Method and apparatus for dispensing rollable articles

Method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing rollable articles from a package, container or the like. The apparatus includes a retainer for placement over an opening in a package to prevent rollable articles contained in the package from rolling en masse out of the package. The retainer also defines a port for controllably dispensing rollable articles from the package. In addition, the apparatus includes a holder for rollingly receiving an article controllably dispensed from the package through the port. The holder is capable of holding the dispensed articles to enable an individual to remove an article from the holder by grasping it. In addition, an attachment means is provided which cooperates with the retainer for securing the retainer to the package over the package's opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the dispensing of rollable 
articles from the packages in which they are stored. More particularly, 
this invention relates to a dispenser which may be slid over such a 
package containing a plurality of containers to dispense individual 
articles directly from the package. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The art is replete with dispensing structures and devices for dispensing 
goods and beverages in canned containers. Many of these structures and 
devices are particularly adapted to dispense the goods or beverage 
containers one-at-a-time such that when one container is removed from the 
dispensing apparatus by an individual, another container is automatically 
dispensed within the apparatus for removal therefrom. Most of these 
devices are particularly suited not only to dispense the canned goods or 
beverages, but also to display them for the promotion of sales. As such, 
they are primarily used in public places such as convenience stores, 
commercial building lunch rooms, self-service retail stores, subway 
platforms, etc. A few of such devices are suited for the personal 
dispensing of containers, specifically of beverage containers, as will be 
described herein. In almost all of these devices the individual goods or 
beverages containers must first be manually loaded into the devices one-by 
one by hand. Only after the individual containers have been hand loaded 
into the dispensing structure will the one-at-a-time dispensing of the 
containers begin. Accordingly, the user is actually forced to go through a 
procedure wherein the goods or beverage containers are first manually 
removed from the package in which a plurality of the containers are stored 
and sold, and then manually inserted into the apparatus from which the 
containers are to be individually dispensed. Having to perform both 
procedures is not only time consuming but is also inconvenient. 
Furthermore, in many of these devices loading the goods containers into 
the apparatus poses the risk of damaging the containers, or requires 
inconvenient and potentially injurious action on the part of the 
individual performing the loading to prevent such damage. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,999,021 to Marsh discloses an ephemeral multi-channel 
display and dispensing apparatus primarily to be used in merchandising 
several types of contained products simultaneously. The apparatus is 
folded and assembled from a number of blanks of packaging material, such 
as corrugated cardboard. Marsh discusses the problem of having to single 
load individual containers into the apparatus, and solves the problem by 
utilizing a specialized loading cartridge containing a plurality of 
beverage containers which can be inserted into an individual dispensing 
channel of the apparatus. While Marsh's device is suited for its intended 
purpose, it requires individual containers to be stored in a non-standard 
packaging cartridge specifically designed and adapted for use with the 
devices. If the specialized cartridge is not used, the individual 
containers, once again, have to be manually loaded one-a-time into each 
dispensing channel in an inconvenient manner. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,724 to Kendall also discloses a device for dispensing 
and displaying one or more individual containers in self-service stores. 
The Kendall device focuses primarily on dispensing the containers in a 
longitudinal orientation wherein the containers are stacked end to end 
rather than side by side in order to minimize potential injury to an 
individual removing a dispensed individual container from the device. 
While the Kendall devices seems well suited to its particular objectives, 
it also requires the containers to be dispensed by the device to be first 
individually manually loaded therein. It would also seem that the risk of 
damaging the individual containers during loading is reduced but not 
eliminated, in the Kendall device, since the containers are dropped into 
the device from the top of a track and slide down the track into the 
dispensing portion of the device. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,647 to Spurrier is interesting in that the device is 
suited for personal use rather than public use. The device disclosed in 
Spurrier is a cooler chest which resembles a conventional portable cooler 
but contains additional structure including a can dispenser assembly so 
that individual containers loaded into a container body within the cooler 
chest may be individually dispensed from a side of the chest through the 
can dispenser assembly. Thus, the lid of the cooler may remain closed 
during dispensing to conserve the cool air within the cooler. While well 
suited for its particular purpose, the Spurrier device is of limited 
utility to an individual user in that the containers must be stored inside 
the cooler chest for the device to be used. Thus, the device cannot be 
used where the bulky chest will not conveniently fit, such as in a 
refrigerator. Again, the individual containers must be first be 
individually loaded from the packaging within which they are sold into the 
container body inside the cooler chest. 
