[0001] The invention solves the problem of hygienically handling disposable plastic spoons
which are made available in public places via a dispenser, in such a way that just
one spoon at a time can be taken from the housing in which a stack of such spoons
is placed. The shopkeeper has to refill this housing frequently, taking care not to
touch the spoons for reasons of hygiene; such refilling operations also need to be
easy to carry out, using a quick and simple method, and the dispensing unit must be
made such that it takes up as little space as possible in public areas and such that
it has a high spoon-holding capacity so as to limit the frequency with which the spoons
need to be refilled.
[0002] All these objects and others - which will become apparent on reading the following
text - are achieved by the invention.
[0003] A first subject of the invention is a pack of a plurality of ice-cream spoons or
the like which can be handled easily and hygienically in order to refill dispensers
for such spoons. The pack according to the invention is defined in claim 1.According
to the invention each spoon has at least one through aperture and in that a rod is
inserted through the aligned apertures in a stack of said spoons, this rod having
at one end a grip part and a retaining abutment which holds a terminal spoon in the
stack in place and, at the other end, an elastic retaining projection which holds
the other terminal spoon in place; the rod can be extracted by elastically retracting
said elastic retaining projection as the first step in the extraction operation.
[0004] The through apertures in the spoons can take the form of slits, and the rod can be
made flat so that a single rod can be used to hold the spoons neatly stacked in place.
As an alternative, a double rod could be used which would be accommodated in two holes
formed in each spoon. The elastic retaining projection can be formed by providing
a longitudinal slit; the projection can be single or double.
[0005] At its retaining abutment end, the rod can extend beyond said abutment to form a
projecting grip to aid its extraction; said extraction is carried out once the stack
of spoons has been positioned in the housing provided for them in the dispenser.
[0006] The slit for the flat rod is preferably formed towards the end of the handle of the
spoon.
[0007] The pack of spoons - which is held in a stack on the rod - can be partially covered
by a strip of paper or other material or it can be enclosed in a wrapper which allows
the projecting grip to protrude out of said wrapper.
[0008] A further subject of the invention is a spoon dispenser that can be refilled with
a pack of spoons as defined above, according to claim 8. This dispenser comprises
at least one housing, which is open at the top in order to be able to accommodate
a stack of spoons, and a corresponding device for extracting the spoon lying at the
bottom of the stack, or a plurality of such housings, and is characterized in that
a lid is provided which fits on top of the compartment containing the housing or housings
for the stacks of spoons to be dispensed so as to close it off and has an aperture,
such as a slit, located in line with and immediately above the housing or each housing,
through which aperture the projecting grip of the rod can protrude and through which
said rod can be extracted.
[0009] US-A-4 789 064 discloses a retainer clip for disposable utensils. The retainer clip
is made of the same material as the utensils in order to have matching appearances
for aesthetic purposes. The utensils are elastically deformable for removal from the
retainer.
[0010] A better understanding of the invention may be gained by following the description
and the appended drawing which shows a practical embodiment of the pack in question
and also a dispenser that can be refilled with these packs. In the drawing:
Fig. 1 shows, in isolation, a pack of spoons that can be handled in order to be loaded
into a housing in a dispenser as illustrated;
Figs 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a partially sectioned side view, a plan view on the plane
III-III of Fig. 2 and a sectional view on the plane IV-IV of Fig. 2, of a spoon designed
to be packed in the manner indicated;
Fig. 5 shows a front view, with some parts removed or in section, of a dispenser for
spoons packed as shown in Figs 1 to 4;
Fig. 6 shows a side view in partial section on the plane VI-VI of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 shows a plan view in partial section on the broken plane VII-VII of Figs 5
and 6;
Figs 8 and 9 show partial sections similar to those of Fig. 6 which illustrate the
action of extracting the pack rod from the stack of spoons and the position assumed
when extracting a spoon using the extraction mechanism;
Fig. 10 shows a view from below on the plane X-X of Figs 6 and 9, with some parts
removed;
Fig. 11 illustrates, in isolation and disconnected, the two half-shells which form
the dispenser box, shown in horizontal section similar to that of Fig. 7 but at various
levels; and
Figs 12 and 13 show, in isolation and on an enlarged scale, a component of the extraction
means, in a side view in partial section on the plane XII-XII in Fig. 13, and in a
view taken on XIII-XIII in Fig. 12.
[0011] As illustrated in the appended drawing (Figs 2 to 4), a spoon 1 has a longitudinal
slit 3 along its handle 1A, adjacent to the end opposite the bowl end 1B of the spoon.
