Confection dispenser system

Abstract

A portable confection dispenser system is for storing and dispensing small articles, such as different types or flavors of candy. A round housing includes multiple dividing elements forming a multiple separate compartment. A lid rotatably mounts to the housing and engages an upper portion of each of the dividing elements to form enclosed separated chambers. The lid includes a door and has alignment portions spaced apart retaining the lid at a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the housing. The candy alignment portions are spaced to position the door aligned with a single one of the chambers in at least one of the predetermined positions and to straddle adjacent chambers in at least one of the predetermined positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable confection dispenser system comprising:
 a housing comprising a plurality of dividing elements forming a plurality of separate compartments;   a lid rotatably mounted to the housing, the lid engaging an upper portion of each of the dividing elements to form a plurality of enclosed separated chambers;   a door in the lid, and   alignment portions spaced apart for retaining the lid.   
     
     
         2 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 1 , wherein said alignment portions are spaced apart retain the lid at a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 2 , wherein the door is configured to straddle adjacent chambers in at least one of the predetermined positions or the door is configured to align with a single one of the chambers in at least one of the predetermined positions. 
     
     
         4 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing and the lid comprise a round periphery. 
     
     
         5 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 1 , wherein the door is integral with the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing and lid are configured to form a handheld dispenser, where the housing comprises a downward and inward arcing side configured to fit against a user's hand. 
     
     
         7 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 2 , wherein the alignment portions comprise protrusions projecting from an underside of the lid and engaging one of the dividing elements at each of the predetermined positions or the alignment portions comprise a pair of protrusions projecting from an underside of the lid configured for extending both sides of one of the dividing elements at each of the predetermined positions. 
     
     
         8 . A confection dispenser system comprising:
 a plurality of different candies;   a dispenser storing the plurality of different candies in a plurality of separate compartments; each of the plurality of different candies being stored in an associated one of the plurality of separate compartments; and   a candy release for selectively dispensing a selected one of the candies or selectively from one of the plurality of compartments or dispensing a selected two different candies from two adjacent compartments of the plurality of compartments.   
     
     
         9 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 8 , wherein the candy release comprises a door movable relative to the separate compartments. 
     
     
         10 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 8 , wherein the door is configured to straddle adjacent compartments in at least one predetermined position. 
     
     
         11 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 10 , wherein the door is configured to align with a single one of the compartments in at least one predetermined position. 
     
     
         12 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 8 , wherein the dispenser comprises:
 a housing including a plurality of dividing elements forming a plurality of separate compartments; and   a lid rotatably mounted to the container bottom, the lid engaging an upper portion of each of the dividing elements to form a plurality of enclosed separated chambers.   
     
     
         13 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 12 , wherein the candy release comprises a door in the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 13 , wherein the door is integral with the lid. 
     
     
         15 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 13 , further comprising alignment portions spaced apart which retain the lid at a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 15 , wherein the alignment portions comprise protrusions projecting from an underside of the lid and engaging one of the dividing elements at each of the predetermined positions or the alignment portions comprise a pair of protrusions projecting from an underside of the lid configured for extending both sides of one of the dividing elements at each of the predetermined positions. 
     
     
         17 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of different candies comprise at least one of: different flavor candies, different color candies, different shaped candies, or different types of candies. 
     
     
         18 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 8 , wherein the candies comprise a plurality of pieces of candy in each of the compartments. 
     
     
         19 . The confection dispenser system according to  claim 12 , wherein the housing and lid are configured to form a handheld dispenser, where the housing comprises a downward and inward arcing side configured to fit against a user's hand. 
     
     
         20 . A method for dispensing candy with a dispenser, the method comprising:
 providing a dispenser having a plurality of compartments and a door movable relative to the compartments;   filling each of the compartments with a corresponding type of candy;   moving the door to align with a selected compartment or to span two selected adjacent compartments; and   opening the door and dispensing candy from the selected compartment or two types of candy corresponding to the two selected adjacent compartments.