US20160167835A1

US20160167835A1 - Dentifrice dispenser stand

Info

Publication number: US20160167835A1
Application number: US14/907,331
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Beckerman
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 2013-07-25
Filing date: 2013-07-25
Publication date: 2016-06-16
Also published as: EP3024368A1; TW201515625A; AU2013394888A1; MX2016000703A; CN105491928A; WO2015012841A1

Abstract

Dentifrice dispenser stand (1), comprising: a base (10) having at least one contact portion lying in a first plane for stably supporting the stand (1) on a horizontal surface; and an annular, or part-annular, collar (20) connected to the base (10) and positionable around a portion of a container (40) defining a chamber (44) storing a dentifrice and having an opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber (44); wherein an axis of the collar (20) is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane. Kit, comprising: the dentifrice dispenser stand (1) and the container (40).

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a dentifrice dispenser stand and to a kit comprising a dentifrice dispenser stand and a container.
It is known to provide dentifrice, such as toothpaste, in a tube having an opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable. However, in order to dispense the dentifrice from the tube onto the head of a toothbrush, a user has to squeeze the tube while at the same time aligning the head of the toothbrush with the opening of the tube. Carrying out these two processes simultaneously can be difficult or impossible for some users, such as children, individuals with disabilities, and others who are challenged by low strength, coordination or motor control in the fingers, hands or arms.
There is a need for a device that helps a user dispense dentifrice onto the head of a toothbrush.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention provides a dentifrice dispenser stand, comprising: a base having at least one contact portion lying in a first plane for stably supporting the stand on a horizontal surface; and an annular, or part-annular, collar connected to the base and positionable around a portion of a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber; wherein an axis of the collar is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane.
Optionally, the axis of the collar is at an angle of between 40 and 70 degrees to the first plane.
Optionally, the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction that is non-parallel to the axis of the collar. Further optionally, the connector is elongate in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the collar.
Optionally, the direction is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane. Further optionally, the direction is at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees to the first plane.
Optionally, the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the collar.
Optionally, the base comprises a divot or channel for receiving part of a head of a toothbrush. Further optionally, the divot or channel is at a position on the base where the axis of the collar intersects the base.
Optionally, the dentifrice dispenser stand is a unitary component.
Optionally, the collar is frusto-conical in shape.
Optionally, the collar defines a circular opening for receiving the portion of the container.
Optionally, the collar defines an opening for receiving the portion of the container, and the connector defines therein a slot extending from the opening for receiving a second portion of the container.
Optionally, the collar is connected to the base by only the connector.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a kit, comprising: a dentifrice dispenser stand, comprising: a base having at least one contact portion lying in a first plane for stably supporting the stand on a horizontal surface, and an annular, or part-annular, collar connected to the base and positionable around a portion of a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber, wherein an axis of the collar is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane; and the container.
Optionally, the axis of the collar is at an angle of between 40 and 70 degrees to the first plane.
Optionally, the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction that is non-parallel to the axis of the collar. Further optionally, the connector is elongate in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the collar.
Optionally, the direction is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane. Further optionally, the direction is at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees to the first plane.
Optionally, the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the collar.
Optionally, the base comprises a divot or channel for receiving part of a head of a toothbrush. Further optionally, the divot or channel is at a position on the base where the axis of the collar intersects the base.
Optionally, the collar defines an opening for receiving the portion of the container, and the connector defines therein a slot extending from the opening for receiving a second portion of the container.
Optionally, the collar is connected to the base by only the connector.
Optionally, the container comprises a vessel defining the chamber, and a cap device connected to the vessel and defining an orifice in fluid communication with the opening. Further optionally, the collar is positionable around the cap device.
Optionally, the vessel is flexible and the cap device is of greater rigidity than the vessel.
Optionally, the cap device comprises a base defining the orifice and a closure movable relative to the base between a closed position, at which the closure isolates the orifice from an exterior of the dispenser, and an open position, at which the orifice is in fluid communication with the exterior of the dispenser. Further optionally, the collar is positionable around the base of the cap device.
Optionally, the closure is movable between the open and closed positions without hindrance by the dentifrice dispenser stand.
Optionally, the cap device is detachable from the vessel, and the collar is retainable between the vessel and the cap device.
Optionally, when the collar is positioned around the portion of the container and the stand is standing on the horizontal support surface via the at least one contact portion, a centre of mass of a combination of the dentifrice dispenser stand and the container is positioned vertically above the base.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a partial close-up perspective view of a dentifrice dispenser stand according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, prior to positioning a part-annular collar of the stand around a portion of a container storing dentifrice;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the stand of FIG. 1, with the collar of the stand around the portion of the container and the head of a toothbrush received in a divot or channel provided in a base of the stand;

FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the components shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a dentifrice dispenser stand according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with an annular collar of the stand positioned around a portion of a container storing dentifrice; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the stand of FIG. 4, with the annular collar of the stand retained between a vessel and a cap device of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.
FIGS. 1 to 3 show a dentifrice dispenser stand 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The stand 1 of the illustrated first embodiment comprises a base 10, a part-annular collar 20, and a connector 30 that connects the collar 20 to the base 10. Each of these components will be described in turn.
The base 10 has a square flat bottom surface 11 lying in a first plane, which bottom surface 11 acts as a contact portion of the base 10 for stably supporting the stand 1 on a horizontal surface. In a variation to the illustrated first embodiment, the flat surface 11 could be other than square, such as circular, elliptical, annular, triangular or polygonal. In a further variation to the illustrated first embodiment, the base 10 may have a plurality of spaced-apart contact portions lying in the first plane for stably supporting the stand 1 on a horizontal surface. Each of the plurality of contact portions may be flat in the first plane or may be a single point lying in the first plane, e.g. a point of a convex or pointed projection depending from an underside of the base 10.
The collar 20 comprises a band of material that follows the majority of a circular annular path but has a gap 23 between ends 21, 22 of the band lying on the path, so that the collar 20 is part-annular. It is to be noted that “annular” does not necessarily mean “circular”. In other embodiments to that shown, the band of material of the collar 20 may follow the majority of an annular path that is not circular, yet the collar 20 still would be part-annular. In a variation to the illustrated first embodiment, the band of material may extend fully along the circular annular path, or fully along a non-circular annular path, so that the collar 20 is annular. The collar 20 defines a substantially circular opening 25 for receiving a portion of a container 40, which container 40 will be described below. In other embodiments, the opening 25 may be other than circular. The collar 20 has an axis A-A extending through a centre of the collar 20.
The connector 30 connects the collar 20 to the base 10. In this embodiment, the connector 30 is elongate in a direction that is fixed substantially parallel to the axis A-A of the collar 20. Accordingly, the direction is either fixed parallel to the axis A-A or is at an angle of no more than about 5 degrees to the axis A-A. A first longitudinal end 31 of the connector 30 is attached to the base 10 and a second longitudinal end 32 of the connector 30 is attached to the collar 20. The collar 20 is connected to the base 10 by the connector 30 so that the axis A-A of the collar 20 is fixed at an angle of about 70 degrees to the first plane. In variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the axis A-A of the collar 20 may be fixed at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane, more preferable between 40 and 70 degrees to the first plane. The connector 30 defines therein a slot 35 extending from the opening 25 of the collar 20 towards the base 10, which slot 35 is for receiving a second portion of the container 40, as will be described below.
In the illustrated first embodiment, the collar 20 is connected to the base 10 by only the connector 30. Moreover, in the illustrated first embodiment, the connector 30 is a unitary, i.e. one-piece, member, and the collar 20 is connected to the base 10 by only the member. In a variation to the illustrated first embodiment, the connector 30 may comprise a plurality of components or members joined together, so that the collar 20 is connected to the base 10 via the plurality of components or members.
The base 10 has a top surface 12 opposite to the bottom surface 11, and in the top surface 12 there is formed a divot or channel 13 (see FIG. 3) for receiving part of a head of a toothbrush. In the present embodiment, the axis A-A intersects the base 10 adjacent the divot or channel 13 of the base 10. In a variation to the illustrated embodiment, the axis A-A of the collar 20 intersects the base 10 at the position where the divot or channel 13 is positioned on the base 10, so that the axis A-A of the collar 20 intersects the divot or channel 13.
The stand 1 is a unitary component. That is, the collar 20 is unitary with, that is integrally formed with, both the connector 30 and the base 10. Preferably, the stand 1 is formed from a rigid or hard material, such as a plastic, e.g. polypropylene. The stand 1 may have been formed by injection molding a material, or by some other process. In a variation to this embodiment, connector 30 and the collar 20 and/or base 10 may have been formed separately as distinct components and joined to each other (either by fasters, interlocking elements, or by adhesion) after their independent formation during manufacture of the stand 1.
