Cup dispenser

Claim 2

A container dispenser for receiving therein a plurality of cuplike articles and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time, said dispenser comprising: a one-piece receptacle formed from a thin plastic material and including a cup-shaped portion having an elongated tubular portion defined by a continuous circumferential sidewall; said cup-shaped portion further including a cover portion integrally and continuously connected to the sidewall of said tubular portion adjacent one end thereof for closing said one end of said tubular portion, the other end of said tubular portion defining an opening for permitting a plurality of nested cuplike articles to be inserted into said cup-shaped portion of said receptacle; said tubular portion further including a plurality of protuberance means disposed adjacent said other end thereof and projecting radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral surface of said sidewall for releasably holding said plurality of nested articles within said receptacle and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time through said opening, said plurality of protuberance means being integral and continuous with said sidewall and substantially rigid relative thereto and spaced circumferentially around said opening; each said protuberance means including a pair of axially spaced projections extending radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral wall of said tubular portion, said pair of projections being spaced from each other so that the outermost projection is adapted to releasably engage and support the outermost article when the innermost projection is supporting the next outermost article so that only one article is dispensed at a time; and said tubular portion including a plurality of stiffening ribs extending axially thereof and spaced circumferentially around said tubular portion, and said sidewall including said stiffening ribs and said cover portion and said protuberance means all being integral and continuous and of substantially uniform wall thickness.

Claim 3

A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said tubular portion is of substantially uniform diameter throughout the axial extent thereof and said continuous circumferential sidewall is of substantially uniform thickness throughout the axial extent of said tubular portion.

Claim 4

A container dispenser according to claim 1, further including bracket means adapted to be mounted on a support surface for releasably supporting and holding said receptacle, said bracket means and said receptacle having coacting means for permitting said receptacle to be releasably mounted on said bracket means.

Claim 5

A container dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said receptacle includes a pair of axially spaced recesses, and wherein said bracket means is substantially C-shaped and has protuberances adapted to be removably disposed within said spaced recesses for releasably engaging said receptacle.

Claim 6

A container dispenser according to claim 1, further including means associated with said receptacle for permitting same to be releasably attached to a supporting surface.

Claim 7

A container dispenser for receiving therein a plurality of cuplike articles and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time, saId dispenser comprising: a one-piece receptacle formed from a thin plastic material and including a cup-shaped portion having an elongated tubular portion defined by a continuous circumferential sidewall, said tubular portion including a plurality of stiffening ribs extending axially thereof and spaced circumferentially therearound; said cup-shaped portion including a cover portion integrally and continuously connected to the sidewall of said tubular portion adjacent one end thereof for closing said one end of said tubular portion, the other end of said tubular portion defining an opening for permitting a plurality of nested cuplike articles to be inserted into said cup-shaped portion of said receptacle; said receptacle including a substantially planer flange projecting radially outwardly from said tubular portion adjacent said other end thereof, said flange being disposed in surrounding relationship to said opening, said flange being integral and continuous with said other end of said tubular portion; said tubular portion further including a plurality of protuberance means disposed adjacent said other end thereof and projecting radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral surface of said sidewall for releasably holding said plurality of nested articles within said receptacle and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time through said opening, said plurality of protuberance means being integral and continuous with said sidewall and substantially rigid relative thereto and spaced circumferentially around said opening; and each said protuberance means including a pair of axially spaced projections extending radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral wall of said tubular portion, said pair of projections being spaced from each other so that the outermost projection is adapted to releasably engage and support the outermost article when the innermost projection is supporting the next outermost article so that only one article is dispensed at a time; said tubular portion, and said sidewall including said stiffening ribs and said cover portion and said protuberance means all being integral and continuous and of substantially uniform wall thickness.

