Small item dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing small items such as pieces of candy is disclosed herein. The dispenser includes a base and a cover rotatably coupled to the base, the base and the cover defining a main cavity thereinbetween. The dispenser includes a pocket within the base that can be separated from the main cavity by rotatable movement of the cover. The cover includes a divider for at least substantially blocking off the pocket from the main cavity when the cover moves from a closed position to an open position such that small items cannot enter the pocket. When the cover is in the closed position, a small item can enter the pocket but cannot be accessed from outside the small item dispenser, and, when the cover is in the open position, the pocket can be accessed from outside the small item dispenser without small items being able to enter the pocket from the main cavity.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to dispensers. More particularly, the present invention relates to dispensers for dispensing small items such as pieces of candy.

BACKGROUND

Containers for storing and dispensing small items such as tablets or pieces of candy are well known. Some examples of small item dispensers may include a removable screw top, a peelable seal, a slidable cover, or a snap-fit cap or opening. Once these closures are opened, the items within the containers may be freely poured from the container. One problem often encountered with the dispensers found in the art is that their designs make it difficult for users to control the amount of items to be dispensed from the container. A person wanting one, two, or a few tablets or pieces of candy often has a difficult time controlling the amount of items dispensed from the container and usually has to resort to discarding the unwanted pieces.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a dispenser adapted for easily dispensing small items such as pieces of candy. In one example embodiment, the dispenser includes a base and a cover rotatably coupled to the base, the cover and the base defining a main cavity thereinbetween. The dispenser includes a pocket within the base that can be separated from the main cavity by rotatable movement of the cover with respect to the base. The cover includes a divider for at least substantially blocking off the pocket from the main cavity when the cover moves from a closed position to an open position such that small items cannot enter the pocket. When the cover is in the closed position, a small item can enter the pocket but cannot be accessed from outside the small item dispenser, and, when the cover is in the open position, the pocket can be accessed from outside the small item dispenser without small items being able to enter the pocket from the main cavity.

Examples representative of a variety of inventive aspects are set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description merely provide examples of how the inventive aspects may be put into practice, and are not intended to limit the broad spirit and scope of the inventive aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, showing a base and a cover of the dispenser separated from each other;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, shown in a closed position, the internal features of the base and the cover of the dispenser shown with hidden lines;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, shown in an open position, the internal features of the base and the cover of the dispenser shown with hidden lines;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the base of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the cover of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the cover of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the cover of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a dispenser in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 13, shown in a closed position, the internal features of the base and the cover of the dispenser shown with hidden lines; and

FIG. 15 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 13, shown in an open position, the internal features of the base and the cover of the dispenser shown with hidden lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a dispenser 10 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The dispenser 10 includes a base 12 and a cover 14. The base 12 and the cover 14 are separably coupled to each other. Once coupled, the base 12 and the cover 14 are rotatable with respect to each other.

The base 12 and the cover 14 define an interior storage volume 16 for holding a plurality of items 18. As will be discussed in further detail below, the interior storage volume 16 includes a main cavity 20 and a pocket 22 separable from the main cavity 20, wherein the pocket 22 is separated from the main cavity 20 by the rotation of either the base 12 or the cover 14 with respect to the other.

The dispenser 10 includes a first major side 24 and a second opposing major side 26. In the depicted embodiment, the first major side 24 of the dispenser 10 is defined by the base 12 and the second major side 26 of the dispenser 10 is defined by the cover 14. When the dispenser 10 is assembled (as shown at FIGS. 1, 3, and 4), the major sides 24, 26 oppose and are generally parallel to one another. As defined herein, the term “major side” is a side having a larger surface area than the other sides of the dispenser.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, in one embodiment, a relatively thin spacing S is provided between the major sides 24, 26. In one example embodiment, the spacing S is sized such that only a single layer of items 18 can be provided within the dispenser 10. For example, in one embodiment, the spacing S is less than two times the diameter of the items (e.g., spheres) held within the dispenser 10. In a preferred embodiment, the spacing S is only slightly larger than the diameter of the items 18 held within the dispenser 10.

