Abstract:
A dispenser for containers is disclosed, consisting of a rail, a front retainer and a pusher coil secured within a pusher. The rail serves to suspend the containers held by their lip, while the pusher, secured within the rail, continuously pushes forward onto the containers. Meanwhile, the front retainer comprises of two abutment protrusions which serve as a barrier to prevent the containers from going too far forward. An individual wishing to remove a container simply has to pull forward on the container such that it makes its way past the barrier created by the abutment protrusions of the front retainer.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application for patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/505,761 entitled “Dispenser for Containers” filed Jul. 8, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This disclosure relates to dispensers and, in particular, to dispensers for containers. 
     2. Background 
     While standard product dispensers have existed in the market for decades, they have always dispensed the product by its base or its back. Most often, a coil that serves to push the product forward is located behind a pushing member and exerts force on the product to move it in a forward motion. 
     A plethora of devices have been invented to simplify or accommodate the dispensing of various products, especially on a display rack. Such devices include U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,961 (Chesley), U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,349 (Wear et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,969 (Johnson et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,761 (Nagel), as well as U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0108624 (Sparkowski). 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,961 includes a coil, having one extremity attached to the front of the display rack, and the remainder of the roll located behind an abutment plate. This basic system allows for the coil to exert continuous pressure onto the abutment plate such that it travels forward, thus pushing the product in the same forward fashion. 
     A further example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,349, provides a multi-level display with a pusher system on both levels. In this device, the coil is within a housing that consists of two opposing walls pushing a backing plate member onto a product. The base of the multi-level rack consists of ribs and flanges in the shape of wings that latch onto the base of the coil&#39;s housing. The ribs and flanges extend horizontally such that the coil&#39;s housing slides forwards and backwards pushing the product toward the individual. 
     A further example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,969, is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,961; however, the coil is secured within two vertical supports that constitute the coil&#39;s housing. The housing has wings at its base that are held in place and slide forward and backward along a horizontal path. The coil, along with its housing, allows for a backing plate to push a product forward for retrieval by an individual. 
     A further example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,761, includes a product display rack with a front barrier panel utilized to push products forward. In this instance, the barrier is in the form of a wide upside down V-shape such that the coil can rest within it. There is a small aperture at the base of the barrier base from which the coil can extend and be secured to the front of the rack. The small front barrier panel stops the products from being displaced too far forward. 
     A final example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0108624, is similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,761 in that it also comprises an upside down V-shaped barrier, whereby the coil is secured within it. Again, the coil is tied to the front of the barrier to exert force in a forward motion, moving the barrier along a predefined path along with any product that it is pushing. The difference is within the base of U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0108624: it can be adjusted laterally such that whether the product that the barrier is pushing is small or large, it can rest on a base of appropriate width to accommodate its size. 
     Unfortunately, these products all have similar drawbacks: they all push products forward from the base of the products. They are not suitable for potentially smaller dispensers who wish to push products from the neck or lip of the container, bottle, etc. due to containers&#39; conical shape. Further, given the shape of the pushers, they would not be able to adequately push conical or cylindrical products such as containers or bottles due to a lack of contact between the pusher and the container or bottle. The conical or cylindrical products may also lack the necessary contact at their base, such that pushing these products would be difficult and cumbersome. Other drawbacks include: having a front barrier to prevent the product from going too far forward hinders the display of the product, having wide rails on the side of the product can cause taller or slimmer products to tip to one side, and having a coil system at the bottom of the device creates a larger chance of dirt or spillage damaging the coil system. 
     As such, there is a need for a device that can overcome the drawbacks elaborated herein, while being able to dispense products in a different fashion; namely, by their lip, rim or neck, or dispensed from the top of the product in general. These features of the invention will be apparent from review of the disclosure, drawings and description of the invention below. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a product dispenser that can push containers and the like for easy handling and dispensing. 
