Product dispensers

Abstract

There is provided herein a dispenser 2 for a product in stick form. The dispenser 2 includes a product stick carrier 10, an outer sleeve 6, and a product concealing sleeve 8. The product concealing sleeve 8 is selectively retractable to conceal or expose a product stick, and is disposed radially between the product stick carrier 10 and the outer sleeve 6. The dispenser 2 includes inter-engaging formations 28, 30 associated with the product stick carrier 10 and product concealing sleeve 8 respectively. The inter-engaging formations 28, 30 cooperate with one another to prevent advancement of the product concealing sleeve 8 beyond a set point. The inter-engaging formations 30 associated with the product concealing sleeve 8 is provided by a collar piece 30 affixed to an interior surface thereof at a proximal end. The collar piece 30 includes an axially extending split 43 and free ends 37, 39 on either side of the split 43, said free ends 37, 39 biased toward the centre to resiliently grip the product stick carrier 10. Alternative dispensers are also provided operating by similar means.

1 . A dispenser for a product in stick form comprising:
 a product stick carrier in the form of a cylindrical tube and 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;   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 a first, fully extended position relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier for concealing a 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; and   inter-engaging formations associated with the product stick carrier and product concealing sleeve respectively, wherein the interengaging formations cooperate with one another to prevent advancement of the product concealing sleeve relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier beyond a set point so as to define the first, fully extended position;   wherein the one of the inter-engaging formations associated with the product concealing sleeve is provided by a product concealing sleeve collar piece affixed to an interior surface of the product concealing sleeve at a proximal end thereof, wherein the product concealing sleeve collar piece comprises an axially extending split and free ends on either side of the axially extending split, wherein the free ends are not fixed to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve, and wherein the free ends of the product concealing sleeve collar piece are biased towards a radial centre of the dispenser so as to resiliently grip the product stick carrier as the product concealing sleeve moves relative to the product stick carrier in use;   wherein each of the product stick carrier, outer sleeve, product concealing sleeve and the product concealing sleeve collar piece are formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the inter-engaging formations associated with the product stick carrier is provided by a product stick carrier collar piece affixed to the exterior of the product stick carrier at a distal end thereof,
 wherein the product stick carrier collar piece is formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard.   
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 or 2 , wherein the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece is bonded, for example adhesively, to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve in a bonded area defined between the free ends of the product concealing sleeve collar piece; optionally wherein the bonded area is in the form of a longitudinal strip. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 1 to 3  wherein the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece comprises a central bonded area and a pair of unbonded peripheral regions located between the central bonded area and the axially extending edge of the collar piece on either side of the central bonded area, optionally wherein the bonded area extends over less than 50% of the surface area of the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece. 
     
