US20070039908A1

US20070039908A1 - Article dispenser

Info

Publication number: US20070039908A1
Application number: US11/206,312
Authority: US
Inventors: James Bergdoll
Original assignee: Consumer Promotions Int l Inc
Current assignee: CONSUMER PROMOTIONS INT'L Inc; Consumer Promotions Int l Inc
Priority date: 2005-08-17
Filing date: 2005-08-17
Publication date: 2007-02-22

Abstract

A display and dispenser device for facilitating loading, display and dispensing of individual merchandise units. The dispenser includes a housing defining a chamber adapted for holding individual units therein. A wall is slidably attached to a track inside the chamber via a biasing mechanism which assures that each merchandise unit loaded therein is pushed to the front of the device for display and easy retrieval. At least two side gripper tabs and a top gripper tab are flexibly attached to the housing to partially and flexibly block the front entrance to the chamber, thus preventing accidental and unintentional removal of units from the device while facilitating dispensing of single units at a time. Stacking tabs and respective recesses are provided on the housing to facilitate stacking and/or connection of the dispenser devices with each other.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to dispensing devices and, more particularly, to a device for facilitating storage and dispensing of individual units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a wide variety of known display devices which are designed to contain and display articles of merchandise and also include means for dispensing them. For example, there are display devices in which modular units are loaded onto one side and move by gravity along an inclined course to a forward or dispensing position at the opposite side of the device.
However, such devices have disadvantages, for example, if the angle of incline is too steep, the modular units can tilt forward and rotate, so that the bottom of the merchandise unit is no longer in contact with the floor and the product is thus not displayed correctly at the dispensing end of the display device.
Many displays that use a straight gravity course have moderate inclines, however, with such displays there is often insufficient pressure acting on the last unit loaded in the display such that one or more of the units fail to advance to the correct presentation position at the dispensing end of the display.
Display devices are also known which rely on various spring mechanisms to dispense individual packages. However, to prevent tension due to the spring mechanism from pushing the product units out of the device involuntarily, a front panel or plate is typically utilized at a front portion of the device. This, however, limits the actual visibility and display of the product itself, since the product is partially obstructed by the front panel. In addition, this requires that the product be lifted in an upwards direction to effectuate removal of same from the dispenser. Furthermore, stackability of such devices is severely limited, since each device requires unobstructed overhead access to its front end for permitting retrieval of packages loaded therein.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system for efficiently and effectively displaying and dispensing individual articles in a convenient and reliable manner that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a display and dispenser device for facilitating loading, display and dispensing of individual merchandise units.
In its heretofore disclosed system and method, the present invention overcomes the prior art limitations described above via its overall reliability and efficiency in displaying and dispensing individual articles.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser comprising a housing defining a chamber adapted to receive a plurality of individual units. At least two side gripper tabs are provided flexibly attached to the housing at a front end for gripping a displayed unit, said gripper tabs having a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the gripper tabs partially block a front entrance to the chamber.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a unit dispenser comprising a housing defining a chamber adapted to have a plurality of units loaded therein and at least two side tabs flexibly attached to the housing at a front end, each of said side tabs having a first state and a second state. In the first state, the side tabs partially block a front entrance to the chamber. Each side tab includes a sloped edge angled inwards towards the chamber to effectuate said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a unit dispenser comprising a housing defining a chamber adapted to have a plurality of units loaded therein, at least two side arms protruding from the housing at opposing sides of the front entrance, and at least two flex attachments for flexibly attaching a side tab to each of the side arms. Each of said side tabs has a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the side tabs partially block a front entrance to the chamber. Each side tab includes a sloped edge angled inwards towards the chamber to effectuate said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber. Said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber results in a front face of a loaded unit being fully visible except for a portion of the unit gripped by each of the side tabs. A top gripper tab is provided flexibly attached to a top of the front end of the housing for gripping a top part of a loaded unit.
