US3113697A - Sipping straw dispensers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1963 L. A. wlLLs 3,113,697

SIPPING STRAW DISPENSERS Filed May 10, 1961 s sheets-sheet 1 FIG. i. l 2 2624 f4 Q/ 5054 G E 65 F7 /8 Z0 Z/ 50 /8 /9 53 /9 =s' f 5 E: l l: l Il l Il :i ',571' 33 52 l. J

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Dec. l0, 1963 L. A. wlLLs SIPPING sTRAw DISPENSERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1961 FIG. .10.

- NVNToR. LEN A. W/LS;

BY /f FIG. 4

Dec. 10, 1963 1 A. wlLLs sIPPING sTRAw DIsPENsERs s sneets4sheet s Filed May 10, 1961 INVENTOA E0/V420 4. W/LLS A Toen/5% United States Patent Oiilce 3,113,697 Patented Dec. l0, 1963- 3,113,697 SEPING STRAW DISPENSERS Leonard A. Wills, i120. Box 7354, Beniamin Franklin Station, Washington 4, D.C. Filed May 1o, 19st, ser. No. 109,077 12 cranes. (ci. 221-192) This invention relates to sipping straw dispensers, and more particularly to straw dispensers of the type having vertically -reciprocable actuating means and wherein a straw supporting cup is employed and is mounted so that it can be shaken, oscillated or vibrated to facilitate the proper positioning of the straws for delivery.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved sipping straw storing and dispensing device device which is relatively simple in construction, which is easy to assemble, and which eiiiciently positions the straws therein so that they will be safely and positively dispensed responsive to actuation of the straw dispensing mechanism of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sanitary sipping straw dispenser which is inexpensive fto fabricate, which is durable in construction, and which safely supports straws therein in proper positions for ejection and which includes means to agitate the straw supporting member each time the straw ejection mechanism is actuated, whereby to insure that the straws are properly advanced to positions for subsequent ejection.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved sipping straw dispenser of the type employing an eccentric, substantially conical, ydynamical-ly mounted positioning cup to engage and support the bottom ends of the straws and to cause the straws to assume inclined positions, and which is provided with means to vibrate the cup automatically each time vthe dispenser is operated to dispense a straw, the dispenser being compact in size, neat in appearance, and effectively protected against contamination.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become -apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through an improved sipping straw dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3` of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through a modied form of straw dispenser according to the present invention, said view being taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken subtially on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View taken substantially on line 6 6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View taken through a fur-ther modied form of sipping straw dispenser according to the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal cross-section view taken subtantially on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of fragmentary cooperating portions of the straw dispensing device of FIG- URES 7 and 8, the portions being shown in separated positions.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line N I of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 11 is ya perspective view of a straw lifting member which may be employed in a straw dispenser according to the present invention, the parts of the lifting member being shown in separated positions.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken through a portion of a further modified form of straw `dispenser according to the present invention, said view being taken on the line 112 12 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of said further modiiied form of straw dispenser.

FIGURE 14 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken substantially on line 14 14 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a perspective View of a modied straw lifting member which may be employed in Athe form of the invention shown in FIGURES 12, 13 and 14.

lFIGURE 16 is a rear perspective view of the lower portion o-f .the straw lifting member of FIGURE 15 with its parts in separated positions.

FIGURE 17 -is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional fview taken substantially on the line l17 17 of FIGURE 14.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, 17 designates a generally cylindrical glass jar provided with a generally conical removable top cover 18, of sheet metal or the like, said top cover having a downwardly ilanged rim )19 adapted to receive the top rim of the container 17. 'Coverds is provided with a top opening 20 normally receiving the closurev member. 21 v'which is mounted on a lever 22 pivoted to the cover.

Designated at 23 is a supporting frame formed of channel-shaped bar material and comprising the straight vertical side portion 24, the substantially horizontal, arcuate bottom portion 25, the upstanding vertical inner portion 26, and the return portion 27 which is provided at its ends with outwardly oiset lugs 28, :28 (FIGURE 3) between which the intermediate portion of straight vertical member 24 is received and secured.

