Cup dispenser

Claim 1

A self-service dispenser for disposable paper cups and the like comprising, in combination, a vertically-extending, open-top container, a plurality of arcuate leaf springs arranged within the upper end of said container in radially-inwardly-extending, downwardly-directed disposition, means for securing the upper ends of said arcuate leaf springs with respect to the upper end of said container in peripherally-spaced relation thereabout, a plurality of side openings in said container, one for each of said leaf springs, the lower ends of said arcuate leaf springs extending one each through said side openings for free movement therethrough upon radially outward flexure of said springs, and means for resiliently urging upside-down stacked frusto-conical cups in said container in the upward direction so that the peripheral lower end of the uppermost cup of the stack contacts underside portions of said arcuate leaf springs, said leaf springs being of such size and so positioned at the upper end of said container that the uppermost cup of the stack will project outwardly of the upper end of said container for convenient grasping for removal during a self-service cup dispensing operation, an annular flange secured to and extending outwardly of the upper end of said container; said means for resiliently urging stacked cups in said container in the upward direction comprising a cylindrically skirted pressure head slidably fitted in said container, spring support means at the lower end of said container, and a helical compression spring constrained between said spring support means and the underside of said pressure head; means preventing inward movement of said lower ends of said arcuate leaf springs through their respective side openings in said container; said means preventing inward movement of said lower ends of said arcuate leaf springs comprising downwardly-bent portions integrally formed at the lower ends of each of said springs and operative to abut outer wall portions of said container; said annular flange being integrally formed with an inner cylindrical skirt telescopingly secured within a marginal upper end portion of said container; and said means for securing the upper ends of said leaf springs with respect to the upper end portion of said container comprising peripherally-spaced slots in said flange skirt portion through which upper end portions of said leaf springs extend, and spot welds securing terminal upper end portions of said leaf springs to the underside of said annular flange.