AU7211501A - A dispensing arrangement - Google Patents

Description

1 A DISPENSING ARRANGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a product dispensing system which finds particular use for labelling and dispensing small retail items individually, and in an orderly manner.

BACKGROUND ART There are many difficulties in presenting small retail items for sale to the consumer. Such retail items may include micro-irrigation accessories such as spray heads, but may also include other items such as nuts and bolts, fasteners of various types, and a large range of other type of small retail items.

One difficulty to the retail outlets is in ensuring that each item has a price on it to allow the items to be quickly processed through the cash register. Some items are too small to have prices attached to them, and these items are conventionally found in a container where hundreds of identical or similar items are mixed together. A price is generally placed on the container, and a customer is encouraged to select the number of items, place the items in a small plastic or paper bag and proceed to the counter for processing. At the counter, the items need to be checked for their correct 20 price and this is often a time-consuming process.

This difficulty is partially overcome by selling multiple items in a single sealed container with a price on the container. This is typical for nuts, bolts, screws, nails and the like. However, customers often find this frustrating as they require much less product than is present in the sealed container which means that the customer usually pays for more product than "is needed. Excess product is usually lost over time, or becomes damaged, corroded and the like.

Efficient processing of customers through the check out counter can only be achieved if all product is properly marked and priced. At this point in time, bar codes are used to allow product to be quickly identified by a scanner or bar code reader. However, products which do not contain bar codes need to be separately checked and details entered into the register and this is a time-consuming and inefficient process.

2 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an arrangement and system which allows small retail products to be available for sale as individual units while still allowing a bar code or similar product identification means to be available for efficient processing at the counter.

In one form the invention resides in a product dispensing arrangement which comprises: a plurality of members which are removably connected to each other to form a continuous sheet, at least one product attached to at least some of the members, and, a bar code or other type of product identifying means on the members to which a said product is attached.

In another form, the invention resides in a product dispensing container which comprises an outer box, a product dispensing arrangement inside the box, the product dispensing arrangement comprising a plurality of members which are removably connected to each other to form a continuous sheet, at least one product attached to at least some of the members, and, a bar code or other type of product identifying means on the members to which a said product is attached, and an opening in the box through which the product dispensing arrangement can pass.

In another form, at the invention resides in a merchandising unit *o:which comprises an outer container provided with a front wall, at least one C "product dispensing container which is positioned inside the container, the '00 25 product dispensing container comprising an outer box, a product dispensing 0 arrangement inside the box, the product dispensing arrangement comprising a plurality of members which are removably connected to each other to form a continuous sheet, at least one product attached to at least some of the members, and, a bar code or other type of product identifying means on the members to which a said product is attached, and an opening in the box through which the product dispensing arrangement can pass, the front wall of the container having an opening which is substantially aligned with the opening in the box to allow the product dispensing arrangement to pass 3 through the opening in the front wall of the container.

In a simple form of the invention, a product dispensing arrangement is provided which comprises a plurality of members removably connected to each other to form a continuous sheet. This can be in the form of a roll or length of sheet material. The sheet material may comprise paper, plastic, or composite materials. The sheet material may be coated, impregnated, or otherwise treated. The sheet material is preferably flexible such that it can be formed into a roll or a coil, or can be folded onto itself to allow it to be stored in a reasonably compact manner. The length of sheet material will depend, in part, on the number of product to be attached thereto, the size of the product, the available space on the retail shelves and the like.

Typically, the sheet material may have a length of between 1-3m. The sheet material has a width which may vary depending on the type of product to be attached thereto. Typically, the sheet material has a width of between 3- 15cm. The thickness of the sheet can vary, and can be between 1-4mm.

The length of sheet material may be perforated or have frangible portions or be otherwise formed to comprise a plurality of members which are removably connected to each other. In one form, the sheet material may "I have tear off portions each portion defining a said member. The portions 20 preferably extend entirely across the sheet material. In another form, the g.

plurality of members may be formed separately and subsequently attached to each other in such a manner that they can be removed.

Some of the members have a product attached to them. It is C"preferred that a product is attached to each member such that no tear off portions are product free. This allows a maximum number of product to be attached to a particular length of sheet material. Of course, it need not be essential to have a product on each member, and there may be a need to S:have an occasional member free of product to allow other information to be printed on the member without being obscured by the product.

