ALIGNED DISPENSER AND CONTAINER

Abstract

A system includes a container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items, the container including a perforation defining a removable portion of the container; and a hollow dispenser configured to receive the container, the hollow dispenser including a first edge of a first surface of the hollow dispenser and a second edge of a second surface of the hollow dispenser, in which the first edge and the second edge define at least a portion of an aperture in the hollow dispenser, and in which the hollow dispenser is configured such that the aperture is aligned with the removable portion of the container when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

Description

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing need for hygienic distribution of items. For example, facemasks are increasingly sought for daily use. Certain configurations of dispensers may cause item distribution to be more hygienic or more efficient.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to dispensers and containers for distribution of items.

In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a system that includes a container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items, the container including a perforation defining a removable portion of the container; and a hollow dispenser configured to receive the container, the hollow dispenser including a first edge of a first surface of the hollow dispenser and a second edge of a second surface of the hollow dispenser, in which the first edge and the second edge define at least a portion of an aperture in the hollow dispenser, and in which the hollow dispenser is configured such that the aperture is aligned with the removable portion of the container when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following. The first surface and the second surface face different directions. The first surface and the second surface are substantially perpendicular to one another. The first surface and the second surface are adjacent to one another. The perforation is configured to define the removable portion such that the removable portion is exposed through a first portion of the aperture defined by the first edge and through a second portion of the aperture defined by the second edge when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser. The aperture extends along a first plane and along a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being non-parallel to one another. The first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to one another. The perforation is configured to define the removable portion such that the removable portion is exposed through the first plane and through the second plane when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

Some implementations of the system may include one or more of the following. The perforations are formed in at least two surfaces of the container. A surface of the removable portion of the container exposed through the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser has a dimension of at least 3 inches. The hollow dispenser includes a movable panel, the movable panel configured to expose an opening for insertion of the container into the hollow dispenser. The movable panel is fastened to another panel of the hollow dispenser by a hinge. The perforation defines a protruding portion of the removable portion of the container. At least one of the first edge and the second edge defines a protruding portion of the aperture through which the protruding portion of the removable portion of the container is exposed when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser. A keyhole is defined in a panel of the hollow dispenser. The system includes a stand configured to support the hollow dispenser. The dispensable items include facemasks. An edge of the hollow dispenser defines an opening configured to receive the hollow dispenser.

In another aspect, the present disclosure describes item dispensers. In some implementations, an item dispenser includes one or more panels including a first surface and a second surface, in which the first surface includes a first edge and the second surface includes a second edge, the first edge and the second edge defining at least a portion of an aperture in the item dispenser, in which the aperture extends along a first plane and along a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being non-parallel to one another, in which the item dispenser is configured to receive a container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items, and in which the item dispenser is configured such that a removable portion of the container is aligned with the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

In another aspect, the present disclosure describes containers. In some implementations, a container encloses a plurality of dispensable items and includes a perforation defining a removable portion of the container, in which the perforation extends along a first surface and along a second surface of the container, in which the container is configured to be inserted into a hollow dispenser, a first edge and a second edge of the hollow dispenser defining at least a portion of an aperture in the hollow dispenser, and in which the perforation is configured such that the removable portion of the container is aligned with the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to realize one or more advantages. For example, item distribution may be made more hygienic. In some implementations, item insertion into a dispenser may be made more hygienic. In some implementations, item insertion into a dispenser may be made more efficient and convenient.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective wireframe view showing an example of a dispenser.

FIGS. 2A-2B are perspective wireframe views showing a portion of an example of a dispenser.

FIGS. 3A-3C are perspective views showing an example of a container and an example of a dispenser.

FIG. 4A is a perspective wireframe view showing an example dispenser including keyholes.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing an example dispenser supported by a stand.

FIGS. 5A-5B are perspective views showing an example of a container and an example of a dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of dispensers configured to provide items. In a particular example, this disclosure relates to a dispenser configured to receive a container, such that dispensable items in the container are retrievable through an aperture in the dispenser.