It will be appreciated that a variety of different types of items can be dispensed from the dispenser 10. Preferred items include pieces of candy. In one embodiment, the pieces of a candy can include pieces of hard candy. In a preferred embodiment, the items can include liquid filled (e.g., mint filled) candy. In one example embodiment, the items can include balls or spheres of candy including outer gelatin coatings and an inner liquid candy filling (e.g., a mint filling).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 14 is rotatably coupled with respect to the base 12 between a closed position (FIG. 3) and an open position (FIG. 4). The open position of the cover 14 may be defined as the position wherein small items 18 are accessible from an outside of the dispenser 10. The closed position of the cover 14 may be defined as the position wherein small items 18 are not accessible from an outside of the dispenser 10.

When the cover 14 is in the closed position of FIG. 3, items can enter the pocket 22 from the main cavity 20, but are not accessible from outside the dispenser 10. When the cover 14 is moved to the open position of FIG. 4, an opening 28 (i.e., a dispensing opening) defined on the cover 14 aligns with the pocket 22 such that item(s) 18 within the pocket 22 can be dispensed through the opening 28. By rotating the cover 14 back and forth between the positions of FIGS. 3 and 4, multiple items 18 can be removed from the storage volume 16 of the dispenser 10 and dispensed through the opening 28. In the depicted embodiment, the cover 14 is turned in a clockwise direction with respect to the base 12 to bring the cover 14 from the closed position to the open position.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-12, the base 12 and the cover 14 are shown in closer detail. The base 12 defines a generally circular configuration with an inner face 30 that faces the interior storage volume 16 and an outer face 32 that faces the outside of the dispenser 10. The cover 14 also includes a generally circular configuration. The cover 14 includes an inner face 34 that opposes the inner face 30 of the base 12 and an outer face 36 that faces the outside of the dispenser 10. It will be appreciated that a variety of different shapes can be used for the base 12 and the cover 14 to form the dispenser 10.

The cover 14 includes a mounting post 38 (FIGS. 10-12) and the base 12 includes a mounting post receiver 40 (FIG. 1) for receiving the mounting post 38 to couple the cover 14 to the base 12. It will be appreciated that the portion of the dispenser 10 that includes the mounting post 38 and the portion of the dispenser that includes the mounting post receiver 40 can be switched. While the cover 14 and the base 12 are separated from one another, the items 18 to be dispensed can be loaded into the interior storage volume 16. After loading the items 18 into the dispenser 10, the base 12 and the cover 14 can be mounted together with the mounting post 38 of the cover 14 received in the mounting post receiver 40 of the base 12.

Referring to FIGS. 6-7, the base 12 includes a peripheral flange 42 defining a lower sidewall of the dispenser 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 11-12, the cover 14 also includes a peripheral flange 44 defining an upper sidewall of the dispenser 10. When the cover 14 is coupled to the base 12, the flanges 42, 44 of the base 12 and the cover 14 define the generally circular sidewall of the dispenser 10.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, the peripheral flange 44 of the cover 14 includes an interior extension 46 which is configured to fit inside the peripheral flange 42 of the base 12 when the dispenser 10 is assembled. An outer lip 48 is defined between the cover's peripheral flange 44 and the interior extension 46 thereof. The peripheral flange 42 of the base 12 abuts against and rides along the outer lip 48 when the base 12 and the cover 14 are assembled and rotated with respect to each other. The flange configurations of the base 12 and the cover 14 can also be switched.

As discussed previously, the base 12 defines a pocket 22 that is separable from the main cavity 20 by the rotation of the cover 14 or the base 12 with respect to the other. Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the pocket 22 is defined between a first wall 50 extending upwardly from the inner face 30 of the base 12, a second wall 52 extending upwardly from the inner face 30 of the base 12, and a portion of the peripheral flange 42 of the base 12. The first wall 50 extends generally radially from the peripheral flange 42 of the base 12. The second wall 52 defines a generally L-shaped configuration. The second wall 52 includes curved portion 54 (FIGS. 2 and 5) giving the pocket 22 a funnel-like shape for facilitating loading of small items 18 into the pocket 22. The loading of items 18 into pocket is illustrated by arrow D in FIG. 3.

The pocket 22 includes an open end 58 configured to communicate with the main cavity 20. The pocket 22 also includes an open side 60 (FIG. 6) that is configured to communicate with the dispensing opening 28 of the dispenser 10 when the cover 14 is in the open position.

