Dispensers having restrictive apertures for the controlled removal of consumable goods

Abstract

A dispenser includes a panel, a retention member and at least one aperture. The retention member is coupled to the panel. The retention member includes a shaped portion and a pair of arms that couple the shaped portion to the panel. The aperture extends through the panel. In one embodiment, a first aperture may be located on a first side of the retention member and a second aperture may be located on a second side of the retention member. A peripheral profile of the aperture is defined by the panel, the retention member or both.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser comprising:
 a panel;   a retention member coupled to the panel, the retention member having a shaped portion and a pair of arms coupling the shaped portion to the panel; and   at least two apertures extending through the panel with a first aperture located on a first side of the retention member and a second aperture located on a second side of the retention member,   wherein a peripheral profile of each aperture is defined by the panel, the retention member or both.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second apertures are located symmetrically with respect to the retention member. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the shaped portion of the retention member is a bulbous portion. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the panel includes at least one protuberance that extends into at least one of the first aperture or the second aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is rigid. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is flexible. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a replacement panel. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser comprising:
 a panel; and   a retention member coupled to the panel, the retention member defining at least two apertures that extend through the panel with a first aperture located on a first side of the retention member and a second aperture located on a second side of the retention member,   wherein the panel includes at least one protuberance that extends into the first or second aperture.   
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second apertures are located symmetrically with respect to the retention member. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member includes a shaped portion extending from a central portion of the retention member. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is rigid. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is flexible. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a replacement panel. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser comprising:
 a panel having a panel surface area defined by a plurality of edges; and   a shaped aperture extending through the panel, wherein the shaped aperture is centered relative to the panel surface area,   wherein the panel includes at least one protuberance extending into the shaped aperture, and   wherein the shaped aperture is configured to be symmetric with respect to at least one of a first centerline defined by the panel surface area or a second centerline defined by the panel surface area.   
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the shaped aperture is generally X-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the first centerline is parallel to a first one of the plurality of edges. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the first one of the plurality of edges is a horizontal edge of the panel. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the second centerline is parallel to a second one of the plurality of edges. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the second one of the plurality of edges is a vertical edge of the panel. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , further comprising a retention member extending across the aperture, wherein the retention member includes a bulbous portion.