Patent Application
20210380330
There is an increasing need for hygienic distribution of items. For example, facemasks are increasingly sought for daily use. Certain configurations of dispensers may cause item distribution to be more hygienic or more efficient.
The present disclosure relates to dispensers and containers for distribution of items.
In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a system that includes a container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items, the container including a perforation defining a removable portion of the container; and a hollow dispenser configured to receive the container, the hollow dispenser including a first edge of a first surface of the hollow dispenser and a second edge of a second surface of the hollow dispenser, in which the first edge and the second edge define at least a portion of an aperture in the hollow dispenser, and in which the hollow dispenser is configured such that the aperture is aligned with the removable portion of the container when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.
Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following. The first surface and the second surface face different directions. The first surface and the second surface are substantially perpendicular to one another. The first surface and the second surface are adjacent to one another. The perforation is configured to define the removable portion such that the removable portion is exposed through a first portion of the aperture defined by the first edge and through a second portion of the aperture defined by the second edge when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser. The aperture extends along a first plane and along a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being non-parallel to one another. The first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to one another. The perforation is configured to define the removable portion such that the removable portion is exposed through the first plane and through the second plane when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.
Some implementations of the system may include one or more of the following. The perforations are formed in at least two surfaces of the container. A surface of the removable portion of the container exposed through the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser has a dimension of at least 3 inches. The hollow dispenser includes a movable panel, the movable panel configured to expose an opening for insertion of the container into the hollow dispenser. The movable panel is fastened to another panel of the hollow dispenser by a hinge. The perforation defines a protruding portion of the removable portion of the container. At least one of the first edge and the second edge defines a protruding portion of the aperture through which the protruding portion of the removable portion of the container is exposed when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser. A keyhole is defined in a panel of the hollow dispenser. The system includes a stand configured to support the hollow dispenser. The dispensable items include facemasks. An edge of the hollow dispenser defines an opening configured to receive the hollow dispenser.
In another aspect, the present disclosure describes item dispensers. In some implementations, an item dispenser includes one or more panels including a first surface and a second surface, in which the first surface includes a first edge and the second surface includes a second edge, the first edge and the second edge defining at least a portion of an aperture in the item dispenser, in which the aperture extends along a first plane and along a second plane, the first plane and the second plane being non-parallel to one another, in which the item dispenser is configured to receive a container enclosing a plurality of dispensable items, and in which the item dispenser is configured such that a removable portion of the container is aligned with the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.
In another aspect, the present disclosure describes containers. In some implementations, a container encloses a plurality of dispensable items and includes a perforation defining a removable portion of the container, in which the perforation extends along a first surface and along a second surface of the container, in which the container is configured to be inserted into a hollow dispenser, a first edge and a second edge of the hollow dispenser defining at least a portion of an aperture in the hollow dispenser, and in which the perforation is configured such that the removable portion of the container is aligned with the aperture when the container is inserted into the hollow dispenser.
Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to realize one or more advantages. For example, item distribution may be made more hygienic. In some implementations, item insertion into a dispenser may be made more hygienic. In some implementations, item insertion into a dispenser may be made more efficient and convenient.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of dispensers configured to provide items. In a particular example, this disclosure relates to a dispenser configured to receive a container, such that dispensable items in the container are retrievable through an aperture in the dispenser.
In many applications, items may be provided in bulk at a central location and retrieved by multiple users. These items may be, for example, single-use or disposable items, or items that are required in significant quantities. In a medical context, dispensed items may include, for example, facemasks and gloves.
Hygienic considerations may be a priority for item distribution. For example, in a medical context (e.g., in a hospital), or when transmittable diseases are a concern, it may be beneficial to dispense items such that pathogens are less likely to be transmitted from user to user. In particular, it may be beneficial to dispense items such that users are less likely to come into contact with the same surface when retrieving their respective items. And, given a particular design of an item dispenser, it may be beneficial to configure an item container to match the item dispenser, in order to increase convenience of use and further decrease chances of surface pathogen transmission.
Therefore, this disclosure describes examples of dispensers and containers configured to align to dispense items, in order to increase the efficiency and hygiene of item distribution.
