US3667650A

US3667650A - Dispensing package and subassembly therefor

Info

Publication number: US3667650A
Application number: US100173A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ricardo Noda; Manuel R Espino
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-21
Filing date: 1970-12-21
Publication date: 1972-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-06

Abstract

A dispensing package has a casing from which packaged articles are partially removed in sequence by each cycle of the operation within the casing of components of a subassembly with a base plate and a cover plate connected to each other but spaced apart. One of two shorter plates of the subassembly has a lateral extension that passes out a longitudinal slot in the casing for external manual movement of that plate. That shorter plate has an intermediate boss rotatably mounting a gear that is also rotated during this movement relative to the base plate by engagement seriatim with dents in a flange of the base plate. Diagonally opposite that engagement the gear during rotation and linear movement engages seriatim openings in a depending flange of the other shorter plate to move it and its article-pushing finer flange a greater distance to move an article partially out of the casing.

Description

United States Patent 1151 3,667,650 Noda et a1. June 6, 1972 54] DISPENSING PACKAGE AND 1,650,304 11 1927 Sidebotham ..221/27s x SUBASSEMBLY THEREFOR Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg [72] Inventors: Ricardo Noda, 802 Zenobia St Denver, (j1 N whi Colo. 80204; Manuel R. Espino, Apt. 2, 277 Silver Ct., Elgin, 111. 60102 [22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1970 [2!] Appl. No.: 100,173

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 820,825, May I,

1969, Pat. No. 3,558,008.

[52] U.S. Cl ..221/250, 221/275 [51] Int. Cl 365g 59/06 [58] Field of Search ..22l/250, 275, 276

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,616,864 2/1927 Martin ..22l/275 X 5 7] ABSTRACT A dispensing package has a casing from which packaged articles are partially removed in sequence by each cycle of the operation within the casing of components of a Subassembly with a base plate and a cover plate connected to each other but spaced apart. One of two shorter plates of the subassembly has a lateral extension that passes out a longitudinal slot in the casing for external manual movement of that plate. That shorter plate has an intermediate boss rotatably mounting a gear that is also rotated during this movement relative to the base plate by engagement seriatim with dents in a flange of the base plate. Diagonally opposite that engagement the gear during rotation and linear movement engages seriatim openings in a depending flange of the other shorter plate to move it and its article-pushing finer flange a greater distance to move an article partially out of the casing.

12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 6 i972 3.667, 650 SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG. 3 12 INVENTORS. R/carc/o /V0o0 000 By Manue/ 1Q. Esp/no ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 3,667, 650

sum 2 OF 2 FIGJO 7 DISPENSING PACKAGE AND SUBASSEMBLY THEREFOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in part of our copending US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 820,825, having the same title and filed May 1, 1969 and now US. Pat. No. 3,558,008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a dispensing package, especially a dispensing cigarette package, and relates to a subassembly that when in a casing provides the package for articles, e.g., cigarettes, such that at one time one or more of the articles, preferably the former, can be partially removed and then grasped external of the casing to complete the removal. Of course, the cycle is repeated whenever it is desired to remove another article or set of articles.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is believed to be best illustrated by US. Pat. Nos. 2,795,354, 1,606,553 and 1,281,152 that are described in sufficient detail in said copending patent application and thus need not be described here.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a dispensing package comprising a casing and a dispensing subassembly. The casing has top and bottom panels, side panels, and front and rear panels. The casing has a longitudinal slot in the front panel. The top panel has an opening or has a portion that can be removed to provide such opening or can be easily changed to a closeable flap or door. Elongated articles, such as cigarettes, packaged in the casing are removed one at a time through this opening in the top panel. Except for the presence of the subassembly in the casing and the longitudinal slot in the front panel, the package can be basically that of a conventional cigarette package. The package can be a refillable one in which the bottom panel or the top panel is removable or preferably pivotally swung open to insert a new supply of cigarettes, following which that panel is returned to its closing position.

As in the case of the subassembly of the invention of said copending patent application, the subassembly of the present invention is mounted adjacent the front panel in alignment with the latters longitudinal slot. Likewise, the subassembly has a support plate and a cover plate between which is located a shorter plate with a lateral intermediate extension that passes through that slot in the front panel of the casing. The subassembly further includes a gear mounted on that shorter plate for rotation about an axis normal to the base or support plate and to the cover plate that are secured to each other in spaced relationship to enclose that shorter plate, the gear and a second shorter plate above the first shorter plate and the gear.

