Cutlery dispenser and related methods

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a cutlery dispenser for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The cutlery dispenser may include a wrapped cutlery band comprising a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner. The cutlery dispenser also may include a nozzle assembly configured to allow the cutlery packets to be dispensed therethrough. The present disclosure also provides a method for dispensing wrapped cutlery. The method may include the step of providing a cutlery dispenser comprising a nozzle assembly and a wrapped cutlery band, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner. The method also may include the step of dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for dispensing wrapped cutlery, the method comprising:
 providing a cutlery dispenser comprising a nozzle assembly and a wrapped cutlery band, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner; and   dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly comprises dispensing the cutlery packets one at a time through the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly comprises pulling the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly comprises pulling a first cutlery packet through the nozzle assembly and a second cutlery packet partially through the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the nozzle assembly comprises pulling the second cutlery packet by pulling the first cutlery packet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the nozzle assembly separates the first cutlery packet from the second cutlery packet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first cutlery packet and the second cutlery packet are separably connected to one another by a zone of weakness, and wherein a pulling force required to pull the second cutlery packet completely through the nozzle assembly is greater than a tensile force required to separate the first cutlery packet from the second cutlery packet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly further comprises separating the first cutlery packet from the second cutlery packet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle, and wherein dispensing the cutlery packets through the nozzle assembly comprises pulling the cutlery packets through the nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle defines an orifice extending therethrough, and wherein pulling the cutlery packets through the nozzle comprises expanding the orifice. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, and wherein a natural state dimension of the orifice is less than a maximum width of the cutlery utensil. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cutlery utensil comprises a head and a handle, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is less than a maximum width of the head and less than a maximum width of the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cutlery utensil further comprises a neck positioned between the head and the handle, and wherein the natural state dimension of the orifice is greater than a maximum width of the neck. 
     
     
         15 . A method for dispensing wrapped cutlery, the method comprising:
 providing a cutlery dispenser comprising a nozzle assembly and a wrapped cutlery band, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle defining an orifice extending therethrough, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner, and wherein the plurality of cutlery packets comprises a first cutlery packet and a second cutlery packet;   pulling the first cutlery packet through the orifice; and   separating the first cutlery packet from the second cutlery packet by pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the orifice.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the orifice comprises pulling the second cutlery packet by pulling the first cutlery packet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, wherein each cutlery utensil comprises a head and a handle, and wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the orifice comprises pulling the handle of the cutlery utensil of the second cutlery packet through the orifice. 
     
     
         18 . A method for dispensing wrapped cutlery, the method comprising:
 providing a cutlery dispenser comprising a nozzle assembly and a wrapped cutlery band, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises an expandable nozzle defining an orifice extending therethrough, wherein the wrapped cutlery band comprises a plurality of cutlery packets separably connected to one another in a serial manner, wherein the plurality of cutlery packets comprises a first cutlery packet and a second cutlery packet;   expanding the orifice by pulling the first cutlery packet through the orifice; and   separating the first cutlery packet from the second cutlery packet by pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the orifice.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein pulling the second cutlery packet partially through the orifice comprises pulling the second cutlery packet by pulling the first cutlery packet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each cutlery packet comprises a pouch and a cutlery utensil disposed within the pouch, and wherein a natural state dimension of the orifice is less than a maximum width of the cutlery utensil.