U.S. patent application number 11/447221 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for small item dispenser with maze.
Invention is credited to Walter I. Bieger, Thom Sandberg.
Application Number | 20070289985 11/447221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38860555 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289985 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bieger; Walter I. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
Small item dispenser with maze
Abstract
A dispenser for dispensing small items such as pieces of candy
is disclosed herein. The dispenser includes a container having a
first major side, a second major side, and a storage volume
positioned between the first and second major sides. The dispenser
includes a dispensing member for carrying the items from the
storage volume to a dispensing opening. The dispenser also includes
a maze structure within the container. At least one major side of
the container includes transparent material to allow a user to view
the items within the container as the user tries to move the items
through the maze toward the dispensing member for discharging the
items from the dispensing opening.
Inventors: |
Bieger; Walter I.; (St.
Paul, MN) ; Sandberg; Thom; (Minneapolis,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
38860555 |
Appl. No.: |
11/447221 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2583/0454 20130101;
B65D 83/0481 20130101; B65D 2583/0481 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/24 |
International
Class: |
A24F 15/04 20060101
A24F015/04 |
Claims
1. A dispenser comprising: a container including a first major side
with a flat surface, a second major side with a flat surface, and a
storage volume positioned between the first and second major sides;
a dispensing opening; and a maze structure positioned within the
storage volume, the maze structure defining at least one path of
travel going from the storage volume to the dispensing opening.
2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein one of at least the first
major side and the second major side includes at least a portion of
transparent material.
3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the maze structure defines at
least one path of travel going from the storage volume to a dead
end.
4. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a dispensing member
for carrying items from the storage volume to the dispensing
opening, the dispensing member including a pocket for receiving the
items, the pocket having an open end positioned opposite from a
closed end, and an open side positioned between the open and closed
ends, the items being received into the pocket from the storage
volume through the open end, and the items being delivered from the
pocket to the dispensing opening through the open side of the
pocket.
5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a
generally rectangular shape.
6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the maze structure includes
walls defining channels.
7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the walls extend between the
first and second major sides.
8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first major side is
generally parallel to the second major side.
9. A dispenser comprising: a container including a first side, a
second side, and a storage volume positioned between the first and
second sides; a dispensing opening defined through at least one of
the first and second sides, one of at least the first and second
sides including at least a portion of transparent material; and a
fixed maze structure positioned within the storage volume, the maze
structure defining at least one path of travel going from the
storage volume to the dispensing opening and at least one path of
travel going from the storage volume to a dead end.
10. The dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a dispensing
member for carrying items from the storage volume to the dispensing
opening, the dispensing member including a pocket for receiving the
items, the pocket having an open end positioned opposite from a
closed end, and an open side positioned between the open and closed
ends, the items being received into the pocket from the storage
volume through the open end, and the items being delivered from the
pocket to the dispensing opening through the open side of the
pocket.
11. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the dispenser includes a
generally rectangular shape.
12. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the maze structure includes
walls defining channels.
13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the walls extend between the
first and second sides of the container.
14. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the first side is generally
parallel to the second side of the container.
15. A dispenser comprising: a container including a first major
side with a flat surface, a second major side with a flat surface,
and a storage volume positioned between the first and second major
sides, one of at least the first major side and the second major
side including at least a portion of transparent material; a
dispensing opening defined through the first major side; and a maze
structure positioned within the storage volume, the maze structure
configured to guide items along a path of travel aligned along a
plane, the dispensing opening having an axis aligned in a direction
generally perpendicular to the plane.
16. The dispenser of claim 15, further comprising a dispensing
member for carrying items from the storage volume to the dispensing
opening, the dispensing member including a pocket for receiving the
items, the pocket having an open end positioned opposite from a
closed end, and an open side positioned between the open and closed
ends, the items being received into the pocket from the storage
volume through the open end, and the items being delivered from the
pocket to the dispensing opening through the open side of the
pocket.
17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the maze structure defines
at least one path of travel going from the storage volume to a dead
end and at least one path of travel going from the storage volume
to the dispensing member.
18. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the dispenser includes a
generally rectangular shape.
19. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the maze structure includes
walls defining channels, the walls extending between the first and
second sides of the container.
20. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the first major side is
generally parallel to the second major side of the container.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to dispensers. More
particularly, the present invention relates to dispensers for
dispensing small items such as pieces of candy.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Containers for storing and dispensing small items such as
tablets or pieces of candy are well known. Some examples of small
item dispensers may include a removable screw top, a peelable seal,
a slidable cover, or a snap-fit cap or opening. Once these closures
are opened, the items within the containers may be freely poured
from the container. One problem often encountered with the
dispensers found in the art is that their designs do not allow the
items to be individually dispensed from the container. A person
wanting one tablet or a piece of candy often has a difficult time
controlling the amount of items dispensed from the container and
usually has to resort to discarding the unwanted pieces.