The second shorter plate has a longitudinal pendant flange with a number of holes that are engaged seriatim by the gear, during its rotation, for linear movement of the second shorter plate. That rotation of the gear occurs when the first shorter plate is moved linearly with respect to the base plate, because the gear engages seriatim a number of longitudinally aligned dents in an upstanding londitudinal flange of the base plate. Of course, alternatively the cover plate could have such flange with dents instead of the base plate and those dents would be engaged by the gear. In either case, the base plate and the cover plate are held stationary by the casing when the first shorter plate is moved manually relative to the casing. The two engagements of the gear are diagonaaly opposite to each other. Because the gear is moved linearly with the first shorter plate as well as being rotated, there is an additional linear movement of the second shorter plate. That movement is simultaneous with the movement due to the rotational movement of the gear.

The second shorter flange has an upstanding flange adjacent one end. That flange serves as a finger and is hereinafter called a finger flange. In the package the finger flange is adjacent the bottom panel of the casing. The finger flange is located on the second shorter plate so that it extends upwardly through a longitudinal slot in the cover plate and abuts the bottom end of an article that is to be removed and that is in alignment with the opening in or to be made in the top panel of the casing.

The subassembly further includes a spring connected at one end to the base plate or the cover plate and at the other end to the first shorter plate to provide an automatic return of the shorter plates to their original or normal position relative to the base plate and the cover plate whenever the first shorter plate is released from the position to which it has been moved manually.

From the foregoing description it is seen that the subassembly is constructed generally to utilize components such that a linear movement of one component produces linear and rotational movement of another component and the compound movement of the latter component produces a linear movement, to a substantially greater extent, of a third component having a finger flange that will move an abutted, elongated article a substantially greater distance than the distance of movement of the first component. It is seen further that the subassembly utilizes the same general principle that is utilized by the subassembly disclosed and claimed in said copending patent application. However, the individual components differ in their construction. The present construction of the subassembly is an improvement over that of the earlier subassembly. The present subassembly is easier to manufacture and to assemble. It requires fewer components.

In its simplest embodiment, the subassembly of the present invention comprises said base plate and said cover plate constructed to be connected to each other so as to provide a space between them. The subassembly also comprises first and second shorter plates, a gear and a spring, all enclosed by the connected base and cover plates.

The gear is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical upstanding boss on the top surface of the first shorter plate. That shorter plate has a lateral intermediate extension that extends through an elongated opening between the base plate and the cover plate. The base plate has an upstanding flange along one longitudinal edge and that flange has a number of longitudinally aligned dents that are spaced and shaped to be engaged by the gear to rotate the latter when the gear is moved with the first shorter plate as it is moved relative to the base plate. One end of the spring is connected to an end of the base plate and the other end is connected to the first shorter plate. The second shorter plate has a lower or downwardly offset portion along one longitudinal margin to provide a vertical, longitudinal, intermediate flange and an outer horizontal flange, that is parallel with but below the main portion of that shorter plate. That vertical flange has a number of longitudinally spaced openings that are engaged seriatim by the teeth of the gear as the latter is moved with the first shorter plate and as the moving gear is rotated by engagement with the dents in the flange of the base plate, so that the second shorter plate moves with but a greater distance than the first shorter plate relative to the base plate and the cover plate. These two engagements of the gear are diagonally opposite each other.

The edge of the outer horizontal flange of the lower offset portion of the one longitudinal margin of the second shorter plate, as described above, is adjacent a downwardly turned vertical flange along the corresponding longitudinal margin of the cover plate. The latter flange is within but adjacent the other upwardly turned, vertical, longitudinal flange of the base plate. This construction ensures guided linear movement of the second shorter plate without turning about a vertical axis passing through that plate.

The first shorter plates longitudinal edge, from which there is the lateral intermediate extension that passes through an opening in that other longitudinal upstanding flange of the base plate, is within but adjacent that previously mentioned downwardly turned verical flange of the cover plate that serves as a guide for the second shorter plate so as to prevent movement also of the first shorter plate about a vertical axis passing through that plate as it is moved linearly.

The first shorter plate has its end portions of lesser width than the intermediate portion. The two end portions (litter in width from each other so that upstanding vertical flanges at their non-coplanar longitudinal edges are at vertical longitudinal planes that are transversely spaced from each other.

One end of the second shorter plate has a longitudinal extension adjacent a comer of the plate. The distal portion of that extension is upturned to provide the finger flange that extends upwardly through a longitudinal slot in the cover plate to abut the bottom end of an elongated article That article is pushed for its partial removal from the casing by the movement of the finger flange from its normal position. Then the article is grasped externally of the casing for complete removal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The dispensing package and the dispensing subassembly of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment that is a refillable cigarette package, rather than by an illustration of a package such as would be obtained in the packaging of cigarettes in a factory using the presently illustrated casing modified to be like that illustrated in said copending patent application.

FIG. I is a perspective view of the refillable cigarette ackage with the thumb-movable lateral extension of the first shorter plate moved to the right to show how one cigarette has been partly removed from the casing.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan of the package.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section of the package taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section of the casing of the package and a front elevation of the subassembly in the casmg.

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the casing along with an end elevational view of the subassembly and showing by dotted lines an illustrative arrangement of cigarettes in a filled package.

F IG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section of the package taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2 and showing by dotted lines the position of the bottom panel when pivotally moved at least part way open to refill the package.

FIG. 7 is an exploded fragmentary view, in cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIG., of the casing.

FIG. 8 is a top plan of the dispensing subassembly without its cover plate and showing the movable components in their normal position.

FIG. 9 is a top plan, like FIG. 8, but showing the position and condition of the components after movement to complete the partial dispensing of a cigarette out of the package.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the subassembly including the cover plate.

FIG. 11 is a cross section of the complete subassembly, except for showing of the spring and the flange of the first shorter plate to which it is connected, taken along the line 11-11 ofFlG.8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The dispensing package of the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. I through 7. It has a casing generally indicated at 12 and a dispensing subassembly generally indicated at 13 (FIGS. 8 through 11).

The casing 12 has a front panel 14, a rear panel 15, a first side panel 16, a second side panel 17, a top panel 18, and a bottom panel 19. In FIGS. I through 7, casing rests on its side panel 17. The front panel 14 has a vertical slot 20 that is parallel to and adjacent side panel 17. The top panel 18 has an opening 21 that is adjacent the corner of top panel 18 at which that panel is joined to rear panel and side panel l7.

The bottom panel 19 has a central, major, recessed portion 22 that is abutted by all cigarettes 23 in the package so that their bottom ends are at a plane above, i. e., forward, of a finger flange 24 of subassembly 13 when flange 24 is at its normal position (see FIG. 4).

The margin of bottom panel 19 adjacent panel 16 has an intermediate recessed portion 25 to receive a downwardly (as viewed in FIG. 2) turned distal portion of an intermediate extension 26 of side panel 16 at that end to secure bottom panel 19 in a closed position. The panel 19 is pivotally mounted on the adjacent end of panel 17 by means of a pair of aligned pins 27, extending in opposite directions from an intermediate extension 28 of a marginal rib 29 adjacent the bottom end of panel 17. The pins are positioned in semicylindrical recesses or cavities 30 in a marginal rib 31 of panel 17. The rib 31 has a central cut-out portion 32 into which extension 28 is moved to place pins 27 in recesses 30 for pivotal movement and mounting. The corresponding ends of

panels

14, 15, and 16 have ribs (not numbered) and extension 26 extends from the rib of panel 16. Manual raising of extension 26 permits pivotal movement of panel 19 (as seen in FIG. 6) about the common axis of pins 27 thereby opening casing 12 at its bottom to insert cigarettes into the package. Then panel 19 is closed, and extension 26 is allowed to return to its fastening position.

The dispensing subassembly 13 is mounted in casing 12 so that subassembly 13 is adjacent and preferably secured to panel 17. As seen in FIGS. 8 through 11, subassembly 13 includes a base plate 40, a guide cover plate 41, a first shorter plate 42, a gear 43, a spring 44, a second shorter plate 45, a door 46, a pin 47 and a spring 48.

The base plate 40 has an upturned end flange 49 and an upturned end flange 50 that are are adjacent top and

bottom panels

18 and 19, respectively, when subassembly I3 is in casing 12. The flange 50 has an intermediate cut portion 51 that is bent toward flange 49 but with a further bend to provide an upstanding distal portion over which one loop end of spring 44 is placed to fix the position of that end of spring 44. That distal portion is numbered 52.

The base plate 40 has upturned

flanges

53 and 54 that are

adjacent panels

14 and 15, respectively, of casing 12 when it contains subassembly 13. The flange 53 is taller that flange 54. The flange 53 is formed without an intermediate portion to provide an opening in that wall. The flange 54 has a number of dents 55 that are longitudinally spaced and shaped to be engaged seriatim by the teeth of gear 43 that is between

flanges

53 and 54 and that is mounted for rotation as described below. The flange 54 has upwardly extending tabs 56 adjacent its ends.