Other patents found in a search for subject matter related to the present 
invention are as follows: 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,104 to De Domenico, et al., 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,694,897 to Washburn, 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,604 to Davies, 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,265,246 to Messenger, 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,419 to Zinkgraf, et al. 
In view of the above, it is apparent that while some devices have been 
developed to dispense individual containers for single container 
dispensing, a need exists for a device which is easy to manufacture and 
convenient to use which does not require tedious loading of the 
containers, particularly beverage containers, from the package within 
which they are sold into the apparatus. Such a device, if capable of 
cooperating with the standardized packaging within which a plurality of 
individual containers are almost universally stored and sold, would enable 
one to beneficially utilize the pre-loading of the containers into the 
standardized packaging. Such a device would thus alleviate the need to 
individually remove the containers from their packages and re-load them 
into the dispensing device. Such a device would require less material in 
its construction because it would not require a storage area for the 
containers within the device itself. Such a system would also beneficially 
provide for single container dispensing without worry of injury to the 
hand of the person removing the individual container from the dispenser or 
damage to the individual containers during loading of the containers into 
the device. Such a device would enable private individuals, particularly, 
to have a convenient means to individually dispense goods or beverage 
containers directly from the package in which they were sold to the 
individual. As such, the device would further serve as an excellent 
promotional item for beverage manufacturers and distributors to give or 
sell to both retail and wholesale customers to use in cooperation with the 
standardized 12-pack and 24-pack packaging used by the manufactures within 
which the individual containers are sold and stored. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention addresses the aforementioned concerns by providing 
method and apparatus for controllably dispensing rollable articles such as 
cylindrically shaped beverage containers, golf balls, etc. from a 
container, package or the like. 
In its broadest sense, the apparatus of the invention includes a retainer 
or retainer means for placement over an opening in a package to prevent 
rollable articles contained in the package from rolling en masse out of 
the package. The retainer also defines a port for controllably dispensing 
rollable articles from the package. The apparatus also includes an article 
holder or holding means cooperating with the retainer for rollingly 
receiving an article(s) dispensed from the package through the retainer's 
port. The holder also holds the dispensed article(s), i.e. after rollingly 
receiving it, to enable an individual to remove an article from the holder 
by grasping it. Finally, the apparatus includes attachment means 
cooperating with the retainer for securing the retainer to the package 
over its opening. 
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus controllably dispenses generally 
cylindrically-shaped containers, preferably beverage containers, from a 
widely-used generally rectangularly-shaped package having a top, a bottom, 
opposed first and second sides, and left and right ends. The package is of 
the type for containing a plurality of the containers stored side by side 
in the package with the bottoms of the containers located against one side 
of the package and the tops, or lids, of the containers located against 
the opposed other side of the package. The package is of a standard 
configuration commonly sold on the retail and wholesale markets in which 
twelve (12-pack) or twenty-four (case) individual containers, particularly 
beverage containers, are contained within. The package is further of the 
type wherein at least one end of the package is capable of being at least 
partially opened so that the containers can be removed from, or exit, the 
package. The end is at least partially opened by opening a pair of side 
extending end flaps which are capable of being folded back against the 
sides of the package from which they extend. The flaps partially enclose 
the end when folded over the end. 
The dispenser preferably includes three elements. 1. A retainer or retainer 
means for placement over an opened end of the package and portions of the 
opposed sides of the package adjacent the open end. Container dispensing 
holding means are also included which cooperate with the retainer means to 
rollingly receive a container dispensed from the received open end of the 
package. The dispensing holding means holds the dispensed container in the 
holder to enable an individual to remove the container from the dispensing 
holding means by grasping the container with a hand. Attachment means are 
also provided which cooperate with the retainer means to secure the 
retainer means to the package so that it remains secured when at least one 
of the cylindrically-shaped containers stored in the package is dispensed 
into the dispensing holding means. In this manner, the beverage containers 
are prevented from rolling en masse out of the received end of the 
package. 
In a preferred embodiment, the retainer means includes a top, a front and 
two opposed sides which partially enclose the top and opposing sides of 
the package adjacent to the received open end of the package. When the end 
is so received, the associated side end flaps of the package are folded 
back by the retainer means towards the side from which they extend. The 
front and opposed sides of the retainer means also define an port which is 
preferably sized and configured to pass one container out of the package 
at a time into the beverage container dispensing holder. 
The dispensing holder generally includes a pair of forward extensions, each 
extending forwardly from one of the sides of the retaining means, a 
retaining strip interconnecting the two forward extensions along their 
front portions, and a retaining bottom interconnecting the two forward 
extensions along their bottom portions. When an individual container 
enters the dispensing holder, it is vertically supported by the retaining 
bottom and thereby prevent from falling downwardly. The front retaining 
strip prevents the beverage container from rolling horizontally out of and 
away from the dispensing holder. 
In accordance with an important aspect of this invention, the attachment 
means include a plurality of flap engaging means extending from the inner 
surfaces of the sides of the retaining means such that they are capable of 
engaging the associated side of the end flaps of the package when the 
flaps are received and held folded back towards the side from which they 
extend by the retainer means. The flap engaging means are selectively 
located on the sides of the retainer means to engage the free end of each 
of the side end flaps. In this manner, the side end flaps themselves are 
beneficially utilized to retain the apparatus to the package. Preferably, 
at least two flap engaging means are provided on each of the retainer 
means' sides to securely attach the apparatus to the package. 
Cut out portions, or windows, may also be provided in the front of the 
retainer means to allow an individual to view the interior of the package 
and determine generally the number of containers remaining in the package, 
and to realize a cost and weight savings in the manufacture of the device. 
The present invention also provides a method which enables an individual to 
dispense generally uniformly sized and rollable articles from a container, 
package or the like. The method comprises the steps of providing a package 
containing uniformly sized and rollable articles wherein the package has 
an opening through which the articles may pass. In addition, the method 
includes the step of providing an apparatus for controllably dispensing 
rollable articles from the package. The apparatus includes a retainer 
means, holding means and attachment means as previously described. The 
method further includes placing the retainer means of the apparatus over 
the package's opening and then securing the apparatus to the package with 
its attachment means. Finally, the package with said apparatus secured 
thereto is placed on a generally horizontal surface so that an article in 
the package is capable of rolling out through the retainer's port into the 
holding means of the apparatus. 
In a preferred embodiment the method further includes opening the package 
containing the uniformly sized rollable articles. The container is 
preferably opened by unfolding a pair of side extending end flaps back 
against the sides from which the end flaps extend. The retainer means of 
the apparatus is placed over the opened end of the package and secured to 
the opened end flaps. 
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in 
the art of container dispensing devices, that the present invention 
provides a simple and efficient dispenser which can be used with 
standardized container packaging, particularly 12-pack and case packaging, 
to individually dispense the containers directly from the packaging. It 
will also be appreciated that because the apparatus utilizes the packaging 
itself, to house the containers, the apparatus may be constructed from a 
minimal amount of material. It will also be appreciated that the apparatus 
alleviates the need to remove the individual containers from their 
packaging and re-load them into the apparatus. It will further be 
appreciated that the apparatus dispenses the individual containers with 
little or no harm to the containers or to the individual user of the 
apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 illustrates a beverage container dispensing apparatus, or dispenser 
10 of the present invention for dispensing beverage containers 12 from a 
generally rectangularly-shaped package 14. The beverage containers 12 have 
a lid or top portion 16, a bottom portion 18, and a side portion 20 which 
is generally cylindrically-shaped and joins the lid 16 and bottom 18 
portions of the container 12. Modern containers 12 are typically formed 
from lightweight aluminum and typically come in twelve ounce and sixteen 
ounce sizes. 
