OBJECT DISPENSER APPARATUS

Abstract

An object dispenser apparatus for dispensing individual products for use without users touching products to be used by others. The object dispenser apparatus includes a housing including an elongated container having an open top and adapted to store lids therein and also having a tray in communication with the container for dispensing the lids from the container; an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the lids one-at-a-time from the container to the tray.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. An object dispenser apparatus comprising: a housing including an elongated container having an open top and adapted to store objects such as lids therein and also having a tray in communication with the container for dispensing the objects from the container; and an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the objects one-at-a-time from the container to the tray, the actuator assembly including a biased element disposed in the container for biasing the lids to the open top of the container, the actuator assembly also including an air blower assembly for moving the lid at the open top from the container to the tray and further includes an actuator disposed upon the housing for actuating the blower assembly with the actuator having a motion sensor disposed upon the housing, and also includes a controller in communication with the motion sensor and the air blower assembly, the air blower assembly includes an air pump disposed in the housing and in operable communication with the controller, and also includes an air hose connected to the air pump and having a distal end, and further includes an air nozzle connected to the distal end of the air hose and positioned at the open top of the container for blowing air onto the lid at the open top of the container to move the lid out of the container and onto the tray, whereupon detection of motion by the motion sensor, a signal is sent to the controller which actuates the air pump to pump air through the nozzle to move the lid out of the container.

7. The object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the air nozzle has an open end which is directed across a top of the lid at the open top of the container to create a venturi effect.

8. The object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the air nozzle rests in a plane with the top of the lid at the open top of the container so that forced air is emitted across the top of the lid which lifts the lid out of the container and onto the tray.

9. The object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the air nozzle has an arcuate distal end portion which is positioned adjacent to and below the lid at the open top of the container.

10. The object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein the open end of the nozzle is directed upwardly to blow forced air on a bottom of the outer edge of the lid to lift and move the lid out of the container and onto the tray.

11. A method of using an object dispenser apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a housing having a container and a tray, and also providing a biased element and an air blower assembly; loading objects into the container; actuating the air blower assembly; and blowing air onto an uppermost object in the container which moves the uppermost object from the container to the tray.

12. The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein the air blower assembly includes an air pump, an air hose and an air nozzle.

13. The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein the blowing air includes positioning the air nozzle to blow air onto the uppermost lid.

14. The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein the air nozzle is positioned to blow air across a top of the uppermost lid to create a venturi effect which lifts the uppermost lid from the container and onto the tray.

15. The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein the air nozzle is positioned to blow air on a bottom edge of the uppermost lid to lift the lid off the container and onto the tray.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new object dispenser apparatus according to the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a partial side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the actuator assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new object dispenser apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0018] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the object dispenser apparatus 10 generally comprises a housing 11 including an elongated container 12 having an open top 13 and adapted to store objects 25 such as lids therein and also having a tray 28 in conventional communication with the container 12 for dispensing the objects 25 from the container 12; and an actuator assembly 14 disposed in the housing 11 for dispensing the objects 25 one-at-a-time from the container 12 to the tray 28. The tray 28 is conventionally attached to and extends outwardly from the container 12 and is slanted downwardly from the open top 13 of the container 12 to facilitate sliding of the lids 25 for access by a user.

[0019] The actuator assembly 14 includes a biased element 17 disposed in the container 12 for biasing the lids 25 to the open top 13 of the container 12. The actuator assembly 14 also includes an air blower assembly 18 for moving the uppermost lid 25 at the open top 13 from the container 12 to the tray 28 and further includes an actuator 15 conventionally disposed upon the housing 11 for, actuating the air blower assembly 18. The actuator 15 includes a motion sensor conventionally disposed upon the housing 11, and also includes a controller 16 such as a circuit board in conventional communication with the motion sensor 15 and the air blower assembly 18. The air blower assembly 18 includes an air pump 19 disposed in the housing 11 and conventionally connected to a power source and in operable communication with the controller 16, and also includes an air hose 20 conventionally connected to the air pump 19 and having a distal end 22, and further includes an air nozzle 21 conventionally connected to the distal end 22 of the air hose 20 and positioned at the open top 13 of the container 12 for blowing air onto the lid 25 at the open top 13 of the container 12 to move the lid 25 out of the container 12 and onto the tray 28. Upon detection of motion by the motion sensor 15, a signal such as an electric signal or wireless signal is sent to the controller 16 which actuates the air pump 19 to pump air through the air nozzle 21 to move the lid 25 out of the container 12.

[0020] The air nozzle 21 has an open end 23 which is directed across a top 26 of the uppermost lid 25 at the open top 13 of the container 12 to create a venturi effect. The air nozzle 21 rests in a plane with the top 26 of the uppermost lid 25 in the container 12 so that forced air is emitted across the top 26 of the lid 25 which lifts the lid 25 out of the container 12 and onto the tray 28.

[0021] As a second embodiment, the air nozzle 21 has an arcuate distal end portion 24 which is positioned adjacent to and below the uppermost lid 25 in the container 12. The open end 23 of the air nozzle 21 is directed upwardly to blow forced air on a bottom edge 27 of the lid 25 to lift and move the lid 25 out of the container 12 and onto the tray 28. The air nozzle 21 is positioned to blow air either across the top 26 of the uppermost lid 25 or upon the bottom edge 27 of the lid 25 which lifts the lid 25 from the container 12 and onto the tray 28.

[0022] In use, the objects 25 are loaded into the container 12. A user motions in front of the motion sensor 15 which sends a signal to the controller 16 which actuates the air blower assembly 18 and blows air onto the uppermost object 25 in the container which moves the uppermost object 25 from the container 12 to the tray 28. The air nozzle 21 is positioned either to blow air across the top 26 of the uppermost object 25 to create a venturi effect which lifts the uppermost object 25 from the container 12 and onto the tray 28 or to blow air on the bottom edge 27 of the uppermost object 25 to lift the object 25 off the container 12 and onto the tray 28.

[0023] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0024] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0025] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the object dispenser apparatus. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.