DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A STRUCTURALLY FLEXIBLE ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a structurally flexible element.

[0002] Devices for dispensing structurally flexible elements are used in many fields of technology, especially when disposable items such as paper towels or rubber gloves need to be provided repeatedly and without great effort. It is important, on the one hand, that a large number of disposable items are stored in the device, and, on the other hand, that when a disposable item is removed from the device, only one single disposable item is actually dispensed at a time without damaging the other disposable items stored in the device. At the same time, the prerequisite is created that the disposable item to be removed subsequently can be removed from the device under the same conditions.

[0003] Such devices comprise a receiving means, such as a box, and an opening through which a disposable article can be removed. Typically, the disposable articles stored in the device are connected to one another, for example, by having a fold at their end that engages with a fold at the end of another disposable article. When a first disposable article is removed, the interlocking of the two folds causes the next disposable article to be pulled out of the opening far enough that this next disposable article can be removed by simply pulling it out of the opening and thus from the device as a whole.

[0004] Depending on the strength of the connection between the first disposable and the next disposable, and also depending on the intensity with which the first disposable is removed from the device by the user, the next disposable may be inadvertently removed from the device completely, resulting in unnecessary waste. Conversely, it is possible that the next disposable is only pulled out of the opening to such an extent that the user is unable to grasp one end of the disposable and remove it from the device.

[0005] State-of-the-art devices for dispensing structurally flexible elements address the above-mentioned shortcomings by providing the opening of the device with a guide for the disposable article. This guide can, for example, be a film applied over the opening of the device, which offers a certain resistance to the removal of the individual disposable article. The result is that if excessive force is applied when removing the disposable article, part of the force is absorbed by the guide, thus preventing excessive or unintentional complete removal or pulling out of the next disposable article. Conversely, the guide requires a certain controlled application of force when removing the disposable article, thus ensuring reliable removal from the device.

[0006] However, prior art devices for dispensing a structurally flexible element that incorporate a guide means still have deficiencies when removing a structurally flexible element. Particularly when the structurally flexible element is a paper, such as a paper towel, the subsequent paper towel slips backward when removing a first paper towel, making its removal more difficult.

[0007] US 2019 / 0308113 A1 relates to a toy for promoting child development comprising a container and a set of flexible wipes.

[0008] US 2018 / 0339815 A1 relates to a lid assembly for a container.

[0009] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for dispensing a structurally flexible element which avoids the disadvantages of the corresponding devices according to the prior art.

[0010] A further object underlying the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a structurally flexible element, in which, when a first structurally flexible element is removed, slipping back of a structurally flexible element to be subsequently removed from the device is prevented.

[0011] These and further objects are achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim appended hereto; preferred embodiments emerge from the appended dependent claims.

[0012] More specifically, these and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a device for dispensing a structurally flexible element comprising a receiving means for receiving at least one structurally flexible element and a dispensing means connected to the receiving means, and wherein the dispensing means comprises a dispensing means outlet opening for the structurally flexible element, wherein the dispensing agent outlet opening comprises a guide means for the structurally flexible element, wherein the guide means is connected to the dispensing agent outlet opening, the guide means comprises at least a first and a second guide means, wherein the first guide means or a part of the first guide means and the second guide means or a part thereof are made of an elastic material, wherein the first guide means has a guide means passage opening for the structurally flexible element and the second guide means has a guide means passage opening for the structurally flexible element, characterized in that the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and the guide means passage opening of the second guide means independently of one another have an elongated shape with a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis,wherein the length of the guide means passage opening along the first axis is greater than the length of the guide means passage opening along the second axis, wherein the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and the guide means passage opening of the second guide means are aligned with one another, that the structurally flexible element has a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the structurally flexible element has a length along the first axis and at one end of the length along the first axis a first further structurally flexible element is arranged and at the other end of the length along the first axis a second further structurally flexible element is arranged, and that the structurally flexible element is connected to the first further structurally flexible element and / or the second further structurally flexible element by a detachable connection, wherein the detachable connection is a perforation.

[0013] In one embodiment, it is provided that the guide means passage opening is designed such that the structurally flexible element fans out when passing through the guide means passage opening.

[0014] In one embodiment, it is provided that the shape of the guide means passage opening changes over the length of the first axis and / or over the length of the second axis, preferably the length of the second axis decreases towards the middle of the length of the first axis.

