Dispensers

Abstract

A dispenser (2) for a product in stick form comprises: a tubular body (4) having a longitudinal axis (A), the tubular body (4) including a tubular base part (6) and a removable cap (8) for closing an open end of the tubular base part (6). The tubular base part (6) comprises an outer tube (20) made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard and having an axially extending helical slot (30) formed in a radially inner surface (36) thereof, an inner tube (22) received within the outer tube (20) and made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard and having an axially extending slot (40) formed therethrough and a base (24) made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (A) relative to the outer tube (20) and to which the inner tube (22) is fixed so as to be rotatable therewith relative to the outer tube. A product stick carrier (50) is slidably received in the inner tube (22) and has a lug (54) projecting through the axially extending slot (20) of the inner tube (22) to engage with the axially extending helical slot (30) of the outer tube (20), whereby rotation of the base (24) relative to the outer tube (20) cams the lug (54) along the axially extending helical slot (30) so as to move the product stick carrier (50) along the inner tube (22) so as to extend the product stick (52) from the outer tube (20).

1 . A dispenser ( 2 ) for a product in stick form comprising:
 a tubular body ( 4 ) having a longitudinal axis (A), the tubular body ( 4 ) including a tubular base part ( 6 ) and a removable cap ( 8 ) for closing an open end of the tubular base part ( 6 );   the tubular base part ( 6 ) comprising:   an outer tube ( 20 ) made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard and having an axially extending helical slot ( 30 ) formed in a radially inner surface ( 36 ) thereof;   an inner tube ( 22 ) received within the outer tube ( 20 ) and made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard and having an axially extending slot ( 40 ) formed therethrough;   a base ( 24 ) made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (A) relative to the outer tube ( 20 ) and to which the inner tube ( 22 ) is fixed so as to be rotatable therewith relative to the outer tube ( 20 ;   a product stick carrier ( 50 ) slidably received in the inner tube ( 22 ) and having a lug ( 54 ) projecting through the axially extending slot ( 20 ) of the inner tube ( 22 ) to engage with the axially extending helical slot ( 30 ) of the outer tube ( 20 ), whereby rotation of the base ( 24 ) relative to the outer tube ( 20 ) cams the lug ( 54 ) along the axially extending helical slot ( 30 ) so as to move the product stick carrier ( 50 ) along the inner tube ( 22 ) so as to extend the product stick ( 52 ) from the outer tube ( 20 ).   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base ( 24 ) comprises a tubular body which is mounted to a lower end ( 60 ) of the outer tube ( 20 ) of the base part ( 6 ). 
     
     
         3 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein an upper portion ( 62 ) of the tubular body ( 58 ) of the base ( 24 ) is received in a recess ( 64 ) formed at the lower end ( 60 ) of the outer tube ( 20 ) of the base part ( 6 ). 
     
     
         4 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 2  or  3  wherein base ( 24 ) is mounted to the outer tube ( 20 ) by means of a collar ( 66 ) received on the lower end ( 60 ) of the outer tube ( 20 ). 
     
     
         5 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the collar ( 66 ) comprises an upper portion ( 68 ) attached to a radially inner surface ( 72 ) of the upper portion ( 62 ) of the base ( 24 ) and a lower portion ( 70 ) attached to a radially outer surface ( 74 ) of the lower end ( 60 ) of the outer tube ( 20 ), the lower portion ( 70 ) of the collar ( 66 ) preventing removal of the upper portion ( 68 ) from the outer tube ( 20 ). 
     
     
         6 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the upper portion ( 68 ) and the lower portion ( 70 ) are attached to one another by a frangible connection ( 72 ) which breaks upon initial rotation of the base ( 24 ) relative to the outer tube ( 20 ) to permit rotation of the base ( 24 ) relative to the outer tube ( 20 ). 
     
     
         7 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the frangible connection ( 72 ) comprises one or more frangible bridges ( 72 ) formed between the upper portion ( 68 ) and the lower portion ( 70 ). 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer tube ( 22 ) is a one piece element, with the axially extending helical slot ( 30 ) being formed in a radially inner surface of the one piece element. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the outer tube ( 22 ) comprises a radially outer element ( 32 ) and a radially inner element ( 34 ) attached to the radially outer element ( 32 ), with the axially extending helical slot ( 34 ) being formed through or in the radially inner element ( 34 ). 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outer tube ( 20 ) or one or more of its elements ( 32 ,  34 ) is a spirally wound tube. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the axially extending helical slot ( 30 ) is formed by a gap formed between adjacent spiral turns of one or more layers of the material outer tube ( 20 ). 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the product stick carrier ( 50 ) comprises a lug support ( 80 ) of a paper-based or card-based material, the lug ( 54 ) projecting radially outwardly from the lug support ( 80 ). 
     
     
         13 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the lug support ( 80 ) comprises a plurality of layers ( 86 ) of a paper or card material. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the lug ( 54 ′) is formed only on selected layers ( 86 ′) of the lug support ( 80 ). 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 12  or  13  wherein the lug ( 54 ″) is formed by the head ( 106 ) of an element, for example a pin ( 108 ), inserted in a side wall ( 110 ) of the lug support ( 80 ). 
     
     
         16 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the head ( 106 ) is spherical. 
     