As shown at FIGS. 9 and 10, the dispensing opening 28 of the cover 14 is defined through the second major side 26 of the dispenser 10. When an item 18 moves into the pocket 22 from the main cavity 20, the item 18 moves along a path of travel aligned along a plane P (FIG. 2) that is generally parallel to the first and second major sides 24, 26. When the item 18 is dispensed through the opening 28, the item 18 travels through the open side 60 of the pocket 22 and through the second major side 26 in a direction that is generally perpendicular relative to the plane P.

In one embodiment, the pocket 22 is sized to hold at least one small item. Although the pocket 22 can be sized to hold any number of small items 18 (depending upon the size of the small items stored in the storage volume), according to one preferred embodiment, the pocket 22 is sized relative to the small items such that it can hold exactly one small item 18. In such an embodiment, as depicted, the dispenser 10 allows the items 18 to be individually dispensed from the interior storage volume 16.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 10, the cover 14 includes a divider 62 for at least substantially blocking off the pocket 22 from the main cavity 20 when the cover 14 moves from the closed position to the open position such that small items 18 cannot enter the pocket 22 from the main cavity 20. When the cover 14 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, a small item 18 can enter the pocket 22 but the small items 18 cannot be accessed from outside the dispenser 10. When the cover 14 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 4, the pocket 22 can be accessed from outside the dispenser 10 without small items 18 being able to enter the pocket 22 from the main cavity 20 being blocked off by the divider 62.

Still referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 10, the divider 62 is defined by a wall 64 that extends downwardly from the inner face 34 of the cover 14. The wall 64 is generally perpendicular to the first and second walls 50, 52 of the base 12 to at least substantially block off the pocket 22 from the main cavity 20 when the cover 14 is rotated from the closed position to the open position.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5 and 10, the dispenser 10 preferably includes positive stops for stopping the cover 14 in the positions of FIGS. 3 and 4. In one embodiment, the downwardly extending wall 64 of the cover 14 defining the divider 62 includes a tab portion 66 (FIG. 4) that is configured to make contact with the first upwardly extending wall 50 of the base 12 to stop the cover 14 from rotating past the closed position. The tab 66 may be referred to herein as the first stop.

Still referring to FIGS. 2-5 and 10, the cover 14 may also include a downwardly extending second wall 68 that is generally perpendicular to the divider 62. In the depicted embodiment, the second wall 68 is integrally formed with the divider 62. The second wall 68 of the cover 14 is configured to contact the first upwardly extending wall 50 of the base 12 when the cover 14 is rotated from the closed position to the open position to stop the cover 14 from rotating past the open position. The second wall 68 of the cover 14 may be referred to herein as the second stop.

As discussed above, when the second stop 68 has engaged the first upwardly extending wall 50 of the base 12, (i.e., while the cover is in the open position), the pocket 22 is blocked off from the main cavity 20 by the divider 62 such that small items 18 cannot enter the pocket 22. However, if a small item 18 has previously entered the pocket 22, that small item 18 is accessible from the pocket 22 when the cover 14 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 4.

As discussed above, when the first stop 66 has engaged the first upwardly extending wall 50 of the base 12 (i.e., while the cover is in the closed position), the pocket 22 is open to the main cavity 20 such that small items 18 can enter the pocket 22. However, since the pocket 22 is not aligned with the dispensing opening 28, a small item 18 in the pocket 22 cannot be accessed from outside the dispenser 10.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate a second embodiment of a dispenser 110 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The dispenser 110 includes features similar to the dispenser 10 shown in FIGS. 1-12, except that dispenser 110 includes a different first stop configuration than the dispenser 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-15, the first stop is defined by a third upwardly extending wall 166 of the base 112. The third wall 166 extends generally radially inwardly from the peripheral flange 142 of the base 112. The third upwardly extending wall 166 is configured to make contact with the second downwardly extending wall 168 (i.e., the second stop) of the cover 114 when the cover 114 rotates to the closed position. In such an embodiment, the tab portion 66 of the divider 62 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 10) may be eliminated and the third upwardly extending wall 166 of the base 114 acts as the first stop when it contacts the second downwardly extending wall 168.

The above specification provides examples of how certain inventive aspects may be put into practice. It will be appreciated that the inventive aspects can be practiced in other ways than those specifically shown and described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects.

