A dispenser assembly having a container and an insert secured within the container. The insert includes a product cartridge defining a product containing space and a dispensing body having a dispenser receptacle. The product containing space has a first opening through which product exits, and the dispenser receptacle has a second opening at least partially offset from the first opening through which product enters the dispenser receptacle. The dispenser assembly further includes a push-button assembly attacked to the insert, including a button that moves between first and second positions. The button has an orifice defined therein in communication with one of the first or second openings when in the first position and with the other of the first or second openings when in the second position, such that the button permits transmittal of product between the first and second openings when moved between the first and second positions.
1. A dispenser assembly for dispensing a plurality of product units, comprising:
a container base;
a removable cartridge having a product containing space for the plurality of product units and a first opening, the removable cartridge being removably disposed in the container base;
a dispensing body being disposed in the container base, the dispensing body having a second opening leading to a dispenser receptacle for accessing dispensed product units;
a button assembly, at least a portion of which is disposed in the container base between the removable cartridge and the dispenser receptacle, the button assembly comprising a button that moves between a first position and second position, the button assembly having an orifice that moves with the button that is in communication with the first opening when the button is in the first position and in communication with the second opening when the button is in the second position, wherein the orifice has a first orifice opening and a second orifice opening, such that the button permits transmittal of product units between the first and second openings, when the button assembly is moved between the first and second positions, wherein at least one of the product units enters the orifice through the first orifice opening and exits the orifice through the second orifice opening into the dispensing body, wherein the button assembly includes the button and at least one spring, wherein the button assembly is biased by the at least one spring toward the first position, and wherein, when the button assembly is moved between the first and second positions, the dispenser receptacle remains fixed with respect to the container base; and
a door pivotably connected to an edge of the first opening of the removable cartridge, the door configured to be moved from a closed position that covers at least a portion of the first opening to an opened position when the product cartridge is placed in the container base, wherein the dispensing body comprises a hood that extends into the first opening to maintain the door in the opened position when the product cartridge is placed in the container base, the hood extending over and partially around the second opening of the dispensing body, and wherein, when the door moves from the closed position toward the opened position, the hood engages the door, thereby causing the door to pivot toward the product containing space.
2. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein a passage extends between the first opening and the second opening.
3. The dispenser assembly of claim 2 , wherein the button assembly is located within the passage.
4. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring includes two springs extending from a side surface of the button.
5. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the button assembly is housed within a sleeve defined within the dispensing body.
6. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the orifice is in communication with the first opening when in the first position, and with the second opening when in the second position.
7. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a container lid connected to the container base by a hinge.
8. The dispenser assembly of claim 7 , wherein the container lid, when secured in a closed position, covers at least a portion of the removable cartridge and prevents removal of the removable cartridge from the container base.
9. The dispenser assembly of claim 8 further comprising at least one release button for releasing the lid from the closed position to enable removal of the removable cartridge from the container base.
10. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the button assembly comprises a push-button.
11. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the removable product cartridge is a disposable component of a reusable assembly.
12. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the removable product cartridge comprises a front assembly that fits at least partially in the first opening, the front assembly having a front wall having a front assembly opening.
13. The dispenser assembly of claim 12 , wherein the front assembly opening is sized to permit passage of at least one product unit through the front assembly opening.
14. The dispenser assembly of claim 13 , wherein the door is affixed over the front assembly opening.
15. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first position is located vertically upwards of the second position.
16. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the removable product cartridge is pre-filled with the plurality of product units.
17. The dispenser assembly of claim 16 , wherein the product units comprise a food product.
18. The dispenser assembly of claim 16 , wherein the product units comprise a pharmaceutical product.
19. The dispenser assembly of claim 16 , wherein the product units comprise a tobacco product.
20. The dispenser assembly of claim 16 , wherein the product units comprise a confections product.