Return portion 27 is bent to dene an act-nte corner angle with respect to :member 26 at 29, and pivoted to the frame Z3 at said corner angle, as shown at 30, is the straw supporting cup 31, said cup being rotatable about a transverse horizontal axis located opposite the vertical straight member 24. The cup is formed with a downwardly convergent bottom wall which also slopes downwardly toward the side of the cup adjacent member 24, the vertex of the cup being located adjacent said member 24 amd being formed with ya narrow slot 32 of sufcient length to underly the bottom end of the innermost of ya pluurality of inclined sipping straws 33 disposed on the cup, as shown.

An arm 34 is secured to the inclined bottom of cup 31 and is formed with a depending leg 35, said leg having a reduced upper portion 36 which extends through a notch 37 formed in the end of member 27, the lower end of leg 35 being formed with a horizontal foot portion 38 which is movably received in the bottom corner dened between members 24 and 25. A leaf spring 39 is secured at one end to the inclined portion of member 27 and is formed at its free end with a pair of iingers 40, 40 between which the reduced portion 36 is slidably received, the shoulders 42 at the top end of said reduced portion being engageable with said iingers, whereby the cup 31 is resiliently supported thereby. A downwardly concave cruciform plate 43 underlies the bottom member 25 of frame 23 and supports said frame on the bottom wall of container 17.

A rack bar 45 is slidably contained in the frame member 24, saidframe member being provided with inturned retaining flanges 46, 46. A double hook member 47 is secured to the lower portion of rack bar 45 and is formed with the respective spaced upwardly projecting terminal pin elements 48 and 49 which are positioned in vertical registry with slot 32, said pin elements being movable upwardly successively through said slot responsive to the elevation of rack bar 45, whereby to engage in the bottom ends of straws 33, as will be presently described. The lower end of member 45 overlies the foot member 38 and 3 is engageable therewith to deliver an impact thereto when the rack bar 45 descends, whereby to deliver an impact tending to rotate the cup 31 downwardly around the pivot 30.

A secondary impact is developed when the fingers 40, 40 engage the subjacent surface of member 27 as cup 31 rotates downwardly.

An ejector rod 50 of right-angled cross-section is slidably and non-rotatively engaged in a pair of vertically spaced, conformably shaped guide sleeves 51, 52 secured to the upper portion of member 24, said rod extending slidably upwardly through a notch 53 in cover 18 and being provided at its top end with an operating knob 54. Rod 50 is formed with rack teeth 55 which mesh with a pinion gear 56 journalled in a bracket 57 mounted on member 24. A larger gear 58 is rigidly secured coaxially to gear 56 and meshes with a pinion gear 59 journalled in a bracket 60 mounted on member 24. A larger gear 61 is rigidly secured to gear 59 and extends through an opening 62 in the side wall of member 24 to mesh with the rack teeth 63 of rack bar 45.

As will be readily apparent from FIGURE 2, downward movement of ejector rod 5t) causes the lower gear 61 to rotate clockwise, causing the rack bar 45 to be elevated. This elevates member 47, causing the pin elements 48 and 49 to successively engage in the bottom ends of the innermost straws 33 and to elevate said straws toward the discharge opening 20. The straws push the pivoted closure member 21 upwardly so that the top ends of the straws pass through the discharge opening, allowing the straws to be manually removed. Upon release of the ejector rod 50, the rack bar 45 will descend by gravity and member 45 will deliver an impact to foot element 38, causing the cup 31 to be oscillated and vibrated, shaking the remaining straws supported thereon and causing their bottom ends to slide downwardly toward the slot 32, whereby two more straws will be properly positioned for subsequent delivery.

Ejector rod 50 is formed with a pair of vertically spaced locking notches 64, 65 which cooperate with a locking lever 66 and arm 22 to prevent ejection of further straws when one or more straws are present in delivery opening 21. Lever 66 is pivoted at 67 to cover 18 between rod 50 and arm 22, and overlies the end of arm 22. Said lever 66 is formed opposite arm 22 with a detent hook portion 68 lockingly engageable in `a notch 64 or 65 when lever 66 is released by the rotation of arm 22 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1. When hook portion 68 engages in a notch 64 or 65, further downward movement of ejector rod 50 is prevented, and the locking action continues until there is no longer a straw present in opening 20, whereupon arm 22 rotates lever 66 clockwise to its release position.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the jar 17 may be provided with the top cover 1S having the downwardly anged rim 19 receiving the top rim of the jar. Cover 18' is provided with the top opening 20' normally receiving the closure member 21' mounted on the lever 22' pivoted to the cover.

