Combination food pad container and dispenser

Abstract

A combination food pad container and dispenser can be constructed from the following components. A sealed elongated container is provided. The container is formed of flexible film material and has at least one surrounding wall, a closed top and a closed bottom and at least one mounting aperture. The aperture is located adjacent the top. The container is sized and shaped to slidably surround a plurality of horizontally stacked food pads. The pads have at least one planar surface. The surrounding wall has at least one openable perforation. The perforation is orthogonal to the planar surface. The perforation has at least one arresting feature. The arresting feature provides an intermediate point for controlling initial opening of the perforation. A rack, with stabilizer, for supporting the container is provided. The rack has at least one protrusion. The protrusion is sized and shaped to fit slidably through the at least one aperture.

Claims

1. A combination food pad container and dispenser, comprising: a sealed elongated container, said container being formed of flexible or resilient film material and having at least one surrounding wall, a closed top and a closed bottom and at least one mounting aperture, said aperture is disposed adjacent said top; said at least one surrounding wall comprises a front wall, a rear wall, first and second side walls, all of said walls being attached to said closed top and said closed bottom; said container is sized and shaped to slidably surround a plurality of horizontally stacked food pads, said pads having at least one planar surface; said front wall having a central, closely spaced pair of openable perforations, said perforations are orthogonal to said planar surface, said perforations providing a dispensing opening in said container; said closely spaced pair of openable perforations beginning at a top edge of said container and extending downwardly to a point spaced upwardly from said closed bottom of said container; said perforations having at least one arresting feature which is rectilinear along its entire length, said at least one rectilinear arresting feature having a first predetermined length, a first end and a second end, and providing an intermediate point for controlling initial opening of said perforations; said at least one rectilinear arresting feature being an orthogonal single line cut through said flexible or resilient film material of said container across and extending past both sides of said perforations at a point disposed between an upper end and a lower end of said perforation; said front wall having a perimeter and said first predetermined length of said arresting features being entirely within said perimeter; a rack for supporting said container, said rack having at least one upward pointing protrusion, said protrusion is sized and shaped to fit slidably through said at least one aperture; said rack having an angled post; said post having a horizontal crossbar affixed at an upper end of said post, said crossbar providing a mounting point for said at least one upward pointing protrusion and supporting said container when suspended from said at least one protrusion; and said angled post being rotatably mounted to a back support at a pivot point located between upper and lower ends of said angled post and being adjustably and, rotatably mounted to a base post, said back support being rotatably mounted to said base post; and said container having a width wider than said angled post.

2. The combination food pad container and dispenser, as described in claim 1, wherein said at least one mounting aperture is disposed in an extension of said rear wall.

3. The combination food pad container and dispenser, as described in claim 1, wherein said at least one mounting aperture is disposed in a two layer segment formed as an extension of said rear wall and said top.

4. The combination food pad container and dispenser, as described in claim 1, wherein said base post comprises multiple discreet stops, said stops controlling varied angular positions of said angled post.

5. The combination food pad container and dispenser, as described in claim 4, wherein said base post comprises first and second stabilizing bars, said stabilizing bars controlling movement of said rack on said ground surface, said bars being orthogonally mounted to opposite ends of said base post and forming a rigid I shape.

6. The combination food pad container and dispenser, as described in claim 4, wherein said back support is detachable from said angled post permitting said angled post and said back support to fold flat to become coplanar with said base post for transport and storage.

7. The combination food pad container and dispenser, as described in claim 1, further comprising a supporting panel, said panel being disposed within said container between edges of said stacked food pads and said front wall of said container, said panel having a central slot, said slot extending past outer sides of said perforations along at least a portion of a length of said perforations.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a food pad dispenser and rack;

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating arresting features located across the perforation;

(3) FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment illustrating arresting features located across the perforation and a supporting panel between the food pads and the container;

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rack of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

(5) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 dispenser illustrating a front side perforation and enclosed food pads;

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 dispenser illustrating the enclosed stack of food pads;

(8) FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a food pad;

(9) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rigid dispenser with an opening in the front wall;

(10) FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the FIG. 7 embodiment illustrating hooking and looping fasteners for attaching the dispenser to a surface;

(11) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a dispenser formed of flexible material having a rigid member for providing support to the dispenser;

(12) FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the FIG. 9 embodiment illustrating arresting features located across the perforation;

(13) FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the FIG. 9 embodiment illustrating arresting features located across the perforation and a supporting panel between the food pads and the container;

(14) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the FIG. 9 embodiment illustrating a perforated opening in the front wall and an aperture at the top end for supporting the dispenser on a hook or other protrusion; and

(15) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a wall mounted rack for the dispenser of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

(16) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a wall mounted hook for use with a dispenser having a single mounting aperture;

(17) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a wall mounted ring to which a dispenser can be attached with a tie or chord;

(18) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment that includes a open topped tray and mating lid shown separated;

(19) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the FIG. 14 embodiment with the lid in place;

(20) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the FIG. 14 embodiment illustrating a sanitary shield with parallel perforations for the dispensing slot and orthogonal arresting features; and

(21) FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the FIG. 14 embodiment illustrating a sanitary shield with perpendicular perforations for the dispensing slot permitting partial removal of the shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(22) The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art food pad dispenser and rack inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above.

