Container for Dispensing Products

Abstract

A container including walls that define a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, the container body defining an internal volume and including a first tear-away portion proximate the front end, wherein the first tear-away portion is removable from the container body to form an access opening, and a second tear-away portion connected to the first tear-away portion, wherein the second tear-away portion is removable from the container body to extend the access opening toward the rear end when the first tear-away portion is removed from the container body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a plurality of walls that define a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, said container body defining an internal volume and comprising:
 a first tear-away portion proximate said front end, wherein said first tear-away portion is removable from said container body to form an access opening; 
 a second tear-away portion connected to said first tear-away portion, wherein said second tear-away portion is removable from said container body to extend said access opening toward said rear end when said first tear-away portion is removed from said container body; and 
 a third tear-away portion comprising a first portion proximate said rear end longitudinally opposed from said first tear-away portion and a second portion extending toward said front end vertically opposed from said second tear-away portion, wherein said third tear-away portion is removable from said container body to form an engagement opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of walls comprise a plurality of pre-formed tear lines, and wherein said plurality of pre-formed tear lines define said first tear-away portion, said second tear-away portion, and said third tear-away portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of pre-formed tear lines comprise perforations. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of pre-formed tear lines are score lines. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said first tear-away portion is connected to said second tear-away portion along a pre-formed tear line. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of products received in said internal volume. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of walls comprise a front wall longitudinally opposed from a rear wall, a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall, and a base wall vertically opposed from an upper wall. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said first tear-away portion is comprised of portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said first side wall, and said second side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein said second tear-away portion is comprised of a portion of said upper wall. 
     
     
         10 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said first portion is comprised of a portion of said rear wall and said second portion is comprised of a portion of said base wall. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said second portion is elongated along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said first tear-away portion is comprised of portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said first side wall, and said second side wall. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein said second tear-away portion is comprised of a portion of said upper wall. 
     
     
         17 . A container comprising:
 a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, said container body comprising:
 a front wall longitudinally opposed from a rear wall; 
 a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall; and 
 a base wall vertically opposed from an upper wall, 
   wherein said container body defines a first tear-away portion proximate said front end, wherein said first tear-away portion comprises portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said first side wall and said second side wall,   wherein said container body further defines a second tear-away portion connected to said first tear-away portion, said second tear-away portion comprising a portion of said upper wall, and   wherein said container body further defines a third tear-away portion comprising portions of said rear wall and said base wall.   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein said first tear-away portion, said second tear-away portion and said third tear-away portion are defined by pre-formed tear lines. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17  wherein said first tear-away portion is connected to said second tear-away portion along a pre-formed tear line. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 17  wherein said third tear-away portion comprises a first portion proximate said rear end and a second portion that extends from said first portion toward said front end. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said engagement opening formed by said third tear-away portion is configured to receive a product biasing assembly configured to engage at least one product of said plurality of products and urge said plurality of products toward said access opening.