Container dispenser

Claim 1

A container dispensing apparatus to be employed in combination with a cylindrical beverage container of constant cross-sectional area, said apparatus comprising: a tubular cylindrical shaped housing, said housing having an open upper end, said housing being of a predetermined greater diameter than said container, whereby said container is capable of being tilted from axial alignment within said housing; a stop lip secured to said housing at said open end and blocking off a portion of the cross-sectional area of said open end; a lateral biasing means to contact said container located adjacent said open end thereby defined as said uppermost container, said lateral biasing means located within said housing and spaced from said open end a distance substantially equal to one-half of the length of a said beverage container, said lateral biasing means being secured to said housing and a portion thereof being radially movable with respect thereto, said lateral biasing means being located substantially diametrically opposite said stop lip and acting to laterally displace said uppermost container to engage said stop lip, said lateral biasing means includes a friction element, said friction element to low frictionally contact said uppermost container and establish substantially a point contact with said container; an axial biasing means located within said housing tending to move said container toward said open end, said axial biasing means to be capable of contacting said friction element to prevent further movement of such toward said open end; and upon manual movement of the uppermost container out of contact with said stop lip, said uppermost container is removable from said apparatus, as the uppermost container is tilted to be removed the next container is tilted in the opposite direction to facilitate passage of the next container past said friction element and into contact with said stop lip.