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US 5,687,876 AGranted
Method and improved apparatus for separating and dispensing coffee filters
OwnerOrlan R. Lucas, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coffee filter container and/or dispenser for containing and dispensing coffee filters. The coffee filter container and/or dispenser comprises a base, a housing, a lid, a pair of opposed filter stops, and a filter engager. The filter engager and the filter stops cooperate with each other to separate one coffee filter from a stack of filters disposed in the housing. A method or process separating a coffee filter from a stack of coffee filters.
Claims10
A coffee filter container for containing at least one coffee filter and for singularly dispensing at least one coffee filter comprising:
- a generally cylindrical sidewall member having a sidewall top;
- a filter support member secured to said generally cylindrical sidewall member for supporting at least one coffee filter;
- a top assembly removably secured to said generally cylindrical sidewall member, said top assembly comprising a structure defining a top planar member, a pair of arms secured to said top planar member in a generally planar relationship, a pair of stop members having a stop member size and secured to said arms, and a lid member pivotally secured to said top planar member and substantially extending across said top planar member and having a structure defining a pair of cut-outs with cut-out openings slightly larger than the stop member size of said stop members;
- a means, secured to said lid member, for engaging a filter member;
- said means for engaging filters comprises a pair of bifurcated stanchion members secured to said lid member, a tube member secured to respective ends of said pair of bifurcated stanchion members and having a pair of tube recesses;
- and
- a gripping assembly pivotally secured to said tube member and defining a gripping body having a structure defining a pair of gripping arms having secured thereto a pair of opposed protruding ear members with ear ends which rotatively reside in said tube recesses, a generally T-shaped flexible arm assembly secured to the gripping body, and a blade secured to the gripping body and having a structure defining teeth having at least one blunted tooth and at least one pointed tooth.
4 more elements
An apparatus for containing at least one coffee filter and for dispensing at least one coffee filter comprising:
- a generally hollow body;
- a base secured to said generally hollow body;
- a top assembly removably engaged to said generally hollow body and comprising a top planar member having a structure defining a first arm member secured to said top planar member, a second arm member secured to said top planar member, a first stop member secured to said first arm member, a second stop member secured to said second arm member, said top assembly comprising a lid member pivotally secured to said top planar member and substantially extending across said top planar member and having a structure defining a first cut-out having a first cut-out opening and a second cut-out having a second cut-out opening;
- and
- a means, secured to said lid member for engaging a filter.
2 more elements
A method for separating a single coffee filter from a plurality of superimposedly stacked coffee filters comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a coffee filter container and dispenser comprising a generally hollow body, a base secured to said generally hollow body, a top assembly removably engaged to said generally hollow body comprising a pivotally disposed lid member and a pair of oppose stop members, and a means for engaging a filter comprising a pair of bifurcated stanchion members, a tube member secured to respective ends of said pair of bifurcated stanchion members and having a pair of tube recesses;
- a gripping assembly pivotally secured to said tube member and defining a gripping body having a structure defining a pair of gripping arms having secured thereto a pair of opposed protruding ear members with ear ends which rotatively reside in said tube recesses, a generally T-shaped flexible arm assembly secured to the gripping body, and a blade secured to the gripping body and having a structure defining teeth having at least one blunted tooth and at least one pointed tooth;
- (b) providing superimposedly stacked coffee filters;
- (c) removing said top assembly and placing said coffee filters in said generally hollow body;
- (d) closing said lid member of said top assembly;
- (e) pivotally lifting on said lid member to simultaneously swing said means for engaging a coffee filter towards an edge of a single coffee filter;
- (f) pulling said single coffee filter with said means for engaging of step (e) between said stop members to produce said single coffee filter.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.