Claim 8

A container dispenser for receiving therein a plurality of cuplike articles and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time, saId dispenser comprising: a one-piece receptacle formed from a thin plastic material and including a cup-shaped portion having an elongated tubular portion defined by a continuous circumferential sidewall, said tubular portion including a plurality of stiffening ribs extending axially thereof and spaced circumferentially therearound; said cup-shaped portion including a cover portion integrally and continuously connected to the sidewall of said tubular portion adjacent one end thereof for closing said one end of said tubular portion, the other end of said tubular portion defining an opening for permitting a plurality of nested cuplike articles to be inserted into said cup-shaped portion of said receptacle; said receptacle including a substantially planer flange projecting radially outwardly from said tubular portion adjacent said other end thereof, said flange being disposed in surrounding relationship to said opening, said flange being integral and continuous with said other end of said tubular portion; said tubular portion further including a plurality of protuberance means disposed adjacent said other end thereof and projecting radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral surface of said sidewall for releasably holding said plurality of nested articles within said receptacle and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time through said opening, said plurality of protuberance means being integral and continuous with said sidewall and substantially rigid relative thereto and spaced circumferentially around said opening; and each said protuberance means including a pair of axially spaced projections extending radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral wall of said tubular portion, said pair of projections being spaced from each other so that the outermost projection is adapted to releasably engage and support the outermost article when the innermost projection is supporting the next outermost article so that only one article is dispensed at a time; said tubular portion, and said sidewall including said stiffening ribs and said cover portion and said protuberance means all being integral and continuous and of substantially uniform wall thickness.

Claim 9

A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said tubular portion is of substantially uniform diameter throughout the complete axial extent thereof, and wherein said continuous circumferential sidewall is of substantially uniform wall thickness throughout the complete axial extent of said tubular portion.

Claim 10

A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said receptacle has a blind recess formed therein adjacent said cover portion, and wherein said receptacle has a further recess formed therein in the vicinity of said flange, whereby said recesses are adapted for cooperation with suitable projections formed on a mounting bracket.

Claim 11

A container dispenser for receiving therein a plurality of cuplike articles and for permitting articles to be dispensed one at a time, said dispenser comprising: a one-piece receptacle formed from a thin plastic material and including a cup-shaped portion having an elongated tubular portion defined by a continuous circumferential sidewall, said tubular portion being of substantially uniform diameter throughout the axial extent thereof; said cup-shaped portion further including a closed cover portion integrally and continuously connected to the sidewall of said tubular portion adjacent one end thereof for closing said one end of said tubular portion, the other end of said tubular portion defining an opening for permitting a plurality of nested cuplike articles to be inserted into said cup-shaped portion of said receptacle; said tubular portion including a plurality of elongated stiffening ribs extending axially thereof and spaced circumferentially therearound, said stiffening ribs extending axially of said tubular portion throughout the complete length thereof; said tubular portion further including a plurality of protuberance means dIsposed adjacent said other end thereof and projecting radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral surface of said sidewall for releasably holding said plurality of nested articles within said receptacle and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time through said opening, said plurality of protuberance means being integral and continuous with said sidewall and substantially rigid relative thereto and spaced circumferentially around said opening; and said sidewall including said stiffening ribs and said cover portion and said protuberance means all being integral and continuous and of substantially uniform wall thickness.

Claim 12

A container dispenser for receiving therein a plurality of cuplike articles and for permitting articles to be dispensed one at a time, said dispenser comprising: a one-piece receptacle formed from a thin plastic material and including a cup-shaped portion having an elongated tubular portion defined by a continuous circumferential sidewall, said tubular portion being of substantially uniform diameter throughout the axial extent thereof; said cup-shaped portion further including a closed cover portion integrally and continuously connected to the sidewall of said tubular portion adjacent one end thereof for closing said one end of said tubular portion, the other end of said tubular portion defining an opening for permitting a plurality of nested cuplike articles to be inserted into said cup-shaped portion of said receptacle; said tubular portion including a plurality of elongated stiffening ribs extending axially thereof and spaced circumferentially therearound, said stiffening ribs extending axially of said tubular portion throughout the complete length thereof; said tubular portion further including a plurality of protuberance means dIsposed adjacent said other end thereof and projecting radially inwardly relative to the inner peripheral surface of said sidewall for releasably holding said plurality of nested articles within said receptacle and for permitting said articles to be dispensed one at a time through said opening, said plurality of protuberance means being integral and continuous with said sidewall and substantially rigid relative thereto and spaced circumferentially around said opening; and said sidewall including said stiffening ribs and said cover portion and said protuberance means all being integral and continuous and of substantially uniform wall thickness.

Claim 13

A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein a pair of said stiffening ribs are disposed directly adjacent each of said protuberance means, with said protuberance means being disposed between the stiffening ribs of each said pair.