In the illustrated first embodiment, the stand 1 is used with a container 40 comprising a flexible vessel 41, which vessel 41 comprises a sealed first end 42 and an elongate annular wall 43 extending from the sealed end 42 and defining a chamber 44 therein. Within the chamber 44 there is stored a dentifrice (not shown). At an opposite longitudinal second end 45 of the wall 43 from the first end 42, the vessel 41 has an opening (not shown) through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber 44. The container 40 also comprises a cap device 46 connected to the vessel 41 at the longitudinal second end 45 of the wall 43. The cap device 46 is of greater rigidity or hardness than the vessel 41 and defines an orifice 47 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) in fluid communication with the opening of the vessel 41, through which orifice 47 the dentifrice is dispensable from the container 40. The cap device 46 comprises a base 48, which defines the orifice 47, and a closure 49, which is connected to the base 48 by a hinge (such as a living hinge) and is movable relative to the base 48 by bending the hinge. The closure 49 is rotatable relative to the base 48 between a closed position (not shown), at which the closure 49 isolates the orifice 47 from an exterior of the container 40, and an open position (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), at which the orifice 47 is in fluid communication with the exterior of the container 40.
The collar 20 is for connecting the container 40 to the stand 1, thereby to support the container 40 at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal support surface with the orifice 47 spaced from the top surface 12 of the base 10 by approximately 20 mm and facing generally towards the divot or channel 13. In variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the spacing between the orifice 47 and the top surface 12 may be at least 10 mm, at least 15 mm, or at least 20 mm. In variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the spacing between the orifice 47 and the top surface 12 may be no more than 40 mm, no more than 30 mm, or no more than 25 mm. Moreover, the collar 20 is for connecting the container 40 to the stand 1, thereby to support the container 40 at the predetermined position relative to the horizontal support surface with the orifice 47 spaced from the horizontal support surface by approximately 25 mm. In variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the spacing between the orifice 47 and the horizontal support surface may be at least 10 mm, at least 15 mm, or at least 20 mm. In variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the spacing between the orifice 47 and the horizontal support surface may be no more than 40 mm, no more than 30 mm, or no more than 25 mm.
The cap device 46, and each of the base 48 and the closure 49 of the cap device 46, has a circular cross section. The container 40 has a longitudinal axis C-C that extends through the sealed end 42 of the vessel, perpendicularly to the respective circular cross sections of the cap device 46, base 48 and closure 49 (when at the closed position), and through the respective centre points of the respective circular cross sections of the cap device 46, base 48 and closure 49 (when at the closed position). The collar 20 is positionable around the base 48 of the cap device 46 of the container 40 with the axis A-A of the collar 20 coincident with the longitudinal axis C-C of the container 40. That is, the collar 20 is positionable around a portion of the container 40. The collar 20 has an internal diameter that is equal to or slightly greater than an external diameter of the base 48 of the cap device 46, whereby the base 48 of the cap device 46 is retainable by the collar 20 by a push-fit connection therebetween.
When using the stand 1 of the illustrated first embodiment, the closure 49 of the container 40 first is positioned at the open position, and then the base 48 of the cap device 46 is positioned in the substantially circular opening 25 of the collar 20, thereby to position the collar 20 around the base 48. When the collar 20 is positioned around the base 48 of the cap device 46, the closure 49 is at least partially received in the slot 35 of the connector 30, and the connector 30 prevents movement of the closure 49 relative to the base 48 of the cap device 46 to the closed position. The stand 1 and the container 40 (including the dentifrice) are relatively dimensioned and configured so that, when the collar 20 is positioned around the base 48 of the cap device 46 of the container 40 and the stand 1 is standing on the horizontal support surface via the contact portion 11, a centre of mass of the combination of the dentifrice dispenser stand 1 and the container 40 (including the dentifrice) is positioned vertically above the