lid is closed over the
respective portion of the opening, and an insert extending from
such aperture and operative to abut the outwardly-extending portion
of the respective receptacle flange when the lid is closed.
[0020] In some embodiments, the insert comprises a rubber-like
material on an engagement surface which abuts the
outwardly-extending portion of the respective receptacle flange
when the lid is closed.
[0021] In some embodiments, the hinge structure comprises a hinge,
including a hinge leaf, and wherein a hinge stop is mounted on the
hinge leaf.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view, partially cut away, of a
first embodiment of a condiment dispenser of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view, partially cut away, of
the condiment dispenser of FIG. 1, showing a trapezoidally-shaped
leg.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the condiment dispenser of FIG.
1, illustrating the location and mounting of the legs to the bottom
of the receptacle.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a pictorial view of the top of one of the legs,
illustrating the orientation and alignment structure on the leg
which interacts with cooperating orienting and alignment structure
on the bottom of the receptacle.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a pictorial view of the bottom of the
receptacle, including the orientation and alignment structure at
the bottom of the receptacle, with a leg spaced from the bottom
wall and the orientation and alignment structure on one of the legs
aligned with the orientation and alignment structure of the bottom
of the receptacle.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view as in FIG. 2, with parts cut
away, showing a hinge adaptation which makes the lid
self-closing.
[0028] The invention is not limited in its application to the
details of construction, or to the arrangement of the components
set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being
practiced or carried out in various other ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the terminology and phraseology employed herein is
for purpose of description and illustration and should not be
regarded as limiting. Like reference numerals are used to indicate
like components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to the FIGURES, a food product dispenser 10
includes a rectangularly-shaped receptacle 12 which, except for its
top, is fully enclosed by a bottom wall 14, a front wall 16A, a
back wall 16B, and opposing side walls 16C and 16D. Receptacle 12
has a receptacle opening 18 at the top of the receptacle, which
spans the length and width of the receptacle and leads into an
internal cavity 20. Receptacle flanges 22 extend outwardly from the
receptacle walls 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D at the top of the receptacle
opening. Each flange 22 which extends from a side wall 16C or 16D
defines an outwardly-extending portion 22A and a
downwardly-extending portion 22B which is spaced from the
respective side wall 16C or 16D. The outwardly-extending portion
and downwardly-extending portion of the respective receptacle
flange collectively defines a handle wall.
[0030] A plurality (six are shown) of trays 24, which hold food
product in food dispenser 10 are received side-by-side in the
receptacle opening, thus filling receptacle opening 18. Each tray
24 includes a plurality of tray side walls 26 which extend from a
bottom wall 28 upwardly to a tray opening 30 at the top of the
respective tray. Tray flanges 32 extend outwardly from the tray
side walls about the tray opening 30. Trays 24 extend downwardly
from the top of the receptacle into cavity 20 and occupy a
substantial portion of the space defined by cavity 20.
[0031] First and second legs 34 are removably mounted to the bottom
of the receptacle. A lid 36 is hingedly mounted to the receptacle
at the receptacle top so as to close over the top of the
receptacle, over receptacle opening 18, and including over trays
24.
[0032] Tray flanges 32 interact with front wall 16A and back wall
16B of the receptacle, such that the receptacle supports the trays
off the closed bottom of the receptacle. The end ones of the trays
on the opposing left and right ends of the receptacle opening are
also respectively supported by interactions between the respective
left and right tray flanges with the side flanges 22 of the
receptacle. The interaction of tray flanges 32 with receptacle
flanges 22 thus supports the trays above bottom wall 14 of the
receptacle, leaving a space 38, as part of cavity 20, between the
bottom walls 28 of the trays and the bottom wall 14 of the
receptacle as illustrated by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 6. Space
38 can be used to hold ice (not shown) for maintaining a desirably
cold temperature in the food product contained in trays 24, thus to
extend the shelf life/use life in the respective food products.