     In a first aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for at least one container, each of the at least one containers having a lip comprising a rail for slidably engaging each lip of the container; a front retainer operatively coupled to the rail for retaining the container; a pusher operatively coupled to the rail; a back cap operatively coupled to the rail wherein the pusher slides along the rail to push each of the at least one container forward toward the front retainer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments of the present invention will now be described by reference to the following Figures, in which identical reference numerals in different Figures indicate identical elements. Moreover, the Figures may not be to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular elements while related elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are perspective views of a front retainer as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2   c  is a front pane view of the front retainer as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a rail as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   b  is a cross-section view of the front of the rail as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are perspective views of a pusher member as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a back cap as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the pusher within the rail as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the pusher, back cap, pusher coil, rail and container as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of the container within the rail as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b  and  9   c  are bottom pane views of the container within the rail and the front retainer as defined in a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  are perspective views of a front retainer as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10   c  is a front pane view of the front retainer as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11   a  is a front pane view of a bottle within a rail as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11   b  is a cross-section view of a rail as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12   a  is a front pane view of a can within a rail as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12   b  is a cross-section view of a rail as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13   a  is a front pane view of a can within a rail as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13   b  is a cross-section view of a can as defined in an alternative embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14   a  is a perspective view of a front retainer according to another embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14   b  is a perspective view of a front retainer with a coil secured to the front retainer according to one embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a further perspective view of a front retainer according to another embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a front retainer according to another embodiment of a dispenser for containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a front retainer according to one embodiment of the present invention being secured to a crossbar. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a front retainer according to one embodiment of the present invention being secured to a rail. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of another embodiment for a front retainer of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20   a  is a top view of a pusher according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20   b  is a front view of a pusher according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20   c  is a perspective view of a pusher according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a cross section view of a rail according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown. This invention may however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough in illustrations and brief explanation therefore to convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Some illustrations provided herein include detailed explanations of dimension and operation and as such should be not be limited thereto. 
     The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used herein. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may be used to indicated that two or more elements are in either direct or indirect (with other intervening elements between them) physical or electrical contact with each other, or that the two or more elements co-operate or interact with each other (e.g. as in a cause and effect relationship). 
     The terms container or containers can be used interchangeably herein and such terms reference a similar item as described herein. The terms container and containers also refer to such a product having a lip or rim wherein the container or containers has a certain rigidity allowing for the container or containers to be held within the dispenser of the present invention. The terms lip or rim can also be used interchangeably herein. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a dispenser for containers  10  can be seen holding several containers  15 . The purpose of the dispenser  10  is to be able to quickly and easily dispense various types of containers, whether containing liquid or other contents, being held by their lip, rim or neck, using a retractable coil to push the container. In one embodiment, a front retainer  20  exists in order to prevent the containers  15  from being displaced out of the rail  35 , and has an opening  22  to allow the containers  15  to be removed easily from the dispenser  10 . The front retainer  20  is connected to a rail  35  which allows for the containers  15  to be suspended by their lip, and provides for sliding the containers  15  forward to the front retainer  20 . Further aspects of the front retainer  20  and rail  35  will be further described below. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c , the front retainer  20 , as found in a dispenser for containers of the present invention, can be seen in greater detail. The front retainer  20  has first and second hooks  25 ,  27 , as well as first and second positioning members  30 ,  32 , each having corresponding abutment protrusions  36 ,  38 . The front retainer  20  also has front and back lips  40 ,  50 , with back lip  50  having a protrusion  55  and tongue  60 , wherein protrusion  55  helps to secure front retainer  20  to a rail (not shown) of the present invention. The tongue  60  slides into a cavity (not shown) of the rail (not shown), while protrusion  55  connects with a front aperture (not shown) in the rail (not shown) which serves to fasten the front retainer  20  securely within the rail (not shown). With further reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c , the front retainer  20  also has first and second engagement members  45 ,  47 . The engagement members  45 ,  47 , along with the positioning members  30 ,  32 , are utilized in order to position the rail (not shown) into the front retainer  20 . The connection between the rail (not shown) and the front retainer  20  is explained in further detail below. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3   a , and  3   b , in one embodiment, a rail  35  as found in a dispenser for containers of the present invention is shown. Rail  35  has first and second notches  75 ,  77 , opposite one another, which serve to hook into a panel as would be found within a refrigeration unit (not shown) in order to support the dispenser (not shown). Rail  35  has a cavity  65 , which serves to house both a pusher&#39;s T-shaped neck (not shown), and a pusher coil (not shown) which protracts and retracts depending on whether containers (not shown) are being inserted into or removed from the dispenser (not shown). The cavity  65  includes first and second inwardly-facing walls  85 ,  87  that prevent the pusher coil (not shown) from falling out of the cavity  65 . The cavity  65  has front and back apertures  70 ,  90 . Front aperture  70  located at the front end of the rail  35  serves to connect with the protrusion (not shown) as defined in the front retainer (not shown). Back aperture  90  located at the back end of rail  35  serves to connect with the back protrusion (not shown) as defined in the back cap (not shown). First and second support surfaces  80 ,  82 , are also visible, which serve to hook onto the lip of a container (not shown) or any similar beverage holder comprising of such characteristics. Other embodiments having varying gaps  92 ,  94 , as described within the rail  35  and based on the container being positioned in the rail  35  are described below. The rail  35  slidably engages each lip of the containers positioned within it. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  4   a  and  4   b , a pusher  100  as found in a dispenser for containers of the present invention is shown. The pusher  100  has a front panel  105  which serves to make contact with a container (not shown) in order to exert force onto the back of the container (not shown). The pusher  100  has a hollow housing  115 , which serves to house a pusher coil (not shown). The housing  115  further comprises outer walls  120 ,  125  which contain the pusher coil (not shown) within the housing  115 . The pusher  100  also has a T-shaped neck  110 . The T-shaped neck  110  corresponds to the shape of the cavity  65  as defined in the rail  35 , allowing the T-shaped neck  110  to be inserted into the cavity  65  such that pusher  100  is secured within the rail  35 . First and second wings  130 ,  135  located beneath the T-shaped neck  110 , make contact with first and second inwardly-facing walls  85 ,  87  which further secures the pusher  100  within the rail  35 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  5 , the back cap  145  as found in a dispenser for containers of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . The back cap  145  has a back tongue  155  and a back protrusion  140 , wherein the back protrusion  140  helps to secure the back cap  145  to a rail  35  of the present invention. The back tongue  155  slides into a cavity  65  of the rail  35 , while the back protrusion  140  connects with a back aperture  90  in the rail  35 , which serves to prevent the pusher (not shown) from sliding out of the rail  35 . The back protrusion  140  has an angled face such that it easily slides into the cavity  65  and can remain engaged with the back aperture  90 . The back cap  145  further comprises of back plate  150  which prevents the back cap  145  from completely sliding into the cavity  65 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the pusher  100  can be seen operatively connected within rail  35 . The T-shaped neck  110  is located within the cavity  65  of the rail  35 . First and second wings,  130 ,  135  can be seen, providing additional structural support in order for pusher  100  to be secured within the cavity  65 . The pusher  100  can slide along the horizontal axis of the cavity  65  such that the containers (not shown) are pushed in a forward motion relative to the back of the dispenser (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , a dispenser for containers  10  can be seen, having a pusher  100  pushing a container  15  along a rail  35 . A pusher coil  160  can be seen within the hollow housing  115  of the pusher  100 . Pusher coil  160  is contained within the hollow housing  115  by means of outer walls  130 ,  135 . The pusher coil  160  serves to exert force onto the pusher  100  such that it pushes the container  15  forward. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with the installation of a coil as required to exert pressure on the pusher  100 . A back cap  145  is shown and serves to prevent the pusher  100  from escaping the cavity  65  of the rail  35 . The back cap as well as the pusher are operatively coupled to the rail  35  and as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a container  15  can be seen being held by rail  35 . First and second support surfaces  80 ,  82 , can be seen supporting the lip  170  of the container. In the present embodiment, gaps  92 ,  94  are shaped in such a way as to fit the specific lip  170  of the present container  15 . A worker skilled in the art would be familiar with varying the gaps  92 ,  94 , based on different sized lips, rims or necks of type of container. Rail  35  has first and second notches  75 ,  77 , opposite one another, which serve to hook into a panel as would be found within a refrigeration unit (not shown) in order to support the dispenser (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b  and  9   c , a container  15  can be seen being removed from the rail  35  and the front retainer  20 . With specific reference to  FIG. 9   a , the container  15  is at rest. The container  15  is being held by its lip  170  and cannot move forward due to the abutment protrusions  36 ,  38 . With specific reference to  FIG. 9   b , the container is pushed forward such that the abutment protrusions  36 ,  38  are exerting force onto the container  15 . A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with the necessary container characteristics in order to allow container  15  to travel past abutment protrusions  36 ,  38 . In an alternative embodiment, abutment protrusions  36 ,  38  could be positioned on surface  42  of the front retainer  20 . In yet another embodiment, abutment protrusions could consist of an elastomer with a specified rigidity. The lip  170  of the container  15  is now being supported by the corresponding first and second hooks  25 ,  27  of the front retainer  20  (not shown). With specific reference to  FIG. 9   c , the container  15  has cleared the abutment protrusions  36 ,  38 . The lip  170  of the container  15  is barely resting on the first and second hooks  25 ,  27  such that the container  15  has almost cleared the front retainer  20  and is within the hands of the individual. The front retainer  20  is operatively coupled to the rail  35 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10   a ,  10   b  and  10   c , an alternative embodiment of a front retainer  200  is shown. The front retainer  200  also has front and back lips  205 ,  210 , as well as a tongue  215  and a protrusion  220 . The tongue  215  and protrusion  220  are both utilized in order to fit into a cavity (not shown) of a rail (not shown) and secure the front retainer  200  within the rail (not shown). The front retainer  200  also has first and second guiding members  225 ,  227 , as well as first and second positioning members  230 ,  232 , each having corresponding abutment protrusions  236 ,  238 . With further reference to  FIGS. 10   a ,  10   b  and  10   c , the front retainer  200  also has first and second engagement hooks  240 ,  245 . Engagement hooks  240 ,  245  serve to connect the front retainer  200  to the first and second notches (not shown) of the rail (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b , a different rail embodiment as would be used in the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a rail  302  can be seen holding a bottle  300  by its rim  301 . The gaps  304 ,  306  of the rail  302  have been widened so as to fit the cap of the bottle  300 . Hooks  308 ,  310  are also present, and serve to hook into a panel (not shown) to support the dispenser (not shown). First and second support surfaces  312 ,  314  are also shown and support the bottle  300  by its rim  301 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b , another rail embodiment as would be used in the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a rail  327  can be seen holding a can  325  by its rim  326 . The joints,  328 ,  330  of the rail  327  have been shortened in order to fit the width of the can  325 . First and second support surfaces  312 ,  314  are also shown and support the can  324  by its rim  326 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b , another rail embodiment as would be used in the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a rail  350  can be seen holding a ring  352 , which in turn is secured by means of pressure exerted around the width of a can  325 . In an alternative embodiment, the ring  352  would form part of the can  325 . Handles  354 ,  356  have been adjusted so to as fit around the contour of the can  325 , while first and second support surfaces  358 ,  360  clasp around the ring  352  of the can  325 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 14   a , and in another embodiment of the present invention, the front retainer  20  has positioning members  400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408  and  410  which have various shapes and are designed to allow for an easy installation onto a corresponding rail (not shown) which can receive such positioning members. The securing of the front retainer  20  under this embodiment is achieved through the use of glue carefully positioned on the various faces of each positioning members  400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408  and  410 . The front retainer  20  also has a mounting pin  412  which is used to secure a coil  414  or a spring for example as shown in  FIG. 14   b . With further reference to  FIG. 14   b , the coil  414  is attached at one end on the retainer through the use of mounting pin  412  and the opposite end of coil  414  is attached at the opposite end of the rail which does not have the front retainer  20  connected to one end. 
