Individual package dispenser
A system for dispensing packages is provided. The system includes a dispensing container having a plurality of packages arranged vertically therein. The container has top and bottom panels and side panels extending upwardly between the top and bottom panels. The side panels have rear portions spaced apart from each other and converge forwardly towards a front apex. A dispensing opening is defined by an upper front portion of each of the side panels and a front portion of the top panel. Each of the packages has a height that is substantially larger than the package width and depth. The dispensing opening defines a mouth of the container sized to limit the number of packages that can be simultaneously withdrawn from the container.
The invention relates to dispensing containers for food packages or other small packages.
BACKGROUNDDispensing containers have been used for many years to hold smaller packages containing various materials. Generally such containers have a cavity for holding the smaller packages to be dispensed. The smaller packages may be those commonly referred to as “stick packs” and may contain individual portions of a given material. By way of example, such containers may be used in a retail setting, such as a supermarket, for dispensing smaller packages of product to customers. These containers may have various open ended configurations for allowing users to withdraw packages from the container. In a case where the packages being dispensed are elongated, it may be desirable to arrange them in a relatively vertical orientation. Such packages are generally withdrawn upwards, by lifting them from the container.
In many prior dispensing containers, the entire upper end of the container is open, facilitating withdrawal of the packages therein. However, this allows a user to withdraw a large number of packages at a time. In certain settings, it may be desirable to limit or regulate the number of packages which can be withdrawn.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a system for relatively small dispensing packages. The system includes a container having top and bottom panels with upwardly extending side panels therebetween. The side panels have rear portions spaced apart from each other. From the spaced rear portions, the side panels converge towards one another and forwardly to a front apex. A dispensing opening is provided through an upper front portion of the converging side walls and a portion of the top panel, adjacent the front apex. The dispensing opening is sized to limit the number of packages that can be simultaneously withdrawn from the container. The container may tilted forward such that, upon the withdrawal of one package through the dispensing opening, other packages stacked behind the removed package will slide into place adjacent the front apex and be exposed through the mouth of the container.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the figures, where like reference numerals indicate like elements, there is shown an embodiment of a dispensing system for packages. The dispensing system is generally referred to by the numeral 10 and provides a way to dispense packages, such as in a retail setting. The dispensing system 10 dispenses the packages in a way that limits the number of packages which can be withdrawn by a user.
The dispensing system 10 is used to dispense packages 12, such as “stick packs”. Although the figures show stick packs, any type of package 12 may be used in the dispensing system of the present invention. The packages 12 are preferably elongated, having a height which is substantially larger than the width and depth. By substantially larger, it is meant that the height of the packages 12 is at least about 150% of the width or depth.
Referring now to
Side panels 18, 20 and a rear panel 22 (shown in
A dispensing opening 32 extends through an upper portion of the side panels 18, 20 and the front apex 24. An upper edge 34 of the opening 32 is defined by the top panel 16 and a lower edge 36 of the opening 32 is defined by the side panels 18, 20 at the front apex 24. The dispensing opening 32 is sized to facilitate the withdrawal of a limited number of packages 12 therethrough, while the remainder of packages 12 remain covered, inside of the container 14. As will be described below in more detail, the dispensing opening 32 has a depth from the front Apex 24 of the container 14, and a width which are small enough to prevent a user from withdrawing more than a selected number of packages 12 from the container 14. This is particularly beneficial in a retail setting where proprietors often desire to limit the number of packages that can be withdrawn at a time.
The angled base 26 is preferably shaped to match the footprint of the container 14, which in this embodiment is a generally triangular with rounded corners. A rim 30 extends around the perimeter of the base 26. The container 14 fits within the rim 30 and is engaged thereby.
Typically the width range will also vary based on the type of package 12 being dispensed and where the container will be used. For example, in a retail setting, it may be desirable to only allow 1-2 packages to be withdrawn at a time. The width of the opening 32 narrows slightly between the wider upper edge 34 and the slightly narrower lower edge 36. This tapered configuration facilitates withdrawal of the packages 12 through the opening 32. Alternatively, the sides of the dispensing opening 32 may be vertically oriented.
The front edge 36 of the opening 32 is preferably high enough for the front apex 24 to cover at least half of the package 12. In this respect, a desired range of a front apex 24 by height is about 50-90% of the package height; thus exposing from 10%-50% of the package through the dispensing opening 32.
A side view of the dispensing system 10 is shown in
The upper edge 34 of the dispensing opening 32 is spaced back from the front of the container 14 to allow the dispensing opening 32 to expose a selected number of packages 12. The depth of the dispensing opening 32 may vary. It is desirable to configure the size of the dispensing opening 32 to the desired use of the dispensing system 10. In alternative embodiments, the upper edge 32 may be some configuration other than straight, and the opening depth may not necessarily correspond to opening width.