[0033] Returning to the legs, legs 34 are trapezoidal in
cross-section/side view as illustrated in e.g. FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and
6, such that the dispenser, when placed on a horizontal surface,
such as on the top surface 39 of a table, tilts frontward at an
angle of about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees, e.g. about 20
degrees, such that an imaginary plane 40 extending from the rear of
the receptacle at the top of the receptacle, to the front of the
receptacle at the top of the receptacle, converges with the
extended plane of the top surface of the table on which the
dispenser is supported, and converges with the extended table top
plane in front of the dispenser. Such tilting of the dispenser
presents the fronts of the trays, at the top of the dispenser,
frontward of the front of the receptacle and frontward of the
fronts of the legs at the bottom of the dispenser. In addition, the
legs are recessed from the front of the receptacle. Since the front
of the receptacle at the top of the dispenser is forward of the
front of the receptacle at the bottom wall and frontward of the
fronts of the legs, a user can position the edge of his/her plate
under the front wall 16A of the receptacle, optionally in the space
42 under the bottom wall of the receptacle and in front of a
respective leg 34, such that drips of product as the product is
being taken from the trays, can fall on the underlying edge of the
user's plate, rather than on the underlying table, resulting in
fewer spills onto the underlying table, less waste of product, and
less frequent need for cleaning the table. So, among the overall
benefits of dispensers of the invention is (i) a reduction in the
needed frequency/number of cleaning up spills, as well as (ii) less
waste of food product.
[0034] Thus, the use of trapezoidal feet provides for tilting of
the dispenser toward a user by about 10 degrees to about 30
degrees, optionally about 20 degrees, when the dispenser is placed
on a horizontal surface, e.g. for use in dispensing condiments.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiments, the receptacle and legs are
cooperatively configured such that the legs are self-locating when
placed on the receptacle. Namely, bottom wall 14 of the receptacle
and tops 44 of the legs have cooperating recesses and projections
which automatically locate the legs in their designed positions,
including orienting the legs so the dispenser tilts frontward, not
backward, when the legs and receptacle are brought into proximity
with each other, with the legs in the vicinity of their designed
locations. Namely, the self-location feature functions to reject an
orientation which would position the legs to tilt the top of the
dispenser toward the back of the dispenser such that imaginary
plane 40 would intersect the plane of the top surface 39 of the
table behind the dispenser.
[0036] For example, FIG. 5 shows the bottom surface of bottom wall
14 of the receptacle having recesses 46 shaped in a configuration
resembling the letter "U", with no crossing recess across the
opening in the "U" at the front of the receptacle. A recess 48,
having a screw-receptive aperture 50 is modestly offset in the "U"
toward the back of the "U" for receiving a mounting screw 52 (FIG.
3).
[0037] Top surfaces 44 of legs 34 have cooperating "U"-shaped
configurations which copy, as projections, the configurations of
"U"-shaped recesses 46 in bottom wall 14. A leg 34 includes a
cross-panel 54 which extends across the width "W" of the leg.
Cross-panel 54 has a projection 56 extending toward bottom wall 14
of the receptacle, and bearing a second screw aperture 58. The
height of projection 56 corresponds generally with the depth of
recess 48 in the receptacle bottom wall, and is typically at the
same general elevation as the tops 44 of the legs.
[0038] Thus, referring to FIG. 5, as the leg is moved toward the
bottom of the receptacle, the projecting "U" configuration on the
top of the leg is aligned with the recessed "U" configuration on
bottom wall 14 of the receptacle. Similarly, when the top of the
leg and the "U"-shaped recess on bottom wall 14 are properly
aligned, screw projection 56 is aligned with screw recess 48. If
the leg is modestly misaligned, rounded sides on the projecting leg
top and the recesses 46 urge the projecting end of the leg, between
front and rear and/or side-to-side, into its designed location
where the leg projection, namely the top of the leg, fully seats in
recess 46, and projection 56 fully seats in recess 48. If the leg
is grossly misaligned by other than 180 degrees, the projecting top
of the leg does not seat in recesses 30. If the leg is misaligned
by other than about 180 degrees, and is otherwise lined up, the
tops of the leg do not seat in recesses 30. If the leg is
misaligned about 180 degrees, the sides of the leg will try to seat
in recesses 30 but the bight of the "U" will not seat; neither will
the screw projection on cross panel 54 of the leg seat in recess 48
on bottom wall 14, both because of the misalignment.
[0039] Thus, the leg is self-orienting in that the leg will not
seat if improperly oriented. The leg is self-aligning in that the
rounded top and rounded sides of the recesses correct a modest
mis-alignment of the leg top.