     
         17 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the head ( 106 ) and optionally the entire element ( 108 ) is metallic. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser as claimed in any of  claims 12  to  17 , further comprising a product support ( 82 ) attached to an upper face ( 94 ) of the lug support ( 80 ). 
     
     
         19 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the product support ( 82 ) comprises a plurality of layers ( 88 ) of a paper or card material. 
     
     
         20 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 18  or  19 , wherein the product support ( 82 ) is annular for receiving the product stick ( 52 ) into a central opening ( 90 ) thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the product support ( 82 ) comprises a plurality of radially inwardly projecting teeth for engaging the product stick. 
     
     
         22 . A dispenser as claimed in any of  claims 12  to  21 , further comprising a spacer ( 84 ) attached to a lower face ( 94 )) of the lug support ( 80 ). 
     
     
         23 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the spacer ( 84 ) comprises a plurality of layers ( 88 ) of a paper or card material. 
     
     
         24 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 22  or  23 , wherein the spacer ( 84 ) is annular. 
     
     
         25 . A dispenser for a product in stick form comprising:
 a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, the tubular body including a tubular base part and a removable cap for closing an open end of the tubular base part;
 the tubular base part comprising: 
 an outer tube made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard and having an axially extending helical slot defined in a radially inner surface thereof; 
 an inner tube received within the outer tube and made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard and having an axially extending cutout formed therein; 
 a base made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube and to which the inner tube is fixed so as to be rotatable therewith relative to the outer tube; 
 a product stick carrier slidably movable relative to the inner tube, a portion of the product stick carrier being received within the inner tube, the product stick carrier comprising a helical element projecting from the cutout of the inner tube to engage with the axially extending helical slot of the outer tube, whereby rotation of the base relative to the outer tube cams the helical element along the axially extending helical slot of the outer tube so as to move the product stick carrier along the inner tube so as to extend the product stick from the outer tube. 
   
     
     
         26 . The dispenser of  claim 25  wherein the product stick carrier comprises a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion, wherein the radially outer portion comprises a helical element support of a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard, the helical element projecting radially outwardly from the helical element support, and wherein the radially inner portion comprises a product support; optionally wherein the radially inner portion is made of a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard. 
     
     
         27 . The dispenser of  claim 26  wherein the radially inner portion is received within the inner tube and the radially outer portion is disposed within the cutout of the inner tube. 
     
     
         28 . The dispenser of  claim 26  or  claim 27  wherein the product support is at an upper end of the radially inner portion. 
     
     
         29 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 26  to  28  wherein the cutout in the inner tube comprises a pair of parallel axially extending side edges, and the helical element support comprises a pair of parallel axially extending side edges which engage the side edges of the cutout and slide along the side edges of the cutout as the product stick carrier moves along the inner tube. 
     
     
         30 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 26  to  29  wherein the helical element support comprises a cylindrical shell segment slidably received in the cutout of the inner tube. 
     
     
         31 . The dispenser of  claim 30  wherein the cylindrical shell segment is a half cylinder. 
     
     
         32 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 26  to  31  wherein the radially inner portion comprises a tube of paper-based or card-based material, such as paperboard or cardboard. 
     
     
         33 . The dispenser of  claim 32  as dependent on  claim 30  or  claim 31  wherein an exterior surface of the tube of the radially inner portion is bonded to an interior surface of the cylindrical shell segment. 
     
     
         34 . The dispenser of  claim 32  or  claim 33  wherein the tube comprises a plug at the upper end thereof defining at least a portion of the product support; optionally wherein the plug is in the form of a disc of paper-based or card-based material, such as paperboard or cardboard. 
     
     
         35 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 26  to  34  wherein the cutout comprises upper and lower end edges, and the helical element support comprises upper and lower end edges, wherein the upper end edge of the helical element support abuts the upper end edge of the cutout to limit the axial travel of the product stick carrier relative to the inner tube in a direction so as to extend the product stick from the outer tube, and the lower end edge of the helical element support abuts the lower end edge of the cutout to limit the axial travel of the product stick carrier relative to the inner tube in a direction opposite to that for extending the product stick from the outer tube. 
     
     
         36 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 26  to  35  wherein the product stick carrier comprises a base; optionally wherein the base comprises a disc of paper-based or card-based material, such as paperboard or cardboard. 
     
     
         37 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 26  to  36  wherein the inner tube of the dispenser comprises an upper end portion disposed between an upper edge of the cutout and an upper edge of the inner tube, wherein the upper end of the radially inner portion of the product stick carrier is movable into an interior space defined within the upper end portion of the inner tube when the product stick carrier is in an uppermost position relative to the inner tube. 
     
     
         38 . A dispenser as claimed in any one of  claims 25  to  37 , wherein the base of the dispenser comprises a tubular body which is mounted to a lower end of the outer tube of the base part. 
     
     
         39 . A dispenser as claimed in any one of  claims 25  to  38 , wherein the outer tube is formed from a single tubular element. 
     
     
         40 . A dispenser as claimed in any one of  claims 25  to  39 , wherein the axially extending helical slot is defined between adjacent spiral turns of a helical element bonded to the radially inner surface of a or the tubular element of the outer tube. 
     
     
         41 . A dispenser as claimed in any one of  claims 25  to  40 , wherein the outer tube or one or more of its elements is a spirally wound tube. 
     
     
         42 . A dispenser as claimed in any one of  claims 25  to  40  wherein the product stick carrier is made of a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard.