DISPENSER FOR POUCHED CONTENTS
Disclosed is a dispenser for dispensing a continuous strip of pouches. The dispenser comprises a box with right (14a) and left (14b) side panels wherein one of the side panels includes a tuck flap insert (24), a rear panel (18a) and a rear panel glue flap (18b), a pair of bottom closure panels (16a, 16b) and bottom closure flaps (16c, 16d), a pair of top closure panels (12a, 12b) and a top closure flap (12c) wherein one of the top panels includes a top tuck flap (22) adapted to fit into the tuck flap insert (24), and a front section (20). The front section includes lower and upper front panels and a gate flap (26). The gate flap touches one of the top closure panels such that the strip of pouches within the box can be dispensed out the front section and held in place by the gate flap.
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Disclosed is a dispenser for dispensing a continuous strip of pouches. The dispenser comprises a box that includes right and left side panels wherein one of the side panels includes a tuck flap insert, a rear panel and a rear panel glue flap, a pair of bottom closure panels and bottom closure flaps, a pair of top closure panels and a top closure flap wherein one of the top panels includes a top tuck flap extending therefrom adapted to fit into the tuck flap insert, and a front section. The front section includes lower and upper front panels wherein the upper front panel angles inward and upward with respect to the interior of the box, a gate flap connected along a perimeter edge with the upper front panel that angles back outward and further upward. The gate flap terminates approaches or touches one of the top closure panels such that the continuous strip of pouches contained within the box can be dispensed out the front section and held in place by the gate flap while also preventing the continuous strip of pouches from being retracted into the box.
The dispenser panels can be comprised of paperboard, cardboard, polymer, and metallic material and any combinations thereof.
Embodiments of the invention disclose a dispenser for dispensing a continuous feed of a strip of connected pouches. The pouches can contain prescription medication, vitamins, or other small objects. The dispenser is generally a box constructed from a pre-cut and shaped paperboard blank. Once constructed, the dispenser can be loaded with a continuous strip of connected pouches such that the strip can be withdrawn or removed a pouch at a time. Certain design elements and attributes maintain the strip in an operative position within the dispenser. The dispenser also includes a biased gate flap that prevents the strip from being re-fed back into the dispenser the way it just exited.
The dispenser is shown as being made from a foldable paperboard pre-cut blank. However, the dispenser may be constructed of other materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, polymer, metal, etc., or combinations thereof.
The blank 10 is generally assembled by folding along the seams of the various panels into a box like dispenser apparatus. Once the box is assembled, rear panel glue flap 18b will be on the interior side of the dispenser and can be adhered to rear panel 18a which will be on the exterior.
Suitably, the package may, for example, be used to store pharmaceuticals preparations requiring repeat periodic dosage regimens. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutical preparation” is intended to include prescribed or over the counter drugs or supplements, vitamins or other medicaments, or any other materials suitable for containment in a package of foil/paperboard or plastic construction.
It is believed that the present invention includes many other embodiments that may not be herein described in detail, but would nonetheless be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the disclosures made. Accordingly, this disclosure should not be read as being limited only to the foregoing examples or only to the designated preferred embodiments.
Claims
1. A dispenser for dispensing a continuous strip of pouches, the dispenser comprising:
- a box comprised of: a pair of side panels each having at least one shared perimeter edge wherein one of the side panels includes a tuck flap insert; at least one rear panel having at least one shared perimeter edge; at least one bottom closure panel and at least one bottom closure flap, the at least one bottom closure panel having at least one shared perimeter edge; at least one top closure panel and at least one top closure flap, one of said at least one top closure panel having at least one shared perimeter edge wherein one of the top panels includes a top tuck flap extending therefrom adapted to fit into the tuck flap insert; and a front section comprised of: a front panel; an upper front panel connected along a perimeter edge with the front panel wherein said upper front panel angles inward and upward with respect to the interior of the box, and further coupled on either side with the side panels; a gate flap connected along a perimeter edge with the upper front panel that angles back outward and further upward; and wherein the gate flap terminates substantially close to or touches a top closure panel such that the continuous strip of pouches contained within the box can be dispensed out the front section and held in place by the gate flap, and further wherein the angle of the gate flap prevents the continuous strip of pouches from being retracted into the box.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a rear panel glue flap.
3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the side, rear, top, and front section panels and flaps are comprised of paperboard material.
4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the box is assembled from a paperboard blank of the side, rear, top, and front section panels and flaps.
5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the side, rear, top, and front section panels and flaps are comprised of a polymer material.
6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the side, rear, top, and front section panels and flaps are comprised of cardboard material.
7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the side, rear, top, and front section panels and flaps are comprised of metallic material.
8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the side, rear, top, and front section panels and flaps are comprised of any combination of paperboard, cardboard, polymer, and metallic material.
9. A blank for forming a box dispenser for dispensing a continuous strip of pouches
- right and left side panels wherein one of the side panels includes a tuck flap insert;
- at least one rear panel;
- at least one bottom closure panel;
- at least one bottom closure flap;
- at least one top closure panel wherein one of the at least one top closure panels includes a top tuck flap extending therefrom adapted to fit into the tuck flap insert;
- a front section comprised of: a front panel; an upper front panel connected along a perimeter edge with the front panel and further connected along either side to the right and left side panels; and a gate flap connected along a perimeter edge with the upper front panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 25, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 7, 2011
Applicant: MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION (Richmond, VA)
Inventors: Michael Weston (Chapel Hill, NC), Zane Peterson (Burlington, NC)
Application Number: 12/995,599
International Classification: B65D 83/00 (20060101); B65D 5/72 (20060101);