PEDESTAL DISPENSER

Abstract

A dispenser pedestal for storing and dispensing product from a container having a base and a pair of braces extending from the base. A basket defines an opening for the container. The basket pivotally seats with the brace for movement about an axis between a storage position with the container in a generally upright position, and a dispensing position for dispensing product from the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/147,356 filed Jan. 26, 2009 from which priority is claimed, and is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to dispensers, and, more particularly, to a liquid dispenser for convenient storage and dispensing.

In the food and restaurant industry, many liquid products are transported and delivered in a package commonly referred to as a bag-in-box (BIB). The BIB typically comprises of a product filled bag enclosed by a cardboard box. The cardboard box protects the bag inside from damage during shipping and handling. After delivery, the user removes a perforated patch thereby creating an opening to the bag. A dispensing fitment attaches to an outlet of the bag for dispensing. This type of packaging is well-suited for economical transport of bulk products because it requires very little packaging relative to the amount of product. However, BIB is not well-suited for actual use in a restaurant or other setting. Typically, a BIB package is large and heavy, which makes it difficult to handle and dispense and contributes to waste and safety issues.

Therefore, what is needed is a dispenser that conveniently stores and dispenses BIB packages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedestal dispenser positioned on a horizontal surface and supporting a product container, in accordance with and embodying the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pedestal dispenser mounted on a vertical surface;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pedestal dispenser mounted on a vertical surface, supporting a product container, and positioned in a dispensing position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a pedestal dispenser;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the pedestal dispenser; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dispensing fitment.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment of the present disclosure, generally referred to as a pedestal dispenser 10, includes a basket 12 sized and shaped for reception and support of a product container 14. The basket 12 includes engagement members 15 moveably seat with a pedestal 16 for movement of the basket 12 between a storage position (FIG. 1) for storage of the product container 14 and a dispensing position (FIG. 3) for dispensing product from the container 14.

The pedestal 16 is preferably a wire framework, including a generally rectangular base 18 having four side members 22 that define an opening 19 therebetween. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the base 18 can be configured into a multitude of other shapes, including, but not limited to circular, polygonal, rectilinear, triangular, curvilinear, and the like. A pair of braces 20 extends generally vertically from opposed side members 22 of the base 18 so that the braces 20 are general parallel with each other. Each brace 20 includes a generally angled anterior upright 21 and posterior upright 23 that form a generally triangular shape and define an opening 25. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the base 18 can be configured into a multitude of other shapes, including, but not limited to circular, polygonal, rectilinear, triangular, curvilinear, and the like.

The anterior upright defines a slot 24 at about the distal end of the brace 20. The slot 24 extends generally downwardly towards the base 18, generally inwardly towards the center of the opening 19 of the brace 20, and generally planar with the brace 20. Preferably, the slot 24 is positioned at an angle of about 90° relative to the anterior upright 21, or at an angle of 45° relative to the base 22. At such an angle, the slot 24 can adequately seat the engagement members 15 when the pedestal rests either in a horizontal surface 64 (FIG. 1) or mounted to a vertical surface 32 (FIG. 2). The slot 24 is sized and shaped to receive the engagement members 15 of the basket 12. In FIGS. 1-3, each engagement member 15 embodies a hook that seats within the slot 24 for pivotal movement along an axis X of the engagement member 15 and the basket 12. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the slot 24 can embody any size, shape, and configuration that moveably seats the basket 12 with the pedestal 16. Moreover, the engagement member 15 can comprise other element known in the art for moveably seating with pedestal, including, but not limited to, bearings, bushings, and the like.

A pair of mounts 26, such as hooks, extends from an upper portion of the base 18. The mounts 26 are sized and shaped for removable engagement with a corresponding wall bracket 28. The wall bracket 28 includes a plate 30 configured for attachment to a generally vertical surface 32 (FIG. 3), such as a wall, with fasteners 34, and a generally horizontal bar 36 sized and shaped to couple with the mounts 26. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the mounts 26 can be configured for engagement with other devices for mounting the dispenser 10 to a vertical surface.

