A CONTAINER FOR HOLDING AND GRAVITY-FEED DISPENSING ARTICLES

Abstract

A container for holding and gravity-feed dispensing articles comprises a front panel, a back panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, and two side panels, the two side panels extending between the upper panel and the lower panel. The front panel, the back panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels form one or more voids for holding a stack of articles such as shavers. The front panel includes a removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel that, when removed, defines a dispensing opening adapted for dispensing an article from the stack of articles, and the front panel, the back panel, the upper panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels are formed from exactly one die cut blank.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/060482, filed on 14 Apr. 2020, now published as WO2020212360A1, and which claims benefit from U.S. provisional patent application 62/836,238 filed on 19 Apr. 2019, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to a container for articles such as shavers, and, specifically to examples of packages that allow for easy article removal and visual identification of article quantity, while also providing limited environmental exposure of unused articles.

BACKGROUND

Due to cost restrictions, companies typically manufacture article packages, in particular shaver packages that are made from materials which contribute poorly to the environment, and also add very little to user experience. In many cases, these shaver packages are made from non-sustainable materials. Furthermore, the shaver packages often fail to provide any visibility of the shavers contained within the packages, which negatively impacts the experiences of both retailers and customers.

Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the features, as claimed. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Additionally, the term “exemplary” is used herein in the sense of “example,” rather than “ideal.” It should be noted that all numeric values disclosed or claimed herein (including all disclosed values, limits, and ranges) may have a variation of +/−10% (unless a different variation is specified) from the disclosed numeric value. Moreover, in the claims, values, limits, and/or ranges mean the value, limit, and/or range +/−10%.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure may help create a sustainable, cost efficient container or packaging solution, that differentiates from other Point Of Sales (POS) systems by providing a new perforated carton box with openings for easy product removal, promotion, and visual identification of a remaining quantity of items to be dispensed.

The disclosure relates to a container for holding and gravity-feed dispensing articles, comprising:

a front panel, a back panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, and two side panels, wherein the two side panels extend between the upper panel and the lower panel, wherein the front panel, the back panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels form one or more voids for holding a stack of articles, wherein the front panel includes a removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel that, when removed, defines a dispensing opening adapted for dispensing an article from the stack of articles, and wherein the front panel, the back panel, the upper panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels are formed from exactly one die cut.

The container may be loaded with articles, for example, bulk shavers from the top, allowing the user to have product access from the perforated opening on the bottom. This way, as soon as the bottom article is removed, the space is filled with the next article from above until all articles are removed. In one embodiment the retailer may discard the box and recycle it. In a second embodiment, the retailer might rotate the box to the other side and repeat the process prior to discarding and recycling or might simply open a second compartment to allow access for more articles. The retailer can check the quantity of articles remaining by removing a perforation(s) of at least one of the two side panels, to create a window for product visibility in order to enhance the POS promotion. As long as one of the compartments is closed, the stored product may be kept safe from dust. The retail perforated carton box may have large plain areas for the application of multiple graphics, such as for example, specific shaver related information or other advertising.

The present disclosure is directed to a container that holds and dispenses articles, in particular shavers. The container is formed from a single die cut blank, in other words, exactly one blank or only one blank, that folds to form the various panels and components of the container. The single die cut blank can be made from various materials including, but not limited to, recycled carton, thereby ensuring both the cost efficiency and sustainability of the container. The single die cut blank is also plain, which provides space for graphic applications including, but not limited to, advertisement, instructions, or labels.

Various embodiments of a single die cut blank may be used to form a container. A single die cut blank may vary in size and shape and may be folded in different manners to form a packaging. Once the container is formed from a single die cut blank, it is loaded with one or more articles such as shavers from the top of the container. The container allows a user to have access to an article, which is dispensed from a perforated opening found on the bottom or lower end of the front panel of the container. The articles are loaded, or stacked, from the top of the container so that the articles are stacked one above the other and positioned above the perforated opening found on the front panel, i.e., a dispensing opening. Such stacking allows for an immediately adjacent article to automatically fill the space of the dispensing opening after a most-recently dispensed article is removed therefrom, until all articles that are stacked above the dispensing opening, or otherwise contained in the packaging, are removed. Thus, in at least some embodiments, the packaging allows for both easy article access and removal (or dispensing). Furthermore, because the dispensing opening exposes only the article that is to be dispensed, the container otherwise minimizes environmental exposure of the remaining articles held within the container.

