Abstract:
The present invention provides gravity feed dispensers for use in display units. The display units may display paint and paint related products. The display unit can have a plurality of pockets to display paint chips and a plurality of dispensers to dispense a plurality of paint testers. Paint testers may roll to the front of the dispensers by gravity for selection by consumers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to gravity feed dispensers for display units. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention provides gravity feed dispensers for use in display units. For non-limiting example, the display units may display paint and paint related products, such as paint chips and paint testers. In some embodiments of the invention, the display unit has a plurality of pockets to display paint chips and a plurality of dispensers to dispense a plurality of paint testers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of two dispensers prior to connection; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a two rows of dispersers prior to connection to each other; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of two dispensers subsequent to connection to each other; 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a two rows of dispensers subsequent to connection to each other; 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a row of six dispensers; 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a column of three dispensers subsequent to connection to each other and placement of the dispensers in a display unit; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a display unit having twelve compartments each with connected dispensers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    As used in the afore-discussed embodiments and other embodiments of the disclosure and claims described herein, the following terms generally have the meaning as indicated, but these meanings are not meant to limit the scope of the invention if the benefit of the invention is achieved by inferring a broader meaning to the following terms. 
         [0011]    Also herein, “a,” “an,” “the”, “at least one”, and “one or more” are used interchangeably. 
         [0012]    Also herein, the term “comprises” and variations thereof do not have a limiting meaning where these terms appear in the description and claims. 
         [0013]    The terms “for example”, “without limitation” and the like, as well as the exemplary compounds, ranges, parameters and the like disclosed throughout the application and claims are intended to identify embodiments of the invention in a non-limiting manner. Other compounds, ranges, parameters and the like can be employed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0014]    As illustrated for example in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , the dispenser  11  in some embodiments of the invention comprises a bottom surface  1  comprising a slot  2  formed in a rear section  3  of the dispenser  11  and a projection  8  formed in a front section  7  of the dispenser  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1  for example, the rear section  3  of the dispenser  11  is the area located toward the back of the dispenser  11  and the front section  7  of the dispenser  11  is the area located on the opposite end of the rear section  3 . A first sidewall  4   a  and a second sidewall  4   b  each extend upward from the bottom surface  1 . A back surface  5  connects the bottom surface  1  and the sidewalls  4   a,    4   b  in the rear section  3  of the dispenser  11 . The first or second sidewall  4   a,    4   b  comprises a notch  6  formed in a top portion of a front section  7  of the dispenser  11 . The notch  6  of a first disperser  11  receives the projection  8  of a second disperser  11  when the second dispenser  11  is disposed on the first dispenser  11 . The back surface  5  comprises a tongue  9 , such that the tongue  9  of the first dispenser  11  fits into the slot  2  of the second dispenser  11  or through the slot  2  of a third dispenser  11  when the second dispenser  11  or the third dispenser  11  is disposed on the first dispenser  11 . 
         [0015]    In some embodiments of the invention, multiple dispensers  11  are disposed on top of each other to form a first stack of dispensers  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  for example.  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate up to three stacked dispensers; however, the current invention is not so limited. In some embodiments, at least a second stack of dispensers  11  is disposed adjacent the first stack of dispensers  11  to form rows and columns of dispensers  11  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 7  for example. 
         [0016]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5  for example, the slot  2  can be oriented substantially perpendicular to sidewalls  4   a,    4   b.  Similarly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4  for example, the projection  8  can be oriented substantially perpendicular to sidewalls  4   a,    4   b.    
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment where the rear section  3  is inclined at approximately a 45° angle with respect to the front section  7 . In some embodiments of the invention, the angle formed between the rear section  3  and the front section  7  is between 0-90° , more particularly 30° or 60°. 
         [0018]    A lip  10  may extend outward from the bottom surface  1  and away from first and second sidewalls  4   a,    4   b  in the front section of the dispenser as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  for example. The lip may be employed to catch material which is being dispensed by dispenser  11 . 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5  for example, a tongue  9  may be provided on the interior of the back surface  5 . In some embodiments, the tongue  9  is provided on the exterior of the back surface  5 . In some embodiments, the tongue  9  extends above sidewalls  4   a,    4   b  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  so that the tongue  9  of a first dispenser can fits into slot  2  of a second dispenser disposed on the first dispenser. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, more than three dispensers are stacked together. 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments the dispensers of the present invention have use in display units. They are particularly advantageous in that they allow use to be made of space behind display panels in display units, as illustrated in  FIG. 6  for example.  FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of a display unit having three dispensers  11  connected to each other and placed in a display unit by mounting on a display unit panel  12 . Again referring to  FIG. 6 , stacked dispensers fit into the open space behind the display panel  13 . Display panel  13  in  FIG. 6  is adapted to hold paint chips; however, display panel  13  is not so limited and may be adapted for non-limiting example, to hold brochures or other materials or be an informational panel, monitor or screen. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  for example, the back surface of the first dispenser and the back surface of a second dispenser are planar when the second dispenser is disposed on the first dispenser. 
         [0023]    Consumers may select paint testers by grabbing the foremost tester in the front section  7  of a dispenser  11 . When a tester is removed, gravity will force the next tester to the foremost position. Paint testers can be replenished by addition to the rear section  3  of dispensers  11 . 
         [0024]    The dispensers of the present invention may be employed to dispense paint tester bottles in display units for paint. However, the dispensers of the invention may be employed to dispense materials in other fields.