U.S. patent application number 13/035390 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-30 for product dispenser and system configured for reduced shelf height.
Invention is credited to Laurel Thomas.
Application Number | 20120217213 13/035390 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45525020 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120217213 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomas; Laurel |
August 30, 2012 |
Product Dispenser and System Configured for Reduced Shelf
Height
Abstract
A product dispenser including a frame having a front end and a
rear end, the frame including an upper support deck and a lower
support deck, the lower support deck being positioned below the
upper support deck and defining a product display area proximate
the front end, the upper support deck defining a longitudinal axis
that is declined from the front end to the rear end, the upper
support deck including a front end portion that is disposed at a
non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
Inventors: |
Thomas; Laurel; (Richmond,
VA) |
Family ID: |
45525020 |
Appl. No.: |
13/035390 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5206 20130101;
A47F 1/087 20130101; B65D 5/725 20130101; G07F 11/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/59.2 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/04 20060101
A47F001/04 |
Claims
1. A product dispenser comprising a frame having a front end and a
rear end, said frame comprising an upper support deck and a lower
support deck, said lower support deck being positioned below said
upper support deck and defining a product display area proximate
said front end, said upper support deck defining a longitudinal
axis that is declined from said front end to said rear end, said
upper support deck comprising a front end portion that is disposed
at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis.
2. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal axis
is declined at an angle ranging from about 2 to about 15 degrees
relative to a horizontal axis of said frame.
3. The product dispenser of claim 2 wherein said angle of said
longitudinal axis relative to said horizontal axis ranges from
about 5 to about 10 degrees.
4. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said front end portion
is angled downward toward said lower support deck relative to said
longitudinal axis.
5. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said angle of said
front end portion relative to said longitudinal axis ranges from
about 10 to about 45 degrees.
6. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said angle of said
front end portion relative to said longitudinal axis ranges from
about 15 to about 30 degrees.
7. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said angle of said
front end portion relative to said longitudinal axis ranges from
about 20 to about 25 degrees.
8. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said front end portion
has a first length and said upper support deck has a total length,
and wherein said first length is about 10 to about 40 percent of
said total length.
9. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said front end portion
has a first length and said upper support deck has a total length,
and wherein said first length is about 20 to about 30 percent of
said total length.
10. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein said lower support
deck defines a second longitudinal axis, said second longitudinal
axis being declined from said rear end to said front end.
11. A product dispensing system comprising: a container; a
plurality of products housed in said container; and a dispenser
comprising: a frame having a front end and a rear end, said frame
comprising an upper support deck and a lower support deck, said
lower support deck being positioned below said upper support deck
and defining a product display area proximate said front end, said
upper support deck defining a longitudinal axis that is declined
from said front end to said rear end, said upper support deck
comprising a front end portion that is disposed at an angle
relative to said longitudinal axis; and an opening tool positioned
to open said container as said container is moved along said upper
support deck, thereby allowing said plurality of products to be at
least partially dispensed from said container to said product
display area.
12. The product dispenser of claim 11 wherein said longitudinal
axis is declined at an angle ranging from about 2 to about 15
degrees relative to a horizontal axis of said frame.
13. The product dispenser of claim 11 wherein said front end
portion is angled downward toward said lower support deck relative
to said longitudinal axis.
14. The product dispenser of claim 11 wherein said angle of said
front end portion relative to said longitudinal axis ranges from
about 10 to about 45 degrees.
15. The product dispenser of claim 11 wherein said front end
portion has a first length and said upper support deck has a total
length, and wherein said first length is about 10 to about 40
percent of said total length.
16. The product dispenser of claim 11 wherein said front end
portion has a first length and said upper support deck has a total
length, and wherein said first length is about 20 to about 30
percent of said total length.
17. The product dispenser of claim 11 wherein said lower support
deck defines a second longitudinal axis, said second longitudinal
axis being declined from said rear end to said front end.
