Dispensing container

Abstract

A container has a hollow interior divided into a first chamber and a second chamber. Products can be arranged within the first chamber. The second chamber provides a storage area for storing objects, e.g., the product when the user has finished with the product or packaging of the product. The first and second chambers can be dynamically dimensioned. For example, a barrier dividing the first and second chambers can shift and/or flex to modify the dimensions of the chambers.

1 . A container for dispensing products and for receiving objects, the container comprising:
 first and second spaced-apart major surfaces;   first and second spaced-apart minor surfaces, the first and second minor surfaces interconnecting the first and second major surfaces to define an interior;   a divider, the divider separating the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber;   a front end extending between the major surfaces and the minor surfaces, the front end defining a first aperture, the first aperture providing access to the first chamber from an exterior of the container; and   a rear end extending opposite the front end between the major surfaces and the minor surfaces, the rear end closing the interior;   wherein one of the spaced apart minor sides defines a second aperture, the second aperture providing access to the second chamber from the exterior of the container.   
     
     
         2 . A container for dispensing products, the container comprising:
 a housing, the housing including:
 first and second spaced-apart side walls; 
 a base interconnecting the first and second side walls; 
 a cover pivotally coupled to one of the side walls, the cover configured to move from a first position, interconnecting the first and second side walls opposite the base, to a second position, providing access to an interior of the housing; 
 a front end extending between the first and second side walls and extending between the base and the cover when the cover is arranged in the first position; 
 a rear end arranged opposite the front end; and 
 a first dividing flap, the first dividing flap coupled to the front end of the housing, the first dividing flap being configured to move from a first position, in which the first dividing flap extends generally parallel with the base, to a second position, in which the first dividing flap extends oblique to the base, the first dividing flap separating the interior of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. 
   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising a second dividing flap, the second dividing flap coupled to the rear end of the housing, the second dividing flap cooperating with the first dividing flap to define the first and second chambers. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the second dividing flap is configured to move from a first position, in which the second dividing flap extends generally parallel with the base, to a second position, in which the second dividing flap extends oblique to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the front end defines a first aperture providing access to the first chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the cover defines a second aperture providing access to the second chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the cover includes flaps extending over the second aperture to form a cross-slit aperture, the flaps being configured to deflect only inwardly to enable objects to be placed within the second chamber and to inhibit objects from leaving the second chamber through the second aperture. 
     
     
         8 . A container for dispensing products from an interior, the container having a length, the container comprising:
 first and second spaced-apart major surfaces extending along the length of the container;   first and second spaced-apart minor surfaces, the first and second minor surfaces interconnecting the first and second major surfaces to define an interior;   a front end having a first section and a second section, the first section of the front end extending between the major surfaces and the minor surfaces, the second section of the front end being bent inwardly to position the second section within the interior of the container, wherein the second section of the front end extends substantially the length of the container; and   a rear end having a first section and a second section, the first section of the rear end extending opposite the first section of the front end between the major surfaces and the minor surfaces, the first section of the rear end closing the interior of the container, the second section of the rear end being bent inwardly to position the second section within the interior of the container, wherein the second section of the rear end extends substantially the length of the container.   
     
     
         9 . A packaging system for animal ear tags, the packaging system comprising:
 a first encasement having first and second opposite major edges and first and second opposite minor edges, the major edges and the minor edges each being sealed to form an interior pocket in which a first animal ear tag is enclosed;   a second encasement having first and second opposite major edges and first and second opposite minor edges, the major edges and the minor edges each being sealed to form an interior pocket in which a second animal ear tag is enclosed; and   a third encasement having first and second opposite major edges and first and second opposite minor edges, the major edges and the minor edges each being sealed to form an interior pocket in which a third animal ear tag is enclosed;   wherein the first minor edge of the second encasement is releasably coupled to the second minor edge of the first encasement, and the second minor edge of the second encasement being releasably coupled to the first minor edge of the first encasement to form a strip of encasements.   
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the strip further comprises a plurality of encasements releasably coupled to each other 
     
     
         11 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the strip is arranged in a rolled-up configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the encasement is formed from plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the strip includes ten encasements. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the strip includes one hundred encasements. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the strip is arranged in a roll. 
     
     
         16 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the strip is arranged within a container. 
     
     
         17 . A dispensing container comprising:
 first and second spaced-apart major surfaces;   first and second spaced-apart minor surfaces, the first and second minor surfaces interconnecting the first and second major surfaces to define an interior;   first and second spaced-apart ends, the first and second ends extending between the first and second major surfaces and between the first and second minor surfaces to further define the interior;   a divider, the divider separating the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber, the divider being configured to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the divider moving from the first position to the second position decreases the size of the first chamber and increases the size of the second chamber;   a strip of encasements arranged within the first chamber, the encasements of the strip being releasably coupled to each other, each of the encasements containing a product.   
     
     
         18 . The dispensing container of  claim 17 , wherein the product contained within each encasement includes an RFID animal ear tag. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing container of  claim 17 , further including an empty encasement arranged in the second chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing container of  claim 17 , further including a used product arranged in the second chamber.