base 10. Accordingly, when the collar 20 is positioned around the base 48 of the cap device 46 of the container 40 and the stand 1 is standing on the horizontal support surface via the contact portion 11, the stand 1 stably supports the container 40 and a user needs not hold on to the container 40. Thus, the user is free to position part of a head 52 of a toothbrush 50 within the divot or channel 13, thereby to position the head 52 at an approximately fixed distance from the orifice 47. With the head 52 at this fixed distance from the orifice 47, the user need make only small adjustments to the position of the toothbrush 50 relative to the stand 1 (such as by rotating the part of the head 52 in the divot or channel 13) in order to align the head 52 with the orifice 47.
With the head 52 fully or substantially aligned with the orifice 47, the user can then focus on appropriately squeezing the vessel 41 in order to reduce the volume of the chamber 44, thereby to dispense some of the dentifrice from the chamber 44 through the opening of the vessel 41 and the orifice 47 onto the head 52 of the toothbrush 50. Accordingly, the stand 1 helps a user dispense dentifrice onto the head of a toothbrush. Once a desired volume of the dentifrice has been dispensed, the toothbrush 50 can be removed from the mount divot or channel 13 for use in an oral care session. The container 40 is then removable from the opening 25 of the collar 20 to permit movement of the closure 49 relative to the base 48 to the closed position.
In variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the collar 20 may be positionable around the vessel 41 rather than around the cap device 46. In some such variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the cap device 46 of the container 40 may be omitted, and the container 40 may comprise just the vessel 41 and a one-piece, or rigid, closure for opening and closing the opening of the vessel 41.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a dentifrice dispenser stand 2 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like reference numerals used in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5 indicate like components.
The stand 2 of the illustrated second embodiment comprises a base 10, an annular collar 20, and a connector 30 that connects the collar 20 to the base 10. Each of these components will be described in turn.
The base 10 has a trapezoidal flat bottom surface 11 lying in a first plane, which flat surface 11 acts as a contact portion of the base 10 for stably supporting the stand 2 on a horizontal surface. In a variation to the illustrated second embodiment, the flat surface 11 could be other than trapezoidal, such as circular, elliptical, annular, triangular, square or polygonal. As discussed above with reference to the first embodiment, in a further variation to the illustrated second embodiment, the base 10 may have a plurality of spaced-apart contact portions lying in the first plane for stably supporting the stand 2 on a horizontal surface.
The collar 20 comprises a band of material that extends fully along a circular annular path so that the collar 20 is annular. In other embodiments to that shown, the band of material of the collar 20 may follow an annular path that is not circular, yet the collar 20 still would be annular. The collar 20 is frusto-conical in shape and defines a substantially circular opening 25 for receiving a portion of a container 40, which container 40 will be described below. In other embodiments, the opening 25 may be other than circular. The collar 20 has an axis A-A extending through a centre of the collar 20.
The connector 30 connects the collar 20 to the base 10. In this embodiment, the connector 30 is elongate in a direction that is fixed perpendicular to the axis A-A of the collar 20 and fixed at an angle of about 50 degrees to the first plane. In a variation to this embodiment, the direction may be non-parallel to the axis A-A but not perpendicular to the axis A-A. The direction may be fixed at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane, more preferably at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees to the first plane. A first longitudinal end 31 of the connector 30 is attached to the base 10 and a second longitudinal end 32 of the connector 30 is attached to the collar 20. The collar 20 is connected to the base 10 by the connector 30 so that the axis A-A of the collar 20 is fixed at an angle of about 40 degrees to the first plane. In variations to the illustrated first embodiment, the axis A-A of the collar 20 may be fixed at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane, more preferable between 40 and 70 degrees to the first plane.
In the illustrated second embodiment, the collar 20 is connected to the base 10 by only the connector 30. Moreover, in the illustrated second embodiment, the connector 30 is a unitary, i.e. one-piece, member, and the collar 20 is connected to the base 10 by only the member. In a variation to the illustrated second embodiment, the connector 30 may comprise a plurality of components or members joined together, so that the collar 20 is connected to the base 10 via the plurality of components or members.
