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, a mechanism for dispensing the personal care products slidingly engaged with the compartment between a storage position and a dispensing position, and a member for applying pressure to a bottom surface of the assembly of products.

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,   means for dispensing said personal care products; and   means for applying pressure to a bottom surface of said assembly 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 means for applying pressure disposed proximate said bottom surface of said assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising means for distributing said pressure substantially equally across said bottom surface of said assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said distributing means is disposed between said assembly and said means for applying pressure. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said compartment comprises a cartridge having a first side wall disposed parallel to a longitudenal 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, said first and second side walls further comprising a projection disposed on said internal surfaces thereof for maintaining said assembly in a first horizontal position, and said third and fourth walls 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. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a floor removably attached to said cartridge, said means for applying pressure disposed between said distributing means and said floor. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said means for applying pressure comprises at least one spring member. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said means for applying pressure comprises a mid-point and first and second end-points, where the distance between said base and said mid-point is less than the distance between said base and said first and second end-points, respectively. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said means for applying pressure comprises a spring and said distributing means comprises a platform. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said compartment comprises a cartridge having a first side wall disposed parallel to a longitudenal 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, said first and second side walls further comprising a projection disposed on said internal surfaces thereof for maintaining said assembly in a first horizontal position, and said third and fourth walls 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. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising a floor removabley attached to said cartridge, said spring disposed between said distributing means and said floor. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said means for applying pressure comprises a base, a first spring member, a second spring member, and a third spring member, wherein the distance between said base and a point on said first spring member fartherst from said base is less than the distance between said base and a point on said second and third spring members farthest from said base, respectively 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising said assembly disposed within said compartment. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising said assembly disposed within said cartridge. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising said assembly disposed within said cartridge, said assembly comprising a mid-portion and an end-portion, wherein the height of said mid-portion is greater than the height of said end-portion. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising said assembly disposed within said cartridge, said assembly comprising a mid-portion, a first end-portion and a second end-portion, wherein the height of said mid-portion is greater than the height of said first and second end-portions, respectively.