Product dispensers

Abstract

From one aspect, there is provided a dispenser 2 for a product in stick form. The dispenser 2 includes a product stick carrier 8 , an outer sleeve 4 and a product concealing sleeve 6 . The product stick carrier 8 is in the form of a cylindrical tube including a product stick support 10 for supporting a product stick 16 in use. The outer sleeve 4 is in the form of a cylindrical tube disposed radially outwardly of the product stick carrier 8 . The product stick carrier 8 is fixed relative to the outer sleeve 4 . The product concealing sleeve 6 is in the form of a cylindrical tube disposed radially inwardly of the outer sleeve 4 . The product concealing sleeve 6 is retractable from an extended position relative to the outer sleeve 4 and product stick carrier 8 for concealing the product stick 16 supported by the product stick support 10 in use in order to expose the product stick 16 . The product concealing sleeve 6 is disposed radially outwardly of the product stick carrier 8 between the product stick carrier 8 and the outer sleeve 4 . The outer sleeve 4 , product concealing sleeve 6 and product stick carrier 8 are each formed of a paper-based or card-based material, such as paperboard or cardboard. The product concealing sleeve 6 is rotatable relative to the outer sleeve 4 and product stick carrier 8 . The product concealing sleeve 6 includes a lug 32 fixed to an interior surface thereof, wherein the lug 32 cooperates with a helical recess 34 in an exterior surface of the product stick carrier 8 for guiding movement of the product concealing sleeve 6 as it moves relative to the product stick carrier 8 and outer sleeve 4 . The lug 32 moves within the helical recess 34 as the product concealing sleeve 6 moves relative to the product stick carrier 8 and outer sleeve 4 . A method of forming the dispenser 2 is also provided.

1 . A dispenser for a product in stick form comprising:
 a product stick carrier in the form of a cylindrical tube comprising a product stick support for supporting a product stick in use;   an outer sleeve in the form of a cylindrical tube disposed radially outwardly of the product stick carrier, wherein the product stick carrier is fixed relative to the outer sleeve; and   a product concealing sleeve in the form of a cylindrical tube disposed radially inwardly of the outer sleeve, the product concealing sleeve being retractable from an extended position relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier for concealing the product stick supported by the product stick support in use in order to expose the product stick;   wherein the product concealing sleeve is disposed radially outwardly of the product stick carrier between the product stick carrier and the outer sleeve;   wherein the outer sleeve, product concealing sleeve and product stick carrier are each formed of a paper-based or card-based material, such as paperboard or cardboard;   wherein the product concealing sleeve is rotatable relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier; and   wherein the product concealing sleeve includes a lug fixed to an interior surface thereof, wherein the lug cooperates with a helical recess in an exterior surface of the product stick carrier for guiding movement of the product concealing sleeve as it moves relative to the product stick carrier and outer sleeve, wherein the lug moves within the helical recess as the product concealing sleeve moves relative to the product stick carrier and outer sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lug extends less than 2 cm in an axial direction. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lug extends in a circumferential direction less than half of the circumference of the product concealing sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lug includes a first pair of opposed edges, wherein each of the first pair of opposed edges extends helically at the same angle as edges of the helical recess with respect to an axial direction. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lug includes a second pair of opposed edges, wherein each of the second pair of opposed edges extends along a circumference of the product stick carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lug is formed from a blank having a parallelogram shape when flat. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lug includes an inner surface conforming to an outer surface of the product stick carrier within the helical recess. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the helical recess extends along the full axial length of the product stick carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the lug is bonded to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve with adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop element fixed to the product stick carrier within the helical recess at a distal end of the helical recess, wherein the stop element is configured to engage the lug when the product concealing tube is at the extended position, wherein the engagement of the stop element with the lug prevents further movement of the product concealing tube in a distal direction away from and out of the dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  10 , wherein the stop element is formed from a blank having a parallelogram shape when flat so as to fill an axial portion of the helical recess and thereby provide a flush external surface round an entire circumference of the product stick carrier at its distal end. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the helical recess, lug and stop element are configured such that during the movement from a fully extended position and a fully retracted position of the product concealing sleeve, the product concealing sleeve rotates relative to the product stick carrier by at least 180°. 
     
     
         13 . A method for forming a dispenser the method, comprising:
 providing a product stick carrier having the helical recess;   providing a product concealing sleeve;   providing a lug;   applying adhesive to a radially outer surface of the lug;   inserting the lug into the product concealing sleeve and fixing the lug to an interior surface of the product concealing sleeve;   threading the product stick carrier into the product concealing sleeve from a proximal end of the product concealing sleeve so that the lug aligns with the helical recess;   providing an outer sleeve; and   placing an assembled product concealing sleeve and the product stick carrier within the outer sleeve and bonding the product stick carrier to the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the steps of applying adhesive to the radially outer surface of the lug and of inserting the lug into the product concealing sleeve and fixing the lug to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve are performed by machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, prior to the step of threading the product stick carrier into the product concealing sleeve, a stop element is fixed to the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the lug extends less than 1 cm in the axial direction. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the helical recess associated with the exterior of the product stick carrier is defined between turns of a helical element associated with the exterior of the product stick carrier