FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus to dispense items, and more specifically, to an apparatus for dispensing snack food stored in containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Snack foods, such as cookies, potato chips, flavored crackers, etc., come in a variety of packages. Some of these packages are unusual, as is the packaging of Pringles® potato chips. While this design is unusual—packaged in a cardboard tube—it is also non-desirable from the consumer point of view. As the potato chips or other snack are ‘stacked’ in a large pile inside a round cardboard canister, or tube, when several dozen or so of the snack are consumed, it is necessary to either reach in with a hand down the tube to retrieve more or simply pour them out in a dish. This is inconvenient and difficult, and can result in damage to the food. Moreover, as the food is consumed, the food inside the container is replaced with air, which causes the remaining food to become stale.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a movable elevator platform inside a canister, tube or other elongated container to keep the food or other items in an easily accessible position in the container, i.e, near the opening of the container, as the food is consumed. The movable elevator slides within the container in a one-way manner to effectively reduce the volume of the container as the food or other items are consumed, and to move the food or other items toward the opening of the container. In one embodiment, the container has a corrugated liner on the inner wall of the container, and the movable elevator platform has tabs that engage the corrugations of the liner when the container is oriented in an upright position, and disengage the corrugations when the container is in an inverted position. Thus, after food or other items are removed from the container, the user simply covers the container opening and inverts the container, thereby using gravity to move the elevator (and the food or other items resting on the elevator) toward the opening of the container. When the container is returned to an upright position, the elevator remains at the elevated position, and the food or other items resting on the elevator are now easily accessible from the opening of the container. Moreover, the reduced internal storage volume, caused by movement of the elevator, limits the amount of air in the container, and helps to keep food fresh.
In another embodiment, the container has an embossed paper liner, rather than a corrugated line, on the inner wall. Any inner surface with periodic disturbances, such as raised areas or blemishes, will work in conjunction with the elevator of the present invention.
In yet another embodiment, the container has a smooth inner wall, and the elevator has a single or multiple rubber tipped tabs which engage the wall when the container is in an upright position, and disengage the wall when the container is in an inverted position.
In still another embodiment, the elevator is freely movable in the container in both directions, and the container is simply placed in an inverted position to limit the amount of air surrounding the contained food, thereby keep the food fresh during storage.
The elevator of the present invention is preferably provided with a vent hole to assist in equalizing air pressure on it from both sides, when the elevator moves in the container.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, which refers to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the elevator of the present invention with tabs that interact with periodic disturbances, such as corrugations, on the inner wall of a container.
FIG. 2A is a schematic view of the elevator of FIGS. 1A and 1B in a container with a corrugated liner (shown in FIG. 2C) in an inverted position with the tabs disengaged from the corrugations (such that the elevator moves freely); and FIG. 2B shows the same with container in an upright position with the tabs engaging the corrugation (such that the elevator is fixed in position and the items to be consumed are disposed at the top of the container).
FIGS. 3A and 3B are top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the elevator of the present invention with rubber tipped tabs.
FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the elevator of FIGS. 3A and 3B in a container with a smooth inner sidewall in an inverted position with the rubber tipped tabs angled such that the elevator moves freely; and FIG. 4B shows the same with container in an upright position with the rubber tipped tabs angled so as to engage the smooth sidewall and prevent movement of the elevator within the container.
FIG. 5A illustrates a single rubber tipped tab of an elevator, and FIG. 5B is a bottom view of an elevator with a single rubber tipped tab.
FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the single rubber tipped elevator of FIGS. 5A and 5B in a container with a smooth inner sidewall in an inverted position with the single rubber tipped tab angled such that the elevator moves freely; and FIG. 6B shows the same with container in an upright position with the rubber tipped tab angled so as to engage the smooth sidewall and prevent movement of the elevator within the container.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show a side perspective and bottom view, respectively, of an elevator with tabs cut into the sidewall of the container, and bent down.