The basket 12 includes a generally rectangular upper rim 38 with front member 40, rear member 42, and side members 44. The engagement members 15 extend generally outwardly from each side member 44 to moveably, preferably pivotally, seat within corresponding slots 24 of the braces 20 along axis X. A plurality of generally U-shaped wire supports 50 attach, such as with welding, between opposed sides of the rim 38 to define an opening 52 sized and shaped to receive and support the container 14. In FIGS. 1-3, two wire supports 50 extend between a front and rear sides of the rim 38 and three wire supports 50 extend between the sides of the rim 38. However, any number of wire supports 50 can be used to provide support for the container 14. The opening 52 of the basket 12 is defined to generally correspond to the shape of the container 14. Also, the opening 52 should be deep enough to receive about half of the total height of the container 14. In this way, the center of gravity of the container 14 remains below the axis X so that the basket 12 automatically returns to the storage position when not in use due to the force of gravity. If desired, a panel 53 attached to the front of the basket 12 can display indicia, such as instructions, advertisements, product identification, and the like.

The container 14 is preferably a conventional “bag-in-box” package that includes a bag 54 of product, such as cooking oil, enclosed by a generally rectangular box 56 (FIG. 1). The upper end of the box 56 defines an opening 58 sized and shaped to provide access to an outlet 60 of the bag 54. The outlet 60 is configured to couple with a removable dispensing fitment 62 that can meter and dispense the product from the bag 54. The bag 54 can be made from any number of plastic materials and preferably a food grade material. The box 56 is preferably made from cardboard, but can also comprise other suitable materials. The container 14 can be used to store and dispense various liquid products including, but not limited to, cooking oil, margarine, syrup, dressing, sauce, brine, puree, and juice. The container 14 can also be used to store and dispense non-food items including, but not limited to, chemicals, surfactants, and motor oil.

The pedestal dispenser 10 is preferably made from metal wire stock, preferably a 3 gauge nickel-chrome wire, but other material and gauges can also be used, including, but not limited to stainless steel, or other suitable material. However, other materials can be used such as plastic.

In operation, the pedestal dispenser 10 can either rest of a horizontal surface 64

(FIG. 1) or mount to a vertical surface 32 (FIG. 2). For the horizontal surface 64, the base 18 of the pedestal 16 rests on the horizontal surface 64 so that the braces 20 extend upwardly. For the vertical surface 32, the wall bracket 28 mounts to the vertical surface 32 with fasteners 34. The mounts 26 engage the bar 36 of the wall bracket 28 so that the base 18 hangs downwardly and at least partially rests against the vertical surface 32. In this position, the slots 24 are located on the upper side of the braces 20 to receive the basket 12.

After either horizontal or vertical mounting of the pedestal 16, the basket 12 pivotally mounts to the pedestal 16 by seating the engagement members 15 into corresponding slots 24. A container 14 is placed into the opening 52 so that the dispensing fitment 62 faces forward. The force of gravity pivots the basket 12 and container 14 to a generally upright plane, referred to as the storage position (FIG. 1). An operator pivots the container 14 and basket 12 about the X axis to the dispensing position. The operator engages the dispensing figment 62 to dispense the product (FIG. 3). After the desired amount of product dispenses, the operator disengages the dispensing figment 62 and releases the container 14 and basket 12, which return to the storage position due to the force of gravity. As seen from the above description, the pedestal dispenser 16 effectively suspends the container 14 so that an operator can easily pivot the container 14 between the storage position and dispensing position.

The present disclosure can also be embodied in the form of FIGS. 4-5, which pivotally mounts the basket 12 to a floor-standing pedestal 100 so that the basket pivots between a storage position and a dispensing position. The floor-standing pedestal 100 includes a bottom member or base 102 for resting on horizontal surface 104, such as the floor. A post 106 extends upwardly from the base 102 to support a U-shaped brace 108. Holes 110 at the upper ends of the brace 108 receive the engagement members 15 of the basket at pivot axis X. The basket 12 is similar to the basket of FIGS. 1-3 and therefore, will not be described again here.

