A system for easily refilling cutlery dispensers and other devices includes a stack of identical cutlery items maintained by a retaining structure that can be removed either before, during, or after installation, depending on the dispenser configuration. In a first aspect, the cutlery handles are nested and the retaining structure includes a single adhesive strip applied to only one side of the stack. In a second aspect, the retaining structure includes separate adhesive strips applied to each side of the stack. In a third aspect, the retaining structure comprises a band extending around the stack, removal of the band from the stack being facilitated by breaking of a frangible section of the band. In all aspects a pull-tab or other graspable element can be provided to facilitate removal of the support structure. The stacked cutlery may also be loaded into a caddy or into a tray.

A sprung display case for dispensing products, particularly heavy products such as beverage multipacks. The case comprises a vertical chamber that is open at an upper end and is sized and shaped such that a plurality of the products can be vertically stacked within the chamber; a horizontal platform that is mounted to be vertically slidable within the chamber, the platform having at least one air hole formed therethrough; a single resiliently compressible member mounted in the chamber between a lower side of the platform and an upper side of a base of the chamber to bias the platform towards the upper end of the chamber; and a tether fixed at a first end to the platform and at a second end to the base of the chamber to prevent the platform moving out of the upper end of the chamber.

A system for easily refilling cutlery dispensers or other devices includes a stack of identical cutlery items maintained by a retaining structure that can be removable either before, during, or after installation, depending on the configuration of the dispenser. In a first aspect, the retaining structure includes nested cutlery handles and a single adhesive strip applied to one side of the stack. In a second aspect, the retaining structure includes separate adhesive strips applied to each side of the stack. In a third aspect, the retaining structure is a band extending entirely around the stack and equipped with a pull-tab for opening and removing the retaining structure. In all aspects a pull-tab or other graspable element can be provided to facilitate removal of the support structure. The stacked cutlery may also be loaded into a caddy or into a tray.

A system for easily refilling cutlery dispensers or other devices includes a stack of identical cutlery items maintained by a retaining structure that can be removable either before, during, or after installation, depending on the configuration of the dispenser. In a first aspect, the retaining structure includes nested cutlery handles and a single adhesive strip applied to one side of the stack. In a second aspect, the retaining structure includes separate adhesive strips applied to each side of the stack. In a third aspect, the retaining structure is a band extending entirely around the stack and equipped with a pull-tab for opening and removing the retaining structure. In all aspects a pull-tab or other graspable element can be provided to facilitate removal of the support structure. The stacked cutlery may also be loaded into a caddy or into a tray.

A storage and dispensing system for beverage accessories is provided. The storage and dispensing system for beverage accessories has a planar base, a single-serve beverage pod storage container, and a plurality of drinking accessory dispensing channels. The pod storage container includes at least one sidewall disposed orthogonally to a top surface of the planar base. The pod storage container also includes a channel that is sized to receive a single pod at a time. A gate is disposed on a terminal end of the channel which prevents pods from sliding out of the channel. Each of the plurality of accessory dispensing channels is sized to receive at least one drinking accessory such as a cup or lid.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for cooling of beverages containers, such as cans or bottles, quickly, or on demand. An apparatus may provide for quickly cooling a number of beverage containers when power is available and for storing them, once they have been cooled. The apparatus may include a thermoelectric cooler configured to rapidly cool a beverage container in a cooling cell. The methods may include detecting the presence of a beverage container in a cooling cell and cooling the beverage container to a selected temperature. The availability of external power may be detected and a rapid cooling of a beverage container may begin when power becomes available.

A product lid dispensing system includes a number of lid members. The number of lid members are all of the same size, shape and construction. Thus, the number of lid members are placeable into a stacked configuration. Each lid member includes a protrusion that extends upward relative to the base of the lid member. The protrusion may be grasped by a user. When the protrusion of a target lid member is grasped by the user, pressure is applied to the underlying protrusion to assist the user in removing the target lid member from the remaining lid members.

A cup stacking and holding assembly is disclosed with methods of application in standard use and with internal electronics for visual displays. The cup holder assembly may be manufactured in various configurations, all providing a cup rack for convenient and stable stacking of disposable cups. The cup rack may comprise a base providing a surface for abutting support for a cup retainer plate and a plurality of mounting cups; the cup retainer plate coupled to the base; the plurality of mounting cups integrally molded to the cup retainer plate; the cup retainer plate moveable from a first closed position parallel and proximal to the surface for abutting support to a second open position; a back panel extending from the base, the back panel substantially perpendicular relative to the surface for abutting support, and an electronic display installed in the back panel.

A sprung display case for dispensing products, particularly heavy products such as beverage multipacks. The case comprises a vertical chamber that is open at an upper end and is sized and shaped such that a plurality of the products can be vertically stacked within the chamber; a horizontal platform that is mounted to be vertically slidable within the chamber, the platform having at least one air hole formed therethrough; a single resiliently compressible member mounted in the chamber between a lower side of the platform and an upper side of a base of the chamber to bias the platform towards the upper end of the chamber; and a tether fixed at a first end to the platform and at a second end to the base of the chamber to prevent the platform moving out of the upper end of the chamber.

A cup stacking and holding assembly is disclosed with methods of application in standard use and with internal electronics for visual displays. The cup holder assembly may be manufactured in various configurations, all providing a cup rack for convenient and stable stacking of disposable cups. The cup rack may comprise: a base providing a surface for abutting support for a plurality of cups; a cup retainer plate coupled to the base; a plurality of cup retaining apertures formed within the cup retainer plate, each cup retaining aperture sized to receive a corresponding cup and having a diameter smaller than the largest exterior diameter of the corresponding cup; the cup retainer plate moveable from a first closed position parallel and proximal to the surface for abutting support to a second open position for insertion of cups within the cup retaining apertures.