The base 10 has a top surface 12 opposite to the bottom surface 11. In the present embodiment, the axis A-A does not intercept the base 10 and the top surface 12 is planar. In variations to the illustrated second embodiment, the axis A-A of the collar 20 intersects the base 10. Moreover, in some such variations to the illustrated second embodiment, the axis A-A of the collar 20 intersects the base 10 at the position where a divot or channel is formed in the top surface 12 of the base 10, so that the axis A-A of the collar 20 intersects the divot or channel, or adjacent to such a divot or channel.
The stand 2 is a unitary component. That is, the collar 20 is unitary with, that is integrally formed with, both the connector 30 and the base 10. Preferably, the stand 2 is formed from a rigid or hard material, such as a plastic, e.g. polypropylene. The stand 2 may have been formed by injection molding a material, or by some other process. In a variation to this embodiment, connector 30 and the collar 20 and/or base 10 may have been formed separately as distinct components and joined to each other (either by fasters, interlocking elements, or by adhesion) after their independent formation during manufacture of the stand 2.
In the illustrated second embodiment, the stand 2 is used with a container 40 identical to that described above with reference to the first embodiment. The cap device 46 of the container 40 is detachable from the vessel 41 (see FIG. 4) to permit the collar 20 to be positioned around a funnel of the vessel 41 that defines the opening 41a of the vessel 41 with the axis A-A of the collar 20 coincident with the longitudinal axis C-C of the container 40. That is, the collar 20 is positionable around a portion of the container 40. The cap device 46 is then re-attachable to the vessel 41 to retain the collar 20 between the vessel 41 and the cap device 46 (see FIG. 5) to connect the container 40 to the stand 2, thereby to support the container 40 at a predetermined position relative to the horizontal support surface with the orifice 47 spaced from the horizontal support surface by approximately 25 mm. In variations to the illustrated second embodiment, the spacing between the orifice 47 and the horizontal support surface may be at least 10 mm, at least 15 mm, or at least 20 mm. In variations to the illustrated second embodiment, the spacing between the orifice 47 and the horizontal support surface may be no more than 40 mm, no more than 30 mm, or no more than 25 mm.
When using the stand 2 of the illustrated second embodiment, with the collar 20 retained between the vessel 41 and the cap device 46, the closure 49 is movable between the open and closed positions without hindrance by the stand 2. That is, the closure 49 does not contact the stand 2 as the closure 29 is moved between the open and closed positions. Accordingly, the closure 49 of the container 40 is movable to the open position when the container 40 is attached to the stand 2. The stand 2 and the container 40 (including the dentifrice) are relatively dimensioned and configured so that, when the collar 20 is retained between the vessel 41 and the cap device 46 and the stand 2 is standing on the horizontal support surface via the contact portion 11, a centre of mass of the combination of the dentifrice dispenser stand 2 and the container 40 (including the dentifrice) is positioned vertically above the base 10. Accordingly, when the collar 20 is retained between the vessel 41 and the cap device 46 and the stand 2 is standing on the horizontal support surface via the contact portion 11, the stand 2 stably supports the container 40 and a user need not hold on to the container 40. Thus, the user is free to align a head 52 of a toothbrush 50 with the orifice 47.
With the head 52 fully or substantially aligned with the orifice 47, the user can then focus on appropriately squeezing the vessel 41 in order to reduce the volume of the chamber 44, thereby to dispense some of the dentifrice from the chamber 44 through the opening of the vessel 41 and the orifice 47 onto the head 52 of the toothbrush 50. Accordingly, the stand 2 helps a user dispense dentifrice onto the head of a toothbrush. Once a desired volume of the dentifrice has been dispensed, the toothbrush 50 can be used in an oral care session, and the closure 49 can be moved to the closed position while the container 40 remains attached to the stand 2.
In variations to each of the first and second embodiments, the container 40 may take a different form to that illustrated, so long as the container 40 defines a chamber storing a dentifrice and has an opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber.
When the stand of any embodiment of the present invention and a container, such as the container 40, are supplied together, whether or not the collar 20 is positioned around a portion of the container, the stand and the container are together considered a kit.