In operation, a container 14 is placed into the opening 52 so that the dispensing fitment 62 faces forward. The force of gravity pivots the basket 12 and container 14 to a generally upright position. An operator pivots the container 14 and basket 12 about the X axis to the dispensing position. The operator engages the dispensing figment 62 to dispense the product. After the desired amount of product dispenses, the operator disengages the dispensing figment 62 and releases the container 14 and basket 12, which return to the storage position due to the force of gravity.

Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A dispenser pedestal for storing and dispensing product from a container, comprising:

a base;

a pair of braces extending from the base; and

a basket pivotally seated to the brace for movement about an axis between a storage position with the container in a generally upright position, and a dispensing position for dispensing product from the container, the basket defining an opening sized and shaped to receive a container.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a wall bracket configured for attachment to a vertical surface; and

a mounting hook extending from a distal end of the base, the mounting hook sized and shaped for detachable engagement of the wall bracket for support of the dispenser pedestal.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, each brace, comprising:

a generally angled anterior upright; and

a generally angled posterior upright attached to the anterior upright to form a generally triangular shape and define an opening.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the anterior upright defines a slot sized and shaped to receive the engagement member.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the slot is positioned at an angle of 45° relative to the base.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, the basket comprising:

a generally rectangular upper rim;

engagement members extending from opposed sides of the upper rim; and

a plurality of generally U-shaped wire supports extending between opposed sides of the upper rim to define an opening sized and shaped to receive and support the container.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base is configured for engagement with either a horizontal surface or a vertical surface.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the basket is sized and shaped to receive the container so that the center of gravity of the container is positioned within the opening of the basket and below the axis.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, the base comprising:

a bottom member shaped and sized for resting on a horizontal surface;

a post extending upwardly from the bottom member; and

a U-shaped brace attached to an upper end of the post; the brace defining holes sized and shaped to receive the engagement members of the basket at pivot axis X.

10. A system for storing and dispensing product from a container, comprising:

a wireframe base configured for engagement with either a horizontal surface or a vertical surface;

a pair of wireframe braces extending from the base, each brace defining an engagement juncture along a pivot axis; and

a basket pivotally seated to the brace at the engagement juncture for movement about the pivot axis between a storage position with the container in a generally upright position, and a dispensing position, the basket defining an opening sized and shaped to receive a container.

11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the basket is sized and shaped to receive the container so that the center of gravity of the container is positioned within the opening of the basket and below the axis.

12. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a wall bracket configured for attachment to a vertical surface; and

a mounting hook extending from a distal end of the base, the mounting hook sized and shaped for detachable engagement of the wall bracket for support of the dispenser pedestal.

13. The dispenser of claim 10, each brace, comprising:

a generally angled anterior upright; and

a generally angled posterior upright attached to the anterior upright to form a generally triangular shape and define an opening.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the anterior upright defines a slot sized and shaped to receive the engagement member.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the slot is positioned at an angle of 45° relative to the base.

16. The dispenser of claim 1, the basket comprising:

a generally rectangular upper rim;

engagement members extending from opposed sides of the upper rim; and

a plurality of generally U-shaped wire supports extending between opposed sides of the upper rim to define an opening sized and shaped to receive and support the container.

17. A method for storing and dispensing product from a container, comprising:

providing a base for engagement with either a horizontal surface or vertical surface;

providing a pair of braces extending from the base;

providing a basket pivotally seated to the brace about an axis, the basket defining an opening sized and shaped to receive a container;

inserting a container into the opening of the basket; and

pivoting the basket and container about the axis between a storage position with the container in a generally upright position, and a dispensing position for dispensing product from the container.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the basket is sized and shaped to receive the container so that the center of gravity of the container is positioned within the opening of the basket and below the axis.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a wall bracket configured for attachment to a vertical surface; and

providing a mounting hook extending from a distal end of the base, the mounting hook sized and shaped for detachable engagement of the wall bracket for support of the dispenser pedestal.