Such a dispenser is known from the Dutch patent 1001664 in the name of the present applicant. The object of the invention is to further improve said known dis- penser and to achieve advantages which will be explained hereinbelow.

In a first aspect of the invention the dispenser is characterized in that at one side, the minimally one con- tainer is provided with a press button which is known as such and which, when pressed, allows the care product to escape from the container via an opening in the press but- ton, and in that the dispenser comprises at least one case which is suitable to detachably accommodate the press but- ton, and which case is provided with an opening for the tube to pass through. When a container for the care prod- ucts has to be replaced, it is thanks to the above feature no longer necessary to carry out laborious operations when the tube which is coupled with the container in question has to be changed over to the following container. Accord- ing to the invention, the container to be replaced can simply be removed and the new container can be installed without involving the respective service mechanic for changing over the respective tubes. This greatly facili- tates maintenance so that the resulting savings can reduce operating costs. Usually several spray elements are pro- vided which are in feeding communication with tubes and containers for the care products. If different care prod-

ucts are used in the respective containers, the container to be removed is, according to the prior art, preferably replaced by a container holding the same type of care pro- duct, that is to say the same type of perfume or toilet water that the replaced container held; this avoids that scents become mixed, which could result in undesirable consequences for the users of the dispenser.

In a further preferred embodiment the tube is at one end permanently coupled with the press button and at the other end it is permanently connected with the spray element, and the spray element is removably incorporated in a distributing element. In this way, when replacing a container, it is possible to simultaneously replace the integral combination of press button, tube and spray element in communication with said container, thereby avoiding the above-mentioned mixing of scents among suc- cessive containers. Moreover, it benefits the hygienic use of the automat.

In a further embodiment the dispenser according to the invention is characterized in that the dispenser com- prises at least one actuator having a linearly movable actuator element, and in that the minimally one case is suitable to accommodate the actuator element such that said actuator element abuts against the press button accommodated in the minimally one case. This provides a very reliable reciprocal coupling between the actuator element and the press button of the container, augmenting the operational reliability of the dispenser.

A very suitable and advantageous embodiment is then characterized in that the actuator is an electromagnetic adjustment unit having an internal part which partially protrudes from the adjustment unit, and which on excita- tion of the adjustment unit undergoes a linear displace- ment, and in that an end of the internal part is provided with a button that is accommodated in the case.

In a further aspect of the invention the dispenser according to the invention is characterized in that the spray elements are incorporated in a single distributing element such that the longest distance between the spray

elements is less than the average width of a woman"s wrist. For the user of the dispenser, this eliminates the problem of having to figure out under which spray element her or his wrist has to be held.

The provision according to the invention allows some play with regard to where precisely the user's hand has to be placed in order to be sprayed with the selected care product.

This may be further improved by arranging the dis- tributing element such that the spray elements are posi- tioned at regular intervals on the circumference of an imaginary circular line.

Optimal results may be achieved with the embodiment in which the spraying direction of the spray elements is directed to within the imaginary circular line.

In yet another aspect according to the invention the dispenser is characterized in that a detector is provided at the minimally one spray element to detect the presence of a wrist. This makes the automat more conveni- ent to operate because the user is not obliged to employ the one free hand to operate the press button in order to actually make the desired care product available.

A simple embodiment, which according to the inven- tion enjoys preference, is characterized in that the detector is an electronic eye.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 schematically shows a number of parts of the dispenser according to the invention, in relationship to one another; and Fig. 2 shows a top view of the distributing element which is part of the dispenser according to the invention.

Similar parts shown in the figures carry identical reference numbers.

The expert is sufficiently acquainted with a dis- penser for personal-care products as described in the Dutch patent 1001664. This patent is herewith considered to be inserted, so that there is no need for an extensive discussion on such a dispenser.

Such a dispenser for personal-care products, 9in particular perfume, toilet water, creams and soaps or the like, comprises at least one, for example two or more con- tainers 1,2 for personal care products 3 and 4. Each con- tainer 1,2 is provided with a press button 5,6. The press button 5,6 which, when pressed, serves to release a care product 3,4 from the container 1,2 via an opening in the press button 5,6, is accommodated in a case 7,8 fitting around the press button 5,6. The case 7,8 is provided with a hole or slot through which the tube 9,10 passes to bring the contents of the container 1,2 into communication with a spray element 12.

At one end the tube 9,10 is permanently connected with the press button 5,6, and at its other side the press button 5,6 is connected via a pump 21,22 with a tube 23,24 to be inserted into the container 1,2. At its other end the tube 9,10 is preferably coupled with one spray element 12 which, as shown in the illustrated exemp- lary embodiment, is designed to be placed in a sprayer plate 11, that may form part of a fixed distributing element 19 of the dispenser.

Further a dispenser is provided (not shown) which is operable by the user, for example by means of a pay automat and which dispenser is controllingly coupled with the container 1,2 for the dispensing therefrom of a pre- determined selectable quantity of the care product 3,4 to be externally distributed via the spray element 12. To this end the dispenser comprises an actuator 13,14 having a linearly movable actuator element 15,16. In the embodi- ment shown, the actuator 13,14 is an electromagnetic adjustment unit having an internal part 15,16, which par- tially protrudes from the adjustment unit, and which on excitation of the adjustment unit undergoes a linear dis- placement. In the case illustrated, one end of the inter- nal part is provided with a button 17,18 accommodated in the case 7,8 such that the button 17,18 abuts against the press button 5,6 also accommodated in the case 7,8.

Although the embodiment shown in accordance with Fig. 1 only possesses two containers 1,2 with respective

tubes 9,10 and spray elements 12, the invention is in no way limited thereto. If so desired, the number of contai- ners, tubes and spray elements may optionally be increased to a number of, for example, six or more. The distributing element 19, of which a top view is shown in Fig. 2, is in this case based on the use of six containers with tubes and spray elements. The spray elements 12 and the remain- ing four spray elements are incorporated in a sprayer plate 11 of the distributing element 19, such that the longest distance between the spray elements 12 is less than the average width of a woman's wrist.

As Fig. 2 clearly shows, the spray elements 12 are positioned at regular intervals on the circumference of an imaginary circular line.

Fig. 1 shows that the spray direction of the spray element 12 is absolutely vertically downward. However, the invention is not limited to this arrangement of the spray elements 12. It may be preferred that the spray elements 12 be directed toward the inside of the imaginary circular line.

Finally, Fig. 1 shows a detector 20 near the spray elements 12, which serves to detect the presence of a wrist. Preferably this detector 20 is an electronic eye.

It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the above-described exemplary embodiment is mere- ly one possible form of realizing the dispenser according to the invention, and that various modifications are con- ceivable, all within the scope of the invention and with- out departing from the idea of the invention as specified in the appended claims.