Reusable solid hygiene product dispenser
A dispenser for a product including a handle, and a slider disposed inside the handle. A cartridge receives product and a carrier is adapted to retain the product. A carrier pusher connects with the carrier. An actuator connects between the slider and the carrier pusher and is configured to advance the carrier pusher, the carrier, and the product. The actuator includes a pusher fork that extends from the slider to the carrier pusher. The pusher fork has a first set of teeth that are connected to a second set of teeth provided on the carrier pusher.
1 . A dispenser for a product comprising:
a handle;
a slider disposed inside the handle;
a cartridge defining a product receptacle;
a carrier adapted to retain the product that is received in the product receptacle;
a carrier pusher connected to the carrier;
an actuator connected between the slider and the carrier pusher, the actuator being configured to advance the carrier pusher, the carrier, and the product, the actuator including a pusher fork that extends from the slider to the carrier pusher, the pusher fork having a first set of teeth that are connected to a second set of teeth provided on the carrier pusher; and
a return lock lever connected to a lever seat on the handle, the return lock lever including a lever tooth on a distal end, wherein the carrier pusher has a third set of teeth that are engaged by the lever tooth, and wherein when the slider is advanced the lever tooth is received in one of the third set of teeth to prevent retraction of the carrier pusher.
2 . The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a front handle portion and a rear handle portion that are assembled together to form the handle.
3 . The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a spring supported by a spring retainer on the handle, wherein the spring extends between the spring retainer and the slider, and wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the slider, and wherein the spring resists further advancement of the slider.
4 . The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the return lock lever is a first return lock lever, wherein a second return lock lever is provided, wherein the first return lock lever is connected to a first lever seat and the second return lock lever is connected to a second lever seat, wherein both lever seats are provided on the handle, and wherein each return lock lever includes at least one lever tooth on a distal end,
wherein the carrier pusher has a third set of teeth and a fourth set of teeth, wherein the third set of teeth is engaged by at least one lever tooth of the first return lock lever and the fourth set of teeth is engaged by the at least one lever tooth of the second return lock lever, and wherein after the slider is advanced, the at least one lever tooth of the first return lock lever is received by the third set of teeth and the at least one lever tooth of the second return lock lever is received by the fourth set of teeth to prevent retraction of the carrier pusher.
5 . The dispenser of claim 4 further comprising:
a first spring supported by a first spring retainer on the handle, wherein the first spring extends between the first spring retainer and the slider and wherein the first spring exerts a first biasing force on the slider, and wherein the spring resists advancement of the slider; and
a second spring supported by a second spring retainer on the handle, wherein the second spring extends between the second spring retainer and the slider; and wherein the second spring exerts a second biasing force on the slider, and wherein the spring resists advancement of the slider.
6 . A dispenser for a product comprising:
a handle having a lever seat;
a slider disposed inside the handle;
a cartridge defining a product receptacle;
a carrier adapted to retain the product that is received in the product receptacle;
a carrier pusher connected to the carrier, wherein the carrier pusher has a first set of teeth;
an actuator connected between the slider and the carrier pusher, the actuator being configured to advance the carrier pusher, the carrier, and the product, the actuator including a pusher fork that extends from the slider to the carrier pusher, the pusher fork having a second set of teeth that are connected to a third set of teeth provided on the carrier pusher;
a return lock lever connected to the lever seat, the return lock lever having a lever tooth, wherein the first set of teeth is engaged by the lever tooth; and
a lid having an end surface configured to support the dispenser, the lid defining a cavity, wherein the product is partially received in the cavity defined by the lid and is partially received in the cartridge, wherein the handle includes a front portion, and a rear portion that extend in one direction and are parallel to each other, wherein the end surface is oriented at an acute angle relative to the one direction, and wherein when the dispenser is supported on the end surface of the lid, the front portion and the rear portion of the handle are adapted to be disposed at the same acute angle relative to a supporting surface.
7 . A dispenser for a non-cylindrical product comprising:
a handle having a lever seat;
a slider disposed inside the handle;
a cartridge defining a product receptacle for the non-cylindrical product;
a carrier adapted to retain the product that is received in the product receptacle;
a carrier pusher connected to the carrier, wherein the carrier pusher has a first set of teeth; and
an actuator connected between the slider and the carrier pusher, the actuator being configured to advance the carrier pusher, the carrier, and the product, the actuator including a pusher fork that extends from the slider to the carrier pusher, the pusher fork having a second set of teeth that are connected to a third set of teeth provided on the carrier pusher,
a return lock lever connected to the lever seat, the return lock lever having a lever tooth, wherein the first set of teeth are engaged by the lever tooth; and
wherein when the product is consumed the cartridge is replaced with a second cartridge including a second product.
8 . A dispenser system comprising:
a handle including a lever seat;
a slider received within the handle;
a cartridge assembled within the handle;
a product at least partially contained in the cartridge;
a carrier disposed within the handle;
a carrier pusher connected to the carrier, the carrier pusher having a first set of teeth;
an actuator connected between the slider and the carrier pusher, the actuator being configured to advance the carrier pusher, the carrier, and the product;
a return lock lever connected to the lever seat, the return lock lever having a lever tooth, wherein the first set of teeth are engaged by the lever tooth;
a lid having an end surface that can support the dispenser, the lid defining a cavity, wherein the product is at least partially received in the cavity, and wherein the product is partially received in the cartridge; and
wherein the handle includes a front portion, and a rear portion that extend in one direction and are parallel to each other, wherein the end surface of the lid is oriented at an acute angle relative to the one direction, and wherein when the dispenser is supported on the end surface of the lid, the front portion and the rear portion of the dispenser are adapted to be disposed at the same acute angle relative to a supporting surface.
9 . The dispenser system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator further comprises:
a pusher fork that extends from the slider to the carrier pusher, the pusher fork having a second set of teeth that are connected to a third set of teeth provided on the carrier pusher.
10 . The dispenser system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator has a compressed position and an expanded position, and wherein the slider is engaged to move the actuator between the compressed position and the expanded position to advance the carrier and the product from the handle.
11 . The dispenser system of claim 9 wherein the lid defines a cavity that is received on the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is replaced with a second cartridge including a second product.
12 . A solid product dispenser comprising:
a handle;
a product cartridge received by the handle;
a solid product received in the oblong product cartridge;
a carrier contacting the product cartridge; and
a slider disposed within the handle, wherein the slider is connected by a pusher fork to a carrier pusher that is connected to the carrier that is in contact with the product cartridge, and wherein the slider is connected to the pusher fork that moves with the slider in an advancement direction to advance the product from the product cartridge, and wherein at least one return lock lever is connected to at least one lever seat on the handle, the at least one return lock lever includes a lever tooth on a distal end, wherein the carrier pusher has a set of carrier locking teeth that are engaged by the lever tooth of the at least one return lock lever, and wherein when the slider is advanced, the lever tooth of the at least one return lock lever is received in one of the set of carrier locking teeth to prevent retraction of the carrier pusher relative to the handle after movement of the slider in the advancement direction.