The generally rectangularly-shaped package 14 contains a plurality of the 
containers 12 and is typically formed of cardboard material. The package 
14 includes a first side 22 and an opposed second side 24, a top 26, a 
bottom 28, and opposed left 30 and right 32 ends. The beverage containers 
12 are generally sold and stored side by side within the package 14 with 
the container's bottom portions 18 abutting the first side 22 of the 
package and the container's lid portion 16 abutting the second side 24 of 
the package. Typically, a dozen (12-pack) or two dozen (case) beverage 
containers 12 are contained within the package 14. As will be appreciated, 
the containers 12 are prevented from rolling out of the package 14 by the 
top 26, bottom 28, and left 30 and right 32 ends of the package. 
At least one of the ends 30, 32 are typically closed by a pair of side 
extending flaps 34, 36 and a top flap 38 (and bottom flap not shown but 
identical to top flap 38) which extend from the corresponding portions of 
the container 14, i.e. the top flap 38 extends from the top 26 of the 
package, the side flap 34 extends from the first side 22 of the package, 
etc. For this specification, end 30 is illustrated as the end of the 
package 14 received by dispenser 10. The flaps 34-38, as shown in the 
drawings, when folded overlap each other and partially close end 30 of the 
package 14. End 30 is fully closed when the bottom flap (not shown) 
extending from the bottom 28 of the package 14 is folded to overlap the 
other flaps 34-38. To open end 30, flaps 34-40 are folded back towards and 
against their respective portions of the package from which they extend. 
When package 14 is opened at end 30, the beverage containers 12 are free 
to roll out of the package through end 30. For the purposes of clarity, in 
FIGS. 1-3, the beverage containers 12 and the generally rectangular-shaped 
package 14 are shown in dotted line. In FIG. 1, the package 14 is shown 
separated from beverage container dispensing apparatus 10. 
Once package 14 is opened at end 30 (or 32) by opening flaps 34-40 and 
folding the flaps back against the sides from which they extend, the 
package is ready to be received by the beverage container dispensing 
apparatus 10. Typically, package 14 will be opened in a vertical 
orientation, i.e. with one end 32 oriented below the open end 30 so that 
the beverage containers 12 are prevented from falling out of the package 
14. The beverage container dispenser 10 is then slid over the open package 
14 and the dispenser/package combination is placed in a horizontal 
position for use. 
Dispenser 10 is provided with a retainer means or retainer (not numbered) 
for receiving and enclosing a portion of the top 26 and sides 22, 24 of 
the package 14 adjacent the received open end 30 when the dispenser 10 is 
slid over the package 14. The retaining means or retainer portion of the 
apparatus includes a top wall 42, opposed side walls 44, 46 and a front 
wall 48. The walls are formed in a box-like arrangement, with the 
exception that the retainer portion has an open bottom (not numbered) and 
an open back (not numbered) which permits the dispenser to receive the 
container package. As shown, the top wall 42 holds the top flap 38 of 
package 14 folded back against top 26 when the package 14 is received by 
the dispenser 10. Similarly, side extending flaps 34 and 36 are 
respectively held folded back against sides 22, 24 of package 14 from 
which they extend by the first 44 and second 46 opposed side walls of 
apparatus 10. The side walls 44, 46 are preferably dimensioned to a height 
approximately equal to the height of the package 14 such that top 26 of 
the package 14 generally abuts the inner surface of top wall 42. The top 
wall 42 and front wall 48 are preferably dimensioned to a width 
approximately equal to the width of the package 14 such that the sides 22, 
24 of the package 14 generally abut the inner surfaces of the first and 
second side walls 44, 46. Thus, the retainer portion of dispenser 10 has a 
height and width which is similar to the height and width of the package 
14. 