[0040] Once the top of the leg is fully seated in the "U"-shaped
recess, with the screw projection in the screw recess, screw 52 is
driven through apertures 50 and 58, drawing the leg into a secure
mounting to receptacle 12. Once both legs are so mounted, the
receptacle exhibits the above-described frontward tilt as
illustrated in FIG. 2. The legs may be readily removed, to achieve
a horizontal orientation of the top of the receptacle, by removing
the two screws 52, and thus removing legs 34.
[0041] In the alternative, the bottom of the housing can have
projections, rather than recesses, which line up, match up, with
cooperating recesses, rather than projections, in the tops of the
legs.
[0042] While recesses 30 and the leg projections have been shown as
continuous elements along the full length of the U-shaped
configuration, the projections can be intermittent/discontinuous in
combination with recesses 30 which are either continuous or
intermittent. Where the recesses are intermittent, the projections
are correspondingly intermittent and registered in the
recesses.
[0043] While the illustration has shown only projections on one of
the legs and the receptacle, and only recesses on the other of the
legs and the receptacle, either or both of the legs or receptacle
can have both projections and recesses.
[0044] While a U-shaped configuration has been illustrated for
recesses 30 and the projections on legs 34, a wide variety of
configurations are contemplated, both continuous as show, and
discontinuous, conditioned in that such configuration should have
sufficient asymmetry to defeat a mis-orientation of the leg,
relative to the dispenser receptacle, so great that the
mis-orientation is not corrected by the self-alignment feature.
[0045] Whatever the cooperating structure of the receptacle and
legs, once the legs are self-aligned in their designed locations,
each leg is attached to the receptacle by a single screw 52. If
desired, the legs are readily detached from the receptacle, by
removing screws 52, if the user prefers that the top of the
dispenser be horizontal when the dispenser is placed on a
horizontal surface.
[0046] While two legs are illustrated, any desired number of legs
can be used, and width "W" can be adjusted accordingly.
[0047] Space 42 provides an overlap dimension where the front of
the dispenser can overlap a user's tray/plate for capturing drips
as the product is moved from a dispenser tray 24. The tilt provided
by legs 34 enhances the dimension of that overlap while making the
food product more accessible to the user.
[0048] Thus, one of the salient features of food product dispensers
of the invention is the provision of easily-removable, easily
attachable, support legs 34 which, when attached, cause the
receptacle/dispenser to tilt the top of the receptacle in a
frontward direction relative to a horizontal surface. A second
feature, associated with the legs, is space 42 under receptacle 12
and between the fronts of the legs and the front of the
receptacle.
[0049] First and second elongate hinge apertures 62 extend through
the outwardly-extending portions 22A of receptacle flange 22 at the
top of the receptacle, on opposing sides of opening 18.
[0050] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, lid 36
comprises a primary overlying cover panel 64A, and front 64B, back
64C, left 64D, and right 64E down panels extending downwardly at
about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees outside angles from the
primary closure panel. The lower edges of the down panels interface
with the upper surface of receptacle 12 whereby the primary closure
panel 64A is spaced above the upper surface of the receptacle by
the height difference between the upper edges and the lower edges
of the down panels. The back down panel 64C, left down panel 64D,
and right down panel 64E can have any desired configuration, such
as planar, curved, convex, concave, with only limited affect on the
functional qualifications of those particular down panels.
[0051] In some embodiments, front down panel 64B is specified
separately from the specifications for the other down panels. In
such embodiments, the front down panel is of a planar, e.g. flat
configuration, at angle within the stated range. The specified
angle on down panel 64B, with or without use of legs 34 to provide
an overall tilt to the receptacle, presents the front down panel at
an angle which approaches a perpendicular to the direction of
viewing by a user of the contents of the dispenser. Thus a user,
approaching the receptacle when the lid is closed, most
specifically views the front down panel, providing an opportunity
for placement of advertising information on the front down panel.
Such placement of advertising is most economically provided by
printing on the outer surface of down panel 64B. Accordingly, for
ease, and cost-effectiveness of printing on panel 64B, panel 64B is
specified as presenting a planar, flat surface so as to accommodate
a range of printing processes whereby a high-quality printed image
may be placed on the front down panel.
