Object dispenser apparatus

Abstract

An object dispenser apparatus for dispensing individual products for use without users touching products to be used by others. The object dispenser apparatus includes a housing including an elongated container having an open top and adapted to store lids therein and also having a tray in communication with the container for dispensing the lids from the container; an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the lids one-at-a-time from the container to the tray.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An object dispenser apparatus comprising:
 a housing including an elongated container having an open top and adapted to store objects such as lids therein and also having a tray in communication with the container for dispensing the objects from the container; and   an actuator assembly disposed in the housing for dispensing the objects one-at-a-time from the container to the tray, the actuator assembly including a biased element disposed in the container for biasing the lids to the open top of the container, the actuator assembly also including an air blower assembly for moving the lid at the open top from the container to the tray and further includes an actuator disposed upon the housing for actuating the blower assembly with the actuator having a motion sensor disposed upon the housing, and also includes a controller in communication with the motion sensor and the air blower assembly, the air blower assembly includes an air pump disposed in the housing and in operable communication with the controller, and also includes an air hose connected to the air pump and having a distal end, and further includes an air nozzle connected to the distal end of the air hose and positioned at the open top of the container for blowing air onto the lid at the open top of the container to move the lid out of the container and onto the tray, whereupon detection of motion by the motion sensor, a signal is sent to the controller which actuates the air pump to pump air through the nozzle to move the lid out of the container.   
     
     
         7 . The object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein the air nozzle has an open end which is directed across a top of the lid at the open top of the container to create a venturi effect. 
     
     
         8 . The object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 7 , wherein the air nozzle rests in a plane with the top of the lid at the open top of the container so that forced air is emitted across the top of the lid which lifts the lid out of the container and onto the tray. 
     
     
         9 . The object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein the air nozzle has an arcuate distal end portion which is positioned adjacent to and below the lid at the open top of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 8 , wherein the open end of the nozzle is directed upwardly to blow forced air on a bottom of the outer edge of the lid to lift and move the lid out of the container and onto the tray. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using an object dispenser apparatus comprising the steps of:
 providing a housing having a container and a tray, and also providing a biased element and an air blower assembly;   loading objects into the container;   actuating the air blower assembly; and   blowing air onto an uppermost object in the container which moves the uppermost object from the container to the tray.   
     
     
         12 . The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 11 , wherein the air blower assembly includes an air pump, an air hose and an air nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 12 , wherein the blowing air includes positioning the air nozzle to blow air onto the uppermost lid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 13 , wherein the air nozzle is positioned to blow air across a top of the uppermost lid to create a venturi effect which lifts the uppermost lid from the container and onto the tray. 
     
     
         15 . The method of using an object dispenser apparatus as described in  claim 13 , wherein the air nozzle is positioned to blow air on a bottom edge of the uppermost lid to lift the lid off the container and onto the tray.