Abstract:
A product dispenser including a frame configured to support a plurality of products and flag element connected to the frame, the flag element being moveable relative to the frame from a first, un-deployed configuration when the flag element is engaged with at least one of the products, to a second, deployed configuration when the flag element is not engaged with the products.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/777,444 filed on May 11, 2010 (pending), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/263,767 filed on Nov. 23, 2009 (pending), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This application relates to apparatus and systems for dispensing products and, more particularly, to product dispensing apparatus and systems configured to provide an indication when product level is low. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Products are typically shipped to retailers in bulk by enclosing multiple individual product units in a container, such as a carton or box. For example, canned foods may be shipped to a retailer in a box containing twenty-four individual cans. Then, it is typically the retailer&#39;s obligation to remove the individual product units from the container and present them (e.g., on a shelf) to consumers. 
     Alternatives to the traditional package-ship-unpack-display model are being developed in an effort to improve operating efficiency. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/777,444 discloses a new system for dispensing and displaying products packaged in a container. Specifically, the system includes a frame having a support structure, a product display area and an opening tool. The frame may be positioned on a retailer&#39;s shelf and loaded with product simply by placing a container comprising multiple units of product onto the support structure of the frame. As the container is being placed onto the support structure, the opening tool of the frame opens the container in such a manner that product rolls from the container and down to the product display area of the frame under the force of gravity. 
     Unfortunately, it is often difficult to determine when the container is empty and a new container should be loaded onto the frame. Failure to maintain the frame of the dispenser stocked with product may result in customer dissatisfaction and lost sales. 
     Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts directed to apparatus and systems for dispensing products. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator may include a frame configured to support a plurality of products and a flag element connected to the frame, the flag element being moveable relative to the frame from a first, un-deployed configuration when the flag element is engaged with at least one of the products, to a second, deployed configuration when the flag element is not engaged with the products. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator may include a frame configured to support a plurality of products and a flag element connected to the frame, the flag element being moveable relative to the frame from a first, un-deployed configuration when the flag element is engaged with at least one of the products, to a second, deployed configuration when the flag element is not engaged with the products, wherein the flag element includes a front face, and wherein the front face is optionally, marked with various text, graphics and colors to indicate a low product condition. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator may include a frame having a first side wall, a second side wall laterally spaced from the first side wall and an upper support surface extending between the first and second side walls, the upper support surface including a front end and a rear end, the front end defining an aperture therein, and a flag element pivotally connected to the frame, the flag element including a front end and a rear end, wherein the flag element is moveable from a first configuration, wherein the front end of the flag element is aligned with the aperture, to a second configuration, wherein the front end of the flag element is displaced from the aperture. 
     In yet another aspect, the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator may include a frame having a support surface having longitudinally spaced front end and rear ends, a plurality of products positioned on the support surface, wherein the support surface is configured to urge the products to the front end of the support surface, and a flag element connected to the frame and moveable relative to the frame between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the flag element is in the first configuration when the flag element is engaged with at least one of the products, and wherein the flag element is in the second configuration when the flag element is not engaged with the products. 
     Other aspects of the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded front perspective view of one aspect of the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the flag element of the product dispenser with low product indicator of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the product dispenser with low product indicator of  FIG. 1 , shown with the flag element in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the product dispenser with low product indicator of  FIG. 3 , shown with the flag element in a second, deployed configuration; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the product dispenser with low product indicator of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one aspect of the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator, generally designated  10 , may include a frame  12 , an optional cutting element  14  and a flag element  16 . As will be described in greater detail below, the frame  12  may support a number of units of product  18  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and the flag element  16  may pivot relative to the frame  12  to provide an indication when a low product condition is present in the frame  12 . 
     The frame  12  may include a first side wall  20 , a second side wall  22 , an upper support surface  24  and a lower support surface  26 . The first side wall  20  may be laterally spaced from the second side wall  22 , and may be generally parallel with the second side wall  22 . 