18. A method for dispensing products from a container comprising
the steps of: providing a dispenser comprising a frame having a
front end and a rear end, said frame comprising an upper support
deck and a lower support deck, said lower support deck being
positioned below said upper support deck and defining a product
display area proximate said front end, said upper support deck
defining a longitudinal axis that is declined from said front end
to said rear end, said upper support deck comprising a front end
portion that is disposed at a downward angle relative to said
longitudinal axis, said front end portion comprising a front end
and a rear end; sliding said container along said angled front end
portion of said upper support deck; tilting said container upward
when said container reaches said rear end of said angled front end
portion; and after said tilting step, continuing to slide said
container along said upper support deck toward said rear end of
said frame.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said angle of said front end
portion relative to said longitudinal axis ranges from about 10 to
about 45 degrees
20. The method of claim 18 wherein said angled front end portion
has a first length and said upper support deck has a total length,
and wherein said first length is about 10 to about 40 percent of
said total length.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This application relates to the dispensing of products from
packaging containers and, more particularly, to product dispensers
and systems configured for use on shelves having a reduced shelf
height.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Products are typically shipped to retailers in bulk by
enclosing multiple individual product units in a container, such as
a carton or box. For example, canned foods may be shipped to a
retailer in a box containing twenty-four individual cans. Then, it
is typically the retailer's obligation to remove the individual
product units from the container and present them (e.g., on a
shelf) to consumers.
[0003] Alternatives to the traditional package-ship-unpack-display
model are being developed in an effort to improve operating
efficiency. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/777,444 filed on May 11, 2010, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference, discloses a new system for
dispensing and displaying products packaged in a container.
Specifically, the product dispensing system includes a dispenser
having a support structure, a product display area and an opening
tool. The dispenser may be positioned on a retailer's shelf and
loaded with product simply by placing a container comprising
multiple units of product onto the support structure of the
dispenser. As the container is being placed onto the support
structure, the opening tool of the dispenser opens the container in
such a manner that product rolls from the container and down to the
product display area of the dispenser under the force of
gravity.
[0004] Unfortunately, the amount of vertical shelf space available
to retailers is often quite limited. Depending on the amount of
vertical shelf space available, it may be difficult or impractical
for a retailer to implement the product dispensing system mentioned
above.
[0005] Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research
and development efforts directed to apparatus and systems for
dispensing products from packaging containers.
SUMMARY
[0006] In one aspect, the disclosed product dispenser may include a
frame having a front end and a rear end, the frame including an
upper support deck and a lower support deck, the lower support deck
being positioned below the upper support deck and defining a
product display area proximate the front end, the upper support
deck defining a longitudinal axis that is declined from the front
end to the rear end, the upper support deck including a front end
portion that is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the
longitudinal axis.
[0007] In another aspect, the disclosed product dispensing system
may include (1) a container, (2) a plurality of products housed in
the container and (3) a dispenser including a frame having a front
end and a rear end, the frame including an upper support deck and a
lower support deck, the lower support deck being positioned below
the upper support deck and defining a product display area
proximate the front end, the upper support deck defining a
longitudinal axis that is declined from the front end to the rear
end, the upper support deck including a front end portion that is
disposed at a downward angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and
an opening tool positioned to open the container as the container
is moved along the upper support deck, thereby allowing the
products to be at least partially dispensed from the container to
the product display area.
[0008] In yet another aspect, disclosed is a method for dispensing
products from a container. The method may include the steps of (1)
providing a dispenser including a frame having a front end and a
rear end, the frame including an upper support deck and a lower
support deck, the lower support deck being positioned below the
upper support deck and defining a product display area proximate
the front end, the upper support deck defining a longitudinal axis
that is declined from the front end to the rear end, the upper
support deck including a front end portion that is disposed at a
downward angle relative to the longitudinal axis, (2) sliding the
container along the angled front end portion, (3) tilting the
container upward when the container reaches the rear end of the
angled front end portion and, (4) after the tilting step, sliding
the container along the upper support deck toward the rear end of
the frame.
[0009] Other aspects of the disclosed product dispenser, system and
method configured for reduced shelf height will become apparent
from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings
and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in section, of one aspect
of the disclosed product dispensing system configured for reduced
shelf height;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in section, of the
product dispensing system of FIG. 1 shown in a first phase of
container loading; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, in section, of the
product dispensing system of FIG. 1 shown in a second phase of
container loading.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, one aspect of the disclosed product
dispensing system configured for reduced shelf height, generally
designated 10, may include a dispenser 12 and a container 14. The
dispenser 12 may be positioned on a first shelf 16 and the
container 14 may be positioned on the dispenser 12. Above the first
shelf 16 may be a second shelf 18, which may limit the amount of
vertical shelf space available to the product dispensing system
10.