The cross section of the spoon 1 is such as to allow one spoon to fit partially inside
another so that the spoons in each pack are stabilized in the form of a stack P.
[0012] In order to be able to handle a stack P of spoons 1, a flat rod 5 (Figs 1, 6, 8)
is provided which has a grip end 5A, an abutment 5B adjacent to said grip end, a main
portion 5C whose dimensions are such that it can be inserted into the slits 3 in the
spoons 1 of the stack P, and an end 5E which forms a pair of projections 5F and an
elongate longitudinal slit 5G, the latter being formed so as to make the projections
5F elastic, which projections need to be able to be pushed closer together in order
to allow the rod to be pulled out of the stack P of spoons 1. The stack of spoons
is held in place by the rod 5 between the abutment 5B which engages with the topmost
spoon 1X, and the pair of projections 5F which engage with the bottommost spoon 1Y
and prevent the spoons in the stack from spontaneously slipping off until such time
as the two projections 5F are pushed slightly closer together. The two projections
5F can also be of different sizes, with the larger one being more rigid and the thinner
one being more elastic.
[0013] When a pack as described above is accommodated in a housing in a dispenser such as
the one illustrated, or at any rate one designed to hold the stack P of spoons neatly
in place, it is then possible to extract the rod in the direction of the arrow f,
by pulling it gently upward in the direction of the arrow f while holding the stack
P of spoons 1 down so as to stop them from moving; in this way the projections 5F
- which work through their contact with the ends of the slit 3 in the spoons 1 - are
able to be pushed closer together, then, by pulling the rod 5 in the direction of
the arrow f, the rod is extracted from all the slits 3 and releases the spoons 1 which
can thus be dispensed by extracting them one at a time, starting with the spoon 1Y
lying at the bottom of the stack P of spoons.
[0014] A pack of spoons as described above could also include a paper component which could
take the form of an envelope or bag for containing said pack; alternatively, the paper
component could be a strip of paper S (Fig. 1) wrapped around the middle of the spoons
in the stack, the width of said strip being smaller than the length of the spoons.
The paper bag can be tom away just before the pack is inserted in the housing in the
dispenser, the strip S can be tom away before the pack is inserted or can be cut after
the stack of packed spoons is inserted so that, irrespective of the method used, the
spoons are released and can then be extracted individually.
[0015] A pack as described above can be accommodated in one housing of a plurality of adjacent
housings formed in a dispenser as illustrated in the drawing (Figs 5 to 11) and indicated
by the general reference 10.
[0016] The dispenser illustrated has a base 12 for a box which is denoted overall by the
reference 14, the front and back walls of which are shaped with vertical recesses
16 so that opposite pairs of recesses 16 form the housings for the stacks P of spoons
1, the bowl ends 1B of which are centered between side edges 18 which separate the
various housings defined by the shaped recesses 16 from one another. Provided at the
bottom of each housing 16 is a lever 20 which is lowered against an antagonistic elastic
action in order to cause a slide 22 to move in the direction of the arrow f2, this
slide causing the handle 1A of the bottommost spoon in a stack of spoons to protrude
partially (Fig. 9) through an aperture 24 formed in the bottom at least of the shaped
recess 16 facing the user who is to remove the spoon; the spoon thus projects - as
indicated by 1Z in Fig. 9 - out of the slit 24 when the lever 20 has been pressed
down and it is thus possible to extract a single spoon at a time from the bottom of
the stack. The levers 20 are shaped such that a space is left (Fig.6) for the ends
5E with the projections 5F of the rods 5, the latter being extracted as soon as the
packs of spoon stacks have been inserted (Fig. 1).
[0017] Once the stacks of spoons have been placed in the individual housings 16, 18 provided
for the spoons in the box 14, said box 14 can be closed by a lid, taking care to allow
the grip parts 5A to project through slits 26A formed in the lid 26 at precisely those
points where the grip parts 5A of the rods 5 are positioned when the packs described
are inserted in the individual housings 16, 18 of the box 14 of the dispenser 10.
Then, holding the lid 26 down on the box 14 which is closed by said lid, it is possible
to extract the rods 5 individually, the stacks P of spoons 1 being held in place by
the lid 26. This operation is carried out without in any way having to touch the spoons
which have been placed in the dispenser box.
