초록 ▼

A serpentine dispenser and cartridge system provides simplified stocking and restocking, as well as jam-free dispenser feeding. A cartridge priming flap allows a cartridge be inverted and inserted into a dispenser while products in the cartridge are prevented from falling out. Cartridge opening is c

A serpentine dispenser and cartridge system provides simplified stocking and restocking, as well as jam-free dispenser feeding. A cartridge priming flap allows a cartridge be inverted and inserted into a dispenser while products in the cartridge are prevented from falling out. Cartridge opening is completed by holding an priming flap while pushing the cartridge into the dispenser. In other embodiments, a dispenser wedge applies pressure on rolling products, forcing a retaining flap open, as the cartridge is pushed into the dispenser. The wedge can also constrain rolling products to exit the cartridge in an order that prevents jamming.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cartridge for bulk stocking of a dispenser; the dispenser having a cartridge holding area for receiving the cartridge, the cartridge holding area having a top, a bottom, two sides, a back, an exit port in the bottom of the cartridge holding area at the back of the cartridge holding area, and a

1. A cartridge for bulk stocking of a dispenser; the dispenser having a cartridge holding area for receiving the cartridge, the cartridge holding area having a top, a bottom, two sides, a back, an exit port in the bottom of the cartridge holding area at the back of the cartridge holding area, and a resting surface with a front edge at a front of the bottom of the cartridge holding area; the cartridge comprising: a) a top, a bottom, a back, and two sides, enclosing an internal volume for containing at least one row of rolling products;b) a retaining flap formed in the bottom of the cartridge, comprising a front edge, a back edge and two sides, the back edge of the retaining flap forming a rearmost portion of the bottom of the cartridge adjacent to the back of the cartridge, the front edge and the back edge being separated by a distance at least equal to a radius of one of the rolling products and less than twice the radius of the rolling product, the retaining flap being separable from the cartridge at the back edge and along the two sides; andc) a priming flap formed in the bottom of the cartridge, having a back edge removably coupled to the front edge of the retaining flap, a front edge, and two sides; the two sides of the priming flap being separable from the cartridge, the front edge of the priming flap and the back of the cartridge being separated by a distance of at least as large as twice the radius of the rolling product, such that when the priming flap and the retaining flap are at least partially separated from the cartridge, an opening is defined in the bottom of the cartridge equal to at least twice the radius of the rolling product, such that the rolling products may exit the cartridge through the opening;wherein, when the priming flap is at least partially separated from the bottom of the cartridge and the cartridge is placed in the cartridge holding area with the retaining flap forming the rearmost portion of the bottom of the cartridge on the resting surface of the cartridge holding area, the priming flap is secured to the front edge of the resting surface, and the cartridge is pushed into the cartridge holding area toward the back of the cartridge holding area, the retaining flap at least partially separates from the bottom of the cartridge, permitting the rolling products in the cartridge to exit the cartridge through the exit port of the cartridge holding area. 2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the priming flap further comprises a slot that engages a tab at the front edge of the resting surface, such that the tab secures the priming flap to the front edge of the resting surface. 3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the priming flap further comprises a tear tab coupled to the front edge of the opening flap. 4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the distance between the front edge of the priming flap and the back edge of the priming flap is approximately twice the radius of the rolling product or less. 5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the two sides of the retaining flap have an extension extending upwardly along the two sides of the cartridge. 6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the two sides of the retaining flap comprise zipper scores. 7. A cartridge for bulk stocking of a dispenser, the dispenser having a cartridge holding area for receiving the cartridge, the cartridge holding area having a top, a bottom, two sides, a back, an exit port in the bottom of the cartridge holding area at the back of the cartridge holding area, and at least one wedge element at the top and back of the cartridge holding area; the cartridge comprising: a) a top, a bottom, a back, and two sides, enclosing an internal volume for containing at least one row of rolling products;b) a retaining flap formed in the bottom of the cartridge, comprising a front edge, a back edge and two sides, the back edge of the retaining flap forming a rearmost portion of the bottom of the cartridge removably coupled to the back of the cartridge; the front edge and the back edge being separated by a distance equal to at