Patent Publication Number: US-2018052028-A1

Title: Packaging Unit

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Dispensers are used to store products such as pet food, “kitty” litter, and the like. A conventional pet food dispenser may include a housing having an opening on top. A lid may cover the opening to prevent the pet food from spilling out therefrom and to keep the pet food fresh. The lid may be unscrewed by a user, and the user may then pour the pet food into a bowl for the pet to eat. This requires the user to lift the entire dispenser while pouring. The dispenser may be heavy when full, which may make pouring the pet food accurately into the bowl difficult. In addition, the amount of pet food may vary from pour to pour. Therefore, what is needed is an improved dispenser that eases pouring of the product contained therein while enabling more accurate measurement of the amount poured. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser may include a housing and a scoop. The housing may have a plurality of side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. An opening may be formed in at least one of the side walls. The scoop may include a handle and a bowl portion. The bowl portion may be configured to be inserted into an interior volume of the housing through the opening in the housing and to be removed from the interior volume of the housing through the opening in the housing. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser may include a housing having a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall. A riser may be positioned within the housing. The riser may be configured to move from a first position to a second position in a direction away from the bottom wall. An external sensor may be coupled to one of the side walls. The external sensor may be configured to detect movement by a user and to transmit a signal to the riser causing the riser to move from the first position to the second position in response to the movement. 
     A system for distributing packages is also disclosed. The system may include a display case including a shelf, a drawer, or both. A plurality of carriers may be stored on the shelf, in the drawer, or both. Each carrier may include a bag having one or more straps, and each carrier may be expandable and collapsible in at least one direction. A plurality of packages may be stored on the shelf, in the drawer, or both, and the carriers may be sized and shaped to receive one or more of the packages. 
     A handle is also disclosed. The handle may include first and second portions. The first portion may be configured to receive a user&#39;s hand. The second portion may be configured to support one or more packages. The first and second portions may be integral with one another proximate a first end of the handle, and the first and second portions may be configured to be engaged and disengaged from one another proximate a second end of the handle. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative dispenser, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional side view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1  with a scoop being removed therefrom, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of another illustrative dispenser including a riser in a first position, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 4  with the riser in a second position, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative bag, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart illustrating a system for distributing and transporting one or more packages, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 8  depicts an illustrative adjustable carrier, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 9  depicts the adjustable carrier shown in  FIG. 8  with two packages positioned therein, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 10  depicts an illustrative handle for carrying one or more packages, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 11  depicts the handle shown in  FIG. 10  carrying one package with another package being loaded therein, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 12  depicts a package including an illustrative identification tag, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
         FIG. 13  depicts the package shown in  FIG. 12  being placed into a carrier having a corresponding identification tag, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative dispenser  100 , according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The dispenser  100  may include a housing  110  defining an internal volume. The housing  110  may be a box having a plurality of walls  111 - 116 . For example, the housing  110  may have four side walls  111 - 114 , a top wall  115 , and a bottom wall  116 . As shown, a handle  118  may be coupled to the top wall  115 . In other embodiments, the handle  118  may be coupled to one of the side walls  111 - 114 . The housing  110  may be made of cardboard, plastic, or the like. 
     The housing  110  may include an opening  120  in one of the side walls (e.g., side wall  111 ). The opening  120  may be positioned closer to the bottom wall  116  than the top wall  115 . The opening  120  may have a cross-sectional shape that is circular, triangular, rectangular, or the like. The opening  120  may be sized and shaped to receive a scoop  130 . The scoop  130  may include a handle  132  and a bowl portion  134 . The handle  132  may cover the opening  120  when the bowl portion  134  is positioned inside the housing  110  to prevent a product inside the housing  110  from flowing out through the opening  120 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts a side cross-sectional view of the dispenser  100 , according to one or more embodiments disclosed. A bag  140  may be disposed within the housing  110 . The bag  140  may have a product  144  therein. The product  144  may be or include a granulated, pelletized, or powdered product, or the like, such as food (e.g., cereal, pet food, etc.), cat or “kitty” litter, or the like. In another embodiment, the bag  140  may be omitted, and the product  144  may be placed directly in the housing  110 . 