As also illustrated, the dispenser's front wall 48 adjoins the top wall 42 
and the first and second side walls 44, 46 such that, when received by the 
retainer means, the received end 30 of the package 14 abuts its inner 
surface. As best shown in FIG. 2, containers in the first column of 
containers 12, immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the front wall 
48, are retained by front wall 48. Dispenser 10 may be of several depths, 
i.e. several widths of side walls 44, 46 and top wall 42, but, is 
preferably dimensioned so that approximately one-third of the package 14 
is received and enclosed the dispenser. As best shown in FIG. 1, the top 
edge of front wall 48 abuts the front edge of top wall 42, and the opposed 
sides of front wall 48 abut the front edges of side walls 44, 46 with the 
length of front wall 48 being less than the height of the side walls so as 
to define a port 50 through which a beverage container 12 exiting the 
package 14 can pass. The height of the port is preferably about 5 to 10 % 
greater than the beverage container 12's diameter to facilitate a 
container's passage through the port. 
In use, the dispenser/package combination will be typically in a generally 
horizontal position as on a shelf on a refrigerator (not shown). In this 
orientation, it will be appreciated that the bottom flap of package 14 
will be held back against the package's bottom portion 28 by the weight of 
the beverage containers 12 within the package 14. Therefore, while the 
dispenser may include a bottom wall, such is not necessary. Similarly, 
while top wall 42 is provided, it also is not necessary as the apparatus 
10 can function without it. 
Returning to the figures, it will be appreciated that dispenser 10 is also 
provided with a beverage container holder or holding means 66, which 
includes a pair of forward extensions 52, 54, a retaining strip 62 and a 
retaining bottom 64. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and the 
second forward extensions 52, 54 extend forwardly from the first and 
second side walls 44, 46 respectively, extending outwardly from the 
dispenser's front wall 48, a distance which is preferably equal to the 
diameter of a single beverage container 12 so that an individual may 
remove a container from the holder. 
The retaining strip 62, as best shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, interconnects 
the first and second forward extensions 52, 54 at their forward portions 
(not numbered) and has a height which is sufficient to prevent a beverage 
container 12 from rolling out of the holder. A height of 10-20% of the 
container's diameter has been found to be sufficient to prevent such 
rolling. As also illustrated, the retaining strip 62 is preferably shaped 
to match the contour of a dispensed container received in the holder 66. 
The holder's bottom 64 which interconnects the first and second forward 
extensions 52, 54 should also have a width which prevents a dispensed 
beverage container 12 from falling through the holder. 
As shown in FIG. 2, when an opened package 14 is received by the dispenser 
10, and placed into a horizontal orientation, gravity will force a 
beverage container 12 out of package 14 through port 50 and into 
dispensing holder 66. The dispensed beverage container 12 may then be 
removed by an individual from the dispensing holder 66 by grasping the 
container 12 with the individual's hand. Once the individual has removed a 
beverage container 12 from the dispensing holder 66, another beverage 
container 12 will be dispensed from the package 14 and into the dispensing 
holder 66. In such a manner, the remaining beverage containers 12 in the 
package 14 will be dispensed one by one from the package every time a 
beverage container 12 is retrieved from the dispensing holder 66. When 
only a single row of beverage containers 12 remain in the package 14, 
however, depending upon the exact orientation of the package dispenser 
combination on the shelf upon which it rests relative to the horizontal 
plane, the dispenser/package combination may have to be tipped slightly 
forward for the last few beverage containers 12 to roll into the 
dispensing holder 66. 
