The Meyer Company

Henry G Roethel

Raymond P Kawolics

Michael H Meyer

James P Leigh

Raymond P Kowalics

Bryan A Feimer

Daniel A Sokolowski

A dispenser for cup-shaped articles comprises a body defining a storage region for receiving an associated stack of cups or other cup-shaped articles. The body comprises an open end that communicates with the storage region. A resilient diaphragm restricts the open end of the body. A clamp member is releasably secured adjacent the open end of the body and retains the diaphragm relative to the open end of the body. A mounting flange projects outwardly away from the body. The clamp member and mounting flange comprise mating structures that releasably secure said clamp member to the mounting flange.

Dispenser for cup-shaped articles with improved clamp-ring securement feature

A cup dispenser includes a blow-molded plastic storage tube and a blow-molded plastic cup pushing member or follower positioned within the tube. The pushing member is optionally spring-biased toward an open first end of the tube away from a closed, second end of the tube. A resilient diaphragm is positioned over the open end of the cup storage tube or another suitable cup retainer is employed for releasably retaining a telescopically interfitted stack of cups in the storage tube. An annular collar is arranged coaxial with and fitted to the storage tube in the region of the open end. The cup storage tube and the cup pushing member are preferably blow-molded together in a single operation as a one-piece construction. The cup pushing member is separated from the cup storage tube for use.

Method of manufacturing blow-molded cup dispenser

A dispenser for cup-shaped articles includes a housing defining a storage portion adapted to receive an associated stack of nested cup-shaped articles. The housing includes an open end that communicates with the storage portion. A cup retainer mounting base is located adjacent the open end of the housing. The mounting base defines an opening that communicates with the open end of the housing. The mounting base also defines a first plurality of mounting openings and a second plurality of mounting openings. A cup retainer is connected to the mounting base and restricts the opening of said mounting base. The cup retainer is movable between at least first and second operative positions wherein the cup retainer restricts the opening of the mounting base more in the first operative position as compared to the second operative position. The cup retainer is defined as separate stud members each including a resilient finger or as an annular band including a plurality of resilient fingers.

Dispenser for cup-shaped articles and adjustable retainer for same

Faucet handle

A faucet includes a body having a main bore including an inlet and an outlet. A bonnet and spout are connected to the body. A stem includes a first portion inserted into the outlet of the main bore and a second portion that projects through the bonnet chamber to a distal end. The first portion of the stem comprises a flow path and the stem is slidably movable relative to the body and bonnet between a first position and a second position. A seal is carried by the stem and is engaged with the stem and sealing face when the stem is located in the first position. The seal is spaced from the sealing face when the said stem is moved to the second position. A handle is operably connected to the distal end of the second portion of the stem. A spring biases the stem to the first position.

Self-closing faucet with shearing action

A valved outlet for connection to a fluid spout on a fluid container includes at least a first component that includes a body defining a first flow passage extending therethrough. The body has an inlet end adapted for insertion into an associated spout and an outlet end for discharging fluid that enters the first flow passage from the inlet end. A valve portion is located at the inlet end and controls fluid flow from the spout into the first flow passage. The valve includes a housing that defines a second flow passage that communicates with the first flow passage through a port. A resilient seal member has first and second legs compressibly located in the second flow passage and resilient sealingly engaged with the port. The first and second legs are in abutment with the housing of the valve portion. A slide is mounted for axial movement between first and second operative positions in the first flow passage. The slide has an actuating portion that is extendable through the port into engagement with the seal member to move the seal member away from the port when the slide is moved from the first operative position to the second operative position. The valved outlet can also include a second component including a housing adpated for releasably coupling to the body of the first component. The housing of the second component defines a third flow passage that communicates with the first flow passage. The housing of the second component includes a member that contacts and moves the slide member to the second operative position.

Half-tube seal adapter coupling for beverage systems

Blow-molded cup dispenser and method of manufacturing same

A faucet includes a body having an inlet, an inlet passageway connected to the inlet and outlet passageway that intersects the inlet passageway. The outlet passageway terminates at an outlet. A push-button actuator has a biasing portion that is located in the outlet passageway and a button portion that projects outwardly through an opening defined in the body. The button portion is normally biased into a first, extended position by the biasing portion and is selectively manually moveable to a second, operative position. A seal member is provided and is adapted to engage and seal the inlet to the inlet passageway. A stem projects from the seal member and is operably coupled to the button portion of the push-button actuator. The seal member is normally biased into sealing engagement with the inlet the by the biasing portion of the push-button actuator. The seal member is moveable out of sealing engagement with the inlet when the button portion of the push-button actuator is moved to its second, operative position.

