Abstract:
An elevating dispenser to lift and suspend fragile foodstuffs from within an upright canister for serving. A column of wafers ( 13 ) rest on an elevating dispenser ( 10 ) inside a canister ( 11 ). When wafers have been removed to the point that they are no longer easily obtainable from the canister aperture, the user lifts the dispenser and engages notches ( 10   c ) integral to the dispenser on the canister rim ( 11   b ), thus suspending wafers nearer the canister aperture to make them more easily obtainable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERRENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to canisters, specifically to the use of a canister as consumer packaging for fragile, wafer-like foodstuffs. 
     2. Discussion of Prior Art 
     Use of a canister as a food container has many desirable benefits. A canister is strong, compact, and inexpensive. Use of a canister for storage of flours, rice, uncooked pasta, and other bulk goods is the traditional usage. However, a canister can also be of great benefit to ship and store fragile foodstuffs such as uniformly sized and molded snacks or any fragile wafer-like food or cookie. 
     The limitation of a canister for prepared wafer-like foods such as crisps or cookies is that its contents are reachable only as far as a finger-length. Beyond that point, the canister must be tilted or inverted so that the product begins to slide out. When the desired amount has been emptied from the canister, the canister is returned to an upright position. During the tipping and righting process, the contents slide back and forth, leaving them disheveled, broken, and chipped. If a canister holds several servings, the appearance and integrity of the product is greatly diminished by the last few servings. Additionally, when tilting or inverting the canister, messy crumbs and broken pieces are unintentionally dispensed along with whole product. If the contents of a canister are emptied into a bowl for serving, product identity is lost and unused portions must be dropped back into the canister. 
     The prior art shows only one attempt to dispense edible wafers from a canister. U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,759 to Bridge and Hill (1998, shows a dispensing lid on a canister. Theoretically, the wafers stay in position and queue properly at the lid to sift out one wafer at a time. The patent abstract indicates that the product is dispensed by inverting and tilting the container. While the dispenser lid can regulate the quantity of wafers dispensed, the remaining product is still susceptible to the range and type of motion that causes the product to crumble and break. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,535 to Moreau (1997, shows a basket for a cooking vessel that hooks via a device to the vessel rim. It is variably adjustable by means of an opposing peg inserted into any one of multiple perforations in the basket. The basket can then be suspended from the cooking media and drained. While the device itself does not perform any lifting function and the purpose and use of the device is considerably different from the current invention, it is cited due to the means of temporary attachment of an element on a vessel rim. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,441 to Sagel and Croft (1998, shows a flexible bag used in conjunction with a rigid sleeve. The identified use of the invention is a container for edible chips. The feature of the packaging is the ability to press in the box corners at intervals to stabilize product movement. The device does not dispense or otherwise alter the tilt and inversion of the packaging to obtain product. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,077 to Smith and Klemme (1992, shows a removable paper disk friction fit into a container to divide or restrain levels of product. While the disk may retain layers of product from motion, it does not serve any function as to the dispensing of product. Additionally the canister diameter would have to be large enough for a hand to enter to remove the disk. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,279 to Countee (1998, shows a box container that can be manipulated on folding features to accommodate a hand entering the container to retrieve bulk snack foods. It is cited as a device intended to eliminate the undesirable aspect of the need to tilt or invert a container to retrieve product. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,611 to Tieman (1997, shows a sling like device for removal of food from a slow-cooker. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,707 to Engdahl (1987, shows a container for fragile foods that supports its shape at stress points to prevent fractures. 
     The prior art shows a variety of devices to divide, portion, or access prepared foodstuffs. Two examples show a retrieval aid for vertical lifting and draining of food from cooking media. The prior art does not show a means of dispensing food from a canister without tilt or inversion. 
     SUMMARY 
     The elevating dispenser for canister of the present invention utilizes a sling, integral with the canister packaging to cradle and support a column of wafers. As product is diminished, the sling can be raised. A novel configuration allows the sling to temporarily attach to the canister rim at intervals in order to suspend product above or near the canister opening for easy reach. The present invention will enable an ease of use and satisfaction of product quality, display, and appearance substantially greater than inverting a canister to dispense product. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the elevating dispenser for canister described in my above patent, several other advantages of the present invention are: 
     a) to provide a dispensing means integral with packaging. 
     b) to provide a means of reducing breakage by eliminating tilt and inversion of a canister to obtain product. 
     c) to provide a means whereby only a simple pinching motion of a finger and thumb are required to remove product that is elevated from within a canister. 
     d) to provide a means whereby crumbs remain in the bottom of a canister and are not dispensed with whole product. 
     e) to provide a means whereby wafers packed in a canister are held more snuggly to further reduce breakage due to shipping and handling. 
     f) to provide an inexpensive and simple packaging solution. 
     g) to provide a unique and marketable packaging feature in the marketplace. 
     h) to provide a serving and display means of product in its original packaging for greater brand recognition. 
     i) to provide a more convenient way of obtaining wafers whereby the user may be inclined to consume more product. 
     j) to provide a more appealing package and product appearance whereby the user may be enticed to consume more product. 
     k) to provide an additional benefit of an extra surface area suitable for print and graphic advertising of same or complementary product. 
     l) to provide an additional benefit of an extra surface area where interesting trivia or pop-culture phenomena can be displayed for target market interest and enjoyment. 
     m) to provide an additional benefit of a concealed surface on sealed product for chance-type contests, sweepstakes, or games. 
     n) to provide an additional benefit of a concealed surface on sealed product to use for coupon or discount promotion for same or complementary product. 
     o) to provide an additional benefit of a dispenser capable of supporting a retainer tab feature to secure product during canister handling. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number, but different alphabetic suffixes. 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of a canister and the preferred embodiment of the elevating dispenser side-by-side. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment partially inserted in a canister. 
     FIG. 3 shows a cut-away side detail of the preferred embodiment notch positioned on a canister rim. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cut-away side view of the preferred embodiment in a sealed canister. 
     FIG. 5 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment in a canister. 
     FIG. 6 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment in a canister with a formed wafer positioned on the base. 
     FIG. 7 shows an additional retainer tab feature incorporated with the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 8 shows a cut-away side view of the first alternative embodiment partially inserted in a canister. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 elevating dispenser 
               
