Edible product dispenser

Abstract

To provide a suitable dispenser for edible products.SOLUTION: A dispenser (10) for easily discharging a plurality of products (12) contained therewithin is provided. The dispenser includes a cover (14) having a pressing opening (32) and a dispenser volume, a base (16) having a discharging opening (36) and an engaging member (46), a blister tray (18) having at least a portion of the blister tray disposed within the dispenser volume and having a tab (56) extending from an edge of the blister tray for manually rotating the blister tray with respect to the cover and the base while being retained within the dispenser volume, and a label (20) configured to be applied and adhered to the cover and the engaging member of the base to hold the dispenser together.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 929,173, filed November 1, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to dispensers for consumable products, and more particularly to dispensers for edible products configured to facilitate the dispensing of one edible product at a time from the dispenser. [Background technology]

[0003] Certain edible products, such as candy or gum, are typically contained within a packaging / dispensing device to protect the product and provide ease of use for the consumer. Currently, there are a variety of packaging / dispensing devices designed and configured to contain and dispense edible products. Each of these devices typically includes an end seal that can be opened and broken to access the product contained within the device. Furthermore, most of these devices typically utilize a housing that allows the consumer to dispense the product.

[0004] While a variety of packaging / dispensing devices for edible products are currently available on the market, it would be desirable to provide an improved packaging / dispensing device for edible products such as candy and gum. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of products contained therein includes a cover having a press opening (or indicated area) and a dispenser volume, a base having a discharge opening and an engagement member, a blister tray, at least a portion of which is disposed within the dispenser volume and having tabs extending from an edge of the blister tray for manually rotating the blister tray relative to the cover and base while held within the dispenser volume, and a label configured to be affixed and adhered to the engagement members of the cover and base to hold the dispenser together.

