Cup dispenser with radially adjustable cup supporting tabs

Claim 2

A cup dispenser, comprising a tubular member to contain a stack of cups and having a discharge opening in one end, a cup holding member disposed within the tubular member adjacent the discharge opening and having a projection extending inwardly toward the axis of the tube and disposed to be engaged by the rim of a cup, a collar mounted for rotation on the tubular member adjacent said end, said cup holding member including a flexible strip having one end connected to the collar, said tubular member being provided with an opening to receive said strip with the inner end of said strip being located on the interior of said tubular member, said projection being located on the inner end of said strip, and means operably connected to the cup holding member and responsive to rotation of the collar with respect to the tubular member for moving the projection radially with respect to the tube axis to thereby enable cups of different cross sectional size to be supported on said projection.

Claim 3

The dispenser of claim 1, and including biasing means for urging the inner end of the strip radially outward toward the inner surface of the tubular member.

Claim 4

The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said projection comprises a downwardly and inwardly extending surface.

Claim 5

The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said means for moving the projection comprises an element connected to the tubular member and disposed in engagement with said strip, said element acting to cam the strip inward toward the axis of the tubular member when the collar is rotated in one direction.

Claim 6

A cup dispenser, comprising a tube to contain a stack of cups havinG a discharge opening in one end, a series of cup holding members circumferentially spaced within the tube and located adjacent said end, each cup holding member comprises a flexible strip extending generally circumferentially of said tube, said tube being provided with a series of openings adjacent said end with each cup holding member extending through an opening, a rotatable collar mounted for rotation on the tube adjacent said end, connecting means for connecting the outer end of each cup holding member to the collar whereby rotation of the collar will cause corresponding rotation of said member with respect to said tube, a ledge formed on the inner end of each cup holding member and extending inwardly toward the axis of the tube and disposed to be engaged by the rim of a cup, operating means interconnecting the tube and each cup holding member for moving the inner end of each cup holding member inwardly toward the axis of the tube in consequence of rotation of the collar in one direction with respect to the tube, said operating means being engaged with the respective cup holding member at a location between said ledge and said connecting means, and means for biasing the inner end of each cup holding member outwardly away from the axis of the tube.

Claim 7

A cup dispenser, comprising a tube to contain a stack of cups havinG a discharge opening in one end, a series of cup holding members circumferentially spaced within the tube and located adjacent said end, each cup holding member comprises a flexible strip extending generally circumferentially of said tube, said tube being provided with a series of openings adjacent said end with each cup holding member extending through an opening, a rotatable collar mounted for rotation on the tube adjacent said end, connecting means for connecting the outer end of each cup holding member to the collar whereby rotation of the collar will cause corresponding rotation of said member with respect to said tube, a ledge formed on the inner end of each cup holding member and extending inwardly toward the axis of the tube and disposed to be engaged by the rim of a cup, operating means interconnecting the tube and each cup holding member for moving the inner end of each cup holding member inwardly toward the axis of the tube in consequence of rotation of the collar in one direction with respect to the tube, said operating means being engaged with the respective cup holding member at a location between said ledge and said connecting means, and means for biasing the inner end of each cup holding member outwardly away from the axis of the tube.

Claim 8

The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said operating means comprises a series of cam members on the inner surface of the tube, each cam member disposed to ride against the outer surface of a cup holding member at a location spaced from the attachment of said cup holding member to the collar, whereby rotation of said collar in said direction will cause said cup holding member to ride against the cam member to thereby move said cup holding member radially inward.

Claim 9

The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the discharge opening is in the lower end of the tube, and said dispenser includes mounting means for mounting the tube on a substantially vertical surface.

Claim 10

The dispenser of claim 5, wherein a plurality of vertically spaced ledges are disposed on the inner end of each cup holding member.

Claim 11

The dispenser of claim 5, wherein said discharge opening is in the upper end of said tube and said dispenser includes resilient means disposed within the tube and located beneath said cups holding members for urging the stack of cups upwardly toward said discharge opening.

Claim 12

The dispenser of claim 5, and including mounting means for mounting the upper end of said tube generally flush with a counter top.

Claim 13

The dispenser of claim 5, and including a series of inwardly extending bosses on said collar, each boss extending through one of said openings in the tube and the outer end of each strip being attached to the corresponding boss.

Claim 14

The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the inner extremity of said boss is substantially flush with the inner surface of the tube.

Claim 15

The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the inner end of each strip defines a head having a generally vertical surface disposed radially inward of said strip, said ledge being disposed on said vertical surface.

Claim 16

The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said head also includes a downwardly and inwardly extending inclined surface located above said vertical surface.

Claim 17

The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said ledge comprises a downwardly and inwardly extending surface.

Claim 18

The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the ledges on the cup holding members are disposed in a common horizontal plane.