               
                   
                 10a 
                 vertical member 
               
               
                   
                 10b 
                 notched tab 
               
               
                   
                 10c 
                 notch 
               
               
                   
                 10d 
                 finger hole 
               
               
                   
                 10e 
                 base support 
               
               
                   
                 10f 
                 base stand-off tab 
               
               
                   
                 10g 
                 cradle tab 
               
               
                   
                 10h 
                 retainer tab 
               
               
                   
                 10i 
                 retainer tab score-line 
               
               
                   
                 10j 
                 rigid angle 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 canister 
               
               
                   
                 11a 
                 canister tube 
               
               
                   
                 11b 
                 canister rim 
               
               
                   
                 11c 
                 canister cap 
               
               
                   
                 11d 
                 canister bottom 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 formed wafer 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 flat wafer 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred Embodiment—FIGS.  1 - 37   
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, a side view of the dispenser and a canister side-by-side. Canister  11  is comprised of canister tube  11   a  which terminates at the top with canister rim  11   b  and at the bottom with canister bottom  11   d . Elevating dispenser  10  is comprised of vertical member  10   a  which extends upward from opposite sides of base support  10   e . Notched tab  10   b  extends back from vertical member  10   a along both vertical edges. Notch  10   c  is located at intervals. along notched tab  10   b . Finger hole  10   d  is located near the top of vertical member  10   a . Base stand-off tab  10   f  extends down from the remaining opposite edges of base support  10   e . Cradle tabs  10   g  extend up from base support  10   e.    
     In FIG. 2, elevating dispenser  10  is shown partially inserted into canister  11 . 
     In FIG. 3, a detail, notched tab  10   b  protrudes from canister tube  11   a . Notch  10   c  sits on canister rim  11   b.    
     FIG. 4 shows elevating dispenser  10  completely inside canister  11 . Canister cap  11   c  seals top of canister  11 . 
     In FIG. 5, a top view, elevating dispenser  10  is inside canister  11 . Canister rim  11   b  encircles elevating dispenser  10 . Base support  10   e  partially obscures canister bottom  11   d . Cradle tabs  10   g  stand up from base support  10   e . Vertical member  10   a  stands up from base support  10   e  inside canister  11 . Notched tab  10   b  extends back from vertical member  10   a.    
     FIG. 6 shows formed wafer  12  on base support  10   e  positioned between vertical members  10   a.    
     FIG. 7 shows retainer tabs  10   h  bent in from the surface of vertical member  10   a . Score-lines  10   i  for retainer tabs  10   h  are located at intervals along the surface of vertical member  10   a.    
     Operation—FIGS.  1 - 7   
     Preferred Embodiment 
     In FIG. 1, elevating dispenser  10  is shown adjacent and in same scale to canister  11 . Elevating dispenser  10  spans from canister bottom  11   d  to canister rim  11   b . Finger hole  10   d  on vertical member  10   a  is graspable from the top aperture of canister  11 . Vertical member  10   a  extends downward to base support  10   e  in such manner that the entire contents of canister tube  11   a  rests on base support  10   e  and is removable by lifting on finger holes  10   d  of vertical members  10   a.    
     Notch  10   c  is located at intervals along notched tab  10   b . Notched tab  10   b  extends back from both sides of vertical member  10   a  to provide a protrusion capable of spanning canister rim  11   b  with notch  10   c . As product is removed from canister  11  and becomes difficult to reach, the user grasps finger holes  10   d  on elevating dispenser  10  and lifts (FIG.  2 . When elevating dispenser  10  is raised to the point where next subsequent notch  10   c  is slightly above canister rim  11   b , the user flexes vertical member  10   a  outward from canister  11  with a slight bending motion to engage notch  10   c  on canister rim  11   b . Elevating dispenser  10  is then lowered until notch  10   c  is secured on canister rim  11   b  (FIG.  3 . The user may then easily reach and grasp product that has been elevated to a convenient. serving height. The spacing of notches  10   c  is incremental so that the user may continue to elevate as product level diminishes until canister  11  has been emptied of product. Notch  10   c  is depicted as a uniform configuration in the drawings to simplify conception. Slight modification may be necessary to engage canister rim  11   b  more accurately at specific intervals. Manipulation of dispenser vertical member  10   a  for positioning notches  10   c  on canister rim  11   b  will require use of a semi-rigid material. The preferred embodiment is conceived of as a stamped and folded sheet good. 
