WO2005110890A1

WO2005110890A1 - Pack dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2005110890A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/001858
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip Retsas; Robert Edward Mulvey; Shaun Harrison
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (Uk) Limited; Field Group Plc
Priority date: 2004-05-13
Filing date: 2005-05-13
Publication date: 2005-11-24

Abstract

The invention concerns a pack dispenser for dispensing individual packs of product to customers. The dispenser has a base portion (100) and a lid portion (200). The base receives a plurality of packs (300) within it. The dispenser is capable of being used in both shelf-mounted arrangements and wall-mounted arrangements. In shelf-mount configuration, the lid (200) is dispensed and side flaps (145, 155) are used to stabilise the packs (300) in a horizontal stack, from which any pack may be removed without causing the others to fall. In wall-mounted mode however, the lid is retained and side flaps (145, 155) not deployed, so that the dispenser works as a gravity fed stack, from which a lowermost pack in the stack may be removed via a dispensing slot (260).

Description

Pack Dispenser

The invention relates to a pack dispenser, for dispensing individual packs of product to customers.

Pack dispensers for dispensing, for instance, packs of cough medication or sweets to customers are typically either shelf or wall mounted (i.e. either substantially horizontally, or substantially vertically) . Such dispensers provide the function of grouping packs together for dispensing and provide product information and related advertising material, they also provide the important function of drawing the eye of potential customers toward the product.

Generally, a wall mounted pack dispenser has different criteria to shelf-mounted versions.

Typically, a wall-mounted dispenser may have a dispensing slot near to a base area, from which the lowermost pack within a gravity fed stack may be accessible. No other packs within the stack will be accessible until they reach the dispensing slot.

With prior wall mounted dispensers a flat or forward sloping bottom surface is often provided adjacent the dispensing slot. Unfortunately, jogging or vibration of the dispenser may cause inadvertent dispensing of product. Also, a customer removing a product from the slot may cause the next product within the stack to be unintentionally dispensed. A shelf-mounted dispenser typically comprises a lidless box from which a customer may pick any one pack from within.

With present shelf-mounted dispensers, it is unfortunately the case that as packs are removed from the horizontal "stack" the stacking arrangement becomes unstable and individual or groups of packs may fall over, leading to the product being poorly displayed and presenting an untidy appearance.

It is a first aim of embodiments of the invention to provide a pack dispenser suitable for use as a wall mounted or as a shelf-mounted version.

It is a further aim to overcome some of the disadvantages associated with existing wall- and/or shelf-mounted dispensers, as outlined above.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a pack dispenser comprising: a base portion and a lid portion, wherein: the base portion is arranged for receiving a plurality of packs for dispensing and comprises a floor and a plurality of upstanding walls depending from it and pack supporting means, said packs being arranged in use as a stack; and the lid portion comprises a ceiling, a plurality of downwardly depending walls and a dispensing slot formed in the ceiling, the slot being sized corresponding to the dimensions of one of the packs to allow only one pack to be removed through it at a time, wherein : in a first, wall-mounted, configuration the lid is arranged to overlie the base and thereby form an enclosed container for the packs, with the dispensing slot being provided at a position corresponding to a lowermost pack position within a vertically arranged pack stack and being arranged such that said lowermost pack in the stack may be withdrawn from the dispenser through the slot; and in a second, shelf-mounted, configuration the lid is removed to provide access to all packs within a substantially horizontally arranged pack stack, such that any one pack may be withdrawn from the dispenser, and the pack supporting means are deployed to maintain individual packs at individual positions within the stack, regardless of removal of other packs from positions within the stack.

We use the term "wall-mounted" herein to denote an upright configuration, achieved by mounting the pack dispenser on any upright surface so that it is maintained in a vertical or substantially vertical manner. Most commonly this will be a wall .

We use the term "shelf-mounted" herein to denote a horizontal or substantially horizontal configuration, achieved by mounting or resting the pack dispenser on any generally horizontal surface, for example a shelf, counter or table.

The dispensers of the present invention may be considered a receptacle for receiving retail items, being primarily, although not exclusively, adapted for storing and displaying blister pack-type pre-packaged consumable goods such as chewing gum, cough and throat lozenges and the like . Preferably, the pack -supporting means are arranged such that in the first configuration they do not contact with individual packs and the vertically arranged stack is free to move if a pack is withdrawn through the dispensing slot.

The pack supporting means may comprise side flaps disposed at uppermost parts of opposed upstanding walls of the base, said flaps being foldable so that: in the first configuration said flaps are not in contact with the packs, whilst in the second configuration they bear upon individual packs and maintain their relative positions within the stack.

Each flap preferably comprises an undulating edge, wherein, in the second configuration, peak points of the. undulations act as pack separators to engage with corresponding cut-away portions, slots or apertures formed in side portions of individual packs to maintain them in position.