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, flap 
engagement means, or catches 68 are provided to secure the dispenser 10 to 
the package 14 and prevent the dispenser from disengaging or separating 
therefrom. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, catches 68 extend from the inner surface 
of each side wall 44, 46 to define a forwardly facing gap between the flap 
engagement means 68 and the inner surface of each side wall 44, 46. The 
side flaps 34, 36, which are respectively folded back towards the sides 
22, 24 by the receiver, each have free ends 69. In that position, the free 
ends 69 of the side flaps 34, 36 are rearwardly facing. The catches 68 are 
located on the side walls 44, 46, so that the free ends 69 of the side 
flaps 34, 36 are capable of being engaged in the forward facing gaps 
defined by the flap catches. Any forward force on the dispenser 10, such 
as the by the impingement of a dispensed container against the retaining 
strip 62 of the dispensing holder 66, is thereby countered by the 
engagement of the free ends against the flap catches. Two flap catches are 
provided on each side 44, 46 of the receiver; one to engage the lower 
portion of the free end 69 of a flap and one to engage the flap's upper 
portion. This prevents the dispenser 10 from tipping when a container is 
dispensed, and otherwise adequately secures it to the package. Flap 
catches 68, or the equivalents thereof, are, as illustrated, preferably an 
integral part of the dispenser 10. 
As will be appreciated, flap catches 68 cooperate with the package's side 
flaps 34, 36 to secure the dispenser 10 to the package 14 and prevent the 
containers from rolling "en masse" out of the open end 30 of the package. 
"En masse" as defined herein refers to the simultaneous dispensing of many 
containers from the package which can occur due to gravity when a package 
of this sort is opened. 
The dispenser 10 of the illustrated embodiment is shown, as best seen in 
FIG. 2, with side walls 44, 46 dimensioned to a length approximately equal 
the length of each side flap. As such, to be capable of receiving this 
package's side flaps, the flap catches 68 are located at the rear edge of 
side walls 44, 46. However, it will be appreciated that the flap catches 
may be located inwardly from the rear edge if the side walls 44, 46 are 
longer than the side flaps 34, 36. 
FIG. 1 illustrates that the front wall 48 of the dispenser 10 has several 
cut out portions or windows A, B and C. These windows serve the dual 
purpose of reducing the amount of material necessary to manufacture 
dispenser 10, and hence reduce its cost and weight. They also provide view 
ports for an individual to see into the package 14 to determine the number 
of remaining beverage containers 12. Windows A and C further provide a 
convenient gripping surface through which an individual can extend his 
fingers to carry the dispenser 10. 
In view of the above, those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate 
that the present invention is capable of being expressed in many 
embodiments, all of which are capable of receiving an opened end of a 
package, securing the package to the apparatus such that a beverage 
container dispensed from the package is received in a dispensing holder of 
the apparatus, and allowing an individual to easily retrieve a container 
from the dispensing holder. 
Thus, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel 
method of dispensing beverage containers 12 from a package 14. The method 
includes opening a package 14 at one end 30 by opening the side end flaps 
34, 36 and folding the side flaps back towards the sides from which they 
extend. The dispenser 10 is then slid over the open end 30 of the package 
14 so that the side flaps remain folded back against the package's sides. 
The dispenser 10 is then secured to the package 14 by engaging the free 
ends 69 of the side flaps 34, 36 with the flap catches 68. This 
arrangement enables a single beverage container 12 to roll into the holder 
66 of the dispenser 10 when the package is positioned horizontally on a 
surface. It also prevents the remaining containers in the package 14 from 
rolling out of the package en masse. The single dispensed beverage 
container (or desired number held in holder 66) may then be retrieved from 
the holder 66. 
The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been made with 
reference to preferred embodiments thereof. From this description, one 
skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of 
this invention, and without departing from the spirit or scope thereof 
make various changes and modifications to adapt for various usages and 
conditions. For example, flap catches 68 could be replaced by an elastic 
strap(s) 55 extending from one side of the dispenser to its other side 
which would secure the dispenser to the package and prevent the weight of 
containers in the package from causing the dispenser to separate from the 
package.