Product Dispenser

Abstract

An octahedral product dispenser for dispensing discrete product portions and a corresponding blank for constructing the product dispenser are described. The product dispenser includes two opposing hexagonal end panels, and six integrally connected rectangular side panels extending between the two end panels, wherein a first and a last of these six side panels are not integrally connected to each other but connected to one another with a flap portion. An opening is formed in one of the end or side panels for allowing access to product portions within the product dispenser, and these product portions can be arranged vertically.

1 . A blank for making an octahedral product dispenser, the blank comprising:
 two primary portions that are each generally hexagonal;   six secondary portions integrally connected to one another by fold lines, wherein each secondary portion is generally rectangular, and each primary portion is integrally connected to a respective one of the secondary portions;   a plurality of flap portions each connected to a respective one of a primary portion and a secondary portion; and   one of an opening or a removable portion formed in one of the primary portions and secondary portions for allowing access to a product to be contained within an assembled product dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two primary portions are integrally connected to the same one of the secondary portions. 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the removable portion is generally oval. 
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary portions are all generally the same size. 
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein two of the secondary portions are each a first size and four of the secondary portions are each a second size. 
     
     
         6 . An octahedral product dispenser comprising:
 two opposing hexagonal end panels; and   six integrally connected rectangular side panels with each side panel extending between the two end panels, wherein a first side panel is not integrally connected to a last side panel; and   wherein an opening is formed in one of the end or side panels for allowing access to product within the product dispenser.   
     
     
         7 . The product dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein each end panel is integrally connected to a respective one of the side panels. 
     
     
         8 . The product dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein each end panel is integrally connected to the same one of the side panels. 
     
     
         9 . The product dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the side panels are attached to the end panels via respective flap portions. 
     
     
         10 . The product dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the first side panel is connected to the last side panel via a flap portion. 
     
     
         11 . The product dispenser of  claim 6 , further including discrete product portions that are arranged within the product dispenser and substantially parallel with a vertical axis. 
     
     
         12 . The product dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the product dispenser has a preferred upright position with the end panels arranged substantially parallel with a vertical axis. 
     
     
         13 . The product dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the opening is formed in one of the side panels. 
     
     
         14 . The product dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the opening is formed in a side panel that is not the top panel when the product dispenser is in the preferred upright position. 
     
     
         15 . The product dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the opening is formed in one of the end panels. 
     
     
         16 . An octahedral product dispenser for dispensing discrete product portions, the product dispenser comprising:
 two hexagonal end panels opposite each other; and   six integrally connected rectangular side panels extending between the two end panels;   wherein a first and a last of these six side panels are not integrally connected to each other but are connected to each other by a flap portion;   wherein each of the end panels is integrally connected to one of the side panels, and the remaining side panels are connected to the end panels by respective flap portions; and   wherein an opening is formed in one of the end or side panels for allowing access to product portions within the product dispenser.   
     
     
         17 . The product dispenser of  claim 16 , further including discrete product portions that are arranged within the product dispenser substantially parallel to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         18 . The product dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the product dispenser has a preferred upright position with the end panels arranged vertically. 
     
     
         19 . The product dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the opening is formed in one of the side panels. 
     
     
         20 . The product dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the opening is formed in a side panel that is not the top panel when the product dispenser is in the preferred upright position. 
     
     
         21 . A packaging configuration comprising:
 a plurality of product dispensers stacked in close relation to one another, each of the plurality of product dispensers comprising:
 two opposing hexagonal end panels; and 
 six integrally connected rectangular side panels with each side panel extending between the two end panels, wherein a first side panel is not integrally connected to a last side panel; 
   wherein an opening is formed in one of the end or side panels for allowing access to product within the product dispenser.   
     
     
         22 . The configuration of  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of product dispensers is configured such that each end panel is integrally connected to a respective one of the side panels. 
     
     
         23 . The configuration of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of product dispensers further includes a product that includes discrete product portions that are arranged within the respective product dispenser. 
     
     
         24 . The configuration of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of product dispensers is constructed from a blank for making an octahedral product dispenser, and each of the respective blanks comprises:
 two primary portions that are each generally hexagonal;   six secondary portions integrally connected to one another by fold lines, wherein each secondary portion is generally rectangular, and each primary portion is integrally connected to a respective one of the secondary portions;   a plurality of flap portions each connected to a respective one of a primary portion and a secondary portion; and   one of the opening or a removable portion formed in one of the primary portions and secondary portions for allowing access to the product to be contained within an assembled product dispenser.   
     
     
         25 . The configuration of  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of product dispensers includes outer dimensions comprising at least a length (L) and a width (W), such that a staggered arrangement of the plurality of dispensers is provided. 
     
     
         26 . The configuration of  claim 25 , wherein the staggered arrangement of the plurality of product dispensers has a smaller cross-sectional area than another arrangement of a plurality of decahedral product dispensers, where each of the plurality of decahedral product dispensers includes at least about the same outer dimensions as the outer dimensions of each of the plurality of product dispensers. 
     
     
         27 . The configuration of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of product dispensers are configured in a staggered arrangement in which each of the rectangular side panels of at least one of the plurality of product dispensers is configured to contact, over all or substantially all of its surface, a rectangular panel of another one of the plurality of dispensers.