Beverage lid dispenser

Abstract

The current invention is a lid dispensing device and method of use comprising a base unit, a lid holder operatively connected to the base unit, a blade operatively mounted to the base which moves between a first position and a second position, a tab secured to the blade to aid in separating lids, the blade supporting a stack of lids by engaging a first lid in the stack of lids while the blade is in the first position, and the blade allowing the first lid to fall through an aperture in the blade away from the stack of lids, and still support the remaining stack of lids as the blade moves to the second position.

1 . A lid dispensing device comprising: 
 a base unit;    a lid holder operatively connected to the base unit for holding a stack of lids; and    a blade cassette assembly operatively mounted to the base below the stack of lids, the assembly including a blade moveable in the assembly between a first position and a second position and a tab mounted to the blade wherein the stack of lids is supported by the blade engaging a first lid in the stack of lids while the blade is in the first position and wherein the blade allows the first lid to fall away from the stack of lids through the cassette assembly and an aperture in the blade while still supporting the remaining lids in the stack of lids as the blade moves to the second position.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blade is constructed from sheet material folded back on itself.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the blade includes: 
 opposite first and second faces and opposite first and second ends;    a first cutout on the first face near the first end;    a second cutout on the first face near the second end which intersects the first cutout and is larger than the first cutout; and    a third cutout on the second face near the second end, wherein the cutouts on the first face form an aperture through the blade.    
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein one or more of the cutouts form a ledge which supports the lids.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blade is assembled from multiple pieces.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of lid holders and a plurality of blade cassette assemblies.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing device for returning the blade to the first position.  
   
   
       8 . A blade for use in a lid dispensing device, the blade comprising: 
 a body formed back onto itself creating a first and second approximately parallel surfaces;    a first aperture on the first surface allowing lids to pass therethrough;    a ledge on the second surface for supporting the stack of lids;    a tab secured to the first surface, and    a second aperture on the first surface, intersecting the first aperture, for supporting the stack of lids when the blade is moved with respect to the stack of lids, allowing a first lid in the stack to fall away from the stack of lids while supporting remaining lids in the stack of lids.    
   
   
       9 . A blade for use in a lid dispensing device, the blade comprising: 
 a body of one or more parts having a first and second approximately parallel surfaces;    a first aperture on the first surface allowing lids to pass therethrough;    a ledge on the second surface for supporting the stack of lids;    a tab secured to the first surface, and    a second aperture on the first surface, intersecting the first aperture, for supporting the stack of lids when the blade is moved with respect to the stack of lids, allowing a first lid in the stack to fall away from the stack of lids while supporting remaining lids in the stack of lids.    
   
   
       10 . A blade for use in a disk dispensing device, the blade comprising: 
 opposite first and second faces and opposite first and second ends;    a tab secured to the blade;    a first cutout on the first face near the first end;    a second cutout on the first face near the second end which intersects the first cutout and is larger than the first cutout;    a third cutout on the second face near the second end;    a fourth cutout on the second face near the first end which intersects the third cutout and is larger than the third cutout; and wherein the cutouts on the first face and the cutouts on the second face intersect to form an aperture through the blade.    
   
   
       11 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein the first cutout and the fourth cutout are concentric, and the second cutout and the third cutout are concentric.  
   
   
       12 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein the first cutout and the second cutout are eccentric.  
   
   
       13 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein the blade is assembled from more than one part.  
   
   
       14 . The blade of  claim 10  further comprising an insert for changing the size of one or more of the cutouts.  
   
   
       15 . The blade of  claim 10  further comprising a groove in the cutouts approximately parallel to the faces of the blade near the intersections of the cutouts for allowing a disk rim to pass from the first cutout to the third cutout.  
   
   
       16 . The blade of  claim 10  wherein the blade is made by a molding process.