Lid dispenser

Abstract

A lid dispenser for dispensing a first lid from a plurality of lids includes a housing having an opening therein through which the plurality of lids are dispensed, a door pivotally mounted and positioned frontwardly of the housing, and a claw assembly wherein the claw assembly is coupled to and movable relative to the door. The claw assembly includes a first claw including a first body portion and a first claw surface extending from the body portion, a second claw including a second body portion and a second claw surface extending from the body portion, and a depth stop plate that connects the first claw to the second claw, the depth stop plate including a depth stop spaced apart from the first claw surface and the second claw surface, wherein the depth stop plate defines and maintains the distance between the first claw and the second claw.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lid dispenser for a dispensing a first lid from a plurality of lids, the lid dispenser comprising:
 a housing having an opening therein through which the plurality of lids are dispensed;   a door pivotally mounted and positioned frontwardly of the housing; and   a claw assembly comprising:
 a first claw including a first body portion and a first claw surface extending from the body portion; 
 a second claw including a second body portion and a second claw surface extending from the body portion; and 
 a depth stop plate that connects the first claw to the second claw, the depth stop plate including a depth stop spaced apart from the first claw surface and the second claw surface, wherein the depth stop plate defines and maintains the distance between the first claw and the second claw; 
   wherein the claw assembly is coupled to and movable relative to the door.   
     
     
         2 . The lid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the claw assembly moves relative to the door from contact with the first lid to properly align the claw assembly with the first lid. 
     
     
         3 . The lid dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the door includes a first ear and a second ear, both ears extending towards the front element; and
 wherein the claw assembly further comprises:
 a first mounting piece including a first inner flange and a second outer flange separated by a first gap, the first mounting piece positioned opposite the first claw with the depth stop plate in-between; and 
 a second mounting piece including a first inner flange and a second outer flange separated by a second gap, the second mounting piece positioned opposite the first claw with the depth stop late in-between; 
   wherein the first ear is positioned in the first gap and a first fastener extends through the first inner flange, the first ear, and the first outer flange; and   wherein the second ear is positioned in the second gap and a second fastener extends through the second inner flange, the second ear, and the second outer flange.   
     
     
         4 . The lid dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the first mounting piece includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion angled relative to the first upper portion, the first upper portion and the first lower portion adjacent the door; and
 wherein the second mounting piece includes a second upper portion and a second lower portion angled relative to the second upper portion, the second upper portion and the second lower portion adjacent the door.   
     
     
         5 . The lid dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the first claw further includes a first rear surface that extends at an angle relative to the first claw surface towards the first body portion; and
 wherein the second claw further includes a second rear surface that extends at an angle relative to the second claw surface towards the second body portion.   
     
     
         6 . The lid dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the first rear surface and the second rear surface include conical surface portions. 
     
     
         7 . The lid dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the depth stop plate is flat. 
     
     
         8 . The lid dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the depth stop plate includes a recessed portion that extends towards the door. 
     
     
         9 . The lid dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the recessed portion forms a step that is spaced apart from the depth stop and divides the depth stop into two portions. 
     
     
         10 . The lid dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the recessed portion includes two domed sections and a flat section. 
     
     
         11 . The lid dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the recessed portion divides the depth stop into two portions. 
     
     
         12 . A claw assembly for use with a lid dispensing including a pivotable door, comprising:
 a first claw including a first body portion and a first claw surface extending from the body portion;   a second claw including a second body portion and a second claw surface extending from the body portion; and   a depth stop plate that connects the first claw to the second claw, the depth stop plate including a depth stop spaced apart from the first claw surface and the second claw surface, wherein the depth stop plate defines and maintains the distance between the first claw and the second claw;   wherein the claw assembly is configured to be coupled to and movable relative to the pivotable door; and   wherein the claw assembly moves relative to the door from contact with a lid to be dispensed to properly align the claw assembly with the lid.   
     
     
         13 . The claw assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first claw further includes a first rear surface that extends at an angle relative to the first claw surface towards the first body portion; and
 wherein the second claw further includes a second rear surface that extends at an angle relative to the second claw surface towards the second body portion.   
     
     
         14 . The claw assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first mounting piece including a first inner flange and a second outer flange separated by a first gap, the first mounting piece positioned opposite the first claw with the depth stop plate in-between; and   a second mounting piece including a first inner flange and a second outer flange separated by a second gap, the second mounting piece positioned opposite the first claw with the depth stop plate in-between;   
     
     
         15 . The claw assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first mounting piece includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion angled relative to the first upper portion; and
 wherein the second mounting piece includes a second upper portion and a second lower portion angled relative to the second upper portion.   
     
     
         16 . The claw assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the depth stop plate is flat. 
     
     
         17 . The claw assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the depth stop plate includes a recessed portion that extends towards the door. 
     
     
         18 . The claw assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the recessed portion divides the depth stop into two portions. 
     
     
         19 . A lid dispenser comprising:
 a housing including an opening, the housing configured to store a stack of lids to be dispensed through the opening;   a pager mounted to the housing and configured to engage a lid located at the opening;   a door pivotably mounted to the housing, the door including a first ear and a second ear, both ears extending towards the housing; and   a claw assembly comprising:
 a first claw including a first body portion, a first claw surface extending from the body portion, and a first rear surface that extends at an angle relative to the first claw surface towards the first body portion; 
 a second claw including a second body portion, a second claw surface extending from the body portion, and a second rear surface that extends at an angle relative to the second claw surface towards the second body portion; 
 a depth stop plate that connects the first claw to the second claw, the depth stop plate including a depth stop spaced apart from the first claw surface and the second claw surface, wherein the depth stop plate defines and maintains the distance between the first claw and the second claw; 
 a first mounting piece including a first inner flange and a second outer flange separated by a first gap, the first mounting piece positioned opposite the first claw with the depth stop plate in-between; and 
 a second mounting piece including a first inner flange and a second outer flange separated by a second gap, the second mounting piece positioned opposite the first claw with the depth stop late in-between; 
   wherein the first ear is positioned in the first gap and a first fastener extends through the first inner flange, the first ear, and the first outer flange to pivotally mount the claw assembly to the door about a pivot axis; and   wherein the second ear is positioned in the second gap and a second fastener extends through the second inner flange, the second ear, and the second outer flange to pivotally mount the claw assembly to the door about the pivot axis.   
     
     
         20 . The lid dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the first mounting piece includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion angled relative to the first upper portion, the first upper portion and the first lower portion adjacent the door; and
 wherein the second mounting piece includes a second upper portion and a second lower portion angled relative to the second upper portion, the second upper portion and the second lower portion adjacent the door.