[0006] These and other aspects of the present invention will be better understood in view of the drawings and following detailed description. The present invention provides, for example, the following. (Item 1) 1. A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of products contained therein, said dispenser comprising: A cover, a top wall having a press opening; and a cover including a peripheral wall extending from the top wall and defining a dispenser volume between the top wall and a bottom end of the peripheral wall; a base having a discharge opening and an engagement member, the engagement member having a top end and a bottom end; a blister tray, at least a portion of which is disposed within the dispenser volume, the blister tray having tabs extending from an edge of the blister tray for manually rotating the blister tray relative to the cover and base while held within the dispenser volume, the base and cover being attached to enable the manual rotation of the blister tray therebetween. (Item 2) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the inner surface of the top wall of the cover is adhered to the upper end of the engagement member of the base by adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, or an interference fit. (Item 3) Item 1. The dispenser of item 1, wherein when the dispenser is assembled, the press opening and the discharge opening are aligned with a blister disposed along the aligned openings, thereby allowing the blister to be pressed through the press opening to discharge product through the discharge opening. (Item 4) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the cover of the dispenser further includes an indexing device formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall. (Item 5) Item 5. The dispenser of item 4, wherein the indexing device is a protrusion that engages with each blister as the blister tray rotates and stops the blister tray when the blister is aligned with the press opening in the cover. (Item 6) 6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein as the blister tray rotates, the protrusions provide tactile and audible indication of proper alignment of the blisters with the press openings in the cover. (Item 7) 5. The dispenser according to item 4, wherein the indexing device is located on an upper portion of the inner surface of the peripheral wall near the pressing opening of the cover. (Item 8) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the blister tray opening is defined in the center of the blister tray. (Item 9) Item 9. The dispenser of item 8, wherein the engagement member of the base is configured to be inserted through the blister tray opening, whereby the blister tray can be seated on an upper surface of the base and disposed within the dispenser volume. (Item 10) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein a cover opening is defined on the top wall of the cover. (Item 11) Item 11. The dispenser of item 10, wherein the engagement member of the base is configured such that the upper end of the engagement member is positioned within the cover opening of the cover when the cover engages with the base. (Item 12) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the blister tray includes a plurality of blisters configured to contain the product therein. (Item 13) Item 13. The dispenser of item 12, wherein each of the plurality of blisters is sized to fit closely within each of the press opening and the discharge opening. (Item 14) Item 13. The dispenser of item 12, wherein the plurality of blisters are arranged around the periphery of the blister tray. (Item 15) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the dispenser is disc-shaped. (Item 16) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the blister tray is annular and disc-shaped. (Item 17) Item 12. The dispenser of item 11, further comprising a label affixed to the engagement members of the cover and the base and configured to provide for securing the base to the cover. (Item 18) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the label is pressure sensitive. (Item 19) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein a peripheral sidewall of the engagement member extends between the upper end and the lower end. (Item 20) Item 1, wherein a tab opening is defined on the tab. (Item 21) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the cover, base, and blister tray are each made of thermoformed plastic. (Item 22) Item 10. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the plurality of products are confectioneries such as candy and gum. (Item 23) Item 11. The dispenser of item 10, wherein an edge of the cover opening snaps into a slot formed in an upper wall portion of the engagement member adjacent a periphery of the upper end of the engagement member. (Item 24) Item 24. The dispenser of item 23, wherein the engagement member has a non-circular shape at the upper end. (Item 25) Item 25. The dispenser of item 24, wherein the cover opening has a non-circular shape that matches the non-circular shape of the upper end of the engagement member, whereby the cover and base form a non-rotatable attachment when the cover opening is snap-fit ​​into the slot. (Item 26) Item 13. The dispenser of item 12, wherein the blister tray includes a plurality of notches, each of the plurality of notches formed and positioned between each of the plurality of blisters. (Item 27) Item 27. The dispenser of item 26, wherein the indexing device is located at a bottom portion of the inner surface of the peripheral wall near the press opening of the cover, and the indexing device is a protrusion dimensioned to fit into each of the plurality of notches when the blister tray rotates. (Item 28) Item 1. The dispenser of item 1, wherein a gap is formed between the bottom of the peripheral wall of the cover and the tabs of the blister tray, thereby allowing the blister tray to rotate freely without friction between the tabs of the blister tray and the peripheral wall of the cover. (Item 29) Item 1. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the bottom of the peripheral wall of the cover and the blister tray are engaged with each other without any gap therebetween, such that when the blister tray is rotated, the bottom of the peripheral wall of the cover comes into sliding contact with the blister tray. (Item 30) Item 2. The dispenser of item 1, wherein the peripheral wall extends and overlaps the outermost edge of the blister tray with an opening therebetween, and the tabs of the blister tray extend downward through the opening and extend laterally therefrom, allowing the tabs to have a vertical step-like offset. (Item 31) Item 31. The dispenser of item 30, wherein the tabs do not engage with either the base or the cover, thereby allowing the blister tray to rotate freely without friction between the tabs of the blister tray and the peripheral wall of the cover. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an edible product dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the edible product dispenser of FIG. 1 in a closed position. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partial interior view of the cover of the edible product dispenser of FIG. 1. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is a partial interior view of the cover and blister tray of an alternative embodiment edible product dispenser. [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is a partial view of a blister tray and base of an alternative embodiment edible product dispenser. [Figure 5A] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the attachment of the cover and base via an interference fit. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a top view of the edible product dispenser of FIG. 5A. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 5B. [Figure 5D] FIG. 5D is a bottom view of the base of FIG. 5C. [Figure 5E] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the attachment of the cover and base via adhesive. [Figure 5F] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the attachment of the cover and base via heat or ultrasonic sealing. [Figure 5G]FIG. 5C is a top view of an alternative embodiment edible product dispenser of FIGS. 5E and 5F. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a top view of the edible product dispenser shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the edible product dispenser of FIG. 1. [Figure 8A] 1A-1C are partial views of an edible product dispenser according to various embodiments. [Figure 8B] 1A-1C are partial views of an edible product dispenser according to various embodiments. [Figure 8C] 1A-1C are partial views of an edible product dispenser according to various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] 1, 6, and 7, there is shown an edible product dispenser 10 configured to accommodate and dispense a plurality of edible products 12 or confections, such as candy, gum, etc. The dispenser 10 is designed and configured to allow the plurality of edible products 12 to be easily and conveniently dispensed from the dispenser 10 one blister at a time, as will be described in more detail below.