The first shorter plate 42 is slidably mounted on base plate 40 with the formers longitudinal edge 57 spaced from but parallel to flange 53. The plate 42 has a lateral intermediate extension 58 at edge 57. The extension 58 passes through the opening in flange 53 and the distal portion 59 outwardly of flange 53 is upturned, with a corrugated configuration, to provide a finger-engageable construction for distal portion 59 that is outside casing 12 as extension 58 also extends through slot 20 of panel 14 when subassembly is mounted inside casing 12.

The first shorter plate 42 has a generally central, upstanding, stepped, cylindrical boss 60 on which gear 43 is rotatably mounted. The end portions of plate 42 are narrower that its central portion or intermediate portion so that plate 42 has in effect two

end extension

61 and 62 of different width but with common edge 57. The extension 61 has its other longitudinal margin upturned to be a flange that is generally parallel to an upturned flange 64 at the corresponding longitudinal margin of extension 62. The

flanges

63 and 64 are transversely spaced from each other to provide suitable horizontal support for shorter plate 45.

The first shorter plate 42 has an upturned extension 65 from its central portion and spaced from extension 61. The other loop end of spring 44 is connected to extension 65.

longitudinal edge of plate 45 is downwardly offset or at a lower horizontal plane by the presence of a downwardly turned, vertical, longitudinal portion 67 of plate 45 adjacent the marginal portion 68 that is parallel to but below the main portion of plate 45. The vertical portion 67 has a number of holes 69 that are longitudinally spaced and are shaped and of a size to receive seriatim the teeth of gear 43 at a plane below the main portion of plate 45. The plate is supported by

flanges

63 and 64 to keep that plate spaced above gear 43 as regards the main portion of plate 45.

The cover plate has downwardly turned

flanges

70 and 71 at its longitudinal margins and an upstanding flange 72 at one end (to be above flange 49 of base plate 40). The flange 72 is spaced sufi'iciently from the longitudinal margin having flange 71 to higedly mount door 46 at that space so as to be in alignment with opening 21 in top panel 18 when subassembly 13 is in casing 12. For this hinged mounting of door 46 there are cylindrically curved tabs 73 on the adjacent vertical edge of flange 72. Between tabs 73 are positioned similar tabs 74 on the proximal edge of door 46. The pin 47 passes through

tabs

73 and 74 and through spring 48 that is between tabs 74. The ends of spring 48 are turned so that one abuts the outer face of door 46 and the other end abuts the outer face of flange 72. This construction provides a closed position of door 46 as its normal position, but door 46 can be pushed open by aligned cigarette 23 when the latter is moved by finger flange 24 also aligned with door 46 when subassembly 13 is in casing 12.

The cover plate 41 has an elongated slot 75 adjacent flange 71 and extending from the other end of plate 41 to receive through it finger flange 24 of second shorter plate 45.

The cover plate 41 has tabs 76 depending from flange 70 adjacent its ends to pass through short slots 77 of plate 40 adjacent its ends and adjacent flange 53 of plate 40. In subassembly 13, the ends of tabs 76 are bent below and against plate 40 to secure

plates

40 and 41 together at that longitudinal margin. Similarly plate 41 has short slots 78 at its other longitudinal margin and adjacent its ends to receive tabs 57 that are then bent at their ends above and to abut plate 41 to secure this other longitudinal marginal portion of

plates

41 and 40 together with the other components between them to constitute the subassembly 13.

As seen in FIG. 11, in this assembly of

plates

40 and 41 flange 70 is inside flange 53 and flange 54 is inside flange 71.

The flange 70 of plate 41 has an intermediate portion of shorter height to provide, between it and plate 40 at the opening between the two portions of flange 53, a longitudinal slot 80 in alignment with slot of casing 12.

The flange 70 serves as a guide for

shorter plates

42 and 45 Thus plate 41 can be called guide cover plate 41.

When the packages casing 12 is held in the right hand with the thumb on flange 59, with the index finger abutting top panel 18, and with the other fingers of the right hand on rear panel 15, a movement of the thumb to the right (assuming held in front of the person to be seen as shown in FIG. 4) and flange 59 with it causes linear movement to the right of plate 42 and gear 43 that engages dents 55 during that movement so that gear 43 rotates counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9). The gear 43 and plate 42 are moved linearly a distance of x to the position shown in FIG. 9. This movement stretches spring 44 and its contraction is prevented so long as the thumb holds flange 59 at its new position.

Because gear 43 is moved linearly and is forced to rotate at the same time by engagement successively with dents 55 and because gear 43 at its diagonally opposite position engages plate 45 at openings 69, plate 45 is moved linearly to the right. Due to the rotation of the intermediate gear 43 required to move also linearly with plate 42, the movement of plate 45 is a distance of 2x, i. e., thice that of plate 42 and that of the thumb of the operator. This extra movement of finger flange 24 with plate 45 pushes an aligned cigarette 23 not only partly out door 46, thereby opened, but also very advantageously moves a greater length of that part of cigarette 23 outside of casing 12 than would be the casing if the moved distance merely equaled the linear movement of the thumb.

