Abstract:
A display apparatus [ 100 ] for bag-in-box type dispenser bags comprises a transparent enclosure [ 103 ] having a dispenser portion [ 117 ] and a cup holder portion [ 119 ]. The dispenser portion is sized to accept a drink dispenser bag [ 101 ] for dispensing beverages. A spout aperture [ 129 ] on a dispensing end [ 109 ] provides access to the spout [ 131 ] of the dispenser. A cup holder [ 121 ] dispenses a stack of cups [ 125 ] from the apparatus. Suction cups [ 205 ] provide a means to attach the apparatus to a vertical surface [ 135 ]. The apparatus provides high-visibility display of a bag-in-box product and facilitates sampling by potential customers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to beverage containers and, more particularly, to bag-in-box beverage dispensers used for retail display.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    Bag-in-box dispensers are becoming increasingly popular for use as dispensers of beverage, food, and non-food products. The popularity of bag-in-box dispensers results from reduced warehouse and retail floor space required as compared to many conventional liquid packaging methods, lower cost as compared with rigid, reusable containers, reduction of packaging material, and ease of disposal. Bag-in-box packaging has proven to be clean and safe for beverages and pulpable food products.  
           [0003]    Bag-in-box packaging is especially popular in retail beverage applications because the outer box provides an ideal advertising display which is highly visible and easily readable as compared to cylindrical liquid packages. Improvements in box construction and printing qualities affords ever-improving graphics effective in retail markets.  
           [0004]    Beverage sample dispensing raises problems associated with current bag-in-box designs, since the size and weight of current bag-and-box designs required the units to be set on a stand or other horizontal surface.  
           [0005]    Dispensing the beverages on horizontal surfaces is complicated by the proximity of the dispensing spout at the bottom of the bag-in-box to the horizontal surface, leaving little space for spout access and dispensing the beverage into a cup. Dispensing beverages often results in spilling. Another problem is that cups are stored separately from the bag-in-box, requiring separate cup dispensers and further complicating the process of beverage dispensing.  
           [0006]    There exists a significant need for improved beverage dispensing from bag-and-box dispensers and for improved display of beverage dispensers for product marketing.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The display apparatus of the present invention comprises a generally square parallelepiped-shaped dispenser enclosure having a dispenser portion and a cup holder portion. The dispenser portion is sized to accept a bag-in-box type drink dispenser bag and comprises a spout aperture on an end wall for the spout of the bag-in-box. The cup holder portion comprises a chamber sized to enclose a stack of drinking cups. A cup-dispenser aperture in the bottom panel of the enclosure provides a means for dispensing cups one at a time from the stack of cups in the cup holder. The enclosure comprises a transparent front panel to allow viewing of the bag indicia and graphics with the bag is inserted into the display apparatus.  
           [0008]    A means for attaching the display apparatus to a vertical surface provides good display properties of the bag-in-box, and allows improved access to the spout for dispensing beverages into a cup as compared to setting a bag-in-box on a horizontal surface. In the preferred embodiments, suction cups on the back panel of the display apparatus provides a means for attaching the display apparatus to a vertical surface. The suction cups provide a convenient means to attach the apparatus to a surface such as the front panel or door of a display case. In alternative embodiments, adhesive strips, hook and loop fasteners, J-hooks, or other mechanical fasteners are used to attach the apparatus to the vertical surface.  
           [0009]    Another embodiment utilizes an expanded box portion of a bag-in-box container to provide a cup holder portion within the box. A vertical partition interior to the box provides support to the back of the bag, and acts as the front wall of the cup holder. A cup-dispensing hole in the bottom of the box below a stack of cups in the cup holder portion allows single-cup dispensing. Suction cups, adhesive strips or other mechanical fasteners on the back panel of the bag-in-box provide a means to attach the apparatus to a vertical surface.  
           [0010]    The display apparatus for beverage dispensers is especially useful with compact bag-in-box products, such as ones with depths of 2-4 inches. Such bag-in-box products are of low enough weight to facilitate support from vertical surfaces. Use of sufficient vertical surface support, however, allows use with a wide range of bag-in-box sizes.  
           [0011]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus for bag-in-box dispensers which provides improved presentation and display of bag-in-box products in a retail environment.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus for bag-in-box dispensers which allows convenient sampling of beverages by customers.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus for bag-in-box dispensers which improves the mechanical security of the bag-in-box dispenser, freeing both hands for holding a cup and dispensing a beverage.  
           [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus for bag-in-box dispensers which has better hand access to the spout than one placed on a horizontal surface, reducing spillage.  
           [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus for bag-in-box dispensers which can easily be placed at a convenient height for dispensing beverages.  
           [0016]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus for bag-in-box dispensers which is useable by retailers and consumers alike. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the display apparatus for bag-type beverage dispensers with a transparent enclosure having a dispenser portion and a cup-holder portion, the enclosure attachable to a vertical surface;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2A is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2B is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2C is a view from the dispensing end of the embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3A is a detail cross section of the suction cup of FIG. 2C showing an adhesive attachment of the suction cup to the back panel of the apparatus;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3B is a detail cross section of the suction cup of FIG. 2C showing a mechanical slotting method of attachment of the suction cup to the back panel of the apparatus;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3C is a detail cross section of an alternative embodiment of the attachment means of  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2C showing an adhesive strip attached to the back panel of the apparatus; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the display apparatus for dispensing beverages utilizing an extended bag-in-box enclosure to store and dispense a stack of beverage cups, the apparatus attachable to a vertical surface by suction cups. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    The following is a description of the preferred embodiments of a display/dispenser apparatus for dispensing beverages which provides a low-cost and effective method for displaying bag-in-box products.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the display/dispenser apparatus  100  for enclosing and displaying a drink dispenser bag  101 . In the preferred embodiments, the display apparatus comprises a dispenser enclosure  103  having a front panel  105 , a back panel  107 , a dispensing panel  109 , an opposite panel  111 , and a bottom panel  113 . An interior vertical partition  115  divides the interior portion of enclosure  103  into dispenser portion  117  and auxiliary or cup holder portion  119 . The dimensions of dispenser portion  117  are selected to accommodate a bag-in-box dispenser such as dispenser bag  101 .  
