Product Dispensing System with Door

Abstract

A product dispensing frame having a left side wall, a right side wall, a front end, and a rear end, and including an upper support deck extending between the front end and the rear end, a lower support deck positioned below the upper support deck, the lower support deck extending between the front end and the rear end and defining a first product display area, and an upper support deck door pivotably connected between the left and right side walls to cover and enclose the upper support deck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product dispensing system comprising:
 a dispenser frame having a front end and a rear end, said dispenser frame comprising:
 an upper support deck extending between said front end and said rear end; and 
 a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck extending between said front end and said rear end and defining a product display area; and 
   a door connected to said frame proximate said upper support deck, said door comprising a handle frontwardly protruding from said door.   
     
     
         2 . The product dispensing system of  claim 1  wherein said door comprises a lower end pivotably connected to said frame by a hinge feature proximate said upper support deck. 
     
     
         3 . The product dispensing system of  claim 1  wherein said door comprises an upper end releasably connected to said frame by a retaining feature. 
     
     
         4 . The product dispensing system of  claim 1  wherein said handle is positioned proximate said upper end. 
     
     
         5 . The product dispensing system of  claim 1  wherein said handle comprises a lip. 
     
     
         6 . The product dispensing system of  claim 1  wherein said door comprises:
 a hinge feature positioned about a lower end of said door and pivotably connected to said frame proximate said upper support deck; and 
 a retaining feature positioned about a rear side of an upper end of said door and releasably connected to said frame, 
 wherein said handle is positioned about a front side of said upper end of said door, and 
 wherein said door is openable in response to a force applied to said handle. 
 
     
     
         7 . The product dispensing system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a container on said upper support deck behind said door; and, 
 a plurality of products initially housed in said container. 
 
     
     
         8 . The product dispensing system of  claim 7  wherein at least one product of said plurality of products is positioned in said product display area. 
     
     
         9 . The product dispensing system of  claim 7  further comprising at least one opening tool positioned to open said container and allow at least one product of said plurality of products to move from said container to said first product display area as said container is moved along said upper support deck from said front end toward said rear end. 
     
     
         10 . A product dispensing system comprising:
 a container initially housing a plurality of products;   a frame having longitudinally opposed front and rear ends, said frame comprising:
 an upper support deck extending at least partially between said front end and said rear end; and 
 a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck defining a product display area; and 
   a door connected to said frame proximate said front end to access said upper support deck, said door comprising a frontwardly protruding handle; and   an opening tool associated with said frame and arranged to open said container when said container is moved longitudinally along said upper support deck and allow said plurality of products to be at least partially dispensed from said container to said product display area.   
     
     
         11 . The product dispensing system of  claim 10  wherein said product display area is proximate said front end. 
     
     
         12 . The product dispensing system of  claim 10  wherein said door is hingedly connected proximate said upper support deck. 
     
     
         13 . The product dispensing system of  claim 10  wherein said door comprises a lower end, and wherein said lower end is hingedly connected proximate said upper support deck. 
     
     
         14 . The product dispensing system of  claim 10  wherein said door comprises an upper end releasably connected to said frame. 
     
     
         15 . The product dispensing system of  claim 14  wherein said upper end is releasably connected to said frame by a retaining feature. 
     
     
         16 . The product dispensing system of  claim 15  wherein said retaining feature comprises a protrusion extending rearwardly from said upper end of said frame. 
     
     
         17 . The product dispensing system of  claim 10  wherein said frame includes first and second laterally opposed side walls. 
     
     
         18 . The product dispensing system of  claim 17  wherein said door comprises:
 a lower end pivotably connected to said first and second side walls by a hinge feature proximate said upper support deck; 
 an upper end releasably connected to said first and second side walls by a retaining feature extending rearwardly from said upper end of said frame; and 
 a handle extending forwardly from said upper end of said door, 
 wherein said door is openable in response to a force applied to said handle. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method for dispensing a plurality of product initially provided in a container, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a dispenser comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end, an upper support deck extending at least partially between said front end and said rear end, and a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck defining a product display area; and 
 a door pivotably connected to said frame proximate said front end; and 
   opening said door to provide access to said upper support deck; and   positioning said container on said upper support deck behind said door.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said container is automatically opened during said positioning step.