Packet dispenser

Abstract

The packet dispenser includes a container structure having an interior cavity. The cavity has a sufficient dimension such that a packet structure may be stored therein. The container structure has an opening to the cavity through which the packet structure can be removed therefrom. A tear structure is connected to the container structure such that the packet structure may contact the tear structure to tear a portion thereof when the packet structure is removed from the cavity.

1 . A packet dispenser for a packet structure, said packet dispenser comprising: 
 a container structure having an interior cavity, said cavity having a sufficient dimension such that the packet structure may be stored therein, said container structure having an opening to said cavity through which the packet structure can be removed therefrom; and    a tear structure connected to said container structure such that the packet structure may contact said tear structure to tear a portion thereof when the packet structure is removed from said cavity.    
     
     
         2 . A packet dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the packet structure has a hole therein, 
 said container structure having an inner surface which defines said cavity,    said tear structure comprising a post structure connected to said inner surface such that said post structure extends through the hole.    
     
     
         3 . A packet dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein said cavity provides for the packet structure contained therein to be perpendicular to said post structure, 
 said opening being elongate and having a first end and a second end,    said post structure being located relative to said opening such that said post structure is closer to said first end relative to said second end,    said container structure having a cutout which intersects said opening, said cutout being closer to said second end relative to said first end.    
     
     
         4 . A packet structure comprising: 
 a hole in said packet structure, said hole having a center; and    a notch which intersects said hole, said notch having a longitudinal central axis, said notch being oriented relative to said hole such that said longitudinal central axis is offset from said center.    
     
     
         5 . A packet structure according to  claim 4 , wherein said notch comprises a first tear notch, 
 said packet structure having a second tear notch which intersects said hole, second tear notch having a longitudinal central axis, said second tear notch being oriented relative to said hole such that said longitudinal central axis of said second tear notch is offset from said center,    said second tear notch being oriented relative to said first tear notch such that said longitudinal central axis of said first tear notch is coaxial relative to said longitudinal central axis of said second tear notch.    
     
     
         6 . A kit comprising a packet dispenser according to  claim 2 , said kit further comprising a packet structure which is stored in said cavity.  
     
     
         7 . A kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said packet structure has an outer tear notch located therein, said outer tear notch being located in said packet structure such that said post structure is located between said outer tear notch and a section of said packet structure which is pulled for tearing thereof from said post structure, said outer tear notch being parallel to a direction in which said packet structure is pulled for tearing thereof from said post structure.  
     
     
         8 . A kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said packet structure has an inner tear notch located therein, said inner tear notch being located in said packet structure such that said inner tear notch is located between said post structure and a section of said packet structure which is pulled for tearing thereof from said post structure, said inner tear notch being parallel to a direction in which said packet structure is pulled for tearing thereof from said post structure.  
     
     
         9 . A packet dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said container structure has an inner surface which defines said cavity, said tear structure comprising a knife structure connected to said inner surface.  
     
     
         10 . A packet dispenser according to  claim 9 , wherein said opening is elongate and has a first end and a second end, said knife structure being located relative to said opening such that said knife structure is closer to said first end relative to said second end.  
     
     
         11 . A packet dispenser according to  claim 9 , wherein said knife structure is connected to said inner surface such that said knife structure can be moved from a neutral position to a tear position, the packet structure contacting said knife structure when said knife structure is in said tear position and the packet structure is pulled through the opening, said knife structure being located relative to the packet structure when said knife structure is in said neutral position such that a clearance is provided between said knife structure and the packet structure.  
     
     
         12 . A packet dispenser according to  claim 9 , wherein said knife structure is connected to said inner surface such that said knife structure is forcibly directed by a portion thereof or by said container surface to said neutral position when said knife structure is in said tear position.  
     
     
         13 . A packet dispenser according to  claim 9 , wherein said knife structure comprises an elongate blade structure having a base which is connected to said inner surface, said blade structure having a cutting edge which extends from said base, said blade structure being oriented relative to said inner surface such that said cutting edge contacts the packet structure for tearing thereof when the packet structure is removed from said cavity.  
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising a packet dispenser according to  claim 9 , said kit further comprising a packet structure which is stored in said cavity.  
     
     
         15 . A method for tearing a packet structure during removal thereof from a packet dispenser, 
 the packet dispenser having a container structure which has an interior cavity, the cavity having a sufficient dimension such that the packet structure may be stored therein, the container structure having an opening to the cavity, the packet dispenser having a tear structure connected to the container structure,    said method comprising pulling the packet structure through the opening to remove the packet structure from the cavity such that the packet structure contacts the tear structure to tear the packet structure.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the packet structure has a hole therein, the container structure having an inner surface which defines the cavity, the tear structure having a post structure connected to the inner surface such that the post structure extends through the hole, 
 said method further comprising:    pivoting the packet structure about the post structure such that a section of the packet structure extends through the opening; and    pulling the packet structure away from the post structure with sufficient force such that the packet structure tears away from the post structure.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein said pulling provides for the formation of a first section and a second section of the packet structure, the first and second sections having corresponding interior edges which intersect the hole, 
 said method further comprising displacing the first section relative to the second section to tear the packet structure to provide access to a cavity therein.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the container structure has an inner surface which defines the cavity, the tear structure having a knife structure connected to the inner surface, 
 said method further comprising:    positioning the knife structure between the opening and the packet structure within the cavity; and    pulling the packet structure through the opening such that the packet structure contacts the knife structure, said pulling having sufficient force such that the packet structure is torn by the knife structure during said pulling of the packet structure through the opening.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said method further comprises: 
 moving the knife structure to the tear position;    pulling the packet structure through the opening such that the knife structure is contacted by the packet structure to tear the packet structure; and    releasing the knife structure when the knife structure is in the tear position to allow the portion of the knife structure or the container surface to forcibly direct the knife structure to the neutral position such that a clearance is provided between the knife structure and packet structure.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said pulling provides for the formation of an end structure of the packet structure, the end structure and packet structure having corresponding interior edges which intersect one another at an interior junction between the end structure and packet structure, 
 said method further comprising displacing the end structure relative to the packet structure to tear the end structure from the packet structure to provide access to a cavity therein.