Personal care product dispenser

Abstract

The present invention is directed to devices suitable for storing an assembly of multiple personal care products and individually dispensing the personal care products from the assembly, where the devices include a compartment for storing the assembly of personal care products and a mechanism for dispensing the personal care products slidingly engaged with the compartment between a storage position and a dispensing position, where the mechanism for dispensing includes a member for contacting the personal care products and an opening through which the products may be accessed.

1 . A device suitable for storing and dispensing personal care products, each personal care product of which is placed one upon the other so as to provide an assembly comprising a plurality of said personal care products, said plurality of personal care products comprising a first personal care product, a second personal care product and multiple other personal care products disposed between said first and second personal care products, said device comprising:
 a compartment for storing said assembly; and   means for dispensing said personal care products, said dispensing means comprising a member for contacting a first portion of said first personal care product and an opening for receiving said contacted first portion of said first personal care product,   
     wherein said compartment and said dispensing means are slidingly engaged between a first storage position and a second dispensing position, and wherein when said assembly is disposed within said compartment and upon movement of said device from said first storage position to said second dispensing position, said first portion of said first personal care product is accessed through said opening. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising means for advancing said plurality of personal care products in a vertical direction towards said dispensing means after said first personal care product has been dispensed, said advancing means disposed proximate a bottom surface of said assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said advancing means comprises means for applying pressure to said bottom surface of said assembly once said assembly is disposed within said compartment. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  further comprising means for distributing said pressure substantially equally across said bottom surface of said assembly, said distributing means disposed between said assembly and said advancing means. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said compartment comprises a cartridge having a first side wall disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cartridge and a second side wall disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said first side wall, a third wall disposed parallel to a horizontal axis of said cartridge transverse to and between said first and second side walls, and a fourth wall disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said third wall and between said first and second side walls, each of said walls comprising an internal surface proximate said assembly once disposed within said cartridge, and an external surface opposite said first surface. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5  further comprising a floor removably attached to said cartridge, said advancing means disposed between said assembly and said floor. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said first and second side walls further comprise a projection disposed on said internal surfaces thereof for maintaining said assembly in a first horizontal position, and said third and fourth walls are disposed along said longitudinal axis so as to maintain said assembly in a second longitudinal position, whereby said assembly is maintained in a third position within said cartridge for dispensing said first personal care product. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said advancing means comprises a spring. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said advancing means comprises a spring and said distributing means comprises a platform. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said compartment comprises a cartridge having a first side wall disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cartridge and a second side wall disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said first side wall, a third wall disposed parallel to a horizontal axis of said cartridge transverse to and between said first and second side walls, and a fourth wall disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said third wall and between said first and second side walls, each of said walls comprising an internal surface proximate said assembly once disposed within said cartridge, and an external surface opposite said first surface. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a floor removably attached to said cartridge, said spring disposed between said distributing means and said floor. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said first and second side walls further comprise a projection disposed on said internal surfaces thereof for maintaining said assembly in a first horizontal position, and said third and fourth walls are disposed along said longitudinal axis so as to maintain said assembly in a second longitudinal position, whereby said assembly is maintained in a third position within said cartridge for dispensing said first personal care product. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said dispensing means comprises a male connector for interacting with said assembly once disposed within said compartment upon movement from said first storage position to said second dispensing position, said connector comprising a proximate end and a distal end, said member for contacting said first portion of said first personal care product located towards said distal end, and said opening for receiving said contacted first portion of said first personal care product located proximate said contacting member. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said dispensing means comprises a male connector for interacting with said assembly once disposed within said cartridge upon movement from said first storage position to said second dispensing position, said connector comprising a proximate end and a distal end, said member for contacting said first portion of said first personal care product located towards said distal end, and said opening for receiving said contacted first portion of said first personal care product located proximate said contacting member. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said dispensing means comprises a male connector for interacting with said assembly once disposed within said cartridge upon movement from said first storage position to said second dispensing position, said connector comprising a proximate end and a distal end, said member for contacting said first portion of said first personal care product located towards said distal end, and said opening for receiving said contacted first portion of said first personal care product located proximate said contacting member. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said advancing means comprises means for applying pressure to said bottom surface of said assembly once said assembly is disposed within said compartment. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  further comprising means for distributing said pressure substantially equally across said bottom surface of said assembly, said distributing means disposed between said assembly and said advancing means. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 13  further comprising a housing having said proximate end of said male connector disposed therein. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising a floor removably attached to said cartridge, said advancing means disposed between said assembly and said floor. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said advancing means comprises a spring. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said advancing means comprises a spring and said distributing means comprises a platform. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising said assembly disposed within said compartment. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 5  further comprising said assembly disposed within said cartridge. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising said assembly disposed within said cartridge. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 13  further comprising said assembly disposed within said compartment.