Preferably, each flap is arranged in the second configuration to incline downwardly into the interior of the base portion.

Preferably, the base portion comprises a tongue portion which, in the second configuration may be deployed to form an upstand visible to consumers and upon which product information is displayable. Preferably the tongue portion is an extension of an upstanding wall forming one end wall (the rear wall) of the base portion. Preferably the tongue portion may be folded against that rear end wall in the second configuration. Preferably the tongue portion and the rear wall may be positively engaged together, in the second configuration: as by, for example, the tongue portion being located in a slot formed in the rear wall. In the first configuration the tongue portion preferably overlies the packs of the invention within the base portion.

In a preferred embodiment the pack dispenser further comprises means for hanging the dispenser in a vertical or substantially vertical manner.

For example, an aperture may be provided in the floor of the base portion as a means for hanging the dispenser in said vertical or substantially vertical manner (i.e. the first wall-mounted configuration) .

The aperture in the floor of the base portion is preferably adapted for receiving external support means, for mounting or suspending the dispenser on the external support means through the aperture.

Hence, the dispenser can then be hung in a wall-mounted configuration from a display bracket or hook, for example, in a manner similar to packets of sweets or the like, as an alternative to being displayed horizontally on a counter or the like, in a shelf-mounted configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two apertures are provided in the rear wall of the base portion. The apertures in the rear wall are preferably arranged for receiving suspension means in a looped manner for suspending the dispenser in a vertical or substantially vertical manner. Hence, a first end of a suitable suspension means, such as a length of wire or cord, can be passed into the dispenser through a first aperture and back out through a second aperture, and looped or otherwise connected to an external support means or a second end or portion of the suspension means. The dispenser then can be easily suspended, as an alternative to being displayed horizontally on a counter or the like.

Apertures may be provided in both the floor of the base portion and the rear wall of the base portion and/or lid portion, for hanging the dispenser in a vertical or substantially vertical manner. In embodiments in which the rear wall of the lid portion is of a size that it covers the rear wall of the base portion, corresponding apertures are provided in the lid portion.

Preferably, the apertures in the floor of the base portion member and rear wall of the base portion and/or lid portion are arranged as co-operatively positioned pairs, each pair comprising an aperture in the rear wall which is located adjacent an aperture in the floor of the base portion, and each pair being adapted for receiving suspension means in a looped manner.

For example, the dispenser can be suspended, using a plurality of suspension means, with each suspension means being looped through a specific pair.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a pack dispenser according to the first aspect characterised in that in the first, wall-mounted configuration, the pack delivery position features a rearwardly inclined plane sloping away from the dispensing slot to cause said lowermost pack to be inclined so as to be retained within the stack.

Preferably, the rearwardly inclined plane comprises a shelf section which is arranged to align an exposed edge region of the lowermost pack with the dispensing slot.

The slot preferably includes an enlarged central portion forming a finger grip cut-out section.

Preferably the pack dispenser is constructed from a sheet material formed with folds. The sheet material may be a plastics sheet material, paperboard, cardboard or card. Preferably it is of card, by which we mean herein single sheet card.

Preferably, when present, said inclined plane is constructed from the sheet material and, preferably, is formed by folding said sheet material.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the invention may be put into effect, a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a pack dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the pack dispenser being in a wall-mountable condition;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a base portion of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2 ;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the base portion of the dispenser;

Figure 5 is an end view of the base portion;

Figure 6 is a side plan view of the base portion showing side flaps in an undeployed configuration; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the base portion and side flaps in a deployed configura ion, retaining product packs .

The pack dispenser comprises a base portion 100 and a lid portion 200.

Referring to Figure 1, the pack dispenser is shown in a wall-mounted (i.e. substantially vertical) configuration. In this configuration product packs 300 are vertically stacked within the dispenser and individually dispensed by means of a gravity fed arrangement through a dispensing slot 260 positioned at a lowermost stack layer level.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the dispenser in the wall-mounted configuration.

From this figure, and figure 3, it can be seen that the base portion 100 comprises a floor 110, and four upstanding walls 120-150, comprising first and second end walls 120,130 and opposed side walls 140, 150. The two opposed sidewalls 140, 150 include flap extensions 145,155, the purpose of which will be explained later, and also include flap retaining slits 142, 152.

The lid portion 200 comprises a ceiling 210 and four downwardly depending walls 220-250 (of which only two can be seen in the figure) comprising first and second end walls 220, 230 and opposed side walls 240, 250. The opposed side walls 240, 250 include flaps 242, 252 for cooperation with the flap retaining slits 142, 152 of the base portion 100. The dispensing slot 260 is formed in the ceiling 210 and extends to upper parts of the opposed side walls 240, 250 and further features a finger grip cut-out section 265 to ease grasping and removal of product packs 300 by customers.

