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US 8,251,327 B2Granted
Adjustable container holder and method
AssigneeRestaurant Technology, Inc.
InventorsJames C. Purgatorio, Henry T. Ewald, Paul G. Simmons, David W. Kirby, Peter Rivera-Pierola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container holder adapted to hold a container between two spaced apart prongs is provided herein. The prongs clamp the container with a clamping force large enough to hold the container, but small enough to avoid damaging the container. The prongs may be spaced apart to fit different-sized containers, while the clamping force still meets these criteria. The clamping force may be provided by a substantially constant-force spring or a variable-force spring. In a method according to the present invention, a stack of nested containers is held in a container holder as described, for subsequent removal of a selected container from the stack.
Claims26
An adjustable container holder comprising:
- a support;
- two at least substantially parallel, spaced apart, elongate, and generally straight prongs configured to hold a plurality of nested containers between the two prongs, the two prongs being mounted to the support for movement relative to each other and at least one prong moveable relative to the support to adjust the spacing between the prongs while maintaining the generally opposed orientation of the prongs;
- and
- a spring operatively connected to at least one of the prongs and configured to provide a force to urge that prong towards the other prong and to cause the prongs to exert a clamping force when a container is located between the prongs to hold the container between the prongs, the prongs configured to permit sliding movement of the outermost one of the nested containers located between the prongs toward free ends of the prongs and to remove the container from the adjustable container holder while maintaining the spacing between the prongs at least substantially constant.
1 more element
An adjustable container holder comprising:
- a support;
- two generally parallel, spaced apart, elongate, and generally straight prongs mounted to the support for movement relative to each other and at least one prong moveable relative to the support to adjust the spacing between the prongs while maintaining the generally opposed orientation of the prongs;
- and
- a spring operatively connected to at least one of the prongs and configured to provide a force to urge that prong towards the other prong and to cause the prongs to exert a clamping force when a container is located between the prongs to hold the container between the prongs,
- wherein the spring is a substantially constant force spring configured to provide a clamping force that remains substantially the same as the spacing between the prongs is adjusted.
2 more elements
An adjustable container holder comprising:
- a support;
- two generally parallel, spaced apart, elongate, and generally straight prongs mounted to the support for movement relative to each other and at least one prong moveable relative to the support to adjust the spacing between the prongs while maintaining the generally opposed orientation of the prongs;
- and
- a spring operatively connected to at least one of the prongs and configured to provide a force to urge that prong towards the other prong and to cause the prongs to exert a clamping force when a container is located between the prongs to hold the container between the prongs,
- wherein the spring is a variable-force spring that is preloaded to provide a substantially constant force over the range of movement of the prongs relative to each other.
2 more elements
An adjustable container holder comprising:
- a support;
- two generally parallel, spaced apart, elongate, and generally straight prongs mounted to the support for movement relative to each other and at least one prong moveable relative to the support to adjust the spacing between the prongs while maintaining the generally opposed orientation of the prongs;
- and
- a spring operatively connected to at least one of the prongs and configured to provide a force to urge that prong towards the other prong and to cause the prongs to exert a clamping force when a container is located between the prongs to hold the container between the prongs,
- wherein the clamping force is substantially constant over the full range of spacing between the prongs permitted by the movement relative to the support of at least the first prong.
2 more elements
An adjustable container holder comprising:
- a support;
- two generally parallel, spaced apart, elongate, and generally straight prongs mounted to the support for movement relative to each other and at least one prong moveable relative to the support to adjust the spacing between the prongs while maintaining the generally opposed orientation of the prongs;
- and
- a spring operatively connected to at least one of the prongs and configured to provide a force to urge that prong towards the other prong and to cause the prongs to exert a clamping force when a container is located between the prongs to hold the container between the prongs,
- wherein each of the prongs includes a detent adjacent a free end of the prong, the detent extending toward the other prong.
2 more elements
A method of holding and removing a container comprising
- providing an adjustable container holder including a support, two at least substantially parallel, spaced apart, elongate, and generally straight prongs configured to hold a plurality of nested containers between the two prongs, the two prongs being mounted to the support, the prongs being mounted for movement relative to each other and at least one prong moveable relative to the support to adjust the spacing between the prongs while maintaining the generally opposed orientation of the prongs, and a spring operatively connected to one of the prongs and configured to provide a force to urge that prong towards the other prong;
- moving the prongs apart from each other to a sufficient spacing to permit a container to be located between the prongs;
- locating the container between the prongs;
- releasing the prongs to permit the spring force to urge the prongs closer to each other and to clamp the container between the prongs;
- and
- sliding the outermost one of the nested containers located between the prongs toward free ends of the prongs and to remove the container from the adjustable container holder while maintaining the spacing between the prongs at least substantially constant.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.