These, and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described or become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the views:
FIG. 1 is an exemplary front perspective view of an article dispenser according to an aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exemplary enlarged perspective view of the area “A” of FIG. 1 according to an aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exemplary enlarged perspective view of the area “A” of FIG. 1 of the article dispenser having a modular unit inserted therein according to an aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exemplary cross-sectional perspective view along line B-B of FIG. 2 according to an aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exemplary rear cross-sectional perspective view of a pair of side gripper tabs according to an aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a front view of the dispenser loaded with a merchandise unit according to an aspect of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a plurality of dispensers in an exemplary stacked configuration according to an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective cut-away view taken along line C-C of FIG. 3 according to an aspect of the present invention.
It should be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not necessarily the only possible configurations for illustrating the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the Figures, FIGS. 1-6 are exemplary views of an article dispenser 100 according to an aspect of the present invention. The dispenser 100 includes a housing 101 having a top 103, bottom 105, sides 110, a front 107 and a back 109 defining a chamber 111 in which e.g., article(s) of merchandise/modular unit(s) 301 may be housed e.g., in a linear fashion. The bottom 105 includes a track 113 e.g., integrally formed thereon along which, e.g., each unit 301 may be slidably moved.
A wall 121 is provided slidably attached to the track 113 via a biasing mechanism 401 described further below with respect to FIG. 4. The wall 121 may be comprised of any (preferably rigid) material, such as plastic, rubber, nylon, metal, etc. and may be a single molded component or comprised of integrated components. The wall 121 is preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the track 113 and may be configured according to the shape/size of the merchandise unit to be loaded into the dispenser 100.
In one embodiment, (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1) the wall 121 may comprise an upper panel 123 on a first plane and a lower panel 125 on a second plane. A connector panel 127 may be provided which connects a first end 124 of the upper panels to a first end 126 of the lower panel 125. In one embodiment, the connector panel 127 may be connected to each of the upper 123 and lower 125 panels at about a 90 degree angle to provide, e.g., a ‘lip’ for supporting a corresponding overhanging projection of a modular unit 301.
The wall 121 preferably includes a base panel 129 attached to a second end 201 of the lower panel 125. The base panel 129 is oriented parallel to the track 113 and is slidably attached to same. Slidable movement of the base panel 129 along the track 113 may be facilitated by, e.g., inclusion of various projections from base panel 129 and/or features included in the dispenser 100 to improve stability of the wall 121 when sliding along the track 113. For example, the base panel 129 may include track guides 207 for slidably gripping each side of the track 113 (as shown in FIG. 5). Alternatively or in addition, the dispenser 100 may include internal shelf elements 203 disposed inside the chamber 111 on either side of the track 113 along the length of the dispenser, and the base panel 129 may include side projections 205 for slidably gripping an underside of each shelf element 203. The track guides 207 prevent substantial side-to-side movement of the wall 121, and the internal shelf elements together with the side projections 205 substantially prevent sideways and upwards movement of the wall 7. 121, thus stabilizing the wall 121 relative to the track 113 to faciliate slidable movement thereon.
The base panel 129 may be of any length or width to accommodate the dispenser 100 and/or the dimensions of a modular unit 301. Preferably, the base panel 129 serves as a “stop” mechanism such that the wall 121 is prevented from being pushed off the track 113 when, e.g., the biasing mechanism 401 is in its biased forward-most position with no units 301 loaded. In this embodiment, the track 113 is preferably recessed such that a front portion 206 of the base panel 129 is caused to contact the front end 107 when the wall is at its forward-most position (e.g., no units 301 loaded). It is noted that a width 211 of the base panel may be preferably sized based at least, in part, on the dimensions of the modular unit 301 which it is designed to dispense to avoid, e.g., undue force on the unit 301 which might cause the unit 301 to be unintentionally dispensed.
It is to be noted that the base panel 129, the upper panel 123, the lower panel 125 and the connector panel 127 may be integrally formed.
