Patent Publication Number: US-6220479-B1

Title: Confectionery dispenser

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technical field of this invention concerns dispensers for gum balls and other confectioneries. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Children are amused and entertained by novel confectionery dispensing devices. Consumers of gum balls, hard candy, tablets, mints and other edible confectioneries also find portable hand held dispensing devices convenient for storing, preserving, and dispensing such confectioneries. There are a variety of well-known devices having storage chambers from which a plurality of confectioneries may be removed individually by action of the consumer. Well-known confectionery dispensers place balls or other confectioneries in position for release by biasing the objects with platform and spring systems or gravity to deliver the confectionery to the dispensing end of the storage container. 
     Other well-known devices hold confectioneries in dispensing devices that are decorated with, or otherwise integrated with, human-like or creature-like faces to entertain children. Some of these devices entertain by dispensing gum balls in gravity-fed spiral or other shaped tracks which the child can view through transparent enclosures. 
     Known confectionery dispensing devices, however, do not permit the ejection with a “popping” sound and action of the gum ball or other confectionery at a point remote from the consumer&#39;s hand which operates the dispensing device. Children are interested, amused and entertained by the popping sound and action as confectioneries are ejected from the present invention. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a confectionery dispensing device that allows the user to dispense gum balls and other confectioneries from the device at a point remote from the user&#39;s hand. The “popping” sound and action is surprising, amusing and entertaining to the user. Confectioneries are stored in a container with a spring or gravity, or other biasing means which permits a plurality of confectioneries to be delivered to a conduit serially. A hand operated plunger ejects the confectionery through flexible fingers when operated by the user. The flexible fingers are sized to retain the confectionery in the conduit until the plunger is operated. The plunger forces the confectioneries one at a time through the flexible fingers so that the confectionery gently pops out of the device into the user&#39;s other hand, but not with so great a force that the gum ball become a dangerous projectile. A face or other figure can be placed around the ejecting end of the flexible fingers tube, which face can remain permanently open or open in a door or jaw-like manner upon ejection of the confectionery. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following descriptions and its drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the confectionery dispenser; 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the confectionery dispenser; 
     FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the confectionery dispenser; 
     FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the gravity fed confectionery dispenser; 
     FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the conduit along the  5 — 5  axis in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the flexible fingers tube with flexible fingers; 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the flexible fingers tube with a gum ball flexing the fingers; and 
     FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the flexible fingers tube with a gum ball being pushed through the flexible fingers tube. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 &amp; 2, the confectionery dispenser  10  has a confectionery storage container  11 , a plunger  12 , a plunger actuating means, a conduit  14  and a flexible fingers tube  15  having flexible fingers  16  at one opposing end and an ejecting opening  17  at the other opposing end. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the storage container ( 11 ) may have a platform  18 , activated by a platform spring  19 , to serially present the confectioneries by biasing them against the conduit ( 14 ). A tab  20  may project from the platform and be movably mounted on or through the container to permit the user to retract the platform when loading the container, and to stabilize the platform in the cylinder. The tab in this embodiment in FIG. 2 passes through a platform channel  21  in the wall  22  of the storage container to movably connect the platform to the storage container, and the platform channel has a locking slot  23  to hold the tab and platform at the bottom  24  of the storage container to permit easier container loading. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, an alternative confectionery dispenser can be constructed in which the platform tab ( 20 ) slides in a platform channel  44  inside the storage container, where the platform channel does not go all the way through the wall ( 22 ). In both alternatives, the tabs are stopped to prevent the platform from entering the conduit when the last confectionery is dispensed. 
     The confectionery storage container ( 11 ) in this embodiment is cylindrical, and made of a plastic material, and could be transparent or translucent to enhance the visual effect of the device. This is especially beneficial when multicolored confectioneries are used. Wood, metal or a variety of other materials could be used, but likely would be prohibitively expensive for a mass-produced toy. The storage container could be of numerous shapes on its exterior, such as an ergonomic hand grip or design. The interior of the confectionery storage container should be shaped to permit the confectionaries to travel through the storage container ( 11 ) and the conduit ( 14 ), such as circular for spherical confectioneries, and square for cube shaped confectioneries. 
     An equivalent embodiment is shown in FIG. 4, in which the confectioneries are gravity fed by inverting the storage container ( 11 ). The platform, spring, tab, platform channel, platform track and locking slot are not needed in this alternative embodiment. 
