Patent Publication Number: US-2012024881-A1

Title: Smoking Article Dispenser

Description:
The present invention relates to a dispenser for smoking articles such as cigarettes and, more particularly, to a dispenser for smoking articles having a smoking article indexing and ejection mechanism. 
     Various dispensers of smoking articles are known in the art which comprise a portable housing and means to dispense a single smoking article at a time from the dispenser. However, such known dispensers suffer a number of drawbacks, including awkward, unreliable, cumbersome and/or complex dispensing mechanisms. Furthermore, conventional dispensers are generally configured such that a user has to manually load individual cigarettes one at a time. The present invention seeks to provide an improved dispenser for smoking articles which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     In order to address the issues related to the prior art dispensers, a dispenser has been developed that includes a reloadable cartridge-based solution. The dispenser of the invention facilitates significant design flexibility and a variety of casings and smoking article cartridges may be implemented. 
     Accordingly, in an implementation, the present invention provides a smoking article dispenser comprising a dispenser housing configured to receive a cartridge of smoking articles, wherein the dispenser housing interior is configured with elements to dispense a smoking article when the cartridge is actuated between a first and second position. 
     The dispenser may further comprise a chassis configured to engage the cartridge, index and dispense smoking articles situated in the cartridge. 
     The dispenser housing may include a depressable lateral end wall portion that engages and shifts the cartridge between the first and second positions. 
     The dispenser may further comprise a linking element operatively connected with the depressable lateral end wall portion. The linking element may also be operatively connected to actuate a lifting arm between a smoking article engagement position and a smoking article dispensing position. 
     The chassis may include a plurality of cartridge engagement ribs configured to index and advance the smoking articles within the cartridge. 
     The lateral side walls of the chassis may be formed with the cartridge engagement ribs. 
     The dispenser may further comprise a cartridge to receive smoking articles, and the cartridge may further comprise a smoking article indexing piston, and the smoking article indexing piston may interact with the cartridge engagement ribs to index and advance the smoking articles in the cartridge as the cartridge shifts between the first and second positions. The smoking article indexing piston may include side wings configured to extend through apertures formed in the smoking article cartridge to engage the cartridge engagement ribs. 
     The dispenser housing may be configured with a resealable dispensing aperture 
     The dispenser may further comprise a displaceable aperture cover portion, which may be configured to be actuated between a first position covering the resealable dispensing aperture and a second position uncovering the resealable dispensing aperture as the lateral wall portion of the dispenser is depressed. 
     The cartridge may include smoking article advancement stops formed as a plurality of ridges on an interior surface of the cartridge. The cartridge may further include a plurality of smoking article advancement stops formed as a plurality of saw tooth elements on an interior surface of the cartridge. 
     In another implementation, the present invention provides a dispenser comprising a chassis defining a chamber to slideably receive a cartridge of smoking articles having an opening for discharge of said smoking articles from the cartridge, the chassis being configured such that when a cartridge is received in the chamber and slid relative to the chassis together with the smoking articles in a first direction, the chassis cooperates with the cartridge to allow return movement of the cartridge relative to the smoking articles in the opposite direction, thereby discharging a smoking article from the opening in the cartridge to enable it to be dispensed from the dispenser. 
     Preferably, the dispenser comprises a biasing element configured such that movement of the cartridge together with the smoking articles relative to the chassis in said first direction is against a force provided by the biasing element so that the cartridge returns in the opposite direction relative to the smoking articles upon release. 
     Preferably, the dispenser comprises a smoking article receiving element slideable together with a cartridge, said receiving element being configured to receive a smoking article discharged from a cartridge through said opening when the cartridge and the receiving element move relative to the smoking articles in said opposite direction. 
     Preferably, the dispenser may comprise a dispensing aperture in the chassis, the smoking article receiving element being configured such that movement in said opposite direction moves said receiving element into a position in which a smoking article received in said receiving element is aligned with said dispensing aperture. 
     The receiving element preferably moves together with the smoking article received in the receiving element into a position in which said received smoking article is aligned with said dispensing aperture. 
     The chassis preferably has first and second ends and the chamber is preferably configured to receive a cartridge of smoking articles such that the longitudinal axis of each smoking article extends between said first and second ends, the cartridge being slideable within the chassis in a lateral direction extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said smoking articles to discharge a smoking article from the opening in the cartridge into the receiving element in said lateral direction. 
     Preferably, the dispensing aperture is formed in the first end of the chassis such that a smoking article received in the receiving element is aligned with the dispensing aperture in a longitudinal direction. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises a lifting mechanism to push an aligned smoking article in a longitudinal direction out of the receiving element through the aperture in the first end of the chassis. 
     The lifting mechanism preferably actuates in response to movement of the cartridge in said opposite direction, and preferably includes a lifting element to contact a lower end of an aligned smoking article and a lever that cooperates with said lifting element to lift said element when the cartridge moves in said opposite direction. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises a slot in the receiving element, said lifting member preferably being slideably received in said slot for movement towards and away from said dispensing aperture. 