The biasing mechanism 401 may include, e.g., various coil mechanisms that induce a constant force on the wall 121 towards the front end 107. When the dispenser is not in use (e.g., when no articles 301 are loaded in the dispenser 100), the wall 121 is preferably held in a ‘contracted’ position in which the wall 121 is pushed to the front end 107. The biasing mechanism 401 preferably comprises, e.g., a flexible retractable material which may be made of metal, rubber, plastic, nylon, etc. For example, the biasing mechanism may comprise a flattened ribbon of flexible metal rolled into a coil (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4), wherein a first end of the ribbon is attached to the bottom 105, preferably to the track 113 at the front or dispensing end 107. A second end of the ribbon is attached to the wall 121. The ribbon may be provided, e.g., in various lengths depending, e.g., on the length of the dispenser 100 and/or how many modular units are desired to be stored therein. In its retracted state, the biasing mechanism 401 is in a rolled-up or coiled position (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4). In its most extended state, the biasing mechanism 401 is in a substantially straightened position.
When there are no units loaded inside the dispenser 100 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1) the wall 121 is positioned at the front end 107, held there by the force of the biasing mechanism 401 in a coiled position. To load the dispenser 100, a unit 301 is preferably inserted at the front end 107 in front of the wall 121. FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary view of a displayed modular unit 301 loaded onto the dispenser 100. The modular unit 301 may comprise any type of product, preferably a packaged product having a configuration and dimensions that are sized to fit inside the chamber 111 and be readily loadable in/dispensable by the dispenser 100. When a modular unit 301 is inserted inside the dispenser 100, the wall is caused to be pushed (e.g., along track 113) towards the back end 109. The biasing mechanism 401 (e.g., ribbon) is extended (e.g., the ribbon is ‘unrolled’) as the wall 121 is pushed towards back 109. As more modular units 301 are inserted into the dispenser 100, the wall 121 is pushed farther back and the biasing mechanism 401 is extended accordingly. However, the biasing mechanism 401 preferably maintains a continuous force on the wall 121 at all times, pushing the wall 121 towards front end 107. The continuous force induced by the biasing mechanism 401 on the wall 121 facilitates slidable movement of each modular unit 301 inserted in the dispenser 100 along track 113 towards the front 107 for display and easy retrieval.
It is noted that in one embodiment, each dispenser 100 facilitates display of one modular unit 301 at a time, regardless of the number of modular units loaded in the dispenser 100.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the dispenser 100 preferably includes side gripper tabs 115 for providing unobstructed display of a unit 301 loaded therein while facilitating removal of each unit 301 when desired and preventing unintentional or accidental removal/dislodgement of modular unit(s) 301 from the dispenser 100. In a preferred embodiment, at least two side gripper tabs 115 are provided. Each gripper tab 115 preferably includes a portion which protrudes towards and partially blocks the front entrance to the chamber 111. Preferably, such protruding portion is tapered to facilitate smooth extraction of each unit 301.
For example, each gripper tab 115 may include a sloped (beveled, angled, curved and/or rounded) edge 501 preferably angled inwards towards the chamber 111 to effectuate the partial angulated blocking of the front entrance to the chamber 111. Each gripper tab 115 is preferably shaped to grip the front edges of a displayed unit 301, thus holding the unit within the device 100 while providing maximum product visibility for display purposes. It is noted that units 301 may be shaped to facilitate dispensing from the dispenser 100; e.g., the shape of a loaded unit preferably includes rounded corners and edges for smooth dispensing.
In a preferred embodiment, the front entrance to the chamber 111 is preferably only partially obstructed by a portion of the side gripper tabs 115 (e.g., extending from side arms 213) and there is no other obstruction of the front chamber entrance (e.g., from a front bottom edge 505) that would further obstruct the front view (301 a, 301 b) of the displayed unit. It is to be noted that such partial obstruction of the chamber 111 preferably ensures minimal interference with and/or minimal reduction in the visibility of the merchandise unit 301, especially its front face. That is, the partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber preferably results in a front face (e.g., 301 a, 301 b) of a loaded unit 301 being fully visible except, e.g., for a small portion of the unit which is gripped by each of the gripper tabs.
In one embodiment, as shown e.g., in FIG. 3, a dispenser 100 according to the present invention houses and displays a unit 301 while simultaneously affording full unobstructed view of its top face 301 a and a virtually unobstructed view of its bottom face 301 b.
Each edge 501 may include a cushioning material incorporated and/or adhered thereon, e.g., to provide an improved frictional grip and/or facilitate smooth unit dispensal. Such cushioning material may be comprised of e.g., rubber, foam, plastic, cloth, etc.
