Patent Grant
6966451
There may be a demand for dispensers which serve as containers for small confections, and the like, that include features that may attract a purchaser. Such dispensers enable purchasers, such as children, to carry confections, including candy, chewing gum, and the like, under relatively sanitary conditions and to dispense such confections as desired without the danger of spilling and/or contaminating the entire quantity of confections.
Confection dispensers are generally well known in the art and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. A relatively high percentage of candy purchases may be made by, or at the insistence of, children. However, the typical child may have little, if any, brand loyalty, and thus candy manufacturers may have long relied on clever packaging in order to attract the purchaser's attention. One marketing approach may be to put the candy in an attractive candy dispenser designed to appeal to children and/or adults. For example, many members of the public can recall the very popular Pez® candy dispensers. Other candy packages may rely on the use of licensed cartoon characters, action figures, or even the name of a popular sports personality. Thus, it may be a commonly held belief that a candy container or dispenser that incorporates one or more novel or unique features is very likely to significantly increase the sales of that candy product. Therefore, there is a continuing need for novel candy containers and dispensers.
Provided is a dispensing system, including a container configured with one or more apertures, and configured to house items, a faceplate configured with one or more dispensing apertures, rotationally coupled to the container, such that the items may be dispensed from the container, and one or more novelties coupled to the container, configured to move when the faceplate rotates with respect to the container.
a–c are top views of an exemplary embodiments showing various novelties.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized. The description also sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
A perspective view of an item dispensing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Gearing coupling portion 62 of rotating novelty portion 60 is configured to extend through novelty aperture 52 of faceplate 50 and coupled to novelty gearing 70. Novelty gearing 70 is configured to rotationally couple to top housing 20 such that when faceplate 50 is rotated with respect to container 12 or top housing 20, novelty portions 60 may also rotate.
Top housing 20 typically includes integrated gearing 22 that is configured to couple to rotational gearing 74 and novelty gearing 70, such that when faceplate 50 is rotated with respect to container 12 or top housing 20, novelty portions 60 will rotate. With rotational gearing 74 rotationally coupled to one of novelty portions 60, this configuration will allow novelty portions 60 to rotate in opposite directions, as desired.
Top housing 20 also typically includes one or more dispensing apertures 24 that when aligned with dispensing aperture 54 of faceplate 50 will allow items such as candy to pass from the interior of container 12 to the exterior of the system.
Therefore, when a user, such as a child, desires to dispense candy from the system, the user rotates the faceplate to align the apertures to allow candy to pass from the interior to the exterior of the system. When the user rotates the faceplate to align the apertures, the novelty portions also rotate, enhancing the play value and adding enjoyment for everyone.
Bottom housing 40 typically includes a top housing coupling structure 42 that is configured to couple to top housing 20 at a bottom housing coupling structure. It will be appreciated, however, that although an interference fit configuration is shown, other coupling structures may be utilized, as desired. It will be appreciated that although top housing 20 is shown with sides, bottom housing 40 may also include a vertical cylindrical portion configuration, as desired.
Bottom housing 40 also typically includes a hinged portion 44 that will selectively couple to top housing 20 such that it may be opened and more items, such as candy, may be easily placed within container 12. Although hinged portion 44 and top housing 20 are configured to couple via a friction or interference fit, other selectively coupling structures may be utilized, as desired.
With this configuration a user, such as a child, may easily open the bottom and easily insert more candy, then dispense the candy in a fun and entertaining way by rotating the faceplate and thereby causing the novelty portions to rotate also.
Faceplate 50 typically rotationally couples to top housing 20 via an overlapped fit, however, other rotationally coupling configurations may be utilized, as desired. All of the parts of system 10 are typically made from a plastic material, however other materials, such as rubber and other polymers, among others, may be utilized, as desired.
Gearing coupling portion 62 is typically formed along with visual portion 61 in one piece, however, they may be configured to be coupled together in many ways, as desired.
Although visual portion 61 is shown as eyes, or the like, it will be appreciated that many other types of novelty portions may be utilized to add to the play value and entertainment of the system, as desired. Faceplate 50 is typically in the form of a face of a caricature, but it will be appreciated that many other configurations may be utilized to add entertainment value to the system, as desired. Integrated gearing 22 may be configured such that on the exterior of the container 12, such that the operation of the gearing will not be impeded or interfered with by the items to be dispensed by the system.
a–c show the system in various rotational positions. Because faceplate 50 includes a dispensing aperture that may resemble the mouth of the caricature, top housing 20 may also include graphics 80, 82, and 84 between the dispensing orifices that may be visible when the dispensing aperture is aligned with them. This may make it appear as if the caricature's mouth is closed, open, having a full set of teeth, missing teeth, or many other configurations, as desired, to enhance play value and enjoyment of the system.
In closing, it is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein are illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Other modifications that may be employed are within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2177863 | Cadden et al. | Oct 1939 | A |
| 3099365 | Johnson | Jul 1963 | A |
| 3586159 | Kirchner | Jun 1971 | A |
| 3638830 | Belokin, Jr. | Feb 1972 | A |
| 5356035 | Shlopak et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5632377 | Ferrero | May 1997 | A |
| 6026546 | Lund et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6267639 | Menow et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6299015 | Hasan et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6368646 | Monow et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6488187 | Sheffler et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
| 6530499 | Coleman et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
| 6595385 | Nakamoto et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050035132 A1 | Feb 2005 | US |