The container may have another opening found on at least one of the side panels of the packaging, i.e., a window opening. The side panels may be generally perpendicular to the front panel. This window opening may further enhance the experience of a user or retailer by visually informing the user or retailer of the quantity of articles remaining in the container. In one embodiment of the container, the window opening may be uncovered by at least partially removing a perforated detachable portion of one of the side panels. In another embodiment of the container, the window opening may be an opening covered by a transparent material adhered or fixably attached by, for example, glue to the inner surface of one of the side panels. The transparent material may be, but is not limited to, plastic or glass.

In some embodiments, the container may include inner walls. The inner walls are not separate inserts that are formed from other blanks, but the inner walls are instead formed from folding the same single die cut blank that forms the container. This further promotes cost-efficiency when manufacturing embodiments of the container that have inner walls. The inner walls that are formed within the container can help form at least two compartments, in which articles may be loaded into and held. The presence of such compartments defined by the inner walls allows for the organization and separation of a bulk number of articles contained therein. Thus, a container may carry a plurality of stacked articles in each compartment defined by the inner walls within the container. Compartments defined by the inner walls allow a user to access only a portion of the plurality of articles, while preventing the remaining and still-enclosed articles from being exposed to environmental elements, such as moisture and dust. This may promote the integrity of the articles during storage and dispensation.

Other embodiments of the container may further include additional inserts that are used to stabilize the stacks of articles within the packaging. The inserts may be from another blank, separate from the blank that formed the container. The blank forming the inserts may be made of a different material or the same material as that of the blank forming the container.

In some embodiments, the container may include a hanging element. The hanging element may be any suitable element by which the container is supported and hung against or on any surface or object. The hanging element may be located on an upper panel, i.e. the top, of the container, or on a back panel of the container. The hanging element may be formed from an extension of the upper panel and a portion of the back panel, joined together. However, the hanging element is not limited to being found on those locations. An example of a hanging element may be, but is not limited to, a butterfly hanging element found on the upper panel of a container. The hanging element is not a separate attachment, tab, or panel that is formed from other blanks. Instead, the hanging element is formed from folding the same single die cut blank that forms the container. This further promotes cost-efficiency when manufacturing embodiments of the packaging that include a hanging element. However, it is contemplated that other suitable hanging elements may be utilized, such as, for example, hooks, adhesives, and the like.

In some embodiments, the container may include a separate, standing support base. The standing support base is formed from another, separate base blank, which can fold into the base for a packaging.

A packaging may hold 12, 18, 24, or 36 articles such as shavers. However, the number of articles that can be held by the packaging is not particularly limited, since a die cut of the blank forming the container can be adjusted to fit more shavers or fewer articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in connection with embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings. These drawings show different aspects of the present disclosure and, where appropriate, reference numerals illustrating like structures, components, materials and/or elements in different figures are labeled similarly. It is understood that various combinations of the structures, components, and/or elements, other than those specifically shown, are contemplated and are within the scope of the present disclosure. There are many aspects and embodiments described herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the features of a particular aspect or embodiment may be used in conjunction with the features of any or all of the other aspects or embodiments described in this disclosure. While in the examples described below, the container is a packaging for shavers, other the container of the disclosure may be used for other articles.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIG. 2A is a front view of an embodiment of a single die cut blank that folds to form a packaging for a shaver.

FIG. 2B is a rear view of the blank shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is an embodiment of a blank that folds to form a base upon which a packaging for a shaver may securely stand.