The side gripper tabs 115 are preferably flexibly attached to the housing 101 at either side of the front end 107 via flex attachments 117. The flex attachments 117 may be mounted on the side arms 213 (at least two of which are preferably provided), which, in one embodiment, each protrude from the housing such as to maximize the total surface area exposure of a unit loaded in a display position (e.g., the unit 301 situated at the front of the chamber). Advantageously, this not only maximizes visibility of the unit 301 but facilitates grasping of the unit when it is desired to be extracted. The side arms 213 may be integrally formed with the housing 101 or attached thereto.
The flex attachments 117 may comprise e.g., flexible material having spring-like characteristics (e.g., exhibit a relaxed state and a primed state), such as spring steel, metal, rubber, plastic, etc.
In a first or relaxed position/state, the flex attachments 117 position the gripper tabs 115 such that a portion of each gripper tab 115 protrudes into and partially physically blocks the front entrance to the chamber 111 (e.g., from a left and right side), therefore causing a modular unit 301 to be contained therein, and avoiding accidental/unintentional removal of the unit 301 from the device 100. Preferably, the force maintained by the biasing mechanism 401 on the wall 121 is sufficient to keep any loaded modular units 301 continuously pushed towards the front end 107 for display and dispensing, but not so strong as to cause the unit(s) 301 to be pushed through the gripper tabs 115 without, e.g., user assistance.
The flex attachments 117 enable the side tabs 115 to be flexed in, e.g., opposing directions 307 (a second flexed position or “primed” state) to facilitate extraction of a unit 301. For example, if a unit is desired to be removed, it may be grasped and pulled by a user in direction 303, which causes the side grip tabs 115 to be pushed (flexed) outwards (in opposing directions 307), thus temporarily ‘widening’ the entrance to the chamber to provide complete access to the chamber and releasing the unit.
Immediately upon removal of the unit 301, the side gripper tabs 115 each spring back to their respective original relaxed states, thus securing and preventing release of any additional loaded units unless, e.g., the removal process is repeated for each individual unit. Accordingly, the side gripper tabs 115 permit extraction of a single unit at a time.
A top gripper tab 119 may be provided flexibly attached to the housing 101 at a top portion 103 of the front end 107 to additionally secure the displayed unit 301 (e.g., the unit which is located at the front end 107 and is ready for immediate dispensing) within the dispenser 100 and prevent, e.g., accidental dislodgement of the unit 301, e.g., due to the dispenser 100 being held or flipped upside-down or sideways. The top gripper tab 119 may comprise any rigid yet flexible material, e.g., plastic, metal, rubber, etc., and preferably exerts downward pressure and/or frictional force on the displayed unit 301 and/or serves as a physical barrier to secure and contain the displayed unit 301 within the dispenser 100.
In an alternate embodiment, a loaded unit 301 may be removed from the device 100 via lifting of the unit 301 at a substantially upwards direction (e.g., in direction 305) such that, e.g., the top gripper tab 119 on the unit 301 is caused to be flexed upwards, thus releasing the unit 301. Immediately upon removal of the unit 301, the top gripper tab 119 preferably springs back to its relaxed state/original position, thus frictionally securing and/or holding the next displayed unit until, e.g., the removal process is repeated.
In any event, the dispensing of each unit 301 is partially assisted via the force exerted by the biasing mechanism 401 on the wall 121, which continuously pushes the wall 121 in direction 209. This continuous force on the wall 121 also facilitates the automatic provision of any additional units loaded within the device to the front display position as, e.g., each unit is removed.
The dispenser 100 may include a series of protrusions or stacking tabs 220 attached at its top surface 103, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, to facilitate secure stacking and/or connection of the dispensers on top of each other. The bottom 105 of the dispenser 100 may include recesses of sufficient dimensions and at appropriate locations thereon for insertably receiving the stacking tabs 220 accordingly.
FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a plurality of dispensers in an exemplary stacked configuration according to an aspect of the present invention. Advantageously, a dispenser according to the present invention facilitates stacking of each dispenser 100 directly on top of one another, as well as alongside each other, as shown, without hindering or interfering with unit 301 loading, display, and dispensing.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective cut-away view 801 taken along line C-C of FIG. 3, showing an exemplary depiction of the inward angulation of the sloped edges 501.
In one embodiment, a dispenser according to the present invention is particularly adapted for holding and dispensing units which comprise individually packaged food containers which, e.g., may be stacked in multiple layers and secured together via additional cardboard and/or plastic packaging to form a single unit.
Although the embodiment which incorporates the teachings of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings. Having described preferred embodiments for a system and method for automated folding (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a chamber adapted to receive a plurality of individual units; and