Designated at 23' is a supporting frame formed of channel-shaped bar material and comprising the straight vertical side portion 24', the horizontal bottom portion 25', the opstanding vertical inner portion 26', and the return portion 27 which is rigidly secured to the sloping bottom of the cup 31'.

The cup is notched out at its periphery opposite portion 27', as shown at 69, to receive the vertical bar portion 24', and is slotted therebelow, as shown at 32', to allow the upward passage of the hook elements 48 and 49 forming part of the member 47.

Depending supporting leaf springs 70, 74) are secured to and extend downwardly and outwardly from bottom bar portion 23. A transverse bracket 71 is secured to the intermediate portion of member 23', and additional depending, downwardly and outwardly extending supporting leaf springs 72, 72 are secured to the ends of bracket 71.

The leaf springs 70, 70 and 72, 72 resiliently support the frame and cup assembly on the bottom wall of jar 17.

Member 47 is rigidly secured to a Vertical bar 73 which is slidably retained in the vertical frame bar portion 24', the bar 73 being provided with an outwardly projecting flange 74 formed with spaced rack tooth apertures 75 which meshingly receive the teeth of a rack gear 76 journalled in a frame-like bracket 77 secured to the upper portion of member 24'. Rigidly secured to gear 76 is a pinion gear 78 meshingly engaged by the teeth of a larger gear 79 journalled in bracket 77 above gear 76. Rigidly secured to gear 79 is a pinion gear 80 meshingly engaged by the rack teeth 55' formed on a vertical ejector rod 50' extending slidably through a sleevelike guide bracket 51' secured to the top portion of member 24'. Rod 50', which is of right-angled cross-section, extends upwardly through and slidably engages in a conformably shaped notch 53 provided in the peripheral portion of cover 18'. An operating knob 55' is provided on the top end of rod 50'.

Spaced detent notches 64 and 65 are provided in the inwardly facing ange of rod 50', cooperating with a locking lever 66', and with the locking control lever 22' in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGURES l to 3, to prevent downward movement of rod 50' when a straw is present in the discharge opening 20.

When rod 50' is depressed, gears 80, 79, 78 and 76 are rotated in directions to cause member 73 to be elevated and to cause pin members 48 and 49 to rise through slot 32 and lift straws upwardly through opening 20'. When the rod 50' is released, member 73 drops downwardly by gravity and the bottom end of member 73 strikes the bottom wall of member 23', delivering an impact to the frame and cup assembly, causing same to vibrate, thus assisting the straws to gravitate downwardly toward the slot 32' and to properly position themselves for subsequent delivery.

The bottom edges of the detent notches 64 and l65 have suticient downward slope to allow rod 56 or 5S' to -freely rise without interference from the catch hook 68 or 68 on lever `66 or 66'. However, the top edges of said notches are Isubstantially horizontal and will lockingly engage with said catch hook if an attempt is made to depress the ejector rod while a straw is present in the discharge opening.

In the iform of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 7 to 9, the channel-shaped mai-n frame bar, shown at `81, has the arcuate bottom portion 82 rigidly supported on the concave circular plate 83, and is provided with the upstanding vertical inner portion 84. Secured to the inclined bottom of the cup 85 is an arm `86 formed at one end with depending pivot lugs 87, 87 receiving the top end of member 84' and pivotally connected thereto by a transverse pivot pin `88. The opposite end of arm 86 is formed with the spaced lingers 89, 89 disposed below and on opposite sides of the cup notch 90 and slidably receiving therebetween the inwardly projecting flange 91 of the ejector rod 92, said ejector rod being T-shaped in cross-section and being slidably retained in the channel-shaped vertical frame bar member 81.

rIlhe cup 85 is suitably notched out at its periphery adjacent member 81, as show-n at 93, to allow `free pivoting of the cup on the pivot pin `88.

A leaf spring 94 is secured to the bottom surface of arm 86 and is formed at its free end with spaced fingers 95, 95 subjacent the rigid lingers S9, 89. The end portions o tne vertically spaced pairs of fingers 89, 95 are received in respective rectangular notches 96, 96 formed in the -inturned flanges of member 81, said notches being of sucient height to allow limited free pivoting of cup S5. Shoulders 97 are provided on the lower portion of rod 92 engageable with lingers 89 to deliver an impact thereto when the rod 92 is allowed to drop after being elevated to deliver straws. This impact causes cup 85 to oscillate, first in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 7, whereby to cause fingers 95 to engage the bottom edges of notches 96 and tension the leaf spring 94, and then in a countercloclcwise direction as the spring unilexes, moving the lingers 89, 89 upwardly to strike the top edges of notches 96, delivering a further impact to the cup 85.

