Devices for dispensing and displaying products and package assemblies for use with the same

Abstract

A device for dispensing and displaying products is disclosed. The device comprises: a package assembly having an outer sleeve with at least one aperture formed therein and a product retaining insert slidably engaged within the outer sleeve; a frame having an upper support deck and a product display area; and an engagement feature extending from the frame. When the package assembly is slid longitudinally onto the upper support deck of the frame, the engagement feature extends through the aperture formed in the outer sleeve and engages with the product retaining insert such that the products inside the package assembly are at least partially dispensed from the package into the product display area.

1 . A system for shipping, dispensing and displaying a plurality of products comprising:
 (a) a package assembly including:
 (i) an outer sleeve having at least one aperture formed therein; and 
 (ii) a product retaining insert slidably engaged within the outer sleeve, wherein the outer sleeve and the product retaining insert define a shipping compartment for the plurality of products; 
   (b) a frame having longitudinally opposed front and rear end sections and including an upper support deck extending at least partially between the front and rear end sections and below which a product display area is provided; and   (c) an engagement feature extending from the frame, wherein when the package assembly is slid longitudinally onto the upper support deck of the frame towards the rear end section to a first position, the engagement feature extends through the aperture formed in the outer sleeve and engages with the product retaining insert such that when the outer sleeve is slid longitudinally towards the front end section to a second position, the product retaining insert is restrained in the first position enabling the products to be at least partially dispensed from the package into the product display area.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product retaining insert includes a bottom panel having a hinged door formed therein which is arranged such that the door opens when the outer sleeve is slid longitudinally to the second position thereby allowing the products to be at least partially dispensed from the package into the product display area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product retaining insert includes a U-shaped transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes a lower display shelf. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the lower display shelf includes a lane divider to create two display channels within the product display area. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the lower display shelf includes an upwardly extending rib for guiding products to the front end section of the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes a rear wall which is configured to guide products to the product display area. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper support deck is inclined at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature is formed in the upper support deck of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes first and second laterally opposed side walls. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second laterally opposed side walls of the frame are adapted and configured for guiding the package as it is moved longitudinally along the upper support deck. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the engagement feature is associated with at least one of the first and second laterally opposed side walls of the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper support deck includes two longitudinally extending rails. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for securing the frame to a vertical wall or to a horizontal shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the front end section of the frame includes means for displaying product related indicia. 
     
     
         16 . A package assembly comprising:
 (a) an outer sleeve having at least one aperture formed therein, and   (b) a product retaining insert slidably engaged within the outer sleeve so that the outer sleeve and the insert are slidingly movable with respect to each other along a sleeve axis of the outer sleeve, the insert comprising at least one engaging edge disposed such that the at least one engaging edge is accessible from an outside of the outer sleeve through the at least one aperture, the engaging edge extending transversely of the sleeve axis.   
     
     
         17 . The package assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the aperture has first and second opposed end edges disposed along the sleeve axis, and the engaging edge is disposed between the first and second end edges when the insert is in a fully received position. 
     
     
         18 . The package assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the outer sleeve has a closed end and an opposed open end, the first end edge of the aperture is disposed closer to the closed end than the second end edge, the engaging edge is disposed at a distance (D 1 ) from the second end edge when the insert is in a fully received position, and the distance is no less than a dimension (D 2 ) of an access opening defined in the insert. 
     
     
         19 . The package assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the insert comprises first and second adjacent walls, the first wall being disposed to close the open end of the outer sleeve when the insert is in the fully received position, and the access opening is defined in the second wall proximate the first wall. 
     
     
         20 . The package assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the engaging edge is provided by the second wall.