TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to dispensers for products in stick form, for example cosmetics, deodorants, lipsticks, lip balms, adhesives and other products for topical application to a surface, for example to a person’s skin or lips.

BACKGROUND

Stick products such as lipsticks are supplied in a number of dispensers. The most common dispenser comprises a tubular plastics shell having a removable cap. The container receives a cartridge of a material for application which can, after removal of the cap, be twisted in order to extend the stick of material from the shell and to retract the stick material into the shell after application, whereupon the cap may be closed once more.

Whilst this is a very effective form of dispenser, it is desirable to reduce the amount of plastic material used in the dispenser.

SUMMARY

Form a first aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for a product in stick form. The dispenser comprises tubular body. The tubular body includes a base part and a removable cap for closing an open end of the base part. The base part at least is formed of paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard and comprises at least one slot extending along and through the side wall of the base part. A product stick carrier is slidably received in the base part and has at least one lug projecting through the slot in the side wall of the base part for manipulation by a user. The product stick carrier is formed of a paper-based or card-based material and supports a product stick for reciprocating movement within the base part. Thus in accordance with the invention, a dispenser has a tubular body having a base part which is made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard. A removable cap for closing an open end of the base part is also preferably made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard. The product is received within the tubular body and is extended and retracted from the tubular body by means of a carrier having a lug which extends through the wall of the body. This carrier is also made from a paper- based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard. The basic components of the dispenser are therefore formed of non-plastics material, which is advantageous from an environmental perspective. However, the dispenser also provides a mechanism by which the product can still be dispensed in a satisfactory manner.

The base part may comprise a pair of slots extending through the wall of the base part and the carrier may comprise a pair of lugs, each extending through a respective slot. Multiple lugs and slots may provide for improved stability during extension and retraction of the product stick. Two slots and lugs may provide for easier manipulation by a user. The slots and lugs may be diametrically opposed.

Of course, more or fewer slots and lugs may be provided. Thus in some embodiments a single lug and slot may be provided while in other embodiments more than two, for example three or more lugs and slots may be provided. Such lugs and slots may be circumferentially equi-spaced .

The carrier may be a friction fit within the base part. This may assist in maintaining the product stick in an extended position during application and also assist in maintaining the product stick in its retracted position during non-use, thereby reducing the possibility of the product stick inadvertently moving within the base part and touching the cap.

In certain embodiments, the at least one slot may extend downwardly from an upper edge of the base part. This may facilitate manufacture of the slot.

In other embodiments, however, the at least one slot may extend downwardly from a location spaced from an upper edge of the base part. This effectively provides a closed upper end for the slot for retaining the carrier and thus the product stick In some embodiments, the carrier may comprise an annular part for receiving the product stick. The product stick may then be received within the opening of the carrier. This may provide an improved mount for the product stick. The product stick may be adhesively secured, press fitted or mechanically interlocked with the carrier for example. In other embodiments, however, the carrier may be solid rather than annular and the product stick suitably attached to the upper surface of the carrier. The lug or lugs of the carrier may be formed on the annular part.

In certain embodiments, the carrier may further comprise a plug part arranged below the annular part and substantially spanning the internal space of the base part. This part may be a frictional fit within the tubular part and provide a base against which the product stick may rest.

In other embodiments the carrier comprises a disc for receiving the product stick. The product stick may then be mounted to an upper surface of the disc. The product stick may be bonded thereto using any suitable technique e.g. using adhesive. The lug or lugs of the carrier may project from the circumference of the disc.

Various embodiments of the dispenser may further comprise a shield which extends between an external peripheral surface of the product stick and the internal surface of the wall of the base part. This shield acts to cover the at least one slot of the base part such that the product stick is not visible therethrough. This may be particularly useful during retail as it prevents access to the product stick while the dispenser is on display. The shield may also act to prevent the product coming into contact with the internal wall of the base part.

In various embodiments, the shield may be a tubular body.

In some embodiments, the shield may be attached to the carrier so as to move axially with the carrier as it moves within the base part. ln other embodiments, however, the shield is de-coupled from axial movement of the carrier. Accordingly, the shield may be configured so as not to move axially in response to axial movement of the carrier.

In such arrangements, the shield may comprise at least one axially extending slot for receiving the at least one lug of the carrier such that the carrier may move axially relative to the shield.

In embodiments where the shield is decoupled from axial movement with the carrier, a stop may be provided for preventing or limiting axial movement of the shield within the base part. The stop can therefore retain the shield axially in the base part.

In certain embodiments, the stop may comprise a collar adhesively attached to the internal wall of the base part, for example adjacent the upper end of the base part.

While the stop may be a standalone element, advantageously it may be formed by an upper end of the shield which is detachable from the shield along a line of weakness defined in the shield.

In certain embodiments, the shield may be rotatable by the carrier when the carrier rotates within the base part.

In embodiments as discussed above in which the stop is formed by a collar of the shield, rotation of the shield may act to break the line of weakness, thereby leaving the collar attached to the internal wall of the base part, but allowing the remainder of the shield to rotate.

In various embodiments, the carrier may be mounted so as to be rotatable within the base part. In such embodiments, at least one axially extending slot of the shield may be aligned with the at least one slot of the base part in a first rotational position of the carrier in which the carrier is movable axially within the base part, and misaligned with the at least one slot of the base part in a second rotational position of the carrier so as to cover the at least one slot of the base part. ln embodiments where the carrier is rotatable, the at least one slot of the base part may comprise a circumferential extension at a lower end thereof. This

circumferential extension is configured to receive the at least one lug of the carrier and thereby permit rotation of the carrier within the base part when it is in a retracted position. This will, for example, permit misalignment of the base part slot and shield slot.

The at least one lug may be sized so as to be a friction fit within the circumferential extension. This may assist in retaining the carrier in its“closed” position.

In various embodiments, the shield may extend the entire visible length of the at least one slot of the base part when the cap is positioned on the base part. This will hide the product stick from view.

The shield may also advantageously be made from a paper-based or card-based material. It may advantageously be moisture resistant to avoid absorption of the product stick material into the shield. Thus, the shield may be a coated or impregnated paper or card material for example.

The tubular body may be of any suitable construction. In certain embodiments it may be a spiral wound tube, for example.

In certain embodiments, the at least one slot in the base part may extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base part so that the carrier will move in a purely axial direction along the base part without rotation. In other arrangements, however, the at least one slot in the base part may extend at an angle to parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base part. In such constructions, the carrier will rotate about the axis of the base part as it moves axially along the base part. The slot may, therefore be a helical slot in some embodiments.

In accordance with the invention in any of its embodiments, a lower end of the cap may comprise at least one cut out, each cut out receiving a respective one of the at least one lugs of the product stick carrier when the product stick carrier is in a retracted position and the cap is located over the base part to close the open end of the base part. The external circumferential surfaces of the cap, base part and lug may be flush with one another when the product stick carrier is in a retracted position and the cap is located over the base part to close the open end of the base part. The base part may comprise a shoulder at a lower end thereof. A lower end of the cap may then engage the shoulder when the cap is located over the base to close the open end of the base. The dimensions of the shoulder should be selected with regard to the extent to which the lug(s) project from the slot(s) to ensure that the lug(s) project to a sufficient degree to enable them to be manipulated by a user, but while still providing the flush fit when the cap is fitted over the base with the product carrier retracted. The shoulder may be below the slot(s). A lower end of the or each slot may extend from the shoulder toward a top edge of the base. The slot(s) may or may not extend all the way to the top edge. The base part may comprise upper and lower sections, with the shoulder defined therebetween. The upper and lower sections may be provided by separate tubes, or may be integrally formed. In these embodiments the base part, cap and product carrier are preferably each made from a paper-based or card-based material such as paperboard or cardboard.

The invention also provides, from a different aspect a dispenser comprising a paper-based or card-based tubular body having a base part and a removable cap for closing an open end of the base part. The cap has an annular spacer received and fixed in the base thereof. A twist cartridge containing a stick of product is mounted in the annular spacer so as to project from the cap whereby the cartridge may be manipulated by a user to extend and retract the stick of product from the cartridge.

In this dispenser, therefore, a product cartridge is mounted in a paperboard or cardboard cap. This avoids the need for a plastics cap or body for the dispenser.

The twist cartridge may be received in the opening of the annular spacer and may be suitably secured therein, for example by adhesive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only wit reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of dispenser in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows the dispenser of Figure 1 in an open, retracted configuration;

Figure 3 shows the dispenser of Figure 1 in an open, extended configuration; Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the components of the dispenser of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows the product carrier of the dispenser of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows the base part of a second embodiment of dispenser in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 shows the base part of Figure 6 illustrating insertion of the carrier thereof;

Figure 8 shows an exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows an exploded view of a yet further embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 10 shows a yet further embodiment of dispenser in accordance with the invention; Figure 11 shows a yet further embodiment of a dispenser in accordance with the invention;

Figure 12 is an exploded view of the components of the dispenser of Figure 11 ; and Figure 13 shows the product carrier of the embodiment of Figure 11 and 12 in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to Figures 1 to 5, a first exemplary embodiment of dispenser 2 of the invention is illustrated.

The dispenser 2 comprises a paper-based, e.g. paperboard or cardboard tubular body 4. The tubular body 4 includes a base part 6 and a removable cap 8 for closing an open upper end 10 of the base part 6. In this embodiment both the base part 6 and the cap 8 are formed of the paper based material but certain

embodiments may only have a base part 6 so formed.

In this embodiment, the base part 6 and cap 8 of the tubular body 4 are spiral wound tubes, with the bottom end 12 of the base part 6 and the upper end 14 of the cap 8 being closed by respective discs. The upper end 10 of the base part 6 is formed with a shoulder 16 to receive the lower edge 18 of the cap 8. The external circumferential surfaces of the base part 6 and cap 8 are flush in this embodiment. Tubes of this general type are known in the art and are manufactured for example by Chicago Paper Tube & Can Company Inc. of Chicago USA. Other tube constructions can, however, be used within the scope of the invention. For example, the tubes need not be spiral wound but could be formed as wrap around tubes.

The base part 6 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed slots 20 which extend along and through the side wall 22 of the base part 6. More or fewer slots 18 may be provided. Thus, in certain embodiments, just a single slot 20 may be provided. Where more than one slot 20 is provided, the slots 20 may be circumferentially equi-spaced around the base part 6.

In this embodiment, the slots 20 extend downwardly from the upper edge 24 of the base part 6. This may facilitate manufacture as the slots 20 can be formed by routing the slot 20 from the upper edge 24. Of course, the slots 20 can be formed in any convenient manner, for example by cutting. The slots 20 extend to a location near the bottom end 12 of the base part 6.

In this embodiment, the slots 20 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base part 6. In other embodiments, however, the slots 20 may extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the base part 6, such that the slots are helical for example. A product carrier 30 (for example for lipstick) is slidably received in the base part 6. As can be seen from Figure 1 for example, the carrier 30 comprises lugs 32 which project through the slots 20 in the side wall 22 of the base part 6 for manipulation by a user. The carrier 30 is formed from paperboard or cardboard and supports a product stick 34 (for example lipstick) for reciprocating movement within the base part 6. For reasons which will be described further below, the carrier 30 is a friction fit within the base part 6. In this embodiment, the carrier 30 comprises a lower plug part 36 which

substantially spans the internal space of the base part 6 and engages the sidewall 22 of the base part. The carrier 30 further comprises an annular upper part 38 which is mounted atop the plug part 36. As can be seen from Figure 5, the external surface 40 of the annular upper part 38 is spaced inwardly from the external surface 42 of the plug part 36. This provides a shoulder 44 on the upper surface of the plug part 36.

In this embodiment, the plug part 36 and annular part 38 are formed as separate components which are adhesively secured together. In other embodiments, however, the plug part 36 and annular part 38 may be formed integrally.

In this embodiment the plug part 36 and annular part 38 are fabricated from individual sheets of paper or card laminated together. However, other forms of construction, such as corrugated sheet or board or moulded paper or card may be used.

The lower plug part 36 spaces the annular part 38 from the bottom of the base part 6 and may act as a support for the product stick 34. As can be seen for example from Figure 5, the lugs 32 of the carrier 30 are formed on and project from the annular part 38.

As can also be seen from Figure 5 the annular part 38 has a central opening 46. This opening 46 receives the base 48 of the product stick 34. The base 48 of the product stick 34 may be adhesively or otherwise secured within the opening 46, for example through mechanical interlocking, interference fit or magnetically. This mounting arrangement spaces the product stick 34 from the internal surface of the base part wall 32 thereby reducing the possibility of the product stick 34 contacting that surface.

In some embodiments, the lower plug part 36 may be dispensed with, the carrier 30 then being formed of the annular part 38 alone. The annular part 38 may then engage the side wall 22 of the base part 6. In other embodiments, the upper part 38 having the lugs 32 need not be annular, and the product stick 34 may be attached to an end surface of the upper part 38.

The dispenser 2 of this embodiment further comprises a shield 50 which is mounted to the product carrier 30. The shield 50 lies between the external peripheral surface of the product stick 34 and the internal surface of the base part wall 32. The shield 50, in this embodiment, is made of paper or a thin card material. The material is advantageously moisture resistant so as to avoid absorption of the stick material into the shield 50. The shield 50 may therefore be paper, paperboard or card coated or treated, e.g. impregnated, with a moisture resistant material. The shield 50 could for example be made from greaseproof paper.

As can best be seen from Figure 4, the shield 50 is received in the annular space formed about the annular upper part 38 of the product carrier 30. It is

advantageously adhesively secured to the outer peripheral surface of the annular upper part 38. To enable it to engage the shoulder 44 on the upper surface of the plug part 36, the shield 50 is provided with cut outs 52 which receive the lugs 32 projecting from the annular upper part 38.

In this embodiment, an axially extending gap 54 is formed in the shield 50. In other embodiments however, no gap 54 may exist and the shield 50 may be

circumferentially continuous.

As illustrated, in this embodiment, the shield 50 extends longitudinally such that it covers the entire visible length of each slot 20 in the base part 6 of the dispenser when the cap 8 is on the base part 6. This ensures that the product stick 34 is not exposed through the slots 20, particularly before the dispenser 2 is used for the first time, for example while the dispenser 2 is on the shelf prior to sale.

As shown in Figure 3, when the product stick 34 is extended, the guide 50 may cover a significant portion of the product stick 34. To improve access to the product stick 34, the user may tear or otherwise remove an upper part of the guide 50 if necessary. In other embodiments, the guide 50 may be shorter, for example extending longitudinally only as far as the dotted line 56 shown in Figure 3. This will improve access to the product stick 34 when it is extended yet still provide some shielding of the product stick 34.

It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the carrier 30, together with the product stick 34 (and guide 50 if present) can be preassembled and then inserted into the base part 6, the lugs 32 of the carrier 30 engaging in the slots 20 of the base part.

Having described the construction of the above embodiment, its operation will now be described. To dispense the product, the cap 8 is first removed from the base part 6 and the user then slides the product stick 34 upwardly from the base part using the lugs 32 of the carrier 30. The friction between the carrier 30 and the wall 22 of the base part 6 will assist in maintaining the product stick 34 at the desired position in use. After the product stick 34 has been applied, it can be retracted into the base part 6 once more using the lugs 32 and the cap 8 then replaced. The friction between the carrier 30 and the wall 22 of the base part will assist in retaining the product stick 34 in its retracted position, preventing it from moving around within the base part 6, thereby inadvertently engaging the cap 8.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the embodiment above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it may be possible to dispense with the shield 50 in certain embodiments.

In another embodiment, the slots 20 in the base part wall 22 may not extend to the upper edge 24 of the base part 6 and be closed at its upper end. Such an embodiment is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Here, slots 20’ extend only as far the external shoulder 16 of the base part 6. In other embodiments, depending on the degree of travel required for the product stick 34, the slots 20‘ may terminate closer to or further away from the upper edge 24 of the base part 6.

This arrangement has the potential advantage that it will prevent the carrier 30 and product stick 34 inadvertently disengaging from the base part 6. However, it may make it more difficult to produce the slots 20’, requiring a plunge cut to be made through the base part wall 22. Insertion of the carrier 30 may be more difficult, and it may be necessary to insert the plug part 36 of the carrier 30 into the base part 6 prior to introduction of the upper annular part 38. Due to the lugs 32, the upper annular part 38 will need to be introduced with its longitudinal axis transverse to the base part (as shown in Figure 7) and then rotated in the direction of arrow A to engage the lugs 32 in the slots 20’. The plug part 36 and annular part 38 may be brought together and attached to one another, for example through contact adhesive. The product stick 34 may then be mounted to the assembled carrier 30. In other embodiments, it may be possible to insert the upper annular part 38 into the slots 20’ before finishing the base part.

The dispenser 2’ of this embodiment is otherwise similar to the dispenser of the first embodiment.

In other embodiments, the shield 50 may also be constructed such that it does not move axially into and out of the base part 6 of the dispenser 2 during use. An embodiment incorporating such a modification is illustrated in Figure 8.

In this embodiment (shown in exploded form) the base part 6’ has a pair of diametrically opposed slots 20” similar to those of the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, extending only as far as the external shoulder 16’ of the base part 6’. At its lower end, however each slot 20” includes a circumferential extension 60. The extensions 60 extend in the same circumferential direction from the bottom of each slot 20”. The base part 6’ may have a closure (not shown) at its lower end.

A shield 50’ is received within the base part 6’. The shield may be made from the same types of material as in the first embodiment, i.e. from a paper-based or card- based material. The shield 50’ has an external diameter which is generally similar to the internal diameter of the base part 6’. The shield has a pair of diametrically opposed axial slots 62 formed therein. The slots 62 extend parallel to the axis of the base part 6’. In this embodiment, the slots extend to the upper edge 64 of the shield 50’ although in other embodiments, the slots may terminate short of the upper edge 64.

The shield 50’ has a line of weakness 66, for example perforations, formed around its upper end 68. This defines a collar 70 of material above the line of weakness 66. As will be described further below, the shield 50’ is initially adhesively secured to the internal surface of the base part 6’ by means of the collar 70.

The dispenser 2’ also includes, as in the earlier embodiments, a product carrier 30’. In this embodiment, the carrier 30’ comprises an annular part 38 having opposed lugs 32. The annular part 38 is generally similar to that of the earlier embodiments. Thus, as in the earlier embodiments, the annular part 38 is fabricated from a paper- based or card-based material, for example being formed from laminated sheets of card or paper. The central opening 46 of the annular part 38 will receive a product stick as in the earlier embodiments.

A spacer 72 (which may be annular, as shown, or solid) is provided for spacing the carrier 30 from the base of the base part 6’ and may be attached to the annular part 38. It may have a similar construction to the plug part 36 of the earlier

embodiments.

To assemble the dispenser shown in Figure 8, the shield 50’ is firstly introduced into the base part 6’ and adhesively secured to the base part 6 only in the region of the collar 70, i.e. above the line of weakness 66. The upper edge 64 of the guide may lie flush with the upper edge 24 of the base part 6’. The guide 50’ should be positioned such that the lower ends of the slots 62 extend at least to the lower ends of the slots 20” in the base part 6’ and such that the slots 62 in the guide 50’ are circumferentially aligned with the slots 20” in the base part 6’.

The spacer 72 and carrier 30’ may then be introduced into the base part 6’ in a similar manner to the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7. The lugs 32’ of the carrier 30’ are received in the aligned slots 20” in the base part 6’ and the slots 62 in the guide 50’. A product stick may then be mounted to the carrier 30’.

The carrier 30’ is then fully retracted into the base part 6’ such that the lugs 32’ lie at the bottom of the slot 20” of the base part 6’. The lugs 32’ are sized such that they may be received in the circumferential extensions 60 of the slots 20” so that in this position, the lugs 32’ may be rotated into the circumferential extensions 60.

