Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a dispenser assembly comprising a bin with a spring actuated shuttle for engaging with a plurality of individual dispensable units contained within a refill package. The disclosed dispenser assembly provides easy dispensing of individual dispensable units from a bin. The individual dispensable units are contained within a refill package for easy reloading. In one embodiment, a tool is used to remove an individual dispensable unit and therefore the dispensing is achieved without touching the individual dispensable unit with the user&#39;s hands.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES 
       [0001]    The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/836,749 filed on Jun. 19, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a dispenser assembly comprising a bin and a refill package. In particular, the dispenser assembly comprises a bin with a spring actuated shuttle for engaging with a plurality of individual dispensable units contained within a refill package. 
         [0003]    Dispensing containers are used to hold a variety of items such as, for example, food, cans, and cleaning items. In some situations a user may not want to touch the items with their hand. For example, a user may be holding a cleaning tool and wants the item to connect with the tool directly instead of grabbing the item with a hand to apply to the cleaning tool. Commonly, dispensers simply hold items and do not position the items to individually align for dispensing. Such dispensers are not well suited for hands-free dispensing of the items onto a tool. Further, once the items are used, refilling the dispenser can be difficult where ordered, individually aligned dispensing is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The disclosed dispenser assembly provides easy dispensing of individual dispensable units from a bin. The individual dispensable units are contained within a refill package for easy reloading into the bin. In one embodiment, a tool is used to remove an individual dispensable unit and therefore the dispensing is achieved without touching the individual dispensable unit with the user&#39;s hands. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly comprises a bin and a refill package. The bin comprises a shuttle, a spring connected with the shuttle, and a bin dispensing opening. The refill packages comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall for containing a plurality of dispensable units, a removable sidewall opening, a removable refill dispensing opening, wherein removal of the sidewall opening form a continuous channel for slidably receiving the shuttle. The refill package is contained within the bin. The spring actuates the shuttle to position one of the plurality of dispensable units adjacent the refill dispensing opening and bin dispensing opening. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the refill package comprises a top wall, bottom wall, and sidewall for containing a plurality of dispensable units, a removable bottom wall opening, a removable sidewall opening, a removable refill dispensing opening. Removal of the removable bottom wall opening and removable sidewall opening form a continuous channel. Removal of the removable refill dispensing opening allow for dispensing of each dispensable unit. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, a method of dispensing a dispensable unit comprises enclosing a plurality of dispensable units within a refill package, wherein the refill package comprises a removable bottom wall opening, a removable sidewall opening, and a removable refill dispensing opening, removing the removable bottom wall opening, the removable sidewall opening, and the removable refill dispensing opening to form a bottom wall opening, sidewall opening, and refill dispensing opening, inserting the refill package into a bin, wherein the bin comprises a spring connected with a shuttle such that the shuttle enters the bottom wall opening to engage with a dispensable unit, actuating the plurality of dispensable units adjacent the refill dispensing opening and bin dispensing opening with the spring and shuttle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispenser assembly; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing the front and top, of one embodiment of a refill package for use with the dispenser assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the refill package of  FIG. 2 , showing the rear and bottom; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the refill package of  FIG. 2-3  engaged with a shuttle for use within the dispenser assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tool for use with the dispenser assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispensable unit contained within the dispenser assembly. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of this invention. The figures may not be drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispenser assembly  100 . The dispenser assembly  100  comprises a bin  200  and a refill package  300 . The refill package  300  contains a plurality of dispensable units  500 . During use, the refill package  300  is inserted into the bin  200 . 
         [0017]    The bin  200  holds the refill package  300  and includes a bin dispensing opening  210  for removing a dispensable unit  500  from the bin  200 . Within the bin  200  is a shuttle  220  and spring  224  for actuating individual dispensable units  500  to the bin dispensing opening  210 . The location and arrangement of the shuttle  220 , spring  224 , and shuttle track  222  to be in any location within the bin  200  to achieve the purpose of advancing the dispensable units  500 . In one embodiment, the bin  200  includes a cover  230  for holding the refill package  300  within the bin  200 . In one embodiment, the bin  200  is constructed from a durable material, such as, for examples, plastic or metal. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing the front and top, of one embodiment of a refill package  300 , while  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the refill package of  FIG. 2 , showing the rear and bottom. The refill package  300  includes a top  310 , bottom  312  and side walls  314  to hold a plurality of the dispensable units  500 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  show that at the bottom  312  is a removable bottom opening  320 , at the sidewall  314  is a removable sidewall opening  322  and a removable refill dispensing opening  324 , and at the top  310  is a removable top opening  326 . The removable bottom opening  320  and removable top opening  326  are optional. Areas of weakness  330  in the refill package form the removable bottom opening  320 , removable sidewall opening  322 , removable refill dispensing opening  324 , and removable top opening  326  so that each of these openings can be easily separated from the refill package. In one embodiment, the area of weakness  330  is a perforation line. In one embodiment, the removable bottom opening  320 , removable sidewall opening  322 , removable refill dispensing opening  324 , and removable top opening  326  are constructed from a thinner or less durable material, like foil or thin film, than the remainder of the refill package  300 . 