FIG. 8A shows a side perspective view of an elevator without tabs or ears that is free to move in an elongated container in both directions, and FIG. 8B shows an elongated container with such an elevator, filled with doughnuts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides a simple, low cost to reposition items inside an elongated container as the items are consumed, so that the remaining items are easily accessed from the opening of the container.
FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate one embodiment of a movable elevator 10 of the present invention. The elevator may be formed of paperboard, plastic or any other lightweight, inexpensive material. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the elevator 10 includes a platform or cup 11 provided with tabs 20. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the platform or cup 11 includes at least one sidewall 12, preferably non-tapered, extending from a base 13. Sidewall 12 must be sufficiently tall, preferably about 2 inches, so that the elevator does not turn sideways in the container. The elevator 10 also includes at least one tongue or tab 20 (two tabs are shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B) which is attached to the base 13 with a staple, glue or other means, and has a tip that extends radially outwardly slightly beyond base 13. To assist in the movement of the elevator upon inversion of the container, described below, the elevator may be provided with a weight, for example, a metal disc, or the elevator cup itself can be made of metal or a heavy plastic.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in one embodiment, the elevator 10 is placed inside an elongated container with a corrugated liner 102 (shown in FIG. 2C), such that the tabs 20 cooperate with the corrugations of the liner as described below. Liner 102 may be formed of corrugated cardboard, an embossed sheet of paper or cardboard, or any liner with periodic disturbances or raised areas. In one preferred embodiment, a corrugated liner with “E” flutes is used. When the container is inverted, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the tabs 20 do not engage the corrugations and slide unimpeded down the sidewall of the container, allowing gravity to freely move the elevator and the items placed on the elevator toward the opening at the top of the container. When the container is then flipped back to its original upright position, the tabs 20 engage the corrugations on the liner of the container, preventing the elevator 10 from moving downward, such that the items to be consumed are now easily reachable at the top of the container, and are stored in a compacted volume in the container without excess air to keep them fresh. A thin piece of foam rubber or other cushion may be placed in the cup of the elevator to cushion the items from breakage when the container is turned upside down and back upright.
The elevator of the present invention may also be used with a container without a corrugated liner, i.e., with a smooth inner surface. In this embodiment, shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the elevator 10 includes a plurality of tabs 20 with rubber coated tips 21. The rubber should be somewhat sticky. Because of the angle, as shown in FIG. 4A, the rubber coated tips 21 slide easily against the smooth inner surface of the tube in the inverted position, and, as shown in FIG. 4B, resist movement when the container is in the upright position.
The elevator of the present invention can also be formed of a single rubber coated tab 21, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In this embodiment, the elevator base 13 may include a recessed region 14 on its underside to receive tab 20, which is then secured in a pivotable manner with tape 22 or other means to the bottom of the base, near the center, as shown in FIG. 5B. Elevator base 13 may also include one or more air vent holes 15. FIGS. 6A and 6B show how the elevator with a single rubber tipped tab slides easily against the smooth inner surface of the tube in the inverted position, and resists movement when the container is flipped to the upright position.
The elevator of the present invention can also be formed of tabs 26 cut into the sidewall 12 and bent downward, as “ears,” shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Like the previous embodiments, the ears slide easily against the inner surface of a container in one direction, but not in the other direction. As in the previously described embodiments, the base of the elevator is preferably circular. However, the configuration of the base will vary depending on the shape of the container and the type of items intended to be placed in the elevator. For example, if the container is used to store doughnuts or crackers, the shape of the container may be square or rectangular and the base would necessarily be of a similar shape to fit securely within the interior of the container.
In another embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the elevator includes only a platform 30 and no tabs or ears. Thus, in this simplified embodiment, the elevator does not engage the inner sidewall of the container 10 and can freely move in both directions inside the container. This embodiment serves to limit the air space around food products, such as doughnuts 32, chips, cookies, crackers, bagels, or other perishable food products, when the container is inverted. By limiting the air space around the food product, the freshness of the food product is preserved.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims
Patent Application
20140263374
