Container for Use in a Product Dispensing System

Abstract

A container comprising a plurality of walls that define an internal volume, the walls comprising a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall, a base wall laterally extending between the first and second side walls and a third wall laterally extending between the first and second side walls and vertically extending from the base wall, wherein the third wall comprises an upper portion connected to the first and second side walls and a lower portion being outwardly movable from the base wall and the first and second side walls to increase the internal volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a plurality of walls that define an internal volume, said plurality of walls comprising:
 a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall; 
 a base wall laterally extending between said first side wall and said second side wall; and 
 a third wall laterally extending between said first side wall and said second side wall and vertically extending from said base wall, 
   wherein said third wall comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being connected to said first side wall and to said second side wall, said lower portion being movable outward from said base wall, said first side wall and said second side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of walls define a plurality of weakening features. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein a first portion of said plurality of weakening features are positioned between said first side wall and said third wall. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein a second portion of said plurality of weakening features are positioned between said second side wall and said third wall. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein a third portion of said plurality of weakening features are positioned between said base wall and said third wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of weakening features are positioned along an edge between said base wall and third wall. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion of said third wall is disconnected from said first side wall and said second side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said container initially houses a plurality of products. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein said lower portion of said third wall is outwardly movable under a force provided from said plurality of products. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said container further comprises an upper wall laterally extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, and wherein said third wall vertically extends between said base wall and said upper wall. 
     
     
         12 . A product dispensing system comprising:
 a dispenser frame having a front end longitudinally opposed from a rear end, said dispenser frame comprising:
 an upper support deck extending at least partially between said front end and said rear end; 
 a lower support deck positioned below said upper support deck, said lower support deck defining a product display area, 
 wherein said dispenser frame defines an opening sized to allow product passage from said upper support deck down to said lower support deck; 
   a catch element connected to said dispenser frame; and   a container comprising:
 a plurality of walls that define an internal volume and further comprise a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall, a base wall laterally extending between first side wall and said second side wall, and a third wall laterally extending between said first side wall and said second side wall and vertically extending from said base wall, 
 wherein said third wall comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being connected to said first side wall and said second side wall, said lower portion being outwardly movable from said base wall, said first side wall and said second side wall to increase said internal volume, and 
 wherein said base wall defines an initiation opening; 
   wherein, when said container is urged along said upper support deck, said catch element engages said initiation opening to form an access opening in said container.   
     
     
         13 . The product dispensing system of  claim 12  wherein said container initially houses a plurality of products. 
     
     
         14 . The product dispensing system of  claim 13 , wherein said lower portion of said third wall is outwardly movable under a force provided from the plurality of products. 
     
     
         15 . The product dispensing system of  claim 14 , wherein said increased internal volume provides an additional space for said plurality of products to move through said access panel. 
     
     
         16 . The product dispensing system of  claim 13  wherein said plurality of products are at least partially dispensed from said container and supported on said lower support deck. 
     
     
         17 . The product dispensing system of  claim 14  wherein said portion of said container that extends through said channel is engaged with at least one product of said plurality of products supported on said lower support deck. 
     
     
         18 . The product dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein said container comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         19 . The product dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein said container further comprises an upper wall laterally extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, and wherein said third wall vertically extends between said base wall and said upper wall.