An increasing number of products purchased by the consumer are packaged in containers that are formed from flexible material, for example low-density polyethylene. These sachets or tubes are used for packaging of a wide range of goods, including dog foods, soups, toothpaste, and numerous other gel, liquid based, or semi-solid products.

There are several disadvantages for these types of containers due to the method required to dispense the contents. The method normally employed by the user involves applying pressure between finger and thumb along the package in order to squeeze out the contents from an opening. However, this can lead to some of the contents being left within the package. The result is that this residual content left within the container is often wasted, due to the effort required by the user to remove it. Removal of residual content by manual manipulation of the package may also involve the user getting some of the contents on their hands which is undesirable, especially should the contents be hot such as in the example of soups.

Devices that aid the user as tube or sachet dispensers are known, and usually involve a slotted device. The tube or sachet end is fed in to the slot, and the device is slid along the container towards the opening. The result is

that the contents are expelled from the container opening, reducing the residual content within the package and therefore reducing waste.

Examples of such devices are described in US 4,778, 082, and EP 0 671 338 Al. The devices described can also be used for dispensing contents from a flexible tube.

However, the devices are restricted in terms of the size of tubes that they can be used on due to size of the slot.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address the above problems and to provide a dispenser device which is re-usable, and provides an easy-to-use way of dispensing contents enclosed within a flexible container.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser comprising a holding member for gripping, and at least two dispensing members extending from the holding member, the dispensing members being substantially adjacent.

Preferably, the at least two dispensing members extend from substantially one end of the holding member.

The holding members may form part of the dispensing members.

The dispensing members may be hinged together. The dispensing members may be pivotally attached to each other, preferably at a substantially central point along the length of the dispensing device.

Preferably, the at least two dispensing members are substantially parallel.

Preferably, the at least two dispensing members form a slot, which is preferably only bridged at the ends joined to the holding member.

Preferably, the slot is open at one end.

The slot may be a gap.

Preferably, the gap between each substantially adjacent dispensing member is 0. lmm to 30mm, more preferably the gap between each substantially adjacent dispensing member is 0.2mm to 20mm, most preferably the gap between each substantially adjacent dispensing member is 0.4mm to 10mm.

Preferably, the ratio of the length of the dispensing members to the width of the dispensing members is between 5: 1 and 60: 1, more preferably the ratio of the length of the dispensing members to the width of the dispensing members is between 10: 1 and 40: 1, most preferably the ratio of the length of the dispensing members to the width of the dispensing members is between 20: 1 and 30: 1.

Preferably, the cross section through the dispensing members has a substantially circular, square, semi circular, or triangular shape.

Preferably, the cross section through the holding member is substantially circular, rectangular, square, or oblong.

Preferably, the dispensing members are straight along their length, alternatively the dispensing members may be curved at the end substantially away from the holding member whilst retaining the same gap between the dispensing members.

Preferably, the ratio of the length of the dispensing members to the length of the holding member is between 0.5 : 1 and 5: 1, more preferably the ratio of the length of the dispensing members to the length of the holding member is between 1: 1 and 2.5 : 1, most preferably the ratio of length of the dispensing members to the length of the holding member is between 1.25 : 1 and 2: 1.

Preferably, the dispensing members are manufactured from a material which gives some flexibility in a lateral direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of emptying the contents of a flexible container using a dispensing device, the method comprising placing a flexible container in an open side of a slot formed between at least two substantially adjacent dispensing members.

The method may include drawing the flexible container through the slot.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a sachet dispensing device adapted to dispense the contents from a sachet, the device comprising holding means adapted to allow the device to be gripped by a user,

and dispensing means which define a slot or aperture through which the said sachet may be drawn.

The dispensing means may comprise at least one and preferably at least two dispensing members. The holding means may comprise a holding member.

All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of the dispensing device; Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the dispensing device; Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of various embodiments of the holding member; Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of various embodiments of the dispensing members; Figure 5 shows a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of dispensing device; and Figure 6 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of dispensing device.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a dispensing device 1, which can be used for dispensing the contents of a flexible container 6. The dispensing device 1 comprises a holding member 2, and two dispensing members 3 which are placed to provide a slot 4 that is open at one end 5.

After removing one end of the flexible container 6, the closed end of the flexible container 6 is slid in to the slot 4 between the dispensing members 3. The user can then hold the closed end of the flexible container 6 between the dispensing members 3 in one hand, and hold the holding member 2 in the other hand. The user can then move the dispensing device 1 across the flexible container 6 with the contents being expelled from the flexible container 6.

The end of the dispensing members 3 not attached to the holding member 2 are not bridged, thereby giving a slot 4 that is open at one end 5. This is also advantageous when being used for emptying a flexible container 6, because the flexible container 6 can be slid between the dispensing members 3 through this unclosed slot end 5.

The open-ended slot 4 therefore allows easy insertion and removal of a flexible container 6.

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the dispensing device 1 with a flexible container 6 placed in the slot 4 between the dispensing members 3.

Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of several embodiments of the holding member 2, in which the cross sections are circular, oblong, and square.

Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of several embodiments of the dispensing members 3 showing their proximity to one another, in which the cross sections are circular, semi-circular, square, and triangular. The dispensing members 3 can be used for breaking up the contents of the flexible container 6 once dispensed. This can be achieved by using the device in a fork-like manner, and breaking up the contents using the ends 5 of the dispensing members 3.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a dispensing device 1, comprising holding member 2, and dispensing members 3.

The dispensing members 3 are substantially curved at the end substantially away from the holding member 2. The dispensing members 3 are curved in the same direction so maintaining the same gap width along. The benefit for curved dispensing members 3 is that the dispensing device 1 is easier to use, and allows the flexible container 6 to be placed between the dispensing members 3 more easily.

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of a dispensing device 1, comprising holding members 2 which form part of the dispensing members 3. There is a pivot or hinge 7 at a substantially central point along the length of the dispensing device 1 at the point where the dispensing members 3 extend from the holding members 2. The pivot or hinge 7 allows the dispensing device 1 to be opened up in a scissor like fashion around the pivot 7, and allows a flexible container 6 to be placed between the dispensing members 3. The holding members 2 can be closed so that they are in contact, resulting in the dispensing members 3 closing around the flexible container 6. The dispensing

device 1 can then be used to expel the contents of the flexible container 6 as described above.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.