[0018] More specifically, according to the drawing, the box 14 and the base 12 of the dispensing
device 10 illustrated consists of two components or half-shells which are identical
and can thus be made from a single mold, being subsequently joined together as mirror
images (see Fig. 11 in particular) along flanges 28 which are joined using snap-button
means or at any rate by means of a seal obtained in some other way. The two components
of the box 14 are shaped such as to offer the option of positioning the means for
centering the stacks of spoons, the extraction means, the extraction slits and the
seats for the extraction control means - such as the lever 20 and the slide 22 - either
way round.
[0019] Thus, the box will, more specifically, have outlet slits 24 and side edges 18 for
centering the spoons 1 on both its front and back faces; vertical slits 30 adjoining
the outlet slits 24 which are present on both the front and back faces will also be
provided and will allow a visual check to be made on the rate at which the stacks
of spoons are being used up. Sliding seats 32 are provided for each slide 22, but
only those on the front face of the box - i.e.. the opposite face to that on which
the levers 20 are mounted - will be used. The reference 34 denotes lateral supports
which serve to support the bowl ends 1B of the spoons in the stack, with the bowl
1B of the spoon resting on said ledges 34 and being centered between the vertical
side edges 18.
[0020] As can also, and more particularly, be seen in Figs 12 and 13, each slide 22 is made
by molding it in a single piece with the lever 20 which is right-angled and with the
connecting strip which extends between the two components 20 and 22 and consists of
a thin flat strip 38; the thinness of this strip gives it the flexibility of a foil
and it is molded together with the parts 20 and 22. The slide 22 comprises a projection
22A on the top which is positioned in front of the terminal edge of the bowl 1B of
the spoon 1Y lying at the bottom of the stack, which spoon has its bowl 1B resting
on the ledges 34 and its handle 1A resting on the guide ledges 32 at the lever 20
end. A sheet, for example of card 40, can be placed between the opposing side edges
18 and so that it rests on the ledges 34 in order to complete the support and sliding
surface for the bottommost spoons 1Y in each of the stacks. The two half-shells forming
the box 14 of the dispenser 10 have pegs 42 located on the underside of the seat inside
which each slide 22 slides; each slide 22 in turn has a peg 22C on its underside,
corresponding to the one 42. Engaged around the two pegs 22C and 42 found on each
of the housings for the stacks of spoons is a rubber band 44 of a type widely available
on the market and thus easy to replace, said rubber band being held in place by terminal
expansions on the two pegs 22C and 42. Each of the elastic bands 44 is engaged around
the two pegs 22C and 42 such that it is taut between these two pegs even when the
slide 22 abuts against a stop 12A when the lever 20 is in the raised position (Fig.
6), into which position the lever 20 is pulled by the elastic band 44 which pulls
the slide in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow f2. The lever 20
is approximately right-angled, with a recess at the top into which the end 5E of the
rod 5 with the slit 5G and the elastic projections 5F already described can fit when
the lever 20 is in the rest position shown in Fig. 4; it should be noted that the
rod 5 fits into the space provided by this recess in the top of the lever 20 during
loading operations, but is extracted completely prior to extraction of the spoons
and therefore prior to operation of the individual levers 20. At the bottom of each
lever 20, projecting coaxially on either side of it, are two pegs 20C which are housed
in corresponding housings 46 formed in the base 12 of the box. As each lever 20 is
positioned on the base 12 of the dispenser box, the pegs 20C fit into the housings
46, the slide 22 fits into the lateral sliding seats 32, and the elastic bands 44
engaged around the pegs 22C and 42 pull the slides 22 in the opposite direction to
the arrow f2 - such that the pegs 20C are pushed into the housings 46 so that the
individual levers 20 are secured in position within the housings 46 against the action
of the elastic bands 44 - as far as an abutment provided for the slide 22 and/or against
an abutment formed by the stops 12A of the base 12. In the position illustrated in
Fig. 6, the projecting part of the lever 20 remains raised as a result of the elastic
return action of the rubber bands 44. When one of the levers 20 is pressed down in
the direction of the arrow f3 so that it reaches the lowered position shown in Fig.
9, the lever 20 - by virtue of the flexible strip 38 - pulls the slide 22 in the direction
of the arrow f2, causing the projection 22A on the slide 22 to bring about the initial
extraction (in the direction of the arrow f2) of the bottommost spoon 1Y in that particular
stack through the slit 24 such that (position 1Z in Fig. 9) the spoon can be extracted
manually from the slit 24 through which it projects, thereby allowing the stack to
drop down.