(23) (1) FIGS. 1-10 illustrate a combination food pad container and dispenser 10 that can be constructed from the following components. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 1A, 3-5 and 9-10, a sealed elongated container 14 is provided. The container 14 is formed of flexible or resilient film material 12 and has at least one surrounding wall 26, a closed top 30 and a closed bottom 34 and at least one mounting aperture 42. The aperture 42 is located adjacent the top 30. The container 14 is sized and shaped to slidably surround a plurality of horizontally stacked food pads 18. The pads 18 have at least one planar surface 22. The surrounding wall 26 has at least one openable perforation 38. The perforation 38 is orthogonal to the planar surface 22. The perforation 38 has at least one arresting feature 40. The arresting feature 40 provides an intermediate point 44 for controlling initial opening of the perforation 38. A rack 46 for supporting the container 10 is provided. The rack 46 has at least one protrusion 50. The protrusion 50 is sized and shaped to fit slidably through the at least one aperture 42.

(24) (2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3-5 and 7-10, the at least one surrounding wall 26 includes a front wall 54, a rear wall 58, first 62 and second 66 side walls, all of the walls 54, 58, 62 and 66 are attached to the closed top 30 and the closed bottom 34.

(25) (3) In another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10, the at least one mounting aperture 42 is located in an extension 70 of the rear wall 58.

(26) (4) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the at least one mounting aperture 42 is located in a two layer segment 74 formed as an extension of the rear wall 58 and the top 30.

(27) (5) In yet another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rack 46 further comprises an angled platform 78. The platform 78 supports the container 10 when suspended from the at least one protrusion 50. The angled platform 78 is rotatably mounted to a back support 82. The back support 82 is rotatably mounted to a base 86.

(28) (6) In a further variant, the base 86 includes at least one stop 90. The stop 90 controls an angular position 94 of the angled platform 78.

(29) (7) In still a further variant, the base 86 includes a stabilizing bar 98. The bar 98 is orthogonally mounted to the base 86.

(30) (8) In yet a further variant, the angled platform 78 and the back support 82 fold flat to become coplanar with the base 86 for transport and storage.

(31) (9) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the arresting feature 40 is an orthogonal cut 48 through the flexible or resilient film material 12 of the container 14 across the perforation 38 at a point 52 located between an upper end 56 and a lower end 60 of the perforation 38.

(32) (10) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, a supporting panel 64 is provided. The panel 64 is located within the container 14 between the stacked food pads 18 and the perforation 38. The panel 64 has a central slot 68. The slot 68 extends on either side 72, 76 of the perforation 38 along at least a portion 80 of a length 84 of the perforation 38.

(33) (11) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 9A, 9B and 10, a combination food pad container and dispenser 10 includes a sealed elongated container 14. The container 14 is sized and shaped to slidably surround a plurality of horizontally stacked food pads 18. The pads 18 have at least one planar surface 22. The container 10 is formed of flexible film material 12 and has at least one surrounding wall 26, a closed top 30 and a closed bottom 34. The surrounding wall 26 has at least one openable perforation 38 or opening 40. The perforation 38 is orthogonal to the planar surface 22. The perforation 38 has at least one arresting feature 40. The arresting feature 40 provides an intermediate point 44 for controlling initial opening of the perforation 38. A rigid member 16 is provided. The member 16 supports the dispenser 10 in a free-standing vertical orientation.

(34) (12) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3-5 and 10, at least one mounting aperture 42 is provided. The aperture 42 is located adjacent the top 30.

(35) (13) In yet another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the dispenser 10 further includes hooking 102 and looping 106 elements for mounting to a surface 110.

(36) (14) In a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, the dispenser 10 is mounted to a surface 110 using an element selected from the group that includes hooks 114, posts 118, mounting spikes 122, prongs 126, chords 130 and ties 134.

(37) (15) In another variation of the invention, a wall mounting bracket 138 is provided. The bracket 138 has attachment features for attaching to a wall 142 and at least one protrusion 50. The protrusion 50 is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the at least one mounting aperture 42.

(38) (16) In still another variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B the arresting feature 40 is an orthogonal cut 48 through the flexible or resilient film material 12 of the container 14 across the perforation 38 at a point 52 located between an upper end 56 and a lower end 60 of the perforation 38. The panel 64 is located within the container 14 between the stacked food pads 18 and the perforation 38. The panel 64 has a central slot 68. The slot 68 extends on either side 72, 76 of the perforation 38 along at least a portion 80 of a length 84 of the perforation 38.

(39) (18) In a further variation, as illustrated in FIGS. 14-17, an open-topped tray 146 formed of resilient material 150 is provided. The tray 146 has an interior width 154 at least equal to a width of a food pad 18. A mating cover 158 is provided. The cover 158 is sized and shaped to fit slidably over the tray 146. A dispensing slot 162 is provided. The slot 162 is centrally disposed in the cover 158.

(40) (19) In still a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, a sanitary shield 166 is provided. The shield 166 is formed of flexible film material 170. The shield 166 covers the dispensing slot 162 and has at least one perforation 174 located over the slot 162.

(41) (20) In yet a further variant, an arresting feature 178 is provided. The arresting feature 178 provides an intermediate point 182 for controlling initial opening of the perforation 174.

(42) (21) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the arresting feature 178 is an orthogonal cut 186 through the flexible film material 170 of the shield across the perforation 174 at a point 190 located between an upper end 194 and a lower end 198 of the perforation 174.

(43) (22) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the at least one perforation 174 is perpendicular to side edges 202, 206 of the slot 162, thereby permitting partial removal of the sanitary shield 166 and partial opening of the dispensing slot 162.

(44) An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.