SUMMARY
[0003] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a dispenser
adapted for easily dispensing small items such as pieces of
candy.
[0004] In one example embodiment, the dispenser includes a
container for holding the items desired to be dispensed, an opening
through a major side of the container for dispensing items from the
container, and a dispensing member controlling the discharge of
items from the dispensing opening.
[0005] In another example embodiment, the dispenser includes a maze
structure within the container. At least one major side of the
container is made of transparent material to allow a user to view
the items within the container as the user tries to move the items
through the maze toward the dispensing member for discharging the
items from the dispensing opening.
[0006] Examples representative of a variety of inventive aspects
are set forth in the description that follows. The inventive
aspects relate to individual features as well as combinations of
features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general
description and the following detailed description merely provide
examples of how the inventive aspects may be put into practice, and
are not intended to limit the broad spirit and scope of the
inventive aspects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance
with the principles of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with a
dispensing member shown in a first position;
[0009] FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view taken along section line
2a-2a of FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial blown-up view of the front view of the
dispenser of FIG. 1 with the dispensing member in a second
position;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a left end view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a right end view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing 2 half-shells of the dispenser
of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along section line
9-9 of FIG. 8;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a dispensing member used by the
dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the dispensing member of
FIG. 10;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
dispenser in accordance with the principles of the present
disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 12 with a
dispensing member shown in a first position;
[0021] FIG. 14 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 12 with the
dispensing member shown in a second position;
[0022] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing 2 half-shells of the
dispenser of FIG. 12;
[0023] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a dispensing member used by
the dispenser of FIG. 12;
[0024] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
dispenser in accordance with the principles of the present
disclosure; and
[0025] FIG. 18 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a dispenser 20 in accordance with the
principles of the present disclosure. The dispenser 20 includes a
container 22 including an interior storage volume 23 for holding a
plurality of items 24. The container 22 includes an opening 26
(i.e., a dispensing opening) for dispensing the items 24 from the
container 22. The dispenser 20 also includes a dispensing member 28
for carrying the items 24 from the storage volume 23 of the
container 22 to the opening 26. The dispensing member 28 includes a
pocket 30 for receiving the items 24. The dispensing member 28 is
movable between a first position (shown in FIG. 2) and a second
position (shown in FIG. 3). When the dispensing member 28 is in the
position of FIG. 2, the pocket 30 is oriented to receive items 24
from the storage volume 23 of the container 22. When the dispensing
member 28 is in the position of FIG. 3, the pocket 30 aligns with
the opening 26 such that items 24 within the pocket 30 can be
dispensed through the opening 26. By moving the pocket 30 back and
forth between the positions of FIGS. 2 and 3, multiple items 24 can
be removed from the storage volume 23 of the container 22 and
dispensed through the opening 26.
[0027] It will be appreciated that a variety of different types of
items can be dispensed from the dispenser 20. Preferred items
include pieces of candy. In one embodiment, the pieces of a candy
can include pieces of hard candy. In a preferred embodiment, the
items can include liquid filled (e.g., mint filled) candy. In one
example embodiment, the items can include balls or spheres of candy
including outer gelatin coatings and an inner liquid candy filling
(e.g., a mint filling).
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the container 22 is depicted as
being a relatively thin generally rectangular envelope having
rounded corners 32. The dispensing member 28 is mounted adjacent
one of the corners 32. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the container 22
is defined by two generally rectangular half-shells 34a, 34b.
Half-shell 34a includes four mounting posts 35 while half-shell 34b
includes mounting post receivers 36. The half-shells 34a, 34b also
include pivot posts 38 that fit within pivot bearings 40 of the
dispensing member 28. To assemble the dispenser 20, the dispensing
member 28 is mounted to one of the half-shells 34a, 34b (e.g., by
inserting one of the pivot bearings 40 over the corresponding pivot
post 38 of the half-shell 34a, 34b to which the dispensing member
28 is mounted). While the half-shells 34a, 34b are separated from
one another, the items 24 desired to be dispensed can be loaded
into the container 22. After loading the items 24 into the
container, the two half-shells 34a, 34b are mounted together with
the mounting posts 35 of the half-shell 34a received in the
mounting post receivers 36 of the half-shell 34b. Also, the
dispensing member 28 is captured between the half-shells 34a, 34b
with the pivot bearings 40 positioned around the pivot posts 38. As
assembled, outer edges 42 of the half-shells 34a, 34b contact one
another to define a generally rectangular perimeter of the
container 22.