     Said lifting member preferably has a pair of parallel pins spaced from each other in said longitudinal direction and the lever comprises an arm having one end that is slideably received between said pins. 
     The lever is preferably pivotally mounted to the chassis at the other end of the arm and comprises an actuating element for rotating the lever about said pivot to lift said lifting member. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises a post on the chassis and a hook at said other end of the arm that extends around the post to pivotally mount the lever to the chassis, said actuating element being formed at the free end of the hook. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises a track on the chassis, said actuating element extending across said track. 
     A follower is preferably slideably received in the track and is preferably configured so that it moves relative to the chassis along said track during movement of the cartridge relative to the chassis. 
     Preferably, the track forms a complete circuit so that the follower returns to its starting position having travelled the full length of the track. 
     The follower preferably engages the actuating element towards the end of the track such that further movement of the follower along said track rotates said lever to lift the lifting element and push an aligned smoking article in a longitudinal direction through the aperture. 
     Preferably, following rotation of the lever, the follower rides over the actuating element back into its start position such that the lever at least partially rotates under its own weight in the opposite direction to lower the lifting member. 
     Preferably, the follower engages the actuating element as it moves along the track at the beginning of a subsequent movement of the cartridge in a first direction to rotate the partially rotated lever further in said opposite direction to completely lower the lifting member. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises a cover to cover an open end of the chassis through which a cartridge can be inserted into the chassis and the cover preferably forms a user-operable button to which pressure is applied to move the cartridge relative to the chassis. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises an outer casing surrounding the chassis and has an aperture therein to correspond with the dispensing aperture in the chassis for the passage of smoking articles therethrough. 
     The dispenser preferably includes a cartridge to contain smoking articles removably positionable within the chassis. 
     The cartridge preferably comprises a piston configured to move together with the cartridge in said first direction. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises a ratchet mechanism that permits return movement of the cartridge relative to said piston and smoking articles contained in the cartridge. 
     The ratchet mechanism preferably comprises a flexible pawl on the piston that protrudes through an opening in the cartridge, and a series of spaced, fixed cooperating elements formed on the chassis, wherein the flexible pawl flexes and passes over a fixed cooperating member on the chassis when the piston moves together with the cartridge in said first direction, said flexible pawl binding against said fixed cooperating member to prevent movement of the piston when the cartridge moves in said opposite direction. 
     Preferably, the fixed cooperating elements are spaced by at least the diameter of a smoking article contained in the cartridge such that the cartridge moves relative to the piston by a distance sufficient to enable a smoking article to be discharged from the cartridge. 
     The dispenser preferably comprises cooperating members between the piston and the cartridge to retain the piston in position relative to the cartridge as the cartridge moves in the first direction. 
     The cooperating members preferably comprise a series of ribs on the cartridge and a flexible tip on the piston, wherein the flexible tip flexes and passes over a rib when the cartridge moves in said opposite direction relative to the piston, and wherein said flexible tip binds against a rib to prevent movement of the piston relative to the cartridge in the first direction. 
     The present invention also provides a cartridge for a dispenser comprising a chassis, as described above, comprising a housing having side walls and an open end wall for the discharge of smoking articles from the cartridge, and a piston slideably received in the cartridge, the piston comprising a flexible pawl extending through an opening in the side wall for engagement with corresponding cooperating elements in the chassis. 
     Preferably, a flexible tab extends from a side wall across the open end wall to prevent smoking articles from falling out through said open end wall prior to insertion into a dispenser. 
     Preferably, the cartridge comprises cooperating members between the piston and the cartridge to retain the piston in position relative to the cartridge as the cartridge moves in the first direction. 
     The cooperating members preferably comprise a series of ribs on the cartridge and a flexible tip on the piston, wherein the flexible tip flexes and passes over a rib when the cartridge moves in said opposite direction relative to the piston, and wherein said flexible tip binds against a rib to prevent movement of the piston relative to the cartridge in the first direction. 
     The invention also provides a method of operating a dispenser comprising a chassis defining a chamber and a cartridge of smoking articles slidably received in the chamber and having an opening for discharge of said smoking articles from the cartridge, comprising sliding the cartridge relative to the chassis together with the smoking articles in a first direction, the chassis cooperating with the cartridge to allow return movement of the cartridge relative to the smoking articles in the opposite direction, and discharging a smoking article from the opening in the cartridge to enable it to be dispensed from the dispenser. 
     Preferably, the dispenser includes a biasing element configured, the method preferably including moving the cartridge together with the smoking articles relative to the chassis in said first direction against a force provided by the biasing element and the cartridge returning in the opposite direction relative to the smoking articles upon release. 
     Preferably, the dispenser includes a receiving element slideable together with a cartridge, the method preferably including a smoking article discharged from the cartridge through said opening being received in said receiving element when the cartridge and the receiving element move relative to the smoking articles in said opposite direction. 
