Confectionery dispenser having a rotatable closure

Abstract

A hand-held confectionery product dispenser is provided and includes a container and a rotatable closure. Both the container and the rotatable closure define openings, that, when aligned, allow the confectionery product to be dispensed. A grip indentation may be present in one wall of the container. Preferably present in an embodiment is a thumb engagement point on the closure, to aid in rotation of the closure. The hand-held dispenser allows a user to hold the dispenser in the palm of one hand and rotate the closure with the thumb of the same hand for easy opening and closing of the dispenser.

1 . A hand-held confectionery product dispenser comprising a container comprising a top, a bottom, and at least one side wall having an opening, and a rotatable closure rotatably coupled to the side wall and comprising a closure opening; wherein the closure may be rotated between a closed position and a dispensing position in which the wall opening and the closure opening are aligned.  
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein a side wall further comprises at least one grip indentation.  
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein a side wall is shaped to adapt to a user's hand.  
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser is sized to be easily carried and stored for individual use.  
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein the dispenser is sized to fit within a clothing pocket of a user.  
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the wall opening and closure opening are sized to allow dispensing of a small number of confectionery products.  
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the closure is a circular disc.  
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the closure further comprises a thumb engagement point.  
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the closure is spring-loaded.  
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the closure is frictionally engaged with the side wall.  
   
   
       11 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the lid may be rotated between a closed position and a dispensing position in response to a single continuous motion with one hand.  
   
   
       12 . A hand-held confectionery product dispenser comprising a container comprising a top, a bottom, and at least one side wall having an opening, the container being shaped to adapt to a user's hand; and a rotatable closure rotatably coupled to the side wall and comprising a closure opening; wherein the closure may be rotated so that the closure opening and the wall opening are aligned to allow the confectionery product to be distributed from the dispenser.  
   
   
       13 . The product dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the at least one side wall comprises at least one grip indentation.  
   
   
       14 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the closure may be rotated between a closed position and a dispensing position in response to a single continuous motion with one hand.  
   
   
       15 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the container opening and closure opening are sized to allow dispensing of a small number of confectionery products.  
   
   
       16 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the closure is spring-loaded.  
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the closure is frictionally engaged with the side wall.  
   
   
       18 . A method of dispensing a confectionery product comprising: 
 providing a hand-held confectionery product dispenser comprising a container comprising, a top, a bottom and at least one side wall having an opening, and a rotatable closure rotationally coupled to the side wall and comprising a closure opening;    grasping the dispenser in the palm of one hand;    rotating the closure with the thumb of the same hand until the wall opening and the closure opening are aligned; and    dispensing the confectionery product from the dispenser.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the dispenser side wall is shaped to adapt to a user's hand.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the closure is rotated between a closed position and a dispensing position in response to a single continuous motion.  
   
   
       21 . A hand-held product dispenser comprising a container comprising a top, a bottom, and at least one side wall having an opening, and a rotable closure rotatably coupled to the side wall and comprising a closure opening; wherein the closure may be rotated between a closed position and a dispensing position in which the wall opening and the closure opening are aligned.  
   
   
       22 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser is a hand-held confectionery product dispenser.  
   
   
       23 . The dispenser of  claim 1  or  2  wherein a side wall further comprises at least one grip indentation.  
   
   
       24 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein a side wall is shaped to adapt to a user's hand.  
   
   
       25 . The dispenser of any one of the preceding claims wherein the dispenser is sized to be easily carried and stored for individual use.  
   
   
       26 . The dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the dispenser is sized to fit within a clothing pocket of a user.  
   
   
       27 . The dispenser of any one of the preceding claims wherein the wall opening and closure opening are sized to allow dispensing of a small number of products.  
   
   
       28 . The dispenser of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure is a circular disc.  
   
   
       29 . The dispenser of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure further comprises a thumb engagement point.  
   
   
       30 . The dispenser of any one of the preceding claims wherein the closure is spring-loaded.  
   
   
       31 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 1  to  9  wherein the closure is frictionally engaged with the side wall.  
   
   
       32 . A method of dispensing a product comprising: 
 providing a hand-held product dispenser as defined in any one of the preceding claims;.    grasping the dispenser in the palm of one hand;    rotating the closure with the thumb of the same hand until the wall opening and the closure opening are aligned; and    dispensing the product from the dispenser.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the closure is rotated between a closed position and a dispensing position in response to a single continuous motion.