# US 10,477,989 B2 · Modular apparatus and system for accommodating and dispensing cans and a method for forming the same

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- Number: US 10,477,989 B2
- Document ID: US10477989B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/283,332
- Filed: 2019-02-22
- Published: 2019-06-20
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-22
- Assignees: Cambro Manufacturing Company
- Applicants: Cambro Manufacturing Company
- Inventors: Johannes Le
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477989B2

## CPC

- A47F 5/108: {adapted for regular, e.g. daily, transport, filled with articles to a display area}
- A47F 1/087: {the container having approximately horizontal tracks of the serpentine type}
- A47F 5/0025: {having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks}
- A47F 7/28: for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles {, tins, milk packs (racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14)}
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

## Abstract

An apparatus and system for dispensing large amounts of cylindrical food containers or cans. The apparatus includes at least two support frames joined together through a series of connector pieces. Additional support frames may be added to the apparatus to create a modular system of dispensers that are customizable according to user discretion. The apparatus and system may be disposed directly on the traverses of a shelving unit so that large number of can dispensers may be accommodated within a relatively small volume or storage space. Each can dispenser may accommodate multiple cans which are orientated so that as each can is removed from the dispenser, a subsequent can will roll forward and take its place.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for accommodating and dispensing a plurality of cans comprising:
at least one shelving unit, wherein the shelving unit comprises a plurality of horizontal traverses coupled between a plurality of vertical uprights;
a plurality of can dispensers, wherein each of the plurality of can dispensers comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp; and
a plurality of connection points disposed on each of the plurality of can dispensers,
wherein the plurality of can dispensers are coupled together and form at least one dispensing shelf,
wherein each of the plurality of connection points comprises an upper recess and a lower recess,
wherein the upper ramp of each can dispenser comprises an upper shelf support, the upper shelf support configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of horizontal traverses,
wherein each of the plurality of connection points comprises a cylindrical protrusion, the cylindrical protrusion comprising a longitudinal axis,
wherein the upper recess is defined at a distal end of the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical protrusion,
wherein the lower recess is defined at a proximal end of the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical protrusion,
wherein the upper recess is configured to accommodate a first connector of a plurality of connectors, and
wherein the lower recess is configured to accommodate a second connector of the plurality of connectors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of can dispensers comprises a plurality of support frames,
wherein each of the plurality of connectors is removably coupled to at least two of the plurality of support frames, and
wherein each of the plurality of can dispensers comprises at least two lower shelf supports, wherein each lower shelf support is configured to engage one of the plurality of horizontal traverses of the shelf unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein the upper shelf support of each can dispenser is configured to engage a horizontal traverse which is disposed vertically above at least one of the plurality of horizontal traverses engaged by one of the at least two lower shelf supports.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of support frames comprises at least one of the plurality of connection points.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of connectors removably coupled to at least two of the plurality of support frames further comprises wherein each of the plurality of connectors is removably coupled to the least one of a the plurality of connection points disposed on each of the plurality of support frames.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the lower ramp comprises at least one portion oriented at an incline relative to a remaining portion of the lower ramp.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp of each of the plurality of can dispensers comprises a dual sided flange extending substantially outward from each lateral side of each of the plurality of can dispensers.