U.S. patent application number 13/036942 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-30 for product dispensing container and system with pivoting panel.
Invention is credited to Ryan Bailey, John Gelardi.
Application Number | 20120217261 13/036942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45953224 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120217261 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bailey; Ryan ; et
al. |
August 30, 2012 |
Product Dispensing Container and System with Pivoting Panel
Abstract
A product dispensing system including a container having a
plurality of walls that define an internal volume, at least one of
the walls defining a pivoting panel that is partially separable
from the wall along a weakened severance line, and a dispenser
frame having a front end and a rear end, the dispenser frame
including a support deck extending between the front end and the
rear end, and a stop positioned proximate the front or the rear end
to engage the pivoting panel and urge the pivoting panel into the
internal volume as the container is moved along the support deck
into engagement with the stop.
Inventors: |
Bailey; Ryan; (Richmond,
VA) ; Gelardi; John; (Midlothian, VA) |
Family ID: |
45953224 |
Appl. No.: |
13/036942 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/726 20130101;
A47F 1/087 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/282 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/00 20060101
B65D083/00 |
Claims
1. A product dispensing system comprising: a container comprising a
plurality of walls that define an internal volume, at least one
wall of said plurality of walls defining a panel; and a dispenser
frame having a front end and a rear end, said dispenser frame
comprising: a support deck extending between said front end and
said rear end; and a stop assembly positioned proximate one of said
front end and said rear end to engage said panel and urge said
panel into said internal volume as said container is moved along
said support deck into contact with said stop assembly.
2. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said panel is
partially separable from said wall along a weakened severance line,
and wherein said weakened severance line is severed when said stop
assembly engages said panel.
3. The product dispensing system of claim 2 wherein said weakened
severance line comprises perforations.
4. The product dispensing system of claim 2 wherein said panel is
defined by said weakened severance line and a pre-formed pivot
line, and wherein said panel pivots relative to said wall about
said pre-formed pivot line when said weakened severance line has
been severed.
5. The product dispensing system of claim 4 wherein said weakened
severance line extends upward from said pre-formed pivot line.
6. The product dispensing system of claim 4 wherein said pre-formed
pivot line comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein said
weakened severance line extends from proximate said first end to
proximate said second end.
7. The product dispensing system of claim 2 wherein said weakened
severance line is comprised of multiple segments.
8. The product dispensing system of claim 1 further comprising a
plurality of products positioned in said internal volume.
9. The product dispensing system of claim 8 wherein said container
comprises an opening, and wherein said panel is positioned to guide
said plurality of products to said opening when said panel has been
urged into said internal volume.
10. The product dispensing system of claim 9 wherein said plurality
of walls includes a base wall, and wherein said opening is formed
in said base wall.
11. The product dispensing system of claim 8 further comprising an
opening tool positioned to form an opening in said container as
said container is moved along said support deck toward said stop
assembly, wherein said panel is positioned to guide said plurality
of products to said opening when said panel has been urged into
said internal volume.
12. The product dispensing system of claim 11 wherein said
plurality of walls includes a base wall that defines door flaps
connected by a weakened severance line, and wherein said opening
tool severs said weakened severance line of said base wall to form
said opening as said container is moved along said support deck
toward said stop assembly.
13. The product dispensing system of claim 8 wherein each product
of said plurality of products is capable of rolling about a rolling
axis.
14. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said container
comprises paperboard
15. A product dispensing system comprising: a container comprising
a plurality of walls that define an internal volume, a first wall
of said plurality of walls defining a panel that is partially
separable from said first wall along a weakened severance line, a
second wall of said plurality of walls defining an opening; a
plurality of products positioned in said internal volume; and a
dispenser frame having a front end and a rear end, said dispenser
frame comprising: a support deck extending between said front end
and said rear end; and a stop assembly positioned proximate one of
said front end and said rear end to contact said panel and sever
said weakened severance line so as to urge said panel into said
internal volume as said container is moved along said support deck
into contact with said stop assembly.