[0009] 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment, dispenser 10 is generally disc-shaped and includes a cover 14, a base 16 configured to engage cover 14, a blister tray 18 configured to be disposed between cover 14 and base 16, and a label 20 for holding dispenser 10 (cover 14, blister tray 18, and base 16) together. Once dispenser 10 is assembled, blister tray 18 can be manually rotated about axis of rotation Y extending through the center of dispenser 10 while held between cover 14 and base 16, as described in more detail below.

[0010] Directional terms such as top and bottom refer to an orientation in which dispenser 10 is placed on a flat surface with the top surface of cover 14 of dispenser 10 facing upward, however, the present invention is not thereby limited to use with any particular orientation.

[0011] 2, in a preferred embodiment, cover 14 includes a planar top wall 22 and a depending peripheral wall 24 connected to top wall 22 by a circular transition 26. Peripheral wall 24 extends between circular transition 26 and an opposite open end 28 of top wall 22, defining a dispenser volume between top wall 22 and a bottom end 30 of peripheral wall 24.

[0012] 2, a press opening 32 is defined near the edge of the top wall 22 to provide a means for manually pressing down on a blister 34 through direct contact to eject the edible product 12 from the dispenser 10. When the dispenser 10 is assembled, the press opening 32 in the cover 14 aligns with a discharge opening 36 defined in the base 16 for passing and ejecting the edible product 12 when a user presses a blister 34 located within the press opening 32.

[0013] The press opening 32 and the ejection opening 36 are sized to be larger than the edible product 12 to eject the edible product 12 disposed within the blister 34. Additionally, a cover opening 38 is defined in the center of the top wall 22 to engage the base 16 and for a label 20 to be affixed over the cover opening 38, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0014] 2 and 3, the cover 14 further includes an indexing device 40 for providing a detent mechanism when the blister tray 18 is manually rotated. The indexing device 40 is preferably integrally formed on the inner surface 42 of the peripheral wall 24. In a preferred embodiment, the indexing device 40 is located on top of the inner surface 42 of the peripheral wall 24 near the press opening 32 of the cover 14, as shown in FIG. 3. The indexing device 40 is a protrusion that engages with each blister 34 as the blister tray 18 rotates and stops the blister tray 18 when one blister 34 is aligned with the press opening 32. As the blister tray 18 rotates, the protrusion provides a tactile and audible indication of proper alignment of the blister 34 with the press opening 32 of the cover 14. When a blister 34 is aligned with the press opening 32 and the blister tray 18 stops rotating, the protrusion is positioned within the gap 44 between the blister and the next blister. Thus, after a blister 34 is ejected, the blister tray 18 can be rotated to align the next blister with the press opening 32 .

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, referring to FIG. 4A , an indexing device 40′ is integrally formed on a bottom portion of an inner surface 42′ of the peripheral wall 24′. The blister tray 18′ includes a plurality of notches 41′, each of which is formed between and positioned between each of the plurality of blisters 34′. The indexing device 40′ is a protrusion sized to fit into each of the plurality of notches 41′ as the blister tray 18′ rotates. After the edible product is ejected, the blister tray 18′ can be rotated so that the next blister is aligned with the press opening and the indexing device 40′ fits into the next notch 41′. As the blister tray 18′ rotates, the protrusion provides a tactile and audible indication of proper alignment of the blister 34′ with the press opening in the cover 14′.

[0016] In another alternative embodiment, referring to FIG. 4B , one or more of the indexing devices 40″ are integrally formed on the periphery of the base 16″. Each of the one or more indexing devices 40″ is a protrusion sized to fit into a respective one of a plurality of notches 41″ as the blister tray 18″ rotates. As the blister tray 18″ rotates, the protrusions provide a tactile and audible indication of proper alignment of the blisters 34″ with the press openings in the cover.

[0017] 2 , the base 16 includes a discharge opening 36 defined near an edge of the base 16. Preferably, the discharge opening 36 may be similarly sized as the press opening 32 in the cover 14. Thus, as described above, when the dispenser 10 is assembled, the press opening 32 and the discharge opening 36 are aligned, thereby allowing the blister 34 to be pressed through the press opening 32 in the cover 14 to discharge the edible product through the discharge opening 36 in the base 16.