The product is preferably of the type which would otherwise be difficult to price individually. The product is therefore preferably a small retail item. In an embodiment, this can include micro-irrigation components such as spray heads, clips, couplings, and the like. Of course, no limitation is meant 4 by this and various other types of product may form part of the invention.

The product is attached to the member. In a simple form, the member can be perforated and the product can be simply pushed partially through the perforation, such that the product extends above and below the sheet member. The product should be attached to the member in such a manner that it does not inadvertently fall from the member during storage, transportation or selection by a customer. However, it is also preferred that the product can be removed from the member without undue effort.

Depending on the product, additional attachment means may be present.

These additional attachment means may comprise adhesive, small engaging projections on the member which engage with the product, other types of clamping, fastening or attachment arrangements and the like.

The member contains some form of product identifying means to allow for efficient processing at the check-out. Currently, the product identifying means comprises a bar code which is used on a worldwide basis.

However, it is envisaged that other type of product identifying means may become more popular in the future and is not intended that the product identifying means be limited to a bar code. The bar code can be printed on or S"I attached to one face of the member. It is preferred that a bar code is printed 20 on each member which has a product and that the bar code is on the same face of each member.

In practice, a customer can readily view the product, and can simply tear off an exact number of product which is required. For instance, if five product items are required, the customer can simply tear off the fifth member from the remainder of the roll. The customer then has the five members still attached to each other which allows for easy handling and the product can be efficiently processed through the check out. Of course, the customer is free to tear the members into individual pieces, with each piece still having an attached bar code.

In a broader form of the invention, it is envisaged that certain types of product will almost never be purchased as an individual item and will always be purchased as a group of items. In this form of the invention, the product dispensing arrangement can still be used but each member may contain a group of product and a single bar code. Of course, in this alternative, the product may also be sold in a small sealed container which does not form part of the present invention.

In another form of the invention, there is provided a product dispensing container which can comprise an outer box with the box housing the product dispensing arrangement as described above. Put differently, another form of the invention may comprise a box in which a roll of sheet material is housed, the sheet material having individual tear off members, each member having a product attached to it and some form of product identifying means a bar code) attached to it as well. In this form of the invention, the outer box may be formed from any convenient material and it is envisaged that the box will be formed from cardboard, stiff paper, relatively thin plastic, possibly metal or composites thereof. The box is typically rectangular when viewed in plan and in elevation and can be formed from a blank of sheet material which is folded into shape. The box has an opening in it through which the product dispensing arrangement (eg the roll of sheet material) can pass.

Preferably, the opening has a particular shape and arrangement to allow the material to be pulled through the opening, but to resist the S° 20 material being pushed back through the opening and into the box. The opening should be sized to allow the product to pass through the opening without striking the walls around the opening. The opening may comprise a horizontal slit, or small slot, which engages with or "grips" the top and bottom faces of the continuous sheet. A customer can pull the sheet out of the box and through the opening, but if the sheet is released, it will be gripped sufficiently to prevent it from falling back into the box and therefore becoming inaccessible to the customer.

S. In a large retail outlets, it is envisaged that a number of such boxes may be positioned in a side-by-side relationship, each box dispensing a different product but where the products are related to each other. For instance, one box may dispense a micro-irrigation spray head while an adjacent box may dispense a barb, coupling, clip and the like also for use with a micro-irrigation system. With this arrangement, another form of the 6 invention resides in a merchandising unit which comprises an outer container in which at least one such box (and preferably a number of such boxes) may be housed (preferably in a side-by-side relationship). The outer container may be formed of strong robust material which can comprise sheet metal.

The outer container may stay more or less permanently on the retail shelf with the boxes being removed when empty and replaced with fresh boxes. The outer container has a front wall formed with an opening through which the continuous sheet containing the product may pass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a product dispensing arrangement comprising a plurality of members removably connected to each other to form a continuous sheet with the members having a product attached to them and a bar code.

Figure 2 illustrates a product dispensing container which comprises an outer box which houses the product dispensing arrangement illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a front view of a merchandising unit which can hold six dispensing containers illustrated in Figure 2.