That partially dispensed cigarette 23 can be readily grasped by the other hand or even by the lips of the prospective smoker and then completely removed by that hand or those lips. This can be done later whenever desired.

After the partial removal the thumb is moved from flange 59 so that spring 44 can contract to move automatically plate 42 and gear 43 from their dispensing position (FIG. 9) to the left to their original position (FIG. 8). During this movement, the engagement of the linearly moving gear 43 with dents 55 in reverse order rotates gear 43 clockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9) and the diagonally opposite engagement of gear 43 with plate 45 moves plate 45 to its original position (FIG. 8).

The present invention includes various modifications of the foregoing illustrative, preferred embodiment of the package and the subassembly of the invention. Such modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the foregoing description especially in the light of the copending patent application mentioned above. It is obvious that the subassembly can be simplified to be a subassembly useful with a casing that is not a refillable type, e. g., a casing such as shown in that copending application. In that case, the recessed portion 22 of bottom panel 19 would not be present and bottom panel 19 would be fixed rather that pivotally mounted; however, of course, the filler used in the bottom portion of the earlier package would be present. Recessed portion provides advantageously for the refillable casing the function of that filler.

The invention is limited only by the claims that follow.

We claim:

1. An article of manufacture, that is useful as a dispensing subassembly of a dispensing package of products to be removed from the package at least one at a time to a partial extent by the operation of the subassembly, which comprises:

a base plate;

a cover plate;

a first shorter plate;

a second shorter plate;

a gear; and

a spring,

said base plate and said cover plate being connected to each other so as to provide a space between them with said first and second shorter plates, said gear and said spring being enclosed by said connected base and cover plates,

said first shorter plate being slidably mounted on said base plate,

having said gear rotatably mounted on a cylindrical upstanding boss on the top surface of said first shorter plate,

having a lateral, intermediate extension that extends beyond one longitudinal edge of said base plate and a longitudinal edge of said cover plate, and

having an upstanding flange intermediate its ends and connected to one end of said spring,

said base plate having an upstanding flange adjacent one end and connected to the other end of said spring, whereby longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base plate provides a stretching of said spring that will return automatically said first shorter plate to its original position upon release of a force providing the initial longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base plate,

one of said base and cover plates being constructed to have a longitudinal vertical flange engaged by said gear so as to rotate said gear by said engagement during said longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base plate,

said cover plate having a longitudinal slot extending from a location adjacent one end and adjacent the other longitudinal edge of said cover plate,

said second shorter plate being mounted above said first shorter plate and said gear, being constructed to have a longitudinal, pendant flange engaged by said gear at a position diagonally opposite said other engagement so as to be moved longitudinally upon rotation of said gear, and having adjacent one end an upstanding flange extending through said longitudinal slot in said cover plate, and said base and cover plates being constructed to provide a longitudinal slot between them and through which passes said lateral, intermediate extension of said first shorter plate, whereby longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base and cover plates provides a greater longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein: said base plate has the longitudinal vertical flange engaged by said gear and that flange has a number of longitudinally aligned dents that are spaced and shaped to provide said construction to be engaged by said gear to rotate said gear when said gear is moving with longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate; said second shorter plate has its said longitudinal, pendant flange constructed with a number of holes that are located to be engaged seriatim by said gear, during its rotation, for said'longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate; said second shorter plate has an extension at one end and adjacent said one longitudinal edge, said extension being upturned at its distal portion to provide said upstanding flange extending through said longitudinal slot in said cover plate as a finger flange; said second shorter plate has its other longitudinal margin downwardly offset by the presence of a downwardly turned, vertical longitudinal portion adjacent that offset margin, said downwardly turned portion constituting said longitudinal flange having said holes; and one of said base and cover plates has a longitudinal flange to guide said second shorter plate by abutment during longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate. 3. The article of claim 2 wherein: said first shorter plate has its end portions narrower than its central portion so that said first shorter plate has two end extensions of different width but with a longitudinal edge of each in alignement with a longitudinal edge of the central portion, said extensions having their other longitudinal margin upturned to provide support at the same horizontal plane of said second shorter plate by longitudinal flanges that are transversely spaced from each other; said flange of said first shorter plate to which said one end of said spring is connected is provided by a longitudinal extension from said central portion, said longitudinal extension being upturned at its distal portion; and said boss is stepped and located in said central portion of said first shorter plate. 4. The article of claim 3 wherein: said base plate has an upstanding flange at its other longitudinal edge, said flange having a portion, opposite generally said number of dents in that plates other longitudinal flange, missing to provide an opening for passage of said lateral extension of said first shorter plate; said cover plate has pendant flanges at its longitudinal edges that are laterally offset, in the subassembly, relative to said base plate so that one pendant flange is outside but adjacent that upstanding flange of the base plate that has said dents and the other pendant flange is inside but adjacent that other upstanding flange having a portion missing; said cover plate further has its said other pendant flange with a portion missing to cooperate with said upstanding flange of the base plate with a portion missing to form a longitudinal slot through which passes said lateral extension of said first shorter plate; and