     
         5 . A dispenser for a product in stick form comprising:
 a product stick carrier in the form of a cylindrical tube and 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;   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 a first, fully extended position relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier for concealing a 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; and   inter-engaging formations associated with the product stick carrier and product concealing sleeve respectively, wherein the inter-engaging formations cooperate with one another to prevent advancement of the product concealing sleeve relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier beyond a set point so as to define the first, fully extended position;   wherein the one of the inter-engaging formations associated with the product stick carrier is provided by a product stick carrier collar piece affixed to the exterior of the product stick carrier at a distal end thereof, wherein the product stick carrier collar piece comprises an axially extending split and free ends on either side of the axially extending split, wherein the free ends are not fixed to the exterior of the product stick carrier, wherein the free ends of the product stick carrier collar piece are biased away from a radial centre of the dispenser so as to press outwardly against the product concealing sleeve as the product concealing sleeve moves relative to the product stick carrier in use;   and wherein each of the product stick carrier, outer sleeve, product concealing sleeve and product stick carrier collar piece are formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard.   
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the one of the inter-engaging formations associated with the product concealing sleeve is provided by a product concealing sleeve collar piece affixed to an interior surface of the product concealing sleeve at a proximal end thereof,
 wherein the product concealing sleeve collar piece is formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard.   
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 5 or 6 , wherein the interior surface of the product stick carrier collar piece is bonded, for example adhesively, to the exterior surface of the product stick carrier in a bonded area defined between the free ends of the product stick carrier collar piece; optionally wherein the bonded area is in the form of a longitudinal strip. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 5 to 7  wherein the interior surface of the product stick carrier collar piece comprises a central bonded area and a pair of unbonded peripheral regions located between the central bonded area and the axially extending edge of the collar piece on either side of the central bonded area, optionally wherein the bonded area extends over less than 50% of the surface area of the interior surface of the product stick carrier sleeve collar piece. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser for a product in stick form comprising:
 a product stick carrier in the form of a cylindrical tube and 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;   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 a first, fully extended position relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier for concealing a 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; and   inter-engaging formations associated with the product stick carrier and product concealing sleeve respectively, wherein the inter-engaging formations cooperate with one another to prevent advancement of the product concealing sleeve relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier beyond a set point so as to define the first, fully extended position,   wherein:   the one of the inter-engaging formations associated with the product concealing sleeve is provided by a product concealing sleeve collar piece affixed to an interior surface of the product concealing sleeve at a proximal end thereof, wherein the product concealing sleeve collar piece comprises an axially extending split and free ends on either side of the axially extending split, wherein the free ends are not fixed to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve, and wherein the free ends of the product concealing sleeve collar piece are biased towards a radial centre of the dispenser so as to resiliently grip the product stick carrier as the product concealing sleeve moves relative to the product stick carrier in use;   the one of the inter-engaging formations associated with the product stick carrier is provided by a product stick carrier collar piece affixed to the exterior of the product stick carrier at a distal end thereof, wherein the product stick carrier collar piece comprises an axially extending split and free ends on either side of the axially extending split, wherein the free ends are not fixed to the exterior of the product stick carrier, wherein the free ends of the product stick carrier collar piece are biased away from a radial centre of the dispenser so as to press outwardly against the product concealing sleeve as the product concealing sleeve moves relative to the product stick carrier in use;   and each of the product stick carrier, outer sleeve, product concealing sleeve, product concealing sleeve collar piece and product stick carrier collar piece are formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard.   
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece is bonded, for example adhesively, to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve in a bonded area defined between the free ends of the product concealing sleeve collar piece; optionally wherein the bonded area is in the form of a longitudinal strip;   and the interior surface of the product stick carrier collar piece is bonded, for example adhesively, to the exterior surface of the product stick carrier in a bonded area defined between the free ends of the product stick carrier collar piece; optionally wherein the bonded area is in the form of a longitudinal strip.   
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 9 or claim 10 , wherein the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece comprises a central bonded area and a pair of unbonded peripheral regions located between the central bonded area and the axially extending edge of the collar piece on either side of the central bonded area, optionally wherein the bonded area extends over less than 50% of the surface area of the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece;
 and wherein the interior surface of the product stick carrier collar piece comprises a central bonded area and a pair of unbonded peripheral regions located between the central bonded area and the axially extending edge of the collar piece on either side of the central bonded area, optionally wherein the bonded area extends over less than 50% of the surface area of the interior surface of the product stick carrier sleeve collar piece.   
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 1-4 , wherein the product concealing sleeve collar piece and product stick carrier collar piece each have a dimension extending around the interior of the collar piece between the axially extending ends thereof in a circumferential direction that is equal to the inner circumference of the product stick carrier, and an inner radius that is greater than an inner radius of the product stick carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 1 to 4 or 9 to 11 , wherein the product concealing sleeve collar piece is formed from a precursor tube, wherein the precursor tube has an inner diameter that is less than an external diameter of the product stick carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of any one of  claims 5 to 11 , wherein the product stick carrier collar piece is formed from a precursor tube, wherein the precursor tube has an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the product concealing sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  any preceding claim  in which a product stick carrier collar piece and a product concealing sleeve collar piece is provided, wherein the distal end edge of the product concealing sleeve collar piece engages a proximal end edge of the product stick carrier collar piece to define the first, fully extended position. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  any preceding claim , comprising a base disc fixed to a proximal end edge of each of the product stick carrier and the outer sleeve, wherein the base disc is formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard; optionally wherein a second, fully retracted position of the product concealing sleeve is defined when a proximal end of the product concealing sleeve engages the base disc. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  any preceding claim , comprising a cap sized to fit snugly over the product concealing sleeve when the product concealing sleeve is in the first, fully extended position, wherein the cap is formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  any preceding claim , wherein the product stick support comprises a product support disc at the distal end thereof, wherein the disc is fixed to the interior of the product stick carrier so as to be proximally spaced from an or the distal end edge of the product stick carrier, wherein the product support disc is formed from card-based or paper-based material, such as cardboard or paperboard. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  any preceding claim , wherein the product concealing sleeve is freely rotatable relative to the outer sleeve and product stick carrier in use. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  any preceding claim , wherein the product stick carrier, the outer sleeve, the product concealing sleeve and the or each collar piece are each made from spiral-wound tubes. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly comprising the dispenser of  any preceding claim  and a product in stick form carried by the product stick carrier. 
     
     
         22 . A method of providing a dispenser in accordance with any one of  claims 1 to 4 or 9 to 11 , or any claim directly or indirectly dependent upon any one of  claims 1 to 4 or 9 to 11 , the method comprising forming the product concealing sleeve collar piece from a precursor tube, wherein the precursor tube has an inner diameter that is less than an external diameter of the product stick carrier. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  comprising forming the product concealing sleeve collar piece and the product stick carrier from the same precursor tube. 
     
     
         24 . A method of providing a dispenser in accordance with  claim 2 , or any claim directly or indirectly dependent upon  claim 2 , the method comprising forming the product concealing sleeve collar piece, product concealing sleeve collar piece and optionally the product stick carrier from the same precursor tube. 
     
     
         25 . A method of providing a dispenser in accordance with any one of  claims 5 to 11 , or any claim directly or indirectly dependent upon any one of  claims 5 to 11 , wherein the method comprises forming the product stick carrier collar piece from a precursor tube, wherein the precursor tube has an outer diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the product concealing sleeve. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  comprising forming the product stick carrier collar piece and the product concealing sleeve from the same precursor tube. 
     
     
         27 . A method of providing a dispenser in accordance with  claim 6 , or any claim directly or indirectly dependent upon  claim 6 , comprising providing the product concealing sleeve collar piece and the product stick carrier collar piece and optionally the product concealing sleeve from the same precursor tube. 
     
     
         28 . A method of providing a dispenser in accordance with any one of  claims 1 to 4 or 9 to 11 , or any claim directly or indirectly dependent upon any one of  claims 1 to 4 or 9 to 11 , or a method in accordance with  claim 22 , the method comprising:
 providing the product concealing sleeve;   providing a tube piece and creating a split along the axial length of the tube piece to create the product concealing sleeve collar piece; and   bonding the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve in a bonded area defined between the ends of the product concealing sleeve collar piece on either side of the axial split, such that the ends are left unbonded to the interior surface of the product concealing sleeve tube to provide the pair of free ends of the product concealing sleeve collar piece.   
     
     
         29 . The method of claim  30 , wherein the adhesive is applied only to a central axially extending strip between the axially extending edges of the product concealing sleeve collar piece. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 or claim 29 , comprising, before the step of bonding the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece to the interior of the product concealing sleeve tube,
 and placing the product concealing sleeve collar piece around the product stick carrier by separating the ends of the product concealing sleeve collar piece on either side of the axial split, locating the product concealing sleeve collar piece around the product stick carrier, and then releasing the product concealing sleeve collar piece to resiliently grip the product stick carrier; optionally wherein the step of bonding the exterior surface of the product concealing sleeve collar piece to the interior of the product concealing sleeve tube comprises applying adhesive to the interior of the product concealing sleeve and/or the exterior of the product concealing sleeve collar piece, and locating the product concealing sleeve tube around the product concealing sleeve collar piece once assembled with the product stick carrier.   
     
     
         31 . A method of providing a dispenser in accordance with any one of claims with any one of  claims 5 to 11 , or any claim directly or indirectly dependent upon any one of  claims 5 to 11 , the method comprising:
 providing the product stick carrier; providing a tube piece and creating a split along the axial length of the tube piece to create the product stick carrier collar piece wherein creating the split comprises removing a portion of the material of the tube piece; and bonding the interior surface of the product stick carrier collar piece to the exterior surface of the product stick carrier in a bonded area defined between the ends of the product stick carrier collar piece on either side of the axial split, such that the ends are left unbonded to the exterior surface of the product stick carrier tube to provide the pair of free ends of the product stick carrier collar piece.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the adhesive is applied only to a central axially extending strip between the axially extending edges of the product stick carrier collar piece.