Product dispensing system with flexing container
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A47F-001/04
A47F-007/00
출원번호
US-0228975
(2011-09-09)
등록번호
US-8550261
(2013-10-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Loftin, Caleb S.
Bogdziewicz, William J.
Bates, Aaron L.
Gelardi, John
출원인 / 주소
MeadWestvaco Corporation
대리인 / 주소
MeadWestvaco Intellectual Property Group
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
5인용 특허 :
69
초록▼
A product dispensing system including a dispenser having an upper support deck that defines a deck opening and a lower support deck that defines a product display area, a container positioned on the upper support deck, the container including first and second walls that define an internal volume, wh
A product dispensing system including a dispenser having an upper support deck that defines a deck opening and a lower support deck that defines a product display area, a container positioned on the upper support deck, the container including first and second walls that define an internal volume, wherein the first wall defines an opening having a longitudinal length that is aligned with the deck opening, and wherein the second wall includes a lower portion proximate the container opening, and a plurality of products initially housed in the internal volume, wherein the dispenser is spaced from the lower portion of the second wall such that the lower portion bows outward and increases the longitudinal length when a product engages the lower portion as it exits the container through the container opening.
대표청구항▼
1. A product dispensing system comprising: a dispenser comprising a frame structure having a first end longitudinally opposed from a second end, said frame structure comprising: an upper support deck extending between said first end and said second end, said upper support deck defining a first openi
1. A product dispensing system comprising: a dispenser comprising a frame structure having a first end longitudinally opposed from a second end, said frame structure comprising: an upper support deck extending between said first end and said second end, said upper support deck defining a first opening; anda lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck extending between said first end and said second end, said lower support deck defining a product display area;a container positioned on said upper support deck, said container comprising at least a first wall and a second wall that define an internal volume, wherein said first wall defines a second opening, said second opening has a longitudinal length and is aligned with said first opening, and wherein said second wall comprises a lower portion proximate said second opening and a pair of pre-formed flex lines, each pre-formed flex line extending upward from proximate said second opening; anda plurality of products initially housed in said internal volume,wherein said frame structure is spaced from said lower portion of said second wall such that said lower portion is free to bow outward and increase said longitudinal length when at least one product of said plurality of products engages said lower portion as said product exits said container through said second opening, andwherein said pair of pre-formed flex lines is configured to facilitate controlled flexing of said second wall outward toward said frame structure when said product engages said lower portion as said product exits said container through said second opening. 2. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said first opening is proximate said rear end of said frame structure. 3. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said product display area is proximate said front end of said frame structure. 4. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said frame structure further comprises an intermediate support deck positioned between said upper support deck and said lower support deck, said intermediate support deck extending between said front end and said rear end and defining a second product display area. 5. The product dispensing system of claim 4 wherein said second product display area is proximate said front end of said frame structure. 6. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said frame structure further comprises a rear wall proximate said rear end of said frame structure. 7. The product dispensing system of claim 6 wherein said rear wall is spaced from said lower portion of said second wall such that said lower portion bows outward and increases said longitudinal length when said product engages said lower portion as it exits said container through said second opening. 8. The product dispensing system of claim 6 wherein said frame structure further comprises a stop proximate said rear end, said stop being positioned to engage said second wall as said container is horizontally urged along said upper support deck. 9. The product dispensing system of claim 8 wherein said stop is arranged to form a gap between said rear wall of said frame structure and said lower portion of said second wall of said container. 10. A product dispensing system comprising: a dispenser comprising a frame structure having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, said frame structure comprising: an upper support deck extending between said front end and said rear end, said upper support deck defining a first opening proximate said rear end;a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck extending between said front end and said rear end, said lower support deck defining a product display area proximate said front end; anda rear wall positioned proximate said rear end and extending between said upper support deck and said lower support deck; anda stop positioned proximate said rear end, said stop being longitudinally displaced from said rear wall such that said stop is positioned between said rear wall and said front end;a container comprising at least a base wall and a rear wall that define an internal volume, wherein at least said base wall defines a second opening into said internal volume, and wherein said rear wall comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, said lower portion being proximate said second opening in said container and said upper portion being in contact with said stop upon said container being supported on said upper support deck, and wherein said rear wall further comprises a pair of pre-formed flex lines, each pre-formed flex line extending upward from proximate said second opening; anda plurality of products initially housed in said internal volume;wherein said rear wall of said frame structure is spaced from said lower portion of said rear wall of said container by said stop such that said lower portion is free to bow outward and increase said longitudinal length when at least one product of said plurality of products engages said lower portion as said product exits said container through said second opening, andwherein said pair of pre-formed flex lines is configured to facilitate controlled flexing of said rear wall toward said rear end of said frame structure when said product engages said lower portion as said product exits said container through said second opening. 11. The product dispensing system of claim 10 wherein said stop is positioned to engage said upper portion of said rear wall of said container and form a gap between said lower portion of said rear wall of said container and said rear wall of said frame structure and align said opening in said container with said opening in said upper support deck when said container is urged along said upper support deck into engagement with said stop. 12. The product dispensing system of claim 11 wherein said lower portion bows outward into said gap when at least one product of said plurality of products engages said lower portion as said product exits said container through said opening in said container. 13. The product dispensing system of claim 12 wherein said opening is said container has a first longitudinal length when said lower portion is not bowed outward into said gap and a second longitudinal length when said lower portion is bowed outward into said gap, said second longitudinal length being greater than said first longitudinal length. 14. A method for dispensing products comprising the steps of: providing a container initially housing a plurality of products, said container comprising at least a rear wall and a base wall, said rear wall comprising a lower portion and a pair of pre-formed flex lines;forming an opening in said base wall proximate said lower portion of said rear wall, wherein each pre-formed flex line extends upward from proximate said opening;providing a dispenser comprising a frame structure having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, said frame structure comprising: an upper support deck extending between said front end and said rear end, said upper support deck defining an opening proximate said rear end;a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck extending between said front end and said rear end, said lower support deck defining a product display area proximate said front end; anda rear wall positioned proximate said rear end and extending between said upper support deck and said lower support deck; andpositioning said container on said upper support deck such that said lower portion of said rear wall of said container is spaced a pre-determined distance from said rear wall of said dispenser and is free to bow outward along said pair of pre-formed flex lines and said opening in said container is aligned with said opening in said upper support deck. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said lower portion bows outward toward said rear wall of said dispenser when at least one product of said plurality of products engages said lower portion as said product exits said container through said opening in said container. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said product moves to said product display area under the force of gravity after said product exits said container through said opening in said container. 17. The method of claim 15 wherein said opening in said container has a longitudinal length, and wherein said longitudinal length increases when said lower portion bows outward toward said rear wall. 18. The method of claim 14 wherein said pre-determined distance is at least 0.25 inches.
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