[0021] It should be noted that the dimensions of the extraction mechanism - which consists
of the piece forming the lever 20 with the pegs 20C, the strip 38 and the slide 22
with the projections 22A and 22C - are no greater that those of each housing 16 for
a stack of spoons. It is thus possible to position the stacks of spoons very closely
next to each other in their respective housings 16 and therefore to limit the width
of the front of the box 14 of the dispenser, which is extremely advantageous in terms
of making space available for other uses in those public places having a dispenser
of the type described, and also advantageous in terms of the high spoon-holding capacity
offered by the device.
[0022] As has already been stated, the dispenser box can be made from two half-shells (see
Fig. 11) which are completely identical and can thus be molded using a single mold
and are made so as to be able to take advantage of the assembly of the extraction
means and of the systems for loading the packs which are totally identical and which
do not interfere with operation on the side not being used. The fact that the housings
46 are completely symmetrical means that the ievers can be positioned on either side;
positioning of the slides 22 is also allowed by the completely symmetrical guide systems;
the side edges 18 and the recesses 16 are symmetrical and the lid 26 - which has only
one row of slits 26A - can be positioned in either of two symmetrical and mirror-image
positions, so that the slits 26A lie on the same side as the grip parts 5A of the
rods 5 which have been loaded into the housings of the box.
[0023] The mechanisms for extracting the bottommost spoons in each stack can be assembled
without any particular need for pins or other elements, but simply by hooking the
elastic bands 44 around the pegs 42 and 22C from the underside of the box as the latter
is held upside down; the elastic bands 44 can also be replaced very quickly.
[0024] All the above means that the components of the dispenser can be produced and assembled
extremely simply and quickly:
[0025] As an alternative to the solution illustrated in Fig.3, the spoons can be made with
two apertures (such as two holes) set a certain distance apart instead of with the
slit 3. Accordingly, the rod 5 would then take the form of two bars instead of the
flat structure illustrated.
[0026] It should be understood that the drawing shows only one example given solely as a
practical demonstration of the invention and that the forms and arrangements of the
latter can vary without thereby departing from the scope of the underlying concept
of said invention. The presence of reference numerals in the appended claims has the
purpose of facilitating reading of the claims with reference to the description and
the drawing and does not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.
1. A pack of disposable ice-cream spoons, which can be handled easily and hygienically
in order to refill dispensers for such spoons rapidly, including a plurality of ice-cream
spoons arranged in a stack (P) and a retaining rod (5), wherein:
- each disposable spoon (1) has at least one through slit (3), said rod (5) being
flat and being inserted through the aligned slits (3) of said stack of spoons (1);
- said rod (5) has a main portion (5C), with a first end forming at least one retaining
abutment (5B) which holds a terminal spoon (1X) in the stack in place and a second
end provided with at least one elastically deformable retaining projection (5F) which
holds the other terminal spoon (1Y) in place;
- and the rod (5) can be extracted from the through apertures (3) by elastically deforming
said retaining projection (5F) as the first step in the extraction operation and thus
extracting said retaining projection (5F) from said aperture (3) of said spoons.
2. Pack as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said rod (5) has a main portion (5C) between said abutment (5B) and said retaining
projection (5F), the length of said through slits corresponding to the width of said
main portion of the rod, such that the rod (5) holds the spoons neatly stacked in
place.
3. Pack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said rod has two projections (5F) separated by an elongate longitudinal slit (5G),
the latter being formed so as to make the projections (5F) elastic; said projections
projecting from said main portion (5C) of the rod.
4. Pack as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that, at its retaining abutment end (5B), the rod (5) extends beyond said abutment to
form a projecting grip (5A) to aid its extraction; said extraction being carried out
once the stack (P) of spoons (1) has been positioned in the housing (16, 18) provided
for them in the dispenser (10).
5. Pack as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the spoon (1) the slit (3) for the flat rod (5) is formed towards the end of the
handle (1A) of the spoon.
6. Pack as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pack of spoons (1) is partially covered by a strip (S) of paper or other material.
7. Pack as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pack of spoons is enclosed in a removable wrapper which allows the projecting
grip to protrude out of said wrapper.
8. A spoon dispenser (10) that can be refilled with a pack of spoons as claimed in at
least one of the preceding claims, comprising a compartment (14) including at least
one housing (16, 18) with a top and a bottom, which is open at the top in order to
be able to accommodate one or more stacks (P) of spoons (1), and an extraction device
(20, 22, 24) arranged at the bottom of said housing for extracting the spoon lying
at the bottom of the stack, characterized in that a lid (26) is provided which fits on top of the compartment containing the housing
or housings (16, 18) for the stacks (P) of spoons to be dispensed so as to close it
off, said lid having an aperture (26A), located in line with the housing or each housing,
on top of said housing(s) and opposite said device for extracting the spoon, through
which aperture (26A) the projecting grip (5A) of a rod (5), inserted through aligned
apertures of the spoons (1) of a pack accommodated in said housing, can protrude and
through which each rod (5) can be extracted.