     The bag  140  may also include an opening  142  that is aligned with the opening  120  in the housing  110  when the bag  140  is positioned within the housing  110 . As such, the bowl portion  134  of the scoop  130  may extend through the openings  120 ,  142  in the housing  110  and the bag  140 , respectively, when the handle  132  is in contact (or near-contact) with the side  111  of the housing  110 . The bowl portion  134  may extend from about 10% to about 40%, about 40% to about 70%, or about 70% to about 100% of the width  150  of the housing  110  when the handle  132  is in contact with the side  111  of the housing  110 . The inner surface of the bowl portion  134  may face upward toward the top surface  115  so that the product  144  may flow into the bowl portion  134  due to gravitational forces. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the dispenser  100  shown in  FIG. 1  with the scoop  130  being removed therefrom, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. In operation, when a user wants to remove a portion of the product  144  from the dispenser  100 , the user may rotate the handle  132  of the scoop  130 . For example, the scoop  130  may be screwed into the housing  110 , and the scoop  130  may be rotated one or more revolutions to disengage from the housing  110 . This may also help to fill the bowl portion  134  with the product  144 . In another embodiment, the rotation of the handle  132  may be omitted as the product  144  may fill the bowl portion  134  due to gravity. The user may then pull the handle  132  away from the housing  102  causing the bowl portion  134  to be withdrawn from the housing  110  and the bag  140  through the openings  120 ,  142 , respectively. The housing  110  and/or the bag  140  may include a valve  160  proximate to the openings  120 ,  142  that prevents the product  144  from flowing out through the openings  120 ,  142  when the scoop  130  no longer obstructs the openings  120 ,  142 . The valve  160  may be or include an HDPE flap (e.g., a die-cut HDPE flap). 
     Once the scoop  130  has been removed, the bowl portion  134  may contain a predetermined amount of the product  144  as a way to manage portion control. The user may pour the product  144  from the scoop  130  into another container (e.g., a food bowl). The user may then insert the bowl portion  134  of the scoop  130  through the openings  120 ,  142  in the housing  110  and the bag  140 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of another illustrative dispenser  400  including a riser  420  in a first position, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The dispenser  400  may include a housing  410  defining an internal volume. The housing  410  may be a box having a plurality of walls  411 - 416 . For example, the housing  410  may have four side walls  411 - 414 , a top wall  415 , and a bottom wall  416 . The walls  411 ,  412  are shown transparent to better illustrate the riser  420 . One or more hinges  418  may be used to couple the top wall  415  to one of the side walls (e.g., wall  413 ). The hinges  418  may allow the top wall  415  to pivot from a closed position to an open position so that it acts as a lid. 
     A bag  440  may be loaded into the housing  410 . The bag  440  may have a product  444  therein. The product  444  may be or include food (e.g., pet food), cat or “kitty” litter, or the like. The bag  440  may have an opening  442  that is aligned with the top wall  415  in the housing  410 . In another embodiment, the bag  440  may be omitted, and the product  444  may be placed directly in the housing  410 . 
     The riser  420  may also be positioned within the housing  410 . More particularly, the riser  420  may be positioned between the bottom wall  416  and the bag  440  (when the bag  440  is positioned in the housing  410 ). The riser  420  may include a platform  422  on which the bag  440  may be placed. The riser  420  is shown in a first or “contracted” position in  FIG. 4 . The riser  420  may be configured to lift the bag  440  by moving from the first position into a second or “expanded” position ( FIG. 5 ). The riser  420  may be or include a mechanical riser including a motor configured to lift the bag  440 . In another embodiment, the riser  420  may be a hydraulic riser including pressurized fluids that may lift the bag  440 . In yet another embodiment, the riser  420  may be or include one or more springs configured to lift the bag  440 . 
     An exterior sensor  450  may be coupled to the housing  410 . The exterior sensor  450  may be a motion sensor that is configured to sense or detect when the user moves within a predetermined distance in front of the sensor  450 . The exterior sensor  450  is discussed in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 5 . As used herein, the term “user” may refer to a person or an animal (e.g., a pet). 
       FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of the dispenser  400  of  FIG. 4  showing the riser  420  in the second position, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. In operation, when the user wants to remove the product  444  from the dispenser  400 , the user may move in front of the exterior sensor  450 . When the exterior sensor  450  detects this movement, the exterior sensor  450  may send a signal to circuitry contained within the riser  420  that causes the riser  420  to actuate from the first position ( FIG. 4 ) to the second position ( FIG. 5 ), thereby lifting the bag  440  within the housing  410 . More particularly, a piston  424  may lift the platform  422 , thereby lifting the bag  440  within the housing  410 . In another embodiment, the user may cause the riser  420  to actuate by pushing a button, turning a crank, pulling a lever, or the like. 
     The distance between the first position and the second position may depend, at least partially, on a distance between the top of the bag  440  and the top wall  415 . For example, an interior sensor  452  (see  FIG. 4 ) may sense or detect when the top of the bag  440  is a predetermined distance (e.g., 1 inch) from the top wall  415 , and stop upward movement of the riser  420  when this occurs. The bag  440  may be collapsible such that the height of the bag  440  decreases as the product  444  is removed from the bag  440 . As such, in this embodiment, the distance between the first position and the second position of the riser  420  may increase as the amount of product  444  in the bag  440  decreases. In another embodiment, the distance between the first position and the second position (i.e., the distance that the riser  420  lifts the bag  440 ) may depend, at least partially, on the weight of the bag  440 . 
     The riser  420  may descend back to its original position (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) after the riser  420  lifts each time. For example, the riser  420  may descend back to its original position a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) after the riser  420  lifts, or the riser  420  may descend back to its original position after the top wall  415  closes. In another embodiment, the riser  420  may maintain its position after each lift until the next time the riser  420  lifts to a subsequent position. In this embodiment, the riser  420  may be reset to its original position (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) once the bag  440  is removed and a new bag  440  is inserted into the housing  410 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the upward movement of the bag  440  may cause the top wall  415  to pivot about the hinges  418  and open. In another embodiment, the sensor  450  or  452  may send a separate signal to an actuator (not shown) that causes the top wall  415  to open. In yet another embodiment, the top wall  415  may be opened manually by the user. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of an illustrative bag  600 , according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The bag  600  may be used in the dispenser  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the dispenser  400  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , any other dispenser, or without a dispenser. The bag  600  may include a plurality of walls  611 - 616 . For example, the bag  600  may have four side walls  611 - 614 , a top wall  615 , and a bottom wall  616 . The bag  600  may include an opening  620  (e.g., in the top wall  615 ) through which a product  644  may be added or removed. The bag  600  may be made of plastic, laminated paper, molded polymer, molded, paper, polymer film, metal, or the like. 
     The bag  600  may include one or more struts  631 - 634  for structural support. The struts  631 - 634  may be made from metal, wood, plastic, or the like. Although four struts  631 - 634  are shown, it will be appreciated that more or fewer struts may be used. The struts  631 - 634  may be positioned along the edges between adjacent walls  611 - 616 . For example, the strut  631  may be positioned along the edge between the side wall  612  and the top wall  615 , and the strut  631  may extend (at least partially) axially between the side walls  611 ,  613 . The struts  631 - 634  may allow the bag  600  to be expandable and collapsible in a first direction  650  (e.g., along the height), while maintaining structural support in a second direction  652  (e.g., along the depth) which may be perpendicular to the first direction  650 . In at least one embodiment, one or more additional struts may be added that are perpendicular to struts  631 - 634  to maintain structural support in a third direction  654  (e.g., along the length) that may be perpendicular to the first and second directions  650 ,  652 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart illustrating a system  700  for distributing and transporting one or more packages  730 , according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The system  700  may include a display case  710 . The display case  710  may be positioned in a retail store (e.g., a grocery store or pet store). The display case  710  may include a plurality of shelves and/or drawers. A plurality of carriers  720  may be positioned on the shelves or in the drawers. The carriers  720  are described in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 8 and 9  below. 
     A plurality of packages  730  may also be positioned on the shelves or in the drawers. The packages  730  may contain a product, such as a particle-formed product, which may be food (e.g., pet food), cat or “kitty” litter, or the like. The packages  730  may be the same size, weight, or density, or they may be different sizes, weights, or densities. For example, two of the packages  730  may have the same size, but include products of different densities. 