16. The product dispensing system of claim 15 further comprising an
opening tool positioned to form said opening in said container as
said container is moved along said support deck toward said stop
assembly.
17. The product dispensing system of claim 16 wherein said second
wall defines door flaps connected by a weakened severance line, and
wherein said opening tool severs said weakened severance line of
said second wall to form said opening as said container is moved
along said support deck toward said stop assembly.
18. The product dispensing system of claim 15 wherein said panel is
defined by said weakened severance line and a pre-formed pivot
line, and wherein said panel pivots relative to said first wall
about said pre-formed pivot line when said weakened severance line
has been severed.
19. The product dispensing system of claim 15 wherein said weakened
severance line comprises perforations.
20. A product dispensing container comprising: a plurality of walls
that define an internal volume, at least one wall of said plurality
of walls comprising a pre-formed pivot line and a weakened
severance line that define a panel; and a plurality of products
positioned in said internal volume, wherein said weakened severance
line is severed and said panel pivots about said pre-formed pivot
line into said internal volume when a longitudinal force is applied
to said panel.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This application relates to the dispensing of products from
packaging containers and, more particularly, to packaging
containers configured to cooperate with product dispensers to guide
and dispense products.
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, such product dispensing systems may become
jammed when a single product fails to properly exit the container.
A jam may prevent products from moving to the product display
area.
[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 dispensing system may
include a container having a plurality of walls that define an
internal volume, at least one of the walls defining a panel that is
partially separable from the wall along a weakened severance line,
and a dispenser frame having a front end and a rear end, the
dispenser frame including a support deck extending between the
front end and the rear end, and a stop positioned proximate the
front or the rear end to engage the panel and urge the pivoting
panel into the internal volume as the container is moved along the
support deck into engagement with the stop.
[0007] In another aspect, the disclosed product dispensing system
may include a container having a plurality of walls that define an
internal volume, one of the walls defining a pivoting panel that is
partially separable from the wall along a weakened severance line,
another of the walls defining an opening, a plurality of products
positioned in the internal volume, and a dispenser frame having a
front end and a rear end, the dispenser frame including a support
deck extending between the front and rear ends and a stop assembly
positioned proximate one of the front and rear ends to engage and
sever the weakened severance line and urge the pivoting panel into
the internal volume as the container is moved along the support
deck into engagement with the stop assembly, thereby positioning
the pivoting panel to guide the plurality of products to the
opening.
[0008] In yet another aspect, the disclosed product dispensing
container may include a plurality of walls that define an internal
volume, at least one wall of the plurality of walls including a
pre-formed pivot line and a weakened severance line that define a
pivoting panel, and a plurality of products positioned in the
internal volume, wherein the weakened severance line is severed and
the pivoting panel pivots about said pre-formed pivot line into the
internal volume when a longitudinal force is applied to the
pivoting panel.
[0009] Other aspects of the disclosed product dispensing container
and system with pivoting panel 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 front and side perspective view of one aspect of
the disclosed product dispensing system with pivoting panel;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a rear and bottom perspective view of the
container of the product dispensing system of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is bottom and rear perspective view of a portion of
the container of FIG. 2, shown in an open configuration;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a container blank that may be
used to form the container of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, in section, of the
product dispensing system of FIG. 1, shown with the pivoting panel
in a deployed configuration;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the
product dispensing system of FIG. 5, shown prior to deploying the
pivoting panel;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the product dispensing
system of FIG. 6, shown with the pivoting panel fully deployed;
and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, in section, of the
product dispensing system of FIG. 7, showing the pivoting panel
guide products to the opening in the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, one aspect of the disclosed product
dispensing system with pivoting panel, generally designated 10, may
include a dispenser 12 and a container 14. The container 14 may
house multiple units of product 16, 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 and engage the container 14 such that the container 14
guides the products 16 from the container 14 to the dispenser
12.
