Combination shipping container and dispenser

Abstract

A combination shipping container and dispenser is described herein. A regular slotted container (RSC) is modified to include at least a first and second dispensing feature such that the RSC can dispense product when it is configured in either a horizontal or in a vertical orientation.

1 . A combination shipping container and dispenser, comprising: 
 a top;    a bottom opposite the top;    two end walls, each end wall being located between the top and the bottom;    two sides, each being located between the top and the bottom and adjacent to each of the end walls;    a first substantially continuous perforation formed in the top and extending to each of the sides, which defines a first opening to allow access to a generally cylindrically shaped product disposed within the combination shipping container and dispenser;    a second substantially continuous perforation formed in one of the end walls and extending to each of the sides, which defines a second opening to allow access to the product disposed within the combination shipping container and dispenser; and    wherein the product has a diameter and at least one of the first opening and the second opening extends into each of the sides a distance of between about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the diameter of the product.    
     
     
         2 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the other of the first opening and the second opening extends into each of the sides a distance of between about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the diameter of the product.  
     
     
         3 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a third substantially continuous perforation formed in one of the end walls and a fourth substantially continuous perforation formed in the other of the end walls, each such third and fourth substantially continuous perforation defining an access opening.  
     
     
         4 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the third substantially continuous perforation and the fourth substantially continuous perforation are substantially vertically and horizontally aligned.  
     
     
         5 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 1  further including a fifth perforation and a sixth perforation formed in the bottom wherein the fifth perforation and the sixth perforation are substantially aligned parallel to a major axis of the first opening.  
     
     
         6 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening has a height that is between about 0.75 to about 1.25 times the diameter of the product.  
     
     
         7 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the other of the first opening and the second opening has a height that is between about 0.75 to about 1.25 times the diameter of the product.  
     
     
         8 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the first substantially continuous perforation has a beginning and an end and a fold line connects the beginning and the end and extends across the top.  
     
     
         9 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the second substantially continuous perforation has a beginning and an end and a fold line connects the beginning and the end and extends across one of the end walls.  
     
     
         10 . A combination shipping container and dispenser, comprising; 
 a top;    a bottom opposite the top;    two end walls, each end wall being located between the top and the bottom;    two sides, each being located between the top and the bottom and adjacent to each of the end walls;    a first substantially continuous perforation formed in the top and extending to each of the sides and having a beginning and an end;    a first fold line extending between the beginning and the end of the first substantially continuous perforation, the first substantially continuous perforation and the first fold line defining a first opening in the combination shipping container and dispenser and a first hinged door for covering the first opening;    the first hinged door defining three notches therein and wherein three tabs extend into the first opening and each tab engages with one of the three notches to help hold the first hinged door over the first opening;    a second substantially continuous perforation formed in one of the end walls and extending to each of the sides and having a beginning and an end;    a second fold line extending between the beginning and the end of the second substantially continuous perforation, the second substantially continuous perforation and the second fold line defining a second opening in the combination shipping container and dispenser and a second hinged door for covering the second opening;    the second hinged door defining three notches therein and wherein three tabs extend into the second opening and each tab engages with one of the three notches to help hold the second hinged door over the second opening.    
     
     
         11 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the first hinged door is located in the top adjacent to the end wall that does not contain the second hinged door.  
     
     
         12 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 10  further including a third perforation extending from the beginning of this first perforation generally perpendicular thereto and a fourth perforation extending from the end of the first perforation generally perpendicular thereto and a third fold line generally parallel to the first fold line and extending between the third perforation and the fourth perforation.  
     
     
         13 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 10  further including a fifth perforation extending from the beginning of the second perforation generally perpendicular thereto and a sixth perforation extending from the end of the second perforation generally perpendicular thereto and a fourth fold line generally parallel to the second fold line and extending between the fifth perforation and the sixth perforation.  
     
