Ice Cream Display and Dispensing Spacer

Abstract

A spacer is provided that fits between cylindrical containers such as ice cream drums. The spacer maintains the drum layout, adds hoop strength to the top rims of the drums, provides positive control of the spacing of the gap between the top rim of the drums to avoid damage to the drum top rims, and prevents the drums from spinning during use.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . In combination, a spacer and at least two adjacent ice cream containers:
 each container having a cylindrical sidewall, a bottom rim and a top rim, the container sidewall having a diameter, the top rim having a diameter greater than the sidewall diameter;   the spacer comprising four curved sidewalls, each sidewall having a curved outer surface and extending vertically between a curved sidewall bottom edge and a curved sidewall top edge and horizontally between a side edge and an opposing side edge, the spacer further comprising four rectangular distal edge panels, each distal edge panel extending vertically between a distal edge panel bottom edge and a distal edge panel top edge and horizontally between a side edge of one sidewall and a side edge of an adjacent sidewall, each distal edge panel having a width; wherein   each spacer sidewall describes an arc; and   the arc of the spacer sidewalls and the width of the distal edge panels together are large enough to maintain a gap between the container top rims.   
     
     
         8 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the number of containers is four; and   the spacer maintains the containers in a square packing layout.   
     
     
         9 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 8 , wherein:
 each container has a radius (R D ); and   each spacer sidewall describes an arc having a radius (R S ) substantially the same as the container radius (R D ).   
     
     
         10 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each container sidewall contacts all or a substantial portion of a spacer sidewall.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the spacer sidewall outer surfaces comprise friction enhancing material.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 7  wherein:
 each distal edge has a horizontal width; and 
 the horizontal width of the distal edges is greater than twice the difference between the container rim diameter and the container sidewall diameter. 
 
     
     
         16 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 7  wherein:
 each pair of adjacent container top rims define a gap. 
 
     
     
         17 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 7  wherein:
 the spacer is configured to maintain a gap between the container top rims. 
 
     
     
         18 . The combination spacer and containers of  claim 7  wherein:
 the spacer is configured to enable removal of individual containers while the spacer in place.