Flexible carrier for product dispenser

Abstract

A product dispenser carrier includes an elastic body defining an opening to receive a product dispenser. The dispenser carrier further includes a coupler fixed to the elastic body to facilitate attachment of the elastic body to another object. In a particular embodiment, the product dispenser is a lip balm dispenser. In a more particular embodiment, the elastic body includes aesthetic features corresponding to the theme of the product dispenser.

1 . A carrier for a product dispenser, said carrier comprising:
 an elastic body;   a coupler fixed to said elastic body and operative to facilitate the attachment of said elastic body to another object;   an elongated opening defined by a surface of said elastic body, said elongated opening being configured to receive a product dispenser within said elastic body, to retain said product dispenser within said elastic body, and to display a surface of said product dispenser through said elongated opening when said product dispenser is disposed in said elastic body.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated opening includes a recess in a surface of said elastic body that passes only partially through said elastic body. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , further comprising said product dispenser. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein
 said body includes an aesthetic feature; and   said product dispenser includes a complementary aesthetic feature associated with said aesthetic feature of said body.   
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein said body is configured to compression fit said product dispenser in said recess of said body. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said product dispenser has a height and a depth;   said height of said product dispenser is greater than said depth of said product dispenser;   said recess has a height and a depth;   said depth of said recess is greater than or equal to said depth of said product dispenser.   
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said product dispenser has a height, a width, and a depth;   said height of said product dispenser is greater than said width of said product dispenser and greater than said depth of said product dispenser;   said elongated opening has a height and a width;   said height of said elongated opening is greater than said width of said opening; and   said height of said product dispenser is greater than said height of said opening.   
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a key holder coupled to said coupler. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein said body includes silicone. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said body is monolithic. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein
 said product dispenser includes an outer surfacing having a contour, and   said surface defining said elongated opening has a contour complimentary to said contour of said outer surface of said product dispenser.   
     
     
         13 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein
 said opening is a generally cylindrical channel defined by a base shape extending along an axis; and   said product dispenser includes a generally cylindrical body defined by a base shape extending along an axis.   
     
     
         14 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein said base shape of said cylindrical channel is oblong. 
     
     
         15 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said elongated opening includes a base surface, a top surface, said top surface spaced apart from and facing said base surface, and a channel extending between said base surface and said top surface along an axis intersecting a central portion of said base surface and said top surface; and   said base surface defines a protrusion raised in a direction toward said top surface along said axis, said protrusion configured to engage a depression in a bottom of said product dispenser.   
     
     
         16 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein
 a shape of said elongated opening is changed when said elastic body is deformed, thereby facilitating the release of said product dispenser from said opening when said body is deformed, and   said body returns to its original shape when no external forces are exerted thereon.   
     
     
         17 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said elastic body defines a margin of said opening; and   at least a portion of said margin includes a retaining lip to secure said product dispenser in said opening.   
     
     
         18 . The carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid product dispenser. 
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing a carrier for a product dispenser, said method comprising:
 providing elastic material;   forming a body from said elastic material, said body including an elongated opening defined by a surface of said body, said elongated opening being configured to receive a product dispenser within said elastic body, to retain said product dispenser within said elastic body, and to display a surface of said product dispenser through said elongated opening when said product dispenser is disposed in said elastic body;   forming a coupler fixed to said body, said coupler configured to facilitate the attachment of said body to another object.   
     
     
         20 . A lip balm system comprising:
 a rigid lip balm dispenser;   lip balm contained within said lip balm dispenser;   an elastic, monolithic body defining a recess configured to securely seat said lip balm dispenser therein;   a fastener attached to said elastic, monolithic body that facilitates the removable attachment of said body to another object; and wherein   a portion of said elastic, monolithic body defines an edge of said recess, said edge of said recess forming an opening through which a surface of said lip balm dispenser is displayed when said lip balm dispenser is disposed in said body;   said surface of said body includes an aesthetic feature;   said surface of said lip balm dispenser includes an aesthetic feature complementary to said aesthetic feature of said surface of said body;   deformation of said body facilitates the release of said rigid lip balm dispenser from said opening; and   said body returns to its original shape when no external forces are exerted thereon.   
     
     
         21 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said elastic body is bounded by a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, a front surface, and a rear surface, said front surface extending between said top edge and said bottom edge and between said first side edge and said second side edge, said rear surface disposed on an opposite side of said elastic body from said front surface;   said elastic body has a height defined by a maximum distance between said top edge and said bottom edge along a first axis passing through said top edge and said bottom edge;   said elastic body has a width defined by a maximum distance between said first side edge and said second side edge along a second axis passing through said first side edge and said second side edge, said second axis being perpendicular to said first axis;   said elastic body has a thickness defined by a maximum distance between said front surface and said rear surface along a third axis, said third axis being perpendicular to said first axis and said second axis;   said height and said width are greater than said thickness; and   said elongated opening is defined by said front surface.