Dispenser for flexible tubing

Abstract

Herein is described a dispenser of flexible tubing, for fitting to a waste disposal apparatus. The dispenser may include a compacted flexible tubing in the form of a ring; the ring typically having an aperture extending therethrough. The dispenser may comprise a flexible outer web and/or the flexible tubing, in uncompacted form, may have first and second ends, wherein, in use, the flexible tubing can be dispensed from the dispenser, such that the first end can be passed through the aperture, and the dispenser is adapted to prevent the second end of the tubing passing through the aperture of the tubing.

1 . A dispenser of flexible tubing, for fitting to a waste disposal apparatus, the dispenser comprising:
 a compacted flexible tubing in the form of a ring comprising: an aperture extending through said ring, opposing first and second annular surfaces and an outer surface extending circumferentially around the exterior of the ring and connecting the first and second annular surfaces;   a flexible outer web, which can be in a closed or an open state, such that, in a closed state, the flexible outer web extends over at least part of the first and second annular surfaces and the outer surface of the compacted flexible tubing, and extends at least part way into the aperture, the flexible outer web, in the closed state, acting to compress the compacted flexible tubing material, and, in an open state, allowing the flexible tubing to be uncompacted and dispensed from the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web extends in a substantially uncompressed manner along an inner surface of the compacted flexible tubing material, said inner surface at least partly defining the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web extends at least part way across the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web extends at least part way into the aperture and across the aperture, and, in the part that extends across the aperture, is perforated or otherwise weakened compared to the surrounding web. 
     
     
         5 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web, in its closed state, extends across the first annular surface and the aperture without substantially extending into the aperture, and extends across the second annular surface and into the aperture along the surface of the compacted flexible tubing defining the aperture, and across at least part of the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . A dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the part of the flexible outer web, which extends across the first annular surface and the aperture, has a reversibly openable closure. 
     
     
         7 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web is perforated to allow air-flow through the flexible outer web. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web comprises a material selected from a plastic film, a netting material, paper, card, and a fabric. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the flexible outer web has a plurality of perforations in the part of the web that extends over at least one of: the first annular surface, the second annular surface, the outer surface of the compacted flexible tubing and an inner surface of the compacted flexible tubing that defines the aperture. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer flexible web comprises a base web, and an outer side web and an inner side web connected to and extending from the base web, wherein, in the dispenser, the ring of compacted flexible tubing is disposed on or above the base web, the outer side web of the flexible web extends circumferentially around the outer surface of compacted flexible tubing and the inner side web of the flexible web extends around an inner surface of the ring of compacted flexible tubing, the inner surface defining the aperture in the ring of compacted flexible tubing. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the base web is annular and the outer side web and inner side web are tubular webs extending from the base web. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web comprises two flat films of the same shape, both flat films having first and second portions, the first portion having two substantially parallel edges of a distance X apart, and a second portion having two further substantially parallel edges, substantially parallel with the edges of the first portion, and of a distance Y apart, where X is more than Y, and wherein the flat films are joined to each other along their parallel edges. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser according to  claim 13  wherein, when the flexible outer web is in the closed state, the second portion extends into the aperture of the compacted flexible tubing and the first portion extends over the outer surface of the compacted flexible tubing. 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , the dispenser further comprising a hollow member having first and second ends, the first end having a width greater than the second end, and the second end having walls extending away from the first end and into the aperture of the compacted flexible tubing. 
     
     
         16 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the aperture, when viewed from above either the first or second annular surface, has an elongated shape. 
     
     
         17 . A dispenser according to according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web extends only part way around the circumference of the outer surface of the compacted flexible tubing. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser according to according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web comprises one or more bands of flexible material, each of which encircles at least one portion of the ring, such that the band of flexible material is disposed over the opposing first and second annular surfaces of the portion of the ring, extends through the aperture of the ring of flexible material and over the part of outer surface of the ring. 
     
     
         19 . A dispenser according to  claim 18 , wherein two bands are located substantially opposite one another circumferentially on the ring of compacted flexible tubing. 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A dispenser according to claim  20 , wherein the aperture, when viewed from above either the first or second annular surface, has an elongated shape, and a spacer member is located in the aperture, to prevent opposing inner surfaces that define the aperture from touching one another. 
     
     
         23 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer web is formed from the same tubing material as the compacted flexible tubing. 
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A dispenser according to claim  24 , wherein the flexible tubing, in uncompacted form, has first and second ends, wherein, in use, the flexible tubing can be dispensed from the dispenser, such that the first end can be passed through the aperture, and
 wherein the dispenser comprises a device in the form of a rigid annular member to prevent the second end of the tubing passing through the aperture.   
     
     
         27 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible tubing, in uncompacted form, has first and second ends, wherein, in use, the flexible tubing can be dispensed from the dispenser, such that the first end can be passed through the aperture, and
 wherein the second end of the flexible tubing is adhered to the outer flexible web to prevent the second end of the tubing passing through the aperture.   
     
     
         31 . A dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser further comprises a hollow member having first and second ends, the first end having a width greater than the second end, the hollow member having an aperture extending therethrough that is substantially in line with the aperture of the ring of compacted flexible tubing, such that, in use, when the flexible tubing is uncompacted and dispensed, it can pass up an exterior surface of the hollow member and through the aperture of the hollow member, into the aperture of the compacted flexible tubing. 
     
     
         32 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A dispenser of flexible tubing, for fitting to a waste disposal apparatus, the dispenser comprising:
 a compacted flexible tubing in the form of a ring having an aperture extending therethrough,   the flexible tubing, in uncompacted form, having first and second ends, wherein, in use, the flexible tubing can be dispensed from the dispenser, such that the first end can be passed through the aperture, and   wherein the compacted flexible tubing, before it passes through the aperture and when uncompacted, has an internal circumference larger than the circumference of the aperture,   and the dispenser comprises an annular member with apertures therein, to allow the flexible tubing to be inserted into the apertures, so that the flexible tubing is removably attached to the annular member to prevent the second end of the tubing from being able to expand to the internal circumference of the uncompacted flexible tubing.   
     
     
         35 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A dispenser of flexible tubing, for fitting to a waste disposal apparatus, the dispenser comprising:
 a compacted flexible tubing in the form of a ring comprising: an aperture extending through said ring, opposing first and second annular surfaces and an outer surface extending circumferentially around the exterior of the ring and connecting the first and second annular surfaces;   an outer packaging, which can be in a closed or an open state, such that, in a closed state, the outer packaging extends over at least part of the first and second annular surfaces and the outer surface of the compacted flexible tubing, and extends at least part way into the aperture, the outer packaging, in the closed state, acting to compress the compacted flexible tubing material, and, in an open state, allowing the flexible tubing to be uncompacted and dispensed from the dispenser.