     The lower support surface  26  may extend between the first  20  and second  22  side walls, and may include a front end  28  that extends to the front ends  30 ,  32  of the side walls  20 ,  22  and a rear end  34  that extends to the rear ends  36 ,  38  of the side walls  20 ,  22 . Therefore, the lower support surface  26  and the side walls  20 ,  22  may define a lower level  40  of the frame  12 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lower support surface  26  may be inclined from the front end  28  to the rear end  34  (i.e., the rear end  34  may be elevated relative to the front end  28 ) such that product  18  deposited at the rear end  34  of the lower support surface  26  rolls down to the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26  under the force of gravity. The extent of the incline of the lower support surface  26  may be dictated by, among other things, the coefficient of friction of the material used to form the frame  12  and the shape of the products  18  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) to be dispensed by the dispenser  10 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , one or more stops  40 ,  42 ,  44  may be positioned proximate (i.e., at or near) the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26  to prevent product  18  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) from rolling beyond the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26 . For example, stop  40  may be connected to (e.g., integral with) the lower support surface  26 , stop  42  may be connected to (e.g., integral with) the first side wall  20 , and stop  44  may be connected to (e.g., integral with) the second side wall  22 . Therefore, the stops  40 ,  42 ,  44  may collect product  18  at the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26 , thereby establishing a product display area  46  at the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26 . 
     In one particular implementation, a divider  50  may extend from the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26  to the rear end  34  of the lower support surface  26  to divide the lower level  40  into a first product channel  52  and a second product channel  54 . The first product channel  52  may be defined by the lower support surface  26 , the first side wall  20  and the divider  50 , and may extend from proximate the rear end  34  of the lower support surface  26  to the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26 . The second product channel  54  may be defined by the lower support surface  26 , the second side wall  22  and the divider  50 , and may extend from proximate the rear end  34  of the lower support surface  26  to the front end  28  of the lower support surface  26 . While two product channels  52 ,  54  are shown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the frame  12  may be constructed to provide only one product channel or more than two product channels, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The upper support surface  24  may extend between the first  20  and second  22  side walls, and may include a front end  60  that extends to the front ends  30 ,  32  of the side walls  20 ,  22  and a rear end  62  that extends toward, but not to, the rear ends  36 ,  38  of the side walls  20 ,  22 , thereby defining an upper level  64  of the frame  12 . The spacing between the rear end  62  of the upper support surface  24  and the rear ends  36 ,  38  of the side walls  20 ,  22  may define an opening  66  ( FIG. 3 ), which may function as a chute to allow product  18  to move from the upper level  64  to the lower level  40  of the frame  12 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the upper support surface  24  may be declined from the front end  60  to the rear end  62  (i.e., the front end  60  may be elevated relative to the rear end  62 ). Therefore, product  18  supported by the upper support surface  24  may roll under the force of gravity down to the rear end  62  of the upper support surface  24 , through the opening  66  and, ultimately, to the lower level  40  of the frame  12 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the front end  60  of the upper support surface  24  may include a face panel  68  connected thereto. The face panel  68  may be integral with the upper support surface  24  or may be connected to the upper support surface  24  using mechanical fasteners, adhesives or the like. The face panel  68  may extend downward (i.e., toward the lower level  40 ) from the upper support surface  24 , and may define an aperture  70  therein. As will be described in greater detail below, the flag element  16  may produce an indication in the aperture  70  when a low product condition is present in the frame  12 . 