     Preferably, the dispenser comprises a dispensing aperture in the chassis, the method preferably including moving said receiving element into a position in which a smoking article received in said receiving element is aligned with said dispensing aperture when the smoking article receiving is moved in said opposite direction. 
     The method preferably comprises moving the receiving element together with the smoking article received in the receiving element into a position in which said received smoking article is aligned with said dispensing aperture. 
     The method preferably further comprising pushing the aligned smoking article in a longitudinal direction out of the receiving element though an aperture in the chassis. 
     Depending on the implementation, the dispensing aperture and the dispensed smoking articles may be configured with complementary aperture/axial shapes. For example, the dispenser aperture may be configured as an oval, square, triangle or other shape particularly suited to dispense complementary shaped smoking articles. 
    
    
     
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a dispenser of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded front perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  including a cartridge of the invention for use with the dispenser; 
         FIGS. 3A to 3D  are sequential perspective views of the dispenser and cartridge of  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing the stages of a dispensing operation with the internal features of the lifting arm visible; 
         FIGS. 4A to 4D  are sequential perspective views of the dispenser and cartridge, similar to that of  FIGS. 3A to 3D  showing the stages of a dispensing operation, but with the internal features of the cartridge and chassis visible; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a perspective views from each side of the outer casing of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4  with a respective side portion of the outer casing shown in dashed lines in each view; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cartridge of the invention as shown in  FIG. 2 , for use in the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 , filled with a charge of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the cartridge of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a blank of the cartridge of  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the blank of the cartridge of  FIG. 8  with one side folded; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the blank of the cartridge of  FIGS. 8 and 9  with both sides folded; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the blank of the cartridge of  FIGS. 8 to 10  with both sides folded and the tabs forming the ratchet teeth on the top and bottom sides folded inwards; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the blank of the cartridge of  FIG. 11  with the bottom side folded upwards to from the bottom face of the cartridge; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the blank of the cartridge of  FIG. 12  with the top side folded downwards to form the top face of the cartridge; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the blank of the cartridge of  FIG. 13  from the opposite side, with the end tab folded over; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the cartridge of  FIG. 14  showing the ratchet teeth on the insides of the top and bottom faces in dashed lines; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a first portion of a piston of the cartridge; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a second portion of the piston of the cartridge; 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  are perspective views of the end door of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a lifting arm of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIGS. 20A and 20B  are perspective views of a lifting arm support member of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a receiver element of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a lifting foot of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a linkage of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a leaf spring of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a side view showing internal details of the dispenser of  FIGS. 1 to 4  but with an alternative cartridge of the invention in place of the first-described cartridge of  FIGS. 6 to 17  of the invention; 
         FIG. 26  is side view of the alternative cartridge of the invention of  FIG. 25  showing internal details but with the piston omitted; 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of the piston of the alternative cartridge of the  FIGS. 25 and 26 ; 
       FIGS.  28 A 1  to  28 D 2  are a series of schematic sequential side views and corresponding plan views of a dispenser of the invention combined with the alternative cartridge of the invention showing the stages of a dispensing operation, with internal features visible; and 
         FIGS. 29A-29C  are a series of schematic sequential plan views showing the movement of the piston within the alternative cartridge of in the invention. 
     
    
    
     Annex  1  and Annex  2  illustrate side/top views of additional aspects of components described above in a progression of component positions for indexing and dispensing smoking articles. 
     For the purposes of the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein, reference to smoking articles to be dispensed from the dispensers of the invention are described as ‘cigarettes’, but it should be understood that this term shall be taken as meaning any smoking article, not necessarily limited to cigarettes. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 24 , a cigarette dispenser  100  of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown and includes an outer casing  110  and an end door  112  pivotably mounted to an open end  110   a  of the outer casing  110  to open and close the open end  110   a  of outer casing  110 . The end door  112  is also slidably mounted to the outer casing  110  such that when the end door  112  is in the closed position and covers the open end  110   a  of the outer casing  110 , it can slide into the outer casing  110  and thereby function as a user-operable button during operation of the dispenser  100 , as will be described in more detail hereafter. The end door  112  includes hinge projections  112   a  (see  FIG. 18B ) which are received in a channel  110   b  (see  FIG. 2 ) in the inside of the outer casing  110  to enable the sliding and pivoting movement described above. 
     The dispenser  100  includes a chassis  120  (see  FIG. 2 ) within the outer casing  110  which defines a chamber configured to receive a cartridge  150  of cigarettes ‘S’. The chassis  120  and cartridge  150  are configured such that once a cartridge  150  is fully inserted into the chamber of the chassis  120 , the cartridge  150  is slidable within the chassis  120  in a reciprocating movement. 