     As shown in FIG. 2 &amp; 3, the confectionery storage container ( 11 ) can be filled through a removable cap  25  covering the filling opening  37 . The cap preferably is located on the conduit, but could be located at any site on the dispenser in communication with the storage container, provided that the storage container can be filled without interference with the loading of the confectioneries. Such interference could arise from the platform ( 18 ) and spring ( 19 ) if the filling opening ( 37 ) is located too close to the container bottom ( 24 ). The cap ( 25 ) alternatively can be located on the storage container bottom end ( 24 ) in gravity-fed alternatives, and in other embodiments if the spring and platform are removable. The filling opening is then located at the storage container bottom end. 
     The cap is removed and confectioneries travel through the filling opening ( 37 ) in the conduit and into the storage container. Alternatively, the confectionery storage container could be removably attached by threads or friction to the conduit ( 14 ), which would permit removal of the confectionery storage container for filling with confectioneries. These alternative filling methods also permit refilling of the storage container after all gum balls are dispensed. Filling may be facilitated by the flexible sleeves or wrappers in which gum balls or confectioneries are commonly sold. The wrappers hold the confectioneries while the consumer loads them into the storage container. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2,  3  &amp;  5 , the conduit ( 14 ) has a plunger opening  26 , a confectionery loading opening  27 , and a flexible fingers opening  28 . The flexible fingers tube ( 15 ) is located to receive confectioneries from the conduit ejecting opening. In the preferred embodiment, the conduit and container are molded together. The plunger ( 12 ) is sized to fit the conduit ( 14 ). Confectioneries are forced through the confectionery loading opening ( 27 ) by the platform ( 18 ) or gravity. The user then actuates a plunger button  29  or otherwise actuates the plunger ( 12 ), thereby forcing the confectionery through the conduit ejecting opening ( 28 ) and into and through the flexible fingers ( 16 ). The flexible fingers ( 16 ) then force the confectionery through the flexible fingers tube ( 15 ), and out the ejecting opening ( 17 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the plunger actuating means includes a button  29 , a spring  30 , a plunger button retainer  40 , a plunger button retainer stop  42 , and a plunger stop plate  43 . The plunger ( 12 ) is biased away from the flexible fingers tube ( 15 ) by a plunger spring  30  which is contained between the plunger button retainer  40  and the plunger stop plate  43 . The plunger stop plate has a plunger guide hole  41  to guide the plunger in making contact with the confectionery. 
     The plunger button ( 29 ) could be a variety of shapes to increase the interest of the user and provide a larger surface area than the plunger  12  which pushes the confectionery and is small enough to fit inside the conduit ( 14 ). The plunger button ( 29 ) also may serve as a retainer for the plunger spring ( 19 ), but numerous well-known alternatives such as clips, pens, shoulders or similar retainers would be equally suitable. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the plunger may be trapped between halves of the conduit to movably connect the plunger to the conduit, by means of a plunger button retainer stop  42 , or as shown in FIG. 3 can be retained with a retainer ring  32  or a variety of other well-known methods. 
     Numerous alternative well-known methods could serve as a plunger actuating means to push the confectioneries through the conduit and flexible fingers. The handle could be manually pulled away from the flexible fingers tube, but this method requires more user effort and likely would be less appealing to the user. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible fingers tube ( 15 ) has a receiving opening  34  formed by the flexible fingers ( 16 ), and an ejecting opening ( 17 ) at the opposing end. The flexible fingers tube is sized so the flexible fingers fit within the conduit ( 14 ). The flexible fingers have a plurality of slits  33  to permit the flexible fingers to flex outward when the plunger ( 12 ) forces a confectionery  39  through the flexible fingers. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 &amp; 8, as the plunger pushes the confectionery ( 39 ) further through the flexible fingers, the relatively elastic fingers press back to their unexpanded shape, thereby exerting a force on the confectionery and forcing it out of the ejecting opening ( 17 ) so that the confectionery pops out. The flexible finger slits ( 33 ) preferably are rounded at the end away from the receiving opening to reduce material stress, breaking and cracking to the flexible fingers tube. 
     Most currently manufactured standard size gum balls range from {fraction (17/32)} to 1¼ inches in diameter. The ⅝ inch gum ball is the most popular size of the smaller gum balls. The process used in manufacturing gum balls is not precise, and “⅝” inch gum balls average approximately 0.600 inches in diameter, and may range between approximately 0.57 and 0.625 inches in diameter. Moreover, “⅝” gum balls are not perfectly spherically, and may vary 0.020 inches or more in their smaller and larger diameters on the same gum ball. For a “⅝” inch gum ball, and ABS flexible fingers, an inside diameter of the flexible fingers receiving opening ( 34 ) of approximately 5 to 10% smaller than the average size of the gum ball, and a flexible flange thickness of 0.040 inches works well. A flexible fingers receiving opening inside diameter of approximately 0.55 inches for ⅝″ gum balls is used in this embodiment. 
     The flexible fingers receiving opening should not be so small that it crushes the gum ball, destroying its panned coating. Additionally, too much resistance in the flexible fingers may require too much force on the bottom to dispense the confectionery, and may cause the gum ball to pop out of the tube with too much force, where the gum ball would be considered a “projectile” and possibly be a safety concern. If the receiving opening is too large, the smaller gum balls will not “pop” out of the dispenser. Some gum balls may not pop out as efficiently as others since there is such a range of sizes, but the embodiment specified offers the best known solution given the range of sizes of gum balls. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible fingers are tapered so that the thickness of the flexible fingers material is less at the receiving opening ( 34 ). The angle of taper on the flexible fingers should be approximately 8 to 12 degrees off of the widest part of the flexible fingers, with approximately 10 degrees used in this embodiment. This angle leaves enough space between the fingers and the top of the housing to permit the fingers to flex properly. More of an acute angle may offer too much resistance to push the confectionery through. Decreasing the angle provides less room for the fingers to flex because they become obstructed by contacting the conduit. Approximately 10 degrees offers adequate resistance, yet makes it possible to pop the gum ball out with an appropriate amount of push on the button. 
     In this embodiment, the flexible fingers ( 16 ) are made of ABS or high impact styrene plastic with sufficient elasticity to expand as the confectionery is forced through the fingers, and sufficient strength to withstand numerous dispensings without breaking. Other plastics such as delrin, polypropylene and ethylene and similar materials could be used. If the same materials are used for the conduit ( 14 ) and the flexible fingers ( 16 ) and flexible fingers tube ( 15 ), as well as the platform ( 18 ), the plunger ( 12 ), the plunger button ( 29 ) and the plunger button retainer ( 40 ), they all can be molded in the same mold. Stainless steel or other flexible metal could be used but likely is prohibitively expensive for most hand-held and non-commercial applications. 
     The conduit ( 14 ) should be sized to fit around the flexible fingers so that the fingers have sufficient room to flex. Similarly, the plunger ( 12 ) is designed to fit within the conduit, but should not be permitted to enter the flexible fingers in such a way as to impair the force of the flexible fingers on the gum ball. As shown in FIG. 2, the plunger stop plate  43  stops the plunger from entering the flexible fingers tube. Numerous alternative equivalents are possible. 
     After the plunger pushes the confectionery into the flexible fingers tube, and the plunger is withdrawn, the next advancing gum ball will then load into the conduit. The gum ball must load in a manner so that it does not obstruct the return movement of the plunger. 
     The material used for the flexible fingers tube ( 15 ), like the flexible fingers, needs to have strong physical properties, yet be flexible when molded in a thickness that is minimal to produce the flexing characteristic that is necessary for the fingers to push the confectionery. Although a material such as delrin, polypropylene, or ethylene all have good characteristics for flexing when molded in a thin formation, as is generally needed for the flexible fingers, it is found that ABS or high impact styrene work just as well. Cost considerations generally would dictate choice of materials within these types of flexible materials. 
     The flexible fingers tube ejecting opening ( 17 ) must be of sufficient size so the gum ball travels through it easily and into the user&#39;s hand or other “catcher.” Too small an ejecting opening ( 17 ) would cause friction and slow down the velocity of the gum ball or even obstruct it, preventing it from exiting from the opening. It is found that the diameter of the opening should be within a range of approximately 8 to 12% larger than the average size gum ball or confectionery for which the device is designed. In one embodiment, the opening is approximately 0.66 inches, which is 10% larger than the average size “⅝” inch gum ball. 
     The conduit ( 14 ) or flexible fingers tube ( 15 ) can be decorated with faces  38 , other figures or with faces having jaws ( 35 ) which open with the plunger to eject the confection through the mouth of the face. The confectionery can eject through the jaws opening  45 , as shown in FIG. 1. A variety of other faces, figures, designs, and features can be added to the housing to make it more interesting and attractive to children.