Abstract:
An insertable dispenser and method is provided for dispensing pre-packaged rollable articles directly from a package. The dispenser includes an inclined base and receiving arm to allow the articles to controllably roll out of the package and accommodate individual dispensing while preventing the articles from spilling out of the package.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to dispensing pre-packaged rollable articles directly from the packages in which the articles are stored. In particular, the invention relates to a dispenser that is inserted into the package of stored articles to dispense the articles individually from the package. 
     Various types of dispensing devices and dispensing methods for rollable articles are known. Most of these devices are dispensing racks or distributing devices that are particularly well-suited to individually dispense rollable articles for both retail and personal dispensing. Examples of typical prior art racks and devices are disclosed in Washburn U.S. Pat. No. 1,753,957, Root U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,279, Deffner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,126, Eckert U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,903, Spamer et al. 4,997,094, Delaney U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,033, and Blasko et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,590. In the prior dispensing racks the individual articles must be manually loaded into the racks by hand. Because most rollable articles, like beverage containers, are pre-packaged, manual unpacking in addition to manual loading must be performed prior to use of these devices. The requirement of these procedures is inefficient, time consuming, and inconvenient. In addition, the use of these devices increases the risk of damaging the articles and their contents, and also poses risks of physical injury to the individual performing the manual procedures. 
     In view of the foregoing, devices and methods to controllably dispense individual rollable articles directly from the packages in which they are sold have also been developed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,821, Markel, discloses a method and apparatus for dispensing rollable articles from a package. The device disclosed in Markel is secured over an open end of a package containing the articles, and contains a dispensing port at its base. The Markel device acts as a wall to prevent the articles from spilling out of the package, and at the same time permits individual dispensing from the dispensing port at its base. Because the device must be large enough to cover the entire end of a package, it is cumbersome and requires considerable material to manufacture. In addition, the device is vulnerable to unpredicted movement of the articles such that articles may become jammed near the port, or may not roll forward into the dispensing port without manual assistance to tip the package forward. 
     As a result, the need exists for a device that controllably dispenses pre-packaged rollable articles which is easy to use and cost-effective to manufacture, as well as capable of creating predicted rolling and dispensing of the articles from the package. The present invention relates to a device for dispensing pre-packaged rollable articles by utilizing an inclined base that is inserted directly into the rollable article package and containing a receiving arm of sufficient height that allows for controllably dispensing the articles individually from an open end of the package. In particular, the present invention is very well-suited to dispense  12  ounce beverage container cans pre-packaged in standard twelve and twenty-four count packages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the several objects of the invention is the provision of a dispensing device and method for use with pre-packaged rollable articles; 
     A further object is the provision of a dispensing device having an inclined base that is inserted directly into a package of rollable articles to predictably control movement of the articles as the articles are dispensed from the package; 
     The provision of such device and method allows individual pre-packaged rollable articles to be automatically and controllably dispensed directly from the package in which the articles are contained. 
     In accordance with the invention, generally stated, an insertable dispenser is used to controllably dispense prepackaged rollable articles from a package. The dispenser has an inclined base with a receiving arm. The inclined base is inserted into the open end of the package between the packaged rollable articles and a package wall. The portion of the base with elevation means is positioned opposite the open end of the package, slightly lifting the packaged articles on an incline. Gravity causes the articles to roll forward and down the incline. When inserted, a receiving arm which is fixedly connected to the inclined base protrudes out the open end of the package. The rolling articles are received individually and in abutting relationship to the receiving arm. The receiving arm holds the article in place, as well as prevents the other packaged articles from rolling forward until the article in the receiving arm is removed. When the article in the receiving arm is removed the incline causes another article to automatically roll to and abut the receiving arm. Other objects and features will be apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the insertable dispenser of the present invention inserted into a package of pre-packaged rollable beverage containers. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the insertable dispenser  11  of the present invention for dispensing pre-packaged uniformly-sized cylindrically-shaped beverage containers  17  from a generally rectangularly-shaped package  18 . The containers  17  are generally twelve ounce size. 