As shown best in
Referring now to
In use, a package is pulled in a substantially vertical direction, shown by the arrow A in
The withdrawal of a package 12 creates a cavity in the container 14, proximate the front apex 24. This cavity opens first at the bottom of the container, and as the package is withdrawn, extends up, until the front package 12a is completely withdrawn. Because of the tilt of the container 14 and the converging side panels 18, 20, the bottom of the second package 12b will generally move forward first, followed by the rest of the package. Upon the complete withdrawal of the first package 12a, the second package 12b will move into place for subsequent withdrawal. This process is repeated until the container 14 is empty.
The container 14 may be made of any number of materials, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Also, the container may be made using unitary construction, or one or more panels may be removable. The packages 12 may be constructed of plastic, foil, paper or some other material.
A variety of modifications to the embodiments described will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure provided herein. Thus, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A system for dispensing loose packages comprising:
- a dispensing container having top and bottom panels, first and second side panels, extending upwardly from the bottom panel to the top panel, each panel converging forwardly towards a front apex, and a dispensing opening extending through an upper front portion of each of the side panels and a front portion of the top panel; and
- a plurality of packages arranged vertically within the container, each having a package height that is substantially larger than the package width and depth; and
- the dispensing opening defining a mouth of the container located at an upper front portion of the container and sized to limit the number of packages that can be simultaneously withdrawn from the container.
2. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 1, wherein the container is tilted forwardly such that, upon the withdrawal of one package through the dispensing opening, packages stacked behind the removed package slide into place at the mouth of the container.
3. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 2, further comprising a tilted base adapted to hold the container therein, in a forwardly tilted position on a horizontal surface.
4. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 2, further comprising a rack releasably attachable to the rear panel and adapted to hold the container in the forwardly tilted position.
5. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening extends rearwardly from the front apex a distance that is one to two times the depth of a package contained therein.
6. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 1, wherein a widest part of the dispensing opening extends a distance between the side panels that is equal to about two to three times the width of an package contained therein.
7. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 1, wherein a widest part of the dispensing opening extends a distance between the side panels that is less than about twice the width of an package contained therein.
8. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening extends downwardly from the top panel a distance that is less than about one half the height of an package contained therein.
9. The system for dispensing loose packages according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening has a generally U-shaped profile when viewed from the front.
10. A container for dispensing packages vertically arranged therein, the container comprising:
- a top panel defining the upper terminus of the container,
- a bottom panel defining the bottom of the container and sloping downwardly from the rear of the container towards a front portion of the container;
- side panels extending between the top and bottom panels, the side panels joined at a front apex and extending away from each other and towards the rear of the container;
- a dispensing opening defined by a portion of each of the side panels, the front apex and the top panel, the dispensing opening sized and shaped to facilitate the withdrawal of the packages therethrough.
11. The container according to claim 10, the dispensing opening having a width equal to no more than three times the width of one of the packages and a depth equal to no more than twice the depth of one of the packages.
12. The container according to claim 10, further comprising an angled base for holding the container in a tilted position, the angled base containing a bottom portion adapted to rest on a supporting surface and an upper portion adapted accommodate the container and maintain the container in a forwardly tilted position.
13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the rear of the upper portion of the base member is disposed higher than the front of the upper portion when the base member rests on a supporting surface.
14. The container according to claim 10, wherein the container is mounted on a rack adapted to maintain the container in a forwardly tilted position and suspended above a supporting surface.
15. A container for dispensing packages, each package having a package height, width and depth, with the package height being at least twice the package width and depth, the container comprising:
- a top panel defining the upper terminus of the container,
- a bottom panel defining the bottom of the container and sloping downwardly from the rear of the container towards a front portion of the container;
- side panels extending between the top and bottom panels, the side panels joined at a front apex and extending away from each other and towards the rear of the container; and
- a dispensing opening defined by each of the side panels, the front apex and top panel, the dispensing opening sized to have a width ranging from the width of one package to the width of three packages, a depth ranging from one half of the depth of an package and twice the depth of an package, and a height ranging from one tenth of the height of an package to one half of the height of an package.
16. The container according to claim 15, further comprising an angled base for holding the container in a tilted position, the angled base containing a bottom portion adapted to rest on a supporting surface and an upper portion adapted accommodate the container and maintain the container in a forwardly tilted position.
17. The container according to claim 16, wherein the rear of the upper portion of the base member is disposed higher than the front of the upper portion when the base member rests on a supporting surface.
18. The container according to claim 15, wherein the container is mounted on a rack adapted to maintain the container in a forwardly tilted position and suspended above a supporting surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 6, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2008
Inventors: Keith E. Antal (Valatie, NY), Chad E. Lagace (Cohoes, NY), Brian P. Couchey (Inman, SC)
Application Number: 11/634,696
International Classification: A47F 1/04 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101); B65D 8/02 (20060101);