Abstract:
A vertically stored can dispenser having the capability to retain multiple size food cans and provide easy access to the various size can channels. The dispenser can be attached to a lazy susan rotary base or attached to a slide-out cabinet dispenser device. The multiple size can channels can be interchanged.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates in general to a vertically stored can dispenser having the capability to retain multiple size food cans and provide easy access to the various size can channels. The dispenser can be attached to a lazy susan rotary base or attached to a slide-out cabinet dispenser device. The multiple size can channels can be interchanged. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Accessible storage of cans of various sizes can be difficult due to the different can sizes. Some of the different sizes of cans are listed in the following table: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Type of Can 
                 Length in Inches 
                 Diameter in Inches 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Tuna Fish 
                 1½″ 
                 3⅜″ 
               
               
                   
                 Soup (small) 
                 4″ 
                 2⅝″ 
               
               
                   
                 Bean 
                 4½″ 
                 3″ 
               
               
                   
                 Juice (large) 
                 7″ 
                 4¼″ 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     It would be handy to have interchangeable can storage devices that provide easy access to the oldest cans, whether for home use or commercial use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to dispensers in general, and it particularly relates to dispensers for can articles such as, Campbell soup, tuna, fruits, beans, juices in large cans etc. In one specific aspect, the present invention is directed to dispensers for home use for stored can goods. 
     Notwithstanding the variety of available dispensers and vending machines, so far as it is known, there is no simple and economical dispenser for dispensing and rotating a variety of different sizes and shapes of cans and like articles for use in various home, restaurant, stores, RVs and etc. 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide such dispensers which are relatively small, compact and easy to use in home, restaurants, RVs, storage areas and thus constitute another staple home, kitchen, store, RV and storage product. The dispensers can be rotary mounted, cabinet mounted, on-wall mounted and in-wall mounted for storage. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a display and rotating dispenser which is completely versatile in that it can be readily adjusted to accommodate various quantities of various size merchandise, including cans, boxes, bottles, etc. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide such a device wherein the chambers which accommodate stacks of merchandise containers are adjustable in the width and in the depth so the containers in each stack are maintained in a neat vertical arrangement and the front faces of substantially all the containers in all the stacks are maintained in a flush relationship. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device in which partitions, defining the chambers for accommodating the stacks of merchandise, may be maneuvered into a variety of positions of adjustment without the need of many tools or special skills. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide such a device wherein the lower most container in each stack is automatically moved down to partially remove it from beneath the stack so as to facilitate its complete removal when needed for use or sale. 
     Although the display and dispenser of this invention has been described above, in connection with its contents, it is to be understood that the invention has much wider utility and may be used in any situation in which multiple size containers are to be stored and dispensed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the can dispenser. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of the can dispenser. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the can dispenser. 
     FIG. 4 is a front isometric view of the preferred embodiment can dispenser within a corner cabinet. 
     FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the preferred embodiment can dispenser. 
     FIG. 7 is a front isometric view of the preferred embodiment can dispenser having a shelf section. 
     FIG. 8 is a front isometric view of a can dispenser within a wall section. 
     FIG. 9 is a front isometric view of a can dispenser mounted on a wall section. 
     FIG. 10 is a front isometric view of a cabinet mounted can dispenser. 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the cabinet mounted can dispenser. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a lazy susan can dispenser  10 . This adaptable dispenser front view shows at the front left, a configuration  12  for tuna fish-sized cans  14 . On the right side a configuration  16  shows soup-sized cans  18 . The cans are vertically retained by the adjustable T-shape spacer panels  20  and  22 . The angle-shaped end panels  24  are held in place by panel braces  26  attached by fasteners  28 . The cans are prevented from falling by roll stop plate  30  attached to base  32 . The spacer panels  22  and  24  are supported by a double-walled support panel  34  and base  32 . Top cap  36  is fastened to the double-walled support panels by fasteners  28 . On the back side of the dispenser  10  the soup-sized can end panels  38  and spacer panel  40  can be seen. 