     The carriers  720  and the packages  730  may be removed from the display case  710  by a customer. The customer may place one or more of the packages  730  into one of the carriers  720 . As shown, the carrier  720  may be sized to receive three packages  730 ; however, in other embodiments, the carrier  720  may be configured to receive more or fewer packages  730 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts the carrier  720  shown in  FIG. 7  with no packages  730  therein, and  FIG. 9  depicts the carrier  720  shown in  FIG. 7  with two packages  730  therein, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The carrier  720  may include a bag  802  having one or more straps  804 . The bag  802  may define an internal volume configured to receive one or more packages  730 . The carrier  720  may be expandable and collapsible in at least one direction  810 . More particularly, opposing sides  820 ,  822  of the carrier  720  may include a plurality of panels (four are shown:  831 - 834 ). The panels  831 - 834  may be configured to fold on top of one another when the carrier  720  at least partially collapses (e.g., like an accordion). 
     The panels  831 - 834  may be sized and shaped to approximate the size of the packages  730 . For example, each panel  831 - 834  may have a width that is substantially equal to a width of one package  730 . In another embodiment, each panel  831 - 834  may have a width that is substantially equal to a width of two, three, four, etc. packages  730  positioned next to one another. In yet another embodiment, each package  730  may have a width that is substantially equal to two, three, four, etc. panels  831 - 834 . 
     The panels  831 - 834  may include attachment devices  836 . As shown, each panel  831 - 834  includes one attachment device  836  on the outer surface thereof. However, in other embodiments, each panel  831 - 834  may include more than one attachment device  836 , and/or the attachment devices  836  may be positioned on the inner surface of the panels  831 - 834 . The attachment devices  836  may be or include a fabric hook and loop fastener, such as VELCRO® strips, adhesive material, hooks, or the like. The attachment devices  836  may be used to couple or secure two adjacent panels (e.g., panels  831 ,  832 ) together when the carrier  720  is carrying less than the maximum number of packages  730 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts an illustrative handle  1000  for carrying one or more packages, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The handle  1000  may include a first or “upper” portion  1010  and a second or “lower” portion  1020 . The first portion  1010  may be configured to receive a user&#39;s hand. As shown, the first portion  1010  may include one or more recesses  1012  on the inner surface thereof that are sized and shaped to have the user&#39;s fingers fit therein to enhance gripping. 
     The second portion  1020  may be configured to receive and support one or more packages (shown in  FIG. 11 ). The second portion may include one or more recesses  1022  on the inner surface thereof. The recesses  1022  may be configured to secure the one or more packages in place while the user carries them (i.e., to prevent the packages from sliding back and forth along the second portion  1020 ). 
     The first and second portions  1010 ,  1020  may be integral with one another proximate to a first end  1030  of the handle  1000 . The first and second portions  1010 ,  1020  may be configured to couple and decouple from one another proximate to a second, opposing end  1032  of the handle  1000 . As shown, the first portion  1010  may include an upward-facing hook  1014 , and the second portion  1020  may include a corresponding downward-facing hook  1024 . The hooks  1014 ,  1024  may be configured to engage one another to couple the first and second portions  1010 ,  1020  together. Although shown with the hooks  1014 ,  1024 , in other embodiments, the second end  1032  of the handle  1000  may include other structures for coupling and decoupling such as a snap, a buckle, a string that may be tied, or the like. 
       FIG. 11  depicts the handle  1000  shown in  FIG. 10  carrying one package  1100  with another package  1102  being loaded therein, according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The packages  1100 ,  1102  may be loaded into the handle  1000  when the first and second portions  1010 ,  1020  are decoupled proximate to the second end  1032 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Each package  1100 ,  1102  may be positioned in a recess  1022  in the second portion  1020  to prevent the packages  1100 ,  1102  from sliding along the second portion  1020  and/or to balance the weight of the packages  1100 ,  1102  on the second portion  1020 . Once the packages  1100 ,  1102  are loaded into the handle  1000 , the hooks  1014 ,  1024  may engage one another to couple the first and second portions  1010 ,  1020  together (e.g., for transport). The packages  1100 ,  1102  may be removed from the handle  1000  by disengaging the hooks  1014 ,  1024  to decouple the first and second portions  1010 ,  1020 . 