[0015] In one embodiment, it is provided that the guide means passage opening is formed in the shape of a column, wherein the column formed by the guide means passage opening has one or more constrictions.

[0016] In one embodiment, it is provided that the guide means passage opening is designed in a shape, wherein the shape is selected from the group comprising a waisted shape, a dumbbell-shaped shape and a figure-eight shape.

[0017] In one embodiment, it is provided that the one or more constrictions are designed such that the one or more constrictions grip the structurally flexible element.

[0018] In one embodiment, it is provided that the mold comprises a constriction and the constriction is designed such that the constriction grips the structurally flexible element.

[0019] In one embodiment, it is provided that the first guide means or a part of the first guide means and / or the second guide means or a part thereof is made of a rubber material, preferably the material is a material with a Shore hardness of approximately 40 to 60, more preferably with a Shore hardness of approximately 60.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment thereof, it is provided that the part of the first guide means made of the rubber material and / or the part of the second guide means made of the rubber material forms the one or more constrictions and / or the constriction.

[0021] In one embodiment, the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and the guide means passage opening of the second guide means are identical. In the device according to the invention, the guide means passage opening of the first guide means is aligned with the guide means passage opening of the second guide means.

[0022] In one embodiment, it is provided that the first and second guide means are arranged on the side of the dispensing means facing the receiving means.

[0023] In one embodiment, it is provided that the structurally flexible element is fanned out after passing through the guide means passage opening of the second guide means or after passing through the guide means passage opening of the second and the first guide means, and the dispenser means outlet opening is dimensioned such that it does not impair the fanning out of the structurally flexible element through the dispenser means outlet opening.

[0024] In one embodiment, it is provided that the dispensing means comprises a dispensing means sleeve, preferably the dispensing means sleeve has an inner diameter which is equal to or greater than the length of the guide means passage opening of the first and / or the second guide means along the first axis.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment thereof, it is provided that a counter sleeve is arranged in the dispenser sleeve, wherein the counter sleeve preferably has an inner diameter which is equal to or greater than the length of the guide means passage opening of the first and / or the second guide means along the first axis.

[0026] In a more preferred embodiment thereof, it is provided that the counter sleeve fixes the first and the second guide means to the dispensing means, preferably fixed in such a way that the guide means passage opening of the first and / or the second guide means is arranged within the dispensing means outlet opening.

[0027] In one embodiment, it is provided that the structurally flexible element is contained in the receiving means for receiving at least one structurally flexible element in a plurality.

[0028] In one embodiment, the structurally flexible element is a plucking cloth.

[0029] The present inventor has surprisingly found that with the use of at least a two-piece guide means, preferably a two-piece guide means, when removing a first structurally flexible element from a device according to the invention which contains a plurality of such structurally flexible, interconnected elements, it is ensured that the structurally flexible element to be subsequently removed is already pulled out of the dispenser outlet opening with the removal of the first structurally flexible element to such an extent that it can be reliably gripped by a user and in particular does not slip back, and can thus be reliably removed from the device.Furthermore, the present inventor has surprisingly found that with the device according to the invention, reliable removal of the structurally flexible elements is ensured regardless of how the device is arranged in three-dimensional space, i.e. the device according to the invention can be arranged both horizontally and vertically. Furthermore, the present inventor has surprisingly found that with the device according to the invention, especially when the multiple structurally flexible elements present in the device are wipes or paper towels that are connected to one another and the connection has a provided dividing line due to a perforation, reliable separation of the individual structurally flexible elements takes place at the provided dividing line and thus the integrity of the individual structurally flexible element, e.g. the individual wipe orof the individual paper towel.

[0030] Without wishing to be bound by this in the following, the present inventor assumes that the at least two-part design of the guide means is accompanied by the process of fanning out the structurally flexible element. Fanning out the structurally flexible element is advantageous in that it enables particularly advantageous gripping of the structurally flexible element and thus removal of the structurally flexible element from the device according to the invention. Furthermore, fanning out the structurally flexible element is also advantageous in that the effectively usable surface of the structurally flexible element, or at least a significant portion of the surface, is already available upon removal of the structurally flexible element from the device according to the invention, and the structurally flexible element does not have to be unfolded or manipulated by the user to provide this surface.

[0031] Furthermore, the present inventor assumes that with the at least two-part design of the guide means, the process of separating a first structurally flexible element from a second structurally flexible element to be subsequently removed from the device can be divided as follows.