     The chassis  120  includes two side walls  124 , and a top wall  126 , a bottom wall  128  and an end wall  130  which together define the chamber. The chamber is open at one end  132  opposite the end wall  130  for the insertion of the cartridge  150  into the chamber. The top wall  126  includes a dispensing aperture  126   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) through which cigarettes are dispensed from the dispenser  100 . The outer casing  110  also includes a dispensing aperture  110   c  which is aligned with the dispensing aperture  126   a  of the chassis  120 . Depending on the implementation, the dispensing aperture  110   c  in the outer casing  110  may be closed off by an actuatable cover element that keeps the cigarettes in the dispenser  100  fresh. In an implementation, such a cover may be actuated into an open position as the end door  112  is actuated by a user to dispense a cigarette S and is then closed after the cigarette has been dispensed. 
     The chassis  120  is retained within the outer casing  110  by means of a locking key  114  which extends from the outside of the outer casing  110 , though an end wall thereof, and engages with a corresponding cooperating means  120   a  formed on the end wall  130  of the chassis  120 . Such engagement may comprise a press-fit, snap-fit or any other suitable engagement means or element within the scope of the invention. 
     The inside face of each chassis side wall  124  includes a plurality of vertical ribs  134  (see  FIGS. 2 and 25 ) protruding therefrom regularly spaced along the length of each chassis side wall  124 . The spacing of each rib  134  corresponds approximately to the diameter of the cigarettes within a cartridge  150  which are to be dispensed from the dispenser  100 . 
     An implementation of a cartridge  150  of the invention, for use with the dispenser  100 , is shown in  FIGS. 6 to 17 , and is formed from a blank  152  of card (see  FIG. 8 ) which is folded as shown in  FIGS. 9 to 14 . The cartridge  150  (shown assembled in  FIG. 14 ) comprises two side walls  154 , a top wall  156 , a bottom wall  158  and an end wall  160  which together define a space within the cartridge  150  to contain the cigarettes S. The cartridge  150  is open at one end  162  opposite the end wall  160  for the movement of cigarettes S out of the cartridge  150  during a dispensing operation. One side wall  154  includes a side tab  164  which is folded across the open end  162  and attached to the opposite side wall  154 . Each side wall  154  includes a large aperture  154   a  formed therein. The top and bottom walls  156 ,  158  each include a series of ratchet teeth  156   a ,  158   a  (see  FIGS. 8-12 ) extending therefrom, such that when the blank  152  is formed, the ratchet teeth  156   a ,  158   a  are folded at right angles to the top wall  156  and bottom wall  158  respectively (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). When the portions of the blank  152  comprising the top wall  156  and bottom wall  158  are then folded to form the constructed cartridge  150 , the ratchet teeth  156   a  of the top wall  156  extend downward toward the bottom wall of the cartridge  150  parallel to and disposed against the respective adjacent side walls  154 , and the ratchet teeth  158   a  of the bottom wall  158  extend upward toward the top wall of the cartridge  150  parallel to and disposed against the respective adjacent side walls  154 . 
     A piston  170  (see, for example,  FIG. 7 ) is provided within the cartridge  150  to push the row of cigarettes S through and out of the cartridge  150  during dispensing operations as will be described hereafter, and comprises an elongate element  172  which is of a generally square ‘U’-shape in cross-section (see  FIGS. 7 and 16 ) and, a panel element  174  which is attached to the elongate element  172  proximate the middle of its front face  172   a . The panel element  174  includes lateral side wings  174   a  which are angled outwardly and rearwards, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 17 . The lateral side wings  174   a  are elastically resilient such that if deflected inwards, they will naturally tend to return to their original outwardly protruding position. 
     The piston  170  is received within the cartridge  150  with the front face  172   a  nearest the chassis open end  132  and the side wings angled away from the chassis open end  132 . The piston  170  is configured such that when it is received within the cartridge  150 , the side wings  174   a  of panel element  174  extend though the apertures  154   a  in the side walls  154 . 
     The chassis  120  further comprises a leaf spring  136  and a receiver  138  (see, for example,  FIG. 2 ). The leaf spring  136  is located at the far end of the chamber within the chassis  120  against the end wall  130 , and the receiver  138  is also located at the far end of the chamber within the chassis  120  situated adjacent to and abutting against the leaf spring  136 . The receiver  138  comprises an elongate cuboid member of substantially square cross-section, with an open cigarette-receiving channel  138   a  formed along a length of the receiver  138  which is aligned with the dispensing aperture  126   a  in the top wall  126  of the chassis  120 . The receiver  138  further comprises two small guide slots  138   b , one formed in each of opposing side walls of the receiver  138 . The guide slots  138   b  extend from the bottom of the receiver  138  in communication with the channel  138   a  upwards along a portion of the height of the receiver  138 . A lifting foot  140  (see  FIGS. 2 and 22 ) is provided which comprises a platform  140   a  disposed within the channel  138   a  with a pair of vertical arms  140   b  extending upwardly from the platform  140   a  and which are disposed in respective ones of the guide slots  138   b . Each vertical arm  140   b  includes a pair of guide pins  140   c  extending perpendicularly outwards from each vertical arm  140   b  though the respective adjacent guide slot  138   b  in the receiver  138 . Each of the side walls  124  of the chassis  120  also includes a guide slot  124   a  aligned with the guide slot  138   b  in the respective side of the receiver  138  such that the guide pins  140   c  extend through the chassis side wall guide slots  124   a , as well as the though the receiver guide slots  138   b . The chassis guide slots  124   a  in the side walls  124  are contoured at their base to form a generally ‘L’ shaped configuration (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3D ,  4 A- 4 D and  19 - 20 B, the chassis  120  further includes a lifting arm  180  comprising an inner arm  182  held in a support member  184 . The support member  184  has an aperture  184   a  at one end which locates on a support lug  186  protruding from one side wall  124  of the chassis  120 . The opposite end of the inner arm  182  from the aperture  184   a  is disposed between upper and lower guide pins  140   c  of the lifting foot  140  such that rotational movement of the lifting arm  180  about the support lug  186  causes the lifting foot  140  to be raised and lowered within the channel  138   a  of the receiver  138  and guide slots  138   b ,  124   a  in the receiver  138  and chassis side walls  124  respectively. 
     The chassis side wall  124  on which the lifting arm  180  is mounted also includes a pair of bosses  188  situated laterally (see, for example,  FIGS. 2 ,  3 B,  4 B) between the guide slot  124   a  and the support lug  186 . The bosses  188  are vertically spaced from one another and are configured to constrain movement of the lifting arm  180 . The bosses  188  thereby serve to define the upward and downward limits of movement of the lifting arm  180  as the support member  184  abuts against them. 
     The same side wall  124  of the chassis  120  which supports the lifting arm  180  also includes a guide track  190  formed thereon defined by a curved protruding wall element upstanding from the face of the side wall  124 . The guide track  190  is positioned above the support lug  186  and comprises an elongate teardrop loop defined around an island element  190   a  (see  FIGS. 2 and 25 ), and the converging part at the point of the ‘teardrop’ shaped loop is directly above the support lug  186 . The inner arm  182  of the lifting arm  180  includes a portion which extends around the support lug  186  and outwards in a radial direction of the support lug  186  and terminates to provide a contact end  182   a  (see  FIGS. 2 ,  3 C/ 4 C,  19 ) disposed in the converging portion of the guide track  190 . Thereby, movement of the contact end  182   a  of the inner arm  182  causes the lifting arm  180  to pivot about the support lug  186  within the confines of the bosses  188 , and thereby causes the lifting foot  140  to be raised or lowered. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 23 , a linkage element  192  is coupled between the end door  112  and the chassis  120  and comprises a bar with a first coupling pin  192   a  extending therefrom and rotatably received in an aperture  112   b  in the end door  112  (see  FIG. 18B ), and a second coupling pin  192   b  extending from the opposite side of the opposite end of the bar, which is retained within the guide track  190 . Thereby, reciprocating movement of the end door  112  relative to the chassis  120  causes the second coupling pin  192   b  to travel around the guide track  190  around the island element  190   a  as the linkage element  192  pivots about the first coupling pin  192   a . Further, the linkage element  192  is configured and located relative to the support member  184  of the lifting arm  180  such that as the end door  112  moves in a first forward direction, the linkage element  192  rests on the support member  184  and the second coupling pin  192   b  is led along the top portion of the guide track  190  and, as the end door  112  moves in the opposite return direction, the second coupling pin  192   b  continues around and back on the lower portion of the guide track  190 . 
     Operation of the cigarette dispenser  100  of the invention, in combination with a cartridge  150  of the invention, will now be described, with particular reference to  FIGS. 3A to 3D  and  4 A to  4 D. Firstly, a user pivots the end door  112  open to expose the open end  110   a  of outer casing  110 . A cartridge  150  filled with cigarettes S is inserted into the chamber of the chassis  120  until the open end  162  of the cartridge  150  abuts the receiver  138 . In this position, the cartridge  150  is fully inserted within the chassis  120  and the end of the cartridge  150  proximate the end wall  160  extends a short way out of the open end  132  of the chassis  120 . The end door  112  is then shut to close the outer casing  110  with the inner face of the end door  112  just in contact with the end wall  160  of the cartridge  150  and the second coupling pin  192   b  located in the guide track  190 . The dispenser  100  is then ready for use. 