FIG. 3B is a rear view of the base shown in FIG. 3A in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 3C is a front view of the base shown in FIG. 3A in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 3A in an assembled configuration and coupled to a packaging.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIG. 4C is a series of front, side, and rear views of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIG. 4D is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver in an open configuration, showing shavers being loaded or stacked into the packaging.

FIG. 4E is a series of actions demonstrating the functionality of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIG. 5C is a series of front, side, and rear views of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIG. 5D is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver in an open configuration, wherein shavers are being loaded or stacked into the packaging.

FIG. 5E is a series of actions demonstrating the functionality of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are perspective views of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

FIGS. 6D and 6E show the functionality of an embodiment of a packaging for a shaver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The packaging may be in the form of varying embodiments, some of which are depicted by the figures further described below:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an embodiment of a packaging 1. The packaging 1 includes an upper panel 2, a front panel 3, a side panel 4, a lower panel 6, and a hanging element 7. A bulk number of shavers can be loaded or stacked into the packaging 1 in a void 10 formed by and defined by inwardly-facing surfaces of the aforementioned panels 2-6, which are formed from folding a single die cut blank. FIG. 1A further illustrates a perforated cut-out portion 8a of the front panel 3 defining a dispensing opening 8, as well as a perforated cut-out portion 9a of a side panel 4 defining a window opening 9. Dispensing opening 8 may reveal shavers or other articles contained within the packaging 1 and to give access to the product to a user, e.g., customer. A side of the cut-out portion 9a, in particular its upper side 9′a, may be designed to facilitate removal of the cut-out portion 9a to define the window opening 9. In particular, this removal facilitating side may have a convex shape as shown. Window openings 9 may extend substantially parallel to the height of packaging 1 to help, e.g., a retailer, visually determine a remaining quantity of shavers or other product within the packaging 1, and to assist with promotion of the shavers. By at least partially or entirely removing these perforated cut-out portions 8a and 9a reveal the dispensing opening 8 and window opening 9, respectively, illustrated in FIG. 1B. Additionally, FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example in which the perforated dispensing opening 8 may extend from the bottom of the front panel 3 to a part of the lower panel 6, which allows for an easier dispensing of a shaver. In other words, the opening encompasses removed portions of both front panel 3 and lower panel 6. After all of the shavers stored within the packaging 1 are dispensed, a user may discard and recycle the packaging 1. Alternatively, a user may load the packaging 1 with additional shavers and reuse the packaging 1 for the same purposes.

FIGS. 2A and 2B shows an embodiment of a single die cut blank 11 used to form the packaging 1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Exemplary dimensions of the single die cut blank 11 are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The panels, including the upper panel 2, the front panel 3, the side panels 4, the back panel 5, the lower panel 6, and the hanging element 7 are formed from the single die cut blank 11. In other words, each of the aforementioned panels 2-6 and hanging element 7 are formed from the same single die cut blank 11. The single die cut blank 11 may also include additional tabs 2a that fold beneath the upper panel 2 to ensure that the upper panel of the packaging 1 is securely closed. Likewise, the single die cut blank 11 also may include additional flaps 6a that fold beneath the lower panel 6 to ensure that the lower panel 6 of the packaging 1 is securely closed as well. Perforations 13 also are formed onto the single die cut blank 11 to provide the perforated cut-out portion 8a of the front panel 3 defining a dispensing opening 8, and the perforated cut-out portion 9a of at least one of the side panels 4 defining a window opening 9. The perforated cut-out portions 8a and 9a may be ovular, rectangular, or have any other suitable shape. The single die cut blank 11 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B also includes a panel 12a that folds to form at least some of the inner walls 12 of the packaging (referring to FIGS. 1B, 4D and 5D). The panel 12a may be folded to form multiple compartments 22a (referring to FIGS. 4D or 5D) within the packaging 1 depending on how panel 12a is folded and how many times the panel 12a is folded. The panel 12a may be folded to define specific shapes within the void 10, in particular shapes for wedging the articles in the container (FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, compartments 22a may be completely separated from one another by the inner walls 12. In other embodiments, adjacent compartments 22a may be continuous in some regions (i.e., may not be completely partitioned from one another). Additionally, the single die cut blank 11 may further include at least one adhesive tab 14 for joining various portions of the single die cut blank 11 together to form a packaging 1. As shown in FIG. 2A, adhesive tab 14 may be positioned on, but not limited to, the side of the panel 12a close to back panel 5 as shown in FIG. 2A, the side of the panel 12a furthest from back panel 5 as shown in FIG. 2A, one or both the additional tabs 2a as shown in FIG. 2A, one or both of the additional flaps 6a as shown in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2B, an adhesive tab 14 also may be positioned on the inner surface, i.e., the surface not visible to a user viewing the exterior of the package 1, of the outermost side panel 4, and the inner surface of a lower panel 6. In particular in case the hanging element is formed of two joined walls as shown (here: a portion of the back panel 5 and an extension of the upper panel 2), an adhesive tab 14 may also be positioned on the inner side of one of these two walls. In other embodiments, glue or other similar adhesive-type closing mechanisms may be utilized in place of an adhesive tab(s). One of the panels, in particular the back panel 5, may present one or more slits 5a for engaging a support base 25, as described below.