In some implementations, as shown in
The dispenser 100 is hollow and is configured to receive a container containing dispensable items. As described below, the container may have a removable portion aligned with the aperture 118, such that items from the container may be retrieved by a user through the aperture 118.
In the example of
In some implementations, a different panel, instead of or in addition to the top panel 110, may be movable in order for the dispenser 100 to receive a container. For example, one or more of the side panels 104, 106, the rear panel 108, the bottom panel 112, and/or the front panel 102 may be movable.
In addition to, or instead of, hinged connections, each movable panel of a dispenser may be movable with respect to the rest of the dispenser by another mechanism. For example, each movable panel may be slidable into and out of place in the dispenser (e.g., a portion of the dispenser may include slide rails configured to receive edges of a moveable panel of the dispenser). In some implementations, a movable panel may be magnetically coupled to the rest of the dispenser, e.g., by magnets in the dispenser and/or in the movable panel. A variety of mechanisms for coupling together portions of the dispenser, and for moving portions of the dispenser, are within the scope of this disclosure.
Although the example dispenser 100 of
In some implementations, the dispenser need not include a moveable panel covering an opening in a dispenser. For example, the dispenser may include an opening on a top or on a side of the dispenser, the opening configured to receive the container enclosing dispensable items. This configuration may increase an ease-of-use of the dispenser by removing the need to move a moveable panel of the dispenser in order to remove or insert a container. This configuration may also increase user hygiene by decreasing touching of the dispenser. In some implementations, an opening in a dispenser through which a container may be inserted may not be distinct from an aperture through which items may be retrieved, e.g., a single opening in the dispenser may serve both functions.
In various implementations, dispensers according to this disclosure may be composed of one or more materials. For example, dispensers may be composed, at least in part, of metal and/or plastic. In some implementations, dispensers may be treated with an anti-microbial or anti-septic coating, or may be composed, at least in part, of a material with anti-microbial or anti-septic properties.
In some implementations, two surfaces including respective edges defining the aperture face different directions. For example, the two surfaces may be substantially planar and substantially perpendicular to one another. “Substantially perpendicular,” as used in this disclosure, may include at least angles between about 70 degrees and 110 degrees. For example, the front panel 102 and the bottom panel 112 in
In some implementations, an aperture is defined by edges of only two surfaces of a dispenser.
In some implementations, two planes along which an aperture extends (e.g., planes 222, 224 in
As described in further detail below, because a removable portion of a container is configured to align with the aperture, the features of the aperture described in relation to
Although the example dispensers of
In various implementations, the removable portion of the container and the aperture of the dispenser may be aligned in different ways. For example, in some implementations, the removable portion and the aperture may be aligned such that at least some of the removable portion is exposed through the aperture when the container is inserted into the dispenser.
In some implementations, an edge defining the aperture may be parallel, over at least a portion of a length of the edge, to a portion of the perforations on the container. For example, in
In some implementations, the parallel portions may be relatively adjacent to one another. For example, as shown in
In some implementations, the removable portion of the container and the aperture may be aligned such the perforations have a shape substantially matching a shape of one or more edges defining the aperture. For example, as shown in
In some implementations, the removable portion of the container and aperture may be aligned such that the perforations defining the removable container are, over at least a portion of a length of the perforations, within close proximity to an edge of the dispenser defining the aperture, when the container is inserted into the dispenser. For example, the perforations may be within about one inch of an edge defining the aperture. In some implementations, the perforations may be within about 0.5 inches of an edge defining the aperture. In some implementations, the perforations may be within about 0.25 inches of an edge defining the aperture. In some implementations, the perforations may be within some other distance of an edge defining the aperture (e.g., 0.125 inches, 0.0625 inches, 0.03125 inches, or some other distance).
In some implementations, the container may be a box (e.g., a cardboard box). In some implementations, the container may be a bag (e.g., a plastic bag). In some implementations, the container may include structuring elements (e.g., rigid walls and/or joined edges) to maintain a shape of the container, such that the container is configured to fit into a corresponding dispenser. A variety of possible container implementations and materials are within the scope of this disclosure.