     When the desired product has been removed from elevating dispenser  10 , vertical members  10   a  are lifted to raise notch  10   c  from resting position on canister rim  11   b . The user then holds in vertical members  10   a  so that notched tab  10   b  clears canister rim  11   b  and slides down within canister tube  11   a . Canister cap  11   c  is then applied to canister rim  11   b  to seal canister  11  (FIG.  4 ). 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show top views of elevating dispenser  10  inside canister  11 . FIG. 5 shows empty cradle tabs  10 g. 
     FIG. 6 shows formed wafer  12  positioned on base support  10   e  to provide an idea of size and placement of product on the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 7 shows retainer tab  10   h  bent inward from vertical member  10   a . Score-lines  10   i  for retainer tabs  10   h  are depicted at intervals on vertical members  10   a . Retainer tab  10   h  may be pushed in to help keep product in the preferred position should canister  11  be stored or held in a position other than upright. 
     Description—FIG.  8   
     First Alternative Embodiment 
     Dispenser  10 , is partia 11 y inserted in canister  11 . Base stand-off tab  10   f  is affixed to notched tab  10   b  by means of rigid angle  10   j . Notch  10   c  of notched tab  10   b  is positioned on canister rim  11   b . Flat wafer  13  is suspended on dispenser  10 . 
     Operation—FIG.  8   
     First Alternative Embodiment 
     This embodiment utilizes a single vertical extension means for operation by a single hand. Rigid angle  10   j  adjoins notched tab  10   b  and base stand-off tab  10   f  at a 90 degree angle to support flat wafer  13 . Notch  10   c  is hooked on canister rim  11   b . This embodiment will require more rigid construction materials than the preferred embodiment. 
     Conclusion, Ramification, And Scope 
     The advantages of the elevating dispenser for canister are many. It is a low-cost means of lifting, and dispensing fragile wafer-like product from an upright canister. It can provide more product stability to reduce breakage during shipping. Product remains undisturbed and in its preferred position throughout serving and storage. The dispenser is convenient and ergonomically simple to use. It provides a marketable advantage not only by improved quality and presentation but also by way of novelty to an otherwise bland method of packaging. 
     As a secondary benefit, the surfaces of the dispenser may be suitable for additional printed or graphic product information, pop culture phenomena, holiday, seasonal, or trivia to attract a particular market segment. The surface area may also be used for promotional advertising to generate additional sales of same or complementary product. 
     The elevating dispenser is not visible in a sealed opaque canister, making it well suited to coupons, prizes, games, or contests wherein the benefit is intended to be secret or unavailable prior to opening of the package or consumption of the product. 
     Additional features such as push-in retaining tabs located on the uprights can help product stay secure during rough handling and storage. 
     The dispenser may be made of any cardboard, plastic, metallic foil or combination of economical and suitable materials. The physical shape and style may vary for a particular esthetic effect or for differentiation of canister shape, width, height, or geometric composition. The nature of the foodstuff expected to be suitable for the elevating dispenser includes but is not limited to: any cookie, cracker, crisp, chip, confection, jerky, or lozenge. The physical characteristics of the foodstuff may include but not be limited to: flat or formed wafers suitable for stacking or nesting in a vertical fashion. 
     Actual means of incremental and temporary attachment to the canister may consist of, but not be limited to: the notch means depicted in this patent, temporary adhesives, spring tension, friction, hook and loop, malleable materials or features, or any other method of temporary and suitable attachment of a movable and elevating feature within a canister. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustration of some of the presently considered embodiment of the device. The scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.