Disclosed herein is a sprung dispensing tower that includes a vertical housing having an open top and an interior dimensioned to receive products in a vertical stacked relationship. The sprung dispensing tower includes a platform within the interior of the vertical housing, the platform having a horizontal component and platform sidewalls depending from the horizontal component in parallel with respective interior sidewalls of the vertical housing, the platform being vertically slideable within the interior of the vertical housing between an uppermost position and a lowermost position. The sprung dispensing tower includes a compressible spring associated with an underside of the platform and biasing the platform towards the uppermost position. The sprung dispensing tower includes a resiliently compressible slide guide affixed to at least a portion of the platform sidewalls and extending laterally towards the interior sidewalls of the vertical housing. The sprung dispensing tower includes at least one air passage below the lowermost position and extending through the vertical housing from the interior to an exterior of the vertical housing.

Disclosed herein is a sprung dispensing tower that includes a vertical housing having an open top and an interior dimensioned to receive products in a vertical stacked relationship. The sprung dispensing tower includes a platform within the interior of the vertical housing, the platform having a horizontal component and platform sidewalls depending from the horizontal component in parallel with respective interior sidewalls of the vertical housing, the platform being vertically slideable within the interior of the vertical housing between an uppermost position and a lowermost position. The sprung dispensing tower includes a compressible spring associated with an underside of the platform and biasing the platform towards the uppermost position. The sprung dispensing tower includes a resiliently compressible slide guide affixed to at least a portion of the platform sidewalls and extending laterally towards the interior sidewalls of the vertical housing. The sprung dispensing tower includes at least one air passage below the lowermost position and extending through the vertical housing from the interior to an exterior of the vertical housing.

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.

An automatic lifting display rack includes a display rack body, an elastic device, and a lifting platform. The display rack body has an accommodation space therein. The elastic device is disposed in the accommodation space. The lifting platform is above the elastic device. Corners of the lifting platform are integrally connected with a plurality of first upright posts that are parallel to side walls of the accommodation space. At least one first roller is mounted to each of the first upright posts. The first roller is configured to roll on a corresponding one of the side walls of the accommodation space. The automatic lifting display rack can improve the smoothness and stability of the lifting platform to be moved up and down.

An automatic lifting display rack includes a display rack body, an elastic device, and a lifting platform. The display rack body has an accommodation space therein. The elastic device is disposed in the accommodation space. The lifting platform is above the elastic device. Corners of the lifting platform are integrally connected with a plurality of first upright posts that are parallel to side walls of the accommodation space. At least one first roller is mounted to each of the first upright posts. The first roller is configured to roll on a corresponding one of the side walls of the accommodation space. The automatic lifting display rack can improve the smoothness and stability of the lifting platform to be moved up and down.

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.

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 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.

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.