Comestible product dispensers and methods of making and using same

Abstract

A first product dispenser is provided and includes a top member defining an opening, a divider connected to the top member and a bottom member sized to hold a plurality of comestible products. The bottom member defines an opening. The divider is positioned and the bottom member is coupled in a sliding relationship within the top member so that the openings defined by the top member and the bottom member can be aligned to dispense a certain number of the products. A second product dispenser is provided and includes a first housing and a second housing, which each have a plurality of dividers. The dispenser also includes a trigger. When the trigger is pressed, the container is translated sequentially along the dividers of the first and second housings to dispense one of the products.

1 . A comestible product dispenser comprising: 
 a top member defining an opening;    a divider connected to said top member;    a bottom member sized to hold a plurality of comestible products, said bottom member defining an opening,    wherein the divider is so constructed and arranged to separate and dispense a designated number of the comestible products, and wherein the bottom member is coupled in a sliding relationship within the top member so that the openings defined by the top member and the bottom member can be aligned to dispense the designated number of the products.    
   
   
       2 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member includes a plurality of walls and a door hingedly connected to one of said walls.  
   
   
       3 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member includes a plurality of walls and a biasing member attached to one of said walls.  
   
   
       4 . A comestible product dispenser comprising: 
 a first housing defining an opening;    a second housing; and    a container sized to hold a plurality of comestible products, said container defining an opening, wherein said container is adapted to be removably inserted within the second housing, and wherein the second housing is coupled in a sliding relationship within the first housing so that the openings defined by the first housing and the container can be aligned to dispense one of the products.    
   
   
       5 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the container defines a second opening.  
   
   
       6 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 5 , which includes a door hingedly connected to the container and positioned adjacent to the second opening, said door being movable toward and away from said second opening.  
   
   
       7 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 4 , which includes a seal positioned adjacent to said opening and removably attached to the container.  
   
   
       8 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 7 , wherein the seal is a tamper resistant tab.  
   
   
       9 . A comestible product dispenser comprising: 
 a first component including a first aperture; and    a second component including a second aperture and a biasing member, said second component adapted to hold a plurality of comestible products,    wherein the second component is slidingly engaged within the first component so that the second component can be moved from an initial position to a second position, wherein in the second position, the first aperture and the second aperture are aligned to dispense one of the products, and wherein the biasing member biases the second component away from the first component so that the second component moves from the second position to the initial position.    
   
   
       10 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the biasing member includes a substantially planar member attached to said second component.  
   
   
       11 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring.  
   
   
       12 . A comestible product dispenser comprising: 
 a first housing including a plurality of dividers;    a second housing including a plurality of dividers, said second housing being matingly press-fitted to said first housing;    a container positioned between said first and second housings, said container sized to hold a plurality of comestible products; and    a trigger coupled in a sliding relationship with the first and second housings, wherein the trigger is operable to cause the container to be translated sequentially along the dividers of the first and second housings to dispense one of the products.    
   
   
       13 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 12 , which includes a lid hingedly connected to the first and second housings.  
   
   
       14 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 12 , which includes a base and a lid hingedly connected to said base, wherein said base is matingly engaged with the first and second housings.  
   
   
       15 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the container includes at least one tab, and wherein at least one of said first and second housing define at least one opening sized to receive the tab.  
   
   
       16 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the container includes at least one raised surface adapted to be in engagement with one of said first and second arms of said input member when said input member is moved into the first and second housings.  
   
   
       17 . A comestible product dispenser comprising: 
 a first housing;    a second housing adapted to fit within the first housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing include mating press-fitted sides that hold the first housing and the second housing together when it is desired;    a holding member connected to said second housing, said holding member including at least one divider;    a removable container sized to hold a plurality of comestible products, said container being positioned in said holding member;    a dispensing member hingedly connected to the second housing so that the pivoting of the dispensing member causes the container to be translated sequentially along the divider to dispense one of the products.    
   
   
       18 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the container is re-fillable with comestible products.  
   
   
       19 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the container includes a seal.  
   
   
       20 . The comestible product dispenser of  claim 19 , which includes at least one tamper resistant tab attached to the seal.  
   
   
       21 . A method for dispensing comestible products comprising: 
 engaging a first housing in a sliding arrangement with a second housing, said second housing being sized to hold a plurality of comestible products; and    sliding said second housing towards said first housing to align an opening defined by said first housing with an opening defined by said second housing to dispense at least one product.    
   
   
       22 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 21 , which includes attaching a door to the second housing, the door enabling a person to insert additional comestible product into the second housing.  
   
   
       23 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 21 , which includes attaching a divider to the first housing, the divider causing a desired number of the product to be dispensed from the second housing.  
   
   
       24 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 21 , which includes attaching a biasing member to the second housing, the biasing member biasing the second housing away from the first housing.  
   
   
       25 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 21 , which includes providing a container sized to hold the plurality of comestible products and removably placing the container within the second housing.  
   
   
       26 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 25 , which includes attaching a door to the container, the door enabling a person to insert additional comestible product into the container.  
   
   
       27 . A method for dispensing comestible products comprising: 
 engaging a first housing in a sliding arrangement with a container sized to hold a plurality of comestible products, the first housing having a divider;    engaging a second housing in a sliding arrangement with the container, the second housing having a divider; and    providing a trigger in a sliding arrangement with the first and second housings, said trigger engageable with the container to cause the container to sequentially translate the container past the dividers of the first and second housings to dispense one of the products.    
   
   
       28 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 27 , which includes removing the container to insert additional comestible product into the container.  
   
   
       29 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 27 , which includes providing a lid hingedly connected to the first and second housings to maintain the comestible product within the container.  
   
   
       30 . A method for dispensing comestible products comprising: 
 configuring a first housing to be hingedly connected to a second housing;    connecting a comestible product container to the second housing and configuring the container to fit within the first housing, the comestible product container sized to hold a plurality of comestible products; and    pivoting the second housing to dispense one of the products from the comestible product container.    
   
   
       31 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 30 , which includes attaching a removable comestible product package within the comestible product container, the package sized to hold the comestible products.  
   
   
       32 . The comestible product dispensing method of  claim 31 , which includes attaching a removable seal to the comestible product package.