The cover 93 is provided with locking structure cooperating with notches 99 and 100 to prevent upward operation of the ejector rod 91 when straws are present in the discharge opening 101 of the cover. This locking structure is similar to that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 63,669, led October 19, 1960, and entitled Ejector Control Mechanisms for Straw Dispensers.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 12 to 17, the cup, shown at 102, is pivotally supported on an arm S6 secured to its sloping under surface and pivotally connected at its end to the frame bar 81', as shown at 103. The arm 86 is provided with the depending vertical forward portion 104 whose bottom end is formed with a rectangular lug 10S slidably received in the channel-shaped arcuate bottom portion -82 of the main frame, deiining stop shoulders 124, 124 at the opposite side edges thereof, limiting downward movement of member 104. A lever 106 is pivoted at 125 in member 82. The ejector rod 107 is T-Shaped in crosssection and is integrally formed at its lower end with the upper hook element v108. A vertically slotted bar 109 is slidably engaged in the lower portion of the channelshaped frame member 81 adjacent the ejector rod and is slidably connected thereto by a pin 117 -which is received -in the -slot 110 of bar 109. The hook element 10S is rigidly secured to the lower end portion of bar 109 so that it is located below hook element 108.

The ejector rod 107 extends over the top rim of the jar l17 and is 'formed with the downwardly extending outer portion 111 which terminates in a handle lug 112 so that the ejector rod 107 may be elevated by lifting said handle lug. An operating knob 114 -is also provided, being secured to the top of .the horizontal bight portion 113 of the ejector rod overlying the top rim of jar 17. The peripheral portion of cup 102 adjacent member 31 is suitably notched to freely receive the exposed portion of rod 107 and the frame member 81' to allow oscillation of cup 102 on pivot pin 103.

Lever 106 comprises one arm 12S which extends beneath the bottom end of slotted bar 109 and another arm 126 which engages through an aperture 127 in the vertical depending member 104. Normally the lower end of slotted bar 109 rests on arm 128 and the bottom end of the ejector rod is supported on the shoulder 129 of the slotted bar 109, so that hook element 108 overlies and is relatively closely adjacent to hook element 105'. When the ejector rod is elevated (by means of either knob 114 or lug 112), the upper hook element rises through the slot in the vertex of the cup and engages in the bottom end of a straw, and subsequently, as pin 117 engages the top end of slot 110, the lower hook element is similarly elevated to engage in the next straw, whereby both straws may be lifted through the discharge opening in the top cover. When the ejector rod is released, an impact is delivered to the arm 128 when the bottom end of rod 107 strikes shoulder 129. This impact is transmitted through the lever 106 and the member 104 to the cup 102, causing the cup to oscillate around the pivotal connection 103.

If so desired, the knob 114 may be omitted, as shown in FIGURE 15.

As in the previously described forms of the invention, spaced detent notches 99 and 100 are provided in the upper portion of the ejector rod 107, cooperating with loc-king structure on the cover 98 -to prevent 'the ejector rod from being elevated when a straw or straws are present in the discharge opening of the cover.

The top portion of `the channel-shaped frame member 81' is inwardly deformed, as shown at 116, to define rod to one side of the interior of the channel-shaped member 81.

While certain specitc embodiments of sipping straw dispensers have been `disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as deiined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

Il. In a sipping straw dispenser, a straw receptacle adapted to contain straws standing on end therein, an integral frame bar comprising a relatively long vertical main portion located near the vertical sidewall of said straw receptacle and with the bottom end o-f said vertical main portion positioned relatively near the bottom of the straw receptacle and the top end extending a considerable distance above a straw supporting cup which is located a relatively short distance abofve the inside bottom of said straw receptacle and said cup being supported on an extended length of the integral frame bar which is underneath the cup and bent out from the bottom end of said vertical main portion and toward the cup, and said supporting cup extending adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup having a downwardly convergent bottom wall with its vertex #offset and located adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup being formed with a narrow slot at said vertex, an ejector member slidably engaged with said main portion, and straw-engaging pin means connected to the lower portion of said ejector member and being movable vertically through said slot.