[0032] The first structurally flexible element is pulled out of the device through the dispensing agent outlet opening and thus also through the at least two-part guide means comprising a first guide means and a second guide means, wherein the first structurally flexible element passes through the passage opening of the first guide means and the second guide means. The first guide means is arranged closer to the receiving means of the device than the second guide means. If the device does not comprise a receiving means, wherein, preferably, the structurally flexible element is fed directly to the dispensing agent without the latter being present as such or as a plurality in a separate container or receiving means, the structurally flexible element first passes through the first guide means and then through the second guide means before it exits the dispensing agent and more precisely the dispensing agent outlet opening.Preferably, the first and second guide means are arranged in a dispenser sleeve, wherein the dispenser sleeve provides or encompasses the dispenser outlet opening. In one embodiment, the first and second guide means are fixed in the dispenser sleeve, and more precisely at the dispenser outlet opening, by means of a counter sleeve.

[0033] The first structurally flexible means is pulled through the dispenser outlet opening until the subsequent, second structurally flexible means protrudes from the dispenser, preferably from the dispenser outlet opening, to such an extent that, after separation from the first structurally flexible means, it can be grasped by a user and subsequently completely removed from the device according to the invention. The second structurally flexible element is fixed in its position by the guide means passage opening of the first and / or second guide means, wherein the fixation is preferably substantially maintained even when the first structurally flexible element is separated from the second structurally flexible element by a user of the device according to the invention.The position is fixed at least to the extent that the second structurally flexible element remains at least partially in the dispensing means when separated from the first structurally flexible element.

[0034] In one embodiment of the device according to the invention for dispensing a structurally flexible element, said device comprises a receiving means, wherein the receiving means contains a plurality of structurally flexible elements or is at least suitable for receiving a plurality of structurally flexible elements. Preferably, the structurally flexible elements are detachably connected to one another, wherein a structurally flexible element is connected to a subsequent structurally flexible element and, if present, optionally also to a preceding structurally flexible element. Preferably, the terms preceding and following refer to the order in which the structurally flexible elements are removed from the device.

[0035] It is within the scope of the present invention that the starting material for the individual structurally flexible element or the packaging for the starting material for the individual structurally flexible element as such is a receiving means within the meaning of the invention claimed.

[0036] According to the present invention, the dispensing means is connected to the receiving means. The connection can be detachable or non-detachable. Options for making such a connection detachable are known to those skilled in the art and include, among others, a connection selected from the group comprising a screw connection or a plug connection. Options for making such a connection non-detachable are known to those skilled in the art and include, among others, an adhesive connection. A non-detachable connection can further be formed in that the dispensing means and the receiving means are or become non-detachably connected to one another during production, for example by production using an injection molding process; in this embodiment, the device according to the invention, and in particular the dispensing means and the receiving means, are manufactured as a unit and thus in one piece.

[0037] It is within the scope of the present invention that the receiving means and the dispensing means of the device according to the invention for dispensing a structurally flexible element are designed as two pieces. In this embodiment, the dispensing means can be designed substantially as a plate or - if necessary, to match the shape of the receiving means - as a lid. With the two-piece design of the receiving means, it can be provided that the receiving means is detachably connected to the dispensing means. In the embodiment in which the receiving means and the dispensing means are designed as two pieces, it can be provided that the receiving means and the dispensing means are arranged spatially separately and, optionally, have no direct connection to one another. In this embodiment, the connection between the receiving means and the dispensing means can be made by the structurally flexible elements connected to one another, for example.A paper roll can be produced with perforations arranged at regular intervals, wherein the distance between the perforations preferably defines the length of the individual structurally flexible element. Alternatively, the receiving means can also be non-releasably connected to the dispensing means.

[0038] It is within the scope of the present invention that the receiving means and the dispensing means of the device according to the invention for dispensing a structurally flexible element are formed together in one piece.

[0039] According to the present invention, it is provided that the dispensing means of the device for dispensing a structurally flexible element comprises an outlet opening through which the structurally flexible element can be removed from the receiving means and thus from the device. This outlet opening of the dispensing means is also referred to herein as the dispensing means outlet opening. The dispensing means outlet opening, in turn, comprises a guide means for guiding the structurally flexible element when the structurally flexible element is removed from the device. In one embodiment, it is provided that the guide means is an at least two-part guide means comprising a first part, also referred to herein as the first guide means, and a second part, also referred to herein as the second guide means.

