GB2443746A

GB2443746A - Support with release mechanism for toothpaste dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2443746A
Application number: GB0724581A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Orwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-07
Filing date: 2007-11-02
Publication date: 2008-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-02
Also published as: GB0721544D0; GB0622132D0; GB2443746B; GB0724581D0

Abstract

A dispenser support for a product dispenser 14 consists of a dispenser receiving region, and a release mechanism 6. The release mechanism 6 communicates with the dispensing means of the product dispenser 14 such that, upon activation by an operator, the release mechanism 6 causes product to be dispensed from the product dispenser 14. Additionally the release mechanism 6 is removable from the dispenser support, for cleaning and sterilisation. Preferably the product dispenser is a toothpaste dispenser 14, and the release mechanism 20. The dispenser support may additionally provide support for a plurality of other appliances, such as toothbrushes, razors, cups, etc.

Description

DISPENSER SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a dispenser support and, particUlarly although not exclusively, relates to a toothpaste dispenser support.

Bathrooms are normally home to a large number of various bathroom articles in particular those which are associated with brushing teeth. Such commonly found bathroom articles include toothpaste dispensers.

Toothpaste can be packaged in various forms. Traditional methods use simple squeezable tubes where the application of pressure to a side of the tube by an operator results in the toothpaste being squeezed out of an end nozzle.

More recently, toothpaste is available packaged in a hand held dispenser which comprises a main body region containing the toothpaste, a dispensing "trigger" portion and a nozzle. Activating the trigger of the dispenser by a finger or thumb of the operator results in the toothpaste being squeezed out of the nozzle.

Other articles which are associated with brushing teeth include toothbrushes for applying the toothpaste to teeth, and a cup required for rinsing out the mouth. Other articles commonly found in a bathroom may include razors, combs and hairbrushes. It will be appreciated that in a busy bathroom, particularly in one used by many individuals, a large number of aforementioned articles will be present and this tends to result in the bathroom becoming untidy.

With a view to solving or mitigating the problem outlined above, it is an aim of the embodiment of the present invention to provide a storage system for housing a large number of bathroom articles.

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a dispenser support for product dispenser, the dispenser support comprising a dispenser receiving region in which the product dispenser is receivable, and a release mechanism which, in use communicates with a dispensing means of the product dispensers such that upon activation by an operator, the release mechanism causes product to be dispensed from the product dispenser; and wherein the release mechanism is removable from the dispenser support for cleaning and sterlisation.

The dispenser support may be constructed out of a resilient material. Preferable the dispenser support is constructed out of a tough plastic.

The dispenser support may comprise a plurality of dispenser receiving regions for supporting an equal plurality of product dispensers. The or each dispenser receiving region may be removable to facilitate cleaning. The dispenser support may comprise one or more locking mechanisms to lock the or each product dispenser in position. Preferably, the or each locking mechanism is manually operable.

The product dispenser may be a toothpaste dispenser.

The dispenser support may provide additional support for a plurality of other appliances. Such other appliances my be toothbrushes, razors, cups, brushes etc although this is by no means meant to provide an exhaustive list.

The dispenser support may comprise a holder region. The holder region may have apertures therethrough. The apertures may be of any shape or size. Preferably, some or s all of, the apertures are of a size compatible with that of the shaft region of a toothbrush to allow a toothbrush to hang vertically. The apertures may be of a size compatible with that of a drinking cup.

The release mechanism is preferably pivotally mounted to the support means. The release mechanism is preferably arranged in a front to back configuration, such that a rear part of the release mechanism rests against a dispensing means of the product dispenser and a front part of the release mechanism is arranged to hang below a nozzle aperture of the dispenser. The release mechanism may be naturally supported in this position by the weight of the release mechanism to one side of its pivotal attachment causing the rear part of the release mechanism to rest naturally against the dispensing means.

Preferably, in this position there is provided a gap between the nozzle aperture and the release mechanism which is sufficiently large to receive a head of a toothbrush.

The release mechanism may be activated by an operator.

Preferably, the release mechanism is activated by means of applying pressure to, preferably, the front part of the release mechanism. The pressure may be applied by a toothbrush. When pressure is applied to the release mechanism the release mechanism is preferably arranged to pivot about its pivot point and apply pressure to the dispensing means of the product dispenser and cause product to be dispensed, preferably directly onto the head of a toothbrush applying the pressure.

The nozzle aperture may be of any shape. The release mechanism may be spring mounted. The release mechanism may return to its original position when the pressure is released.