In some embodiments, the packaging 1 may include a separate, standing support base 25 (referring to FIGS. 3B-3D). As provided in FIG. 3A, the standing support base 25 is formed from another, separate base blank 20, which can fold into the base 25 for a packaging 1. The base blank 20 may include two side panels 22, a back panel 21, and two flaps 24. The two side panels 22 of the base blank 20 may be folded so that the planes of their respective surfaces are generally parallel to one another, and generally perpendicular to the plane of back panel 21. Thus, the standing support base 25 and may provide a support for a free-standing packaging 1. An embodiment of the assembled standing support base 25 is illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 3C. As can be seen in FIG. 3D, in some embodiments, the flaps 24 of the standing support base 25, that are shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, may be inserted into slits 5a that may be located on, but not limited to, the back panel 5 of a packaging 1 to secure the packaging 1 onto the base 25. By such a configuration, the base 25 may securely allow the packaging 1 to stand on a surface, such as a shelf, in instances, for example, when the packaging 1 is not supported by the hanging element 7, or does not have a hanging element 7, or is simply positioned strategically for specific display.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another embodiment of a packaging 100. As can be seen from FIG. 4A, the packaging 100 includes the various panels found in the embodiment of the packaging 1 illustrated in FIG. 1A. The packaging 100 in FIGS. 4A and 4B also includes perforated cut-out portions 9a on both side panels 4 defining window openings 9 on both side panels 4 of the packaging 100. However, the example of the packaging 100 illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B has different dimensions than the packaging 1 illustrated in FIG. 1A and 1B, and also provides for two separate compartments 22a and two perforated cut-out portions 8a of the front panel 3 defining two dispensing openings 8. In this embodiment, the two adjacent dispensing openings 8 provide a user the access to two different stacks contained in each one of the compartments 22a. The compartments 22a of the packaging 100 are in a linear arrangement. Therefore, a user may tear out one of the perforated cut-out portions 8a of the front panel 3 to reveal the second dispensing opening 8 for another stack of shavers 20, after using all the shavers that were dispensed from the first dispensing opening 8. This also ensures limited environmental exposure of the remaining, unused shavers while they are not in use by the user. Alternatively, different types of shavers can be dispensed via the different openings. For example, a first male shaver (e.g., a 3-blade shaver, etc.) can be dispensed from the first opening 8, while a second female shaver type (e.g., a 5-blade shaver, etc.) can be dispensed from the second opening 8.

FIG. 4C illustrates a series of front, side, and rear views of the packaging 100 example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. As can be seen in FIG. 4C, the front view of the packaging 100 clearly depicts two perforated cut-out portions 8a in the front panel 3 that may be removed to reveal two adjacent dispensing openings 8.