[0040] The dispenser outlet opening is preferably designed such that it is larger overall than the passage opening of the guide means and, preferably, larger than the passage opening of the first and second parts of the guide means. As a result of this design, the structurally flexible element practically does not come into contact with the dispenser outlet opening during removal from the device, preferably at least not in such a way that the removal behavior and / or the fanning out of the structurally flexible element is impaired by the dispenser outlet opening. The design of the dispenser outlet opening preferably serves primarily to provide an abutment or support surface for the guide means.In one embodiment, it is provided that the shape of the dispenser outlet opening of the passage opening of the first part (also referred to as guide means passage opening of the first guide means) and / or the second part of the guide means (also referred to as guide means passage opening of the second guide means) basically follows, but this does not have to be the case.

[0041] Possibilities for detachably implementing a connection between the guide means and the dispensing agent outlet opening are known to those skilled in the art and include, among others, a connection selected from the group comprising a screw connection or a plug connection. It is also within the scope of the present invention for the connection to be formed by the guide means being pressed or pushed against the dispensing agent outlet opening. The latter can be formed, for example, by the dispensing means having a dispensing agent sleeve, and the guide means being fixed in the dispensing agent sleeve with a counter sleeve, so that the guide means preferably rests against the dispensing agent outlet opening or is fixed there.In one embodiment, it is provided that the dispensing means sleeve comprises a thread and the counter sleeve comprises a complementary thread, so that the dispensing sleeve and the counter sleeve can be connected to one another by the threads. Options for making such a connection non-detachable are known to those skilled in the art and include, among other things, an adhesive connection. A non-detachable connection can further be formed in that the dispensing means outlet opening and the guide means are or become non-detachably connected to one another during production, for example by production using an injection molding process; in this embodiment, the device according to the invention and in particular the dispensing means and the guide means are manufactured as a unit and thus in one piece.

[0042] According to the present invention, the guide means is connected to the outlet opening of the dispenser. It is within the scope of the present invention that the guide means and the dispenser means are formed in two pieces, wherein the guide means and the dispenser means are connected to one another either detachably or non-detachably.

[0043] It is also within the scope of the present invention that the guide means and the dispensing means are formed together in one piece.

[0044] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the device according to the invention the first guide means is arranged relatively closer to the receiving means or the plurality of structurally flexible elements which are not contained in a receiving means than the second guide means. Accordingly, when a structurally flexible element is removed from the device, it will first come into contact with the first guide means or pass through the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and then come into contact with the second guide means or pass through the guide means passage opening of the second guide means.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the at least two-piece guide means is arranged on the side of the dispensing means that faces the receiving means or the plurality of structurally flexible elements that are not contained in a receiving means. In this embodiment, it is thus provided that the at least two-piece guide means is arranged from the dispensing means in the direction of the receiving means or the plurality of structurally flexible elements that are not contained in a receiving means, in particular when the device according to the invention is designed such that it has a substantially closed shape and the only opening to the environment is the dispensing means outlet opening with the further means arranged thereon. In this embodiment, the at least two-piece guide means is thus arranged within the device.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, the at least two-piece guide means is arranged on the side of the dispensing means that faces away from the receiving means or the plurality of structurally flexible elements that are not contained in a receiving means. If the device according to the invention is designed such that it has a substantially closed shape and the only opening to the environment is the dispensing agent outlet opening with the additional means arranged thereon, then in this embodiment the guide means is arranged outside the device.

[0047] Finally, in one embodiment, it is provided that one part of the at least two-piece guide means is mounted on the side of the dispensing means facing the receiving means or the plurality of structurally flexible elements that are not contained in a receiving means, and the other part of the at least two-piece guide means is mounted on the side of the dispensing means facing away from the receiving means or the plurality of structurally flexible elements that are not contained in a receiving means.In this embodiment, it is provided that one part, more precisely the first guide means, is arranged inside the device and the other part, more precisely the second guide means, is arranged outside the device when the device according to the invention is designed such that it has a substantially closed shape and the only opening to the environment is the dispenser outlet opening of the dispenser with the further means arranged thereon.

[0048] The at least two-piece guide means can be made from a variety of materials, provided that these allow the above-described effect of the first and second guide means to occur, i.e. the stopping effect and the fixing effect on the structurally flexible element. Preferably, the first guide means and / or the second guide means are made from an elastic material, preferably a rubber-like material or rubber itself. It is preferred that both the first and the second guide means are made from such a material, preferably from the same material. However, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the first and the second guide means are made from different materials. In one embodiment, it is provided that the first guide means is designed to be somewhat less elastic or flexible than the guide means.In one embodiment, the surface quality of the first guide means differs from the surface quality of the second guide means. One parameter suitable for determining the above-mentioned different surface quality is the roughness of the surface and / or the material of the first and / or second guide means.