1. Ein Stapel von Speiseeislöffeln, welcher leicht und hygienisch gehandhabt werden kann
um eine Abgabevorrichtung für solche Löffel rasch wiederauffüllen zu können, einschließend
eine Vielzahl von Speiseeislöffeln, beinhaltet einen Stapel (P) und einen ausziehbaren
Stab (5), worin:
- jeder abgebbare Löffel (1) wenigstens einen durchgehenden Schlitz (3) aufweist,
wobei besagter Stab (5) flach ausgebildet ist und durch die angepassten Schlitze (3)
des Stapels von Löffeln (1) hindurchgeführt ist;
- besagter Stab (5) einen Hauptabschnitt (5C) aufweist, mit einem ersten Ende welches
wenigstens eine Rückhalte-Abstützung (5B) ausbildet, welche einen abschließenden Löffel
(1X) in dem Stapel platziert hält, und ein zweites Ende, ausgestattet mit wenigstens
einer elastischen Rückhaltenase (5F) welcher den anderen abschließenden Löffel (1Y)
an seinem Platz hält;
- und der Stab (5) kann aus den durchgehenden Öffnungen (3) herausgezogen werden durch
elastisches Verformen der Rückhaltenase (5F), als ersten Schritt des Ausziehvorgangs,
und somit die Rückhaltenase (5F) aus der Öffnung (3) der Löffel herausziehend.
2. Stapel, wie beansprucht in Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagter Stab (5) einen Hauptabschnitt (5C) aufweist zwischen der Rückhalteabstützung
(5B) und der Rückhaltenase (5F), wobei die Länge der durchgehenden Schlitze mit der
Breite des Hauptabschnittes des Stabes korrespondiert, so dass der Stab (5) die Löffel
ordentlich in dem Stapel platziert hält.
3. Stapel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Stab zwei Nasen (5F) aufweist, getrennt durch einen länglichen, längs ausgerichteten
Schlitz (5G), wobei letzterer so geformt ist, dass er den Nasen (5F) einen Elastizität
verleiht und die Nasen sich von besagtem Hauptabschnitt (5C) des Stabes wegerstrecken.
4. Stapel nach einem der Ansprüche 1, 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an seinem Rückhalte-Abstützungs-Ende (5B) der Stab (5) sich über die Rückhalte-Abstützung
hinaus erstreckt um einen vorstehenden Griff (5A) zur Unterstützung seiner Entnahme
auszubilden; wobei seine Entnahme durchgeführt wird, nachdem der Stapel (B) von Löffeln
(1) in dem Gehäuse (16, 18) angeordnet wurde, welches dafür in der Spendevorrichtung
(10) zur Verfügung gestellt ist.
5. Stapel wie beansprucht in wenigstens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in dem Löffel (1) der Schlitz (3) für den flachen Stab (5) zum Ende des Griffs (1A)
des Löffels hin ausgebildet ist.
6. Stapel wie beansprucht in wenigstens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Stapel von Löffeln (1) teilweise durch einen Streifen (S) aus Papier oder einem
anderen Material überdeckt ist.
7. Stapel wie beansprucht in wenigstens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Stapel von Löffeln in einer entfernbaren Hülle angeordnet ist, welche es dem
vorstehenden Griff ermöglicht durch die Hülle nach außen hin vorzustehen.
8. Eine Löffel-Spendevorrichtung (10) welche wieder befüllt werden kann, mit einem Stapel
von Löffeln, wie beansprucht in wenigstens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, umfassend
einen Raum (14) beinhaltend wenigstens ein Gehäuse (16, 18) mit einer Oberseite und
einer Unterseite, welche an der Oberseite geöffnet ist, um dazu geeignet zu sein einen
oder mehrere Stapel (P) von Löffeln (1) aufzunehmen, und eine Entnahmevorrichtung
(20, 22, 24) angeordnet an der Unterseite des Gehäuses für die Entnahme des Löffels,
der an der Unterseite des Stapels angeordnet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Deckel (26) zur Verfügung gestellt ist, welcher auf die Oberseite des Raumes
passt, welcher das Gehäuse oder die Gehäuse (16, 18) für die Stapel (P) der Löffel
beinhaltet, welche abgegeben werden, um diese zu verschließen, wobei der Deckel eine
Vorrichtung (26A) aufweist, angeordnet in einer Linie mit dem Gehäuse oder den Gehäusen,
an der Oberseite des Gehäuses (der Gehäuse) und gegenüberliegend der Vorrichtung für
die Entnahme der Löffel, durch welche Öffnungen (26A) der vorstehende Griff (5A) des
Stapels (5), welcher eingefügt ist durch die ausgerichteten Öffnungen der Löffel (1)
eines in dem Gehäuse angeordneten Stapels, herausragen kann, und durch welchen jeder
Stab (5) entnommen werden kann.
