U.S. patent application number 13/595291 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-27 for container for dispensing products.
The applicant listed for this patent is William J. Bogdziewicz, III. Invention is credited to William J. Bogdziewicz, III.
Application Number | 20140054289 13/595291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48951574 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140054289 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bogdziewicz, III; William
J. |
February 27, 2014 |
Container for Dispensing Products
Abstract
A container including walls that define a container body having
a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, the
container body defining an internal volume and including a first
tear-away portion proximate the front end, wherein the first
tear-away portion is removable from the container body to form an
access opening, and a second tear-away portion connected to the
first tear-away portion, wherein the second tear-away portion is
removable from the container body to extend the access opening
toward the rear end when the first tear-away portion is removed
from the container body.
Inventors: |
Bogdziewicz, III; William J.;
(Richmond, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bogdziewicz, III; William J. |
Richmond |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48951574 |
Appl. No.: |
13/595291 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/266 ;
220/260 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/72 20130101; B65D
5/542 20130101; B65D 5/541 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/266 ;
220/260 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/40 20060101
B65D017/40; B65D 17/00 20060101 B65D017/00 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a plurality of walls that define a
container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a
longitudinal axis, said container body defining an internal volume
and comprising: a first tear-away portion proximate said front end,
wherein said first tear-away portion is removable from said
container body to form an access opening; a second tear-away
portion connected to said first tear-away portion, wherein said
second tear-away portion is removable from said container body to
extend said access opening toward said rear end when said first
tear-away portion is removed from said container body; and a third
tear-away portion comprising a first portion proximate said rear
end longitudinally opposed from said first tear-away portion and a
second portion extending toward said front end vertically opposed
from said second tear-away portion, wherein said third tear-away
portion is removable from said container body to form an engagement
opening.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls
comprise a plurality of pre-formed tear lines, and wherein said
plurality of pre-formed tear lines define said first tear-away
portion, said second tear-away portion, and said third tear-away
portion.
3. The container of claim 2 wherein said plurality of pre-formed
tear lines comprise perforations.
4. The container of claim 2 wherein said plurality of pre-formed
tear lines are score lines.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein said first tear-away portion is
connected to said second tear-away portion along a pre-formed tear
line.
6. The container of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
products received in said internal volume.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls
comprise a front wall longitudinally opposed from a rear wall, a
first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall, and a
base wall vertically opposed from an upper wall.
8. The container of claim 7 wherein said first tear-away portion is
comprised of portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said
first side wall, and said second side wall.
9. The container of claim 8 wherein said second tear-away portion
is comprised of a portion of said upper wall.
10-12. (canceled)
13. The container of claim 7 wherein said first portion is
comprised of a portion of said rear wall and said second portion is
comprised of a portion of said base wall.
14. The container of claim 13 wherein said second portion is
elongated along said longitudinal axis.
15. The container of claim 13 wherein said first tear-away portion
is comprised of portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said
first side wall, and said second side wall.
16. The container of claim 15 wherein said second tear-away portion
is comprised of a portion of said upper wall.
17. A container comprising: a container body having a front end
opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, said container
body comprising: a front wall longitudinally opposed from a rear
wall; a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall;
and a base wall vertically opposed from an upper wall, wherein said
container body defines a first tear-away portion proximate said
front end, wherein said first tear-away portion comprises portions
of said front wall, said upper wall, said first side wall and said
second side wall, wherein said container body further defines a
second tear-away portion connected to said first tear-away portion,
said second tear-away portion comprising a portion of said upper
wall, and wherein said container body further defines a third
tear-away portion comprising portions of said rear wall and said
base wall.
18. The container of claim 17 wherein said first tear-away portion,
said second tear-away portion and said third tear-away portion are
defined by pre-formed tear lines.
19. The container of claim 17 wherein said first tear-away portion
is connected to said second tear-away portion along a pre-formed
tear line.
20. The container of claim 17 wherein said third tear-away portion
comprises a first portion proximate said rear end and a second
portion that extends from said first portion toward said front
end.
21. The container of claim 6 wherein said engagement opening formed
by said third tear-away portion is configured to receive a product
biasing assembly configured to engage at least one product of said
plurality of products and urge said plurality of products toward
said access opening.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This application relates to product dispensing and, more
particularly, to containers for dispensing 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, wet pet foods may be shipped to a
retailer in a shipping container, such as a box, housing multiple
product units (e.g., cups, trays or cans). Then, a stock clerk
typically removes the product units from the shipping container and
stacks them on a display unit, such as a shelf, thereby making the
products available to consumers.
[0003] The process of removing products from shipping containers
and stacking the products on a shelf can be quite time consuming.