at least two side gripper tabs flexibly attached to the housing at a front end for gripping a displayed unit, said gripper tabs having a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the gripper tabs partially block a front entrance to the chamber.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein in the second state, the gripper tabs are flexed in opposing directions to permit extraction of a single unit.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising at least two flex attachments for flexibly attaching each of said gripper tabs to opposing sides of the front entrance.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein said flex attachments comprise spring steel.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising at least two side arms protruding from the housing at opposing sides of the front entrance.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, further comprising at least two flex attachments for flexibly attaching each of said gripper tabs to each of the side arms.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a top gripper tab flexibly attached to a top of the front end of the housing for gripping a top part of an individual unit.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber by the gripper tabs comprises protrusion of a portion of each gripper tab into the chamber from a left and right side.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber results in a front face of a loaded unit being fully visible except for a portion of the unit gripped by each of the gripper tabs.

10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein each gripper tab includes a sloped edge angled inwards towards the chamber to effectuate said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber.

11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a track disposed at a bottom of the chamber and a wall slidably mounted on the track via a biasing mechanism.

12. A unit dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a chamber adapted to have a plurality of units loaded therein; and

at least two side tabs flexibly attached to the housing at a front end, each of said side tabs having a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the side tabs partially block a front entrance to the chamber, each side tab including a sloped edge angled inwards towards the chamber to effectuate said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein in the second state, the side tabs are flexed in opposing directions to permit extraction of a single loaded unit.

14. The dispenser of claim 12, further comprising at least two flex attachments for flexibly attaching each of said side tabs to opposing sides of the front entrance.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein said flex attachments comprise spring steel.

16. The dispenser of claim 12, further comprising at least two side arms protruding from the housing at opposing sides of the front entrance.

17. The dispenser of claim 16, further comprising at least two flex attachments for flexibly attaching each of said side tabs to each of the side arms.

18. The dispenser of claim 12, further comprising a top gripper tab flexibly attached to a top of the front end of the housing for gripping a top part of a loaded unit.

19. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber results in a front face of a loaded unit being fully visible except for a portion of the unit gripped by each of the side tabs.

20. A unit dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a chamber adapted to have a plurality of units loaded therein;

at least two side arms protruding from the housing at opposing sides of the front entrance;

at least two flex attachments for flexibly attaching a side tab to each of the side arms, each of said side tabs having a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the side tabs partially block a front entrance to the chamber, each side tab including a sloped edge angled inwards towards the chamber to effectuate said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber, wherein said partial blocking of the front entrance of the chamber results in a front face of a loaded displayed unit being fully visible except for a portion of the unit gripped by each of the side tabs; and

a top gripper tab flexibly attached to a top of the front end of the housing for gripping a top part of a loaded unit.