Face mask packaging, dispensing system, and method

Abstract

Methods and systems of packaging and dispensing face masks. The method includes providing a package unit including a plurality of stacked face masks contained in a containment body having a top wall forming a passage. The package unit is inserted into compartment of a dispenser housing that otherwise includes a front panel forming a slot corresponding with the compartment. The passage of the containment body is accessible via the slot in the front panel. A top-most face mask is dispensed from the package unit through the slot and the passage. Two or more different face mask package units can be stored in corresponding compartments, with the method further including visually discerning one stored package unit from another. Other embodiments include a flexible or “soft” face mask packaging.

1 . A method of packaging and dispensing a plurality of face masks, the method providing: 
 providing a first package unit comprising: 
 a plurality of stacked face masks including a top-most face mask,  
 a containment body within which the plurality of face masks are disposed, the containment body including a top wall forming a passage through which the top-most face mask is accessible;  
   inserting the first package unit into a first compartment of a dispenser housing, wherein the dispenser housing includes a front panel forming a slot corresponding with the first compartment such that upon insertion of the first package unit, the passage is accessible via the slot; and    removing the top-most face mask from the plurality of stacked face masks through the slot and the passage.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a first package unit includes forming the containment body to be flexible.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first package unit further includes a lid removably disposed across the passage, the method further comprising: 
 removing the lid from the containment body prior to insertion into the dispenser housing.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein prior to removal of the lid, the face masks are sealed within the containment body.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the containment body and the lid are films, and further wherein providing the first package unit includes sealing a perimeter of the lid to a perimeter of the top wall.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 urging the containment body toward the front panel upon insertion into the first compartment.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the containment body is flexible and further wherein urging the containment body is characterized by the contained stack of face masks being urged toward the front panel.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the containment body further includes a bottom wall opposite the top wall, and further wherein urging of the containment body includes applying a pushing force onto the bottom wall to force the containment body toward the front panel.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pushing force is translated from the bottom wall onto the plurality of stacked face masks due to a flexibility of the containment body.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein urging the containment body includes applying a pulling force onto the top wall.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser housing further includes a side orthogonal to the front panel, the side forming a fill opening to the first compartment, and further wherein inserting the first package unit includes directing the first package unit through the fill opening.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a size of the slot is greater than a size of the passage, and less than a size of the front wall, and further wherein removing the top-most face mask includes: 
 grasping the top-most face mask with a user's fingers inserted through the slot; and    applying a pulling force onto the top-most face mask with the user's fingers;    wherein an interface between the front panel and the top wall prevents dislodgement of the first package unit through the slot in response to the pulling force.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a second package unit comprising a plurality of stacked face masks disposed within a containment body including a top wall forming a passage;    inserting the second package unit into a second compartment of the dispenser housing, wherein the front panel of the dispenser housing forms a second slot corresponding with the second compartment such that upon insertion, the passage of the second package unit is accessible via the second slot; and    determining whether to remove a face mask from the first package unit or the second package unit.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of face masks of the first package unit are substantially identical and are characterized by a first performance characteristic and a first dominant color, and further wherein the plurality of face masks of the second package unit are substantially identical and are characterized by a second performance characteristic and a second dominant color, wherein the first performance characteristic differs from the second performance characteristic, and the first dominant color differs from the second dominant color, and further wherein determining whether to remove a face mask includes: 
 evaluating whether a procedure to be performed is indicative of the first or the second performance characteristic; and    selecting a face mask from the first or second compartment based upon the evaluation.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the top wall of both of the first and second package units is substantially translucent, and further wherein selecting a face mask includes: 
 visually comparing the first and second dominant colors.    
   
   
       16 . A face mask dispensing system comprising: 
 a first package unit comprising: 
 a plurality of stacked face masks,  
 a containment body within which the plurality of stacked face masks is disposed, the containment body including a top wall forming a passage; and  
   a dispenser housing including a front panel and defining a first compartment, the front panel forming a slot;    wherein upon assembly of the first package unit within the first compartment, the front wall is adjacent the front panel and the passage is aligned with the slot such that the stack of face masks is accessible from an exterior of the housing via the slot and the passage.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the containment body is flexible.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first package unit further includes a lid removably sealed over the passage.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the containment body is a formed film.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the containment body is substantially translucent.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein a size of the slot is greater than a size of the passage and less than a size of the top wall.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein a depth of the first compartment is greater than a depth of the first package unit.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the dispenser housing further comprises: 
 a biasing device for urging the first package unit toward the front panel upon final assembly.    
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a second package unit including a plurality of stacked face masks disposed within a containment body including a top wall forming a passage;    wherein the second package unit is assembled within a second compartment of the dispenser housing such that the passage of the second package unit is aligned with a second slot in the front panel of the dispenser housing.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the front panel is substantially translucent in at least regions surrounding the slots, respectively, such that the first and second package units are visually perceptible from an exterior of the dispenser housing via the front panel.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the top wall of each of the package units, respectively, is substantially translucent such that the plurality of face masks, respectively, are visually perceptible upon final assembly within the dispenser housing.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of face masks of the first package unit are characterized by a dominant color differing from a dominant color of the plurality of face masks of the second package unit.  
   
   
       28 . A package unit of face masks comprising: 
 a plurality of stacked face masks; and    a flexible containment body containing the face masks and including top, side, and bottom walls, each formed of a flexible film, wherein the top wall includes a passage through which a top-most face mask of the plurality of face masks is accessible.    
   
   
       29 . The package unit of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a lid removably attached to the containment body, the lid extending across the passage.    
   
   
       30 . The package unit of  claim 29 , wherein the face masks are sealed within the containment body by the lid.  
   
   
       31 . The package unit of  claim 30 , wherein the containment body and the lid are adapted to maintain a sterility of the face masks.  
   
   
       32 . The package unit of  claim 29 , wherein the flexible containment body is substantially translucent, and an exterior of the lid includes written indicia.  
   
   
       33 . The package unit of  claim 29 , wherein the lid is a flexible film.