Specifically, the traditional package-ship-unpack-display model
requires a stock clerk to obtain a package from the supplier, open
the package, remove all of the product units from the open package,
and stack each of the product units on a display, such as a shelf.
In the case of small, high volume products, such as wet pet foods,
the amount of time required to neatly stock a display can become
extensive, thereby significantly increasing a retailer's overall
operating expenses.
[0004] As an alternative to the traditional
package-ship-unpack-display model, products are being packaged in
containers that also function as product dispensers. For example,
packaging containers have been developed that include tear-away
seals that, when removed, provide an opening into the container.
Therefore, a store clerk is simply required to remove the tear-away
seal to form the opening and then place the open container on the
display. Consumers may then retrieve products from the container
through the opening.
[0005] Despite advances already made, those skilled in the art
continue with research and development efforts in the field of
product dispensing.
SUMMARY
[0006] In one embodiment, the disclosed container may include a
plurality of walls that define a container body having a front end
opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, the container
body defining an internal volume and including a first tear-away
portion proximate the front end, wherein the first tear-away
portion is removable from the container body to form an access
opening, and a second tear-away portion connected to the first
tear-away portion, wherein the second tear-away portion is
removable from the container body to extend the access opening
toward the rear end when the first tear-away portion is removed
from the container body.
[0007] In another embodiment, the disclosed container may include a
container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a
longitudinal axis, the container body including a front wall
longitudinally opposed from a rear wall, a first side wall
laterally opposed from a second side wall, and a base wall
vertically opposed from an upper wall, wherein the container body
defines a first tear-away portion proximate the front end, wherein
the first tear-away portion includes portions of the front, upper,
first side and second side walls, wherein the container body
further defines a second tear-away portion connected to the first
tear-away portion, the second tear-away portion including a portion
of the upper wall, and wherein the container body further defines a
third tear-away portion including portions of the rear and base
walls.
[0008] Other embodiments of the disclosed container for dispensing
products will become apparent from the following description, the
accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective view of one
embodiment of the disclosed container for dispensing products;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear and side perspective view of the container
of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container of FIG.
2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front and side perspective view of the container
of FIG. 1 in a first open configuration;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front and side perspective view of the container
of FIG. 4 in a second open configuration;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a rear and side perspective view of the container
of FIG. 1 in a third open configuration (shown without
products);
[0015] FIG. 7 is a rear and side perspective view of the container
of FIG. 6 positioned on a product biasing assembly; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a container blank that may be
used to form the container of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of the disclosed
container for dispensing products, generally designated 10, may
include a plurality of walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 that define a
container body 11 having an internal volume 24. A plurality of
products 26 (FIG. 3) may be housed (at least initially) within the
internal volume 24 of the container body 11.
[0018] A wide variety of products 26 may be packaged in, and
dispensed from, the container 10. As one example, the products 26
may be various foodstuffs packaged in boxes, cartons, trays,
pouches, cans or bottles. As another example, the products 26 may
be various consumer goods, and may or may not be individually
contained in a package, such as a box, carton, clamshell, pouch or
the like.
[0019] In one particularly construction, the container 10 include a
generally rectilinear container body 11. Opposed walls 12 and 14
may define the front and rear walls, respectively, of the container
body 11. Opposed walls 16 and 18 may define the first (e.g., left)
and second (e.g., right) side walls, respectively, of the container
body 11. Opposed walls 20 and 22 may define the base and upper
walls, respectively, of the container body 11.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 12 may be positioned
proximate (i.e., at or near) the front end 28 of the container body
11 and the rear wall 14 may be positioned proximate the rear end 30
of the container body 11. The front end 28 of the container body 11
may be spaced from the rear end 30 along a longitudinal axis A.
[0021] The products 26 may be received in the internal volume 24 of
the container body 11, and may be longitudinally arranged in a row
between the front and rear ends 28, 30 of the container body 11. In
one alternative expression, two or more rows of product 26 may be
arranged in the container body 11. In another alternative
expression, the products 26 may be arranged in the container body
11 other than in rows, such as in a staggered (e.g., zig-zag)
pattern or randomly.
[0022] Optionally, one or more walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 of the
container 10, particularly the exterior surface of the walls 12,
14, 16, 18, 20, 22, may be marked with indicia 32 (FIG. 1), such as
printed text and/or graphics. For example, the indicia 32 may be
indicative of the products 26 housed in the internal volume 24 of
the container 10.