[0019] The container 14 may be any container capable of housing
products 16 and beneficially interacting with the disclosed
dispenser 12 to release and guide the products 16 to the dispenser
12. For example, the container 14 may be a paperboard carton or a
corrugated box. Optionally, at least one major surface of the
container 14 may be marked with various indicia, such as printed
text and/or graphics.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, in one particular construction, the
container 14 may be a generally rectilinear container having six
walls 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 that define an internal volume 30 for
receiving the products 16 (FIG. 3). Opposed walls 20 and 24 may
define the front and rear walls, respectively, of the container 14.
Opposed walls 26 and 28 may define the first (e.g., right) and
second (e.g., left) side walls, respectively, of the container 14.
Opposed walls 18 and 22 may define the base and upper walls,
respectively, of the container 14.
[0021] Optionally, the container 14 may include a partition 32
extending therethrough to divide the internal volume 30 into a
first chamber 34 and a second chamber 36. The partition 32 may be a
generally planar structure that is generally parallel with, but
spaced apart from, the right 26 and left 28 side walls. Therefore,
as shown in FIG. 3, a first quantity of product 16 may be housed in
the first chamber 34 and a second quantity of product 16 may be
housing in the second chamber 36.
[0022] The base wall 18 of the container 14 may define one or more
door flaps 38, 40. The door flaps 38, 40 may be defined by a
forward edge 42 laterally extending between the side walls 26, 28,
a rear edge 44 laterally extending between the side walls 26, 28,
and a weakened severance line 46 extending between the forward edge
42 and the rear edge 44. The rear edge 44 may be V-shaped, and the
weakened severance line 46 may extend from proximate (i.e., at or
near) the base of the "V" of the V-shaped rear edge 44 to proximate
the forward edge 42. Therefore, the rear edge 44 may guide an
opening tool (discussed below) to the weakened severance line
46.
[0023] The weakened severance line 46 may be formed by weakening
the container 14 along the weakened severance line 46. Examples of
weakening techniques useful in forming the weakened severance line
46 include scoring the container 14, creasing the container 14 and
forming perforations in the container 14.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, when the weakened severance line 46 is
severed, the door flaps 38, 40 may pivot laterally outward (i.e.,
toward the side walls 26, 28) along the edges 48, 50 between the
base wall 18 and the side walls 26, 28, thereby forming an opening
52 in the container 14 that provides access to the internal volume
30, and through which the products 16 may exit the container
14.
[0025] In one implementation, the door flaps 38, 40 may be formed
as the container 14 is loaded onto the dispenser 12, as described
in greater detail herein. In another implementation, the door flaps
38, 40 may be formed prior to loading the container 14 onto the
dispenser 12, such as by manually severing the weakened severance
line 46 (e.g., with a box cutter).
[0026] Still referring to FIG. 3, the rear wall 24 of the container
14 may include a pivoting panel 54 that is partially separable from
the rear wall 24. The pivoting panel 54 may be defined by a
pre-formed pivot line 56 (shown as a solid line) and one or more
weakened severance lines 58 (shown as a broken line).
[0027] The weakened severance line 58 of the pivoting panel 54 may
be formed by weakening the rear wall 24 of the container 14 along
the weakened severance line 58 such that the weakened severance
line 58 may be severed when a force (arrow F in FIG. 2), such as a
pushing or punching force, is applied to the pivoting panel 54
along the longitudinal axis A (FIG. 2) of the container 14. For
example, the weakened severance line 58 may be formed by
perforating the rear wall 24 of the container 14.
[0028] The shape of the weakened severance line 58 may dictate that
shape of the pivoting panel 54. For example, the weakened severance
line 58 may be comprised of three connected, generally straight
segments to form a generally rectangular pivoting panel 54. As
another example, the weakened severance line 58 may provide the
pivoting panel 54 the keystone shape shown in the drawings.