[0014] The container 14 may house multiple units of product 20,
such as cans (e.g., canned food), jars (e.g., jarred sauce) or
bottles (e.g., bottled soft drinks). As the container 14 is loaded
onto the dispenser 12 by urging the container 14 along the
dispenser 12, the dispenser 12 may open the container 14 and
release the products 20 from the container 14 into the dispenser
12. Product dispensing systems in which the container 14 is opened
prior to loading the container 14 onto the dispenser 12 are also
contemplated.
[0015] The dispenser 12 may include a frame 22 and an optional
opening tool 24. The frame 22 of the dispenser 12 may support the
container 14 in a desired configuration. The opening tool 24 may
open the container 14, such as by cutting the container 14, as the
container 14 is loaded onto the frame 22 of the dispenser 12,
thereby releasing the products 20 from the container 14 to the
dispenser 12.
[0016] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the dispenser
12 may include additional components and features, such as one or
more of the components and features of the dispensers disclosed in
U.S. Ser. No. 12/777,444, without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure.
[0017] The frame 22 may include a first (e.g., right) side wall 26,
a second (e.g., left) side wall (not shown), an upper support deck
28 and a lower support deck 30. The right side wall 26 may be
laterally spaced from the left side wall, and may be generally
parallel with the left side wall. The right 26 and left side walls
may define the corresponding right and left sides of the frame 22
of the dispenser 12.
[0018] The lower support deck 30 may laterally extend between the
right 26 and left side walls, and may include a front end 32 that
longitudinally extends toward the front end 34 of the frame 22 and
a rear end 36 that longitudinally extends toward the rear end 38 of
the frame 22. Therefore, the lower support deck 30 and the right 26
and left side walls may define a lower level 40 of the frame
22.
[0019] The lower support deck 30 may be inclined from the front end
32 to the rear end 36 (i.e., the rear end 36 may be elevated
relative to the front end 32) such that products 20 deposited
proximate (i.e., at or near) the rear end 36 of the lower support
deck 30 roll down to the front end 32 of the lower support deck 30
under the force of gravity. The extent of the incline of the lower
support deck 30 may be dictated by, among other things, the size of
the dispenser 12, the coefficient of friction of the material used
to form the frame 22 and the shape of the products 20 to be
dispensed by the dispenser 12.
[0020] One or more stops 42 may be positioned proximate the front
end 32 of the lower support deck 30 to prevent products 20 from
rolling beyond the front end 32 of the lower support deck 30. For
example, the stop 42 may be connected to (e.g., integral with) the
lower support deck 30, and may form an upward curve proximate the
front end 32 of the lower support deck 30. Therefore, the stop 42
may collect products 20 proximate the front end 32 of the lower
support deck 30, thereby defining a product display area 44
proximate the front end 32 of the lower support deck 30.
[0021] The upper support deck 28 may laterally extend between the
right 26 and left side walls, and may include a front end 46 that
extends toward the front end 34 of the frame 22 and a rear end 48
that extends toward, but not to, the rear end 38 of the frame 22.
Therefore, the upper support deck 28 and the right 26 and left side
walls may define an upper level 50 of the frame 22.
[0022] The spacing between the rear end 48 of the upper support
deck 28 and the rear end 38 of the frame 22 may define an opening
52, which may function as a chute to allow products 20 to move from
the upper level 50 to the lower level 40 of the frame 22.
[0023] The upper support deck 28 may extend along a longitudinal
axis A, which may be disposed at an angle B relative to the
horizontal axis C of the dispenser 12. Therefore, the upper support
deck 28 may be declined from proximate the front end 46 to the rear
end 48. The angle B of the upper support deck 28 relative to the
horizontal axis C may be sufficient to overcome frictional forces
and allow products to move toward the rear end 48 of the upper
support deck 28 under the force of gravity.