[0029] Referring still to FIGS. 8 and 9, half-shell 34a includes a
major side 44a and the half-shell 34b includes a major side 44b.
When the container 22 is assembled (as shown at FIGS. 1-7), the
major sides 44a, 44b oppose and are generally parallel to one
another. In one embodiment, a relatively thin spacing S is provided
between the major sides 44a, 44b. In one example embodiment, the
spacing S is sized such that only a single layer of items 24 can be
provided within the container 22. For example, in one embodiment,
the spacing S is less than 2 times the diameter of the items (e.g.,
spheres) held within the container 22. In a preferred embodiment,
the spacing S is only slightly larger than the diameter of the
items held within the container 22. As defined herein, the term
"major side" is a side having a larger surface area than the other
sides of the container.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispensing member 28
includes a knurled outer surface 46 having a circular curvature
generally centered about the pivot bearings 40 of the dispensing
member 28. The knurled outer surface 46 projects outwardly beyond
the outer perimeter of the container 28 to provide ready finger
access for pivoting the dispensing member 28. In the depicted
embodiment, the pocket 30 of the dispensing member 28 is sized to
hold only a single one of the items 24 at a time. Thus, the
dispensing member 28 allows the items 24 to be individually
dispensed from the container 22. The dispensing member 28 can also
be referred to as a pivot member, a rotation member, a wheel, a
dial, a carrier, or like terms.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the pocket 30 of the
dispensing member 28 includes an open end 29 positioned opposite
from a closed end 31. The pocket 30 also includes open sides 33
that extend between the open end 29 and the closed end 31.
[0032] Referring still to FIGS. 2 and 3, the container 22 also
includes funnel members 48 and 50 positioned within the container
22. A gap 52 is defined between the funnel members 48, 50. When the
dispensing member 28 is in the position of FIG. 2, the open end 29
of the pocket 30 aligns with the gap 52 such that an item 24 within
the container 22 can be readily funneled through the gap 52 into
the pocket 30 through the open end 29. When the dispensing member
28 is in the position of FIG. 3, a flat side 54 of the dispensing
member 28 blocks the gap 52 to prevent items 24 from flowing
through the gap 52, and one of the open sides 33 of the pocket 30
aligns with the dispensing opening 26 such that the item 24 within
the pocket can exit the pocket through the open side 33 to be
dispensed through the opening 26.
[0033] The dispenser 20 preferably includes positive stops for
stopping the dispensing member 28 in the positions of FIGS. 2 and
3. For example, when the dispensing member 28 is in the position of
FIG. 3, the flat side 54 of the dispensing member 28 engages one of
the mounting post receivers 36 such that the mounting post receiver
36 functions as a positive stop. When the dispensing member 28 is
in the position of FIG. 2, the flat side 54 engages the funnel
member 50 such that the funnel member 50 functions as a positive
stop. As shown at FIG. 2a, the funnel member 50 also includes a
flexible latch 56 that engages a peripheral lip 58 of the
dispensing member 28 to hold the dispensing member 28 in the
position of FIG. 2. When a user moves the dispensing member 28 from
the position of FIG. 2 toward the position of FIG. 3, the latch 56
flexes to allow clearance of the lip 58 and movement of the
dispensing member 28.
[0034] As shown at FIG. 8, the opening 26 is defined through the
major side 44b of the half-shell 34b. When an item 24 is carried by
the dispensing member 28 from the position of FIG. 2 to the
position of FIG. 3, the item 24 moves along a path of travel
aligned along a plane P (see FIG. 7) that is generally parallel to
the major sides 44a, 44b. When the item 24 is dispensed through the
opening 26, the item 24 travels through the major side 44b and the
open side 33 of the pocket 30 in a direction D that is generally
perpendicular relative to the plane P.
[0035] FIG. 12 illustrates a second embodiment of a dispenser 120
in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The
dispenser 120 includes features similar to the dispenser 20 shown
in FIGS. 1-11, except that dispenser 120 includes a dispensing
member 128 that is configured to slide, rather than rotate, within
a container 122. The dispensing member 128 is slidably movable
between a first position (shown in FIG. 13) and a second position
(shown in FIG. 14).
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 12-15, the container 122 of the dispenser
120 is generally rectangular with a flat first end 123 and a
slightly V-shaped second end 125. As in the dispenser 20, the
dispenser 120 includes two half-shells 134a, 134b that are
press-fit together to form the container 122. After being filled
with items 124, the dispensing member 128 is captured between the
two half-shells 134a, 134b. As depicted in FIG. 15, one of the
half-shells may include guides 154 for slidably guiding the
dispensing member 128 within the container 122. A dispensing
opening 126 is defined on a major side 144a of the half-shell 134a.