[0049] The device according to the invention for dispensing a structurally flexible element comprises at least one first guide means with a passage opening, also referred to herein as the guide means passage opening of the first guide means, and a second guide means with a passage opening, also referred to herein as the guide means passage opening of the second guide means. In one embodiment, it is provided that the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and the guide means passage opening of the second guide means are designed identically. In an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and the guide means passage opening of the second guide means are designed differently.

[0050] In a device according to the invention, it is provided that the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and the guide means passage opening of the second guide means are aligned with one another. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the guide means passage opening of the first guide means and the guide means passage opening of the second guide means are identical.

[0051] In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the guide means passage opening has a shape that is different from a round shape. In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the shape of the guide means passage opening is defined by a first axis and a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to one another. Preferably, the length of the guide means passage opening along the first axis is greater than the length of the guide means passage opening along the second axis. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the guide means passage opening is designed such that the circumferential line defining the guide means passage opening does not form any angles; it is preferred that the circumferential line consists of straight and curved sections or exclusively curved sections.

[0052] In a further preferred embodiment, the shape of the guide means passage opening varies along the length of the first axis and / or along the length of the second axis. It is particularly preferred that the length of the opening decreases along the second axis.

[0053] In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the guide means passage opening is designed in the shape of a column, wherein the column preferably has one or more constrictions or narrow points. In one embodiment, it is provided that the one structurally flexible means is fixed in position by this one or more narrow points, thereby ensuring that with the removal of a first structurally flexible element to be removed, the subsequently structurally flexible element to be removed has already been or will be pulled out of the dispensing agent outlet opening to such an extent that it can be reliably grasped by a user and, in particular, does not slip back behind the dispensing agent outlet opening.In a further embodiment, it is provided that the one or more constrictions or narrow points in the guide means passage opening cause the structurally flexible element to be removed to fan out.

[0054] In one embodiment, the one or more constrictions or narrow points are formed in that the guide means passage opening has a waisted shape, is in the shape of a figure eight or is dumbbell-shaped.

[0055] In one embodiment, it is provided that the first and / or the second guide means, preferably both the first and the second guide means, are made of an elastic material. Preferably, the elastic material is a rubber material. The rubber material preferably has a Shore hardness of approximately 40 to 70, preferably one of 40 to 60, and most preferably 60. In one embodiment, it is provided that only a part of the first and / or second guide means is made of such a material, wherein preferably the part of the first and / or second guide means is the part that forms the one or more constrictions or narrow points of the guide means passage opening.

[0056] In one embodiment, the first part of the guide means fixes the structurally flexible element. The fixation of the structurally flexible element is such that, without the application of additional external force, e.g., by a user who wishes to remove the structurally flexible element from the device according to the invention, there is no, or at least no significant, change in the positioning of the structurally flexible element in the device according to the invention or in the guide means, and more precisely in the first part of the guide means. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that at least a certain influence on the shape of the structurally flexible element also occurs through the second part of the guide means.This is particularly the case if the width of the structurally flexible element is greater than the width of the outlet opening of the dispensing means and / or the width of the first and / or second part of the guide means.

[0057] In one embodiment, the structurally flexible element is a disposable article. In one embodiment, the structurally flexible element is a wipe. In an alternative embodiment, it is a paper towel.

[0058] According to the invention claimed, the detachable connection between two structurally flexible elements is a performance incorporated into the material from which the two structurally flexible elements are made.

[0059] In one embodiment, it is provided that the plurality of structurally flexible elements contained in the device according to the invention and preferably in the receiving means thereof are present as a stack or as a roll, wherein the structurally flexible elements of the stack or the roll are detachably connected to one another.

[0060] The present invention is explained below with reference to the attached figures, from which further advantages, features and embodiments of the invention emerge.

[0061] This shows Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a schematic representation of a device according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a schematic representation of a device according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a first part of the guide means 5 and a second part of a guide means as used in an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a dispensing means of a device according to the invention; and Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a device according to the invention.

