Comestible product dispensers and methods of making and using same

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved product holding and dispensing package and an improved method for manufacturing, holding, and storing products, especially comestible products. In an embodiment, a package for comestible products may be provided. The package includes a package blank having walls that define a package interior. The package also includes a sheet disposed inside the package interior. The sheet wraps around a stack of comestible products and maintains the products in a stacked formation. The sheet also retains the comestible products against lateral movement within the sheet. In an embodiment, the plurality of comestible products are releasably attached to the sheet to prevent the comestible products from sliding out of the sheet. In an embodiment, the sheet may be attached to the package interior.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A package comprising:
 an opaque package defining an interior; and   a plurality of confectionary products, each of the confectionary products comprising a front face and an opposing back face, the confectionary products arranged in a plurality of stacks such that each pair of adjacent confectionary products within each stack is oriented in a back face-to-front face contacting relationship, wherein:   none of the confectionary products is adhesively attached to the interior of the package, and   each stack is wrapped in a respective sheet, at least one of the sheets is adhesively attached to the interior of the package.   
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 22  wherein the back face-to-front face contacting relationship is adhesive-free. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 21  wherein at least two of the confectionery products in each stack are releasably adhesively attached to the respective sheet. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the confectionery products in each stack are releasably attached to the respective sheet by a friction fit. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 21  wherein each confectionery product comprises a single individual wrapper, the single individual wrapper defining the front and back faces of the confectionary product. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 25  wherein the single individual wrapper comprises a foil wrapper. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the respective sheet exposes at least a portion of the stack. 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the respective sheet is in contact with five sides of the stack. 
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 21  wherein each confectionary product comprises a peripheral edge extending between the front face and the back face, the peripheral edges of the confectionary products in each stack defining a pair of opposing side edges of each stack, the plurality of wrapped stacks is oriented such that at least one side edge of each stack is adjacent to a side edge of an adjacent stack. 
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of stacks includes three stacks. 
     
     
         31 . A method of packaging confectionery products, wherein each of the confectionary products includes a front face and an opposing back face, the method comprising:
 arranging the confectionary products in a plurality of stacks such that each pair of adjacent confectionary products within each stack is oriented in a back face-to-front face contacting relationship;   wrapping each stack in a respective sheet; and   folding an opaque package blank around the plurality of wrapped stacks to form a package, wherein at least one of the sheets is adhesively attached to an interior of the package, and none of the confectionary products are adhesively attached to the interior of the package.   
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 31  wherein arranging the confectionary products in the plurality of stacks further comprises arranging the confectionary products such that the back face-to-front face contacting relationship is adhesive-free. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising releasably attaching at least two of the confectionery products in each stack to the respective sheet using one of a wax and a cold-type adhesive. 
     
     
         34 . The package of  claim 31  further comprising wrapping each confectionery product in a single individual wrapper such that the single individual wrapper defines the front and back faces of the confectionary product. 
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 34  wherein wrapping each confectionery product in the single individual wrapper comprises wrapping each confectionary product in a foil wrapper. 
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 31  wherein wrapping each stack in the respective sheet comprises wrapping each stack such that the respective sheet exposes at least a portion of the stack. 
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 31  wherein folding the package blank around the plurality of wrapped stacks comprises folding the blank such that the sheet is concealed within the interior of the package when the package is in an open position. 
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 31  wherein wrapping each stack in the respective sheet comprises wrapping each stack such that the respective sheet is in contact with five sides of the stack. 
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 31  wherein each confectionary product comprises a peripheral edge extending between the front face and the back face, the peripheral edges of the confectionary products in each stack defining a pair of opposing side edges of each stack, the method further comprising orienting the plurality of wrapped stacks such that at least one side edge of each stack is adjacent to a side edge of an adjacent stack. 
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 31  wherein folding the package blank around the plurality of wrapped stacks comprises folding the blank such that a portion of the front face of at least one of the confectionary products in each stack is displayed when the package is in an open position, the portion of the front face including less than all of the front face.