[0029] Thus, the pivoting panel 54 may be formed by severing the
rear wall 24 of the container 14 along the weakened severance line
58, such as by applying a pushing or punching force F to the
pivoting panel 54. Once the weakened severance line 58 has been
severed, the pivoting panel 54 may remain hingedly connected to the
rear wall 24 of the container 14 along the pre-formed pivot line
56, and may pivot relative to the rear wall 24 of the container 14
along the pre-formed pivot line 56.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the pre-formed pivot line 56 of the
pivoting panel 54 may be generally parallel with, and may be
positioned proximate, the base edge 60 of the rear wall 24. The
weakened severance line 58 may extend upward (i.e., toward upper
edge 62) from the opposed ends 64, 66 of the pre-formed pivot line
56. Therefore, once the weakened severance line 58 has been
severed, the partially separated pivoting panel 54 may pivot
downward toward the base wall 18 of the container 14 about the
pre-formed pivot line 56.
[0031] The pivoting panel 54 is shown in the drawings as having a
generally keystone shape. Furthermore, the pivoting panel 54 is
shown in the drawings as having a maximum vertical height that is
about 50 percent of the vertical height of the rear wall 24 (i.e.,
the distance from edge 60 to edge 62) and a maximum lateral width
that is about 65 percent of the lateral width of the rear wall 24
(i.e., the distance from edge 68 to edge 70). However, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that pivoting panels 54 of
various shapes and sizes may be used without departing from the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0032] The container 14 may be formed from a paperboard container
blank, such as the paperboard container blank 72 shown in FIG. 4.
The container blank 72 may include a plurality of pre-formed fold
lines 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 that define the base wall
18, the front wall 20 (comprised of front wall panels 20A and 20B),
the upper wall 22, the rear wall 24 (comprised of rear wall panels
24A and 24B), the right side wall 26, the left side wall 28, the
partition 32, a transition panel 92 and sealing flaps 94, 96, 98,
100, 101.
[0033] The pivoting panel 54 may be formed in the rear wall panel
24B. An aperture 102 may be formed in the rear wall panel 24A. The
aperture 102 may have a shape that closely corresponds to the shape
of the pivoting panel 54. However, the aperture 102 may be slightly
smaller than the pivoting panel 54 such that, when the pivoting
panel 54 is separated from rear wall panel 24B along the weakened
severance line 58, the separated pivoting panel 54 may not pass
through the aperture 102.
[0034] The container 14 may be assembled by folding the container
blank 72 along the longitudinal fold lines 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84
and connecting the upper wall 22 to the transition panel 92 to form
the three-dimensional body of the container 14. Additionally,
sealing flap 94 may be connected to the base wall 18 to secure the
partition 32 between the side walls 26, 28 of the container 14. The
front wall panels 20A and 20B and the sealing flaps 96, 98, 100 may
be assembled to form the front wall 20 of the container 14.
Finally, the rear wall 24 may be formed by assembling the rear wall
panels 24A and 24B and the sealing flap 101 such that the rear wall
panel 24A is positioned over the rear wall panel 24B, thereby
aligning the aperture 102 over the pivoting panel 54.
[0035] While a specific paperboard container blank 72 is shown and
described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
techniques and materials may be used to form the container 14.
Folded paperboard containers are only one specific and non-limiting
example of the disclosed container 14.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 5, the dispenser 12 may include a frame
104 and an opening tool 106. The frame 104 of the dispenser 12 may
support the container 14 in a desired configuration and may provide
the force F (FIG. 2) required to sever the weakened severance line
58 (FIG. 3) and pivot the pivoting panel 54 about the pre-formed
pivot line 56 (FIG. 3). The opening tool 106 may sever the weakened
severance line 46 (FIG. 2) to form the door flaps 38, 40 and,
ultimately, the opening 52, as the container 14 is loaded onto the
frame 104 of the dispenser 12, thereby releasing the products 16
from the container 14 to the dispenser 12.
[0037] 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.
[0038] The frame 104 may include a first (e.g., right) side wall
108, a second (e.g., left) side wall 110 (FIG. 1), an upper support
deck 112 and a lower support deck 114. The right side wall 108 may
be laterally spaced from the left side wall 110, and may be
generally parallel with the left side wall 110.
