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:
Apr. 19, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2003
Alan S. Lucas, Evansville, IN (US);
Wm. Derek Slone, Charlestown, IN (US);
M. Scott Bennett, Louisville, KY (US);
Hershel E. Fancher, Charlestown, IN (US);
Alan S. Lucas, Evansville, IN (US);
Wm. Derek Slone, Charlestown, IN (US);
M. Scott Bennett, Louisville, KY (US);
Hershel E. Fancher, Charlestown, IN (US);
Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc., Sparks, NV (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for a countertop ice dispenser or ice and beverage dispenser is made from a single piece plastic ice bin. Parts for the dispenser are assembled into sub-assemblies before final assembly. The ice bin may be made by a rotomolding process. This uses relatively inexpensive molds with reasonable control over the thickness of the resulting bin, while allowing up to 0.005″ of variation per inch of length in the overall size of the ice bin. The resulting ice bin has hollow walls that can be filled with insulating foam. An attractive dispenser may be assembled from such an ice bin, with metal panels and a plastic base. If a combined ice/beverage dispenser is desired, a cold plate and dispensing valve may be included. The plastic base and a plastic drain pan have integral attachments that mate for assembly. The dispenser may also be easily disassembled for repair.