       FIG. 12  depicts a package  1200  including an illustrative identification tag  1210 , according to one or more embodiments disclosed. The tag  1210  may be a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag. In other embodiments, the tag  1210  may be another printed electronics circuit for remote sensing, remote communicating, or the like. For example, the tag  1210  may be a near field communication (“NFC”) tag including an antenna, a radio chip, and a data memory. The NFC tag may draw power (via magnetic induction) from a device that can read it (e.g., a cellphone or scanner). In another embodiment, the tag may include a battery. Once energized, the NFC tag may enable short-range wireless transfer of its data to the device. The antenna range may be, for example, up to about 2 inches, up to about 6 inches, up to about 12 inches, or more. 
     The tag  1210  may include information about the package  1200 . For example, the tag  1210  may include the type of product contained therein, the size of the package  1200 , the weight or density of the package  1200 , the location of the package  1200  (e.g., through GPS), or a combination thereof. 
     In at least one embodiment, the tag  1210  may be scanned or otherwise read in the store (e.g., a grocery store or pet store). For example, the tag  1210  may be scanned when the package  1200  arrives at the store or is placed onto a shelf in the store. The scanned information may be stored in a database. The tag  1210  may be scanned again when the package  1200  is purchased. This may also be stored in the database to update the database on the status of the package  1200  and/or the inventory of packages  1200  in the store as a whole. 
     This information may be used to, for example, alert a clerk in the store when the inventory in the store (e.g., on the shelves) is getting low. This information may also be accessed by a customer to determine the location of the package  1200  in the store (e.g., the particular aisle and/or shelf). In another embodiment, a customer may input the product information (e.g., type of food, brand, diet information) into the customer&#39;s cellphone, and the cellphone may notify the customer when the customer walks within a predetermined distance from the tag  1210  of the desired package  1200 . 
     In addition, this information may be accessed by a customer to determine whether a particular store has the package  1200  that the customer seeks to buy. For example, the information in the database may be accessible by the customer via a website or through an application or “app” on the customer&#39;s phone. The website or application may also provide recommendations for which products to buy based upon input information from the customer such as, in the case of pet food, the type of pet, size of the pet, dietary restrictions for the pet, etc. 
     In another embodiment, the tag  1210  may be used provide an electronic device belonging to the customer with notifications. The electronic device may be or include a computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, or the like. The tag  1210  may be active and transmit a signal containing the notification, or the tag  1210  may be passive such that customer&#39;s electronic device may obtain the notification information from the tag  1210 . The notification may inform the customer how many packages  1200  that the customer has remaining (e.g., “only one package left, buy more”). In another embodiment, when the product in the package  1200  is pet food, the notification may inform the customer when to feed the pet and/or how much of the food has been given to the pet over a given amount of time (e.g., one week). 
       FIG. 13  depicts the package  1200  shown in  FIG. 12  being placed into a carrier  1300  having a corresponding identification tag  1310 , according to one or more embodiments disclosed. At least one of the tags (e.g., tag  1310 ) may have a power source (e.g., a battery) that allows the tag  1310  to transmit a signal to the corresponding tag (e.g., tag  1210 ). In at least one embodiment, the tag  1310  may continuously be in the “on” state. In another embodiment, the tag  1310  may be actuated between the “on” and “off” states with a button or switch to save energy. 
     In operation, when the package  1200  is placed within a predetermined distance from the tag  1310  on the carrier  1300 , the tag  1310  on the carrier  1300  may send a signal (e.g., a magnetic induction signal) to the tag  1210  on the package  1200  and receive a corresponding signal from the tag  1210  on the package. The predetermined distance may be when the package  1200  is placed inside the carrier  1300 . The signal received by the tag  1310  on the carrier  1300  may include information about the package  1200  placed in the carrier  1300 . For example, the information may include when the package  1200  was put into and taken out of the carrier  1300 , the contents of the package  1200 , and the like. The tag  1310  on the carrier  1300  may accumulate such information so that it may be determined how many packages  1200  have been positioned within the carrier  1300  within a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 1 week).