Referring to Figure 3, the base portion 100 is shown in more detail. The base is formed from a folded card construction (although other constructions might suitably alternatively be employed) and in addition to the elements already described further includes a rearwards inclined bottom shelf section 160 which is arranged, in use, to have a front edge thereof aligned adjacent a bottom edge of the dispensing slot 260. The shelf section 160 defines the position of a rearwardly inclined plane whose position is shown in the figure by a broken line ( ) . The shelf section 160 is dimensioned to position a lowermost pack 300 within a vertical stack of packs so that it is accessible through the dispensing slot 260 and is rearwardly inclined so that when the dispenser is used in a wall-mounted configuration the pack at the dispensing position cannot fall out of the slot 260 without positive action by the customer. In other words, the shelf 160 provides a bias to the lowermost product pack to retain the pack at the bottom of the stack unless pulled from that position by a customer.

Flap extensions 145, 155 form the uppermost part of opposed side walls 140, 150 of the base portion 100. In the Figure 3 view, it can be seen that these flap extensions are provided in their original state as being in line with the side wall 140, 150 of which they form a part - in other words, in an unfolded configuration. The flap extensions 145, 155 have an undulating edge characterised by peaks P and troughs T. In the unfolded configuration as shown in Figure 3, the peaks P extend to be approximately level with the high point of wall 120. Referring to Figure 6, the flap extensions can be seen in folded configuration. Here, the extensions 145, 155 are folded inwardly and peak portions P of the extensions 145, 155 engage with cutaway portions of individual product items 300. This engagement with the cutaway portions, enables the individual product items to be held securely at whatever position within the pack dispenser they have been placed. These flap extensions are folded downwardly and inwardly when the pack dispenser is to be used in a shelf mounted configuration, so that users can pick out any product item 300 from the horizontally arranged spec of items within the product dispenser and removal of that item will not cause the other items within the stack to topple or change position. In contrast, when the flaps are in their unfolded condition, and the pack dispenser is used in a wall mounted configuration, product items within the stack will naturally move to a lower position when an item at the bottom of the stack is withdrawn. Figure 4 shows the base portion 100 from below and in particular shows the folded construction of the base and apertures 115, 116, 117 formed in the floor 110. One or more of these apertures may be used to hang the pack dispenser when in the wall-mounted configuration.

Referring back now to Figure 3, it may be observed that the wall 120 of the base portion 100, has an extension forming a tongue 125 which in Figure 3 is shown as being loose. This tongue 125 provides product advertising material which is designed to be visible only when the pack dispenser is used in a shelf mounted configuration. In such a configuration, the loose tongue shown in Figure 3 is folded back on itself to form an upstand as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The tongue is folded back to be positioned between the product stack and the wall 120 of which it forms an extension. An end region of the tongue 125, may suitably engage with a cut out slit 128, shown in Figure 5.

When the pack dispenser is used in the wall mounted configuration, the tongue 125 is simply allowed to overlie an uppermost edge of product items 300, stacked within the pack dispenser and in this way does not interfere with movement of product items within the gravity fed stack.

Having described the various elements of the pack dispenser, use of a dispenser in both wall-mounted and shelf-mounted configurations will now be described.

Typically the pack dispensers are supplied by manufacturer to a seller with lids attached to bases and with the dispensing slot 250 blocked by a removable cardboard section (not shown) . Retention of the lid on the base is assured by pre-engaging the flaps 242, 252 with their corresponding flap retaining slits 142, 152 - done during final stages of manufacturing assembly. The removable section comprises a card section having the same dimensions as the slot 260 and joined to the lid portion by an area of perforation or weakness. This perforated area is such that when deploying the dispenser for use in a wall-mounted configuration, the removable section may be ripped off by the retailer and the dispenser hung on a wall using one or more of the apertures shown in Figures 4 and 5. Apertures 221 and 222 are also provided in the rear wall 220 of the lid portion 200 to be in alignment with the apertures 121 and 122 in the rear wall 120 of the base portion 100.

Suspension means in the form of a strap may be provided for hanging the dispenser in vertical manner shown.

For example, one end of the strap could be passed into the dispenser through a first pair of aligned apertures 221, 121 in the lid portion 200 and the base portion 100 and back out through the second pair of apertures 222, 122. The strap could then be looped or otherwise connected to an external support means, such as a hook or bracket or the like.

Alternatively such a strap or other suspension means could be looped in a similar manner through the apertures 116,117 in the floor 110 of the base portion 100, either solely through the apertures 116, 117, or in addition to the apertures 121, 122, 221, 222. Similarly, more than one strap or the like could be used in any suitable combination through said apertures.