         [0029]    Auxiliary portion  119  comprises a cup holder  121  for storing and dispensing cups  123 . Cup holder  119  is a U-shaped channel attached to partition  115  to form a square cross-sectional structure for retaining a stack of cups  125 . U-shaped retaining channels  127  retain partition  115  and cup holder  121  vertically in enclosure  103 .  
         [0030]    Spout aperture  129  disposed in dispenser panel  109  provides access for spout  131  of dispenser  103 . Enclosure cover  133  fits over enclosure  103  to provide protection for dispenser bag  101  and cup stack  125  when inserted into enclosure  103 . Optionally, cover  133  may cover only auxiliary portion  119 .  
         [0031]    FIGS.  2 A- 2 C are top, front and end views, respectively of display apparatus  100 . Cup dispenser aperture  203  provides a means to dispense cups from bottom  113  of enclosure  103 . Suction cups  205 , attached to back panel  107  provide a means to attach display apparatus  100  to a vertical surface such as the front panel  135  of a display case  137  of FIG. 1.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2C shows suction cups  207 , shown in phantom lines, optionally placed on front panel  105 . Optional cover  133  is shown in FIG. 2C in phantom lines.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3A is a detail cross section of the suction cups  205  of FIG. 2C for attachment to vertical surface  135 . In the preferred embodiments, suction cups  205  are made of rubber, neoprene, or other polymeric materials and are attached to back panel  107  by an adhesive  301 . FIG. 3B is an alternative method of attaching suction cup  205 A utilizing a slot portion  303  of suction cup  205 A to engage a keyhole aperture  305  in back panel  107 . FIG. 3C is another embodiment of an attachment means utilizing a double-sided adhesive strip or pad  307 . The first adhesive surface  309  attaches adhesive pad  307  to back panel  107 . The second adhesive surface  311  attaches the pad and apparatus to the vertical surface of FIG. 1. A peel strip  313  protects second adhesive surface  311  until time of use. In still another embodiment, element  307  may be a hook and loop fastener strip attached to back panel  107 .  
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiments, at least a portion of front panel  105  is made of a transparent material such as PETG, to allow viewing of product advertisement and identification indicia  141  on dispenser  101 . In the more preferred embodiments, the entire enclosure is made of PETG. Enclosure  103  may be fabricated by welding or gluing individual panels, or multiple panels may be extruded as shapes and the enclosure assembled from the extruded shapes.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of display apparatus  400  comprising an extended bag-in-box carton or dispenser  401  defining an enclosure  403  for drink dispenser bag  404  and cup stack  425 . Dispenser  401  comprises a front panel  405 , back panel  407 , dispensing panel  409 , opposite side panel  411 , and bottom panel  413 . C-shaped vertical partition  415 , attached to the interior side of front panel  405  and back panel  407  by glued flanges  415 A, defines dispenser portion  417  and auxiliary portion  419 .  
         [0036]    Enclosure  403  is covered by a top panel formed by top sub-panels  420 A,  420 B,  420 C, and  420 D, folded and secured after insertion of bag  404  and cup stack  425 . Cup dispenser aperture  424  in bottom panel  413  provides single-cup dispensing from the apparatus. Perforated spout tear-away  426  provides an aperture for spout  428  of bag  404 . Suction cups  205  attached to back panel  407  provide attachment of the apparatus to a vertical surface such as surface  135  of FIG. 1. Suction cups may be attached to the outside of back panel  407  by an adhesive, similar to that shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, or adhesive pads or hook and loop fasteners may be used as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3C.  
         [0037]    In the preferred embodiments, dispenser  401  is made of a paperboard material such as corrugated boxboard, solid paperboard, or it may be made of a plastic material such as plastic corrugated sheet.  
         [0038]    Other embodiments provide for the attachment means on the front panel or front and back panel of the apparatus. In still other embodiments, the attachment means is disposed on and end panel. In still other embodiments, the display/dispenser of FIG. I may be sized to enclose a complete bag-in-box carton similar to the carton of FIG. 4. In the preferred embodiments, the bag-in-box enclosures are dimensioned to accept compact drink dispenser bags having a depth of 2-4 inches. Such compact bag-in-box dispenser/display apparatus provides a convenient means for drink product display and dispensing, and the apparatus is sufficiently light to allow hanging from a vertical surface with simple fasteners.  
         [0039]    Accordingly, the reader will see that the DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS provides an improved means to display and dispense beverages from a bag-in-box dispenser. The device provides the following additional advantages:  
         [0040]    The display apparatus of the present invention may be used by consumers as well as retailers.  
         [0041]    The improved dispensing afforded by attachment to a vertical surface provides additional mechanical security of the dispenser, reduces spillage, frees both hands for cup holding and dispensing, and allows placement at a convenient height.  
         [0042]    The display apparatus improves the display and advertising properties of bag-in-box products.  
         [0043]    Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the display apparatus of disclosed may be used for pulpable food products and non-food products such as cleaning fluids. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.