Small item dispenser with maze

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing small items such as pieces of candy is disclosed herein. The dispenser includes a container having a first major side, a second major side, and a storage volume positioned between the first and second major sides. The dispenser includes a dispensing member for carrying the items from the storage volume to a dispensing opening. The dispenser also includes a maze structure within the container. At least one major side of the container includes transparent material to allow a user to view the items within the container as the user tries to move the items through the maze toward the dispensing member for discharging the items from the dispensing opening.

1 . A dispenser comprising:
 a container including a first major side with a flat surface, a second major side with a flat surface, and a storage volume positioned between the first and second major sides;   a dispensing opening; and   a maze structure positioned within the storage volume, the maze structure defining at least one path of travel going from the storage volume to the dispensing opening.   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein one of at least the first major side and the second major side includes at least a portion of transparent material. 
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the maze structure defines at least one path of travel going from the storage volume to a dead end. 
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing member for carrying items from the storage volume to the dispensing opening, the dispensing member including a pocket for receiving the items, the pocket having an open end positioned opposite from a closed end, and an open side positioned between the open and closed ends, the items being received into the pocket from the storage volume through the open end, and the items being delivered from the pocket to the dispensing opening through the open side of the pocket. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser includes a generally rectangular shape. 
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the maze structure includes walls defining channels. 
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the walls extend between the first and second major sides. 
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the first major side is generally parallel to the second major side. 
   
   
       9 . A dispenser comprising:
 a container including a first side, a second side, and a storage volume positioned between the first and second sides;   a dispensing opening defined through at least one of the first and second sides, one of at least the first and second sides including at least a portion of transparent material; and   a fixed maze structure positioned within the storage volume, the maze structure defining at least one path of travel going from the storage volume to the dispensing opening and at least one path of travel going from the storage volume to a dead end.   
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , further comprising a dispensing member for carrying items from the storage volume to the dispensing opening, the dispensing member including a pocket for receiving the items, the pocket having an open end positioned opposite from a closed end, and an open side positioned between the open and closed ends, the items being received into the pocket from the storage volume through the open end, and the items being delivered from the pocket to the dispensing opening through the open side of the pocket. 
   
   
       11 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the dispenser includes a generally rectangular shape. 
   
   
       12 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the maze structure includes walls defining channels. 
   
   
       13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the walls extend between the first and second sides of the container. 
   
   
       14 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the first side is generally parallel to the second side of the container. 
   
   
       15 . A dispenser comprising:
 a container including a first major side with a flat surface, a second major side with a flat surface, and a storage volume positioned between the first and second major sides, one of at least the first major side and the second major side including at least a portion of transparent material;   a dispensing opening defined through the first major side; and   a maze structure positioned within the storage volume, the maze structure configured to guide items along a path of travel aligned along a plane, the dispensing opening having an axis aligned in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane.   
   
   
       16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , further comprising a dispensing member for carrying items from the storage volume to the dispensing opening, the dispensing member including a pocket for receiving the items, the pocket having an open end positioned opposite from a closed end, and an open side positioned between the open and closed ends, the items being received into the pocket from the storage volume through the open end, and the items being delivered from the pocket to the dispensing opening through the open side of the pocket. 
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the maze structure defines at least one path of travel going from the storage volume to a dead end and at least one path of travel going from the storage volume to the dispensing member. 
   
   
       18 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the dispenser includes a generally rectangular shape. 
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the maze structure includes walls defining channels, the walls extending between the first and second sides of the container. 
   
   
       20 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the first major side is generally parallel to the second major side of the container.