Adjustable dispenser for cups and other cup-shaped articles

摘要

A cup dispenser includes a body defining a storage region adapted for receiving for an associated stack of cup-shaped articles. The body includes an open end that provides access to the storage region. Multiple fingers are connected to the body for restricting the open end of the body. An adjustment ring is connected to the body and is movable relative to the body. Movement of the adjustment ring relative to the body alters a position of each of the fingers relative to the body. The adjustment ring includes a plurality of adjustment slots and the fingers each include an adjustment stud located in one of the adjustment slots. When the adjustment ring is rotated, the adjustment slots act as cams and the adjustment studs act as cam followers such that the fingers are simultaneously and uniformly adjusted in terms of their radial position relative to the body wall.

主权项

1. A cup dispenser comprising:
a body defining a storage region adapted for receiving for an associated stack of cup-shaped articles, said body including an open end that provides access to the storage region; a plurality of fingers connected to the body for restricting said open end of the body, each of said fingers comprising a first end connected to said body, a second end spaced from said first end, and an adjustment stud follower projecting from said second end, wherein each of said fingers comprises a ramped portion located between the first and second ends, said ramped portion comprising a first ramp surface that converges toward a center of the cup storage region as it extends away from said open end of said body toward an opposite end of said body and a second ramp surface located between the first ramp surface and the first end, wherein said second ramp surface diverges away from said center of said cup storage region as it extends away from said open end of said body toward the opposite end of said body; an adjustment ring connected to the body and movable relative to the body, said adjustment ring comprising a plurality of adjustment slots, wherein the adjustment stud of each finger is located in a respective one of said adjustment slots such that circumferential movement of said adjustment ring relative to said body alters a position of each of said fingers relative to said body, wherein each of said fingers moves radially outward and inward in response to circumferential movement of said adjustment ring in first and second directions, respectively.