In some implementations, an aperture and/or a removable portion of a container may include a protruding portion. A protruding portion of a removable portion of a container may protrude along a plane along which another portion of the removable portion extends. A protruding portion of an aperture may protrude along a plane along which another portion of the aperture extends.
For example, as shown in
When the container 330 is in position inserted into the dispenser 332, the container 330 rests on a bottom panel 350 of the dispenser 332. As shown in
The multiple items 340 are stacked vertically in the container 330 along in the direction of gravity 342 shown in
In some implementations, an orientation of a dispenser and container may be different from the orientation shown in
In some implementations, it may be possible for a container to be inserted into a dispenser in various directions and/or with various orientations. For example, a container may be inserted upside-down or in a reversed orientation, such that a removable portion of the container does not align with an aperture of the container. When this disclosure refers to a dispenser receiving a container, or to a container being inserted into a dispenser, this disclosure is referring to receptions and insertions that cause alignment between the removable portion of the container and the aperture of the dispenser.
The items 340 may be medical items, for example, facemasks and/or medical gloves. In some implementations, the items 340 may be individually wrapped (e.g., in plastic and/or paper). In some implementations, the items 340 may be separated from one another by barriers (e.g., plastic or paper sheets disposed between items 340).
Because of the gravitational force exerted on the items 340, one or more items 340 remaining in the container 330 at a given time are exposed through the aperture 338. As items 340 are removed through the aperture 338, further items 340 descend from higher in the container 330 and become removable through the aperture 338.
The position and the orientation of the aperture, as shown for aperture 338 in
Alternative configurations of dispensers and containers may not allow for items to be removed without contacting the dispenser. For example, if an aperture of a dispenser is defined by edges on only one surface of the dispenser, then a user's hand may be more likely to contact the dispenser when removing an item.
If the aperture and/or the removable portion of the container are too small, a user may be likely to contact the dispenser. Therefore, in some implementations, the aperture and the removable portion of the container may be configured such that a surface of the removable portion exposed through the aperture has a dimension (e.g., a dimension 354 and/or a dimension 356) of greater than about three inches. In some implementations, the dimension may be greater than about four inches. In some implementations, the dimension may be greater than about five inches. In some implementations, the dimension may be greater than about two inches. In various implementations, the aperture and/or the removable portion of the container may have both a width and a length of at least about two inches, at least about three inches, at least about four inches, or at least about five inches.
When all items 340 have been removed from the container 330, the container 330 may be removed (e.g., by moving aside the movable top panel 333), and a new container may be inserted. Because containers themselves may be inserted into the dispenser, instead of individual dispensable items being inserted into the dispenser, distribution hygiene may be improved, because the individual dispensable items need not be handled for insertion into the dispenser. In addition, process convenience and efficiency may be increased, as the containers may be easily inserted in order to transfer many items at once into the dispenser.
In some implementations, a dispenser may include features configured to mount the dispenser in a particular position. In the example shown in
Instead of or in addition to keyholes, in various implementations dispensers may include one or more of other features for mounting the dispenser. For example, a panel of a dispenser may be provided with double-sided tape, Velcro, or another adhesive. This may be beneficial when a dispenser is to be mounted onto a surface without drilling into the surface. Mounting of a dispenser may provide advantages; for example, mounting of the dispenser on a wall may allow a user to retrieve items through an aperture defined by a bottom surface of the dispenser (e.g., in the direction 348 in
In the example shown in
The dispensers shown in
In some implementations, paired dispensers and containers may be provided in a variety of sizes. For example, a large dispenser and a large container may be configured to align with one another as described above, and a small dispenser and a small container may be configured to align with one another as described above. In some implementations, dimensions of a dispenser and a container may depend on sizes of items included in the container.
Various shapes and configurations of aligned containers and dispensers are described in this disclosure. For example,
As shown in
In the example of
In the example of
In some implementations, a container as described elsewhere in this disclosure (for example, a container having a removable portion extending across two surfaces of the container, e.g., a container as shown in
When a container is used to directly dispense items, the container may include features for mounting the container. For example, the container may include double-sided tape or velcro on one or more surfaces, allowing the container to be mounted on a wall.
Therefore, in accordance with the features described in this disclosure, configurations of dispensers and containers may provide improved convenience and hygiene.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