[0018] The base 16, in a preferred embodiment, further includes an upwardly extending engagement member 46 centrally extending from and projecting therefrom. The engagement member 46 has a peripheral sidewall 48 extending between a top end 50 and a bottom end 52. The engagement member 46 of the base 16 is designed and dimensioned such that the top end 50 of the engagement member 46 is positioned within the cover opening 38 of the cover 14 when the cover 14 is engaged with the base 16. This configuration allows the label 20 to be affixed and adhered to both the cover 14 and the base 16 to hold all of the portions of the dispenser 10 together.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment of the base, referring to FIGS. 5A-5D , the upper end 50' of the engagement member 46' is square-shaped. However, the upper end 50' of the engagement member 46' may have any shape, such as, for example, circular, triangular, etc. The cover opening has a shape that essentially matches the shape of the upper end 50' of the engagement member 46'. In addition, the periphery of the upper end 50' has a groove or undercut slot 51' formed therein, which attachably snaps into the cover opening via an interference fit or snap fit. In other words, the edge of the cover opening snaps into the groove or undercut slot 51' formed in the upper wall portion of the engagement member 46' adjacent the periphery of the upper end 50' of the engagement member 46', forming a non-rotatable attachment. Advantageously, the upper end 50' has an angular or non-circular shape with the shape of the cover opening to prevent sliding rotation of the base relative to the cover 14', functionally obviating the need for an adhesive label in such an embodiment.

[0020] Although attachment of the cover 14 to the base 16 using a label 20 and snap-fit ​​techniques is disclosed, other attachment techniques are within the contemplation of the present invention. An alternative technique is shown in FIGS. 5E-5G. Referring to FIGS. 5E-5G, the cover 14'' is configured without a cover opening on the top wall 22''. This configuration of the cover 14'' allows the inner surface of the top wall 22'' of the cover 14'' to be adhered to the top end 50'' of the engaging member 46'' of the base 16'' by adhesive 51'' (FIG. 5E), heat sealing (FIG. 5F), or ultrasonic sealing (FIG. 5F).

[0021] Referring again to FIG. 2 , the blister tray 18 is generally annular and disk-shaped. However, the blister tray 18 can be designed in any suitable shape so long as it is rotatable within the dispenser 10. The blister tray 18 includes a plurality of blisters 34 configured to contain edible products therein. The plurality of blisters 34 are desirably arranged around the periphery of the blister tray 18. As is known in the industry, the bottom surface of the blister tray 18 is covered with a rupturable sealing material, such as a film or foil, that covers the opening of each blister 34. The sealing material may include a line of weakness around the area covering the opening of each blister 34 to facilitate rupture. Each of the plurality of blisters 34 on the blister tray 18 is sized to fit closely within each of the press openings 32 and discharge openings 36. The blisters 34 are sized to fit the products 12. The press openings 32 and discharge openings 36 are sized to fit the blisters 34.

[0022] Blister tray 18 has a blister tray opening 54 defined at its center. Blister tray opening 54 allows blister tray 18 to be stably disposed within the dispenser volume of dispenser 10. Specifically, during assembly, engagement members 46 of base 16 are inserted through blister tray opening 54, thereby allowing blister tray 18 to seat on an upper surface of base 16 and be disposed within the dispenser volume.

[0023] The blister tray 18 further includes tabs 56 integrally attached to the edges of the blister tray 18, as shown in FIG. 2 . When the dispenser 10 is assembled, the tabs 56 extend laterally outward from the cover 14 and base 16 and provide a means for manually rotating the blister tray 18 and for positioning blisters within the aligned openings (press opening and discharge opening) 32, 36. As described above, once a blister is positioned along the aligned openings 32, 36, a user can press the blister through the press opening 32 in the cover 14 until the blister breaks and is discharged through the discharge opening 36 in the base 16. A tab opening 58 can be defined on the tabs 56 to allow the dispenser 10 to be hung, for example, from a display hook, such as a pegboard hook for retail display. The tab opening 58 also allows the dispenser 10 to be hooked, for example, to a key chain after purchase.

[0024] 8A-8C, various designs of dispensers for edible products 12 are shown relative to the configuration of the blister tray tabs. In FIG. 8A, in one embodiment, a blister tray 18''' having a rupturable seal 19''' on the bottom is disposed between a cover 14''' and a base 16'''. A gap 43''' is formed between the bottom of the peripheral wall 24''' of the cover 14''' and the tabs 56''' of the blister tray 18''', allowing the blister tray 18''' to rotate freely without friction between the tabs 56''' of the blister tray 18''' and the peripheral wall 24''' of the cover 14'''.

[0025] In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, the bottom of peripheral wall 24'''' of cover 14'''' engages tabs 56'''' of blister tray 18'''' with rupturable seal material 19'''' and no gap exists between them. Thus, when blister tray 18'''' is rotated, there is frictional sliding contact between tabs 56'''' of blister tray 18'''' and peripheral wall 24'''' of cover 14''''. The friction can be overcome by manual rotation.

[0026] In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8C , the dispenser is designed so that peripheral wall 24''''' extends over and overlaps the outermost edge of blister tray 18''''' having rupturable sealant 19''''' with openings 43''''' therebetween. The configuration of blister tray 18''''' is modified so that tabs 56'''''' include a vertical step-like offset. Openings 43'''''' allow tabs 56'''''' of blister tray 18'''''' to extend downward through openings 43'''''' and then extend laterally therefrom, resulting in a stepped configuration for tabs 56''''''. In this embodiment, tabs 56'''''' do not engage either base 16'''''' or cover 14'''''', allowing blister tray 18'''''' to rotate freely without friction between tabs 56'''''' of blister tray 18'''''' and peripheral wall 24'''''' of cover 14''''''.

[0027] The top and sides of cover 14, the bottom of base 16, and label 20 may be utilized for various instructions to print, emboss, or otherwise attach pictures, logos, text (including product descriptions), and pricing information, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0028] Dispenser 10 is made of one or more materials having properties suitable for the desired application, including strength, weight, rigidity, etc. Thermoformed plastics are generally preferred for cover 14, blister tray 18, and base 16. Pressure-sensitive labels are generally preferred for label 20. Additionally, dispenser 10 is generally preferably sized to be easily grasped in one hand and attached to a pocket.

[0029] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a dispenser for edible products according to the present invention allows edible products to be easily and conveniently discharged from the dispenser one at a time by manually rotating the blister tray around the dispenser.

[0030] In general, the foregoing description has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. The present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will recognize that additional modifications and adaptations to particular situations are within the scope of the invention shown and described herein and the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. 1. A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of products contained therein, said dispenser comprising: A cover, the cover comprising: a top wall having a press opening and a cover opening in the top wall of the cover; and a cover including a peripheral wall extending from the top wall and defining a dispenser volume between the top wall and a bottom end of the peripheral wall; a base having a discharge opening and an engagement member, the engagement member having a top end and a bottom end; a blister tray, at least a portion of which is disposed within the dispenser volume, the blister tray having tabs extending from an edge of the blister tray for manually rotating the blister tray relative to the cover and base while held within the dispenser volume; and Including, the cover opening has a non-circular shape; the upper end of the engaging member of the base has a shape corresponding to the non-circular shape of the cover opening, and the cover is prevented from rotating relative to the base when the base is attached to the cover by positioning the engaging member within the cover opening; the blister tray has a blister tray opening; The dispenser, wherein the bottom end of the engagement member has a shape corresponding to the shape of the blister tray opening to enable the manual rotation of the blister tray relative to the engagement member.

2. 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein an edge of the cover opening is secured to the upper end of the engaging member of the base by an interference fit.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the blister tray opening is defined in the center of the blister tray.

4. 4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the engagement member of the base is configured to be inserted through the blister tray opening, such that the blister tray can be seated on an upper surface of the base and disposed within the dispenser volume.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein a cover opening is defined on the top wall of the cover.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the engagement member of the base is configured such that the upper end of the engagement member is positioned within the cover opening of the cover when the cover is engaged with the base.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 further comprising a label configured to be affixed to the engaging members of the cover and the base.

8. 8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the label is pressure sensitive.

9. The dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the engagement member has the non-circular shape at the upper end.

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