1. Paquet de cuillères à glace jetables qui peut être facilement manipulé de manière
hygiénique pour recharger rapidement des distributeurs destinés auxdites cuillères,
comprenant une pluralité de cuillères à glace rangées en pile (P) et une tige de retenue
(5), dans lequel :
- chaque cuillère jetable (1) possède au moins une fente traversante (3), ladite tige
(5) étant plate et étant insérée dans les fentes alignées (3) de ladite pile de cuillères
(1) ;
- ladite tige (5) possède une partie principale (5C) munie d'une première extrémité
formant au moins une butée de retenue (5B) qui retient en place une dernière cuillère
(1X) de la pile et d'une deuxième extrémité munie d'au moins une projection de retenue
(5F) déformable élastiquement qui retient en place la dernière cuillère (1Y) à l'autre
bout ;
- et la tige (5) peut être extraite des ouvertures traversantes (3) à l'aide de ladite
projection de retenue (5F) déformable élastiquement dans une première étape de l'opération
d'extraction et ainsi extraire ladite projection de retenue (5F) de ladite ouverture
(3) desdites cuillères.
2. Paquet selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite tige (5) possède une partie principale (5C) entre ladite butée (5B) et ladite
projection de retenue (5F), la longueur desdites fentes traversantes correspondant
à la largeur de ladite partie principale de la tige, de sorte que la tige (5) maintient
les cuillères bien empilées en place.
3. Paquet selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite tige possède deux projections (5F) séparées par une fente longitudinale allongée
(5G), cette dernière étant formée de manière à rendre les projections (5F) élastiques,
lesdites projections faisant saillie à partir de ladite partie principale (5C) de
la tige.
4. Paquet selon la revendication 1, 2, ou 3, caractérisé en ce que, au niveau de son extrémité formant butée de retenue (5B), la tige (5) s'étend au-delà
de ladite butée pour former une poignée saillante (5A) pour faciliter son extraction
; ladite extraction étant réalisée une fois que la pile (P) de cuillères (1) a été
positionnée dans le logement (16, 18) prévu à cet effet dans le distributeur (10).
5. Paquet selon au moins l'une des revendications de 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que dans la cuillère (1), la fente (3) destinée à la tige plate (5) est formée en direction
du manche (1A) de la cuillère.
6. Paquet selon au moins l'une des revendications de 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le paquet de cuillères (1) est partiellement recouvert d'une bande (S) de papier
ou autre matériau.
7. Paquet selon au moins l'une des revendications de 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que le paquet de cuillères est enfermé dans un emballage susceptible d'être retiré qui
permet à la poignée de dépasser dudit emballage.
8. Distributeur (10) de cuillères qui peut être rechargé avec un paquet de cuillères
selon au moins l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant un compartiment (14)
constitué d'au moins un logement (16, 18) avec une partie supérieure et une partie
inférieure, lequel est ouvert au niveau de la partie supérieure pour permettre de
placer une ou plusieurs piles (P) de cuillères (1), et un dispositif d'extraction
(20, 22, 24) placé dans la partie inférieure dudit logement pour extraire la cuillère
située en bas de la pile, caractérisé en ce qu'un couvercle (26) est prévu pour s'adapter en haut du compartiment contenant le ou
les logement(s) (16, 18) destinés aux piles (P) de cuillères à distribuer afin de
fermer ce dernier, ledit couvercle étant muni d'une ouverture (26A) située dans l'alignement
du ou de chacun des logement(s), dans la partie supérieure dudit ou desdits logement(s)
et en face dudit dispositif d'extraction de la cuillère, ouverture (26A) à travers
laquelle la poignée saillante (5A) de la tige (5), insérée dans les ouvertures alignées
des cuillères (1) d'une pile placée à l'intérieur dudit logement, peut dépasser et
par laquelle chaque tige (5) peut être extraite.