Packaging dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10874226-B2
Application number	US-201916239999-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2019
Priority date	Jan 5, 2018
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

Packaging dispensers are configured to retain various types of packaging in which prepared food items are placed prior to delivery to a customer. The packaging dispensers retain a plurality of a packaging type as a supply of the packages. The packaging dispensers facilitate withdrawal of a single package from the supply of the packages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dispenser of food product packaging in the form of a box blank arranged in a flat storage condition with a front face in contact with a rear face, the dispenser comprising:
a first side wall extending vertically;
a second side wall extending vertically;
a first arm extending away from the first side wall;
a second arm extending away from the second side wall, the first arm and the second arm configured for mounting the dispenser to an object;
a front wall extending vertically between the first side wall and the second side wall, the front wall comprising a first face portion that comprises a first bottom edge and the front wall comprising a second face portion that comprises a second bottom edge;
an angled bottom comprising a first angled portion connected to the first side wall and a second angled portion connected to the second side wall, the angled bottom spaced apart from the first bottom edge and the second bottom edge to form a dispensing slot;
a first dispenser half comprising the first side wall, the first angled portion, and the first face portion that comprises the first bottom edge; and
a second dispenser half comprising the second side wall, the second angled portion, and the second face portion that comprises the second bottom edge;
wherein the first dispenser half and the second dispenser half define a dispenser interior dimensioned to receive a plurality of box blanks in the flat storage condition.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a back wall, wherein the first side wall, second side wall, front wall, and angled bottom are formed of a single piece of material.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing slot extends in a vertical dimension a distance commensurate with a combined thickness of a folded box front face in contact with the rear face.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is pivotably attached to the first side wall and the second arm is pivotably attached to the second side wall.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is integrally formed with the first side wall and the second arm is integrally formed with the second side wall.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket, wherein the first arm and second arm are secured to the mounting bracket and the mounting bracket is configured to mount the dispenser to the object.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the first dispenser half is laterally separated from the second dispenser half.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 , further comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to secure the dispenser to an object; and
wherein the first dispenser half comprises the first arm and the second dispenser half comprises the second arm, and the first and second arms are secured to the mounting bracket to define a space between the first dispenser half and the second dispenser half associated with a size of the box blank to be received therein.

9. A dispenser of food product packaging in the form of a wrapper, the dispenser comprising:
a first side wall extending vertically;
a second side wall extending vertically and opposed from the first side wall;
a floor extending horizontally between the first and second side walls;
a first end finger assembly extending from an end of the first side wall in the direction of the second side wall;
a second end finger assembly extending from an end of the second side wall in the direction of the first side wall;
a first flange extending inwardly from a top of the first side wall in the direction of the second side wall; and
a second flange extending inwardly from a top of the second side wall in the direction of the first side wall;
wherein the first and second flanges are configured to engage respective portions of the wrapper to deflect the respective portions of the wrapper towards an interior of the dispenser defined by the first and second side walls and the floor; and
wherein the first end finger assembly is asymmetrical in construction from the second end finger assembly and the first and second end finger assemblies are configured to engage the wrapper to resist removal of the wrapper from between the first and second side walls.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the dispenser is a first dispenser and is configured to interconnect with a second dispenser and the first dispenser further comprises:
projections that extend upward from the first and second flanges; and
slots formed in the floor, the slots parallel to the first and second side walls, wherein the slots are configured to receive and retain projections from the second dispenser when the second dispenser is positioned below the floor of the first dispenser.

11. The dispenser of claim 9 , further comprising a third end finger assembly extending from an end of the first side wall opposite the first end finger assembly in the direction of the second wall and a fourth finger assembly extending from an end of the second side wall opposite the second end finger assembly in the direction of the first side wall.

12. The dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the first end finger assembly comprises a horizontally extending lower finger and upwardly angled upper finger.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the second end finger assembly comprises a downwardly angled lower finger and an upwardly angled upper finger.

14. A dispenser of food product packaging in the form of a box having a compartment and a closure flap, the dispenser comprising:
a back plate;
first and second side walls extending outward from edges of the back plate;
a funnel with first and second forward flares that extend in a direction away from the back plate in a depth dimension;
a first channel defined into the first side wall between the back plate and a front face of the first side wall; and
a second channel defined into the second side wall between the back plate and a front face of the second side wall.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 , further comprising a first ramp located within the first channel and a second ramp located within the second channel, wherein the first and second ramps narrow a lateral distance between the first and second side walls.

16. The dispenser of claim 14 , further comprising a cover that comprises:
an engagement body to be inserted into the compartment;
a shelf that extends outward from an outer extent of the engagement body; and
at least one tab that is configured to engage the back plate or side walls to retain the cover thereto.

Assignees

• Prince Castle LLC

Inventors

• Bauer Richard
• Sweeney Chris
• Maslana Eugene S
• Duvick Forrest
• Smetana Brian
• Frio Marcus

Classifications

• B65B67/02

  Packaging of articles or materials in containers · CPC title

• A47F1/085 Primary

  for nested articles, e.g. cups, cones (A47F1/106 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B2220/02

  Erecting a carton by pushing a blank into a form · CPC title

• B65B43/44

  from supply magazines · CPC title