[0039] The lower support deck 114 may laterally extend between the
right 108 and left 110 side walls, and may include a front end 116
that longitudinally extends toward the front end 118 of the frame
104 and a rear end 120 that longitudinally extends toward the rear
end 122 of the frame 104. Therefore, the lower support deck 114 and
the side walls 108, 110 may define a lower level 124 of the frame
104.
[0040] The lower support deck 114 may be inclined from the front
end 116 to the rear end 120 (i.e., the rear end 120 may be elevated
relative to the front end 116) such that products 16 deposited
proximate the rear end 120 of the lower support deck 114 roll down
to the front end 116 of the lower support deck 114 under the force
of gravity. The extent of the incline of the lower support deck 114
may be dictated by, among other things, the coefficient of friction
of the material used to form the frame 104 and the shape of the
products 16 to be dispensed by the dispenser 12.
[0041] One or more stops 126 may be positioned proximate the front
end 116 of the lower support deck 114 to prevent products 16 from
rolling beyond the front end 116 of the lower support deck 114. For
example, the stop 126 may be connected to (e.g., integral with) the
lower support deck 114, and may form an upward curve at the front
end 116 of the lower support deck 114. Therefore, the stop 126 may
collect products 16 at the front end 116 of the lower support deck
114, thereby defining a product display area 128 at the front end
116 of the lower support deck 114.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, in one particular implementation,
the frame 104 may include a divider 130 extending from the front
end 116 of the lower support deck 114 to the rear end 120 of the
lower support deck 114 to divide the lower level 124 into a first
product channel 132 and a second product channel 134. The first
product channel 132 may be defined by the lower support deck 114,
the right side wall 108 and the divider 130, and may extend from
proximate the rear end 120 of the lower support deck 114 to the
front end 116 of the lower support deck 114. The second product
channel 134 may be defined by the lower support deck 114, the left
side wall 110 and the divider 130, and may extend from proximate
the rear end 120 of the lower support deck 114 to the front end 116
of the lower support deck 114. While two product channels 132, 134
are shown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that the frame 104 may be constructed to provide only one product
channel or more than two product channels, without departing from
the scope of the present disclosure.
[0043] The upper support deck 112 may laterally extend between the
right 108 and left 110 side walls, and may include a front end 136
that longitudinally extends toward the front end 118 of the frame
104 and a rear end 138 that longitudinally extends toward, but not
to, the rear end 122 of the frame 104. Therefore, the upper support
deck 112 and the side walls 108, 110 may define an upper level 140
of the frame 104.
[0044] The spacing between the rear end 138 of the upper support
deck 112 and the rear end 122 of the frame 104 may define an
opening 142, which may function as a chute to allow products 16 to
move from the upper level 140 to the lower level 124 of the frame
104.
[0045] The upper support deck 112 may be declined from the front
end 136 to the rear end 138 (i.e., the front end 136 may be
elevated relative to the rear end 138). Therefore, products 16
supported by the upper support deck 112 may roll under the force of
gravity down to the rear end 128 of the upper support deck 112,
through the opening 142, to the lower level 124 of the frame 104
and, ultimately, to the product display area 128.
[0046] A stop assembly 144 may be supported in the upper level 140
of the frame 104 proximate the rear end 122 of the frame 104. The
stop assembly 144 may be configured to inhibit rearward movement of
the container 14 beyond the stop assembly 144, and to supply a
force F (FIG. 2) to the rear wall 24 of the container 14 to sever
the weakened severance line 58 (FIG. 3) and pivot the pivoting
panel 54 about the pre-formed pivot line 56 (FIG. 3) into the
internal volume 30 of the container 14 as the container 14 is
loaded onto the dispenser 12.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 6, the stop assembly 144 may include first
and second stop members 146, 148 and first and second protruding
members 150, 152. The first and second stop members 146, 148 may be
positioned to engage the rear wall 24 of the container 14 as the
container 14 is urged along the upper support deck 112 (FIG. 5)
into engagement with the stop assembly 144. The first and second
protruding members 150, 152 may be positioned to pass through the
aperture 102 into engagement with the pivoting panel 54 as the
container 14 is urged along the upper support deck 112 (FIG. 5)
into engagement with the stop assembly 144.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, as the container 14 engages the stop
assembly 144, the first and second stop members 146, 148 may
inhibit further rearward movement of the container 14 and the first
and second protruding members 150, 152 may apply a force F (FIG. 2)
to the pivoting panel 54 to sever the weakened severance line 58
(FIG. 3) and urge the pivoting panel 54 about the pre-formed pivot
line 56 (FIG. 3) into the internal volume 30 (FIG. 2) of the
container 14.
[0049] Referring back to FIG. 5, an optional rear wall 154 may be
positioned at the rear end 122 of the frame 104 between the right
108 and left 110 side walls. The stop assembly 144 may be connected
to the rear wall 154 such that the rear wall 154 may structurally
reinforce the stop assembly 144, and may support the stop assembly
144 in the desired position.
[0050] A guide 156 may be connected to the rear wall 154 of the
frame 104, and may extend through the opening 142 in the frame 104,
from the upper level 140 to the lower level 124. The guide 156 may
be positioned to receive products 16 exiting the opening 52 (FIG.
3) in the container 14 and passing through the opening 142 in the
frame 104, and may guide the products 16 to the rear end 120 of the
lower support deck 114.
[0051] Optionally, the guide 156 may be springingly connected to
the rear wall 154 of the frame 104 at a connection point 158, and
may include a protrusion 160 extending toward the rear wall 154. As
a product 16 drops into engagement with the receiving end 162 of
the guide 156, the force of the product 16 acting on the guide 156
may urge the guide 156, and specifically the protrusion 160, into
engagement with the rear wall 154. Therefore, as the guide 156
receives a product 16, the guide 156 may effect a "tapping" of the
rear wall 154. The vibration of the "tapping" may be transferred
throughout the system 10, including the products 16 remaining in
the container 14, thereby encouraging products 16 to move from the
container 14 to the dispenser 12. As the product 16 disengages the
guide 156 and moves toward the product display area 128, the
spring-loaded guide 156 may return to its original position (FIG.
5) to await another dispensing product 16.
[0052] The opening tool 106 may extend into the upper level 140 of
the frame 104 to sever the weakened severance line 46 (FIG. 2) of
the container 14 as the container 14 is urged along the upper
support deck 112 of the frame 104. The type of opening tool 106
used, as well as the position of the opening tool 106, are design
considerations, and may be selected such that the opening tool 106
is capable of opening the container 14 (e.g., severing the weakened
severance line 46), but creates little or no interference with the
movement of the container 14 along the upper support deck 112.
[0053] In one particular construction, the opening tool 106 may
include a forward cutting edge 164 positioned (e.g., centered)
between the side walls 108, 110 of the frame 104 proximate the rear
end 138 of the upper support deck 112. Therefore, the opening tool
106 may sever the weakened severance line 46 (FIG. 2) and may form
the door flaps 38, 40 (FIG. 3) just prior to the separated door
flaps 38, 40 reaching the opening 142 in the frame 104.
[0054] Accordingly, as the container 14 is urged along the upper
support deck 112 of the frame 104, the opening tool 106 may
automatically open the container 14 and the engagement between the
stop assembly 144 of the dispenser 12 and the rear wall 24 of the
container 14 may separate the pivoting panel 54 from the rear wall
24 and may urge the separated pivoting panel 54 into the internal
volume 30 of the container 14 such that the pivoting panel 54 may
guide products 16 to the opening 52 (FIG. 3) in the container 14,
as shown in FIG. 8.
[0055] Although various aspects of the disclosed product dispensing
container and system with pivoting panel 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.
* * * * *