As an alternative to such suspension means, the dispenser could also be hung from a display bracket or hook, via the elongate aperture 115 in the floor 110 of the base portion 100. This aperture is of a conventional shape and configuration for receiving a known bracket or the like.

In the above described wall-mounted configuration product is immediately available to the consumer at the shop via the (now-exposed) dispensing slot 260. The lowermost product is automatically presented to the customer through gravity feeding and remains in that position by virtue of the rearwardly sloping shelf 160. This shelf prevents accidental dispensing of packs, by biasing the lowermost pack to stay within the dispenser unless withdrawn from the slot by a deliberate action of the customer.

If the retailer wishes to use the dispenser in a shelf- mounted mode, this is easily accomplished by removing the lid portion 200. Removal involves disengaging the flaps 242, 252 from their corresponding flap retaining slits 142, 152 and then lifting the lid 200 from the base 100.

Once the lid has been removed, the product filled base is exposed and the tongue portion 125 overlies the top of the product. This tongue 125 can be retrieved by the retailer and folded back on itself, with an end region thereof engaged with tongue retaining cut-out slit 128 to form the upstand shown in Figures 6 and 7. The upstand includes product information such as name, logo, advertising etc. Following removal of the lid 200, flap extensions 145, 155 which are supplied unfolded (i.e. in line with the opposed side walls 140,150 of which they form a part) are bent inwardly such that the peak portions P engage with parts of the product packs 300 within the dispenser and retain them in position as shown in Figure 7. In this way, any individual product pack from the horizontal stack may be picked out by a customer without disturbing other packs in the stack.

It will be realised by the skilled man that a very advantageous pack dispenser has been described which can be used in both wall and shelf mounted arrangements, and overcomes some of the aforementioned disadvantages of prior wall- and shelf-mounted dispensers. Modifications may be made to the dispenser without departing from the scope of the present invention, which scope is limited only by the appended claims .

Claims

1. A pack dispenser comprising:

a base portion and a lid portion, wherein: the base portion is arranged for receiving a plurality of packs for dispensing and comprises a floor, a plurality of upstanding walls depending from it and pack supporting means, said packs being arranged in use as a stack; and the lid portion comprises a ceiling, a plurality of downwardly depending walls and a dispensing slot formed in the ceiling, the slot being sized corresponding to the dimensions of one of the packs to allow only one pack to be removed through it at a time, wherein: in a first, wall-mounted, configuration the lid is arranged to overlie the base and thereby form an enclosed container for the packs, with the dispensing slot being provided at a position corresponding to a lowermost pack position within a vertically arranged pack stack and being arranged such that said lowermost pack in the stack may be withdrawn from the dispenser through the slot; and

in a second, shelf-mounted, configuration the lid is removed to provide access to all packs within a substantially horizontally arranged pack stack, such that any one pack may be withdrawn from the dispenser, and the pack supporting means are deployed to maintain individual packs at individual positions within the stack, regardless of removal of other packs from positions within the stack.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pack supporting means are arranged such that in the first configuration they do not contact with individual packs and the vertically arranged stack is free to drop if a pack is withdrawn through the dispensing slot.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pack supporting means comprise side flaps disposed at uppermost parts of opposed upstanding walls of the base, said flaps being foldable so that : in the first configuration said flaps are not in contact with the packs, whilst in the second configuration they bear upon individual packs and maintain their relative positions within the stack.

4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein in the second configuration said flaps are folded inwardly and downwardly.

5. The dispenser of claim 3 or 4, wherein each flap comprises an undulating edge, wherein, in the second configuration, peak points of the undulations act as pack separators to engage with corresponding cut-away portions, slots or apertures formed in side portions of individual packs to maintain them in position.

6. The dispenser of any of preceding claim in combination with a plurality of packs, said packs having an external profile arranged to co-operate with the pack supporting means.

7. The dispenser of any preceding claim, wherein the base portion comprises a tongue portion which, in the second configuration may be deployed to form an upstand visible to consumers and upon which product information is displayable.

8. The dispenser of any preceding claim which further comprises means for hanging the dispenser in a vertical or substantially vertical manner.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein the means for hanging the dispenser in a vertical or substantially vertical manner comprise an aperture in the floor of the base portion of the dispenser

10. The dispenser of claim 8 or 9 wherein the means for hanging the dispenser in a vertical or substantially vertical manner comprise a pair of apertures in the rear wall of the base portion of the dispenser.

11. The dispenser of any preceding claim in which when in the first, wall-mounted configuration, the pack delivery position features a rearwardly inclined plane sloping away from the dispensing slot to cause said lowermost pack to be inclined so as to be retained within the stack.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the rearwardly inclined plane comprises a shelf section which is arranged, in use, to align an exposed edge region of the lowermost pack with the dispensing slot.

13. A precursor for a pack dispenser according to any preceding claim.

14. A pack dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .