MOISTURE-SENSITIVE POD DISPENSER AND METHOD

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/574, 139, filed October 18, 2017, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to dispensers for dispensing moisture- sensitive pods and methods of use therewith, and especially dispensers and methods for dispensing moisture-sensitive pods comprising personal care formulations.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Personal care formulations such as soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and other cleansers and/or care formulations, are conventionally provided in a variety of different forms, according to consumer preference and ease of use. For example, liquid formulations of hair care products and even soap and body wash formulations are typically provided in a bottled form, and it is also known to provide personal care formulations in the form of gels, sprays and powders, in bottles or other containers. The containers may be designed to be aesthetically pleasing to use, and to efficiently dispense product for use by the consumer, such as for example via a pour spout, pump, spray, or other dispensing means.

[0004] However, a problem with many conventional personal care product containers is that they typically are made of plastic, and/or may not be manufactured with the intention of being reusable, and thus are generally not environmentally friendly. Even those products that are at least technically capable of being refilled, such as e.g. shampoo or body wash bottles, are typically not re-used by consumers, as convenient means for refilling such containers for the most part simply do not exist. Accordingly, many consumers simply purchase fresh bottles of personal care product rather than going to the hassle of finding ways to re-use, with used plastic personal care product bottles simply being disposed of, as only a small percentage of consumers recycle bathroom packaging. Outside the home, hotels offer amenities of myriad small plastic bottles which are refreshed daily for consumption. It can be readily appreciated that if each consumer in the U.S. purchases and uses several tens of bottles' worth of personal care product every year, and these plastic bottles are subject to disposal rather than re-use, the amount of waste generated by the disposal of these products and/or the energy required for recycling used containers into new products, is unreasonably excessive and potentially damaging to the long- term health of the environment. Further exacerbating this problem is that plastic is a material that does not readily decompose or break-down upon disposal. Accordingly, as many consumers do not bother recycling plastic personal care product containers, these plastic materials can end up in landfills as relatively non- decomposable material that can persist for generations to come, or as hazardous debris in the oceans that can impact the food chain, among the various ways that non-recycled plastic materials can blight the environment.

[0005] Recently, single use laundry detergent products have been developed that contain laundry formulations contained within a water-soluble package, such as a pouch made with PVOH films or material with similar characteristics, which can be an attractive alternative to more conventional bulk liquid or powder laundry product forms (see, e.g., WO 201 1/094470). Such products may improve ease of use of laundry products, as the pre-measured single use water-soluble package simply dissolves and washes away during use of the laundry detergent product, eliminating the need for the consumer to measure the proper amount of detergent for each load, as well as being more portable when the washing machine is located away from a residence, as in apartment buildings. Individual water-soluble pouches containing laundry product are generally packaged as a batch together in a plastic tub or bag. Furthermore, consumer handling of the product typically occurs in an environment that is relatively dry, such as while loading a laundry machine before a wash cycle is performed. Additionally, when removing laundry pods, consumer hands are likely dry, thus removing one pod by hand from a batch of pods in a container would not compromise the remaining pods in the batch.

[0006] However, it has been a challenge to convert such single use products into forms suitable for personal care products, as the functional requirements for laundry detergent products are different than those for personal care formulations. In particular, recent focus has been on making substantially thinner water-soluble films for personal care "pods" containing personal care formulations therein, such that the pods can release personal care products to the consumer as the outer films dissolve in an efficient and pleasing manner during washing, bathing, showering, etc. However, a problem with such pods is that the thin external water-soluble film can have an inherent moisture sensitivity that complicates their day-to-day use. Specifically, the water-soluble films that make up the pod "shells" can be easily susceptible to deterioration when exposed to ambient moisture or wet hands, which can be particularly problematic for the types of moisture-rich environments in or near sinks, showers and bathtubs where they are most likely to be used, and with the product being handled by users with wet hands in the bath or shower. Prolonged exposure of the pods to excessive ambient moisture levels and wet hands can result in deterioration of the waster-soluble films to a point where they exhibit a tacky or unpleasantly sticky feel, and can even result in failure of the water-soluble film and leakage of the personal care product. Wide-spread consumer adoption of such moisture-sensitive pods thus depends on the ability to maintain the structural integrity of the pods even in moisture-rich environments.

[0007] Accordingly, there remains a need for systems and methods for providing moisture-sensitive pods for use by consumers, including in moisture-rich environments, without excessive degradation of the moisture-sensitive pods. There remains a need for providing moisture-sensitive pods for use by consumers, including the ability to dispense a single pod with wet hands without compromising the remaining unused pods in a package. There further remains a need for systems and methods for providing more environmentally friendly personal products, such as for example with less plastic packaging, and/or with less packaging waste, and/or with packaging that is not as harmful to the environment.

SUMMARY

[0008] Aspects of the disclosure provide a dispenser for the dispensing of moisture-sensitive pods which may be suitable for use in a variety of different locations and/or applications. For example, embodiments of the dispenser may be suitable for use at home, such as for use during showering, bathing or washing at home, as well as for personal use during travel. The dispenser may also be suitable for use at locations remote from a consumer's home, either as transported by a consumer or as provided at that remote location, such as at a hotel, gym, school, military barracks, pool, park, prison, public restroom, movie theater, mall, hospital, plane, spa, or any other place where personal care products may be used outside the home. According to one aspect, the dispenser may at least partially replace environmentally unfriendly single-use plastic packaging omnipresent in personal care industry with, for example, a re-usable (i.e. permanent) dispenser, and/or with paper packaging which may be more environmentally friendly due to its being renewable, more easily recyclable, and/or biodegradable.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a dispenser is provided for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations. The dispenser comprises a dispenser body having one or more water-resistant walls at least partially defining an interior volume of the dispenser; a holding area configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods in the interior volume of the dispenser, wherein the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the holding area are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments comprising compartment walls that separate each moisture-sensitive pod from one another in adjacent holding compartments; and at least one dispenser outlet configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments. The one or more walls of the dispenser body inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume of the dispenser, and each moisture- sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0010] In another embodiment, a dispenser is provided for dispensing moisture- sensitive pods comprising personal care formulations. The dispenser comprises a dispenser body having a base and one or more sidewalls extending from the base to define an interior volume; a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods in the interior volume of the dispenser, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods being contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments comprising compartment walls that separate each moisture-sensitive pod from one another in adjacent holding compartments; and at least one dispenser outlet at an end of the dispenser body that is configured to provide access to one or more of the moisture-sensitive pods in the interior volume. The one or more walls of the dispenser body inhibit the penetration of moisture into one or more of the plurality of holding compartments, and each moisture-sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0011] In a further embodiment, a dispenser is provided for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations. The dispenser comprises a dispenser body having a base and one or more sidewalls extending from the base to define an interior volume; a holding area configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods in the interior volume of the dispenser, wherein the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the holding area are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments comprising compartment walls that separate each moisture-sensitive pod from one another in adjacent holding compartments; and dispenser outlets comprising a plurality of apertures formed in the one or more sidewalls and configured to dispense moisture-sensitive pods from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments. The one or more walls of the dispenser body inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume of the dispenser, and each moisture-sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture- free environment until it is dispensed.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, a dispenser is provided for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations. The dispenser comprises a dispenser body having one or more sidewalls that at least partially define an interior volume, the one or more sidewalls at least partially surrounding a central axis of the interior volume, and the one or more sidewalls defining an opening between opposing edges thereof; a holding area configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods in the interior volume of the dispenser, wherein the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the holding area are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments comprising compartment walls that separate each moisture-sensitive pod from one another in adjacent holding compartments; and dispenser outlets comprising a plurality of apertures formed along the one or more sidewalls and configured to dispense moisture-sensitive pods from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments. The one or more sidewalls of the dispenser body inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume of the dispenser, and each moisture-sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, a dispenser is provided for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, the dispenser comprising a dispenser body having one or more water- resistant walls at least partially defining an interior volume of the dispenser; a holding area configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods in the interior volume of the dispenser, wherein the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the holding area are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments at least partially encircling a central axis of the interior volume, the plurality of sealable holding compartments comprising compartment walls that separate each moisture-sensitive pod from one another in adjacent holding compartments; and at least one dispenser outlet configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments. The one or more sidewalls of the dispenser body inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume of the dispenser, and each moisture-sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0014] In yet another embodiment, a dispenser is provided for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, the dispenser comprising a dispenser body having one or more water- resistant walls at least partially defining an interior volume of the dispenser, a holding area configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods in the interior volume of the dispenser, wherein the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the holding area are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments comprising compartment walls that separate each moisture-sensitive pod from one another in adjacent holding compartments, and at least one dispenser outlet configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod that is ejected from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments into the interior volume. The one or more water-resistant walls comprise a plurality of selection regions formed therein, each selection region being aligned with a respective sealable holding compartment in the holding area such that application of an external pressure to a selection region ejects a moisture-sensitive pod from the holding compartment that is aligned therewith into the interior volume of the dispenser, for dispensing of the moisture-sensitive pod from the dispenser. The one or more walls of the dispenser body inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume of the dispenser, and each moisture-sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, an insert is provided that is adapted for use a dispenser, the insert comprising a plurality of compartments, each compartment configured to house a single moisture-sensitive pod containing a personal care liquid or gel concentrate formulation, each compartment further adapted to maintain each moisture-sensitive pod in a substantially moisture-free environment and each compartment configured to allow access to each pod on an individual basis without impacting the moisture-free environment of adjacent compartments. The insert may, in certain embodiments, be a single-use insert formed of an environmentally friendly material such as a fiber-based material, a recyclable material, and/or a compostable material. In yet another embodiment, the insert may be formed of an environmentally friendly multi-use insert.

[0016] These and other aspects of the invention are further disclosed in the detailed description and examples which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of an embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, according to one aspect.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, according to one aspect.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the dispenser embodiment of FIG. 1 , also showing a removable insert for refill of a plurality of the moisture sensitive pods, according to one aspect.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a tongue-in-groove mechanism for inserting a removable insert in a dispenser, according to one aspect. A tongue-in groove-mechanism may also be used, according to one aspect, to mechanically link one or more insert panels to corresponding panels of the dispenser, such that opening of an individual dispenser panel simultaneously opens an insert panel that is in mechanical communication with the dispenser panel, thereby to expose a pod in a holding compartment covered by insert panel without exposing pods in adjacent compartments.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of an embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, having a plurality of apertures in a sidewall thereof for the dispensing of moisture-sensitive pods, of according to one aspect.

[0023] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the embodiment of the dispenser of FIG. 5, also showing a removable insert for refill of a plurality of the moisture sensitive pods.

[0024] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the embodiment of the dispenser of FIGS. 5 and 6, showing the dispenser according to a free-standing aspect.

[0025] FIGS. 8 and 9 are further perspective views of the embodiment of the dispenser of FIGS. 5 and 6, also showing mounting mechanisms for hanging the dispenser, according to one aspect.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a perspective front view of another embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, having one or more sidewalls at least partially surrounding a central axis, and a plurality of apertures in the sidewalls, according to one aspect.

[0027] FIGS. 1 1A and 1 1 B are another perspective front view of the dispenser embodiment of FIG. 10 (FIG. 1 1 A), with inset (FIG. 1 1 B) showing access to a moisture-sensitive pod via an aperture in the dispenser, according to one aspect. [0028] FIG. 12 is a perspective side-angle view of an embodiment of inserts for a dispenser, the inserts having a plurality of sealable holding compartments to hold the moisture sensitive pods, according to one aspect.

[0029] FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 1 1 , showing refill of a removable insert having a plurality of moisture- sensitive pods, according to one aspect.

[0030] FIG. 14 is perspective front view of another embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, having a plurality of sealable holding compartments at least partially encircling a central axis, according to one aspect.

[0031] FIG. 15 is a front view of a plurality of the dispensers of embodiment of FIG. 14, in a stackable form, according to one aspect.

[0032] FIGS. 16 and 17 are further perspective views of the dispenser embodiment of FIG. 14, also showing dispensing of a moisture-sensitive pod from one of the sealable holding compartments, according to one aspect.

[0033] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 16-17, according to one aspect.

[0034] FIG. 19 is another perspective view of the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 14, 16-17 and 18, and also showing portability of the dispenser for travel, according to one aspect.

[0035] FIG. 20 is another perspective view of the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 14, 16-17 and 18, showing a carrier configuration in which dispensers can be stacked vertically, according to one aspect. [0036] FIG. 21 is another perspective view of the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 14, 16-17 and 18, showing a carrier configuration in which dispensers can be stacked horizontally, according to one aspect.

[0037] FIG. 22 is another perspective view of the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 14, 16-17 and 18, showing a configuration in which dispensers can be stacked horizontally and mounted with a mounting mechanism, according to one aspect.

[0038] FIG. 23 is a perspective front view of an embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, according to one aspect.

[0039] FIG. 24 is another perspective front view of the dispenser embodiment of FIG. 23 showing loading of a removable insert having moisture-sensitive pods into the dispenser, according to one aspect.

[0040] FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective front view of the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 23-24 showing removable inserts, a dispenser body, and a flexible sleeve, according to one aspect.

[0041] FIG. 26 is a cut-away perspective front view of the dispenser embodiments of FIGS. 23-25 illustrating dispensing of a moisture-sensitive pod from a base of the dispenser, according to one aspect.

[0042] FIGS. 27A-27B are a perspective front view, and a schematic top view, of an embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, according to one aspect.

[0043] FIG. 27C is a perceptive front view and schematic side view of an embodiment of removable inserts that may be used with the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 27A-27B, according to one aspect. [0044] FIGS. 28A-28B are schematic cut-away side views of removable inserts for containing moisture-sensitive pods in a dispenser, according to one aspect.

[0045] FIGS. 29A-29D are schematic side views of removable inserts contained within a dispenser for dispensing of moisture-sensitive pods therefrom, according to one aspect.

[0046] FIG. 30 is a perspective front view of a removable panel having re- sealable valves formed therein, for dispensing of moisture-sensitive pods from a dispenser, according to one embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 31 is a perspective front view of another embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, according to one aspect.

[0048] FIGS. 32A-32B are a perspective front view, and a schematic top view, of an embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, according to one aspect.

[0049] FIG. 32C is a perceptive front view and schematic side view of an embodiment of removable inserts that may be used with the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 32A-32B, according to one aspect.

[0050] FIG. 33 is a perspective front view of another embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, illustrating loading of a removable insert having a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods into the dispenser, according to one aspect.

[0051] FIG. 34 are perspective front views of the dispenser embodiment of FIG. 33 illustrating dispensing of a moisture-sensitive pod to a tray of the dispenser, according to one aspect. [0052] FIGS. 35A-35B are a perspective front view, and a schematic side view, of an embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, according to one aspect.

[0053] FIG. 35C is a perceptive front view and schematic side view of an embodiment of removable inserts that may be used with the dispenser embodiment of FIGS. 35A-35B, according to one aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] To address the issue of moisture sensitivity for pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, in one embodiment a dispenser 100 is provided that is capable of maintaining each of a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 in a substantially moisture-free environment until, the moisture sensitive pod is dispensed for use. By maintaining the moisture-sensitive pods in a substantially moisture-free environment, the structural integrity of the pods and especially any water-soluble films making up the shells of the pod can substantially be maintained, such that the dispensed pod remains pleasing and suitable for use upon dispensing.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 1 -2, 10 and 14, embodiments of suitable dispensers 100 for dispensing the moisture-sensitive pods are shown. In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 (see, e.g. FIGS. 1 1 and 12) containing personal care liquid or gel formulations comprises a dispenser body 104 having one or more water-resistant walls 106 at least partially defining an interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. The dispenser 100 further comprises a holding area 1 10 configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. The holding area 1 10 is configured such that the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 held therein are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 comprising compartment walls 1 14 that separate each moisture-sensitive pod 102 from one another in adjacent holding compartments 1 12. The dispenser further comprises at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod 102 from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12. The one or more walls 106 of the dispenser body 104 inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100, and each moisture-sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0056] This dispenser body 104 may comprise a variety of different shapes, according to for example the type of product being dispensed, consumer preference, the environment where the dispenser will be located, etc. In one embodiment, as shown for example in FIGS. 1 -2 and 10, the dispenser body 104 has an elongated shape. In yet another embodiment, as shown for example in FIGS. 1 -2, 10 and 14, at least a portion of the walls 106 give the dispenser body 104 a rounded shape. In yet another embodiment, as shown for example in FIG. 14, the dispenser body 104 has a disc shape. The one or more walls 106 of the dispenser body 104 can comprise one or more sidewalls 1 18, and optionally also one or more of a top 120 and/or bottom wall 122, as shown in FIG. 5. The walls 106 including sidewalls and/or top and/or bottom walls define the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100 where the moisture-sensitive pods 102 are held. Furthermore, the walls 106 of the dispenser body 104 may preferably be constructed of a material that inhibits the penetration by moisture, so as to facilitate maintaining the pods 102 in a moisture free environment. In yet another embodiment, the walls 106 of the dispenser body may be formed of an environmentally friendly material, such as a recyclable material or biodegradable material, and/or a post-consumer recycled material. Suitable materials for forming the dispenser body 104 include plastics, such as bioplastics obtained from renewable biomass sources including starch-based plastics and cellulose based plastics, poly-lactic acid-based plastics, recycled PET plastics, bioresins, biodegradable plastics, recycled plastics, glass, metals (including recyclable metals such as aluminum), ceramics, composite materials, and paper or fiber-based materials such as paper, paperboard, corrugated and reinforced paper products, and material made from natural fibers. The dispenser body 104 can also comprise rubber or other materials to aid in gripping the dispenser 100, such as rubber pads or stripes on the body 104 of the dispenser 100. The dispenser body 104 may also optionally be coated with a water-resistant coating to further inhibit moisture penetration into the holding area 1 10 of the dispenser 100. Furthermore, while the dispenser 100 is configured to inhibit penetration of moisture into at least some of the holding compartments 1 12 to protect moisture-sensitive pods 102, it is also contemplated that the dispenser 100 may be capable of dispensing one or more pods 102 that have little or no moisture sensitivity.

[0057] In one embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise at least one removable insert 124 that is configured to be removed from the dispenser body 104 for refill of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods, as shown for example in FIGS. 1 , 2, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 18. According to one aspect, the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a plurality of holding compartments 1 12 positioned along an insert strip 126 (see, e.g., FIG. 12), each holding compartment 1 12 configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod 102. For example, the insert 124 may comprise up to 10 and even more holding compartments 1 12, such as at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 5, at least 7, at least 8, and at least 9 holding compartments. In yet another embodiment, the insert 124 may comprise just a single holding compartment 1 12. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise a plurality of separate removable inserts 124, each containing a single holding compartment 1 12 configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod 102. The holding compartments 1 12 typically will be configured to accommodate just a single pod 102, although the holding compartments may in some situations be configured to contain more than one pod 102, such as for example when two pods are intended to be used substantially simultaneously. Furthermore, the holding area 1 10 of the dispenser 100 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of removable inserts 124 having the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. For example, the holding area 1 10 may be configured to contain up to 10 and even more removable inserts 124, such as at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 5, at least 7, at least 8, and at least 9 removable inserts 124.

[0058] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a removable insert 124 suitable for a dispenser 100 according to aspects of the invention. In this figure, the insert 124 comprises a plurality of compartments 1 12, each compartment 1 12 configured to house a single moisture-sensitive pod 102 containing a personal care liquid or gel concentrate formulation. Each compartment 1 12 is further adapted to maintain each moisture-sensitive pod 102 in a substantially moisture-free environment, such as for example by providing walls 1 14 that at least partially surround and isolate the pods 1 12 from each other and/or the external environment. According to one aspect, each compartment 1 12 is further configured to allow access to each pod 102 on an individual basis, without impacting the moisture-free environment of adjacent compartments 1 12. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 1 and 12, it can be seen that each holding compartment 1 12 has a compartment panel 128 that can be opened to access the contents of the individual compartment 1 12. The compartment panel 128 can form a part of the sealable walls of the compartment 1 12 that seal the compartment 1 12 when closed, but can be opened by a consumer to access a pod therein, such as by peeling back the compartment panel 128 from the insert (as shown in FIGS. 1 1A-1 1 B). In one embodiment, the insert strip 126 comprises perforations at various points along the width thereof, to allow for access to individual compartments 1 12 by tearing back a portion of the strip 126 between perforations, without exposing adjacent compartments 1 12. In yet another embodiment, the insert 124 may comprise compartment panels 128 that are separately openable as doors on hinges, such that the contents of one compartment 1 12 behind one panel 128 can be exposed without exposing adjacent compartments 1 12 behind panels 128 that remain closed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, compartment panels 128 for each compartment 1 12 are separated by a perforated sealing section 130 in an insert strip 126 that allows for each panel 128 to be separately opened while adjacent compartments can remain sealed. That is, the plurality of compartments 1 12 may be sealed by a peelable portion of an insert strip 126 that is adhered to the plurality of compartments and seals an opening of the compartments 1 12, with the insert strip 126 being perforated widthwise at a plurality of positions along the length thereof to allow individual peeling of sections of the strip corresponding to the compartment panels 128. In the embodiment, the compartment 1 12 behind a panel 128 can be exposed by peeling back the section of the strip 126 between perforations that corresponds to the panel 128, without exposing adjacent compartments behind the other panels that have not been opened. Other embodiments for separate opening of the compartment panels 128 are also possible, including providing an insert 124 with pre-made separate compartments each having separate compartment panels 128, where the separate compartments are connected together, such as by being adhered to one another side by side to form the insert 124, and such that the compartments panels 128 of each are individually openable without opening the compartment panels 128 of other compartments 1 12 in the insert 124.

[0059] The removable inserts 124 can comprise a shape suitable to accommodate the holding area 1 10 of the dispenser 100, and vice versa. For example, for a dispenser body 104 having an elongate shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the removable insert 124 may similarly comprise an elongate shape, whereas for a dispenser body having a disc shape as in FIG. 14 the removable insert 124 may also be in the shape of a disc. In one embodiment, the removable inserts 124, are formed of an environmentally friendly material, such as at least one of an environmentally friendly plastic, including recycled, recyclable and/or biodegradable plastic, such as bioplastics obtained from renewable biomass sources including starch-based plastics and cellulose based plastics, as well as a paper and/or fiber- based material, such as a paper, paperboard, cardboard, and/or corrugated paper product, and products produced from natural fibers, and including recycled products, and recyclable and/or biodegradable products. The insert 124 can also comprise combinations of different materials, such as a first material for the sealable holding compartments 1 12, and a second material serving as panels 128 for the compartments, such as a second material for an insert strip 126 that is used to seal the openings of the compartments 1 12. The insert 124 may also be coated with a water-resistant coating to inhibit the penetration of moisture into the holding compartments. In one embodiment, the insert 124 comprises a paper or fiber-based material, such as a molded paper product, that is coated with a water-resistant coating, such as a polymer-based coating. [0060] In the embodiment where the holding area 1 10 accommodates one or more refillable inserts 124, the dispenser 100 may be refilled to replace used pods 102 by removing used inserts and inserting fresh inserts 124 into the dispenser 100. In a case where a plurality of inserts may be contained in the dispenser 100, the inserts 124 may be individually replaced one at a time, or the inserts may be entirely removed and replaced with fresh inserts. Also, in one embodiment the inserts 124 might be provided to a user "pre-loaded" with pods 102 already inserted into the holding chambers 1 12, or a user may be provided with pods 102 separately from the inserts 124, so as to allow the user to load the inserts 124 with pods according to their preference, and replace the inserts 124 into the dispenser 100 with a customized pod selection. In one embodiment, both the holding compartments 1 12 and walls 106 of the dispenser body 104 are configured to inhibit the penetration of moisture, such as by being shaped to inhibit moisture and made of moisture- resistant materials. However, it may also be the case that the walls 106 of the dispenser body are more water-impermeable than the walls 1 14 of the holding compartments 1 12, or vice versa.

[0061] In one embodiment, the one or more inserts 124 and/or dispenser body 104 may be configured to releasably attach and/or secure the inserts to the dispenser body, when the inserts are placed into the holding area. For example, referring to Figures 3 and 4, a tongue-in-groove configuration can be provided to secure the insert to the dispenser body. In one embodiment, the body of the dispenser 100 comprises longitudinal slots 156 extending down at least a portion of the length of the dispenser body 104, and which are configured to engage the lateral sides 158 of the inserts 124 to retain the inserts 124 in the holding area 1 10. The inserts can be engaged with the dispenser body 104 by sliding the lateral sides 159 of the inserts in the longitudinal slots such that the sides 159 of the inserts are fixed in position by the slots. Other means of securing the inserts 124 within the dispenser body 104 can also be provided. For example, the inserts can be affixed by a releasable attachment means, such as a releasable adhesive, magnetic means, by providing anchoring means within the dispenser body, or by a snap in configuration. For example, in one embodiment, the dispenser body may have upper and lower slots to accommodate upper and lower edges of an insert, and the insert is longitudinally squeezed to fit the ends thereof in the slots, whereupon relaxing of the insert extends the length of the insert so it is snug against the slots.

[0062] In yet another embodiment, the tongue-in-groove configuration can form a part of the dispenser panels 136 that can be opened to individually access the compartments 1 12. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the means for securing the insert 124 can comprise longitudinal slots 156 (e.g., grooves) as shown, that engage with the lateral sides 158 of the insert 124, with each panel 136 having its own independent tongue-in-groove configuration with slots 156 that are independent of the slots 156 of other panels 136. That is, the panels 136 may have an extending structure 137 that extends away from a surface of the panel 136 facing the insert, and that hooks around and forms a channel (the slot 156) for receiving a side 158 of the insert. Each panel 136 may have its own separate extending structures 137 and/or hooking means for separately engaging the adjacent lip or lateral side of the insert. Accordingly, an insert panel 128 can be opened to access an individual compartment by opening the dispenser panel 136, as opening of the panel 136 simultaneously engages the lateral side 158 of the insert, causing the panel 128 to open via tearing or lifting of the lateral side 158 away from the rest of the insert body, such as for example by tearing along perforated lines formed in an insert strip 126. Thus, the tongue-in-groove configuration can provide for securing of an insert to the dispenser body, and may also provide for individual access to each of the compartments by opening the panels 136, without exposing adjacent compartments. In certain embodiments, the tongue in groove configuration may also allow for the compartments to be accessed without requiring a separate step of opening the insert panels 128 before and/or after opening the dispenser panel 136, as the dispenser panels 136 and insert panels 128 may be opened substantially simultaneously.

[0063] In yet another embodiment, it is contemplated that at least a portion, and even all, of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 is permanently affixed to the dispenser body 104, such as to sidewalls 106 of the dispenser body. For example, at least a portion of the compartment walls 1 14 of the holding compartment 1 12 may be attached to the dispenser body, such as by being adhered or otherwise bonded to the dispenser body 104, or even forming a part of a same piece with the dispenser body. In this embodiment, at least a portion and even all of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 form a permanent part of the dispenser body 104, and so are not removable for refill of the dispenser 100, unlike in the case where holding compartments are contained in removable inserts. Instead, in this embodiment, the holding compartments 1 12 may be individually accessed by a user for refill thereof, for example by providing an opening 132 in the dispenser body 104 that is sufficiently large to allow a user to access the holding area 1 10 and holding compartments 1 12 therein, so the compartments 1 12 can be re-filled with fresh pods 102, or by access via apertures 134 (e.g., by opening panels 136).

[0064] In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 that is configured to provide access to only a single holding compartment 1 12 at the same time. For example, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the dispenser comprises a plurality of outlets 1 16, and each outlet allows access to only a single holding compartment 1 12, as also shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 1A- 1 1 B, such that a pod 102 loaded into the compartment 1 12 can be accessed for use thereof, substantially without exposing other pods in adjacent holding compartments 1 12 to the ambient environment. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 and 1 1 , the outlets 1 16 comprise one or more apertures 134 formed in a wall 106 of the dispenser body 106 that are sized and shaped to allow pods 102 to be dispensed therethrough. In order to access the plurality of pods 102 held by the dispenser 100, the dispenser can comprise a plurality of individual outlets with apertures 134 such that each holding compartment 1 12 is accessed by its own aperture 134. In yet another embodiment, the dispenser 100 can comprise a dispenser outlet 1 16 that is configured to provide access to a plurality of holding compartments at the same time. For example, in one embodiment, the dispenser outlets can comprise a plurality of elongated apertures 134 in the dispenser body that expose a plurality of holding compartments 1 12 in the interior volume 108. In this embodiment, the holding compartments 1 12 may be separately sealed from one another, such that opening of the elongate outlet does not expose the interiors of the multiple holding compartments 1 12 adjacent a holding compartment that is targeted for access. For example, the holding compartments may be sealed by a perforated sealing portion of an insert strip 126 that connects the holding compartments together while also allowing for individual access into the holding compartments 1 12, as has been described above. In one embodiment, the dispenser outlet 1 16 is itself sealable to inhibit penetration of moisture into the plurality of holding compartments 1 12. For example, in one embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 can comprise one or more openable panels 136 located on one or more sides of the dispenser, as shown for example in FIGS. 1 1A-1 1 B, where the panels may be configured to engage with the dispenser body 104 so as to inhibit the penetration of moisture through the panels 136, e.g. by forming a seal with the walls of the dispenser body. The panels 136 may be openable via a hinge mechanism or sliding mechanism or other suitable mechanism, or may be adhered via magnetic strip or other adhering mechanism to the body 104 of the dispenser 100. In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the dispenser outlet 1 16 may be located at the top or bottom of the dispenser 100. In a case where the dispenser outlet 1 16 or other opening is located a top 140 or bottom 142 of the dispenser, the dispenser outlet 1 16 may further comprise a dispenser lid 138 to cap off the outlet and inhibit the penetration of moisture into the dispenser, as shown for example in the embodiment of FIG. 6. In yet another embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 is rotatable with respect to one or more of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12, so as to provide access to individual holding compartments 1 12 via rotation.

[0065] In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 is configured such that the interior volume 108 of the dispenser is substantially entirely surrounded by the water- resistant walls of the dispenser body 104, as shown for example in the embodiment of FIG. 10. However, in yet another embodiment, the water-resistant walls 106 of the dispenser body 104 define an opening 132 in the dispenser body 104 that is configured to provide access for refilling of moisture-sensitive pods 102 in the plurality of holding compartments 1 12, as shown for example in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 are themselves sealable so as to inhibit penetration of moisture that could enter the holding area 1 10 through the opening 132. Moreover, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 may be configured to be individually reloaded. [0066] The dispenser 100 can be configured to optimize ease of use and to provide a pleasant experience for a person using the dispenser to dispense personal care pods 102. For example, in one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a dispenser body 104 having one or more walls 106 with indentations therein, to facilitate gripping of the dispenser 100 by a user, as shown for example in the embodiment of FIG. 10. In yet another embodiment, the dispenser comprises a mounting mechanism 146 for mounting the dispenser 100 to one or more of a wall and a fixture. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8-9 and 22, the mounting mechanism 146 can comprise a hook 148 or strap configured to hang the dispenser 100. The dispenser 100 may also comprise a mounting mechanism 146 comprising at least one of an adhesive strip, velcro and/or magnetic mechanism for mounting to a surface, or may be free-standing (see, e.g., FIG. 7).

[0067] The liquid or gel formulations contained in the pods 102 dispensed by the dispenser comprise at least one of personal care and cleansing formulations. For example, the formulations can comprise at least one of shampoo, conditioner, shampoo-conditioner combinations, body wash, body wash-shampoo combinations, soap, face wash, face scrub, shower gel and shaving gel, as well as combinations thereof, although the formulations are not limited to this list, and other formulations for personal care or general cleansing may be provided. The dispenser 100 according to embodiments of the invention may be configured to comprise up to 10 and even more pods having personal care compositions therein, as described above, which may be the same or different compositions.

[0068] In one embodiment, the dispenser is configured to dispense pods 102 having different compositions from one another. For example, the plurality of pods 102 contained by the dispenser 100 for dispensing thereof can comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. According to yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods may further comprise a third moisture-sensitive pod having a third personal care composition that is different than the first and second compositions. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods further comprises a fourth moisture-sensitive pod having a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second and third compositions. For example, in one embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod having a body wash formulation.

[0069] According to yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise a first removable insert 124a having one or more moisture-sensitive pods comprising a first personal care composition, and a second removable insert 124b having one or more moisture-sensitive pods comprising a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition, as shown for example in the embodiment of FIG. 2. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 further comprises a third removable insert 124 comprising a third personal care composition that is different than the first composition and the second composition. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 further comprises a fourth removable insert 124 comprising a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second, and third compositions. For example, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 can comprise a first removable insert 124 having a moisture- sensitive pods comprising a shampoo formulation, a second removable insert 124 having moisture-sensitive pods comprising a conditioner formulation, and a third removable insert having moisture-sensitive pods comprising a body wash formulation. In yet another embodiment, a same insert may have a plurality of different pods having different compositions in the same insert 124. For example, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 may comprise at least one removable insert 124, and wherein the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a first moisture- sensitive pod having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture- sensitive pod having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition, on the same insert. In a further embodiment, the same removable insert 124 comprises a third moisture-sensitive pod having a third personal care composition, the third composition being different than the first and second composition, on the same insert. In yet a further embodiment, the same removable insert 124 comprises a fourth moisture-sensitive pod having a fourth personal care composition, the fourth composition being different than the first, second and third composition, on the same insert. For example, the same removable insert 124 may comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod having a body wash formulation, on the same insert.

[0070] According to embodiments of the present invention, the moisture-sensitive pods that are dispensed by the dispenser comprise the liquid or gel formulations enveloped in an at least partially water soluble film. The water-soluble film may be one that, upon exposure to water, at least partially dissolves and/or degrades, so as to release the contents of the moisture-sensitive pod, and in some embodiments the water-soluble film may even entirely dissolve and/or degrade leaving only the formulation behind (e.g., to reduce any waste and provide a more pleasant experience for the user), and/or may entirely dissolve and/or degrade substantially simultaneously with the use of the formulation. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the personal care formulations may be formulated to be have a relatively low water content (and even be substantially anhydrous), so as to preserve the integrity of the water-soluble film in which the composition is contained. In one embodiment, the cumulative water content of the personal care formulation may be less than 20% by weight, such as less than 15% by weight and even less than 10% by weight of the personal care formulation, although the cumulative water content will generally be at least 7.6% by weight of the personal care formulation. The water-soluble film can comprise any suitable water-soluble material that is compatible with the formulation, such as a water-soluble polymer or algae-derived materials. Examples of suitable water-soluble polymers include polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and carboxymethyl cellulose (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 2016/0317397, GB 21 18961 , EP 1512701 and WO 201 1/094470).

[0071] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method of providing a personal care liquid or gel formulation, comprises dispensing a moisture- sensitive pod comprising the liquid or gel formulation from any of the embodiments of the dispenser 100 described herein. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a person dispensing pods from the dispenser 100 may be the same person that also refills the dispenser 100, for example, when the dispenser is for home or personal use. Alternatively, the dispenser 100 may be refilled be a separate person, such as an employee of a hotel, spa, etc., and a customer may be the one who dispenses pods from a pre-filled dispenser 100. For example, a hotel may fill dispensers 100 with the types of pods commonly used by hotel guests, such as shampoo, conditioner, and body-wash, making it easy for the guest to access the appropriate pods. The dispenser 100 can be provided with labels to identify which holding compartments and/or inserts contain what formulation, or the pods may be loaded in a pre-defined order into the dispenser, or color-coded, etc., for ease of dispensing. In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 may comprise panels 136 that are at least partially and even fully transparent, so that a person can see whether a compartment behind the panel 136 has been accessed, and/or what the compartment contents might be. For example, an insert 124 may have panels 128 labelled with the contents therein, e.g. shampoo, conditioner, etc., and the labels of the panels 128 may be viewed through the at least partially transparent panels 136. A person may also be able to tell whether a pod is in the compartment 1 12 or has already been accessed, such as for example by identifying that a perforated insert panel 128 has already been opened. Other parts of the dispenser 100 and/or strip 124 may also be labelled to indicate the contents of compartments 1 12 and/or strips 124.

[0072] The following are further detailed embodiments of the invention, described with reference to FIGS. 1 -22. The features such as structures, functions, compositions, etc. of the dispenser described above are also intended to apply to the below-described embodiments, where suitable, and any features described below are likewise considered to be applicable to other embodiments and not necessarily restricted to the particular embodiment with reference to which they are described.

[0073] Referring to the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 2-9, the dispenser 100 for dispensing moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising personal care formulations comprises a dispenser body 104 having a base 154 and one or more sidewalls 106 extending from the base 154 to define an interior volume 108. The dispenser 100 further comprises a holding area 1 10 configured to hold a plurality of moisture- sensitive pods in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 being contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 comprising compartment walls 1 14 that separate each moisture- sensitive pods 102 from one another in adjacent holding compartments 1 12. The dispenser 100 further comprises at least one dispenser opening 132 at an end 120, 122 of the dispenser body 100 that is configured to provide access to one or more of the moisture-sensitive pods 102 in the interior volume 108. The one or more walls 106 of the dispenser body 104 inhibit the penetration of moisture into one or more of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12, and each moisture-sensitive pod 102 is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0074] In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises an elongate shape, and in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 has a shape that tapers in towards a middle of the length of the dispenser 100, and flares out towards a top. Other shapes and materials may also be suitable, such as for example for ergonomic reasons, or to facilitate gripping and/or for aesthetic reasons. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the dispenser comprises only a single dispenser opening 132 located at a top 120 of the dispenser body 104, which may be used both for replacement and dispensing of pods from the dispenser (e.g., as a dispenser outlet 1 16). In the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 5-9, the dispenser 100 comprises further dispenser outlets 1 16 along sidewalls 1 18 of the dispenser body 104, and an opening at a top and/or bottom 120, 122 may be sized to access the interior volume for replacing and/or dispensing pods therefrom.

[0075] In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises a holding area 1 10 that is configured to hold at least one removable insert 124 comprising the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 for the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102, the at least one removable insert 124 being configured to be removed from the dispenser body 100 for refill and/or replacement of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102. In one embodiment, as shown in the FIGS. 3 and 4, the holding area 1 10 comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots 156 configured to engage lateral sides 158 of the at least one removable insert 124. According to one embodiment, the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a plurality of holding compartments 1 12 positioned along an insert strip 126, each holding compartment 1 12 configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod 102.

[0076] In one embodiment as shown in FIGS 2-9, the holding area 1 10 is configured to accommodate a plurality of removable inserts 124 having the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. In another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods comprises up to 10 pods having personal care compositions. For example, the plurality of pods 102 can comprising a first moisture-sensitive pod having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods further comprises a third moisture-sensitive pod having a third personal care composition that is different than the first and second compositions. According to yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods further comprises a fourth moisture-sensitive pod having a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second and third compositions. In one embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture- sensitive pod having a body wash formulation.

[0077] In yet another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2-9, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise a first removable insert 124 having one or more moisture-sensitive pods comprising a first personal care composition, and a second removable insert 124 having one or more moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. In one embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 further comprises a third removable insert 124 comprising a third personal care composition that is different than the first composition and the second composition. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 further comprises a fourth removable insert 124 comprising a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second, and third compositions. In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a first removable insert 124 having moisture- sensitive pods 102 comprising a shampoo formulation, a second removable insert 124 having moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a conditioner formulation, and a third removable insert 124 having moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a body wash formulation. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of receiving compartments 1 10 comprise at least one removable insert 124, and the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a first moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition, on the same insert. In a further embodiment, the insert 124 comprises a third moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a third personal care composition, the third composition being different than the first and second composition, on the same insert. In another embodiment, the insert further comprises a fourth moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a fourth personal care composition, the fourth composition being different than the first, second and third composition, on the same insert 124. In one embodiment, the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a first moisture-sensitive pod having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod having a body wash formulation, on the same insert 124.

[0078] In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the at least one dispenser opening 132 is sized and configured to provide access to multiple removable inserts 124 at a same time. For example, the dispenser opening 132 may be configured to provide access to the receiving area for refill of one or more of the plurality of removable inserts in the dispenser. The at least one dispenser opening 132 can be located in opposing relation to the base 154 of the dispenser body 100. In one embodiment, at least one dispenser opening 132 is located in the base 154 of the dispenser body. In another embodiment, the at least one dispenser opening 132 comprises a lid 138 that is closeable to cover the opening, for example as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6. The at least one dispenser opening may further be sealable to inhibit penetration of moisture into the plurality of holding compartments 1 12.

[0079] In the embodiments as shown in FIGS 3-9, the interior volume 108 is substantially entirely surrounded by the water-resistant walls 106 of the dispenser body 100. The dispenser can further comprise a mounting mechanism 146 for mounting the dispenser 100 to one or more of a wall and a fixture, as shown in FIGS. 8-9. In one embodiment, the mounting mechanism 146 comprises a hook 148 or strap configured to hang the dispenser 100. The mounting mechanism can also comprise at least one of an adhesive strip, velcro and/or magnetic mechanism for mounting to a surface, and/or the dispenser may be free-standing, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0080] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 is secured to a wall 106 of the dispenser 100. Furthermore, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS 3-4, each of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 can be secured to the wall 106 of the dispenser 100 by way of a tongue-in-groove configuration, such as any of the tongue-in-groove configurations described above.

[0081] In one embodiment, the dispensers 100 as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 2-9 are configured to dispense pods having liquid or gel formulations are at least one of personal care and cleansing formulations. For example, the formulations comprise at least one of shampoo, conditioner, shampoo-conditioner combinations, body wash, body wash-shampoo combinations, soap, face wash, face scrub, shower gel and shaving gel. Further, the moisture-sensitive pods 102 can comprise the liquid or gel formulations enveloped in an at least partially water soluble film, as has been discussed above, such as a water soluble film comprising a water soluble polymer. Generally, an embodiment of a method of providing a personal care liquid or gel formulation can comprise dispensing a moisture-sensitive pod 102 comprising the liquid or gel formulation from the dispenser according to any of the embodiments as shown in FIGS 2-9.

[0082] In one embodiment, an insert 124 adapted for use in the dispenser 100 according to any embodiment as depicted in FIGS 14-22 comprises a plurality of compartments 1 12, each compartment 1 12 configured to house a single moisture- sensitive pod 102 containing a personal care liquid or gel concentrate formulation, each compartment further adapted to maintain each moisture-sensitive pod in a substantially moisture-free environment and each compartment 1 12 configured to allow access to each pod on an individual basis without impacting the moisture-free environment of adjacent compartments 1 12.

[0083] Referring to the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 10-13, a dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations comprises a dispenser body 104 having a base 154 and one or more sidewalls 1 18 extending from the base to define an interior volume 108. The dispenser 100 comprises a holding area 1 10 configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. The plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 held in the holding area 1 10 are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 comprising compartment walls 1 14 that separate each moisture-sensitive pod 102 from one another in adjacent holding compartments 1 12. The dispenser 100 further comprises dispenser outlets 1 16 comprising a plurality of apertures 134 formed in the one or more sidewalls 1 18, and configured to dispense moisture-sensitive pods 102 from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12. The one or more walls 1 18 of the dispenser body 100 inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100, and each moisture-sensitive pod 102 is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0084] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 10, the dispenser body 100 has an elongated shape. The dispenser body 100 further comprises indentations 144 in sidewalls 1 18 thereof therein to facilitate gripping of the dispenser 100. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 10, indentations 144 comprise plural elongate indentations formed in the sidewalls 1 18 about a central axis 150 of the dispenser body 104, and extending at least a portion of the distance from a top of the sidewalls 1 18 to the base 154. [0085] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise at least one removable insert 124 configured to be removed from the dispenser body 100 for refill of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102. In one embodiment, the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 positioned along an insert strip 126, each sealable holding compartment 1 12 configured to contain an individual moisture- sensitive pod 102. In one embodiment, the holding area 1 10 is configured to accommodate a plurality of removable inserts 124 having the plurality of holding compartments in the interior volume of the dispenser. In another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 are each configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod 102, which is maintained in a substantially moisture free environment until accessed.

[0086] In one embodiment, the dispenser comprises a holding area 1 10 with compartment walls 1 14 that are attached to at least a portion of the dispenser body 104. For example, although not shown in FIGS. 10-13, the holding area 1 10 can comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots 156 configured to engage lateral sides 158 of at least one removable insert 124, such as is shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 . In yet another embodiment, each of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 is secured to a wall 1 18 of the dispenser 100, such as for example by way of a tongue-in-groove configuration, including any of the tongue-in-groove configurations described above. For example, the tongue-in-groove configuration can form a part of the dispenser panels 136 that can be opened to individually access the compartments 1 12. For example, referring to FIGS. 1 1A-1 1 B, the means for securing the insert 124 can comprise longitudinal slots 156 (e.g., grooves), that engage with the lateral sides 158 of the insert 124, with each panel 136 having its own independent tongue-in-groove configuration with slots 156 that are independent of the slots 156 of other panels 136. That is, the panels 136 may have an extending structure 137 that extends away from a surface of the panel 136 facing the insert, and that hooks around and forms a channel (the slot 156) for receiving a side 158 of the insert. Each panel 136 may have its own separate extending structures 137 and/or hooking means for separately engaging the adjacent lip or lateral side of the insert. Accordingly, an insert panel 128 can be opened to access an individual compartment by opening the dispenser panel 136, as opening of the panel 136 simultaneously engages the lateral side 158 of the insert, causing the panel 128 to open via tearing or lifting of the lateral side 158 away from the rest of the insert body, such as for example by tearing along perforated lines formed in an insert strip 126. Thus, the tongue-in-groove configuration can provide for securing of an insert to the dispenser body, and may also provide for individual access to each of the compartments by opening the panels 136, without exposing adjacent compartments. In certain embodiments, the tongue in groove configuration may also allow for the compartments to be accessed without requiring a separate step of opening the insert panels 128 before and/or after opening the dispenser panel 136, as the dispenser panels 136 and insert panels 128 may be opened substantially simultaneously.

[0087] In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 10-1 1 and 13, the holding compartments 1 12 comprise a series of compartments 1 12 extending along the sidewalls 1 18 between the base 154 and a top 120 of the dispenser body 104, each compartment 1 12 being adjacent to at least one aperture 134 of the plurality of apertures 134. In one embodiment, the dispenser outlets 1 16 are configured to provide access to only a single holding compartment 1 12 via an aperture 134 at a same time. In a further embodiment, the dispenser outlets 1 16 comprise panels 136 that are openable to expose an aperture 134 and a compartment 1 12 adjacent the aperture 134, as shown in FIGS 10-1 1 and 13. In one embodiment, the panels 136 are sealable to inhibit the penetration of moisture into the holding compartments 1 12.

[0088] Referring to FIGS. 1 1A-1 1 B, it can be seen that in one embodiment a panel 136 of a dispenser outlet 1 16 may be simultaneously openable with a compartment panel 128 of a holding compartment 1 12. For example, the compartment panel 128 of the holding compartment may be attached or adhered to the outer panel 136 of the dispenser body outlet, such that opening of the exterior panel 136 also results in opening of the compartment panel 128 leading to the holding compartment. The simultaneous action of the exterior panel 136 and compartment panel 128 may be achieved, for example, by applying an adhesive to one or more of the interior surface of the panel 136 or exterior surface of the compartment panel 128. The panels 128, 136 may also be made to stick together through magnetic means, Velcro, or other adhesive means. In one embodiment, insertion and placement of the insert 124 in the dispenser body aligns with compartment panels 128 with the outer panels 136, and a piercing portion located on an inner surface of the outer panel at least partially pierces the compartment panel 128 to adhere the panels 128, 136 together. While the panels 128, 136 may be made to simultaneously open, in other embodiments the panels 128, 136 may be opened separately from one another.

[0089] In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 10-1 1 and 13, the dispenser outlets 1 16 comprise a column 160 of apertures 134 extending along the sidewalls 1 18 at least a portion of the distance from the base 154 of the dispenser body 104 to a top end 120 of the dispense body 104 opposing the base 154. In one embodiment, multiple columns 160 of apertures 134 are formed on sidewalls 1 18 of the dispenser body 100 about a central axis 150 of the dispenser 100. Furthermore, the dispenser 100 can comprise one or more elongate indentations 144 formed about the central axis 150 and in between the columns 160 of apertures 134.

[0090] In the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 10-13, the plurality of holding compartments comprise at least one removable insert 124, and the removable insert 124 comprises an openable panel 128 that allows for access of a moisture-sensitive pod 120 in a holding compartment 1 12 of the insert 124 via an aperture 134 of the dispenser outlet 1 16. In one embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 comprises a plurality of elongated apertures 134 in the dispenser body 104 configured to expose a plurality of openable panels 128 of the at least one removable insert 124. As discussed above, when the apertures 134 are configured to expose a plurality of openable panels 128 of the insert 124, the panels 128 may be configured to be separately sealable such that opening of one panel 128 does not expose adjacent pods 102 behind other panels 128.

[0091] According to yet another embodiment as shown in FIGS 10-13, the dispense comprises an opening 132 formed in the dispenser body 104 to allow for access to the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100 for replacement of at least one removable insert 124. In one embodiment, the opening 132 is formed at a top end 120 of the dispenser body 104 opposing the base 154, as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 13. In another embodiment, the opening 132 is formed in the base 154. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 13, the dispenser 100 comprises a lid 138 to cover the refill opening 132. Furthermore, in the embodiments as shown in FIGS 10-1 1 and 13, the interior volume 108 is substantially entirely surrounded by the water-resistant walls 1 18 of the dispenser body 104, optionally including the lid 138 to cover an opening 132 formed in the dispenser body 100.

[0092] Although not shown in FIGS 10-13, the dispenser 100 may further comprise a mounting mechanism 146 for mounting the dispenser to one or more of a wall and a fixture, for example as shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 8-9 and 22. For example, the mounting mechanism 146 can comprise a hook 148 or strap configured to hang the dispenser 100. In one embodiment, the mounting mechanism 146 comprises at least one of an adhesive strip, velcro and/or magnetic mechanism for mounting to a surface, or the dispenser 100 can be free-standing, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 10-1 1 and 13.

[0093] As discussed above, the dispenser 100 as shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 10-13 may be configured to dispense liquid or gel formulations that are at least one of personal care and cleansing formulations. For example, the formulations can comprise at least one of shampoo, conditioner, shampoo- conditioner combination, body wash, body-wash-shampoo combinations, soap, face wash, face scrub, shower gel and shaving gel. Furthermore, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods can comprise up to 10 pods having personal care compositions. For example, the plurality of pods comprising a first moisture- sensitive pod 102 having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture- sensitive pod 102 having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 further comprises a third moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a third personal care composition that is different than the first and second compositions. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 further comprises a fourth moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second and third compositions. For example, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 can comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture- sensitive pod 102 having a body wash formulation.

[0094] In one embodiment, such as for example the embodiment depicted in FIG. 12, the dispenser 100 can comprise a plurality of holding compartments having a first removable insert 124 having one or more moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a first personal care composition, and a second removable insert 124 having one or more moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 further comprises a third removable insert 124 comprising a third personal care composition that is different than the first composition and the second composition. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 further comprises a fourth removable insert 124 comprising a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second, and third compositions. For example, in one embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises a first removable insert 124 having a moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a shampoo formulation, a second removable insert 124 having moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a conditioner formulation, and a third removable insert 124 having moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a body wash formulation.

[0095] In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise at least one removable insert 124, and wherein the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a first moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition, on the same insert 124. In a further embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprises a third moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a third personal care composition, the third composition being different than the first and second composition, on the same insert 124. Further, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 can have a fourth moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a fourth personal care composition, the fourth composition being different than the first, second and third composition, on the same insert 124. For example, in one embodiment the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a first moisture- sensitive pod 102 having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a body wash formulation, on the same insert 124.

[0096] As discussed above, the moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprise the liquid or gel formulations enveloped in an at least partially water soluble film, such as a water soluble film comprising a water-soluble polymer. Generally speaking, method of providing a personal care liquid or gel formulation can comprise dispensing a moisture-sensitive pod 102 comprising the liquid or gel formulation from a dispenser corresponding to any of the embodiments depicted in FIGS 10-13.

[0097] In one embodiment, an insert 124 adapted for use in the dispenser 100 according to any embodiment as depicted in FIGS 10-23 comprises a plurality of compartments 1 12, each compartment 1 12 configured to house a single moisture- sensitive pod 102 containing a personal care liquid or gel concentrate formulation, each compartment further adapted to maintain each moisture-sensitive pod in a substantially moisture-free environment and each compartment 1 12 configured to allow access to each pod on an individual basis without impacting the moisture-free environment of adjacent compartments 1 12.

[0098] Referring to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-9, the dispenser 100 for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations comprises a dispenser body 104 having one or more sidewalls 1 18 that at least partially define an interior volume 108 thereof. The dispenser 100 comprises a holding area 1 10 configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. The plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 held in the holding area 1 10 are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 comprising compartment walls 1 14 that separate each moisture-sensitive pod 102 from one another in adjacent holding compartments 1 12. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-9, the dispenser 100 comprises dispenser outlets 1 16 comprising a plurality of apertures 134 formed along the one or more sidewalls 1 18 and configured to dispense moisture-sensitive pods from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12. The one or more sidewalls 1 18 of the dispenser body 104 inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume of the dispenser, and each moisture-sensitive pod is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0099] In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-9, the dispenser body 109 comprises an elongate shape. Furthermore, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 , the one or more sidewalls 1 18 further form an arcuate shape about the interior volume. Furthermore, in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the dispenser 100 comprises one or more sidewalls 1 18 at least partially surrounding a central axis 150 of the interior volume 108, and the one or more sidewalls 1 18 define an opening 132 between opposing edges 152a,b thereof. The opening 132 defined by the opposing edges 152a,b of the one or more sidewalls 1 18 is configured to provide access for replacement of moisture-sensitive pods in the plurality of holding compartments 1 12. In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIGS 5-9, the dispenser comprises sidewalls 1 18 that entirely surround the central axis 150 of the interior volume.

[00100] In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises a dispenser body 104 that is open at opposing ends 120, 122 of the interior volume 108. In another embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises at least one end of the dispenser body 104 that is configured to be closeable.

[00101] In one embodiment, such as form example as depicted in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 , 3-4 and 6, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise at least one removable insert 124 configured to be removed from the dispenser body 104 for replacement of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods. In one embodiment, the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a plurality of holding compartments 1 12 positioned along an insert strip 126, each holding compartment 1 12 configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod 102. In another embodiment, the holding area 1 10 is configured to accommodate a plurality of removable inserts 124 having the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. In another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 120 are each configured to contain an individual moisture- sensitive pod 102 in a substantially moisture-free environment.

[00102] In one embodiment as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3-4, the holding area 1 10 comprises compartment walls 1 14 that are attached to at least a portion of the dispenser body 104. For example, as depicted in the embodiments shown in FIGS 3-4, the holding area 1 10 can comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots 156 configured to engage lateral sides 158 of at least one removable insert 124. In yet another embodiment, each of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 is secured to a wall 1 18 of the dispenser 100. For example, each of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 can be secured to the wall 1 18 of the dispenser 100 by way of a tongue-in-groove configuration, such as any of those described above. For example, the tongue-in-groove configuration can form a part of the dispenser panels 136 that can be opened to individually access the compartments 1 12. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the means for securing the insert 124 can comprise longitudinal slots 156 (e.g., grooves), that engage with the lateral sides 158 of the insert 124, with each panel 136 having its own independent tongue-in-groove configuration with slots 156 that are independent of the slots 156 of other panels 136. That is, the panels 136 may have an extending structure 137 that extends away from a surface of the panel 136 facing the insert, and that hooks around and forms a channel (the slot 156) for receiving a side 158 of the insert. Each panel 136 may have its own separate extending structures 137 and/or hooking means for separately engaging the adjacent lip or lateral side of the insert. Accordingly, an insert panel 128 can be opened to access an individual compartment by opening the dispenser panel 136, as opening of the panel 136 simultaneously engages the lateral side 158 of the insert, causing the panel 128 to open via tearing or lifting of the lateral side 158 away from the rest of the insert body, such as for example by tearing along perforated lines formed in an insert strip 126. Thus, the tongue-in-groove configuration can provide for securing of an insert to the dispenser body, and may also provide for individual access to each of the compartments by opening the panels 136, without exposing adjacent compartments. In certain embodiments, the tongue in groove configuration may also allow for the compartments to be accessed without requiring a separate step of opening the insert panels 128 before and/or after opening the dispenser panel 136, as the dispenser panels 136 and insert panels 128 may be opened substantially simultaneously.

[00103] In the embodiments as shown in FIGS 1 and 3-9, the holding compartments 12 comprise a series of compartments 1 12 extending along the sidewalls 1 18 between opposing ends 120, 122 of the dispenser body 104, each compartment 1 12 being adjacent to at least one aperture 134 of the plurality of apertures 134. Further, dispenser outlets 1 16 may in one embodiment be configured to provide access to only a single holding compartment 1 12 via an aperture 134 at the same time. In one embodiment, the dispenser outlets 1 16 comprise panels 136 that are openable to expose an aperture 134 and a compartment 1 12 adjacent the aperture 134. The panels 136 may be sealable to inhibit the penetration of moisture into the holding compartments 1 12.

[00104] In the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 , 3 and 5-9, the dispenser outlets 1 16 comprise a column 160 of apertures 134 extending along the sidewalls 1 18 at least a portion of the distance between opposing ends 120, 122 of the dispenser body 104. For example, multiple columns 160 of apertures 134 may be formed on sidewalls 1 18 of the dispenser body 100 about a central axis 160 of the dispenser 100, as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, or may be formed on a front face 162 of the dispenser body, as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5-9. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the multiple columns 160 of apertures 134 are formed on a side of the sidewalls 1 18 opposite the opening 132 defined by the opposing edges 152a, b of the sidewalls 1 18.

[00105] In one embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise at least one removable insert 124, and the removable insert 124 comprises an openable panel 128 that allows for access of a moisture-sensitive pod in a holding compartment 1 12 of the insert 124 via an aperture 134 of the dispenser outlet 1 16. In another embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 comprises a plurality of elongated apertures in the dispenser body 100 configured to expose a plurality of openable panels 128 of the at least one removable insert 24. In this embodiment, the openable panels may be separately sealable such that holding compartments 1 12 that behind the elongate aperture are not exposed to moisture when an adjacent holding compartment 1 12 is opened.

[00106] As shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 8-9, the dispenser can comprise a mounting mechanism 146 for mounting the dispenser 100 to one or more of a wall and a fixture. For example, the mounting mechanism 146 can comprise a hook 148 or strap configured to hang the dispenser 100 therefrom. In one embodiment, the mounting mechanism comprises at least one of an adhesive strip, velcro and/or magnetic mechanism for mounting to a surface. In another embodiment, the dispenser is free-standing, as shown in FIG. 7.

[00107] As discussed above, the dispenser embodiments of FIGS 1 and 3-9 may be configured to dispense liquid or gel formulations that are at least one of personal care and cleansing formulations. For example, the formulations can comprise at least one of shampoo, conditioner, shampoo-conditioner combination, body wash, body wash-shampoo combinations, soap, face wash, face scrub, shower gel and shaving gel.

[00108] In the embodiments as depicted in FIGS 1 and 3-9, the dispenser 100 can contain and dispense up to 10 pods having personal care compositions. For example, the plurality of pods 102 can comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. Furthermore, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods can further comprise a third moisture-sensitive pod having a third personal care composition that is different than the first and second compositions. Even further, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 can further comprise a fourth moisture- sensitive pod 102 having a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second and third compositions. In one embodiment, the plurality of moisture- sensitive pods 102 comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod having a body wash formulation.

[00109] In the embodiments as depicted in FIGS 1 and 3-9, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 can comprise a first removable insert 124 having one or more moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a first personal care composition, and a second removable insert 124 having one or more moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. Furthermore, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 can further comprise a third removable insert 124 comprising a third personal care composition that is different than the first composition and the second composition. Even further, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 can further comprise a fourth removable insert 124 comprising a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second, and third compositions. For example, the plurality of inserts can comprise a first removable insert having moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a shampoo formulation, a second removable insert having moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a conditioner formulation, and a third removable insert having moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising a body wash formulation.

[00110] In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments comprise at least one removable insert 124, and wherein the at least one removable insert 124 comprises a first moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition, on the same insert 124. Further, the insert can comprise a third moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a third personal care composition, the third composition being different than the first and second composition, on the same insert 124. Even further, insert can comprise a fourth moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a fourth personal care composition, the fourth composition being different than the first, second and third composition, on the same insert. For example, the at least one removable insert can comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod 102 having a body wash formulation, on the same insert 124.

[00111] As discussed above, the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-9 can comprise moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprise the liquid or gel formulations enveloped in an at least partially water soluble film, such as a water-soluble film comprising a water-soluble polymer. Accordingly, a general method of providing a personal care liquid or gel formulation comprises dispensing a moisture-sensitive pod comprising the liquid or gel formulation from the dispenser according to any of the embodiments as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3-9. [00112] In one embodiment, an insert 124 adapted for use in the dispenser 100 according to any embodiment as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3-9 comprises a plurality of compartments 1 12, each compartment 1 12 configured to house a single moisture- sensitive pod 102 containing a personal care liquid or gel concentrate formulation, each compartment further adapted to maintain each moisture-sensitive pod in a substantially moisture-free environment and each compartment 1 12 configured to allow access to each pod on an individual basis without impacting the moisture-free environment of adjacent compartments 1 12.

[00113] Referring to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 14-22, the dispenser 100 for dispensing the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 containing personal care liquid or gel formulations comprises a dispenser body 104 having one or more water- resistant walls 106 at least partially defining an interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. The dispenser comprises a holding area 1 10 configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100, wherein the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 held in the holding area 1 10 are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 at least partially encircling a central axis 150 of the interior volume 108, the plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 comprising compartment walls 1 14 that separate each moisture-sensitive pod 102 from one another in adjacent holding compartments 1 12. The dispenser 100 further comprises at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod 102 from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12, The one or more walls 106 of the dispenser body 104 inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100, and each moisture-sensitive pod 102 is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed. [00114] In certain embodiments, the dispenser 100 as shown in FIGS. 14-22 may be particularly well-suited for travel, due to its portability and convenience. FIG. 19 demonstrates how embodiments of the dispenser 100 can be made to be carried comfortably by hand, and with a compact shape that lends itself well to stowing on luggage and bags. In the embodiments as shown in FIGS 14-22, the dispenser body 104 has a rounded shape. FIGS 14-22 further depict embodiments where the dispenser body 104 has a disc shape.

[00115] In one embodiment, for example as depicted in FIG. 14, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 comprises an aperture 134 formed in a sidewall 1 18 of the dispenser body 104, the sidewall 1 14 extending about the central axis 150 of the interior volume 108. Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 can comprises a plurality of apertures 134 in a sidewall 1 18 of the dispenser body 104 and at least partially encircling the central axis 150 of the interior volume 108, so as to provide access to individual holding compartments 1 12 in communication with each aperture 134.

[00116] In one embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 is rotatable with respect to one or more of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12, so as to provide access to individual holding compartments 1 12 via rotation. For example, in one embodiment as shown in FIG. 18, the one or more holding compartments 1 12 comprise an annular carousel 164 having a plurality of segmented chambers 166 at least partially encircling the central axis 150. In another embodiment, the annular carousel 164 with segmented chambers 166 as depicted in FIG. 18 is not rotatable. However, in yet another embodiment, the dispenser outlet 1 16 is rotatable with respect to the annular carousel 164 by rotation of the sidewall 1 18 about the central axis 150. For example, a user may rotate the sidewall 1 18 with respect to the central axis 150 to rotate the dispenser outlet 1 16 with respect to the compartments 1 12. In yet another embodiment, the dispenser outlet 1 16 is rotatable with respect to the annular carousel 164 by rotation of the carousel 164 about the central axis. That is, a user may rotate the carousel 164 itself about the central axis, so as to rotate the compartments 1 12 with respect to the dispenser outlet 1 16.

[00117] In one embodiment, the dispenser body can comprise a tongue-in-groove confirmation to retain the an insert 124 inside the dispenser body 104, and/or to provide separately openable compartments that can be opened without opening adjacent compartments. For example, the tongue in groove configuration may be any described above, where slots 156 are provided to one or more engage sides 158 and/or to engage insert panels 128. In one embodiment, the tongue-in-groove configuration can form a part of the dispenser panels 136 that can be opened to individually access the compartments 1 12. For example, referring to FIG. 18, the means for securing the insert 124 can comprise one or more longitudinal slots 156 (e.g., grooves), that engage with the lateral sides 158 and/or panels 128 of the insert 124, with each panel 136 having its own independent tongue-in-groove configuration with slots 156 that are independent of the slots 156 of other panels 136. That is, each of the individual panels 136 may have an extending structure 137 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3) that extends away from a surface of the panel 136 facing the insert, and that hooks around and forms a channel (the slot 156) for receiving a side 158 of the insert and/or panel 128. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the insert 124 has an annular shape, as opposed to the longitudinal strips as shown, e.g., in FIG. 3. Accordingly, in order to engage sides 158 of the insert panels 128 with the slots 156 formed by the extending structures 137 of the dispenser body panels 136, according to one aspect the insert 124 may be inserted into a portion of the dispenser body having the panels 136, and the insert 124 may be slightly rotated to insert the panel sides 158 of the individual insert panels 128 into the slots 156 formed in the dispense body panels 136. That is, the slots 156 are formed in the dispenser body panels 136 such that they each individually engage one of a plurality of insert panels 128 that are distributed circumferentially about a perimeter of the annular insert. Furthermore, the sides 158 of the insert panels 128 that may be engaged by the slots and/or tongue-in-groove mechanism of the dispenser panels 136 may be located at discrete positions circumferentially about the perimeter of the annular insert, such as vertical sides of the panels as shown in FIG. 18 (e.g., such that the insert panel opens in a direction of curvature of the annular insert), and/or the dispenser panels 136 may be configured to engage one or more of the top and/or bottom annular edges of the insert, e.g. as in the longitudinal insert as shown in FIG. 3 but as formed into annular shape (e.g., such that the insert panel opens in a vertical and/or orthogonal direction to the direction of curvature of the annular insert). Other configurations may also be provided. Furthermore, each panel 136 may have its own separate extending structures 137 and/or hooking means for separately engaging the adjacent lip or lateral side of the insert, and which is separate from extending structures 137 and/or slots of other panels. Accordingly, an insert panel 128 can be opened to access an individual compartment by opening the dispenser panel 136, as opening of the panel 136 simultaneously engages the lateral side 158 of the insert, causing the panel 128 to open via tearing or lifting of the lateral side 158 away from the rest of the insert body, such as for example by tearing along perforated lines 159 formed along a circumference of the insert 124. Thus, the tongue-in-groove configuration can provide for securing of an insert to the dispenser body, and may also provide for individual access to each of the compartments by opening the panels 136, without exposing adjacent compartments. In certain embodiments, the tongue in groove configuration may also allow for the compartments to be accessed without requiring a separate step of opening the insert panels 128 before and/or after opening the dispenser panel 136, as the dispenser panels 136 and insert panels 128 may be opened substantially simultaneously.

[00118] In one embodiment, for example as depicted in FIG. 18, the plurality of segmented chambers 166 of the annular carousel 164 comprise radially extending chamber sidewalls 1 14, to separate individual moisture-sensitive pods 102 in each segmented chamber 166. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise at least one removable insert 124 configured to be removed from the dispenser body 104 for replacement of the plurality of moisture- sensitive pods, for example as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 18. For example, the at least one removable insert 124 can comprise an annular carousel 164 having a plurality of segmented chambers 166 that is configured to be positioned about the central axis 150 of the interior volume 108, each segmented chamber 166 being configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod 102.

[00119] In one embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises a holding area configured to accommodate a plurality of removable inserts 124 having the annular carousel 164 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. In another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise a plurality of inserts 124 comprising the holding compartments 1 12, and the inserts are configured to be positioned in a pattern that at least partially encircles the central axis 150 of the interior volume 108.

[00120] In one embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise at least one annular insert 124 having a plurality of segmented chambers at least partially encircling the central axis 150 of the interior volume. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 comprise a plurality of inserts 124 each configured to be arranged to at least partially encircle the central axis 150 of the interior volume, and to protect the moisture-sensitive pods from moisture. The annular inserts may similarly comprise perforations to allow for opening of the panels 128 about a circumference of the inserts.

[00121] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the compartment walls 1 14 of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 are attached one or more walls 106 of the dispenser body 100. In yet another embodiment as depicted in FIG. 14, the sidewalls 1 18 of the dispenser body 104 are at least partially curved at opposing ends 120, 122 of the body 104 to at least partially contain an annular carousel 164 comprising segmented chambers 166 in the interior volume 108.

[0100] In one embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 is configured to provide access to only a single holding compartment 1 12 at the same time. In yet another embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 is configured to provide access to a plurality of holding compartments 1 12 at the same time. Furthermore, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 may be sealable to inhibit penetration of moisture into the plurality of holding compartments. Furthermore, in the embodiments as shown in in FIGS. 16-19, the dispenser 100 comprises a plurality of dispenser outlets 1 16 at least partially encircling the central axis 150, and each outlet having a closeable panel 136 to close off and protect a holding compartment 1 12 located behind the panel 136.

[0101] According to one embodiment, the dispenser body comprises at least one dispenser opening 132 which comprises a dispenser lid 138 located at a top 120 or bottom 122 of the dispenser 100. In yet another embodiment, the dispenser body 104 is resealably openable at one or more opposing ends 120, 122 thereof. In one embodiment, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 comprises one or more openable panels 136. In yet another embodiment, the interior volume 108 is substantially entirely surrounded by the water-resistant walls 106 of the dispenser body 104. In another embodiment, an opening 132 at one or more opposing ends 120, 122 of the dispenser body 104 is configured to provide access for replacement of moisture- sensitive pods in the plurality of holding compartments 1 12.

[0102] In one embodiment as shown for example in FIG. 20-22, the dispenser comprises a mounting mechanism 146 for mounting the dispenser 100 to one or more of a wall and a fixture. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the mounting mechanism 146 can comprise a hook 148 or strap configured to hang the dispenser 100 therefrom. In yet another embodiment, a carrier 168 is provided to hold a plurality of dispensers 100 in a stacked formation, as shown in FIGS. 20-22. For example, the dispenser body 104 may be configured to be stacked vertically with other dispensers, either in contact with the other dispensers or in a carrier 168 with shelves for receiving the dispensers, as shown in FIG. 20. The dispenser body 104 may also be configured to be stacked horizontally, either in contact with one or more other dispensers, and/or in a carrier 168 configured to assist with stacking, as shown in FIGS. 21 -22. In yet another embodiment, the dispenser 100 comprises a mounting mechanism comprises at least one of an adhesive strip, velcro and/or magnetic mechanism for mounting to a surface, or the dispenser may be freestanding.

[0103] In one embodiment, referring again to FIGS. 15-16, the dispensers 100 may themselves be configured to be stackable by attaching to one another. For example, one or more of a top surface 200a of the dispenser body 104 and the bottom surface 200b of the dispenser body may comprise a connector 201 that is configured to connect one dispenser body 104 of one dispenser 100 to another dispenser body 104 of another dispenser 100, such that the dispensers 104 can be stacked together in a stable manner. As examples, the surfaces 200a, 200b may comprise a connector 201 that is complimentary to a connector on another dispenser body, such as a knob and/or complimentary indentation that allows for connection via a click-in attachments, complimentary screw-in attachments, or even Velcro or other releasable adhesive, such that each dispenser body 104 can be releasably attached to another dispenser body. In one embodiment, the dispensers 100 can be attached to one another to form an overall bottle shape, such as for example to fit on shower and sink ledges that are normally sized to accommodate bottles for personal care products. For example, a "bottle" shaped stack of such dispensers could comprise 3 dispensers 100 of body wash, 3 of shampoo, and 3 of conditioner. Alternatively, the stacks of inserts 124 and/or dispensers 100 could be stacked inside a separate exterior bottle container, or could be stacked onto an interior dowel or rod, e.g. with a base and a hook, to improve the stability of the stack.

[0104] In one embodiment, the dispenser body 104 is configured to be stackable with other dispensers 100 having the same or different personal care formulations. For example, in one embodiment, the dispenser body 104 is stackable to form a personal care system 170 having two or more dispensers 100, the dispensers having the same or different compositions. In one embodiment, the personal care system 170 comprises three dispensers 100, a first dispenser with moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising shampoo, a second dispenser 100 with moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising conditioner, and a third dispenser 100 with moisture-sensitive pods 102 comprising body wash. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture- sensitive pods 102 in the same dispenser 100 can comprise the same or different personal care formulations.

[0105] As discussed above, the dispenser embodiments as shown in FIGS 14-22 may be configured to dispense liquid or gel formulations that are at least one of personal care and cleansing formulations. In one embodiment, the formulations comprise at least one of shampoo, conditioner, shampoo-conditioner combination, body wash, body wash-shampoo combinations, soap, shower gel, face wash, face scrub, and shaving gel. As also discussed above, the moisture-sensitive pods can comprise the liquid or gel formulations enveloped in an at least partially water soluble film, such as a water-soluble film comprising a water soluble polymer. Accordingly, a general method for providing a personal care liquid or gel formulation comprises dispensing a moisture-sensitive pod comprising the liquid or gel formulation from the dispenser embodiments as depicted in FIGS 14-22.

[0106] Referring to FIGS. 23-35C, yet another embodiment of a dispenser 100 is shown. In this embodiment, similarly to the dispensers described above, a dispenser 100 is provided for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 containing personal care liquid or gel formulations. The dispenser 100 comprises a dispenser body 104 having one or more water-resistant walls 1 18 at least partially defining an interior volume 108 of the dispenser. The dispenser further comprises a holding area 1 10 configured to hold a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 in the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100. The plurality of moisture-sensitive pods 102 held in the holding area 1 10 are contained in a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 comprising compartment walls 1 14 that separate each moisture-sensitive pod 102 from one another in adjacent holding compartments 1 12. The dispenser 100 further comprises at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod 102 that is ejected from at least one of the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 into the interior volume 108. In the embodiments as shown, the one or more water-resistant walls 1 18 comprise a plurality of selection regions 180 formed therein, each selection region 180 being aligned with a respective sealable holding compartment 1 12 in the holding area 1 10, such that application of an external pressure 182 to a selection region 180 ejects a moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the holding compartment 1 12 that is aligned therewith into the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100, for dispensing of the moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the dispenser 100. The one or more walls 1 18 of the dispenser body 104 further inhibit the penetration of moisture into the interior volume 108 of the dispenser, and each moisture-sensitive pod 102 is maintained in a substantially moisture-free environment until it is dispensed.

[0107] Referring to FIGS. 23-27B an embodiment is shown where the dispenser 100 comprises an elongate body 104, such as in the shape of a tower, for dispensing of the moisture-sensitive pods 102. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 25, the one or more water-resistant walls 1 18 comprise a first wall enclosure 1 18a comprising a plurality of apertures 184 therein that are aligned at the plurality of selection regions 180, each of which apertures 184 is configured to engage a respective one of the plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12. According to the embodiment as shown, the first enclosure wall 1 18a is inserted inside a second enclosure wall 1 18b, and external pressure 182 can be applied through the apertures 184 to the sealable holding compartments 1 12 to eject the moisture-sensitive pods 102 therefrom and into the interior volume 108 for dispensing of the moisture-sensitive pods 102 from the dispenser 100. In one embodiment, the plurality of selection regions 180 comprise one or more flexible layers 186 over the plurality of apertures 184 that can be depressed to eject moisture-sensitive pods 102 from respective sealable holding compartments 1 12 that are aligned with the selection regions 180. For example, in one embodiment, the or more water-resistant walls 1 18 comprises a second wall enclosure 1 18b external to the first 1 18a, the second enclosure wall comprising a flexible material, such as for example a silicone or other elastomeric material, that can be depressed at the plurality of selection regions 180 to eject moisture-sensitive pods 102 from respective sealable holding compartments 1 12 that are aligned with the selection regions 180. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 25, a plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 in the form of removable insert strips 126 are inserted into the interior of the first enclosure wall 1 18a, which may be a molded plastic or other structure, and the holding compartments 1 12 engage with apertures 194 formed in the first enclosure wall 1 18a, such as for example by aligning with such apertures and/or other openings in the first enclosure wall. Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 25, the second enclosure wall 1 18b comprising a silicon sleeve or other flexible layer is placed about the first enclosure wall 1 18a. The silicon sleeve or other flexible layer can be depressed at one or more selection regions 180 aligned with the apertures 184 formed in the first enclosure wall 1 18a, which are engaged with the holding compartments 1 12, to eject the moisture-sensitive pods 102 being held in the inserts 126 into the interior volume 108 and to thus dispense the pods 102 from the dispenser.

[0108] Further aspects are described with reference to FIGS 28A-28B, 29A-29D and 30. In the embodiments as shown, each of the plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 comprise an interior compartment wall portion 188a facing the interior volume 108, the interior compartment wall portion 188a comprising an internal sealable aperture 190 that allows ejection of the moisture-sensitive pod from the holding compartment 1 12 into the interior volume 108 upon application of pressure to the internal sealable aperture 190. The internal sealable aperture 190 may be, for example, an interior compartment wall portion 188a of a removable insert 124 that faces the interior volume 108 of the dispenser 100 when inserted into the dispenser. According to yet another embodiment, the internal sealable aperture 190 may be a separate layer separating a holding compartment of an insert 124 from the interior volume 108 of the dispenser. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 29A-29B and 30, the internal sealable aperture 190 comprises a valve 192 with one or more flexible panels 194 that allow ejection of the moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the holding compartment 1 12 into the interior volume 108 upon application of pressure to the one or more flexible panels 194. For example, according to one embodiment, pressure may be exerted against the one or more flexible panels 194 of the valve 192 to open the valve 192 and eject a moisture-sensitive pod 102 contained in a sealable holding compartment 1 12 into the interior volume 108 via application of the external pressure 182 to the selection region 180. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the valve 192 can comprise one or more flexible panels 194 that are at least partially resealable following ejection of a moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the sealable holding compartment 1 12.

[0109] In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 29A-29D and 30, the interior wall portion 188a of the holding compartments 1 12 comprises a layer of silicone having opening slots 198 formed therein to provide the valve 192 having the one of more flexible panels 194. In yet another embodiment, the internal wall portion 1 18a comprises a removable panel 196 having a plurality of valves therein, which is configured to be inserted into the dispenser 100 such that the plurality of valves 192 are aligned with the respective plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12. The panel 196 may also be a permanent feature of the dispenser body 106, with the valves 192 being positioned therein to be aligned with the sealable holding compartments 1 12 to allow ejection therefrom. According to yet another embodiment, the sealable aperture 190 comprises a penetrable sealing layer 202 that allows ejection of the moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the holding compartment 1 12 into the interior volume 108 upon application of pressure to penetrate the penetrable sealing layer, for example by pressure of the moisture pod 102 against the penetrable sealing layer 202 via application of the external pressure 182 at the selection region 180. In yet another embodiment, the penetrable sealing layer 202 may be at least partially penetrated by another structure of the holding compartment upon application of the external pressure 182, to open the sealable aperture 190 and dispense the pod 102 from the holding compartment 1 12. In one embodiment, the penetrable sealing layer 202 comprises a thin layer of readily penetrable material, such as a foil or paper film. In one embodiment, the penetrable sealing layer 202 is provided as the interior wall portion 188a of a removable insert 124. That is, the insert 124 may comprise the penetrable sealing layer 202 as the seal to the sealable apertures 190. As yet another option, the insert 124 can comprise an interior wall portion 188a having a valve with flexible panels as the seal to the sealable apertures 190 of the insert, although in other embodiments the panel 196 having the valve 192 may be provided separately from the insert 124, such as in the form of a removable or permanent structure of the dispenser body. In the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 29A-29B, the interior wall portion 188a comprises just a single wall layer, such as the panel 196 having the valves formed therein, or the penetrable sealing layer 202 (not shown in FIGS. 29A-29B). For example, the insert 124 can comprise a removable layer 204 covering the apertures 190 that is removed before during or after insertion of the insert into the dispenser, and the panel 196 having the one or more resealable valves 192 may serve as the internal wall portion 188a that seals the holding compartments of the insert to protect the pods from moisture. In another embodiment, the insert 124 comprises a penetrable sealing layer 202 that itself serves as the internal wall portion 188a, such that it is not required to provide the panel 196 having the valves 192 to provide moisture protection along with an ejection mechanism. In yet a further embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 29C-29D, both a penetrable sealing layer 202 of the insert 124 and a panel 196 having the at least one valve is provided, to provide moisture protection to the pods in the holding containers. In this embodiment, the application of the external pressure pushes the pod through the penetrable sealing layer to the valve that is aligned with the holding compartment containing the pod, and ultimately through the valve for dispensing of the pod, with both the penetrable sealing layer and panel with valve providing moisture protection for the pod while it is held in the holding compartment prior to dispensing.