As the lugs are rotated, they act on the walls of the slots 62 of the shield 50’ so as to rotate the guide 50’. This rotation breaks the line of weakness 66, leaving the collar 70 of the guide 50’ at the upper end 68 of the shield 50’ adhesively attached to the upper end of the base part 6’. However, the remaining lower part of the shield 50’ will be free to rotate within the base part 6’. This rotation brings the slots 62 of the shield 50’ out of alignment with the slots 20” of the base part 6’, thereby effectively covering the slots 20” of the base part 6’ such that the product is not exposed through the slots 20” of the base part 6’.

The lugs 32’ may be a friction fit within the slot extensions 60 to assist in retaining the carrier 30’ and thus the shield 50’ in their rotated positions. This may be helpful in preventing the product stick becoming exposed through aligned base part and shield slots during periods of non-use.

A cap may be mounted to the base part 6’ before or after the rotation of the carrier 30’. A cover (not shown) may also be placed in or over the open bottom end of the base part 6’ if desired.

To extract the product, the carrier 30’ is rotated in the opposite direction so as to disengage from the slot extensions 60 and the carrier 30’ then pushed axially along the base part 6’ to extend the product stick. However, unlike the earlier

embodiments, the shield 50’ is retained in the base part 6’ by virtue of the collar 70 which is attached to the base part 6. This provides unobstructed access to the product stick. The product stick may be retracted by a reverse sequence, the final rotation of the carrier 30’ once more acting to rotate the shield 50’ to internally cover the slots 20” in the base part 6’

A modified form of the embodiment of Figure 8 is illustrated in Figure 9.

In this embodiment, a base part 6” is provided with angled slots 20”’ rather than with axial slots 20”, and the shield 50” provided with angled slots 62’. The slots 62’ are generally helical in this embodiment. Otherwise the embodiments are similar. The assembly, extension and retraction mechanisms are the same as in the earlier embodiment.

A yet further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 10.

In this embodiment, the dispenser 200 comprises a paperboard or cardboard tubular body which includes a base part 206 and a removable cap 208 for closing an open end 210 of the base part 206. As in the earlier embodiments, the base part 206 and cap 208 may be spiral wound tube constructions, with their ends closed by closure discs 212, 214.

The cap 208 comprises an annular spacer 216 received and fixed in the base thereof. The annular spacer 216 may be adhesively secured to the peripheral wall 218 of the cap 208 and/or the underlying closure disc 214.

A twist cartridge 220 which includes a stick of product (not shown) is mounted to the annular spacer 216 so as to project from the cap 208. The base 222 of the cartridge 220 may be press fitted and/or adhesively secured in the annular spacer 216. The twist cartridge 220 is of the type usually mounted within a plastics tube, so no further details need be given of its construction. The user will be able to extend and retract the stick of material from the cartridge 220 by holding the cap 208 in one hand and twisting the barrel 224 of the cartridge 220 in the other.

This embodiment is advantageous in that it uses less plastics material than a traditional dispenser and allows simple mounting of the cartridge 220 in the cap 208. A dispenser 300 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to Figures 11-13. The dispenser is similar to the embodiments of Figures 1-7 above. The main differences will now be described. The dispenser of this further embodiment as illustrated does not include a shield 50, although it is envisaged that a shield 50 could be provided. Similar parts are described using reference numerals corresponding to those of the embodiment of Figures 1-5, incremented by 300. In this embodiment, the dispenser 300 includes a base part 306 and a cap 308.

The cap 308 is a spirally wound tube. The base part 306 is formed from two spirally wound tubes 311 , 315. The tube 311 has a greater diameter than the tube 315 but a lesser length and provides a bottom section of the base part 306, while the tube 315 provides an upper section thereof. The tube 315 is fitted into the open upper end of the tube 311 , and the tubes 311 , 315 are bonded e.g. adhered to one another. The bottom end 312 of the base part 306 and the upper end 314 of the cap 308 are closed by respective discs 305, 307. In this embodiment a shoulder 309 is formed at a lower end 312 of the base part 306 to receive the lower edge 318 of the cap 308. The shoulder is defined by the upper edge of the tube 311 which provides the bottom section of the base part 306. The external

circumferential surfaces of the base part 306 and cap 308 are again flush in this embodiment when the cap 308 is located over the base part with the product carrier 330 retracted. The tubes used for the cap and sections of the base part may again be of a general type known in the art and manufactured, for example, by Chicago Paper Tube & Can Company Inc. of Chicago USA, or may be of another type of construction, whether or not spirally wound.

