Container adapted to function as a dispenser and method of dispensing articles therefrom

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for the dispensing of articles and, more specifically, for the dispensing of stacked articles. The apparatus may be a container including a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one side wall. The housing defines an interior chamber; and includes a removable section, wherein removal of the removable section allows access to the interior chamber. A plurality of articles may be disposed within the interior chamber, such as in a stacked configuration. The plurality of articles including at least a first article and a second article, wherein each article has opposite first and second ends, and at least a portion of the second end of the first article is releasably attached to the second end of the second article.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one side wall, wherein the housing:
 defines an interior chamber; and 
 includes a removable section, wherein removal of the removable section allows access to the interior chamber; and 
   a plurality of articles disposed within the interior chamber, the plurality of articles including at least a first article and a second article, wherein each article has opposite upper and lowers surfaces and opposite first and second ends, wherein at least a portion of the second end of the first article is releasably attached to the second end of the second article.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of articles is a sheet-like article. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second articles are arranged in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of articles further comprises a third article having opposite upper and lower surfaces and opposite first and second ends, wherein the first, second, and third articles are arranged in a stacked configuration with the second article positioned between the first and second articles, and wherein at least a portion of the first end of the second article is associate with the first end of the third article. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable attachment between the first article and the second article is via an adhesive disposed between the lower surface of the first article and the upper surface of the second article. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the adhesive is in the form of a line of adhesive, dots of adhesive, or a patterned adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the releasable attachment between the first article and the second article is via an adhesive disposed between the lower surface of the first article and the upper surface of the second article, and wherein the releasable attachment between the second article and the third article is via an adhesive disposed between the lower surface of the second article and the upper surface of the third article. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the adhesive is in the form of a line of adhesive, dots of adhesive, or a patterned adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of perforations between the second end of the first article and the second end of the second article. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 4 , further including a plurality of perforations between the second end of the first article and the second end of the second article, and a plurality of perforations between the first end of the second article and the first end of the third article. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable attachment between the first article and the second article is via coining or embossing. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the releasable attachment between the first article and the second article is via coining or embossing, and wherein the releasable attachment between the second article and the third article is via coining or embossing. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the removable section includes first and second sets of perforations that define the removable section, and allow for removal of the removable section. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the removable section includes a releasable adhesive that adheres the removable section to the remainder of the housing, and allows for removal of the removable section from the remainder of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the removable section can be reattached to the housing following removal. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge between a portion of the removable section and the housing.