     
         14 . A blank for forming a combination shipping container and dispenser, comprising: 
 an adhesive tab;    a bottom panel adjacent to the adhesive tab and having a top and a bottom;    a first vertical fold line between the adhesive tab and the bottom panel;    a first end panel adjacent to the bottom panel and having a top and a bottom;    a second vertical fold line between the bottom panel and the first end panel;    a top panel adjacent to the first end panel and having a top and a bottom;    a third vertical fold line between the first end panel and the top panel;    a second end panel adjacent to the top panel and having a top and a bottom;    a fourth vertical fold line between the top panel and the second end panel;    a bottom panel top flap adjacent to the top of the bottom flap;    a bottom panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the bottom panel;    a first end panel top flap adjacent to the top of the first end panel;    a first end panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the first end panel;    a top panel top flap adjacent to the top of the top panel;    a top panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the top panel;    a second end panel top flap adjacent to the top of the second end panel;    a second end panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the second end panel;    a first horizontal fold line disposed between the first end panel top flap and the first end panel and between the top panel top flap and the top panel;    a second horizontal fold line disposed between the first end panel and the first end panel bottom flap and between the top panel and the top panel bottom flap;    a first generally rectangular perforation formed in the first end panel and extending partially into the first end panel top flap and the first end panel bottom flap; and    a second generally rectangular perforation formed in the top panel and extending partially into the top panel top flap and the top panel bottom flap.    
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the top panel top flap, the top panel bottom flap, the second end panel top flap and the second end panel bottom flap each define a notch in a left portion thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein the bottom panel top flap and the bottom panel bottom flap each define a notch in a right portion thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the first generally rectangular perforation extends below second horizontal fold line between about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the diameter of a product to be disposed in the combination shipping container and dispenser formed from the blank and the first generally rectangular perforation extends above first horizontal fold line between about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the diameter of the product.  
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the second generally rectangular perforation extends above first horizontal fold line and below second horizontal fold line between about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the diameter of a product to be disposed in the combination shipping container and dispenser formed from the blank.  
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 14  including a fifth vertical fold line on the first end panel extending between the first horizontal fold line and the second horizontal fold line and a first and second perforation between the fifth vertical fold line and the first generally rectangular perforation.  
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 14  including a sixth vertical fold line on the top panel extending between the first horizontal fold line and the second horizontal fold line and a third and fourth horizontal perforation between the sixth vertical fold line and the second generally rectangular perforation.  
     
     
         21 . A combination shipping container and dispenser, comprising: 
 a top;    a bottom opposite the top;    two end walls, each end wall being located between the top and the bottom;    two sides, each being located between the top and the bottom and adjacent to each of the end walls;    a first perforation formed in the top and extending to each of the sides and having a beginning and an end;    a first fold line extending across the top between the beginning and the end of the first perforation;    a second perforation formed in one of the end walls and extending to each of the sides and having a beginning and an end, and    a second fold line extending across the one of the end walls between the beginning and the end of the second perforation.    
     
     
         22 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 21  further including a third perforation and a fourth perforation extending from the first fold line toward the first perforation and a fifth perforation and a sixth perforation extending from the second fold line toward the second perforation.  
     
     
         23 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the first perforation and the second perforation defines a tab in each side.  
     
     
         24 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 21  wherein a cylindrical product having a diameter is stored in the combination shipping container and dispenser and the first perforation extends into each of the sides a distance of between about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the diameter of the product.  
     
     
         25 . The combination shipping container and dispenser of  claim 21  wherein a cylindrical product having a diameter is stored in the combination shipping container and dispenser and the second perforation extends into each of the sides a distance of between about 0.25 to about 0.75 times the diameter of the product.  
     
     
         26 . A blank for forming a combination shipping container and dispenser, comprising: 
 an adhesive tab;    a bottom panel adjacent to the adhesive tab and having a top and a bottom;    a first end panel adjacent to the bottom panel and having a top and a bottom;    a top panel adjacent to the first end panel and having a top and a bottom;    a second end panel adjacent to the top panel and having a top and a bottom;    a bottom panel top flap adjacent to the top of the bottom panel;    a bottom panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the bottom panel;    a first end panel top flap adjacent to the top of the first end panel;    a first end panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the first end panel;    a top panel top flap adjacent to the top of the top panel;    a top panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the top panel;    a second end panel top flap adjacent to the top of the second end panel;    a second end panel bottom flap adjacent to the bottom of the second end panel;    a first perforation formed in the first end panel and extending partially into the first end top flap and the first end bottom flap, the first perforation having a beginning and an end;    a first fold line extending between the beginning and the end of the first perforation;    a second perforation formed in the top panel and extending partially into the top panel top flap and the top panel bottom flap, the second perforation having a beginning and an end; and    a second fold line extending between the beginning and the end of the second perforation.    
     
     
         27 . The blank of  claim 26  wherein the top panel top flap, the top panel bottom flap, the second end panel top flap and the second end panel bottom flap each define a notch in a left portion thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The blank of  claim 27  wherein the bottom panel top flap and the bottom panel bottom flap each define a notch in a right portion thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The blank of  claim 26  further including a third fold line substantially parallel to the first fold line and a third perforation extending between the beginning of the first perforation and the third fold line and a fourth perforation extending between the end of the first perforation and the third fold line.  
     
     
         30 . The blank of  claim 26  further including a fourth fold line substantially parallel to the second fold line and a fifth perforation extending between the beginning of the second perforation and the fourth fold line and a sixth perforation extending between the end of the second perforation and the fourth fold line.