Push-button faucet

The article dispensing apparatus includes an elongated barrel and a dispenser body received on the lower end of the elongated barrel for retaining and dispensing stacked articles. The dispenser body may be used to accommodate cups of a range of different sizes, shapes, and lip configurations due to a plurality of flexible fingers of the dispenser body. The flexible fingers are formed by pairs of spaced slots provided about a circumference of the dispenser body. The flexible fingers have radially inwardly sloping stop members which retain the cups and flex outward to dispense the cups. The elongated barrel is affixed to the dispenser body by one or more projections on the barrel which snap into corresponding recesses in the dispenser body.

Cup dispenser

An apparatus for storing a supply of cups or containers comprises a housing for maintaining the containers in a stacked, telescopically interfitted relationship. An open lower end of the housing has a resilient diaphragm extending there across with a lower face of the diaphragm having a hole therein to allow the lowermost container to be withdrawn while retaining the stack in the housing. The diaphragm has a peripheral flange which extends axially of the housing about the open lower end. A circumferentially continuous clamp sleeve is interference fitted over the peripheral flange of the diaphragm to clamp the flange in position. The clamp ring further includes a radially inward directed collar flange joined to the sleeve at the lower end thereof and extending in close engagement with the lower face thereof to locate the clamp ring on the housing and prevent the diaphragm from being deflected away from the bottom edge of the tubular side wall. The assembly also includes a protective sleeve depending from the collar flange to protect the diaphragm and lower cup.

Anchoring assembly for cup dispensing diaphragm

An apparatus for storing a supply of cup-shaped containers in a stacked, telescopically interfitted relationship comprises a tubular housing with a resilient diaphragm across the lower end. The diaphragm has a center opening through which the lowermost container extends. The diaphragm acts to retain the stack in the housing while permitting the lowermost container to be withdrawn. According to the invention, the diaphragm comprises a unitary piece of resilient, elastomeric material with the diaphragm having a resistance to elongation in directions circumferentially of the opening which increases progressively radially outwardly of the opening.

Dispenser for cups and cup-like articles

An apparatus for storing a supply of cup-shaped elements such as containers in a stacked, telescopically interfitted relationship comprises a tubular housing with a resilient diaphragm across the lower end. The diaphragm has a center opening through which the lowermost container extends. The diaphragm acts to retain the stack in the housing while permitting the lowermost container to be withdrawn. In one form, the diaphragm comprises a unitary piece of resilient, elastomeric material with the diaphragm having a resistance to elongation in directions circumferentially of the opening which increases progressively radially outwardly of the opening. In another form, the diaphragm includes integral fingers which extend radially inward of the opening. The fingers each decrease in width and thickness in the radial inward direction and may include a transverse rib on their inner surface to engage the lowermost container in the stack.

A quick connect/disconnect assembly particularly intended for connecting a beverage dispensing system service line to the spout of a flexible beverage bag comprises a first component having a cylindrical body with an inlet end for connection to the spout, and an outlet end in flow communication with the inlet end through a central flow passage. An inlet valve is located at the inner end for controlling flow through the central flow passageway. A valve operating slide is located in the central flow passageway for selectively moving the inlet valve to an open position. A second component is arranged for connection to the first component and comprises a hollow cylindrical housing having an open axial end and carrying a connecting nut for connecting the housing in axially aligned relationship with the open axial end of the cylindrical body. A passage extends axially into the housing from the open axial end and a fixed support extends axially of the passage and terminates in a circular end wall located axially outward of the open axial end of the housing and in axial alignment with the passage. A cylindrical sleeve is slidably mounted on the fixed support and continually biased toward the circular end wall such that it maintains the passage closed until the first and second components are joined at which time the sleeve is caused to slide away from the circular end wall.

Adapter coupling for beverage systems

A cup trip assembly is disclosed for use on bag-in-the-box and membrane type beverage containers of the type having an outlet nozzle with a manually operable dispensing valve carried at the end thereof. The cup trip assembly comprises a mounting collar adapted to releasably encircle and lock to the nozzle at a location adjacent the dispensing valve. A transversely extending operating member is pivotally carried by the mounting collar at a location axially outward of the nozzle. The operating member has operating fingers extending rearwardly therefrom for engagement with the dispensing valve for moving the valve to an open position when the operating member is rotated in a first direction and moving the valve to a closed position when the operating member is rotated in a second direction. A cup trip lever is joined to and depends from the operating member to a position subjacent the dispensing valve where movement of a cup to a beverage receiving position beneath the dispensing valve causes movement of the cup trip lever to rotate the operating member in the first direction.

Growing community of inventors

Ravenna, OH, United States of America

Henry G Roethel