Dispensing container

Abstract

A dispensing container for dispensing confectionary items. The dispensing container includes a body having a chamber for storing confectionary items and a door connected to the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the chamber. The body also includes a top portion, the top portion including the door, and a bottom portion having a tapered edge adapted to be inserted into a tight location, for example, between a wrapper of a cigarette package and the cigarette package. The dispensing container can have dimensions such that a flip top of the cigarette package can be opened and cigarettes can be extracted and/or the confectionary items can be extracted from the chamber while the dispensing container is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.

1 . A dispensing container, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a front wall and a back wall, wherein    the front wall and the back wall are parallel in a top portion of the body, and    the front wall and the back wall taper to a single edge in a bottom portion of the body; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body.    
     
     
         2 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the single edge is one of coplanar or substantially coplanar with one of the front wall or the back wall of the body.    
     
     
         3 . A dispensing container, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body defined by a top wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall; and    a door connected to the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length from the top wall to the bottom wall being less than a length from a bottom of a cigarette package having a flip top to a hinge connecting the flip top to the cigarette package, and    a length from the top wall to the bottom wall being greater than a length from the bottom of the cigarette package to the top edge of a wrapper encasing the cigarette package.    
     
     
         4 . A dispensing container, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body defined by a top wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall; and    a door connected to the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length from the bottom wall to the bottom most portion of the door being greater than or equal to 2.1 inches, and a length from the bottom wall to the top wall or to the upper most portion of the door being less than or equal to 2.9 inches.    
     
     
         5 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion including a tapered edge, the tapered edge operable for inserting the body between the wrapper and the cigarette package; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body.    
     
     
         6 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 a length between the lower most portion of the body and the lower most portion of the door is a predetermined amount so that the door can be opened and the confectionary items can be extracted from the body while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         7 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the cigarette package is constructed of a substantially rigid material and has a flip top.    
     
     
         8 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein 
 a length between the upper most portion of the body or the door and the lower most portion of the body is a predetermined amount so that the flip top can be opened and the at least one cigarette can be extracted from the cigarette package while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         9 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are breath freshening products.    
     
     
         10 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are chewing gum products.    
     
     
         11 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are one of hard and soft candy products.    
     
     
         12 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the wrapper is constructed of a flexible plastic material.    
     
     
         13 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the cigarette package is constructed of a substantially flexible material.    
     
     
         14 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the height of the cigarette package is at least twice the width of the cigarette package.    
     
     
         15 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the width of the cigarette package is greater than the height of the cigarette package.    
     
     
         16 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the body includes a first side and a second side, and further comprising: 
 a second door, the door being located on the first side of the body and the second door being located on the second side of the body, each door operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body.    
     
     
         17 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the body includes a first side and a second_side, and further comprising: 
 a first chamber in the body for storing the confectionary items;    a second door; and    a second chamber in the body, the door being located on the first side of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the first chamber and the second door being located on the second side of the body and operable to dispense items stored in the second chamber.    
     
     
         18 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion including a tapered edge, the tapered edge operable for inserting the body between the wrapper and the cigarette package; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length between the lower most portion of the body and the lower most portion of the door being a predetermined amount so that the confectionary items can be extracted from the body while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         19 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are breath freshening products.    
     
     
         20 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are chewing gum products.    
     
     
         21 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are one of hard and soft candy products.    
     
     
         22 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 the wrapper is constructed of a flexible plastic material.    
     
     
         23 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a flip top and a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion including a tapered edge, the tapered edge operable for inserting the body between the wrapper and the cigarette package; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body, a length between the upper most portion of the body or the door and the lower most portion of the body being a predetermined amount so that the flip top of the cigarette package can be opened and the at least one cigarette can be extracted from the cigarette package while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         24 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are breath freshening products.    
     
     
         25 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are chewing gum products.    
     
     
         26 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are one of hard and soft candy products.    
     
     
         27 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein 
 the wrapper is constructed of a flexible plastic material.    
     
     
         28 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a flip top and a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion including a tapered edge, the tapered edge operable for inserting the body between the wrapper and the cigarette package;    a hinge; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body by the hinge and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length between the uppermost portion of the body or the door and the lower most portion of the body being a predetermined amount so that the flip top of the cigarette package can be opened and the at least one cigarette can be extracted from the cigarette package while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package, and    a length between the lower most portion of the body and the lower most portion of the door being a predetermined amount so that the confectionary items can be extracted from the body while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         29 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are breath freshening products.    
     
     
         30 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are chewing gum products.    
     
     
         31 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein 
 the confectionary items are one of hard and soft candy products.    
     
     
         32 . The dispensing container as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein 
 the wrapper is constructed of a flexible plastic material.    
     
     
         33 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a flip top and a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body operable for insertion between the wrapper and the cigarette package, the body defined by    a top wall,    a pair of side walls,    a bottom wall,    a front wall having a first lower tapered edge and    a back wall having a second lower tapered edge;    a hinge; and    a door connected to the body by the hinge and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length between the top wall and the bottom wall being a predetermined amount so that the flip top of the cigarette package can be opened and the at least one cigarette can be extracted from the cigarette package while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package, and    a length between the bottom wall and the lower most portion of the door being a predetermined amount so that the confectionary items can be extracted from the body while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         34 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length between the lower most portion of the body and the lower most portion of the door being a predetermined amount so that the confectionary items can be extracted from the body while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         35 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a flip top and a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length between the upper most portion of the body or the door and the lower most portion of the body being a predetermined amount so that the flip top of the cigarette package can be opened and the at least one cigarette can be extracted from the cigarette package while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         36 . A dispensing container operable for use with a cigarette package, the cigarette package being operable for storing at least one cigarette and having a flip top and a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package, comprising: 
 a body for storing confectionary items, the body having a top portion and a bottom portion; and    a door connected to the top portion of the body and operable to dispense the confectionary items stored in the body,    a length between the upper most portion of the body or the door and the lower most portion of the body being a predetermined amount so that the flip top of a cigarette package can be opened and the at least one cigarette can be extracted from the cigarette package while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package, and    a length between the lower most portion of the body and the lower most portion of the door being a predetermined amount so that the confectionary items can be extracted from the body while the body is inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package.    
     
     
         37 . A method for using a cigarette package having a flip top and a wrapper encasing a portion of the cigarette package in conjunction with a dispensing container, the method comprising: 
 fully inserting the dispensing container between the rear side of the cigarette package and the wrapper;    opening the flip top of the cigarette package while the dispensing container remains fully inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package to remove at least one cigarette stored in the cigarette package; and    opening a door of the dispensing container while the dispensing container remains fully inserted between the wrapper and the cigarette package to remove at least one confectionary item stored in the dispensing container.