In many applications, items may be provided in bulk at a central location and retrieved by multiple users. These items may be, for example, single-use or disposable items, or items that are required in significant quantities. In a medical context, dispensed items may include, for example, facemasks and gloves.

Hygienic considerations may be a priority for item distribution. For example, in a medical context (e.g., in a hospital), or when transmittable diseases are a concern, it may be beneficial to dispense items such that pathogens are less likely to be transmitted from user to user. In particular, it may be beneficial to dispense items such that users are less likely to come into contact with the same surface when retrieving their respective items. And, given a particular design of an item dispenser, it may be beneficial to configure an item container to match the item dispenser, in order to increase convenience of use and further decrease chances of surface pathogen transmission.

Therefore, this disclosure describes examples of dispensers and containers configured to align to dispense items, in order to increase the efficiency and hygiene of item distribution.

In some implementations, as shown in FIG. 1, a dispenser 100 includes a front panel 102, side panels 104, 106, a rear panel 108, a top panel 110, and a bottom panel 112. An edge 114 of the front panel 102 and an edge 116 of the bottom panel 112 together define an aperture 118. In this example, the two edges 114, 116 are portions of a continuous edge.

The dispenser 100 is hollow and is configured to receive a container containing dispensable items. As described below, the container may have a removable portion aligned with the aperture 118, such that items from the container may be retrieved by a user through the aperture 118.

In the example of FIG. 1, the top panel 110 is hingedly connected to the rear panel 108 by hinges 120. Therefore, the top panel 110 may be pivoted aside such that a container may be inserted into the dispenser 100.

In some implementations, a different panel, instead of or in addition to the top panel 110, may be movable in order for the dispenser 100 to receive a container. For example, one or more of the side panels 104, 106, the rear panel 108, the bottom panel 112, and/or the front panel 102 may be movable.

In addition to, or instead of, hinged connections, each movable panel of a dispenser may be movable with respect to the rest of the dispenser by another mechanism. For example, each movable panel may be slidable into and out of place in the dispenser (e.g., a portion of the dispenser may include slide rails configured to receive edges of a moveable panel of the dispenser). In some implementations, a movable panel may be magnetically coupled to the rest of the dispenser, e.g., by magnets in the dispenser and/or in the movable panel. A variety of mechanisms for coupling together portions of the dispenser, and for moving portions of the dispenser, are within the scope of this disclosure.

Although the example dispenser 100 of FIG. 1 is shown as closed except for the aperture 118, in some implementations, edges of a dispenser may define one or more additional openings. For example, a dispenser, otherwise similar to the example dispenser 100 of FIG. 1, may not include a top panel and/or a side panel, and instead may include openings where the panels are shown in FIG. 1.

In some implementations, the dispenser need not include a moveable panel covering an opening in a dispenser. For example, the dispenser may include an opening on a top or on a side of the dispenser, the opening configured to receive the container enclosing dispensable items. This configuration may increase an ease-of-use of the dispenser by removing the need to move a moveable panel of the dispenser in order to remove or insert a container. This configuration may also increase user hygiene by decreasing touching of the dispenser. In some implementations, an opening in a dispenser through which a container may be inserted may not be distinct from an aperture through which items may be retrieved, e.g., a single opening in the dispenser may serve both functions.

In various implementations, dispensers according to this disclosure may be composed of one or more materials. For example, dispensers may be composed, at least in part, of metal and/or plastic. In some implementations, dispensers may be treated with an anti-microbial or anti-septic coating, or may be composed, at least in part, of a material with anti-microbial or anti-septic properties.

FIGS. 2A-2B show a portion of a dispenser 200. In this implementation, the aperture 218 extends along a first plane 222 and along a second plane 224. The first plane 222 coincides with an edge 226 of a front surface 203 (in this example, a surface of a front panel), and the second plane 224 coincides with an edge 228 of a bottom surface 205 (in this example, a surface of a bottom panel). The front surface 203 and the bottom surface 205 are adjacent to one another, bordering at edges 207.

