Patent Publication Number: US-2003226851-A1

Title: Flip-over dual stack dispensing box

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to an improved box with four (4) stacks of articles with dual openings on the top and bottom of the box. Each opening provides access to a separate stack of articles separated by a fixed or movable divider. Thus, when the top stack of articles is emptied, the box can be flipped over so as to easily access the second stack of articles in the once bottom stack.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Dispensing boxes or containers are often the simplest means to store and access various articles ranging from candies to pills, etc. However, tall dispensing box openings often provide limited access to articles resting on the bottom. Moreover, it is cumbersome or awkward to reach down an often tiny opening to grab an article all the way at the bottom of such a box. In addition, replacing such dispensing boxes when the contents are emptied is inconvenient. There is a need for a dispensing box that provides for easy access to the bottom of a tall dispensing box without sacrificing the amount of articles that may be stored or dispensed.  
       [0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide for a dispensing box with up to four (4) or more short stacks of articles with most openings being exposed on the top and bottom of the box. Each opening provides access to a separate stack of articles separated by a divider(s). Thus, when the top stack of articles is emptied, the box can simply be flipped over so as to easily access the second stack of articles in the (once) bottom stack.  
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
       [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,249 discloses a sanitary paper dispenser which is open at both ends. Thus, the sanitary paper may be accessed from the top or bottom of the dispenser.  
       [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,849 discloses a tissue dispenser box with atop wall and a front wall having a first slot and second slots respectively. The slots are rectangular and parallel to each other. The slots are non-intersecting and each allow access to tissues in the box.  
       [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,354 discloses a plastic container for facial tissues where the tissues will be removed vertically from the top opening. An internal control plate controls the subsequent removal of tissues from the packet inside the container one tissue at a time and also assists in holding the tissues vertically for ease of removal.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention provides a container for dispensing articles from first and second stacks within the container. The container has an upper panel with a first dispensing opening formed therein for dispensing articles and a lower panel with a second dispensing opening formed therein for dispensing articles. A panel for separating the first and second stacks of articles is provided within the container. The first stack of articles may be dispensed through the first dispensing opening so that the container may be turned over and the second stack of articles may be dispensed through the second dispensing opening.  
       [0008] In alternate embodiments, the container may have four (4) or more adjacent stacks of articles in which the first and second stacks can be equally accessed at a time through the first and second dispensing openings. When those two (2) stacks are depleted, the container can be flipped over, revealing a third and fourth opening which permit access to a third and fourth stack of articles respectively.  
       [0009] In another alternate embodiment, the container can be turned on its side so as to expose the first and second openings which are horizontally opposed. Thus, there can be equal access to the first and second stacks of articles at the same time.  
       [0010] In another alternate embodiment, the container may contain a grouping of randomly arranged articles and may be made to form to various sizes.  
       [0011] In another alternate embodiment the container may include two containers separably attached by a perforation.  
       [0012] In another alternate embodiment, the container may contain a grouping of randomly arranged articles instead of stacked articles.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved article dispenser;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for an improved article dispenser having four (4) adjacent dispensing openings with a reclosable flap;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for an improved article dispenser having two (2) adjacent dispensing openings that can be accessed from either side of the container;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment for an improved article dispenser that has a perforation between the upper and lower containers; and  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment for an improved article dispenser that contains a grouping of randomly arranged articles. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0018]FIG. 1 shows a container  10  for dispensing articles  15  within the container  10  comprising a container  20  having an upper panel  22  with a first dispensing opening  24  therein for dispensing articles  15  from a first stack  25  of articles  15  and a lower panel  26  with a second opening  28  formed therein for dispensing articles  15  from a second stack  29  of articles  15 . A means  30  for separating the first and second stacks  25 ,  29  of articles disposed within the container  20 . The first stack  25  of articles  15  may be dispensed through the first dispensing opening  24  so that the container  20  may be turned over and the second stack  29  of articles  15  may be dispensed through the second dispensing opening  28 . The means  30  for separating the first and second stacks  25 ,  29  of articles  15  extend between the walls  40  of the container  20 .  
     ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019]FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of container  100  for dispensing articles  115  within the container  100  comprising a container  120  having a first upper panel  122  with a first dispensing opening  124  formed therein for dispensing articles  115  from a first stack  125  of articles  115  and a second upper panel  126  with a second dispensing opening  128  formed therein for dispensing articles  115  from a second stack  129  of articles  115 . Container  100  also contains a first lower panel  130  with a third dispensing opening  132  formed therein for dispensing articles  115  from a third stack  134  of articles  115  and a second lower panel  136  with a fourth dispensing opening  138  formed therein for dispensing articles  115  from a fourth stack  139  of articles  115 . A first means  140  is also provided for separating the first and third stacks  125 ,  134  of articles  115  disposed within container  100  and second means  142  for separating the second and fourth stacks  129 ,  139  of articles  115  disposed within container  100 . The first stack  125  of articles  115  may be dispensed through said first dispensing opening  124  and the second stack  129  of articles may be dispensed through a second dispensing opening  128 . The container  100  may be turned over and said third stack  134  of articles  115  may be dispensed through said third dispensing opening  132 , and the fourth stack  139  of articles  115  may be dispensed through the fourth dispensing opening  138 . The first means  140  for separating includes a separating member  144  extending between the first and third stacks  125 ,  134  of articles  115 . A second means  142  for separating include a separating member  146  extending between the second and fourth stacks  129 ,  139  of articles  115 . The first and second stacks  125 ,  129  are separated by a first vertically extending member  148  and wherein the third and fourth stacks  134 ,  139  are separated by a second vertically extending member  149 .  