least a radius of a rolling product and less than twice the radius of the rolling product, the retaining flap being separable from the cartridge along the two sides;c) a priming flap formed in the bottom of the cartridge, having a back edge adjacent to the front edge of the retaining flap, a front edge, and two sides; the two sides of the priming flap being separable from the cartridge and the back edge of the priming flap being separable from the front edge of the retaining flap; the front edge of the priming flap and the back of the cartridge being separated by a distance at least as large as twice the radius of the rolling product, such that when the priming flap is at least partially separated from the cartridge and the retaining flap, an opening is defined in the bottom of the cartridge;d) at least one slot in the top and back of the cartridge for accepting the at least one wedge element of the dispenser,wherein, when the priming flap is at least partially separated from the bottom of the cartridge and the front edge of the retaining flap, the cartridge is pushed into the cartridge holding area toward the back of the cartridge holding area with the bottom of the cartridge facing downwardly, the at least one wedge element of the dispenser enters the cartridge through the at least one slot of the cartridge and applies a downward force to at least one rolling product in the cartridge and separates the retaining flap from the bottom of the cartridge at the two sides of the retaining flap, allowing the rolling products in the cartridge to exit the cartridge through the exit port of the cartridge holding area. 8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein a distance between the front edge of the priming flap and the back edge of the priming flap is approximately twice the radius of the rolling product or less. 9. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the two sides of the priming flap comprise an extension extending upwardly on the two sides of the cartridge with a perimeter having at least one arcuate section. 10. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the slot is formed by at least two perforations separated by a bridge. 11. A cartridge for bulk stocking of a dispenser, the dispenser having a cartridge holding area for receiving the cartridge, the cartridge holding area having a top, a bottom, two sides, a back, an exit port in the bottom of the cartridge holding area at the back of the cartridge holding area, and at least one wedge element at the top and back of the cartridge holding area, the cartridge comprising: a) a top, a bottom, a back, and two sides, enclosing an internal volume for containing at least one row of rolling products;b) a retaining flap formed in the bottom of the cartridge, comprising a front edge, a back edge and two sides, the back edge of the retaining flap forming a rearmost portion of the bottom of the cartridge removably coupled to the back of the cartridge; the front edge and the back edge being separated by a distance equal to at least a radius of a rolling product and less than twice the radius of the rolling product; the retaining flap being separable from the cartridge along the two sides;c) a priming flap formed in the bottom of the cartridge, having a back edge adjacent to the front edge of the retaining flap, a front edge, and two sides; the front edge of the priming flap being coupled to the bottom of the cartridge, the two sides of the priming flap being separable from the cartridge, the back edge of the priming flap being separable from the front edge of the retaining flap, the front edge of the priming flap and the back end of the cartridge being separated by a distance at least as large as a twice the radius of the rolling product, such that when the priming flap is at least partially separated from the cartridge along the two sides and the retaining flap, an opening is defined in the bottom of the cartridge;d) at least one slot disposed at the top and back of the cartridge for accepting the at least one wedge element of the dispenser;wherein, when the priming flap is at least partially separated from the bottom of the cartridge along its two sides and the retaining flap and the priming flap is folded forwardly at its front edge, the cartridge is pushed into the cartridge holding area toward the back of the cartridge holding area with the bottom of the cartridge facing downwardly, the at least one wedge element of the dispenser enters the cartridge through the at least one slot of the cartridge and applies a downward force to the at least one rolling product in the cartridge and at least partially separates the retaining flap from the bottom of the cartridge at the two sides of the retaining flap, allowing the rolling products in the cartridge to exit the cartridge through the exit port of the cartridge holding area. 12. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein the slot is formed by at least two perforations separated by a bridge. 13. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein the two sides of the priming flap comprise an extension extending upwardly on the two sides of the cartridge with a perimeter having at least one arcuate section. 14. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein the distance between the front edge of the priming flap and the back edge of the priming flap is approximately twice the radius of the rolling product or less.