[0023] The container 10 may include a first tear-away portion 34
(see FIGS. 1-3), a second tear-away portion 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 2),
and a third tear-away portion 38 (see FIG. 2). The container 10 may
include additional tear-away portions without departing from the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0024] The first tear-away portion 34 may be positioned proximate
the front end 28 of the container 10, and may be defined by
pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46. Pre-formed tear line 40 may
laterally extend across the upper wall 22 of the container 10
(e.g., from proximate the left side wall 16 to proximate the right
side wall 18), and may be longitudinally spaced from the front wall
12 of the container 10. Pre-formed tear line 42 may laterally
extend across the front wall 12 of the container 10 (e.g., from
proximate the left side wall 16 to proximate the right side wall
18), and may be vertically spaced from the upper wall 22 of the
container 10. Pre-formed tear line 44 may be formed in the left
side wall 16 of the container 10, and may be an arcuate line
extending from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate
pre-formed tear line 42. Pre-formed tear line 46 may be formed in
the right side wall 18 of the container 10, and may be an arcuate
line extending from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate
pre-formed tear line 42.
[0025] The pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46 may be formed by
weakening the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42,
44, 46 to facilitate separation (e.g., tearing) along the
pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46. For example, the pre-formed
tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46 may be formed by perforating, scoring or
creasing the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42,
44, 46, though other weakening techniques are also contemplated. In
one particular implementation, the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42,
44, 46 may have a tear strength that is sufficiently low to allow
manual separation of the first tear-away portion 34 from the
container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, the first tear-away portion 34 may be
separated from the container 10 to define an access opening 48
proximate the front end 28 of the container 10. The access opening
48 may provide access to the internal volume 24 of the container
10, and may be formed in the front 12, left side 16, right side 18
and upper 22 walls of the container 10. The access opening 48 may
be sized and shaped to allow products 26 to pass therethrough.
Therefore, the access opening 48 may provide consumers with access
to the products 26 housed in the internal volume 24 proximate the
front end 28 of the container 10.
[0027] The access opening 48 may be formed by separating (e.g.,
manually tearing) the first tear-away portion 34 from the container
10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46. An optional
punch tab 50 may be provided adjacent pre-formed tear line 40 to
initiate separation of the first tear-away portion 34.
[0028] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the second tear-away
portion 36 may be positioned adjacent to the first tear-away
portion 34. The second tear-away portion 36 may be defined by
pre-formed tear line 40 (discussed above), as well as pre-formed
tear lines 52, 54, 56.
[0029] Pre-formed tear line 52 may generally laterally extend
across the upper wall 22 of the container 10 (e.g., from proximate
the left side wall 16 to proximate the right side wall 18), and may
be longitudinally spaced a distance D (FIG. 1) from pre-formed tear
line 40. The distance D may be at least 25 percent (e.g., at least
50 percent; at least 70 percent; at least 80 percent) of the
overall longitudinal length of the container 10. Optionally, the
ends 58, 60 of pre-formed tear line 52 may be angled toward the
front end 28 of the container 10.
[0030] Pre-formed tear line 54 may generally longitudinally extend
from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate pre-formed tear
line 52. Pre-formed tear line 54 may extend proximate the edge 62
between the left side wall 16 and the upper wall 22. In one
alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 54 may be formed
entirely within the upper wall 22 of the container 10. In another
alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 54 may be formed
entirely within the left side wall 16 of the container 10.
[0031] Pre-formed tear line 56 may be laterally spaced from
pre-formed tear line 54, and may generally longitudinally extend
from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate pre-formed tear
line 52. Pre-formed tear line 55 may extend proximate the edge 64
between the right side wall 18 and the upper wall 22. In one
alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 56 may be formed
entirely within the upper wall 22 of the container 10. In another
alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 56 may be formed
entirely within the right side wall 18 of the container 10.
[0032] The pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56 may be formed by
weakening the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54,
56 to facilitate separation (e.g., tearing) along the pre-formed
tear lines 52, 54, 56. For example, the pre-formed tear lines 52,
54, 56 may be formed by perforating, scoring or creasing the
container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56, though
other weakening techniques are also contemplated. In one particular
implementation, the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56 may have a
tear strength that is sufficiently low to allow manual separation
of the second tear-away portion 36 from the container 10 along the
pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, the second tear-away portion 36 may be
separated from the container 10 to extend the access opening 48'
toward the rear end 30 of the container 10. Therefore, with the
first and second tear-away portions 34, 36 separated and removed
from the container 10, the container 10 may function as a tray,
thereby providing consumers with access to most (in not all) of the
products 26 housed in the container 10 (as opposed to only the
products 26 accessible through the smaller access opening 48 shown
in FIG. 4).
[0034] The extended access opening 48' (FIG. 5) may be formed by
separating (e.g., manually tearing) the second tear-away portion 36
from the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56.