[0062] Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a schematic representation of a device 1 according to the invention for dispensing a structurally flexible element. The device for dispensing a structurally flexible element 1 comprises a receiving means 2 for receiving a plurality of structurally flexible elements and a dispensing means 3 with a dispensing means outlet opening 4 through which a structurally flexible element 7 can be removed from the device 1. A guide means comprising a first part 5a and a second part 5b is arranged in the dispensing means 3.

[0063] Fig. 2 shows a top view of a schematic representation of the device 1 according to the invention. The dispensing means 3 rests on the receiving means 2 with its dispensing means outlet opening 4. The second part 5b of the guide means with a dumbbell-shaped guide means passage opening 6b is visible through the dispensing means outlet opening 4. The straight area between the circular ends of the guide means passage opening represents a constriction of the guide means passage opening, which serves to secure the structurally flexible means.This constriction further serves to prevent an uncontrolled slipping back of the structurally flexible means behind the dispensing means outlet opening 4 in the direction of the receiving means 2 with the result that the latter can no longer be grasped by a user; it also serves to prevent an uncontrolled, typically complete escape or slipping out of the structurally flexible means from the dispensing means outlet opening 4 with the result that the structurally flexible element is unnecessarily removed from the device 1.

[0064] Fig. 3A shows a top view of the second part 5b of the guide means and Fig. 3B a view of the first part 5a of the guide means.

[0065] The Fig. 3A The passage opening 6b of the second part 5b of the guide means shown has a dumbbell shape, wherein the opening of the guide means passage opening 6b is smallest in the middle and the boundary lines or parts of the circumferential line of the guide means passage opening 6b almost touch, so that the structurally flexible element 7, such as a smear cloth, is clamped and thus fixed, which is thus fixed in the constriction of the guide means passage opening 6b. The position of the structurally flexible element only changes when an external force is applied that overcomes the force with which the structurally flexible element is held in the guide means passage opening 6b, for example the force with which a user of the device pulls on the clamped structurally flexible element.

[0066] The Fig. 3B The guide means passage opening 6a of the first part 5a of the guide means shown is elongated and designed such that the withdrawal of a structurally flexible element 7 from the device 1 through the guide means passage opening 6a is only counteracted by a force that is insufficient to release the detachable connection between two interconnected structurally flexible elements. In an alternative embodiment, the second guide means 5a is constructed identically to the second guide means 5b, in particular with regard to the guide means passage opening 6a. This alternative embodiment of the guide means passage opening 6a of the first part 5a of the guide means is shown in Fig. 3C shown. In the device 1, the guide means passage openings 6b and 6a are arranged so that they are aligned.

[0067] Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a dispensing means 3 of the device 1 according to the invention. The dispensing means 3 comprises a dispensing sleeve 3a with a dispensing means outlet opening 4 and an external thread 3aa, a rubber ring 3b, a threaded nut 3c, a counter sleeve 3d with an internal thread corresponding to the external thread 3aa, and a cover guide sleeve 3e. The dispensing means 3 constructed in this way can be screwed directly into a receiving means 2. Alternatively, the dispensing means 3 constructed in this way can be attached to a surface, and the receiving means can be arranged spatially separate.

[0068] The two-part guide means comprises a first part 5a and a second part 5b. Both the first part 5a and the second part 5b have a passage opening 6a and 6b.

[0069] Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of the device 1 according to the invention. The dispensing means 3, which has a Fig. 4 described structure, is attached to a vertical surface 8, for example a wall. A wipe 7 protrudes from the outlet opening 4 of the dispensing means 3 and, in this position, which is essentially defined by the guide means passage opening 6b of the second guide means 5b, can be easily removed by the user in a fanned-out manner. It will be appreciated that the precise shape of the structurally flexible element 7 protruding from the dispensing means outlet opening 4 is determined depending on the flexibility and / or elasticity of the material from which the structurally flexible element is made, and also by the design, in particular the shape of the passage opening 6b of the second guide means 5b and / or the dispensing means outlet opening 4.