     To dispense a cigarette S from the dispenser  100 , a user pushes the end door  112  as an operating button inwards towards and into the outer casing  110 . The end door  112  engages and actuates the end wall  160  of the cartridge  150  to cause the cartridge  150  to slide forwards further into the chamber  122  of chassis  120 . This is shown in the movement from  FIG. 3A to 3B  and  FIG. 4A to 4B . As this happens, the uppermost and lowermost corners of the elongate element  172  of the piston  170  act as pawls and bind against the ratchet teeth  156   a ,  158   a  of the cartridge  150  (as illustrated in Annex  1 ) and thereby the piston  170 , together with the smoking articles ahead of the piston  170 , is forced to move forwards together with the cartridge  150  within and relative to the chassis  120 . As the piston  170  moves forwards within the chassis  120 , the side wings  174   a  of the piston  170  are deflected inwards in order to ride over and past the next vertical rib  134  on the inside of the side wall  124  of the chassis  120 , forward of their starting position. After riding over and past each vertical rib  134 , the side wings deflect back outwards. Simultaneously, the cartridge  150  pushes against the receiver  138  which moves forwards together with the cartridge  150  and compresses the leaf spring  136  against the end wall  130  of the chassis  120 . The lifting foot  140  moves forward with the receiver  138  such that the guide pins  140   c  locate in the bottom forward-most part of the ‘L’ shape of the guide slots  124   a  in the side walls  124  of the chassis  120 . During this movement, the second coupling pin  192   b  moves forwards in the upper part of the guide track  190  and pushes against and passes over the contact end  182   a  of the lifting arm  180 , rotating the lifting arm  180  downwards about the support lug  186  to its lowermost position with the support arm  184  abutting against the bottom boss  188 . The distal end of the inner arm  182  located between the guide pins  140   c  of the lifting foot  140  causes the lifting foot to be in its lowered position, although at this stage it is held at this level by being within the forward-most part of the ‘L’ shape of the guide slots  124   a  in the side walls  124  of the chassis  120 . 
     As the user releases the end door  112 , the biasing force exerted by the compressed leaf spring  136  pushes the receiver  138  and abutting cartridge  150  backwards in the opposite direction to return to the start position. However, the side wings  174   a  of the piston  170  now act as pawls and bind against the vertical ribs  134  on the inside of the side wall  124  of the chassis  120  which they previously rode over on the forward movement and thereby prevent the piston  170  from moving backwards and returning with the cartridge  150 . This causes the cartridge  150  to move backwards under the force of the leaf spring  136  but the piston  170  and row of cigarettes S ahead of the piston  170  remain stationary in the advanced position relative to the chassis  120 . This causes the lead cigarette S within the cartridge  150  to be pushed out of the cartridge open end  162 . As the cartridge  150  moves backwards relative to the chassis  120  and to the piston  170 , the uppermost and lowermost corners of the elongate element  172  of the piston  170  ride over the adjacent ratchet teeth  156   a ,  158   a  of the cartridge  150  and locate against the flat vertical face  159  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the next ratchet teeth  156   a ,  158   a  of the cartridge  150 . 
     As the receiver  138  moves backwards under the force of the leaf spring  136 , it moves towards the stationary row of cigarettes S and engages the lead cigarette S just ejected from the cartridge  150 , into the channel  138   a . The lifting foot  140 , at this time, also moves backwards with the receiver  138  so that the lead cigarette S becomes located on top of the platform  140   a  and, simultaneously, the second coupling pin  192   b  begins to travel along the lower return path in the guide track  190  below the island element  190   a . The channel  138   a  in the receiver moves into alignment with the dispensing apertures  126   a ,  110   c  in the chassis  120  and outer casing  110 , respectively. This part of the dispensing operation is shown in the movement from  FIG. 3B to 3C  and  FIG. 4B to 4C . 
     Finally, as the end door  112  and cartridge  150  reach the end of the backward movement and return to the starting position again, the second coupling pin  192   b  moves backwards in the lower part of the guide track  190  until it reaches and pushes against the contact end  182   a  of the lifting arm  180 , thereby rotating the lifting arm  180  upwards about the support lug  186  to its uppermost position with the support arm  184  abutting against the upper boss  188 . This causes the distal end of the inner arm  182  located between the guide pins  140   c  of the lifting foot  140  to lift the lifting foot  140  upwards to its raised position, as the guide pins  140   c  travel upwards within the guide slots  138   b ,  124   a  of the receiver  138  and the side walls  124  of the chassis  120 . This causes the lead cigarette to be lifted upwards on the platform  140   a  and out of the dispensing apertures  126   a ,  110   a  in the chassis  120  and outer casing  110  respectively. This part of the dispensing operation is shown in the movement from  FIG. 3C to 3D  and  FIG. 4C to 4D . 
     At the very end of its movement, the second coupling pin  192   b  passes over the contact end  182   a  of the lifting arm  180 , and is therefore ready to repeat the above-described process by pushing and rotating the lifting arm  180  downwards again on the next dispensing operation. However, after the second coupling pin  192   b  passes over the contact end  182   a  of the lifting arm  180 , the lifting foot  140  and lifting arm  180  may naturally fully or partially drop under their own weight, although this does not affect subsequent dispensing operations. 