said lateral extension has at its distal portion, outside said base and cover plates, an upturned flange to be engaged and moved by a finger for operation of said subassembly.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein:

the other end of said cover plate has an upstanding flange spaced from said one pendant flange of said cover plate to be out of alignment with said finger flange of said second shorter plate; and

said subassembly further includes a door pivotally mounted on said upstanding end flange of said cover plate to be in alignment with said finger flange so that said door will be opened by movement of an article moved by said finger flange when the subassembly is mounted in a casing containing articles as products to be dispensed from the easmg.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein:

one of said longitudinal flanges of said base plate and one of said longudinal flanges of said cover plate has, for each, a

pair of tabs extending therefrom adjacent the ends of the each of said base plate and said cover plate has a pair of slots located to receive said tabs on the other plate; and

said tabs in those pairs of slots are bent at their distal outside portions to provide said connection of said base and cover plates to each other but spaced from each other.

7. A dispensing package for products as an article of manufacture comprising:

the article of manufacture of claim I; and

a casing having first and second side panels,

a front panel with a vertical slot parallel to and adjacent said first side panel,

a rear panel,

a top panel having a construction for a portion to provide an opening that is adjacent said rear panel and said first side panel, said opening being sufficiently large for removal one at a time at least one of said products through it, and

a bottom panel, said article of manufacture of claim 1 being in said casing between said front and rear panels so that said base plate is parallel to and adjacent said first side panel with said upstanding flange, that as a finger flange extends through said longitudinal slot of said cover plate, being in alignment with said portion of said top panel constructed to provide said opening.

8. The dispensing package of claim .7 wherein: said base plate has the longitudinal vertical flange engaged by said gear and that flange has a number of longitudinally aligned dents that are spaced and shaped to provide said construction to be engaged by said gear to rotate said gear when said gear is moving with longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate; said second shorter plate has its said longitudinal pendant flange constructed with a number of holes that are located to be engaged seriatim by said gear, during its rotation, for said longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate; said second shorter plate has an extension at one end and adjacent said one longitudinal edge, said extension being upturned at its distal portion to provide said finger flange extending through said longitudinal slot in said cover plate; said secon shorter plate has its other longitudinal margin downwardly offset by the presence of a downwardly turned, vertical longitudinal portion adjacent that offset margin, said downwardly turned portion constituting said longitudinal flange having said holes; and one of said base and cover plates has a longitudinal flange to guide said second shorter plate by abutment during longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate. 9. The dispensing package of claim 8 wherein: said first shorter plate has its end portions narrower than its central portion so that said first shorter plate has two end extensions of different width but with a longitudinal edge of each in alignment with a longitudinal edge of the central portion, said extensions having their other longitudinal margin upturned to provide support at the same horizontal plane of said second shorter plate by longitudinal flanges that are transversely spaced from each other;

said flange of said first shorter plate to which said one end of said spring is connected is provided by a longitudinal extension from said central portion, said longitudinal extension being upturned at its distal portion; and

said boss is stepped and located in said central portion of said first shorter plate.

10. The dispensing package of claim 9 wherein:

said base plate has an upstanding flange at its other longitudinal edge, said flange having a portion, opposite generally said number of dents in that plates other longitudinal flange, missing to provide an opening for passage of said lateral extension of said first shorter plate;

said cover plate has pendant flanges at its longitudinal edges that are laterallt offset, in the subassembly, relative to said base plate so that one pendant flange is outside but adjacent that upstanding flange of the base plate that has said dents and the other pendant flange is inside but adjacent that other upstanding flange having a portion missing;

said cover plate further has its said other pendant flange with a portion missing to cooperate with said upstanding flange of the base plate with a portion missing to form a longitudinal slot through which passes said lateral extension of said first shorter plate;

said lateral extension has at its distal portion, outside said base and cover plates, an upturned flange to be engaged and moved by a finger for operation of said subassembly;

said subassembly further includes a door pivotally mounted said said upstanding end flange of said cover plate to be in alignment with said finger flange so that said door will be opened by movement of an article moved by said finger flange in said casing with the article as a product being dispensed.