Claims

1. A small item dispenser comprising:

a base;

a cover rotatably coupled to the base to define a main cavity thereinbetween for holding small items, the cover rotatable with respect to the base between a closed position and an open position; and

a pocket within the base that can be separated from the main cavity, the pocket sized to receive and hold at least one small item;

wherein the cover includes a divider for at least substantially blocking off the pocket from the main cavity when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position such that small items cannot enter the pocket, and, wherein, when the cover is in the closed position, the at least one small item can enter the pocket but cannot be accessed from outside the small item dispenser, and, wherein, when the cover is in the open position, the pocket can be accessed from outside the small item dispenser without small items being able to enter the pocket from the main cavity.

2. A small item dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a first stop configured to stop the cover from rotating past the closed position and a second stop configured to stop the cover from rotating past the open position with respect to the base.

3. A small item dispenser comprising according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a first upwardly extending wall and a second upwardly extending wall, the first wall and the second wall defining the pocket thereinbetween and the cover including a first downwardly extending wall oriented generally perpendicularly to the first and second walls of the base to at least substantially block off the pocket from the rest of the cavity when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position such that a small item cannot enter the pocket.

4. A small item dispenser according to claim 3, further comprising a first stop configured to stop the cover from rotating past the closed position and a second stop configured to stop the cover from rotating past the open position with respect to the base, wherein the first stop is configured to make contact with the first wall of the base when the cover is in the closed position and the second stop is configured to make contact with the first wall of the base when the cover is in the open position.

5. A small item dispense according to claim 4, wherein the first stop includes a tab extending away from the first downwardly extending wall of the cover generally toward the first wall of the base such that the tab contacts the first wall of the base when the cover is in the closed position and wherein the second stop includes a second downwardly extending wall of the cover that extends away from the first downwardly extending wall of the cover generally toward the first wall of the base such that the second stop contacts the first wall of the base when the cover is in the open position.

6. A small item dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the second stop is configured to make contact with the first wall of the base when the cover is in the open position and the first stop is configured to make contact with the second stop when the cover is in the closed position.

7. A small item dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the second stop includes a second downwardly extending wall of the cover that extends generally away from the first downwardly extending wall of the cover toward the first wall of the base such that the second stop makes contact with the first wall of the base when the cover is in the open position and wherein the first stop includes a third upwardly extending wall of the base configured to make contact with the second stop when the cover is in the closed position.

8. A small item dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cover and the base include a generally round configuration.

9. A small item dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is generally trapezoidal.

10. A small item dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the second wall of the base includes a rounded portion to assist small items in entering the pocket.

11. A small item dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cover is turned in a clockwise direction with respect to the base to bring the cover from the closed position to the open position.

12. A small item dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a dispensing opening configured to communicate with the pocket when the cover is in the open position.

13. A small item dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the first and the second stops are integrally formed with the first downwardly extending wall of the cover.

14. A small item dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cover is removably coupled to the base to allow loading of small items into the main cavity defined between the cover and the base.

15. A small item dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is sized to receive and hold at most one small item.

16. A small item dispenser comprising:

a first portion and a second portion rotatably disposed with respect to the first portion, the second portion rotatable between a closed position and an open position, the first portion including a first major side and the second portion including a second major side;

a main cavity for holding small items positioned between the first and second major sides; and

a pocket separable from the main cavity by rotatable movement of the second portion with respect to the first portion from a closed position to an open position, wherein the pocket communicates with the main cavity for receiving at least one small item when the second portion is in the closed position and wherein the pocket is not accessible from an outside of the small item dispenser when the second portion is in the closed position;

wherein, when the second portion is moved from the closed position to the open position, the pocket becomes substantially blocked off from the main cavity and the pocket becomes accessible from the outside of the small item dispenser.

17. A small item dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the first portion and the second portion include a generally round configuration.

18. A small item dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the second portion includes an access opening configured to communicate with the pocket when the second portion is moved to the open position.

19. A small item dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the second portion is rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to the first portion to bring the second portion from the closed position to the open position.

20. A small item dispenser according to claim 16, further comprising a first stop configured to stop the second portion from rotating past the closed position and a second stop configured to stop the second portion from rotating past the open position with respect to the base.

21. A small item dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the second portion is separable from the first portion for loading small items into the main cavity.

22. A small item dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the pocket is sized to receive and hold at most one small item.