Coffee filter dispenser

Claim 1

An apparatus for singularly dispensing an uppermost cupuliform coffee filter from a stack of such coffee filters comprising: a container having a plurality of walls which define an opening and which are disposed to receive the stack of cupuliform coffee filters with the planar bottom of said filters opposite the opening of the container and the stack of cupuliform coffee filters adjacent a first wall of said plurality of walls; a lid hingedly connected to the container to selectively cover the opening; a plunger arm pivotably connected to the underside of the lid and disposed to depend a filter engaging projection at the terminal end of the plunger arm in an arc of rotation lying in a plane which is substantially orthogonal to the first wall; said plunger arm further including: an arcuate region between the pivotal connection to the lid and the filter engaging projection; and a moment arm which projects from the plunger arm intermediate of the pivotal connection and the filter engaging projection; means for automatically urging the filter engaging projection toward the first wall such that the filter engaging projection contacts the uppermost coffee filter; means for selectively resetting the plunger arm by withdrawing it from the first wall whereby the means for automatically urging the filter engaging projection is overcome and the filter engaging means retreats to a position permitting closure of the lid; said resetting means comprising: a button; a sleeve defining an aperture through the lid; a push rod slidably mounted through the sleeve, a first end of the push rod connected to the button and accessible on the exterior end of the lid and a second end of the push rod presented to contact the moment arm of the plunger arm.

Claim 2

An apparatus for singularly dispensing an uppermost cupuliform coffee filter from a stack of such coffee filters comprising: a container having a plurality of walls which define an opening and which are disposed to receive the stack of cupuliform coffee filters with the planar bottom of said filters opposite the opening of the container and the stack of cupuliform coffee filters adjacent a first wall of said plurality of walls; a lid hingedly connected to the container to selectively cover the opening; a plunger arm pivotably connected to the underside of the lid and disposed to depend a filter engaging projection at the terminal end of the plunger arm in an arc of rotation lying in a plane which is substantially orthogonal to the first wall; said plunger arm further including: an arcuate region between the pivotal connection to the lid and the filter engaging projection; and a moment arm which projects from the plunger arm intermediate of the pivotal connection and the filter engaging projection; means for automatically urging the filter engaging projection toward the first wall such that the filter engaging projection contacts the uppermost coffee filter; means for selectively resetting the plunger arm by withdrawing it from the first wall whereby the means for automatically urging the filter engaging projection is overcome and the filter engaging means retreats to a position permitting closure of the lid; said resetting means comprising: a button; a sleeve defining an aperture through the lid; a push rod slidably mounted through the sleeve, a first end of the push rod connected to the button and accessible on the exterior end of the lid and a second end of the push rod presented to contact the moment arm of the plunger arm.