     [0020]FIG. 2 also shows that dispensing openings  124 ,  128 ;  132 ,  138  of the respective container may include reclosable flaps  150  and  152  so the remaining elements of the stack do not fall out when container  100  is turned over. It should be understood that this type of reclosable flap may be used on any of the embodiments herein.  
     [0021]FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of container  200  for dispensing articles  215  from a first stack  225  and a second stack  229  of articles  215  disposed within the container  200 , comprising a container  220  having a first side panel  222  with a first dispensing opening  224  formed therein for dispensing articles  215  from the first stack  225  of articles  215  and a second side panel  226  with a second dispensing opening  228  formed therein for dispensing articles  215  from the second stack  229  of articles  215 . A device  240  is provided for separating the first and second stacks  225 ,  229  of articles  215  disposed within the container  220 . The first stack  225  of articles  215  may be dispensed through the first dispensing opening  224 . Without turning over the container  220  the second stack  229  of articles  215  may be dispensed through said second dispensing opening  228 . The means  240  for separating include a separating member  244  extending between the walls  250  of the container  220 .  
     [0022]FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of container  500  which includes two vertically arranged and separable first and second containers  520 ,  522 , wherein the upper first container  520  incorporates a first stack  524  and the lower second container  522  incorporates a second stack  526 . Container  500  also includes a perforated means  525  for separating the first upper container  520  from the lower second container  522  so containers  520 ,  522  may be separated and individually used.  
     [0023]FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of container  400  for dispensing articles  415  within the container  400  comprising a container  420  having an upper panel  422  with a first dispensing opening  424  therein for dispensing articles  415  from a group  425  of randomly arranged articles  415  and a lower panel  426  with a second opening  428  formed therein for dispensing articles  415  from a second group  425   a  of randomly arranged articles  415  such as pills, candy or pellets. A device  430  for separating the first and second groups  425 ,  429  of articles  415  is disposed within the container  420 . The first group  425  of articles  415  may be dispensed through the first dispensing opening  424  so that the container  420  may be turned over and the second group  429  of articles  415  may be dispensed through the second dispensing opening  428 . The means  430  for separating the first and second groups  425 ,  429  of articles  415  extend between the walls  440  of the container  420 .  
     [0024] Containers  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  400 ,  500  may be made from cardboard, metal, plastic, tin or stainless steel. The articles  15 ,  115 ,  215 , and to be placed in containers  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  500  may consist of tissue paper, napkins, wipes, paper towels, frozen ice cream, frozen food, frozen pizza, crayons, other foods and other articles. The articles to be placed in container  400  may consist of pills, candy, pellets, and other articles  
     [0025] Operation  
     [0026] Container  10  has a container  20  comprising an upper panel  22  with a first dispensing opening  24  for dispensing articles  15  from a first stock  25  of articles  15  and a lower panel  26  with a second opening  28  for dispensing articles  15  from a second stack  29  of articles  15 . A means  30  horizontally separates the first and second stacks  25 ,  29  of articles  15 . When the first stack  25  of articles  15  is depleted, container  10  may be flipped over to reveal a second dispensing opening  28 , which provides access to the second stack  29  of articles  15 . The first dispensing opening  24  may be resealed with a reclosable flap  300  so any left over articles  15  will not fall out when flipping container  10 .  
     [0027] An alternate embodiment, container  100 , contains a container  120  having a first upper panel  122  with a first dispensing opening  124  for dispensing articles  115  from a first stack  125  of articles  115  and a second upper panel  126  with a second dispensing opening  128  for dispensing articles  115  from a second stack  129  of articles  115 . When the first and second stacks  125 ,  129  of articles are depleted, container  100  can be flipped over to expose a third and fourth dispensing opening  132 ,  138  which allow access to a third and fourth stack  134 ,  139  of articles  115 . Each individual stack is compartmentalized.  
     [0028] An alternate embodiment, container  200 , contains a container  220  having a first side panel  222  with a first dispensing opening  224  for dispensing articles  215  from a first stack  225  of articles  215  and second side panel  226  with a second dispensing opening  228  formed therein for dispensing articles  215  from the second stack  229  of articles  215 . The first and second stacks  225 ,  229  are separated by a means  240 . The first and second dispensing openings  224 ,  228  are horizontally opposed to each other, so they can be equally accessed to the first and second stacks  225 ,  229  from either side of the container  200 .  
     [0029] An alternate embodiment, container  500 , which includes two vertically arranged and separable first and second container  520 ,  522  can be separated by tearing the perforation means  520  between the two containers  520 ,  522 .  
     ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
     [0030] It is an advantage of the present invention to provide for a dispensing box with up to four (4) short stacks of articles with at most openings being exposed on the top and bottom of the box. Each opening provides access to a separate stack of articles separated by a divider. Thus, when the top stack of articles is emptied, the box can simply be flipped over so as to easily access the second stack of articles in the (once) bottom stack.  
     [0031] A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.