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 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 tab secured to the first surface;   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;   a ledge on the second surface disposed substantially beneath the second aperture; and   a groove found between the first and second surfaces.   
   
   
       2 . 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 tab secured to the first surface;   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;   a ledge on the second surface disposed substantially beneath the second aperture; and   a groove between the first surface and the second surface.   
   
   
       3 . 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; and   a groove between the cutouts approximately parallel to the faces of the blade for allowing a disk rim to pass from the first cutout to the third cutout.   
   
   
       4 . The blade of  claim 3  wherein the first cutout and the fourth cutout are concentric, and the second cutout and the third cutout are concentric. 
   
   
       5 . The blade of  claim 3  wherein the first cutout and the second cutout are eccentric. 
   
   
       6 . The blade of  claim 3  wherein the blade is assembled from more than one part. 
   
   
       7 . The blade of  claim 3  further comprising an insert for changing the size of one or more of the cutouts. 
   
   
       8 . The blade of  claim 3  wherein the blade is made by a molding process.