     The above-described dispensing process is repeated for each cigarette S to be dispensed from the cartridge  150  out of the dispenser  100 , and each time, the piston  170  indexes forwards relative to the cartridge  150  and chassis  120  by the ratchet mechanism comprising the side wings  174   a  on the vertical ribs  134  and elongate member  172  ends on the ratchet teeth  156   a ,  158   a . When the cartridge  150  is empty, the forwards movement of the cartridge  150  pushes the piston  170  forwards right to the open end  162  of the cartridge  150  such that the side wings  174   a  engage with the edges of the apertures  154   a  and are deflected inwards as the piston  170  is further advanced so that they lie flat against the side walls  154  of the cartridge. In this position, they are out of snagging engagement with the vertical ribs  134  on the inside walls  124  of the chassis  120 . A user may then open the end door  112  and easily remove the spent cartridge  150  and replace it with a fresh full cartridge  150 . The dispenser  100  is then reloaded and ready for use as described above. 
     The invention described above includes a dispenser  100 , a cartridge  150  for use with the dispenser  100  and a dispenser  100  in combination with the cartridge  150 . An alternative embodiment of a cartridge  250  of the invention will now be described which is also suitable for use with the same dispenser  100  as already described, and so detailed description of the dispenser  100  will not be repeated. 
     The alternative embodiment of a cartridge  250  of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 25 to 28D  and comprises a housing comprising two side walls  254 , a top wall  256 , a bottom wall  258  and an end wall  260  which together define a space within the cartridge  250  to contain the cigarettes S. The cartridge  250  is open at one end  262  (see  FIG. 26 ) opposite the end wall  260  for the movement of cigarettes S out of the cartridge  250  during an above-described dispensing operation. Each cartridge side wall  254  includes a large aperture  254   a  formed therein. Each of the cartridge top and bottom walls  256 ,  258  include a series of horizontal ribs  256   a ,  258   a  extending inwardly therefrom across the width of the respective wall  256 ,  258 . The ribs  256   a ,  258   a  in each series are regularly spaced along the length of each side respective wall  256 ,  258  and the spacing corresponds approximately to the spacing of the vertical ribs  134  of the chassis side walls  124 , which correspond approximately to the diameter of the cigarettes within the cartridge  250  which are to be dispensed from the dispenser  100 . 
     A piston  270  (see  FIGS. 25 and 27 ) is provided within the cartridge  250  to push the row of cigarettes S through and out of the cartridge  250  during dispensing operations as described above, and comprises an elongate element  272  which is a generally rigid and rectangular flat panel. The elongate element  272  has a pair of lateral side wings  274 , one wing extending from approximately the middle of each of the long side edges, and which are angled outwardly and rearwards (when the cartridge is inserted into the dispenser). The piston  270  also includes a pair of end tabs  276 , one extending from each of the top and bottom edges of the elongate element  272  and which are also angled outwardly and rearwards (when the cartridge is inserted into the dispenser). 
     The piston  270  is received within the cartridge  250  orientated such that the side wings  274  and end tabs  276  angled away from the open end  262  with the end tabs  276  resting against the top and bottom walls  256 ,  258  of the cartridge  250  between the ribs  256   a ,  258   a . The piston  270  is configured such that when it is received within the cartridge  250 , the side wings  274  extend though the apertures  254   a  in the side walls  254 . Furthermore, both the side wings  274  and the end tabs  276  are elastically resilient and so when caused to be deflected inwards, exert a return biasing force in an outward direction. 
     The operation of the dispenser  100  in use with the alternative cartridge  250  of the invention is very similar to that described above with the first-described cartridge  150 , and so will not be repeated here in its entirety. Only the function of the differing features will be described. 
     To dispense a cigarette S from the dispenser  100 , end door  112  is pushed inwards towards and into the outer casing  110 . The end door  112  pushes the end wall  260  of the cartridge  250  to cause the cartridge  250  to slide forwards further into the chamber of chassis  120 . This is shown schematically in the movement from FIG.  28 A 1  to  28 C 1  and  28 A 2  to  28 C 2 . As this happens, the end tabs  276  of the piston  270  act as pawls and bind against the horizontal ribs  256   a ,  258   a . Thereby, the piston  270 , together with the smoking articles ahead of the piston  270 , is forced to move forwards with the cartridge  250  relative to the chassis  120 . As the piston  270  moves forwards within the chassis  120 , the side wings  274  of the piston  270  are deflected inwards (see arrows P 1  in FIG.  28 B 2  and  FIG. 29B ) as they are made to ride over and past the next vertical rib  134  on the inside of each side wall  124  of the chassis  120 , forward of their starting position. Having past the next vertical rib  134 , the side wings  274  spring outwards under their elastic resilience (see arrows P 2  in  FIG. 28C  and  FIG. 29C ) and then locate against the forward edge of the vertical ribs  134  they just passed over. Simultaneously, the cartridge  250  pushes against the receiver  138  which moves forwards together with the cartridge  250  and compresses the leaf spring  136  against the end wall  130  of the chassis  120  as described previously. 