The dispenser support is preferably provided with mounting means, such as a bracket, for mounting the dispenser support to a suitable surface, such as a wall.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of dispensing product out of a * 15 product dispenser, the method requiring the use of one hand only, the method comprising securing the product dispenser in a dispenser support accorthng to the first aspect of the invention, actuating the release mechanism such that the product is dispensed, and collecting said dispensed product.

Actuating the release mechanism preferably comprises applying pressure with the head of a toothbrush to the release mechanism to cause product to be dispensed onto the toothbrush.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how certain embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a dispenser support according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view section through the dispenser support of Figure 1 and also showing a toothpaste dispenser located within the support; Figure 3 shows a side view section through the dispenser support and dispenser of Figure 2 during a dispensing operation; and Figure 4 shows a top view plan of the dispenser support and associated dispenser.

Referring to Figure 1, the dispenser support comprises a dispenser receiving body region forming a main body region 4 which is substantially empty before being put into use. At the base of the body region there is provided a release mechanism 6. Connected around the outside of the body region at a position suitably distanced from the release mechanism 6 is a holder region 2 in which there are provided small apertures 1 for the storage of toothbrushes (or other suitably sized appliances) and a substantially larger aperture 3 in which a cup may be stored.

The release mechanism is removable from the dispenser support for cleaning and sterilization.

The cross-sectional side view in Figure 2 shows the cup 10 and the toothbrush Ba hanging through the apertures 3 and 1, respectively, of holder region 2.

A toothpaste dispenser 14, is shown upside down having been inserted into the body region 4 of the dispenser support. The base of the toothpaste dispenser 14 is secured in place at the top of the dispenser support by a manually operated locking mechanism 16. At the top region of the toothpaste dispenser 14, there are provided a froritwardly facing nozzle aperture 13 and a rearwardly facing dispensing means 15. In the upside down position inside the support means.4, the top of the toothpaste dispenser 14 rests on, and communicates with, the release S mechanism 6,which is pivotally supported 12. When toothpaste dispensing is not required, the release mechanism 6 is in an un-actuated configuration such that the dispensing means 15 is also in an un-actuated configuration. When dispensing is required, as shown in Figure 3, the operator applies a pressure in a substantially downwardly and rearwardly direction with the head of a toothbrush 8b to the forwardly facing region of the release mechanism 6. The downwardly/rearwardly pressure is converted into a rotational force such that the release mechanism 6 pivots about its pivotal support 12 and, in doing so, the rearwardly facing region of the release mechanism 6 translates in a substantially upwardly and forwardly direction a pressure to the dispensing means 15. Actuating the dispensing means 15 results in toothpaste 20 being dispensed from out of the nozzle aperture 13 onto the bristles of the toothbrush 8b.

Once a sufficient quality of toothpaste 20 has been dispensed, the toothbrush 8b is pulled back in a rearwardly direction thereby releasing the pressure applied to the release mechanism 6. The dispensing means of the toothpaste dispenser 14 is preferably of such a construction that it returns automatically from a depressed condition as shown in Figure 3 to the condition in which is stands proud of the dispenser 14 (ie as shown in Figure 2) and this action will automatically return the release mechanism to its normal-non dispensing-condition.

Alternatively, the release mechanism 6 may b spring mounted onto the support means such that when the pressure is released, the release mechanism 6 and dispensing means return to their original positions as shown in Figure 2. No further toothpaste 20 is dispensed from the nozzle S aperture 13.

The plan view of the support means shown in Figure 4 shows the base of the toothpaste dispenser 14 locked into the body region 4 of the Support means by courtesy of the locking mechanism 16. The holder region 2 with toothbrush apertures 1 and cup aperture 3 is connected to the body region 4 of the support means. The support means in turn may be attached to a suitable support wall by means of a bracket 22.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be utilised in conjunction with product dispensers other than toothpaste dispensers -for instance, with liquid soap dispensers.

It will also be appreciated that the dispenser support may include a plurality of dispenser receiving regions so that different family members may have their own favourite brand of product supported.

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

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

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

Claims

Claims 1. A dispenser support for a product dispenser, the dispenser

support comprising a dispenser receiving region in which the product dispenser is receivable, and a release mechanism which, in use communicates with a dispensing means of the product dispenser such that, upon activation by an operator, the release mechanism causes product to be dispensed from the product dispenser; and wherein the release mechanism is removable from the dispenser support for cleaning and sterilisation.