Abstract:
Substantially cylindrical objects moving mainly by gravity in plural merging pathways merge without jamming or gridlock when the merging pathways are arranged such that objects in a non-delivering pathway merge into a delivering pathway only laterally whereby objects in the delivering pathway prevent merging of objects from the non-delivering pathway. The arrangement can be used in an wearable, insulated backpack for delivering beverages.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 60/631,299 filed Nov. 26, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to portable dispensers for substantially cylindrical containers and more particularly to backpacks for dispensing canned or bottled beverages.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Insulated devices, including backpacks, for carrying and dispensing beverages are not new.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,627 discloses a container in which a sloped floor defines a pathway down which canned beverages roll to an opening at which they are prevented from exiting by leaf springs.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,806 discloses a tube for holding and dispensing beverages in bottles. The bottles are held in a vertically stacked and spring-loaded arrangement. The tube may be carried in a golf bag or over the shoulder by a sling strap.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,271 discloses a beverage belt for holding canned beverages in insulated receptacles.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,117 discloses a backpack having a top-loading insulated compartment.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,237 discloses an insulated carrying pack in which canned beverages are held in a shaped pathway from which they can be removed by opening a flap on the side of the pack.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,718 shows a backpack in which canned beverages are held securely in a horizontal position by shaped cushioning.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,457 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,746 show a canned beverage carrier and dispenser in which a two-can wide vertical stack of canned beverages feeds into a sloped single stack for dispensing.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,435 shows a backpack in which each of four separate vertical rows of canned beverages leads to a separate sloped horizontal path and to one of four separate dispensing openings, each opening containing a neoprene cap to prevent the canned beverages from falling out of the backpack.  
         [0012]     Many of the previously known insulated packs for dispensing beverages have been designed primarily for use by vendors and are not sufficiently compact for personal use. Previously known compact packs sized for personal use have a capacity for relatively few canned or bottled beverages or are designed only for top loading items such as baby food. Further, prior packs that include two or more vertical stacks of canned beverages leading to a single dispensing path have no mechanism for avoiding a gridlock or jamming of the cans within the pack.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems of the prior art.  
         [0014]     It also is an object of the present invention to provide a compact pack that will hold a relatively large number of canned beverages.  
         [0015]     It is an object of the present invention to avoid gridlock or jamming of cylindrical shapes rolling down two or more vertical pathways when the pathways merge into a single pathway.  
         [0016]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a shaped element for securely holding substantially cylindrical containers such as beverage cans at the end of a delivery pathway in a pack wherein the containers are easily retrieved on a can-by-can basis by operator manipulation.  
         [0017]     These and other objects of the present invention will be illustrated in terms of a wearable, insulated pack for dispensing substantially cylindrical containers. The pack comprises at least one framework unit disposed in an enclosure. The framework unit defines a first pathway that extends downwardly from a site for receiving the containers to an opening in the enclosure through which the containers can be retrieved, the first pathway ending at a first shaped rigid member for blocking movement of the containers through the opening in the absence of manipulation by an operator. The framework unit further defines a second pathway extending downwardly from a site for receiving the containers to a merging point at which the second pathway feeds the containers into the first pathway above the first shaped rigid member. The second pathway ends with a second rigid shaped member positioned at the merging point so as to direct containers laterally into the first pathway, a movement that is prevented when containers occupy the first pathway at or above the merging point.  
         [0018]     The pack may be adapted to be worn as a backpack. It also may be adapted to contain a heat transfer element to either absorb heat from the inside of the pack or to add heat.  
         [0019]     The pack normally will include two framework elements and have two openings for retrieving containers. Further, the outside of the pack may include decoration or advertising elements.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows in perspective view half of a framework used to construct the framework unit of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows in perspective view two framework units and stabilizing connectors positioned for assembly.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a framework unit partially loaded with containers.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a beverage can ready for extraction from the assembled framework unit.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a pack according to the present invention partially loaded.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows one embodiment of a cover for the assembled framework unit. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]     The framework can be made from any material that is strong enough to hold at least 20 typical filled beverage containers without bending or breaking and is sufficiently light weight so as not to add a great weight itself when worn as a part of a backpack. Preferably, a material such as aluminum or molded plastic is chosen. Optimal materials are a rigid plastic, such a polycarbonate, polypropylene, high density polyethylene or polystyrene because of the relative strength and rigidity of these materials and because such materials are relatively inexpensive when injection molded in pieces that can be assembled into the framework.  
         [0027]     The enclosure for the framework is made of a material selected to be light weight, durable and preferably flexible. Although a sheeting of a solid material could be used to form a solid casing, it is not preferable because it typically would need to be heavy in order to be durable and would necessitate the use of relatively complex devices such as hinges for opening and closing and clamps for securing. A material that will support decorative emblems or advertising slogans also will be desirable for use as an enclosure. A fabric such as canvas or nylon typically will be selected as the enclosure material. The enclosure material may be insulated by the use of any well known insulating material, normally applied as a liner.  
         [0028]     A typical device according to the present invention is formed of two framework units, one dispensing containers from one lower side of the pack and the other dispensing containers from the opposite lower side of the pack. Although a single-unit pack can be made and is intended to be within the scope of the appended claims, the pack will be described in terms of a two-unit framework.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a framework that can be either a front or back framework component. It is an advantage of the invention that the front and back framework components are identical and can be produced in the same injection mold. It is to be understood by the reader that the front and back framework components are normally mirror images and that a description of a feature on one framework component is intended to be a description of the mirroring component on the opposite framework component. The front and back framework components each include substantially flat shaped portions  10 . Ridges  11  and  12  form the first pathway  13 , which extends downwardly from a site  14 , for receiving containers, and ending at a first shaped rigid member  15 . Rigid member  15  is shaped to block the movement of containers in the absence of manipulation by an operator. Containers are removed from the assembled framework by an operator by moving them upwardly over edge  15   a  of the first shaped rigid member  15 .  
