FALSE FRONT CARTRIDGE SYSTEM

Abstract: A false front cartridge for covering a container (12) to provide the container with an aesthetically pleasing appearance is disclosed. The false front cartridge includes a housing (28) configured to fully cover the front surface (26) of the container. The housing includes a cavity (30) into which product (14) can be placed and a transparent front wall permitting a consumer to view product stored within the housing. The false front cartridge also includes means for selectively securing the housing adjacent the container. In use, the false front cartridge allows consumers to view the real product stored within the container, without viewing the actual product and container from which the purchase will be made.

Description: FALSE FRONT CARTRIDGE SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a system for providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to a container. More particularly, the invention relates to a cartridge system designed to be filled with the same product that is stored within the container. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Self serve dispensers have become a common sight in grocery stores throughout the country. These dispensers allow consumers to purchase any quantity of a product by simply retrieving the product from the dispenser in any desired quantity. In this way, consumers are not limited by prepackaged items, manufactures need not prepackage their goods for purchase by the consumer, and grocery stores are able to stock more product in limited spaces. These dispensers are generally used for distributing loose bulk items, which the consumer places in a bag or collection device provided adjacent to the dispenser. Such dispensers have found wide acceptance in the distribution of coffee, grains, candy, rice, beans, nuts, bolts, nails and other products that are easily distributed in loose form. Among the most common dispensers currently employed in grocery stores is the upright dispenser which relies upon the force of gravity to dispense an item through a nozzle that is selectively opened and closed by a consumer. Containers used with many of the current dispensers are typically transparent in order to allow a consumer to view the product stored within the container. Unfortunately, the appearance of the product within the container is not always visually appealing. For example, bulk coffee bean dispensers require extensive cleaning and servicing to maintain a clean, sanitary appearance at the point of sale. One problem with current bulk coffee bean dispensing bins is that they allow oils and residue from the coffee beans to come into contact with the primary display panel, that is, the front surface of the container. The oils and residue gradually build up as the coffee beans travel along the display panel and bin walls when the dispensers are emptied and filled. These surfaces become soiled as the oils and residue build up thereon, causing consumers to assume the coffee beans are not fresh. As such, a need exits for a display system permitting consumers to view the product stored within a container without the negative impact associated with viewing the actual product stored and dispensed from within the container. The present invention provides a false front cartridge system that can be easily refilled, emptied and reused, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing display as the container is emptied and filled. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a false front cartridge for covering a container to provide the container with an aesthetically pleasing appearance, wherein the housing includes a front surface upon which the false front cartridge can be mounted. The false front cartridge includes a housing that is preferably shaped and dimensioned or configured to fully cover the front surface of the container. The housing includes a cavity into which product can be placed and a transparent front wall permitting a consumer to view product stored within the housing. The false front cartridge also includes means for selectively securing the housing adjacent the container. In use, the false front cartridge allows consumers to view the real product stored within the container, without viewing the actual product and container from which the purchase will be made. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a false front cartridge wherein the container includes a nozzle for dispensing product stored within the container, and the housing includes an opening configured to accommodate the nozzle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a false front cartridge wherein the housing includes a fill opening for filling and emptying the contents of the false front cartridge. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a false front cartridge including a display panel selectively attached to the front member. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the false front cartridge mounted adjacent the container; Figure 2 is a side view of the false front cartridge mounted on a racking system; and, Figure 3 is an exploded view of the false front cartridge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1 through 3, a false front cartridge system 10 for displaying products in a sanitary manner is disclosed. The false front cartridge system 10 is configured to be selectively affixed adjacent a merchandising container 12. In this way, consumers are allowed to view the real product 14 without viewing the actual product within the container 12 from which the purchase will be made. As such, the false front cartridge system 10 can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance or an aesthetically pleasing display of product. In use, the false front cartridge system 10 of the present invention permits the consumer to view a full display of the product 14 without displaying the actual product stored within the container 12, since the actual product stored in the container 12 can be less visually pleasing to the consumer. While the present false front cartridge 10 is designed for use with a particular container structure, it should be understood that the false front cartridge 10 can be adapted for use with a wide variety of containers. In accordance with the disclosed invention, the container includes a storage space 16 in which the product 14 is stored. The container 12 includes a filling inlet 18 along its rear surface 20 and a nozzle outlet 22 at its lower, forward surface 24. The nozzle outlet 22 is designed to permit a consumer to simply open the nozzle outlet 22 and permit the flow of product 14 from the container 12, out the nozzle outlet 22, and into a bag placed adjacent the nozzle outlet 22 by the consumer. The consumer collects a desired quantity of product 14 and closes the nozzle outlet 22 to cease the flow of product from the container 12. The false front cartridge 10 is designed for selective attachment adjacent the front surface 26 of the container 12. As such, the false front cartridge 10 is preferably configured to cover the entire front surface 26 of the container 12 so that the contents of the container 12 are hidden from the view of consumers. The false front cartridge 10 is filled with the same product 14 that is stored within the container 12, and permits the consumer to view an aesthetically pleasing product display without viewing the less appealing display of the actual product within the container 12. The false front cartridge 10 includes a housing 28 having a cavity 30 into which the product 14 can be placed. The housing 28 is constructed from a front member 32 and a back member 34. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, both the front member 32 and the back member 34 are constructed from transparent plastic, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, acrylic, styrene, styrene- acrylonitrile, or blends of these materials and the like. While the preferred embodiment discloses the use of transparent front and back members, the front and back members could be constructed in any manner permitting a consumer to view the contents of the cartridge without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the back member could be constructed from a opaque material so long as the front member is constructed to permit consumers to view the contents of the false front cartridge. The front member 32 includes a front face 36 and two side walls 38. The front face 36 and the two side walls 38 create a front member cavity 40 in which the product 14 can be placed when the back member 34 is secured to the front member 32. The front member 32 and the back member 34 are shaped to conform to the front surface 26 of the container 12. The front face 36 is provided with a central opening 42 at a central location thereof. The central opening 42 includes side walls 44a, 44b, a top wall (not shown) and a bottom wall 45. The walls of the central opening 42 create, in combination with the back member 34, a recess into which the material will not flow when it is placed within the housing 28. The side walls 44a, 44b each include inwardly directed teeth 48, 50 designed to selectively engage complementary teeth 52, 54 positioned on the back member 34 in a manner that will be discussed in greater detail below. Since the central opening 42 is undesirable from an aesthetic point of view, the central opening 42 is covered with a display panel 56 designed to be selectively affixed over the central opening 42. The display panel 56 is selectively affixed to the front member 32 by sliding the display panel 56 into lateral grooves 58 formed along the upper periphery 60 of the central opening 42. The display panel 56 can be provided with product labeling information or the like, and provides a visually pleasing cover for the central opening 42. The back member 34 is a generally flat sheet of material having a front surface 62 and a back surface 64. As discussed above, the back member 34 includes a plurality of teeth 52, 54 configured to selectively receive and engage teeth 48, 50 on the front member 32. The teeth 52, 54 of the back member 34 and the teeth 48, 50 of the front member 32 interlock with each other in a conventional manner to hold the front member 32 and the back member 34 together. While interlocking teeth are employed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other coupling members, such as snap fit, clips, screws and the like, can be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Alignment of the front and back members 32, 34 is ensured by the provision of fitting members 65 along the upper end of the front member 32 which fit within slots 67 along the upper end of the back member 34. The fitting members 65 fit within the slots 67 to align the front member 32 and the back member 34. The back member 34 is also provided with a fill opening 66 along its upper edge. The fill opening 66 is shaped to permit the false front cartridge 10 to be filled once the front and back members 32, 34 are securely coupled together. A cover 68 is provided for covering the fill opening 66 once the cartridge 10 has been properly filled with the product. The fill opening 66 is designed for filling and emptying the contents of the cartridge 10, permitting the cartridge 10 to be reused without the need for disassembly each time the product stored within the cartridge 10 is changed. The false front cartridge 10 is coupled adjacent the container 12 by employing the racking system 69 upon which the container 12 is positioned. Specifically, a series of racking system coupling members (not shown) are employed to securely mount the container 12 on a racking system. These racking system coupling members are also used to selectively mount the false front cartridge 10 to cover the front surface 26 of the container 12. As such, the back surface 64 of the back member 34 is provided with cartridge coupling member 71 which selectively engages the racking system coupling members to support the false front cartridge in front of the container. In this way, the false front cartridge coupling member 71 releasably secures the cartridge 10 adjacent the front surface 26 of the container 12 to hide the contents of the container 12. As was discussed above, many containers include an outwardly extending nozzle. The cartridge is, therefore, provided with an opening 72 designed to receive the nozzle. The front and back members are accordingly provided with openings 72a, 72b along their lower edges to accommodate the nozzle. It should, however, be understood that the cartridge can be redesigned to accommodate a variety of containers, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. While the preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A container for dispensing goods and providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance, characterized by: a container for storing and dispensing a product, the container including a front surface adjacent which a false front cartridge is selectively coupled to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance; the false front cartridge includes a housing having a cavity into which a product can be placed for viewing by a consumer when the false front cartridge is mounted on the front surface of the container; wherein the housing has a transparent front wall permitting a consumer to view product stored within the housing, and the housing is configured to fully cover the front surface of the container. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a nozzle for dispensing product stored within the container, and the housing includes an opening configured to accommodate the nozzle. 3. The container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing includes a front member and a back member, and the front member is transparent. 4. The container according to any one of the preceeding claims, wherein the housing includes a fill opening for filling and emptying the contents of the false front cartridge. 5. The container according to any one of the preceeding claims, wherein the front member and the back member are selectively connected to form the housing. 6. The container according to any one of the preceeding claims, wherein the second member is transparent. 7. The container according to any one of the preceeding claims, further including a display panel selectively attached to the front member.

Inventors: HENRY ERIC FRANCIS, RUSHING TATSUO, SMITH JAMES DAVID, HENRY, ERIC, FRANCIS, RUSHING, TATSUO, SMITH, JAMES, DAVID
Applicants: PROCTER & GAMBLE, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A47F1
IPC codes: A47F1