An optional punch tab 66 may be provided adjacent pre-formed tear
line 52 to initiate separation of the second tear-away portion
36.
[0035] Referring back to FIG. 2, the third tear-away portion 38 may
be formed at least in the rear 14 and base 20 walls of the
container 10. The third tear-away portion 38 may be defined by
pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74.
[0036] Pre-formed tear line 70 may include a first portion 70A that
longitudinally extend along the base wall 20 of the container 10
and a second portion 70B that vertically extends along the rear
wall 14 of the container 10. Pre-formed tear line 70 may be spaced
laterally inward from the left side wall 16 of the container
10.
[0037] Pre-formed tear line 72 may include a first portion 72A that
longitudinally extend along the base wall 20 of the container 10
and a second portion 72B that vertically extends along the rear
wall 14 of the container 10. Pre-formed tear line 72 may be spaced
laterally inward from the right side wall 18 of the container
10.
[0038] Pre-formed tear line 74 may laterally extend between the
second portion 70B of pre-formed tear line 70 and the second
portion 72B of pre-formed tear line 72. Pre-formed tear line 74 may
extend proximate the edge 76 between the rear wall 14 and the upper
wall 22. In one alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 74 may
be formed entirely within the rear wall 14 of the container 10. In
another alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 74 may be
formed entirely within the upper wall 22 of the container 10.
[0039] An initiation opening 78 may be formed in the base wall 20
of the container 10 proximate the front wall 12. The initiation
opening 78 may laterally extend between the front end 80 of the
first portion 70A of pre-formed tear line 70 and the front end 82
of the first portion 72A of pre-formed tear line 72. Therefore, the
initiation opening may expose a free edge 84 of the third tear-away
portion 38.
[0040] As an alternative to the initiation opening 78, an
additional pre-formed tear line (not shown) may laterally extend
between the front end 80 of the first portion 70A of pre-formed
tear line 70 and the front end 82 of the first portion 72A of
pre-formed tear line 72.
[0041] The pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 may be formed by
weakening the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72,
74 to facilitate separation (e.g., tearing) along the pre-formed
tear lines 70, 72, 74. For example, the pre-formed tear lines 70,
72, 74 may be formed by perforating, scoring or creasing the
container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74, though
other weakening techniques are also contemplated. In one particular
implementation, the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 may have a
tear strength that is sufficiently low to allow manual separation
of the third tear-away portion 38 from the container 10 along the
pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 6, the third tear-away portion 38 may be
separated from the container 10 to define an engagement opening 86
in the container 10. The engagement opening 86 may provide access
to the internal volume 24 of the container 10, and may include an
opening 88 in the rear wall 14 of the container 10 and an elongated
channel 90 longitudinally extending through the base wall 20 of the
container 10. The engagement opening 86 may be continuous from the
opening 88 to the elongated channel 90.
[0043] The engagement opening 86 may be formed by separating (e.g.,
manually tearing) the third tear-away portion 38 from the container
10 along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 (FIG. 2). Separation
of the third tear-away portion 38 may be initiated by applying a
downward pulling force to the free edge 84 of the third tear-away
portion 38 by way of the initiation opening 78.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, the engagement opening 86 may
accommodate a product biasing assembly 100. The product biasing
assembly 100 may include a rail 102, a moveable member 104 and a
biasing element (not shown), such as a spring. The moveable member
104 may be a sled or the like, and may be slidably engaged with the
rail 102. The biasing element may urge the moveable member 104
through the engagement opening 86 in the container 10 to urge the
products 26 housed in the internal volume 24 of the container 10
toward the front end 28 of the container 10.
[0045] Product biasing assemblies are described in greater detail
in U.S. Ser. No. 13/049,004 filed on Mar. 16, 2011, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0046] The disclosed container 10 may be formed from a container
blank, such as the container blank 200 shown in FIG. 8. The
container blank 200 may be folded, loaded with products 26, and
sealed (e.g., with adhesives and/or heat) to from the container 10
shown in FIG. 1.
[0047] The container blank 200 may be die-cut from a sheet of stock
material. Examples of suitable stock materials include paperboard,
such as coated paperboard (e.g., C1S or C2S) or uncoated
paperboard, and corrugated board. Non-cellulose based materials may
also be used without departing from the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0048] Accordingly, the disclosed container 10 may be used with a
product biasing assembly, such as the product biasing assembly 100
shown in FIG. 7. However, when no product biasing assembly is
available, the disclosed container 10 may be used as a standalone
dispenser, as shown in FIG. 4, or as a standalone tray, as shown in
FIG. 5.
[0049] Although various embodiments of the disclosed product
biasing and dispensing system with security engagement 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.
* * * * *