     FIG. 2 shows the backside of dispenser  10  revealing a large juice can holder  42  on the left and the soup can holder  44  on the right. In this case, the spacer panel  22  and end panel  24  for bean cans has a greater depth than the soup can spacer panel  46  and end panels  48  due to difference in can size. Adjacent to the juice can holder  42  is a section for the small tuna cans  50 . 
     This expanded view reveals the multiple vertical slots  52  that retain the side edges of support panels  54 . These slots  52  accommodate the panels  54  for juice, tuna and soup or bean cans. At the bottom of the support panels  54  are roll guides  56 . The dispenser  10  is mounted on lazy susan assembly  58 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded isometric view of the internal and interchangeable parts of dispenser  10 . The T-shape spacer panel  22  and angle-shape end panels  24  are affixed to the double-walled panel  34  by sliding the protruding ears  60  over and down through slots  62  in the panel  34 . These panels form a channel section that holds the cans. The roll guides  56  attach to the double-walled panel at slots  70 . The panel  34  attaches to base  32  by a panel extension  72  that fits within base slot  74 . Panels  22  and  24  have panel tabs  76  that slide into base tab slots  78 . In a similar fashion, spacer panels  20  and  50  attach to support panels  54  which connect to base  32 . A lip  79  on panels  20 ,  22 ,  24  and support panel  34  form a can retainer on these channel and angle shape sections. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the interchangeability of a preferred embodiment lazy susan can dispenser  80  located within a corner cabinet (in phantom). The large juice size cans  82  are shown on left. Tuna cans  83 , soup cans  84 , and bean cans  86  on the right. This embodiment of dispenser utilizes a hem  88  for fastening can channels  90  to the frame sides  92  and frame ends  94 . The hems  88  are formed by bending over a tab or top edge of each channel so as to have a slot that will slip over a top edge of sides  92  and ends  94 . It can be seen that the location of the different size can channels  90  are easily interchanged. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the assembly of the dispenser  80 . The various can size channels are shown clipped by their individual hems  88  to the frame sides  92  and frame ends  94 . This view shows tuna can channels  96 , soup can channels  98 , bean can channels  90  and juice can channels  100 . The juice can channels  100  require a roll stop  102  to retain the cans and a roll guide  56 . 
     The frame ends  94  are attached to base lazy susan by six (6) screws  28  as illustrated in FIG.  6 . The frame sides  92  attach by four (4) screws  28  at guides  104  to the frame ends  94 . Guides  104  are an extrusion from frame sides  92 . The figure illustrates one can channel  90  removed from its adjacent frame side  92 . Each of the channels have a side flange  106  to retain the cans in the channel and a bottom roll lip  108  to retain the bottom can. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the use of a shelf  110  that can be installed in place of one frame end  94 . The shelf  110  is dimensioned to slide down between the guides  104  and can be used for stacking vertical goods. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an optional use for the can dispenser. The can channel  112  which can be various sizes hangs by its hem  114  on a vertical open top hem  116  on wall bracket  118 . This bracket  118  is nailed between the typical 16″ wall studs  120  at a proper distance above the sole  122 . It can be seen there is room on the bracket  118  for additional can channels and room for additional brackets above bracket  118  and in an adjacent wall section. The bottom of channel  112  can be nailed to the wallboard  124  or the sole  122  through nail holes  126  in the bottom of channel  112 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates another option for the can channel  112 . This unit can be mounted on a flat wall using flat hemmed bracket  128  which is nailed to wallboard  130 . This bracket permits hanging of many can channels. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates another cabinet can dispenser  132  which can be wall mounted. This unit holds multiple can dispenser assemblies  134 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the details of the cabinet can dispenser  132 . The can dispenser assembly  134  consists of a can channel  112  mounted on a vertical panel  136  which in turn attaches to movable slide rails  138 . Movable rails  138  slide on fixed rails  140  which attach to rail support panel  142 . 
     Multiple rail assemblies  134  can be mounted within this can dispenser  132  by attaching the rail support  142  to the cabinet  144 . The can channels  112  are hung on the frame plate  136  by hem  114 , as in other previous can dispensers. 
     The can dispensers are formed from steel (painted) or galvanized steel. 
     The previously noted can dimensions are used to determine the depth and width respectively for the can channels. Cans that are slightly smaller than these dimensions still can be held in the channels. 
     The preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-11 offers ease of manufacture assembly and ease of changing channel can sizes, i.e. interchangeability. 
     The first embodiment in FIGS. 1-3 offers a simple system providing interchangeability and flat assembly parts that are easier for shipping.