[0052] While the front down panel is specified as being planar, the
remaining down panels can be specified to have any desired
configuration, including but not necessarily, planar. Similarly,
primary cover panel 64A can have any desired configuration,
including planar as shown, convex, concave, and can have any
combination of curved and non-curved elements, including the
merging of the outline of the primary cover panel into one or more
of the down panels, whereby the primary panel and the down panels
can be merged into a single surface/panel if and as desired.
[0053] Further, the front down panel can be designed as separate
but merged elements having a variety of flat and curved elements so
long as the front panel has a planar surface or surface element, to
receive the desired printed graphics and/or text message, and
wherein such printed message can be sufficiently large for
effective presentation of the printed message to a consumer of the
contents of such dispenser.
[0054] First and second hinge leaves 66 extending downwardly from
the lid, through hinge apertures 62. A respective hinge leaf
includes a primary leg 68 extending down from primary cover panel
64A and back down panel 64C to a hinge leaf bottom 70, a secondary
leg 72 extending upwardly from the hinge leaf bottom, and a
"U"-shaped bight 74 between the primary leg and the secondary
leg.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 2, an upper portion 76 of the primary leg
progressively decreases in width from top to bottom; and a lower
portion 78 of the primary leg progressively increases in width from
top to bottom. While the lid is generally removable, the dimension
features of hinge leaves 66 and hinge apertures 62 prevent
inadvertent lid removal.
[0056] Specifically, the overall width "W2" of the hinge leaf is
greater than the length of a respective hinge aperture 62 in
receptacle flange 22 such that the lid cannot be simply "lifted
off" the receptacle from a normal lid-closed position. Likewise,
the distance between the top of the secondary leg and the bottom of
the lid is less than the distance between the rear of flange 22 and
the rear of apertures 62 such that the lid cannot be simply "lifted
off" the receptacle from a normal lid-open position.
[0057] Rather, the distance between the top 80 of secondary leg 72
and the bottom frontward edge 82 of primary leg 68 allows the leaf
to be removed from aperture 62 at a narrowly-defined angle of
opening of the lid, relative to the top of the receptacle, as the
lid is being opened, as soon as bottom frontward edge 82 is moved
above aperture 62. In the illustrated embodiments, the angle of
opening, measured as the angle of rotation from the closed
position, when the lid can be removed from the receptacle, is about
45 degrees to about 55 degrees.
[0058] A downwardly-sloped groove 84 extends from the top of
receptacle flange 22 at the rear of each hinge aperture 62 to the
rear of the receptacle flange. The width of groove 84 is configured
to receive an edge of the primary leg of the respective hinge leaf
66 when the lid is in, or is approaching, its fully open position.
In that fully open position, a lower edge of the primary leg abuts
the bottom of the groove and an upper edge of the secondary leg
abuts the bottom of receptacle flange 22. As illustrated in FIG. 1,
in that fully open position, lid 36, e.g. lid panel 64, defines a
sufficiently great, and obtuse angle, with the top of the
receptacle, that the lid is held open by gravity.
[0059] In another embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lid
can be made such that the lid can be configured to be self-closing,
and can be re-configured to remove the self-closing feature whereby
the lid can remain open as shown in FIG. 1.
[0060] Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the self-closing feature
is illustrated as follows. A stop aperture 86 extends through lower
portion 78 of primary leg 68 of the hinge leaf 66 generally at the
elevation of the top of bight 74. Referring now to FIG. 6, a rubber
grommet 88 extends through stop aperture 86 and extends away from
aperture 86 far enough to function as a stop, stopping further
opening of the lid as the stop abuts the bottom surface of
receptacle flange 22 when the lid is raised to a limiting angle
whereupon such abutment occurs. In the embodiments illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 6, the limiting angle of the lid relative to the top of
the receptacle when such abutment occurs is about 70 degrees. The
lid can be configured so that the limiting angle is different from
the mentioned 70 degrees by positioning aperture 86 at a different
location or by positioning the abutment surface of flange 22 at a
lower, or higher, elevation relative to the hinge leaf with the lid
closed. In any event, the self-closing feature requires that the
stop abut the receptacle flange, and thus stop further opening of
the lid, at such location that the position of the lid still
activates re-closing of the lid by gravity when the lifting force
on the lid is released.