20 BEST MODE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated in a product dispensing arrangement 10. Product dispensing :'arrangement 10 comprises an array of members 11A, 11B, 11C etc which are removably connected to each other to form a continuous elongate sheet.

In the embodiment, the elongate sheet is formed of plastic material known as

VELRON

T M and has transverse perforations 12 which allows each member to be torn away from the remainder of the sheet. The continuous elongate sheet is rectangular when viewed in plan and can have any convenient length (typically between 1-3m). Each member supports a product 13. In the embodiment, product 13 is a micro-irrigation spray head, but this can vary to suit. Product 13 is supported by its respective sheet member by having a prepunched 3mm hole extending through the sheet member which allows the threaded fitting of the spray head to pass through the hole to attach the product to the member. The upper surface of each member is provided with a product identification means which, in the embodiment, is in the form of a bar code 14.

In the embodiment, each member can be seen as an individual label for each individual product. A customer can select the number of product required and can simply tear that number away from the remainder of the sheet.

In the embodiment, the bar codes 14 are applied in blocks of ten which each block of ten being separated by a "horseshoe" cutout 15. Cutout 15 functions to allow the printer (not illustrated) to register the location of the members to allow correct printing on to each member.

Perforations 12 are formed such that the roll of sheet material can be manipulated and handled without the members being inadvertently torn away from each other, but that a customer can, with a reasonable amount of force, tear one member away from an adjacent member without the members being destroyed.

A number can be printed on each block of ten members to signify how many members are left on the sheet. This is particularly advantageous if the roll of sheet material is within a dispensing container.

20 Each member is preferably provided with a bar code or other critical identification information. However, trade marks or commercial information may be printed over or across a plurality of members. For instance, a trade mark or product name may be printed over a block of ten members, but in such a way that it does not interfere with the bar code or other critical information.

In order to prevent damage, or snagging of the sheet material, it 00.

is preferred that the sheet material is housed within a dispensing container. A dispensing container 17 is illustrated in Figure 2. Dispensing container 17 :i comprises an outer box which is formed of cardboard and is initially formed of a blank of cardboard material which is folded and, if necessary, glued into the box shape. Container 17 is provided with a front opening 18 to allow the sheet material to pass out of the container. The sheet material can be inserted through an initially open top of the container with the start of the sheet material being fed through opening 11, after which the top of the container is closed. The sheet material can be formed in a roll in the container 17, or can be coiled or folded or otherwise manipulated to be efficiently contained within container 17 but in such a manner that it does not snag when being dispensed.

If the sheet material is to be placed in a container 17, it is preferred that an initial length of the sheet material does not contain product, this providing a tag to allow the sheet material to be pulled out of the container.

Front opening 18 has a particular shape which is illustrated in Figure 2. In particular, opening 18 has a main large opening 19 which is sufficient to allow product to pass through the opening without striking the walls of the opening. Extending from each side of large opening 19 is a horizontal slot 20 which is formed by providing a horizontal and vertical cut in the container wall immediately around large opening 19. Front opening 18 is provided in the top of container 17 such that the roll of sheet material is pulled from the top of the coil, this preventing the product from snagging together.

:Slot 20 is positioned to hold the top and bottom faces of the roll of sheet material an adjacent each side edge of the sheet material. This is best illustrated in Figure 2. The sheet material is therefore lightly gripped by the walls of slot 20. This prevents the sheet material from sliding back into the container, or continuing to pass out of the container. The sheet material is :.gripped in such a manner that a customer can pull the sheet material out of container 17 without inadvertently tearing the sheet material along perforations 12.

a large retail outlet, it is envisaged that several containers 17 will be positioned in a side-by-side relationship. In this arrangement, a merchandising unit 21 can be provided, this being best illustrated in Figure 3.

Merchandising unit 20 comprises a large steel box which has an open top, and which is large enough to house a number of cartons 17 in a side-by-side relationship. The merchandising unit illustrated in Figure 3 is large enough to house six such containers. Merchandising unit 20 has a front face (illustrated in Figure 3) formed with large square cutouts 21 through which the sheet 9 material can pass. The merchandising unit provides a durable, protective and aesthetically pleasing user interface. The merchandising unit holds the containers 17 in a secure manner and prevents the containers from moving sideways or backwards and forwards. The weight of the entire unit is usually sufficient to prevent it from moving. The merchandising unit typically has an open top to enable containers to be inserted and removed. A small lip can be provided that the bottom to prevent the containers 17 from falling out when the merchandising unit is taken off the shelves. In most situations, there will be a shelf immediately above the merchandising unit and the entire unit will need to be removed for reloading. Visually, the open top does not create a problem because it is either hidden by the shelf above or is above eye height.

The merchandising unit contains small slots or attachment means that the bottom of the front face to allow label is describing each product to be attached to the front of the merchandising unit.

There are manufacturing advantages in that the continuous label is cheaper to manually load with products and is more suitable for automatic or mechanically assisted loading in comparison to individual labels.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing S 20 from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims (27)

1. A product dispensing system which comprises: a plurality of sheet members which are removably connected to each other to form a continuous sheet material, at least one product attached to at least one of the members, and, a bar code or other type of product identifying means on the members to which a said product is attached.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the continuous sheet material is in the form of a roll, or is folded.

3. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material comprises paper, plastic, or composite materials.

4. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material is flexible such that it can be formed into a roll or a coil, or can be folded onto itself to allow it to be stored in a reasonably compact manner. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material has a length of between 1-3m.

6. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material has a width of between 3-15cm.

7. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the O thickness of the sheet is between 1-4mm.

8. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the •**"isheet material is perforated, or has frangible portions to comprise a plurality of members which are removably connected to each other.

9. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material has tear off portions, each portion defining a said member. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the portions extend entirely across the sheet material.

11. The system as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the plurality of members are formed separately and are subsequently attached to each other in such a manner that they can be removed.

12. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the majority of sheet members each have at least one product attached to it. 11

13. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product comprises small retail items including micro irrigation components.

14. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product is attached to the member by perforated in the member and pushing the product at least partially through the perforation such that the product extends above and below the sheet member. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product identifying means comprises a bar code which is on one face of the member.

16. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of products is attached to a single sheet member.

17. A product dispensing container which comprises an outer box, and a product dispensing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims positioned substantially inside the box.

18. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the outer box has an opening through which the product dispensing system can pass.

19. The container as claimed in any one of claims 17-18, wherein the box is formed from paper or cardboard or plastic material.

20. The container as claimed in any one of claims 17-19, wherein the box 20 is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and in elevation.

21. The container as claimed in any one of claims 17-20, wherein the box is formed from a blank of sheet material which is folded into shape.

22. The container as claimed in any one of claims 18-21, wherein the opening comprises a horizontal slit which is adapted to engage with or grip the top and bottom faces of the continuous sheet material.

23. The container as claimed in any one of claims 18-22 wherein the opening comprises a major opening through which the product can pass, and at least one slit which is substantially horizontal and which extends from one side of the major opening and which is adapted to engage with or grip the top and bottom faces of the continuous sheet material.

24. A merchandising unit which comprises an outer container in which at least one product dispensing container as claimed in any one of claims 17-23 is housed. p- 12 The merchandising unit as claimed in claim 24, wherein a plurality of product dispensing containers a housed in a side-by-side relationship.

26. The merchandising unit as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the outer container is formed of sheet metal.

27. The merchandising unit as claimed in any one of claims 24-26, wherein the outer container has a front wall formed with an opening through which the continuous sheet containing the product can pass.

28. A merchandising unit which comprises an outer container provided with a front wall, at least one product dispensing container which is positioned inside the container, the product dispensing container comprising an outer box, a product dispensing arrangement inside the box, the product dispensing arrangement comprising a plurality of members which are removably connected to each other to form a continuous sheet, at least one product attached to at least some of the members, and, a bar code or other type of product identifying means on the members to which a said product is attached, and an opening in the box through which the product dispensing arrangement can pass, the front wall of the container having an opening which is substantially aligned with the opening in the box to allow the product dispensing arrangement to pass through the opening in the front wall of the 000**: 0 •0 20 container.

29. A product dispensing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30. A product dispensing container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

31. A merchandising unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. O*eo Dated this 14 th day of September 2001 :o PPI Corporation Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.