Multi-piece dispenser for use with a consumable product

Abstract

A multi-piece dispenser for confectionary products including a housing defining an inner chamber for storing a multi-piece package of confectionary product including a slot for receiving an end portion of the multi-piece package for dispensing the confectionary product and a retention member for retaining the end portion of the package within the slot for further dispensing.

1 . A multi-piece dispenser for confectionary products, the dispenser comprising:
 a housing defining an inner chamber for storing a multi-piece package of a confectionary product, the housing including a slot for receiving an end portion of the multipiece package for dispensing the confectionary product; and   a retention member disposed within the housing for retaining the end portion of the package within the slot for further dispensing.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing and the slot are integrally formed. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the slot further includes an opening defining an access portion for inserting an end portion of the package within the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is non-threading. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is further defined by a plurality of wall members. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein at least one wall or a portion thereof is removable for accessing the inner chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein at least one wall member is hingedly attached to the housing for providing access to the inner chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member integrally formed as part of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member further includes at least one retention tab for retaining a portion of the multi-piece package. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a first retention tab and a second retention tab are connected to the slot to define an access channel. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a first portion and second portion that are hingedly coupled together, therein allowing access to the inner chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the housing further includes a base portion that is hingely coupled to the first portion and the second portion, wherein the base portion is stationary and the first and second portion move relative to the base portion thereby providing access to the inner chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second portions are coupled together to form the slot. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-piece package of confectionary product comprises a plurality of gum pieces disposed within a material, each gum piece is separated by a tear line to form a plurality of individual packages that are securely coupled together. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further including a tear member coupled to the housing for separating the multi-piece package into individual pieces. 
     
     
         16 . A multi-piece dispenser for confectionary products, the dispenser comprising:
 a housing defining an inner chamber for storing a multi-piece package of confectionary product, the housing including a slot for receiving a first end portion of the multi-piece package for dispensing the confectionary product; and   a retention member further including a tension assembly disposed in the inner chamber of the housing for securing the second end portion of the multi-piece package within the inner chamber and retaining the first end portion of the package within the slot for further dispensing.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a first portion and a second portion that are coupled together. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the slot is integrally formed within the first portion of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the tension assembly further includes an outer body, a coupling member and securing assembly for securing the second end portion of the multi-piece package within the inner chamber and retaining the first end portion of the package within the slot for further dispensing. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein a bottom surface of the outer body of the tension assembly engages a corresponding bottom surface of the first portion of the housing to provide additional friction in rotation of the tension assembly within the inner chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the package is a blister package comprised of a strip of interconnected individual blister packs. 
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein the individual blister packs are separated by a tear line. 
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein the tear line is perforated. 
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , further including a hanging member attached to the housing of the dispenser. 
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the retention member further includes guide members for guiding the package through the slot. 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing a multi-piece package of confectionary product comprising:
 providing a piece of film material having a predefined length and width and a central axis dividing the film into a first half and a second half;   positioning a plurality of gum pieces on the first half of the film, wherein each gum piece is disposed adjacent to the central axis of the film separated by a predetermined distance along the length of the film material;   folding the second half of the film material about the central axis such that the second half is placed over the first half of the film therein covering the plurality of gum pieces;   sealing the film material about the length and width of the material and between each of the gum pieces, such that each of the gum pieces are sealed therein forming a multi-piece confectionary package.