The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 06, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1994
James Frantz, Nazareth, PA (US);
Follett Corporation, Easton, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides for an under-counter ice storage apparatus for dual-sided dispensing of ice above the counter for use in a food service establishment which delivers particulate ice from a single ice storage receptacle to two ice discharge chutes on opposite sides of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises an ice retaining receptacle for storage of ice, an ice elevator for elevating a quantity of ice from a level inside the ice storage receptacle to a dispensing level, and a pair of generally back-to-back facing ice dispensing chutes. A single user or two users simultaneously may obtain particulate ice from the two back-to-back facing ice delivery chutes by actuation of a switch associated with that user's delivery chute. The ice storage and dispensing apparatus may further comprise a bank of beverage dispensers adjacent to each ice dispensing chute.