[0110] According to yet another embodiment, a removable insert 124 can comprise a relatively thin layer of material corresponding to a removable sealing layer 204 at a wall portion 188a thereof (see, e.g., FIG. 24), such as a foil or paper film, which removable sealing layer 204 is removed before, after, or during insertion of the insert 124 into the dispenser. The removable sealing layer 204 may protect the pods 102 from moisture, but may be removed to allow the pods to be dispensed from the compartments 1 12 when provided in the dispenser, for example in cooperation with the removable panel 196 having the valves 192 that may be provided as the internal wall portion 188a of the compartments 1 12 when the insert 124 is inserted into the dispenser 100. [0111] Furthermore, according to certain embodiments as shown in FIGS. 28A- 28B and 29A-29D, the plurality of sealable holding compartments 1 12 can each comprise an exterior wall portion 188b that is configured to be engaged via application of the external pressure 182 to the selection region 180 aligned with the respective sealable holding compartment, the external wall portion 188b having a flexible region 206 that guides the moisture-sensitive pod 102 towards the internal sealable aperture 190 upon application of the external pressure 182, to eject the moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the holding compartment 1 12 via the internal sealable aperture 190.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the flexible region 206 of the exterior wall portion comprises a moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region 208a and extended travel regions 208b adjacent the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region 208a that provide for travel of the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region 208a in the direction towards the internal sealable aperture 190 upon application of the external pressure 182. In one embodiment, the extended travel regions 208b of the flexible regions 206 of the exterior wall portions 188b comprise elastic regions that are configured to translate the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region in the direction of the internal sealable aperture substantially without deformation of the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region 208a. In one embodiment, the extended travel regions 208b comprise exterior wall bumps 210 suspending the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region 208a of the exterior wall portion 188b therebetween, and wherein application of the external pressure at least partially deforms the exterior wall bumps 210 in the direction of the internal sealable aperture to translate the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region 208a towards the internal sealable aperture 190. [0113] Returning to FIGS. 23-27A, 29A-29D, 31 -32A and 33-35, in certain embodiments the plurality of selection regions 180 comprise a plurality of depressible buttons 212 that provide for ejection of moisture-sensitive pods from the plurality of holding compartments 1 12 aligned with the respective depressible buttons 212 upon application of external pressure 182 thereto. Referring to FIGS. 23-25, 27A-27B, 31 , and 32A-32B, in one embodiment, the plurality of selection regions 180 are arranged in columns 214 at a plurality of locations about a periphery 216 of the dispenser. For example, in the embodiments as shown in these figures, the dispenser 100 according to comprises an elongate dispenser body 104 having a plurality of columns 214 with depressible buttons 212 corresponding to the plurality of selection regions 180 about a periphery 216 thereof. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 23-24, 27A, 31 , 32A-32B and 35A-35B, the dispenser 100 further comprises a dispenser lid 138 at a top end of the dispenser, which may be provided to further seal the interior volume 108 and any moisture-sensitive pods 102 provided therein. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32A-32B, the dispenser body 104 further comprises a rotatable cover 220 having an elongate slot formed in a side wall therein that is sized to selectively expose the columns of depressible buttons, the rotatable cover 220 being rotatable along a longitudinal axis of the dispenser body 104 to selectively expose each of the columns 214 upon rotation of the elongate slot 222 to a position along the periphery 216 of the dispenser body 204 corresponding to each column 214. FIGS. 27C and 32C furthermore illustrate examples of inserts 126 that may be provided as the sealable holding compartments 1 12 in the dispensers 100 as shown. Furthermore, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 26, the at least one dispenser outlet 1 16 comprises an outlet in communication with the interior volume 108 and formed in a bottom surface of a base 154 of the dispenser body 104. In the embodiment as shown, applying the external pressure 182 to the depressible button 212 ejects the pod in the holding compartment 1 12 that is aligned with the button 212 into the interior volume, where the pod 102 may be pulled via gravity (or alternatively by shaking the dispenser) to the outlet 1 16 at the base of the dispenser, thereby dispensing the moisture-sensitive pod 102.

[0114] According to yet another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 33-35B, the dispenser 100 comprises a plurality of selection regions 180 that are arranged in a plurality of columns 214 on at least one of a front panel 224a and a rear panel 224b of the dispenser. For example, according to certain embodiments, the dispenser can comprise front and rear panels 224a, 224b, with the interior volume 108 located between the front and rear panels, and further comprising a plurality of selection regions in the form of a plurality of columns with depressible buttons 212 arranged on at least one of the front and rear panels 224a, 224b of the dispenser 100. FIG. 35C further illustrates the removal inserts 126 that may be used as the holding compartments 1 12 of the dispenser in the embodiments as shown. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 33, the top portion of the dispenser body 104 may have one or more slots therein that are sized to insert the removable inserts 126 therein to, such as for convenient refilling of the dispenser 100. Furthermore, in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the dispenser comprises an outlet 1 16 in communication with the interior volume 108 and further in communication with a tray 226 configured to receive moisture-sensitive pods 102 ejected from the sealable holding compartments 1 12, the tray 226 being formed at a base 154 of the dispenser body 100.

[0115] The dispenser embodiments as shown in FIGS. 23-35C may be used with any of the formulations, pod or pod combinations, or insert combinations as otherwise described herein. For example, according to certain embodiments, the plurality of holding compartments can comprise at least one removable insert configured to be removed from the dispenser body for refill of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods. The at least one removable insert can comprise a plurality of holding compartments positioned along an insert strip, each holding compartment configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod. In one embodiment, the holding area is configured to accommodate a plurality of removable inserts having the plurality of holding compartments in the interior volume of the dispenser. In another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments comprise a plurality of separate removable inserts, each containing a single holding compartment configured to contain an individual moisture-sensitive pod. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the compartment walls of the plurality of holding compartments are attached to the dispenser body. In another embodiment, the interior volume is substantially entirely surrounded by the water-resistant walls of the dispenser body. In a further embodiment, the water-resistant walls of the dispenser body define an opening in the dispenser body that is configured to provide access for refilling of moisture-sensitive pods in the plurality of holding compartments.

[0116] According to one embodiment, the liquid or gel formulations provided in the pods are at least one of personal care and cleansing formulations. For example, the formulations can comprise at least one of shampoo, conditioner, shampoo- conditioner combinations, body wash, body wash-shampoo combinations, soap, face wash, face scrub, shower gel and shaving gel. In one embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods comprise up to 10 pods having personal care compositions, the plurality of pods comprising a first moisture-sensitive pod having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods further comprise a third moisture-sensitive pod having a third personal care composition that is different than the first and second compositions. In one embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods further comprises a fourth moisture-sensitive pod having a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second and third compositions. In one embodiment, the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods comprise a first moisture-sensitive pod having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture- sensitive pod having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod having a body wash formulation.

[0117] In another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments comprise a first removable insert having one or more moisture-sensitive pods comprising a first personal care composition, and a second removable insert having one or more moisture-sensitive pods comprising a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition. In another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments further comprises a third removable insert comprising a third personal care composition that is different than the first composition and the second composition. In a further embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments further comprises a fourth removable insert comprising a fourth personal care composition that is different than the first, second, and third compositions. In one embodiment, a first removable insert comprises a moisture- sensitive pods comprising a shampoo formulation, a second removable insert comprises moisture-sensitive pods comprising a conditioner formulation, and a third removable insert comprises moisture-sensitive pods comprising a body wash formulation. [0118] In another embodiment, the plurality of holding compartments comprise at least one removable insert, and wherein the at least one removable insert comprises a first moisture-sensitive pod having a first personal care composition, and a second moisture-sensitive pod having a second personal care composition, the first composition being different than the second composition, on the same insert. In a further embodiment, a third moisture-sensitive pod having a third personal care composition is provided, the third composition being different than the first and second composition, on the same insert. In yet a further embodiment, a fourth moisture-sensitive pod having a fourth personal care composition is provided, the fourth composition being different than the first, second and third composition, on the same insert. In one embodiment, the at least one removable insert comprises a first moisture-sensitive pod having a shampoo formulation, a second moisture-sensitive pod having a conditioner formulation, and a third moisture-sensitive pod having a body wash formulation, on the same insert. In yet another embodiment, the moisture-sensitive pods comprise the liquid or gel formulations enveloped in an at least partially water soluble film. For example, the at least partially water soluble film can comprise a water-soluble polymer. In yet another embodiment, a method of providing a personal care liquid or gel formulation is provided, the method, comprising dispensing a moisture-sensitive pod comprising the liquid or gel formulation from the dispenser according to any of those illustrated in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 23-35C.

[0119] In one embodiment, an insert 124 adapted for use in the dispenser 100 according to any embodiment as depicted in FIGS 14-22 comprises a plurality of compartments 1 12, each compartment 1 12 configured to house a single moisture- sensitive pod 102 containing a personal care liquid or gel concentrate formulation, each compartment further adapted to maintain each moisture-sensitive pod in a substantially moisture-free environment and each compartment 1 12 configured to allow access to each pod on an individual basis without impacting the moisture-free environment of adjacent compartments 1 12. In one embodiment, the insert 124 comprises a first compartment wall region 188a comprising a sealable aperture 190. In another embodiment, the sealable aperture 190 comprises a valve 192 with one or more flexible panels 194 that allow ejection of the moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the holding compartment 1 12 upon application of pressure to the one or more flexible panels 194. In yet another embodiment, the valve 192 comprises one or more flexible panels 194 that are resealable following ejection of a moisture-sensitive pod 102 from the sealable holding compartment 1 12. In one embodiment, the first compartment wall portion 188a comprises a layer of silicone having opening slots formed therein to provide the valve having the one of more flexible panels. In yet another embodiment, the first compartment wall portion 188a comprises a penetrable sealing layer that allows ejection of the moisture-sensitive pod from the holding compartment upon application of pressure to penetrate the penetrable sealing layer. According to certain embodiments, the penetrable sealing layer comprises a foil or paper film. In yet another embodiment, the first compartment wall portion 188a comprises a removable sealing layer that can be removed to expose the sealable aperture prior to, during or following insertion of the insert into the dispenser, such as a removable sealing layer comprises a foil or paper film.

[0120] According to yet another embodiment, the insert 124 comprises a plurality of holding compartments 1 12 each comprise an exterior wall portion 188b having a flexible region that guides the moisture-sensitive pod towards the internal sealable aperture upon application of external pressure to the exterior wall portion, to eject the moisture-sensitive pod from the holding compartment via the sealable aperture. In one embodiment, the flexible region of the exterior wall portion 188b comprises a moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region and extended travel regions adjacent the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region that provide for travel of the moisture- sensitive pod enclosing region in the direction towards the internal sealable aperture upon application of the external pressure. In one embodiment, the extended travel regions of the flexible regions of the exterior wall portions comprise elastic regions that are configured to translate the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region in the direction of the internal sealable aperture substantially without deformation of the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region. In yet another embodiment, the extended travel regions comprise exterior wall bumps suspending the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region of the exterior wall portion therebetween, and wherein application of the external pressure at least partially deforms the exterior wall bumps in the direction of the internal sealable aperture to translate the moisture-sensitive pod enclosing region towards the internal sealable aperture.

[0121] According one embodiment, the insert 124 that may optionally be provided with any of the dispenser embodiments herein, may comprise a single use insert that is intended to be used only a single time, to dispense one or more moisture-sensitive pods from the insert, before the insert is removed from the dispenser 100 and disposed of. For example, the insert 124 may be a single-use, disposable insert that is made of an environmentally friendly material comprising any of a fiber-based material, a recyclable material and a compostable material. Following dispending of a desired number of moisture-sensitive pods from the single-use insert, the insert 124 may be disposed of by submitting to disposal facilities for recycling and/or composting, according to the materials being used. For example, in a case where the insert is made of a fiber-based material, such as paper, cardboard, textile or other fibrous material, the insert may be allowed to compost in an environmentally friendly fashion. According to this embodiment, the insert 124 may be pre-loaded with the moisture-sensitive pods (e.g., pre-loaded prior to use by a consumer), such that the insert 124 can be simply disposed of in an appropriate and environmentally friendly reminder following use of the insert in the dispenser, and a subsequent single-use insert 124 can be used to replace the used insert. In an alternative embodiment, the insert comprises a reusable, multi-use insert, for example made of a more durable material than the single-use insert, although the multi-use insert may also be made of any of a fiber-based, recyclable and/or compostable material such that it is environmentally friendly. In one embodiment, the reusable, multi-use insert may be fillable with moisture-sensitive pods by the consumer, and/or the consumer may be able to re-fill the multi-use inserts following dispensing of one or more pods from the insert. That is, the reusable insert is configured to be manually and/or mechanically re-loaded with the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods for dispensing from the dispenser. For example, in one embodiment, the insert 124 can comprise holding compartments 1 12 having sealable apertures 190 and/or valves formed in at least one wall portion thereof 188a,b that are at least partially resealable such that the holding compartments can be re-used to contain and protect moisture-sensitive pods therein from moisture.

[0122] All documents cited in this application are hereby incorporate by reference as if recited in full herein.

[0123] Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to those described, and that various other changes or modifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.