In some implementations, two surfaces including respective edges defining the aperture face different directions. For example, the two surfaces may be substantially planar and substantially perpendicular to one another. “Substantially perpendicular,” as used in this disclosure, may include at least angles between about 70 degrees and 110 degrees. For example, the front panel 102 and the bottom panel 112 in FIGS. 1-2B are substantially perpendicular to one another. In some implementations, two surfaces or planes may be substantially perpendicular when they are positioned with respect to one another at an angle between 80 degrees and 100 degrees.

In some implementations, an aperture is defined by edges of only two surfaces of a dispenser.

In some implementations, two planes along which an aperture extends (e.g., planes 222, 224 in FIGS. 2A-2B) are non-parallel. For example, the two planes may be substantially perpendicular to one another.

As described in further detail below, because a removable portion of a container is configured to align with the aperture, the features of the aperture described in relation to FIGS. 2A-2B can also be stated in reference to a configuration of the removable portion of the container. For example, in some implementations, the removable portion may be configured such that the removable portion is exposed through a first portion of the aperture defined by a first edge and through a second portion of the aperture defined by a second edge, the first edge and the second edge on different surfaces of the dispenser. As another example, in some implementations, the removable portion may be configured such that the removable portion is exposed through a first plane along which the aperture extends and through a second plane along which the aperture extends, the first plane and the second plane being non-parallel to one another, when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser

Although the example dispensers of FIGS. 1-2B include well-defined, substantially-planar surfaces separated by edges, in some implementations a dispenser may be partially or entirely curved, such that separate surfaces may not be separated by edges. For example, two surfaces may have a continuous transition region between them. In such implementations, the above description of “surfaces” should be understood to include at least substantially planar portions of one or more surfaces, even if the surfaces are partially curved and even if the surfaces are not bounded by well-defined edges.

FIG. 3A shows an example of a container 330 configured for insertion into a dispenser 332 (in a direction indicated by the arrow 335) through an opening left by a movable panel 333 of the dispenser 332. The container 330 includes perforations 334 on a bottom face 343 and on a front face 331 of the container, the perforations defining a removable portion 336 of the container 330. The dispenser 332 is configured to receive the container 330, so that, as shown in FIG. 3B, the removable portion 336 is aligned with the aperture 338 of the dispenser 332.

In various implementations, the removable portion of the container and the aperture of the dispenser may be aligned in different ways. For example, in some implementations, the removable portion and the aperture may be aligned such that at least some of the removable portion is exposed through the aperture when the container is inserted into the dispenser.

In some implementations, an edge defining the aperture may be parallel, over at least a portion of a length of the edge, to a portion of the perforations on the container. For example, in FIG. 3B, a portion 380 of an edge defining the aperture 338 is parallel to a portion 382 of the perforations.

In some implementations, the parallel portions may be relatively adjacent to one another. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, edge portion 380 is parallel to and relatively adjacent to perforation portion 382, and edge portion 384 is parallel to and relatively adjacent to perforation portion 386.

In some implementations, the removable portion of the container and the aperture may be aligned such the perforations have a shape substantially matching a shape of one or more edges defining the aperture. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the perforations may be nested inside the one or more edges defining the aperture and have a shape that follows a corresponding shape of the one or more edges.

In some implementations, the removable portion of the container and aperture may be aligned such that the perforations defining the removable container are, over at least a portion of a length of the perforations, within close proximity to an edge of the dispenser defining the aperture, when the container is inserted into the dispenser. For example, the perforations may be within about one inch of an edge defining the aperture. In some implementations, the perforations may be within about 0.5 inches of an edge defining the aperture. In some implementations, the perforations may be within about 0.25 inches of an edge defining the aperture. In some implementations, the perforations may be within some other distance of an edge defining the aperture (e.g., 0.125 inches, 0.0625 inches, 0.03125 inches, or some other distance).

In some implementations, the container may be a box (e.g., a cardboard box). In some implementations, the container may be a bag (e.g., a plastic bag). In some implementations, the container may include structuring elements (e.g., rigid walls and/or joined edges) to maintain a shape of the container, such that the container is configured to fit into a corresponding dispenser. A variety of possible container implementations and materials are within the scope of this disclosure.

In some implementations, an aperture and/or a removable portion of a container may include a protruding portion. A protruding portion of a removable portion of a container may protrude along a plane along which another portion of the removable portion extends. A protruding portion of an aperture may protrude along a plane along which another portion of the aperture extends.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the removable portion 336 and an aperture 338 of the dispenser 332 are configured to include corresponding protruding portions 337, 339. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the container 330 is inserted into the dispenser 332, the protruding portion 337 of the removable portion 336 is exposed through the corresponding protruding portion 339 of the aperture. The protruding portion 337 of the removable portion may therefore be accessed through protruding portion 339 of the aperture, and may be usable, for example, in order to tear away the removable portion 336 along the perforations 334. This may make it easier for a user to remove the removable portion 336 than if the protruding portions 337, 339 were not present.

When the container 330 is in position inserted into the dispenser 332, the container 330 rests on a bottom panel 350 of the dispenser 332. As shown in FIG. 3C, when the removable portion 336 is removed (either before insertion into the dispenser 332 or while the container is in the dispenser 332), multiple items 340 included in the container 330 are exposed through the aperture 338.

The multiple items 340 are stacked vertically in the container 330 along in the direction of gravity 342 shown in FIGS. 3B-3C, with the removable portion 336 and aperture 338 positioned further along the direction of gravity 342 compared to other portions of the container 330 and dispenser 332. For example, the container 330 and dispenser 332 may be positioned such that the removable portions 336 and aperture 338 are aligned with one another and are closer to a floor of a room than is the top panel 333 of the dispenser 332.

In some implementations, an orientation of a dispenser and container may be different from the orientation shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. For example, the removable portion of the dispenser and the aperture of the container may be oriented higher, with respect to the direction of gravity, than are one or more other portions of the dispenser and/or container. In some implementations, the dispenser or container may include a spring configured to constantly exert a force on items in the container, in order to maintain the items exposed through an aperture of the dispenser.

In some implementations, it may be possible for a container to be inserted into a dispenser in various directions and/or with various orientations. For example, a container may be inserted upside-down or in a reversed orientation, such that a removable portion of the container does not align with an aperture of the container. When this disclosure refers to a dispenser receiving a container, or to a container being inserted into a dispenser, this disclosure is referring to receptions and insertions that cause alignment between the removable portion of the container and the aperture of the dispenser.

The items 340 may be medical items, for example, facemasks and/or medical gloves. In some implementations, the items 340 may be individually wrapped (e.g., in plastic and/or paper). In some implementations, the items 340 may be separated from one another by barriers (e.g., plastic or paper sheets disposed between items 340).

Because of the gravitational force exerted on the items 340, one or more items 340 remaining in the container 330 at a given time are exposed through the aperture 338. As items 340 are removed through the aperture 338, further items 340 descend from higher in the container 330 and become removable through the aperture 338.

The position and the orientation of the aperture, as shown for aperture 338 in FIG. 3C and as described throughout this disclosure, can provide advantages. Because the items 340 are exposed through the aperture 338 in multiple directions (at least because of the configuration of the aperture and/or of the removable portion of the container, as described in reference to FIGS. 2A-2B), items 340 (e.g., a bottom-most item 341) may be retrieved by users without the users touching the dispenser 332. For example, a user may move an index finger in the direction 346 and place the index finger on the bottom-most item 341, and simultaneously move a thumb up from below in the direction 348 to touch a bottom surface of the bottom-most item 341. With the bottom-most item 341 grasped between the two fingers, the bottom-most item 341 may be removed. Because the aperture is defined by separate surfaces of the bottom panel 350 and a front panel 352 of the dispenser 332 (e.g., by edges of two adjacent surfaces of the dispenser 332), the user's fingers maintain a separation from the dispenser 332 during the removal process.

Alternative configurations of dispensers and containers may not allow for items to be removed without contacting the dispenser. For example, if an aperture of a dispenser is defined by edges on only one surface of the dispenser, then a user's hand may be more likely to contact the dispenser when removing an item.

If the aperture and/or the removable portion of the container are too small, a user may be likely to contact the dispenser. Therefore, in some implementations, the aperture and the removable portion of the container may be configured such that a surface of the removable portion exposed through the aperture has a dimension (e.g., a dimension 354 and/or a dimension 356) of greater than about three inches. In some implementations, the dimension may be greater than about four inches. In some implementations, the dimension may be greater than about five inches. In some implementations, the dimension may be greater than about two inches. In various implementations, the aperture and/or the removable portion of the container may have both a width and a length of at least about two inches, at least about three inches, at least about four inches, or at least about five inches.

When all items 340 have been removed from the container 330, the container 330 may be removed (e.g., by moving aside the movable top panel 333), and a new container may be inserted. Because containers themselves may be inserted into the dispenser, instead of individual dispensable items being inserted into the dispenser, distribution hygiene may be improved, because the individual dispensable items need not be handled for insertion into the dispenser. In addition, process convenience and efficiency may be increased, as the containers may be easily inserted in order to transfer many items at once into the dispenser.

In some implementations, a dispenser may include features configured to mount the dispenser in a particular position. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, two keyholes 464 are defined in a rear panel 462 of a dispenser 460. The two keyholes 464 may hook onto fasteners (e.g., screws in a wall) in order to hold the dispenser 460 in a suspended position against the wall. In various implementations, a dispenser may include fewer than two keyholes or more than two keyholes. For example, large-sized dispensers may include four keyholes in order to provide additional stability.

Instead of or in addition to keyholes, in various implementations dispensers may include one or more of other features for mounting the dispenser. For example, a panel of a dispenser may be provided with double-sided tape, Velcro, or another adhesive. This may be beneficial when a dispenser is to be mounted onto a surface without drilling into the surface. Mounting of a dispenser may provide advantages; for example, mounting of the dispenser on a wall may allow a user to retrieve items through an aperture defined by a bottom surface of the dispenser (e.g., in the direction 348 in FIG. 3C).

In the example shown in FIG. 4B, a dispenser 470 is supported by a stand 472. The stand 472 includes a leg 474 and a base 476. In some implementations, the stand 472 may be removable, e.g., attached to the dispenser 470 by removable screws. In some implementations, the stand may have an adjustable height, such that the dispenser may be maintained at a convenient height.

The dispensers shown in FIGS. 4A-4B are examples; in practice, a variety of mechanisms and structures may be used to support or fix dispensers. In some implementations, a dispenser may be configured to rest directly on a surface. For example, an appropriately-sized dispenser may be placed on a table.

In some implementations, paired dispensers and containers may be provided in a variety of sizes. For example, a large dispenser and a large container may be configured to align with one another as described above, and a small dispenser and a small container may be configured to align with one another as described above. In some implementations, dimensions of a dispenser and a container may depend on sizes of items included in the container.

Various shapes and configurations of aligned containers and dispensers are described in this disclosure. For example, FIGS. 5A-5B show an example of an aligned container and dispenser having different shapes from the example containers and dispensers of FIGS. 1-3C.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a container 500 includes perforations 502 on a bottom face 504 and on a front face 506 of the container, the perforations defining a removable portion 508 of the container 500. A dispenser 510 is configured to receive the container 500 through an opening 501, so that, as shown in FIG. 5B, the removable portion 508 is aligned with an aperture 512 of the dispenser 510.

In the example of FIGS. 5A-5B, the aperture 512 is defined by a plurality of edges of different corresponding surfaces. For example, the aperture 512 is defined in part by a first edge 514 of a first surface 515, by a second edge 516 of a second surface 517, and by a third edge 518 of a third surface. The aperture 512 extends along non-parallel planes (not shown).

In the example of FIGS. 5A-5B, an opening 501 through which the container 500 may be inserted and the aperture 512 through which the removable portion 508 are exposed form a single larger opening—the opening 501 and the aperture 512 are not distinct. In this example, there is no movable panel covering the opening 501 through which the container 500 is inserted.

FIG. 5B shows the container 500 and the dispenser 510 when the container 500 is inserted into the dispenser 510. The removable portion 508 and the aperture 512 are aligned such that the removable portion 508 is exposed through the aperture 512. A portion 518 of the perforations is parallel to and in close proximity with the second edge 516 defining the aperture.

In some implementations, a container as described elsewhere in this disclosure (for example, a container having a removable portion extending across two surfaces of the container, e.g., a container as shown in FIG. 3A or 5A) may serve to directly dispense items. For example, the removable portion of the container may be removed, and a user may extract items from the container, without the container being placed inside a hollow dispenser. In such an implementation, the configurations of the removable portion and/or the perforation described elsewhere in this disclosure may provide advantages, e.g., may make it less likely for a user to touch the container while retrieving an item.

When a container is used to directly dispense items, the container may include features for mounting the container. For example, the container may include double-sided tape or velcro on one or more surfaces, allowing the container to be mounted on a wall.

Therefore, in accordance with the features described in this disclosure, configurations of dispensers and containers may provide improved convenience and hygiene.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items, the container comprising a perforation defining a removable portion of the container; and

a hollow dispenser configured to receive the container, the hollow dispenser comprising a first edge of a first surface of the hollow dispenser and a second edge of a second surface of the hollow dispenser,

wherein the first edge and the second edge define at least a portion of an aperture in the hollow dispenser, and

wherein the hollow dispenser is configured such that the aperture is aligned with the removable portion of the container when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface face different directions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first surface and the second surface are substantially perpendicular to one another.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first surface and the second surface are adjacent to one another.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforation is configured to define the removable portion such that the removable portion is exposed through a first portion of the aperture defined by the first edge and through a second portion of the aperture defined by the second edge when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture extends along a first plane and along a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being non-parallel to one another.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to one another.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the perforation is configured to define the removable portion such that the removable portion is exposed through the first plane and through the second plane when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforations are formed in at least two surfaces of the container.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a surface of the removable portion of the container exposed through the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser has a dimension of at least 3 inches.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow dispenser comprises a movable panel, the movable panel configured to expose an opening for insertion of the container into the hollow dispenser.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the movable panel is fastened to another panel of the hollow dispenser by a hinge.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforation defines a protruding portion of the removable portion of the container.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first edge and the second edge defines a protruding portion of the aperture through which the protruding portion of the removable portion of the container is exposed when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein a keyhole is defined in a panel of the hollow dispenser.

16. The system of claim 1, comprising a stand configured to support the hollow dispenser.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensable items comprise facemasks.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein an edge of the hollow dispenser defines an opening configured to receive the hollow dispenser.

19. An item dispenser, comprising:

one or more panels comprising a first surface and a second surface,

wherein the first surface comprises a first edge and the second surface comprises a second edge, the first edge and the second edge defining at least a portion of an aperture in the item dispenser,

wherein the aperture extends along a first plane and along a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being non-parallel to one another,

wherein the item dispenser is configured to receive a container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items, and

wherein the item dispenser is configured such that a removable portion of the container is aligned with the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.

20. A container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items and comprising a perforation defining a removable portion of the container,

wherein the perforation extends along a first surface and along a second surface of the container,

wherein the container is configured to be inserted into a hollow dispenser, a first edge and a second edge of the hollow dispenser defining at least a portion of an aperture in the hollow dispenser, and

wherein the perforation is configured such that the removable portion of the container is aligned with the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.