     The cutting element  14  may be connected to the frame  12  proximate the rear end  62  of the upper support surface  24 . The cutting element  14  may be positioned to form a cut in a container (not shown) when the container is loaded onto the upper support surface  24 . The cut formed in the container by the cutting element  14  may produce an opening through which product  18  may exit the container and roll from the upper level  64  of the frame  12  to the lower level  40  and, ultimately, to the product display area  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the flag element  16  may include an elongated body  80  having a front end  82  and a rear end  84 . The front end  82  of the flag element  16  may be longitudinally spaced from the rear end  84  by a sufficient distance such that, when connected to the frame  12 , the front end  82  of the flag element  16  extends to proximate the front end  60  of the upper support surface  24  and the rear end  84  of the flag element  16  extends to proximate the rear end  2  of the upper support surface  24   
     The front end  82  of the flag element  16  may include a face  86 , which may optionally be marked with indicia  88 . As one example, the face  86  of the flag element  16  may be marked with text, such as “LOW” or “EMPTY”, to indicate that the dispenser  10  is in a low product condition. As another example, the face  86  of the flag element  16  may be marked with graphics that indicate that the dispenser  10  is in a low product condition. In yet another example, the face  86  of the flag element  16  may be colored (e.g., red) to indicate that the dispenser  10  is in a low product condition. 
     In one optional implementation, the surface area of the face  86  of the flag element  16  may be greater than the area of the aperture  70  of the face panel  68  of the frame  12  such that the face  86  of the flag element  16  fills the aperture  70  when the dispenser  10  is in a low product condition. 
     The rear end  84  of the flag element  16  may include one or more protrusions  90  extending downward (i.e., toward the lower level  40 ) therefrom. Two protrusions  90  are shown in  FIG. 2  to correspond with the two product channels  52 ,  54  of the lower support surface  26 . The protrusions  90  may be sufficiently large to engage product  18  ( FIG. 3 ) positioned in the product channels  52 ,  54 , and to provide the rear end  84  of the flag element  16  with sufficient weight (i.e., a greater weight than the front end  82  of the flag element  16 ) to achieve the desired counterbalancing of the rear end  84  when the flag element  16  is connected to the frame  12 , as is discussed in greater detail below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the flag element  16  may be pivotally connected to the frame  12  at a pivot point  92 . In one specific construction, the flag element  16  may be pivotally connected to the underside  27  of the upper support structure  24  at a pivot point  92  by engaging a fulcrum  94  connected to the underside  27  of the upper support structure  24  with a rounded protrusion  96  extending from the flag element  16 . As an example, the engagement between the fulcrum  94  and the rounded protrusion  96  may be a ball-and-socket-type engagement that facilitates pivoting of the flag element  16  about the pivot point  92  through a plane that is generally parallel with a plane defined by one of the side walls  20 ,  22 . 
     The flag element  16  may be connected to the frame  12  such that the front end  82  of the flag element  16  is positioned proximate the face panel  68  and the rear end  84  of the flag element  16  is positioned proximate the rear portion  41  of the lower level  40 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the protrusions  90  at the rear end  84  of the flag element  16  may be engaged with product  18  positioned in the product channels  52 ,  54  at the rear portion  41  of the lower level  40 . Therefore, the products  18  engaged with the protrusions  90  may apply an upward force (arrow F) to the rear end  84  of the flag element  16 , thereby causing the flag element  16  to pivot about the pivot point  92  and urging the front end  82  of the flag element  16  downward (arrow A) and out of alignment with the aperture  70  of the face panel  68 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when no products  18  are positioned below, and engaged with, the protrusions  90  of the flag element  16 , the weight and/or balancing of the rear end  84  of the flag element  16  relative to the front end  82  of the flag element  16  may cause the flag element  16  to pivot about pivot point  92  such that the front end  82  of the flag element  16  is urged upward (arrow B) and into alignment with the aperture  70  of the face panel  68 . Therefore, with the front end  82  of the flag element  16  aligned with the aperture  70  of the face panel  86 , the face  86  of the flag element  16 , including indicia  88 , may be viewable through the aperture  70 , thereby providing a visual indication of the low product condition. 
     Accordingly, the disclosed product dispenser  10  is configured to provide a visual indication that a low product condition is present. Specifically, the disclosed product dispenser  10  is configured to deploy the flag element  16  when the number of units of product  18  in the lower level  40  of the product dispenser  10  has dropped below a threshold value, thereby signaling a user (e.g., a stock clerk) to load additional product  18 . 
     Although various aspects of the disclosed product dispenser with low product indicator have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.