Product Dispenser and System with Container Opening Feature

Abstract

A product dispensing system including a dispenser frame having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, the dispenser frame including a first support deck longitudinally extending at least partially between the front end and the rear end, and a second support deck positioned below the first support deck, the second support deck defining a product display area, and a catch element laterally extending at least partially across the first support deck, the catch element including a first end laterally opposed from a second end, wherein the first end includes a first cutting edge and the second end includes a second cutting edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product dispensing system comprising:
 a dispenser frame having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, said dispenser frame comprising:
 a first support deck longitudinally extending at least partially between said front end and said rear end; and 
 a second support deck positioned below said first support deck, said second support deck defining a product display area; and 
   a catch element laterally extending at least partially across said first support deck, said catch element comprising a first end laterally opposed from a second end, wherein said first end comprises a first cutting edge and said second end comprises a second cutting edge.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said catch element is connected to said first support deck. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said catch element comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a first cutting surface and a second cutting surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said lower surface intersects with said first cutting surface at said first cutting edge and said lower surface intersects with said second cutting surface at said second cutting edge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said upper surface intersects with said lower surface at a tip. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said tip protrudes toward said front end of said frame. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said first support deck defines an upper surface and a first plane is coincident with said upper surface of said first support deck, and wherein a second plane is coincident with said upper surface of said catch element, said first plane being substantially parallel with said second plane. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first support deck defines an upper surface, and wherein said first cutting edge extends at a non-zero angle relative to a plane coincident with said upper surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said non-zero angle ranges from about 15 to about 75 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said non-zero angle ranges from about 25 to about 65 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said non-zero angle ranges from about 35 to about 55 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said product display area is positioned proximate said front end. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first support deck defines a guide channel extending below said first support deck, said guide channel comprising an entrance passage that opens proximate said catch element. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said entrance passage defines a passage axis, and wherein said first support deck defines a longitudinal axis, said passage axis being substantially parallel with said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said guide channel further comprises a curved portion connected to said entrance portion. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first support deck defines a recessed drop zone proximate said catch element. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a container, wherein said container comprises a plurality of walls that define an internal volume, wherein said plurality of walls comprise at least a front wall and a rear wall, and a plurality of products initially received in said internal volume. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said plurality of walls define a first weakening feature and a second weakening feature, wherein said first and said second weakening features generally longitudinally extend between said front wall and said rear wall. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said first cutting edge is positioned to sever said first weakening feature and said second cutting edge is positioned to sever said second weakening feature when said container is longitudinally moved along said first support deck. 
     
     
         20 . A product dispensing system comprising:
 a dispenser frame having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, said dispenser frame comprising:
 a first side wall; 
 a second side wall laterally opposed from said first side wall; 
 a first support deck positioned between said first side wall and said second side wall, said first support deck longitudinally extending at least partially between said front end and said rear end; and 
 a second support deck positioned below said first support deck, said second support deck defining a product display area proximate said front end; 
   a catch element connected to said first support deck, said catch element extending lateral between said first side wall and said second side wall and comprising a first end proximate said first side wall and a second end proximate said second side wall, wherein said first end comprises a first cutting edge and said second end comprises a second cutting edge; and   a container comprising a plurality of walls that define an internal volume, wherein said plurality of walls comprise at least a front wall and a rear wall and define a first weakening feature and a second weakening feature, said first and said second weakening features longitudinally extending between said front wall and said rear wall,   wherein said first cutting edge is positioned to sever said first weakening feature and said second cutting edge is positioned to sever said second weakening feature when said container is longitudinally moved along said first support deck.