FIG. 4D illustrates an example of a manner in which the shavers 20 may be loaded and stacked into two compartments or columns 22a in a packaging 100 having inner walls 12. As can be seen in FIG. 4D, shavers 20 are loaded in a manner so that the tails (handle portions furthest away from the shaver heads) of the shavers 20 of the two columns 22a are adjacent to one another, and so that the shavers 20 are stacked along axis X-X (which is a central longitudinal axis of panel 2). The inner walls 12 of the packaging 100 outline and define the columns 22a for the shavers 20 to be loaded. For instance, walls 12 are arranged so that the heads of shavers 20 must be inserted into packaging 100 adjacent to side panels 4, and so that the handle portions of shavers 20 must be aligned in a narrower central channel within packaging 100.

In another embodiment, the packaging 100 may have the same dimensions and the same arrangement of dispensing openings 8 as that of the packaging 100 illustrated in FIG. 4A and 4B. However, instead of loading and stacking the shavers 20 as illustrated in FIG. 4D, the shavers 20 may be loaded and stacked into two columns 22a in a packaging 100 so that head of the shavers 20 in one column is adjacent to the tail of the shavers 20 in the other column. Accordingly, the inner walls 12 of the packaging 100 would outline such an arrangement for the columns of shavers 20 to be loaded. Still further, shavers 20 may be aligned so that the heads of shavers 20 are adjacent to one another.

FIG. 4E illustrates the steps a user may take, demonstrating the functionality of the example packaging 100 illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. As can be seen, a user may 1) tear a perforated window 8a or cut-out on the front panel 3, 3) collect a shaver 20 (i.e., remove a shaver 20 via an opening 8, 3) tear a perforated window 9 or cut-out on one of the side panels 4, and 4) view that some quantity of shavers 20 are remaining in the packaging 100 from the window opening 9. In some embodiments, the window 9 may not reveal the exact number of shavers 20 that are remaining but may reveal that some quantity of shavers 20 is available. In other embodiments, the window 9 may reveal the exact number of shavers 20 that are remaining, for example, when window opening 9 extends substantially for the entirety of a side panel 4.

FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate another example of a packaging 1000. As can be seen from FIG. 5A, the packaging 1000 includes the various panels found in the example of the packaging 1 illustrated in FIG. 1A. The packaging 1000 in FIG. 5B also includes perforated cut-out portions 9a of both side panels 4 defining window openings 9 on both side panels 4 of the packaging 1000. However, the example of the packaging 1000 illustrated in FIG. 5A and 5B may have different dimensions. Furthermore, as can be seen from FIGS. 5B and 5C, the packaging 1000 includes a perforated cut-out portion 8a on the front panel 3 and also a perforated cut-out portion 8a on the back panel 5 defining two dispensing openings 8. Therefore, in this embodiment, a dispensing opening 8 can be found on both the front panel 3 and the back panel 5 of the packaging 1000, and the shavers 20 can be dispensed bi-directionally (i.e., in an arrangement where the shavers 20 are loaded with the head of one shaver 20 in a first column 22a adjacent to the tail of another shaver 20 in a second column 22b). In this embodiment, the two dispensing openings 8 found on the front panel 3 and back panel 5, respectively, of the packaging 1000 provide a user the access to two stacks of shavers 20 that are held within the packaging 1000 in a bi-directional arrangement. Therefore, after the use of all the shavers 20 that dispensed from the dispensing opening 8 on the front panel 3, a user may rotate the packaging by 180°, remove the perforated cut-out portion of the back panel 8a to reveal the second dispensing opening 8, and access shavers 20 from the dispensing opening 8 on the back panel 5. This also may help ensure the limited environmental exposure of the remaining, unused shavers 20 while they are not in use by the user.

FIG. 5D illustrates an example of a manner in which the shavers 20 may be loaded and stacked into two columns in a packaging 1000 having inner walls 12, as illustrated in FIG. 5A and 5B. As can be seen in FIG. 5D, the shavers 20 are stacked in a manner so that one stack of shavers is in an opposite arrangement from the other stack of shavers 20 (i.e., in opposing compartments 22b). In other words, shavers 20 from different columns may be disposed on opposing sides of axis X-X (which is a central longitudinal axis of top panel 2). Thus, the heads of the shavers 20 in one stack, extending along the front panel 3 or back panel 5, is longitudinally aligned relative to axis X-X with the tails of the shavers 20 in the other stack, extending along the other of the front panel 3 or back panel 5.