[0024] As an example, the angle B may range from about 2 to about
15 degrees, such as about 5 to about 10 degrees. Larger angles B
may also facilitate the desired movement of products 20 toward the
rear end 48 of the upper support deck 28. However, further
increasing the angle B of the upper support deck 28 relative to the
horizontal axis C may further increase the amount of vertical shelf
space required to accommodate the product dispensing system 10.
[0025] Thus, due to the angle B of the upper support deck 28,
products 20 supported on the upper support deck 28 may roll under
the force of gravity down to the rear end 48 of the upper support
deck 28, through the opening 52 to the lower level 40 of the frame
22 and, ultimately, to the product display area 44.
[0026] The front end 46 of the upper support deck 28 may be
disposed at an angle D relative to the longitudinal axis A of the
upper support deck 28 to define an angled front end portion 54 of
the upper support deck 28. Therefore, the angled front end portion
54 of the upper support deck 28 may be declined toward the front
end 34 of the frame 22.
[0027] The angle D of the angled front end portion 54 relative to
the longitudinal axis A of the upper support deck 28 may be a
design consideration, and may depend on various factors, such as
the angle B of the upper support deck 28 relative to the horizontal
axis C and the amount of vertical shelf height available. For
example, the angle D of the angled front end portion 54 relative to
the longitudinal axis A of the upper support deck 28 may range from
about 10 to about 45 degrees or, more specifically, from about 15
to about 30 degrees or, even more specifically, from about 20 to
about 25 degrees.
[0028] The length L of the angled front end portion 54 may also be
a design consideration, and may depend on various factors, such as
the overall size of the dispenser 12, the overall length of the
upper support deck 28 and the angle D of the angled front end
portion 54 relative to the upper support deck 28. For example, the
length L of the angled front end portion 54 may range from about 10
to about 40 percent of the overall length of the upper support deck
28 (i.e., the total length of the upper support deck 28 from front
end 46 to the rear end 48) or, more specifically, from about 20 to
about 30 percent of the overall length of the upper support deck
28.
[0029] In one alternative implementation, the angled front end
portion 54 may be connected to the upper support deck 28 at a pivot
point (see point 55 in FIG. 1). A biasing element (not shown), such
as a spring, may biasing the angled front end portion 54 into
generally co-axial alignment with the longitudinal axis A of the
upper support deck 28. However, when a sufficient force is applied
to the angled front end portion 54 to overcome the biasing force of
the biasing element, such as during loading of a container 14 on
the dispenser 12, the angled front end portion 54 may pivot
downward relative to the upper support deck 28 about the pivot
point 55 to the angled configuration shown in FIG. 1.
[0030] The container 14 may be loaded onto the dispenser 12 by
first sliding the container 14 along the angled front end portion
54 of the upper support deck 28, as shown in FIG. 2. Then, as shown
in FIG. 3, as the container 14 reaches the end of the angled front
end portion 54, the container 14 may be tilted upward (arrow E).
With the container 14 tilted upward, the container 14 may continue
to be slid along the upper support deck 28 to the fully loaded
position shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] Optionally, a stop 56 may be supported in the upper level 50
of the frame 22 proximate the rear end 38 of the frame 22.
Engagement between the container 14 and the stop 56 may resist
rearward movement of the container 14 beyond the stop 56.
[0032] When the optional opening tool 24 is used, the opening tool
24 may open the container 14 as the container 14 moves past the
opening tool 24, thereby allowing the products 20 to exit the
container 14, pass through the opening 52 in the frame 22 to the
lower level 40 of the frame 22, and roll to the product display
area 44 when the container 14 reaches the fully loaded position
(FIG. 1). For example, the opening tool 24 may include a cutting
edge positioned to slice through the container 14 as the container
14 moves to the fully loaded position shown in FIG. 1.
[0033] Accordingly, the disclosed product dispensing system 10 may
employ an upper support deck 28 having an angled front end portion
54 that reduces the amount of vertical shelf space required to load
the container 14 onto the dispenser 12.
[0034] Although various aspects of the disclosed product dispensing
system configured for reduced shelf height have been shown and
described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon
reading the specification. The present application includes such
modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.
* * * * *