         [0030]     Ridges  11  and  16  form second pathway  17  that begins at container receiving site  18  and extending to merging location  19  at which second pathway  17  merges with first pathway  13 . Ridge  16  ends at second rigid shaped member  9 . Second rigid shaped member  9  is shaped and positioned so as to allow containers in second pathway  17  to merge into first pathway  13  when containers are in pathway  13  only by moving laterally so that containers in second pathway  17  merge into first pathway  13  only when containers in pathway  13  are below merging location  19 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of substantially identical front and back framework components  21  and  22  spaced apart by stabilizing connectors  23  that connect framework components to form a complete structure comprising two framework units for holding and dispensing cylindrical containers, such as cans or bottles containing beverages (not shown in  FIG. 2 .) Either framework unit  21  or  22  may be the front or back unit. Stabilizing connectors  23  may be of any useful length, depending on the typical height of beverage cans or bottles expected to be used in the resulting beverage dispenser. Stabilizing connectors  23  must hold framework units  21  and  22  sufficiently far apart to enable free movement of beverage containers down pathways  13  and  17  as shown in  FIG. 1  while at the same time maintaining framework units  21  and  22  sufficiently close that movement of beverage containers down pathways  13  and  17  is controlled by ridges  11 ,  12  and  16  in  FIG. 1  that correspond to ridges  24 ,  25  and  26  in  FIG. 2 . Typically, stabilizing connectors  23  will be between four and six inches in length. The ridges are typically sufficiently far apart to accommodate the diameter of a beverage can or bottle.  
         [0032]     Stabilizing connectors  23  are made from materials that are selected to be light weight, relatively rigid, strong, easy to work with and inexpensive. Any material meeting those requirements will be suitable, including certain metals, such as aluminum and plastics of the same types used for making the front and back framework units as described in connection with  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]     Framework Units  21  and  22  and stabilizing connectors  23  may be connected by any of a variety of well known fastening mechanisms and techniques, including riveting and ultrasonic welding. Those skilled in the art of injection molding will also appreciate that the entire framework unit could be injection molded as one piece.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows in perspective view a portion of an assembled framework unit  30  holding beverage cans in first pathway  31 , which descends from the top of framework unit  30  and curves into a downward sloping path  31   a,  ending at first rigid shaped member  32  that corresponds to member  15  in  FIG. 1 . As with member  15  in  FIG. 1 , member  32  is formed by the upturned terminal portion of raised portions on both the front and back framework units and is shaped and positioned to stop progress of a beverage container, such as can  33 , either when alone in the framework unit or when it is under pressure from the weight of additional cans above it in first pathway  31 - 31   a.  The upturned and centrally opened shape of member  32  also allows easy removal of cans from the framework unit by an upward pressure on can  33  in the area  34  between the upturned terminal portions of the ridges that form member  32 .  
         [0035]     A second line of beverage cans is shown in  FIG. 3  descending second pathway  35  defined by ridges  36  on both the front and back framework units and ridges  37 , also on the front and back framework units. Ridge  36  ends in second rigid shaped member  38  at point  39  where pathway  35  merges with pathway  31 - 31   a.    
         [0036]     Member  38  is positioned to hold cylindrical containers, such as cans  33  so that they will be blocked from feeding into pathway  31 - 31   a  when a container occupies pathway  31 - 31   a  at point  39 , but will feed easily into pathway  31 - 31   a  when no can or container blocks lateral movement into that pathway. The lateral movement of containers from pathway  35  into pathway  31 - 31   a  avoids the downward weight of the containers in pathway  35  against member  32  and facilitates removal of the containers from the pathway.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows member  41  defined by upturned terminal portions of ridges that form member  41 , corresponding to ridges  12  in  FIG. 1  and contained in an insulated pack  42 . Can  43  is positioned for removal from pack  42  by lifting it over member  41 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows pack  51  with top cover  52  opened to show pathways  53 , and  54  and  53   a  and  54   a,  which correspond to pathways  13  and  17 , respectively in  FIG. 1 , defined by ridges  55 ,  56  and  57  and  55   a,    56   a  and  57   a,  corresponding to ridges  11 ,  12  and  16 , respectively, in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0039]     Top  52  can be secured by Velcro fasteners  58 .  FIG. 5  demonstrates that beverages can be both loaded and extracted from the top of pack  51 .  
         [0040]     Ridges  58  and  58   a  form a slot with ridges  57  and  57   a  for receiving a cooling unit, not shown, such as an envelope of frozen gel shaped to fit into the corresponding slots on the facing frameworks.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  shows one useful design for a pack suitable for receiving a framework unit as described in the above drawings. Pack  61  shows shoulder straps  62  and  62   a  for carrying pack  61  as a backpack. Top  63  in the embodiment shown can be lifted from one side and secured by Velcro fastener  64  when closed. Pack  61  demonstrates the application of optional pockets  65  and shows opening  66  through which containers can be retrieved from the framework (not shown). Opening  66  is typically matched by opening  67  at the opposite lower corner of the pack.  
         [0042]     The framework unit normally is fixed to the interior of the pack so that it is not removable. However, a removable framework unit could be used.  
         [0043]     The present invention has been illustrated in terms of a backpack for carrying beverages in cans or bottles. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the art that the device disclosed here for controlling the movement of generally cylindrical shapes in merging, descending pathways to avoid gridlock or jamming of the shapes at the point of merging and to avoid excessive weight on the lowermost such shape will have wide application and is intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. Likewise, a device for holding generally cylindrical shapes in single or multiple descending pathways such that the final such shape can be removed with a relatively small upward pressure will have many applications, each of which are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.