     The generally rectangularly-shaped package  18  contains a plurality of the pre-packaged containers  17  and is typically formed of cardboard material. The containers  17  are generally packaged side-by-side in the package such that the containers are arranged vertically and horizontally in rows. The number of pre-packaged containers  17  advantageously is either twelve count or twenty-four count. Once the package  18  is opened at end  19  the package is ready for the insertable dispenser  11  to be inserted into the package  18  beneath the plurality of pre-packaged containers  17 . Typically the package  18  will be opened in a vertical orientation with end  19 , with the end material partially or completely removed, oriented at the top of the package to prevent containers  17  from spilling uncontrollably out of the package  18 . The insertable dispenser  11  is then inserted in the at least partially open end  19  between an adjacent bottom side of the package  12  and the plurality of containers  17 . The package/dispenser combination is placed in a horizontal position for use. 
     Dispenser  11  is provided with a receiving arm  13  for receiving the containers  17  individually at the open end  19  of the package. The receiving arm includes a diagonal portion  21  which, in one optional embodiment, connects optional vertical terminating edge  20  to inclined base portion  23 . The optional terminating edge  20  forms an angle  25  of greater than about 90°, advantageously from about 110° to about 145° with the diagonal portion of the receiving arm  13 . Preferably angle  25  is from about 120° to about 135°. 
     As illustrated, dispenser  11  is provided with inclined base  23  that is connected to the receiving arm  13  at an angle  22  approximately equal to angle  25 , i.e. greater than about 90°, advantageously from about 110° to about 145° and preferably from about 120° to about 135°. The width of the inclined base advantageously is from about 0.7 to about 1.2 times the length of a container and preferably is approximately equal to the length of a container  17  to control the movement of the containers  17 . In addition, the height of the receiving arm  13  from the inclined base  23  is advantageously from about 1.2 to about 1.6, preferably from about 1.3 to about 1.4, times the diameter of container  17 , as shown by broken lines  14 . The inclined base  23  extends into the package  18  from the open end  19  along the bottom side of the package  12  to the opposite end  15  of package  18 . The bottom of inclined base  23  near opposite end  15  of package  18  is elevated by at least one support advantageously rounded, or the equivalent thereof, to create an incline running forwardly and downwardly from the opposite end  15  of the package  18  to the open end  19 . Advantageously the inclined base has a right support  24  and a left support  16 . 
     After the dispenser  11  is inserted, the incline gravitationally causes the plurality of containers  17  to roll forwardly and downwardly toward the open end  19  of the package  18  and against the receiving arm  13 . The rolling motion of a container  17  forces it against the receiving arm  13 . The diagonal portion of the receiving arm  21  and, when present, the terminating edge  20 , receive the container  17  and hold it in place. When a container is removed, another of the containers  17  will be dispensed from the package against the receiving arm  13 . When a single row of containers  17  remains in the package  18 , the containers  17  will be dispensed at the receiving arm  13  where angle  22  is formed with the inclined base  23 . 
     In view of the foregoing, 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 being inserted into an open end of a package of pre-packaged rollable articles, creating an incline to dispense the articles such that an article dispensed from the package is received in a receiving arm of the dispenser, and allowing an individual to easily remove a rollable article from the receiving arm. 
     Thus, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel method of dispensing pre-packaged rollable articles  17  from a package  18 . The method includes inserting an insertable dispenser  11  into the open end  19  of the package  18  beneath the articles  17 . The dispenser  11  comprises an inclined base  23 , which provides the force for a single container  17  to roll and abut the receiving arm  13  when the package  18  is placed horizontally on a surface. Thus an individual container  17  held against the receiving arm  13  may be retrieved from the receiving arm  13  without the other containers flowing out of the package  18 . 
     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 could make changes or modifications to adapt for various usages and conditions. For example, the rounded supports on the inclined base could be replaced by solid strips or a flat mass to create the incline that causes the containers to roll forward out of the package.