         [0019]    While in place, the removable bottom opening  320 , removable sidewall opening  322 , removable refill dispensing opening  324 , and removable top opening  326  along with the top  310 , bottom  312  and sidewalls  314  form a complete container for holding the dispensable units  500 . For example, the refill package  300  can be sold individually and purchased for placement into the bin  200 . In one embodiment, the refill package  300  is constructed from a less durable, disposable material, such as, for example, paper or plastic. 
         [0020]    Prior to inserting the refill package  300  into the bin  200  for use, the removable bottom opening  320 , removable sidewall opening  322 , and removable refill dispensing opening  324  are removed to form a bottom opening  321 , sidewall opening  323 , and refill dispensing opening  325 . In the embodiment where a removable top opening  326  is included is can be removed to form a top opening  327 . The bottom opening  321  continuously connects with the sidewall opening  323  to form a channel  340  for slidably receiving the shuttle  220 , see  FIGS. 3 and 5 . The refill dispensing opening  325  is for removing a dispensable unit  500  from the refill package  300 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the refill package  300  of  FIGS. 2-3  engaged with a shuttle  220  for use within the dispenser assembly  100 . In  FIG. 4 , the bin  200  has been removed to more clearly show the interaction of the shuttle  220  with the refill package  300  and contained dispensable units  500 . In this embodiment, the mechanism for actuating the dispensable units  500  comprises the shuttle  220 , shuttle track  222 , and spring  224 . It is understood that the shuttle track  222 , shuttle  220 , and spring  224  are connected with the bin  330 . The shuttle track  222  provides a track for the shuttle  220  to slide along from a bottom to the top of the bin  200 . The spring  224  enables the slidable movement. In this embodiment, the spring  224  is a constant force spring. In another embodiment, a shuttle  220  and compression spring could be provided for the needed force. 
         [0022]    As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the bottom opening  321  of the refill package  300  is slightly larger than the shuttle  220  so that the shuttle  220  can fit within the refill package  300  and engage with the lowermost dispensable unit  500 . The channel  340  formed by the continuous connection between the bottom opening  321  and sidewall opening  323  allows for the shuttle  220  to slidably move along the refill package  300 , raising the plurality of dispensable units  500  while a dispensable unit  500  is removed from the refill package  300  and bin  500 . In one embodiment, such as shown in  FIG. 4 , the removable top opening  326  connects with the removable sidewall opening  322 , removable refill dispensing opening  324 , and removable bottom opening  320 . This allows for a continuous section of material to be removed to form the bottom opening  321 , sidewall opening  323 , top opening  327  and refill dispensing opening  325 . It is understood that the top opening  327  and bottom opening  325  are not necessary and an alternative design could include the refill dispensing opening  325  on the same surface as the side wall opening  323 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser assembly  100  of  FIG. 1 . The refill package  300  with the bottom opening  321 , sidewall opening  323 , and refill dispensing opening  325  and contained dispensable units  500  are inserted into the bin  200 . In one embodiment, the bin  200  includes a cover  230  for securely containing the refill package  300  in the bin  200 . The shuttle  220  engages into the bottom opening  320  and with the lowermost dispensable unit  500 . The shuttle  220  slides down the shuttle track  222  from the force applied by the user to insert the refill package  300  into the bin  200  and held in place by the cover  230 . 
         [0024]    During use, a dispensable unit  500  dispenses from the refill dispensing opening  325  and out the bin dispensing opening  210 . The spring  224  will actuate the shuttle  220  upward along the shuttle track and along the channel  340  raising the lowermost dispensable unit  500  so that another dispensable unit  500  can be dispensed from the refill dispensing opening  325  and out the bin dispensing opening  210 . When the dispensable units  500  have all been dispensed, the refill package can be removed and either refilled or discarded. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tool  400  that may optionally be used with the dispenser assembly  100 . The tool  400  comprises a handle  410  and opposite from the handle  410  is a working end  420  that includes a first engagement  425  for connecting with a dispensable unit  500 . The tool  400  shown in this embodiment is generally elongated and can be used for cleaning a toilet. It is understood that any number of sizes, shapes, and configurations of tools  400  and first engagement  424  mechanisms may be used to interact with the dispensable unit  500  contained within the dispenser assembly  100 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispensable unit  500  contained within the dispenser assembly  100 . In this embodiment, the dispensable unit  500  is used for cleaning and it a lofty, low-density nonwoven web of fibers. It is understood that any kind of dispensable unit  500  may be used in the dispenser assembly  100 , such as, but not limited to, food, cans, cleaning chemicals/detergents or cleaning articles. Further, cleaning articles can be made from a variety of substrates which comprise woven, knitted, nonwoven fabrics, sponge or foam, or a combination of one or more substrates. The cleaning article may comprise cleaning detergents, chemicals, scouring or abrasive products. When a tool  400  is used to remove the dispensable unit  500  from the dispenser assembly  100 , the dispensable unit  500  typically includes a second engagement  5250  for connecting with the first engagement  425  of the tool  400 . 
         [0027]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the second engagement  525  is a slot into the body of the dispensable unit  500 . The first engagement  425  is a projecting section with barbs to prevent the first engagement  425  from inadvertently slipping out of the slot. It is understood that a variety of other mechanical or adhesive attachments could be used to connect the tool  400  with the dispensable unit  500 . 
         [0028]    Although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can be devised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised in accordance with these principles by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.