FIG. 5E illustrates the steps a user may take, demonstrating the functionality of the example packaging 1000 illustrated in FIG. 5A and 5B. As can be seen, a user may 1) tear a perforated window 8a or cut-out in the front panel 3 or back panel 5, 2) collect a shaver 20 (i.e., via an opening 8), 3) tear a perforated window or cut-out on one of the side panels 4, and 4) view how many shavers 20 are remaining in the packaging 1000 from the window opening 8.

FIG. 6A, 6B and 6D illustrate another example of a packaging 2000. The packaging 2000 includes two elementary containers 2010 and 2020 similar to the packaging of FIGS. 1A and 1B except that, in this example, the elementary containers 2010 and 2020 do not include the hanging element 7. Accordingly, the elementary containers 2010 and 2020 include the various panels found in the embodiment of the packaging of FIGS. 1A and 1B. In particular, the elementary containers 2010 and 2020 include perforated cut-out portion 9a on the side panels and the perforated cut-out portion 8a on the front panel. In this case, the elementary containers are joined together via respective side panels. In this case the cut-out portions 8a are arranged in at least the other side panels. Alternatively, the elementary containers may be joined via other panels, in particular via their respective back panels.

In the example, the packaging 2000 includes a support card 2030 that presents a hanging element 2007. The elementary containers 2010 and 2020 are held together and supported by the support card 2030. The support card may be formed by a single flat panel to which the elementary containers 2010 and 2020 may be attached by respective ones of their panels, in particular their back panels, or their front panels as shown.

In this case, the support card 2030 has a front panel 2033 and an upper panel 2034, against which are respectively disposed the front panels and the upper panels of the elementary containers 2010 and 2020. The support card also has a hanging portion 2007. The front panel 2033 is arranged to provide access to the cut-out portions 8a of the elementary containers. In the example, the front panel 2033 has cut-out portions 2008a similar to the cut-out portions 8a. Alternatively, the front panel 2033 may be arranged to have its lower end located above the cut-out portions 8a. In this example, the support card has no side panels.

The support card may have more panels, in particular four panels (front, sides and back) defining between them a void for receiving the attached elementary containers 2010 and 2020 therein. In that case, the front panel and the side panels of the support card may be arranged to provide access to the cut-out portions 8a and 9a of the elementary containers 2010 and 2020. For example the panels 2033 and 2034 may extend so as not to cover the cut-out portions 8a and 9a, or may present cut-out portions 2008a to be removed for giving access to the cut-out portions 8a and 9a.

Although in this example, two elementary containers are supported by the support card, more than two elementary containers may be supported accordingly. For example, four elementary containers similar to the elementary containers 2010 and 2020 may be arranged in a void of a four-sided support card. In case a support card made of a single panel is provided, a front face and a rear face of such single panel may be each attached to two or more elementary containers.

FIGS. 6D shows the packaging 2000 upon removal of the cut-out portions, and FIG. 6E shows the packaging 2000 after such removal with respective shavers 20 being removed from the respective elementary containers.

The joined panels of the elementary containers 2010 and 2020 may be positively attached together, in particular by adhesive or glue, or may be simply held in a joined situation due to their insertion in a void of the support card.

All technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs unless clearly indicated otherwise. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The above description is illustrative and is not intended to be restrictive. One of ordinary skill in the art may make numerous modifications and/or changes without departing from the general scope of the disclosure. For example, and as has been described, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Additionally, portions of the above-described embodiments may be removed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the various embodiments without departing from their scope. Many other embodiments will also be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

As is evident from the figures and text presented above, as well as the examples below, a variety of embodiments are contemplated:

1. A packaging, comprising: a front panel, a back panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, and two side panels, wherein the two side panels extend between the upper panel and the lower panel, wherein the front panel, the back panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels form one or more voids for holding a stack of shavers, wherein the front panel includes a removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel that, when removed, defines a dispensing opening adapted for dispensing a shaver from the stack of shavers, and wherein the front panel, the back panel, the upper panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels are formed from exactly one die cut blank.

2. The packaging of embodiment 1, wherein the removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel extends downwards to a portion of the lower panel.

3. The packaging of embodiments 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the two side panels includes a removable perforated portion that, when removed, defines a window opening that displays at least a portion of the stack of shavers.

4. The packaging of any one of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a hanging element, wherein the hanging element is included in the exactly one blank.

5. A packaging, comprising: a front panel, a back panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, two side panels, and inner walls, wherein the two side panels extend between the upper panel and the lower panel, and the inner walls are provided between the front panel, the back panel, and the two side panels, wherein the inner walls form one or more compartments holding stacks of shavers, wherein the front panel includes removable perforated portions on the bottom of the front panel that, when removed, defines dispensing openings adapted for dispensing a shaver from the stacks of shavers, and wherein the front panel, the back panel, the upper panel, the lower panel, the two side panels, and the inner walls are formed from only one die cut blank.

6. The packaging of embodiment 5, wherein the dispensing openings are adjacently aligned along the bottom of the front panel.

7. The packaging of embodiment 5 or 6, wherein the removable perforated portions on the bottom of the front panel extend downwards to a portion of the lower panel.

8. The packaging of any one of embodiments 5-7, wherein at least one of the two side panels includes a removable perforated portion that, when removed, defines a window opening that displays at least a portion of at least one of the stacks of shavers.

9. The packaging of any one of embodiments 5-8, further comprising a hanging element, wherein the hanging element is included in the only one blank.

10. A packaging, comprising: a front panel, a back panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, side panels, and inner walls, wherein the side panels extend between the upper panel and the lower panel, and the inner walls are provided between the front panel, the back panel, and the side panels, wherein the inner walls form compartments holding stacks of articles, wherein the front panel includes a removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel that, when removed, leaves a front dispensing opening in the front panel adapted for dispensing an article from one of the stacks of articles, wherein the back panel includes a removable perforated portion on the bottom of the back panel that, when removed, leaves a back dispensing opening in the back panel adapted for dispensing a single article from another stack of articles, wherein the front panel, the back panel, the upper panel, the lower panel, the side panels, and the inner walls are formed from a single die cut blank.

11. The packaging of embodiment 10, wherein the removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel and the removable perforated portion on the bottom of the back panel extend downwards to a portion of the lower panel.

12. The packaging of embodiments 10 or 11, wherein at least one of the side panels includes a removable perforated portion that, when removed, leaves a window opening in the at least one side panel that displays at least a portion of at least one of the stacks of articles.

13. The packaging of any one of embodiments 10-12, further comprising a hanging element, wherein the hanging element is included in the single die cut blank.

14. A container for holding and gravity-feed dispensing articles, the container comprising, a front panel, having perforated lines defining a dispensing opening adapted for dispensing a stack of articles in a configuration such that the stack of articles is substantially above the dispensing opening, a back panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, and two side panels extending between the upper panel and the lower panel, and between the front and back panels, one or more of the side panels comprises perforated lines defining a lateral window, wherein inner walls are provided between the front, back and side panels, the inner walls are integrally formed with the panels and are made by folding.

15. The container of embodiment 14, wherein the upper panel includes foldable flaps and an aperture for non-permanently affixing the container to a support hanger.

16. A blank for forming the container of embodiment 14 or 15, comprising: a front panel having a top and a bottom; a first side panel adjacent to the front panel and having a top and a bottom; a second side panel adjacent to the front panel and having a top and a bottom, wherein the second side panel is an end panel; a back panel adjacent to the side panel and having a top and a bottom; a third side panel adjacent to the back panel and having a top and a bottom; a first inner panel adjacent to the third side panel and having a top and a bottom; a second inner panel adjacent to the first inner panel and having a top and a bottom; a third inner panel adjacent to the second inner panel and having a top and a bottom; a first perforation formed on the second side panel; a hanging element formed on the back panel adjacent to the top of the back panel; a front panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the front panel; a front panel top flap adjacent to the top of the front panel; a first side panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the first side panel; a first side panel top flap adjacent to the top of the first side panel; a back panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the back panel; a second side panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the second side panel; a second side panel top flap adjacent to the top of the second side panel; a hanging element formed on the front panel adjacent to the front panel top flap; and a second perforation formed on the front panel and extending partially into the front panel bottom flap.

Claims

1. A container for holding and gravity-feed dispensing articles, comprising:

a front panel, a back panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, and two side panels, wherein the two side panels extend between the upper panel and the lower panel,

wherein the front panel, the back panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels form one or more voids for holding a stack of articles,

wherein the front panel includes a removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel that, when removed, defines a dispensing opening adapted for dispensing an article from the stack of articles, and

wherein the front panel, the back panel, the upper panel, the lower panel, and the two side panels are formed from exactly one die cut blank.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel extends downwards to a portion of the lower panel.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two side panels includes a removable perforated portion that, when removed, defines a window opening that displays at least a portion of the stack of articles.

4. The container of any of claim 1, further comprising a hanging element, wherein the hanging element is included in the exactly one blank.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein at least one of the two side panels, the hanging element and the lower panel, include an inner surface, wherein an adhesive-type closing mechanism is positioned on the inner surface of each of the at least one of the two side panels, the hanging element and the lower panel.

6. The container of any of claim 1, further comprising inner walls, wherein the inner walls are provided between the front panel, the back panel, and the two side panels, the inner walls forming one or more compartments holding stacks of articles, wherein the inner walls are also formed from the exactly one die cut blank.

7. The container of any of claim 1, wherein the front panel includes two or more removable perforated portions on the bottom of the front panel that, when removed, define a dispensing openings adapted for dispensing articles, the dispensing openings being adjacently aligned along the bottom of the front panel.

8. The container of any of claim 1,

wherein the back panel includes a removable perforated portion on the bottom of the back panel that, when removed, leaves a back dispensing opening in the back panel adapted for dispensing a single article from another stack of articles.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the removable perforated portion on the bottom of the back panel extend downwards to a portion of the lower panel.

10. The container of any of claim 1, wherein the article is a shaver and the stack of articles is a stack of shavers.

11. The container of any of claim 1, wherein the upper panel includes foldable flaps and an aperture for non-permanently affixing the container to a support hanger.

12. A blank for forming the container of claim 1, comprising:

a front panel having a top and a bottom;

a first side panel adjacent to the front panel and having a top and a bottom;

a second side panel adjacent to the front panel and having a top and a bottom, wherein the second side panel is an end panel;

a back panel adjacent to the side panel and having a top and a bottom; and

a second perforation formed on the front panel and extending partially into the front panel bottom flap.

13. A blank as in claim 12, wherein the blank further comprises a hanging element formed on the back panel adjacent to the top of the back panel.

14. A blank as in claim 12, wherein the blank further comprises

a front panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the front panel;

a front panel top flap adjacent to the top of the front panel;

a first side panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the first side panel;

a first side panel top flap adjacent to the top of the first side panel;

a back panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the back panel;

a second side panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the second side panel;

a second side panel top flap adjacent to the top of the second side panel;

a hanging element formed on the front panel adjacent to the front panel top flap.

15. A blank as in claim 12, wherein the blank further comprises a third side panel adjacent to the back panel and having a top and a bottom.

16. A blank as in claim 15, wherein the blank further comprises

a first inner panel adjacent to the third side panel and having a top and a bottom;

a second inner panel adjacent to the first inner panel and having a top and a bottom;

a third inner panel adjacent to the second inner panel and having a top and a bottom;

a first perforation formed on the second side panel.

17. The container of claim 3, wherein the removable perforated portion extend substantially parallel to a height of the container.

18. The container of claim 1, wherein the removable perforated portion on the bottom of the front panel extends to a part of the lower panel.