As before, the base part 306 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed slots 320 which extend along and through the side wall 322 of the base part 306. More or fewer slots may be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the slots do not extend to the upper edge 324 of the base part 306. However, in other embodiments, they may do so. The length of the slots may be chosen as desired based on the factors described previously. Only one such slot is shown in Figure 12. As in the earlier embodiments, a product carrier 330 is slidably received in the base part 306. The carrier 330 comprises lugs 332 which project through the slots 320 in the side wall 322 of the base part 306 for manipulation by a user. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap 308 has a cutout 313 extending upwardly from the lower edge of the cap for receiving a lug 332 of the product carrier 330 disposed in the base part 306 when the carrier 330 is in a retracted position. A corresponding diametrically opposed cutout will be present for receiving the opposed lug of the product carrier. Where a different number of lugs is provided, one cutout per lug will be provided in the cap 308.

In this embodiment, when the lug 332 is disposed in the cutout 313 i.e. when the product carrier is retracted and the cap located over the open upper end of the base part, as shown in Figure 11 , the external circumferential surface of the lug is flush with the external circumferential surfaces of the base part 306 and cap 308. This may provide a more attractive overall appearance of the dispenser. The cap may also help to maintain the carrier in position with the lug at the bottom end of the slot in the base, helping to maintain a product stick in a retracted position, and preventing the product stick from moving around.

Figure 12 is an exploded view illustrating the components of the dispenser of the embodiment of Figure 11 in more detail Here the discs 305, 307 for closing the ends of the base 306 and cap 308 respectively are shown. The shoulder 309 may be seen more clearly in this Figure. Only one slot is visible in Figure 12.

Figure 13 illustrates the product carrier 330 of this further embodiment of Figures 11 and 12 in more detail. In contrast to the earlier embodiments, in this embodiment, rather than being fabricated from multiple sheets of paper or card laminated together, the carrier 330 is formed from a single layer of thicker card (although in alternative embodiments, a laminated construction may be used). In the illustrated embodiment, the product carrier 330 is shown as a disc, rather than an annular part, to which a stick of product may be mounted e.g. adhered. Of course, an annular carrier may alternatively be used.

In this embodiment, the lugs may project to a lesser extent from an outer circumferential edge of the main body of the carrier i.e. from the outer circumferential edge of the disc than in the earlier embodiments, to provide the flush fit between the lid, base part and lugs. The dimensions of the shoulder and extent of projection of the lugs should be selected as appropriate to provide the flush fit when the cap is located over the base with the product carrier retracted, with the lug(s) still projecting from the slot in the assembled dispenser to a sufficient degree to enable them to be manipulated by a user when the cap is removed.

Dispensing of product using the dispenser of this further embodiment may proceed in the same manner described with respect to the first embodiment of Figures 1-5 or the second embodiment of Figures 6 and 7. The user will remove the cap 308 from the base part 306 and then slide the product stick upwardly from the base part using the lugs 332 of the carrier 330. After use, the product stick may be retracted into the base part 306 once more using the lugs, and the cap then replaced. The cooperation between the base and the cap in this embodiment will assist in retracting the product stick in its retracted position.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the various embodiments above without departing from the scope of the invention and that features of various embodiments may be combined. For example, the

circumferential slot extensions of the embodiments of Figures 8 and 9 may also be provided in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7 or 11-13. A carrier of the form shown in the embodiment of Figures 11-13 may be used in any of the earlier embodiments of Figures 1-9 and vice versa. The product carrier of the embodiment of Figures 11-13 may further comprise a plug part or spacer as described with respect to the various earlier embodiments. A flush fit between the lugs, cap and base as described in the embodiment of Figure 11-13 may be used in any of the earlier embodiments.