2. In a sipping straw dispenser, a frame co-mprising a relatively long vertical main bar por-tion, a substantially horizontal bottom bar portion and an opstanding relatively short inner end bar portion, a straw supporting cup mounted on said short inner end bar portion and extending adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup being formed with a narrow slot adjacent said vertical main portion, an ejector rod slidably engaged with said main portion, straw-engaging pin means connected to the lower portion of said ejector r-od and being movable vertically through said slot, an actuating rod slidably connected to the upper end of said main portion parallel thereto, and means gearingly coupling said actuating rod to said ejector rod.

3. ln a sipping straw dispenser, a frame bar comprising a relatively long vertical main portion, a substantially horizontal bottom portion and an upstandng relatively short inner end pontion, a straw supporting cup mounted on said short inner end portion and extending adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup being formed with a narrow slot adjacent said ve-rtical main portion, an ejector rod slidably engaged with said main portion, strawengaging pin means connected to the lower portion of said ejector Irod and being movable vertically through said slot, an actuating rod slidably connected to the upper end of said main portion parallel thereto, first rack gear means Ion said actuating rod, second rack gear means on said ejector rod, and a gear train mounted on said main portion and gearingly coupling said first rack gear means to said second rack gear means.

4. In a sipping straw dispenser, a frame bar comprising a relatively long vertical main portion, a substantially horizontal bottom portion and an upstanding relatively short inner end porti-on, a straw supporting cup mounted on said short inner end portion and extending adjacent said vertical main porti-on, said cup being formed with a narrow slot adjacent said vertical main portion, an ejector rod `slidably engaged with said main portion, strawengaging pin means connected to the lower portion of said ejector rod and being movable vertically through said slot, and spring means disposed beneath said substantially horizontal bottom portion for resiliently supporting said yframe bar land for allowing the frame bar and cup `assembly to vibrate responsive to an impact.

5. IIn sipping straw dispenser, a frame bar comprising a relatively long vertical main portion, a substantially horizontal bottom portion and an upstanding relatively short inner end portion, a straw supporting cup mounted on said short inner end portion and extending adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup being formed with a narrow slot -adjacent said vertical main portion, an ejector rod slidably engaged with said main portion, straw-engaging pin means connected to the lower portion of said ejector rod and being movable vertically through said slot, the ejector rod being engageable with said frame bar upon downward movement of said ejector rod to deliver an impact tol said frame bar, and spring means disposed beneath said substantially horizontal bottom portion for resiliently supporting said frame bar and for allowing the frame bar and cup assembly to vibrate responsive to said impact.

6. In a sipping straw dispenser, a fra-me bar comprising a relatively long vertical main portion, a substantially horizontal bottom portion and an upstanding relatively short inner end portion, a straw supporting cup mounted on said short inner end portion and extending adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup being -formed with a narrow slot adjacent said vertical main portion, an ejector rod slidably engaged with said main portion, and straw-engaging pin means connected to the lower por- -tion of said ejector rod and being movable vertically through said slot, said ejector rod being of inverted generally U-shape at its top portion.

7. ln a sipping straw dispenser, a straw receptacle adapted to contain straws standing on end therein, an ejector-housing -fra-me member comprising a relatively long vertical main portion which essentially houses guidance and alignment means -for an ejector member slidably mounted within said ejector housing frame member and permitting vertical reciprocation of said ejector member, said vertical main portion llocated near the vertical sidewall of said straw receptacle and with the bottom end of said vertical main porti-on positioned relatively near the bottom of the straw receptacle and the top end extending a considerable distance above a straw supporting cup which is located a relatively short distance above the inside bottom of said straw receptacle, said cup being supported on said ejector housing `frame member by supporting means extending from the lower portion of said vert-ical main portion, said straw supporting cup being mounted and supported in a manner that permits said cup to be shaken during the operation of said ejector member, said straw supporting cup extending adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup having a downwardly convergent bottom wall with its vertex offset and located adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup being formed with a narrow slot at said vertex, and said ejector member having straw-engaging pin means connected thereto and said pin means movable vertically through said slot in said cup.

8. The structure of claim 7, and with the straw supporting cup pivotally mounted on the supporting means extending from the lower portion `of said vertical main portion, a prong extendi-ng from the supporting cup and bein-g arranged and adapted to contact with means on the ejector member whereby said straw supporting cup is shaken during operation of said ejector.

9. In a sipping straw dispenser, a straw receptacle adapted to contain straws standing -on end therein, a straw ejector slidably `mounted adjacent the vertical sidewall of the straw receptacle with means providing for vertical reciprocating motion of said ejector, two pieces of said ejector hereinafter called first ejector piece and second ejector piece are separate pieces and have structure permitting relative vertical movement to each other for a iixed `distance lduring vertical reciprocating operation of the ejector, a straw supporting cup mounted and supported relatively near the inside bottom of the straw receptacle in a manner `that permits the cup to shake upon operation `of said straw ejector, said cup having a downwardly convergent bottom wall with its vertex oiiset and located near the receptacle sidewall where the ejector is located, said cup being formed with a narrow slot at said vertex, and said first ejector piece and said second ejector piece having straw engaging pins movable vertically through said slot in said cup.

l0. In a sipping straw dispenser, a straw receptacle adapted to contain straws standing on end therein, a straw ejector member mounted adjacent the vertical sidewall of the straw receptacle with means providing for vertical reciprocating motion of said ejector member, a straw supporting cup located a relatively short distance above the inside bottom of said straw receptacle, said cup having a `downwardly convergent bottom wall with its vertex` offset and located near the receptacle sidewall where the Aejector is located, said cup being formed with a narrow slot at said vertex, said ejector member having strawengaging pin means connected thereto and said pin means movable vertically through said slot in the straw snpporting cup, an ejector actuating member, and means gearingly coupling said actuating member to said ejector member.

1l. In a sipping straw dispenser, a straw receptacle adapted to contain straws standing on end therein, a straw ejector member mounted adjacent the vertical sidewall of the straw receptacle with means providing for vertical reciprocating motion of said ejector member, a straw supporting cup located a relatively short distance above the inside bottom of said straw receptacle, said cup having a downwardly convergent bottom wall with its vertex offset and located near the receptacle sidewall where the ejector is located, said cup being yformed with a narrow slot at said vertex, said ejector member having straw-engaging pin means connected thereto and said pin meansv movable vertically through said slot in the straw supporting cup, an ejector actuating member slidably mounted near Ithe receptacle sidewall, rrst rack gear means on said actuating member, second rack gear means on said ejector member, and a Igear train gearingly coupling said first rack 'gear means to said second rack gear means.

12. In a sipping straw dispenser, a -trarne bar comprising a relatively long ver-tical main portion, a substantially horizontal bottom portion and an upsta-nding relatively short inner end portion, a straw supporting cup pivotally connected to said short inner end portion and extending adjacent said vertical main portion, said cup being formed with a narrow slot adjacent said vertical main portion, an ejector rod slidably engaged with said main portion, straw-engaging pin means connected to the lower portion of said ejector rod and being movable vertically through said slot, spring means mounted between the cup and the frame bar, and means to transmit an impact to said cup responsive to downward movement of said ejector rod, whereby to cause oscillation of the cup.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,109 Reece Oct. 27, 1953

Claims (1)

1. 2. IN A SIPPING STRAW DISPENSER, A FRAME COMPRISING A RELATIVELY LONG VERTICAL MAIN BAR PORTION, A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BOTTOM BAR PORTION AND AN UPSTANDING RELATIVELY SHORT INNER END BAR PORTION, A STRAW SUPPORTING CUP MOUNTED ON SAID SHORT INNER END BAR PORTION AND EXTENDING ADJACENT SAID VERTICAL MAIN PORTION, SAID CUP BEING FORMED WITH A NARROW SLOT ADJACENT SAID VERTICAL MAIN PORTION, AN EJECTOR ROD SLIDABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID MAIN PORTION, STRAW-ENGAGING PIN MEANS CONNECTED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID EJECTOR ROD AND BEING MOVABLE VERTICALLY THROUGH SAID SLOT, AN ACTUATING ROD SLIDABLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID MAIN PORTION PARALLEL THERETO, AND MEANS GEARINGLY COUPLING SAID ACTUATING ROD TO SAID EJECTOR ROD.

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