     With reference to  FIG. 15  and according to another embodiment of the present invention, the front retainer as defined under  FIG. 14   a  is shown. First and second hooks  420  and  422  are shown wherein each of the hooks have two protrusions. The second hook  422  has a first lower protrusion  430  and an upper protrusion  432  which allows for cups (not shown) to remain in the dispenser until an extraction force is applied by a consumer. Corresponding upper and lower protrusions are positioned on the first hook  420 . A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with the placement of a number of protrusions within the front retainer allowing to secure a cup or container within the dispenser and such placement would not be outside the scope of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 16  and according to another embodiment of the present invention, another front retainer  20  is shown. Specifically, the front retainer has various positioning members  500 ,  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 ,  510  and  512  which also allow for an easy installation onto a corresponding rail (not shown). Positioning members  500  and  510  have apertures  520  and  522  allowing for the insertion of screws (not shown) to secure the front retainer  20  to a rail (not shown). With further reference to  FIG. 15 , the front retainer  20  also has securing protrusions  550 ,  552  and  554  allowing the front retainer to be installed directly onto a cross bar (not shown) as would be found in refrigeration units. Securing grooves  560 ,  562 ,  564  and  566  are also present which allow for inter-connectivity with a cross bar (not shown) found in refrigeration units or any other unit that stores containers or cups with rims. 
     With reference to  FIG. 17 , the front retainer  20  as described in  FIGS. 15 and 16  is shown installed on a crossbar  600 . Securing protrusions  550 ,  552  and  554  connect with the crossbar  600  through apertures present in the crossbar  600 . The securing protrusions  550 ,  552  and  554  have some level of mobility and can snap into the apertures of the crossbar  600 . A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with various methods to secure the front retainer  20  to the crossbar  600  without being outside the scope of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 18 , the front retainer  20  as shown in  FIGS. 15 ,  16  and  17  is shown connected to a rail  35  of the present invention. Screws  700  and  702  connect the front retainer  20  to the rail  35  which is secured in a unit (not shown) to store containers. With further reference to  FIG. 18 , the front retainer  20  has its positioning members all interconnecting with the rail  35  having corresponding grooves to receive the front retainer  20 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 19 , the front retainer  20  as described under  FIG. 15  is shown having protrusions  750  and  752 . The front retainer  20  under this embodiment has two corresponding protrusions  750  and  752  which allow to secure containers onto the dispenser until an extraction force is applied by a consumer. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c , a pusher  100  is shown according to another embodiment of the present invention. The pusher  100  has a cavity  115  with outward projecting walls  760  and  762  with positioning protrusions  770  and  772  with an interconnecting wall  780 . The interconnecting wall  780  and positioning protrusions  770  and  772  are all positioned within a rail (not shown) having a receiving cavity as well as positioning protrusions which allow to receive the interconnecting wall  780  and positioning protrusions  770  and  772 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 21 , a rail  35  is shown according to another embodiment of the present invention. The rail  35  has notches  75  and  77  with a cavity  790  shown. The rail  35  also has support surfaces  80  and  82  as previously described under  FIG. 3   b . Positioning protrusions  792  and  794  are present on the rail  35  as such positioning protrusions correspond to the positioning members (not shown) of the front retainer (not shown) described under  FIG. 16  for example. 
     A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with various shapes the positioning protrusions could include allowing for ease of installation of a front retainer to a rail under a dispenser of the present invention without being outside the scope of the present invention. 
     Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Moreover, with respect to the above description, it is to be understood that the optimum dimensional relationships for the component members of the present invention may include variations in size, material, shape, form, funding and manner of operation.