The dispensing opening 126 is located adjacent the V-shaped second
end 125 of the container 122.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 16, the dispensing member 128, shown in
isolation, includes a generally rectangular housing 140 with a
first end 141 and a second end 142. The housing 140 includes a
closed first side 170, an open second side 171, and a peripheral
sidewall 172 extending between the closed side 170 and the open
side 171. The peripheral sidewall 172 along with the closed first
side 170 defines an interior storage volume 123 for holding the
plurality of items 124. The dispensing member 128 can also be
referred to as a drawer. The housing 140 of the dispensing member
128 defines a pocket 143 at the first end 141 for receiving the
items 124. An opening 145 is defined within the pocket 143 for
dispensing the items 124. At the second end 142 of the housing 140
is provided a push-tab 146 for slidably moving the dispensing
member within the container 122. The two half-shells 134a and 134b
of the container 122 cooperatively form an opening at the first end
123 for accommodating the push-tab 146.
[0038] The dispensing member 128 defines biasing members 129
adjacent the first end 141 of the housing 140 for biasing the
dispensing member 128 away from the dispensing position of FIG. 14.
When the dispensing member 128 is in the position of FIG. 13, the
pocket 143 is not aligned with the opening 126 of the container.
When the dispensing member 128 is slidably pushed to the position
of FIG. 14 via the push-tab 146, the opening 145 of the drawer 128
aligns with the opening 126 of the container 122 such that items
124 within the pocket 143 can be dispensed through the opening 126.
The biasing members 129 bend against the V-shaped second end 125 of
the container 122 when the dispensing member 128 is brought to
position of FIG. 14. When the push-tab 146 is released, the biasing
members 129 flex back against the V-shaped second end 125 to
slidably move the drawer 128 back to the position of FIG. 14.
[0039] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate a third embodiment of a dispenser
220 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
The dispenser 220 is similar to the dispenser 20 of FIGS. 1-11,
except that dispenser 220 additionally includes a maze (i.e.,
labyrinth) structure 201 within the container 222 for providing
amusement to the user of the dispenser 220.
[0040] The maze structure 201 is formed by walls 202 that extend
between the two major sides 244a, 244b of the container 222. In one
embodiment, the walls 202 of the maze structure 201 may be formed
integrally with one of the half-shells 234a, 234b of the container
222. In another embodiment, one of the half shells 234a, 234b may
define a number of the walls 202 wherein the other of the half
shells 234a, 234b may define the rest of the walls 202. In yet
another embodiment, each half-shell 234a, 234b of the container 222
may form a portion of the thickness T of the walls 202, wherein,
once the half shells 234a, 234b are assembled together, the
entirety of the walls 202 may be formed.
[0041] The walls 202 define channels 203 of the maze 201. The
channels 203 are configured such that the channels 203 define at
least one path of travel 204 that leads to a dead-end 205 and at
least one path of travel 206 that leads to the dispensing member
228. It should be noted that the design of the maze 201 depicted in
FIGS. 17 and 18 simply includes one of many different
configurations that can be used in configuring the maze structure.
In other embodiments, other maze configurations may be used.
[0042] The user of the dispenser 220 can manipulate a small item 24
through the maze 201 by moving the dispenser 220 along the plane P
(see FIG. 7) that is generally perpendicular to the dispensing
direction D (along the axis of the dispensing opening). The small
items 24 can be moved through the different paths defined by the
channels 203 along the plane P, generally perpendicular to the
dispensing direction D. Once the user has successfully moved a
small item 24 through the paths of the maze 201 to the dispensing
member 228, the item 24 is received within the pocket 230 of the
dispensing member 228. By moving the pocket 230 of the dispensing
member 228 back and forth as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the item
24 can be removed from the storage volume 223 of the container 222
and dispensed through the opening 226.
[0043] At least one of the major sides 244a, 244b of the dispenser
220 includes at least a portion of transparent material such that a
user can either fully or partially view the items 24 and the maze
201 within the container 222 as the user tries to move the items 24
through the maze structure 201 toward the dispensing member 228. As
in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, the half-shells 234a, 234b of the
dispenser can be separated from each other to load or reload items
24 into the container 222.
[0044] The above specification provides examples of how certain
inventive aspects may be put into practice. It will be appreciated
that the inventive aspects can be practiced in other ways than
those specifically shown and described herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects.
* * * * *