Hygiene system for dispensing hygiene product

Abstract

A hygiene system for dispensing a hygiene product includes a container within which the hygiene product is contained and from which the hygiene product is dispensed. The container includes a nozzle that defines an opening through which the hygiene product is dispensed. A valve is movable between an opened valve position, in which the hygiene product is dispensed through the opening and past the valve, and a closed valve position, in which the valve restricts a flow of the hygiene product through the opening and past the valve. A dispense structure is attached to the container and movable with respect to the nozzle. The dispense structure is movable between an opened dispense position and a closed dispense position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hygiene system for dispensing a hygiene product, the hygiene system comprising:
 a container within which the hygiene product is contained and from which the hygiene product is dispensed, the container comprising a nozzle that defines an opening through which the hygiene product is dispensed;   a valve attached to the nozzle and positioned in proximity to the opening, the valve movable between an opened valve position, in which the hygiene product is dispensed through the opening and past the valve, and a closed valve position, in which the valve restricts a flow of the hygiene product through the opening and past the valve; and   a dispense structure attached to the container and movable with respect to the nozzle, the dispense structure movable between an opened dispense position, in which the hygiene product is dispensed through the opening and past the dispense structure when the valve is in the opened valve position, and a closed dispense position, in which the dispense structure is configured to block the valve and restrict the flow of the hygiene product past the dispense structure.   
     
     
         2 . The hygiene system of  claim 1 , comprising a biasing device configured to apply a biasing force to the dispense structure to bias the dispense structure towards the closed dispense position. 
     
     
         3 . The hygiene system of  claim 1 , comprising a seal attached to the nozzle and projecting from the nozzle towards the dispense structure, the seal contacting a surface of the dispense structure as the dispense structure moves between the opened dispense position and the closed dispense position. 
     
     
         4 . The hygiene system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a substantially planar support wall, the nozzle extending substantially perpendicularly from the support wall. 
     
     
         5 . The hygiene system of  claim 4 , wherein the dispense structure defines a dispense opening through which the hygiene product is dispensed when the dispense structure is in the opened dispense position and the valve is in the opened valve position. 
     
     
         6 . The hygiene system of  claim 5 , wherein the dispense opening is substantially aligned with the valve when the dispense structure is in the opened dispense position, the dispense opening not aligned with the valve when the dispense structure is in the closed dispense position. 
     
     
         7 . A hygiene system for dispensing a hygiene product, the hygiene system comprising:
 a container within which the hygiene product is contained and from which the hygiene product is dispensed, the container comprising a nozzle that defines an opening through which the hygiene product is dispensed;   a valve attached to the nozzle and positioned in proximity to the opening, the valve movable between an opened valve position, in which the hygiene product is dispensed through the opening and past the valve, and a closed valve position, in which the valve restricts a flow of the hygiene product through the opening and past the valve; and   a dispense assembly comprising:
 a housing attached to the container; 
 a dispense structure supported within the housing and movable with respect to the nozzle, the dispense structure movable between an opened dispense position, in which the hygiene product is dispensed through the opening and past the dispense structure when the valve is in the opened valve position, and a closed dispense position, in which the dispense structure is configured to block the valve and restrict the flow of the hygiene product past the dispense structure; and 
 a biasing device supported within the housing, the biasing device configured to apply a biasing force to the dispense structure to bias the dispense structure towards the closed dispense position. 
   
     
     
         8 . The hygiene system of  claim 7 , wherein the housing defines a first housing channel, positioned on a first side of the nozzle, and a second housing channel, positioned on a second side of the nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . The hygiene system of  claim 8 , wherein the dispense structure comprises a first dispense portion and a second dispense portion, the first dispense portion of the dispense structure disposed in the first housing channel, the second dispense portion of the dispense structure disposed in the second housing channel. 
     
     
         10 . The hygiene system of  claim 9 , wherein the biasing device is supported within the second housing channel of the housing, the biasing device engaging the second dispense portion of the dispense structure. 
     
     
         11 . The hygiene system of  claim 10 , wherein a first end of the biasing device is configured to engage the housing, a second end of the biasing device configured to engage the dispense structure. 
     
     
         12 . The hygiene system of  claim 7 , wherein the dispense structure is substantially non-planar. 
     
     
         13 . A hygiene system for dispensing a hygiene product, the hygiene system comprising:
 a container within which the hygiene product is contained and from which the hygiene product is dispensed, the container comprising a nozzle that defines an opening through which the hygiene product is dispensed;   a valve attached to the nozzle and positioned in proximity to the opening, the valve movable between an opened valve position, in which the hygiene product is dispensed through the opening and past the valve, and a closed valve position, in which the valve restricts a flow of the hygiene product through the opening and past the valve;   a dispense assembly comprising:
 a housing attached to the container; 
 a dispense structure supported within the housing and movable with respect to the nozzle, the dispense structure movable between an opened dispense position, in which the hygiene product is dispensed through the opening and past the dispense structure when the valve is in the opened valve position, and a closed dispense position, in which the dispense structure is configured to block the valve and restrict the flow of the hygiene product past the dispense structure; and 
 a biasing device supported within the housing, the biasing device configured to apply a biasing force to the dispense structure to bias the dispense structure towards the closed dispense position; and 
   a seal attached to the nozzle and projecting from the nozzle towards the dispense structure, the seal contacting a surface of the dispense structure as the dispense structure moves between the opened dispense position and the closed dispense position.   
     
     
         14 . The hygiene system of  claim 13 , wherein the dispense structure defines a dispense opening through which the hygiene product is dispensed when the dispense structure is in the opened dispense position and the valve is in the opened valve position. 
     
     
         15 . The hygiene system of  claim 14 , wherein the dispense opening is substantially aligned with the valve when the dispense structure is in the opened dispense position, the dispense opening not aligned with the valve when the dispense structure is in the closed dispense position. 
     
     
         16 . The hygiene system of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing device is positioned within a first housing channel, defined within the housing, positioned on a first side of the nozzle. 
     
     
         17 . The hygiene system of  claim 16 , wherein the biasing device is configured to be compressed when the dispense structure moves to the opened dispense position. 
     
     
         18 . The hygiene system of  claim 13 , wherein the dispense structure comprises a first dispense portion, a second dispense portion, and a central dispense portion, the central dispense portion positioned between the first dispense portion and the second dispense portion. 
     
     
         19 . The hygiene system of  claim 18 , wherein the first dispense portion has a length that is different than the second dispense portion. 
     
     
         20 . The hygiene system of  claim 19 , wherein the first dispense portion has a shorter length than the second dispense portion.