1 1. The dispensing package of claim 10 wherein:

said bottom panel is pivotally hinged at one edge to the adjacent end of one of said first and second side panels, said front panel, and said rear panel; and

another of said adjacent panels is constructed to yieldably secure said bottom panel in the closed position.

12. The dispensing package of claim 11 wherein said bottom panel has a recessed central, main portion so that portions inside surface is at a transverse plane through the casing above the normal position of the flange linfer of said subassembly.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture, that is useful as a dispensing subassembly of a dispensing package of products to be removed from the package at least One at a time to a partial extent by the operation of the subassembly, which comprises: a base plate; a cover plate; a first shorter plate; a second shorter plate; a gear; and a spring, said base plate and said cover plate being connected to each other so as to provide a space between them with said first and second shorter plates, said gear and said spring being enclosed by said connected base and cover plates, said first shorter plate being slidably mounted on said base plate, having said gear rotatably mounted on a cylindrical upstanding boss on the top surface of said first shorter plate, having a lateral, intermediate extension that extends beyond one longitudinal edge of said base plate and a longitudinal edge of said cover plate, and having an upstanding flange intermediate its ends and connected to one end of said spring, said base plate having an upstanding flange adjacent one end and connected to the other end of said spring, whereby longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base plate provides a stretching of said spring that will return automatically said first shorter plate to its original position upon release of a force providing the initial longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base plate, one of said base and cover plates being constructed to have a longitudinal vertical flange engaged by said gear so as to rotate said gear by said engagement during said longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base plate, said cover plate having a longitudinal slot extending from a location adjacent one end and adjacent the other longitudinal edge of said cover plate, said second shorter plate being mounted above said first shorter plate and said gear, being constructed to have a longitudinal, pendant flange engaged by said gear at a position diagonally opposite said other engagement so as to be moved longitudinally upon rotation of said gear, and having adjacent one end an upstanding flange extending through said longitudinal slot in said cover plate, and said base and cover plates being constructed to provide a longitudinal slot between them and through which passes said lateral, intermediate extension of said first shorter plate, whereby longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate relative to said base and cover plates provides a greater longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein: said base plate has the longitudinal vertical flange engaged by said gear and that flange has a number of longitudinally aligned dents that are spaced and shaped to provide said construction to be engaged by said gear to rotate said gear when said gear is moving with longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate; said second shorter plate has its said longitudinal, pendant flange constructed with a number of holes that are located to be engaged seriatim by said gear, during its rotation, for said longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate; said second shorter plate has an extension at one end and adjacent said one longitudinal edge, said extension being upturned at its distal portion to provide said upstanding flange extending through said longitudinal slot in said cover plate as a finger flange; said second shorter plate has its other longitudinal margin downwardly offset by the presence of a downwardly turned, vertical longitudinal portion adjacent that offset margin, said downwardly turned portion constituting said longitudinal flange having said holes; and one of said base and cover plates has a longitudinal flange to guide said second shorter plate by abutment during longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein: said first shorter plate has its end portions narrower than its central portion so that said first shorter plate has two end extensions of different width but with a longitudinal edge of each in alignement with a longitudinal edge of the central portion, said extensions having their other longitudinal margin upturned to provide support at the same horizontal plane of said second shorter plate by longitudinal flanges that are transversely spaced from each other; said flange of said first shorter plate to which said one end of said spring is connected is provided by a longitudinal extension from said central portion, said longitudinal extension being upturned at its distal portion; and said boss is stepped and located in said central portion of said first shorter plate.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein: said base plate has an upstanding flange at its other longitudinal edge, said flange having a portion, opposite generally said number of dents in that plate''s other longitudinal flange, missing to provide an opening for passage of said lateral extension of said first shorter plate; said cover plate has pendant flanges at its longitudinal edges that are laterally offset, in the subassembly, relative to said base plate so that one pendant flange is outside but adjacent that upstanding flange of the base plate that has said dents and the other pendant flange is inside but adjacent that other upstanding flange having a portion missing; said cover plate further has its said other pendant flange with a portion missing to cooperate with said upstanding flange of the base plate with a portion missing to form a longitudinal slot through which passes said lateral extension of said first shorter plate; and said lateral extension has at its distal portion, outside said base and cover plates, an upturned flange to be engaged and moved by a finger for operation of said subassembly.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein: the other end of said cover plate has an upstanding flange spaced from said one pendant flange of said cover plate to be out of alignment with said finger flange of said second shorter plate; and said subassembly further includes a door pivotally mounted on said upstanding end flange of said cover plate to be in alignment with said finger flange so that said door will be opened by movement of an article moved by said finger flange when the subassembly is mounted in a casing containing articles as products to be dispensed from the casing.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein: one of said longitudinal flanges of said base plate and one of said longudinal flanges of said cover plate has, for each, a pair of tabs extending therefrom adjacent the ends of the flange; each of said base plate and said cover plate has a pair of slots located to receive said tabs on the other plate; and said tabs in those pairs of slots are bent at their distal outside portions to provide said connection of said base and cover plates to each other but spaced from each other.

