System for serially dispensed products

Abstract

A system for serially dispensing products such as disposable gloves as provided. A low-condition indicator dispositioned within the supply of gloves in the container to alert the user that the supply of product is running low. The low-condition indicator may include machine-readable indica that causes a restocking action or that leads the user to a reordering platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container system for serially dispensing items, the container system comprising:
 a container defining an opening;   a first plurality of items to be dispensed, the first plurality of items to be dispensed positioned adjacent to and removable through the opening;   a second plurality of items to be dispensed positioned further from the opening than the first plurality of items to be dispensed and being removable through the opening;   an indicator positioned between the first and second plurality of items to be dispensed, the indicator being removable through the opening and having a different visual appearance from both the first and second plurality of items to be dispensed and being indicative of a low condition.   
     
     
         2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the different visual appearance is selected from the group consisting of a different shape, different color, different object, different material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises paper, cardboard, or other generally flat material. 
     
     
         4 . The container system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable portion that at least partially covers the opening and is removable by a user to expose the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes indicia to guide a user to reorder a further container system. 
     
     
         6 . The container system of  claim 5 , wherein the indicia includes machine readable code, the machine readable code configured to guide a user to an interface to reorder the further container system. 
     
     
         7 . The container system of  claim 5 , wherein the indicia includes machine readable code that automatically orders the further container system. 
     
     
         8 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of items to be dispensed comprise a total number of items, the indicator being positioned such that the indicator is removed when at least 50% of the total number of items have been removed. 
     
     
         9 . A container system for serially dispensed gloves, the container system comprising:
 a container defining an opening;   a first plurality gloves having a first color, the first plurality of gloves positioned adjacent to and removable through the opening;   a second plurality of gloves positioned further from the opening than the first plurality of gloves and being removable through the opening;   an indicator glove having a second color different from the first color and positioned between the first and second plurality gloves, the indicator glove being removable through the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The container system of  claim 9 , wherein the second plurality of gloves have the second color. 
     
     
         12 . The container system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable portion that at least partially covers the opening and is removable by a user to expose the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of gloves comprise a total number of gloves, the indicator glove being positioned such that the indicator glove is removed when at least 50% of the total number of gloves have been removed. 
     
     
         14 . A method of providing indication of a low condition for a serially dispensed item, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a container defining an opening, the container optionally including a portion that is removable by a user to expose the opening;   providing a first plurality of items to be dispensed, the first plurality of items to be dispensed positioned adjacent to and removable through the opening;   providing a second plurality of items to be dispensed positioned further from the opening than the first plurality of items to be dispensed and being removable through the opening;   providing an indicator positioned between the first and second plurality of items to be dispensed, the indicator being removable through the opening and having a different visual appearance from both the first and second plurality of items to be dispensed and being indicative of the low condition.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the different visual appearance is selected from the group consisting of a different shape, different color, different object, different material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the indicator comprises paper, cardboard, or other generally flat material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the indicator includes indicia to guide a user to reorder a further container system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the indicia includes machine readable code, the machine readable code configured to guide a user to an interface to reorder the further container system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the indicia includes machine readable code that automatically orders the further container system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second plurality of items to be dispensed comprise a total number of items, the indicator being positioned such that the indicator is removed when at least 50% of the total number of items have been removed.