Claims

1. A dentifrice dispenser stand, comprising:

a base having at least one contact portion lying in a first plane for stably supporting the stand on a horizontal surface; and

an annular, or part-annular, collar connected to the base and positionable around a portion of a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber;

wherein an axis of the collar is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane.

2. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 1, wherein the axis of the collar is at an angle of between 40 and 70 degrees to the first plane.

3. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 1, wherein the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction that is non-parallel to the axis of the collar, optionally wherein the connector is elongate in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the collar.

4. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 3, wherein the direction is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane, optionally wherein the direction is at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees to the first plane.

5. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 1, wherein the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the collar.

6. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a divot or channel for receiving part of a head of a toothbrush, optionally wherein the divot or channel is at a position on the base where the axis of the collar intersects the base.

7. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 1, wherein the dentifrice dispenser stand is a unitary component.

8. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 1, wherein the collar is frusto-conical in shape, and/or wherein the collar defines a circular opening for receiving the portion of the container.

9. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 1, wherein the collar defines an opening for receiving the portion of the container, and wherein the connector defines therein a slot extending from the opening for receiving a second portion of the container.

10. The dentifrice dispenser stand of claim 3, wherein the collar is connected to the base by only the connector.

11. A kit, comprising:

a dentifrice dispenser stand, comprising: a base having at least one contact portion lying in a first plane for stably supporting the stand on a horizontal surface, and an annular, or part-annular, collar connected to the base and positionable around a portion of a container defining a chamber storing a dentifrice and having an opening through which the dentifrice is dispensable from the chamber, wherein an axis of the collar is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane; and

the container.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the axis of the collar is at an angle of between 40 and 70 degrees to the first plane.

13. The kit of claim 1, wherein the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction that is non-parallel to the axis of the collar, optionally wherein the connector is elongate in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the collar.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the direction is at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees to the first plane, optionally wherein the direction is at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees to the first plane.

15. The kit of claim 11, wherein the collar is connected to the base via a connector that is elongate in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the collar.

16. The kit of claim 11, wherein the base comprises a divot or channel for receiving part of a head of a toothbrush, optionally wherein the divot or channel is at a position on the base where the axis of the collar intersects the base.

17. The kit of claim 11, wherein the collar defines an opening for receiving the portion of the container, and wherein the connector defines therein a slot extending from the opening for receiving a second portion of the container.

18. The kit of claim 13, wherein the collar is connected to the base by only the connector.

19. The kit of claim 11, wherein the container comprises a vessel defining the chamber, and a cap device connected to the vessel and defining an orifice in fluid communication with the opening, optionally wherein the collar is positionable around the cap device.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the vessel is flexible and the cap device is of greater rigidity than the vessel.

21. The kit of claim 19, wherein the cap device comprises a base defining the orifice and a closure movable relative to the base between a closed position, at which the closure isolates the orifice from an exterior of the dispenser, and an open position, at which the orifice is in fluid communication with the exterior of the dispenser, optionally wherein the collar is positionable around the base of the cap device.

22. The kit of claim 21, wherein the closure is movable between the open and closed positions without hindrance by the dentifrice dispenser stand.

23. The kit of claim 19, wherein the cap device is detachable from the vessel, and the collar is retainable between the vessel and the cap device.

24. The kit of claim 11, wherein, when the collar is positioned around the portion of the container and the stand is standing on the horizontal support surface via the at least one contact portion, a centre of mass of a combination of the dentifrice dispenser stand and the container is positioned vertically above the base.