Product dispensing system with sound reducing features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9320365-B2
Application number	US-201213601237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2012
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A product dispensing system having a frame with a front end and a rear end, and including an upper support deck extending between the front end and the rear end, a lower support deck positioned below the upper support deck, the lower support deck extending between the front end and the rear end and defining a product display area, a guide extending from proximate the upper support deck to proximate the lower support deck, and a stop positioned proximate the product display area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product dispensing system comprising:
a dispenser frame having a front end and a rear end, said dispenser frame comprising:
an upper support deck extending between said front end and said rear end, the upper support deck having a upper support deck front end and an upper support deck rear end, with at least one open region between the upper support deck front end and upper support deck rear end;
a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck extending between said front end and said rear end and defining a product display area, wherein said dispenser frame defines a channel extending from said upper support deck rear end down to said lower support deck; and
an obstruction extending into said channel to interact with products moving through said channel down to said lower support deck, the obstruction comprising a guide having
an upper ramp having a first curved forward surface;
a lower ramp having a second curved forward surface;
the upper ramp and lower ramp intersecting at a forward-protruding curve end located at the lower end of the upper ramp and the upper end of the lower ramp.

2. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said interaction between said obstruction and said products is sufficient to reduce a velocity of said products prior to said products contacting said lower support deck.

3. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said obstruction comprises said guide extending from proximate said upper support deck to proximate said lower support deck, said guide being positioned proximate said rear end of said dispenser frame.

4. The product dispensing system of claim 3 wherein said guide comprises a downwardly inclined surface extending proximate said lower support deck.

5. The product dispensing system of claim 1 further comprising an arcuate stop positioned proximate said product display area.

6. The product dispensing system of claim 5 wherein said stop is curved upward toward said upper support deck.

7. The product dispensing system of claim 5 wherein said stop comprises a curved surface defined by a curve beginning and a curve ending, wherein said curve beginning extends toward said rear end.

8. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said upper support deck has a nominal surface area, and wherein said open region comprising at least 25 percent of said nominal surface area.

9. The product dispensing system of claim 8 wherein said open region comprises at least 50 percent of said nominal surface area.

10. The product dispensing system of claim 1 further comprising:
a container on said upper support deck; and
a plurality of products initially housed in said container;
wherein at least one of said plurality of products is positioned in said product display area.

11. A product dispensing system comprising:
a dispenser frame having a front end and a rear end, said dispenser frame comprising:
an upper support deck extending between said front end and said rear end, the upper support deck having a upper support deck front end and an upper support deck rear end, with at least one open region between the upper support deck front end and upper support deck rear end;
a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck extending between said front end and said rear end and defining a first product display area;
at least one intermediate support deck positioned between said upper support deck and said lower support deck, said intermediate support deck defining a second product display area,
wherein said dispenser frame defines a channel extending from said upper support deck down to said lower support deck; and
an obstruction extending into said channel to interact with products moving through said channel from said upper support deck down to one of said intermediate support deck and said lower support deck;
wherein the obstruction comprises a guide having
an upper ramp having a first curved forward surface;
a lower ramp having a second curved forward surface;
the upper ramp and lower ramp intersecting at a forward-protruding curve end located at the lower end of the upper ramp and the upper end of the lower ramp.

12. The product dispensing system of claim 11 wherein said interaction between said obstruction and said products is sufficient to reduce a velocity of said products prior to said products contacting one of said intermediate support deck and said lower support deck.

13. The product dispensing system of claim 11 wherein said obstruction comprises said guide positioned proximate said rear end of said dispenser frame.

14. The product dispensing system of claim 13 wherein said guide comprises an upper end, a middle portion, and a lower end, wherein
said upper ramp is positioned proximate said middle portion; and,
said lower ramp is positioned proximate said lower end.

15. The product dispensing system of claim 14 wherein said upper ramp comprises a downwardly inclined curve surface defined by a curve beginning extending proximate said upper end of said guide and a curve ending extending between proximate said upper support deck and proximate said intermediate support deck.

16. The product dispensing system of claim 14 wherein said lower ramp comprises a downwardly inclined curve surface defined by a curve beginning extending proximate said upper ramp and a curve ending extending proximate said lower support deck.

17. The product dispensing system of claim 11 further comprising a first arcuate stop positioned proximate said first product display area and a second arcuate stop positioned proximate said second product display area.

18. The product dispensing system of claim 11 wherein said upper support deck has a nominal surface area, and wherein said open region comprises at least 50 percent of said nominal surface area.

19. A method for dispensing a plurality of product initially provided in a container, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a dispenser frame having a front end and a rear end, an upper support deck extending at least partially between said front end and said rear end, a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck defining a product display area, the upper support deck having a upper support deck front end and an upper support deck rear end, with at least one open region between the upper support deck front end and upper support deck rear end;
forming an opening in said container; and
positioning said container on said upper support deck such that at least one product of said plurality of products passes through said opening and moves down to said lower support deck; and
positioning an obstruction below said opening, the obstruction comprising a guide having:
an upper ramp having a first curved forward surface;
a lower ramp having a second curved forward surface;
the upper ramp and lower ramp intersecting at a forward-protruding curve end located at the lower end of the upper ramp and the upper end of the lower ramp;

wherein said product interacts with said obstruction as said product moves down to said lower support deck, and said interaction is sufficient to reduce a velocity of said product prior to said product contacting said lower support deck.

Assignees

• Fortuna James
• Loftin Caleb
• Snead Joseph
• Westrock Mwv Llc

Inventors

• Fortuna James
• Loftin Caleb
• Snead Joseph

Classifications

• B65D5/726

  Means for discharging contents through the bottom of containers · CPC title

• B65D5/725

  Incised or pre-scored openings or windows provided in the side wall of containers · CPC title

• A47F1/087 Primary

  the container having approximately horizontal tracks of the serpentine type · CPC title