[0070] The material for the structurally flexible element, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a paper roll and which in this embodiment is a plucking cloth 7 from which the individual element or plucking cloth is obtained by tearing off by the device 1 according to the invention, is present in a separate receiving means 2. It is within the scope of the present invention that the starting material for the individual structurally flexible element 7 or the packaging for the starting material for the individual structurally flexible element 7 as such is a receiving means within the meaning of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device (1) for dispensing a structurally flexible element (7) comprising a receiving means (2) for receiving at least one structurally flexible element (7) and a dispensing means (3) connected to the receiving means (2), and wherein the dispensing means (3) comprises a dispensing means outlet opening (4) for the structurally flexible element (7), wherein the dispensing means outlet opening (4) comprises a guiding means (5a, 5b) for the structurally flexible element (7), wherein the guiding means (5a, 5b) is connected to the dispensing means outlet opening (4), the guiding means (5a, 5b) comprises at least a first (5a) and a second (5b) guiding means, wherein the first guiding means (5a) or a part of the first guiding means (5a) and the second guiding means (5b) or a part thereof are made of an elastic material, wherein the first guiding means (5a) has a guiding means passage opening (6a) for the structurally flexible element (7) and the second guiding means (5b) has a guiding means passage opening (6b) for the structurally flexible element (7), wherein the guiding means passage opening (6a) of the first guiding means (5a) and the guiding means passage opening (6b) of the second guiding means (5b) have, independently of one another, an elongate shape with a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the length of the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) along the first axis is greater than the length of the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) along the second axis, characterized in that the guiding means passage opening (6a) of the first guiding means (5a) and the guiding means passage opening (6b) of the second guiding means (6b) are aligned with one another, and that the structurally flexible element (7) has a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the structurally flexible element (7) has a length along the first axis and a first further structurally flexible element (7') is arranged at one end of the length along the first axis and a second further structurally flexible element (7") is arranged at the other end of the length along the first axis, and that the structurally flexible element (7) is connected to the first further structurally flexible element (7') and / or the second further structurally flexible element (7") by a detachable connection, wherein the detachable connection is a perforation.

2. The device (1) of claim 1, characterized in that the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) is designed such that the structurally flexible element (7) fans out when passing through the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b).

3. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the shape of the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) changes over the length of the first axis and / or over the length of the second axis, preferably the length of the second axis decreases towards the middle of the length of the first axis.

4. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) is designed in the form of a gap, wherein the gap formed by the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) has one or more constrictions.

5. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) is designed in a shape, wherein the shape is selected from the group comprising a waisted shape, a dumbbell-shaped shape and a shape of a horizontal figure eight.

6. The device (1) of any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the one or more constrictions are designed such that the one or more constrictions grip the structurally flexible element (7).

7. The device (1) of any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the shape comprises a constriction and the constriction is designed such that the constriction grips the structurally flexible element (7).

8. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first guiding means (5a) or a part of the first guiding means (5a) and / or the second guiding means (5b) or a part thereof is made of a rubber material, preferably the material is a material with a Shore hardness of about 40 to 60, more preferably with a Shore hardness of about 60, wherein preferably the part of the first guiding means (5a) and / or the part of the second guiding means (5b) forms the one or more constrictions and / or the constriction.

9. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guiding means passage opening (6a) of the first guiding means (5a) and the guiding means passage opening (6b) of the second guiding means (5a) are designed identically, wherein preferably in the device (1) the guiding means passage opening (6a) of the first guiding means (5a) is aligned with the guiding means passage opening (6b) of the second guiding means (5b).

10. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first (5a) and the second (5b) guiding means are arranged on the side of the dispensing means (3) facing the receiving means (2).

11. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the structurally flexible element (7) is fanned out after passing through the guiding means passage opening (6b) of the second guiding means (5b) or after passing through the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) of the second (5b) and the first (5a) guiding means, and that the dispensing means outlet opening (4) is dimensioned such that it does not impair the fanning out of the structurally flexible element (7) by the dispensing means outlet opening (4).

12. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the dispensing means (3) comprises a dispensing means sleeve (3a), preferably the dispensing means sleeve (3a) has an inner diameter which is equal to or greater than the length of the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) of the first (5a) and / or the second (5b) guiding means along the first axis, wherein preferably a counter sleeve (3d) is arranged in the dispensing means sleeve (3a), wherein preferably the counter sleeve (3d) has an inner diameter which is equal to or greater than the length of the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) of the first (5a) and / or the second (5b) guiding means along the first axis, still more preferably the counter sleeve (3d) fixes the first (5a) and the second (5b) guiding means to the dispensing means (3), preferably fixes them in such a way that the guiding means passage opening (6a, 6b) of the first (5a) and / or the second (5b) guiding means is / are arranged inside the dispensing means outlet opening (4).

13. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a plurality of the structurally flexible element (7) is contained in the receiving means (2) for receiving at least one structurally flexible element (7).

14. The device (1) of any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the structurally flexible element (7) is a plucking cloth.