[0061] By so stopping the opening of the lid while the lid can
still be closed by gravity, the value of the lid, in retaining
desirable freshness and moisture in the contained food products, is
enhanced while allowing customers, or food service workers, to
access the food products in the trays. In addition, keeping the lid
closed except when someone is accessing the trays provides a
barrier to air-borne particles and/or pathogens which can otherwise
contaminate the food product in trays 24.
[0062] While the self-closing feature has a number of advantages,
there are times when it may be desirable to separate the lid from
the receptacle and/or to simply set up the dispenser as in FIG. 1
such that the lid stays open for prolonged periods of time,
including when no one is accessing any of the trays. Thus, the lid
can be made either self-closing as in FIG. 6, or non-self-closing
as in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 represents a lid which is not
self-closing and cannot be made self-closing because leaves 66 have
no apertures 86. FIG. 2 represents a lid which is not self-closing
but can be made self-closing by inserting a grommet in aperture 86.
FIG. 6 represents a lid which includes grommet 88 and is thereby
self-closing, but which can be made non-self-closing, and thus
removable from the receptacle, by removing the grommet.
[0063] For the purpose of accessing aperture 86 and/or grommet 88,
a hinge access opening 90 is provided in the downwardly-extending
portion 22B of each receptacle flange which otherwise covers a
respective hinge leaf 66. Such hinge access opening 90 is
illustrated in FIG. 6 as a generally half-circle opening in the
downwardly-extending portion 22B of the receptacle flange. Opening
90 is sufficiently aligned with stop aperture 86 to enable
manipulating a grommet or other stop structure for the purpose of
installing or removing the stop.
[0064] Managing a supply of such food product dispensers in e.g. a
food service operation includes first selecting a dispenser to be
used for a particular task. The task, and thus the dispenser, is
identified with a particular condiment or other food product to be
next placed in the selected dispenser. The user then inspects the
hinge leaves of the dispenser to determine whether a hinge stop is
present and effective to provide a stopping action for the lid.
Upon completion of the inspection, the user then makes a hinge-stop
decision, and acts on that decision.
[0065] In the situation where a self-closing lid is desired but no
stop is in place, the hinge-stop decision is a decision to add a
stop e.g. through access opening 90 and stop aperture 86. In the
situation where a stay-open lid is desired but a stop is in place
in one or both of the leaves, the hinge-stop decision is a decision
to remove the stop or stops. In the situation where the existing
hinge stop configuration (stop present or not) is consistent with
the desired operation of lid 36, the hinge-stop decision is that no
action is taken relative to installing or removing any stop.
[0066] While the stop structure has been illustrated as a rubber
grommet, the stop structure can be any structure which can be
removably attached or mounted to the hinge leaf and which
effectively abuts flange 22 while the lid is being opened such as
for accessing the trays. Similarly, the stop structure need not be
mounted in aperture 62. For example, a stop could well be mounted
to a hinge leaf such as by a spring-loaded clip, a clasping
bracket, or the like. However, in any event, such stop structure
extends from a surface of the hinge leaf so as to abut the
receptacle flange as the front of the lid is raised.
[0067] Lid 36 is illustrated as extending over the entirety of
opening 18. In some embodiments, lid 36 extends over less than all
of the entirety of opening 18. In some embodiments, cavity 20 is
replaced by a plurality of cavities, each having its own opening 18
at the top of the receptacle. In such embodiments, the openings 18
can be all overlaid by a single lid, or each cavity can be overlaid
by its own separate lid.
[0068] Although the invention has been described with respect to
various embodiments, it should be realized this invention is also
capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments within
the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0069] Those skilled in the art will now see that certain
modifications can be made to the apparatus and methods herein
disclosed with respect to the illustrated embodiments, without
departing from the spirit of the instant invention. And while the
invention has been described above with respect to the preferred
embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is adapted to
numerous rearrangements, modifications, and alterations, and all
such arrangements, modifications, and alterations are intended to
be within the scope of the appended claims.
[0070] To the extent the following claims use means plus function
language, it is not meant to include there, or in the instant
specification, anything not structurally equivalent to what is
shown in the embodiments disclosed in the specification.
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