7. A dispensing package for products as an article of manufacture comprising: the article of manufacture of claim 1; and a casing having first and second side panels, a front panel with a vertical slot parallel to and adjacent said first side panel, a rear panel, a top panel having a construction for a portion to provide an opening that is adjacent said rear panel and said first side panel, said opening being sufficiently large for removal one at a time at least one of said products through it, and a bottom panel, said article of manufacture of claim 1 being in said casing between said front and rear panels so that said base plate is parallel to and adjacent said first side panel with said upstanding flange, that as a finger flange extends through said longitudinal slot of said cover plate, being in alignment with said portion of said top panel constructed to provide said opening.

8. The dispensing package of claim 7 wherein: said base plate has the longitudinal vertical flange engaged by said gear and that flange has a number of longitudinally aligned dents that are spaced aNd shaped to provide said construction to be engaged by said gear to rotate said gear when said gear is moving with longitudinal movement of said first shorter plate; said second shorter plate has its said longitudinal pendant flange constructed with a number of holes that are located to be engaged seriatim by said gear, during its rotation, for said longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate; said second shorter plate has an extension at one end and adjacent said one longitudinal edge, said extension being upturned at its distal portion to provide said finger flange extending through said longitudinal slot in said cover plate; said secon shorter plate has its other longitudinal margin downwardly offset by the presence of a downwardly turned, vertical longitudinal portion adjacent that offset margin, said downwardly turned portion constituting said longitudinal flange having said holes; and one of said base and cover plates has a longitudinal flange to guide said second shorter plate by abutment during longitudinal movement of said second shorter plate.

9. The dispensing package of claim 8 wherein: said first shorter plate has its end portions narrower than its central portion so that said first shorter plate has two end extensions of different width but with a longitudinal edge of each in alignment with a longitudinal edge of the central portion, said extensions having their other longitudinal margin upturned to provide support at the same horizontal plane of said second shorter plate by longitudinal flanges that are transversely spaced from each other; said flange of said first shorter plate to which said one end of said spring is connected is provided by a longitudinal extension from said central portion, said longitudinal extension being upturned at its distal portion; and said boss is stepped and located in said central portion of said first shorter plate.

10. The dispensing package of claim 9 wherein: said base plate has an upstanding flange at its other longitudinal edge, said flange having a portion, opposite generally said number of dents in that plate''s other longitudinal flange, missing to provide an opening for passage of said lateral extension of said first shorter plate; said cover plate has pendant flanges at its longitudinal edges that are laterallt offset, in the subassembly, relative to said base plate so that one pendant flange is outside but adjacent that upstanding flange of the base plate that has said dents and the other pendant flange is inside but adjacent that other upstanding flange having a portion missing; said cover plate further has its said other pendant flange with a portion missing to cooperate with said upstanding flange of the base plate with a portion missing to form a longitudinal slot through which passes said lateral extension of said first shorter plate; said lateral extension has at its distal portion, outside said base and cover plates, an upturned flange to be engaged and moved by a finger for operation of said subassembly; the other end of said cover plate has an upstanding flange spaced from said one pendant flange of said cover plate to be out of alignment with said finger flange of said second shorter plate; and said subassembly further includes a door pivotally mounted on said said upstanding end flange of said cover plate to be in alignment with said finger flange so that said door will be opened by movement of an article moved by said finger flange in said casing with the article as a product being dispensed.

11. The dispensing package of claim 10 wherein: said bottom panel is pivotally hinged at one edge to the adjacent end of one of said first and second side panels, said front panel, and said rear panel; and another of said adjacent panels is constructed to yieldably secure said bottom panel in the closed position.

12. The dispensing package of claim 11 wherein said bottom panel has a recessed central, main portion so thaT portion''s inside surface is at a transverse plane through the casing above the normal position of the flange linfer of said subassembly.