     As the user releases the end door  112 , the biasing force exerted by the compressed leaf spring  136  pushes the receiver  138  and abutting cartridge  250  backwards to return to the start position. However, the side wings  274  of the piston  270  now act as pawls and bind against the vertical ribs  134  on the inside of each side wall  124  of the chassis  120  which they previously rode over on the forward movement and thereby prevent the piston  270  from returning with the cartridge  250 . This causes the cartridge  250  to move backwards under the force of the leaf spring  136  but the piston  270  and row of cigarettes S ahead of the piston  270  remain stationary in the advanced position relative to the chassis  120 . A lead cigarette S in the cartridge  250  is pushed out of the cartridge open end  262 . As the cartridge  250  moves backwards relative to the chassis  120  and to the piston  270 , the end tabs  276  of the piston  270  ride over the next adjacent horizontal rib  256   a ,  258   a  and locate thereagainst. This position is shown in  FIG. 28D , in which the cartridge  250  is returned to the starting position and the leading cigarette S has been pushed from the cartridge  250  (and is shown partially elevated in  FIG. 28D ) and may be dispensed from the dispenser  100  as described above. The remaining steps of the dispensing operation are as already described. 
     Although an exemplary embodiment of the dispenser of the invention and two exemplary embodiments of the cartridge of the invention for use in such a dispenser have been described above, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to these embodiments within the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims hereafter, the invention also including a dispenser in combination with a cartridge. Any combinations of non-mutually exclusive features described above are intended to fall within the scope of the invention. 
     The first-described cartridge  150  is intended to be made from card, although may be made from other suitable materials such as plastic, or a combination of materials (for example, the piston  170  may be made from plastic and the blank  172  of the cartridge  150  made from card, or vice versa). Also, although the piston  170  of the first cartridge  150  is described as being made from two separate components, it may equally be made integrally as single body. 
     Similarly, the alternative cartridge embodiment  250  may be made from any suitable material such as plastic or card, or a combination of materials. Also, although the piston  270  of the second cartridge  250  is described as being made as single integral body, it may equally be made from two or more separate components joined together. 
     The cartridge  150 / 250  is intended to be a replaceable and disposable component with which the dispenser  100  can be reloaded with a new full cartridge  150 / 250  once all of the cigarettes in the previous cartridge  150 / 250  have been dispensed and said previous cartridge  150 / 250  removed from the chassis  120  and discarded. 
     The first-described cartridge  150  is shown as including a side tab  164  which extends across the open end  162  of the cartridge  150 . This is intended to retain the cigarettes within the cartridge  150  during manufacture, packing and distribution, until the end user is ready to load the cartridge  150  into the dispenser  100 . At this point, the user breaks the tab  164  manually by tearing or otherwise, prior to insertion of the cartridge  150  into the dispenser  100 . However, the tab may be breakable upon first dispensing operation, for example, if a line of weakness is provided in the tab  164  such that when the piston  170  is first indexed forwards relative to the cartridge  150 , the lead cigarette S breaks the tab  164  to allow it to be dispensed. The second described cartridge  250  may include such a retaining and/or breakable tab within the scope of the invention. 
     In both the first-described cartridge  150  and the alternative cartridge  250 , the cartridge  150 / 250  may be initially supplied with the piston  170 / 270  positioned back within the cartridge  150 / 250  proximate the rear wall  160 / 260  thereof such that the side wings  174   a / 274  of the piston  170 / 270  are restrained within the cartridge  150 / 250  between the side walls  154 / 254 , and not extending through the large apertures  154   a / 254   a  in the side walls  154 / 254 . Then, upon an initial dispensing operation of the dispenser  100  as described above, the piston  170 / 270  is moved towards the open end  162 / 262  of the cartridge  150 / 250  until the side wings  174   a / 274  of the piston  170 / 270  reach the large apertures  154   a / 254   a  in the side walls  154 / 254  and spring outwardly to extend therethrough. Alternatively, however, the cartridge  150 / 250  may be initially supplied with the side wings  174   a / 274  of the piston  170 / 270  already protruding through the large apertures  154   a / 254   a  in the side walls  154 / 254 . 
     The locking key  114  which secures the chassis  120  within the outer casing  110  can be detachable from the cooperating means on the end wall  130  of the chassis  120  to enable the chassis  120  to be removed from the outer casing  110 . This facility may enable a user to interchange different styles or designs of outer casing for the dispenser  100 , while retaining the same internal components of the chassis  120 . 
     The end door  112  is described as being slidable within the outer casing  110  and pivotable relative thereto to enable reloading of the chassis  120  with a new cartridge  150 / 250 . However, the end door  112  may equally be removable from the outer casing  110  within the scope of the invention. It will also be appreciated that the end door could be provided as a replaceable component attached to the cartridge  150 / 250  and engageable with the lifting arm mechanism upon replacement of the cartridge  150 / 250 . Furthermore, although the above embodiments describe the dispenser  100  including a mechanism to lift the cigarettes S as well as sequentially index them out of the cartridge  150 / 250  to be dispensed, the invention is not intended to be limited to a dispenser having the above-described lifting mechanism, nor one having a lifting mechanism at all, and may simply index and dispense cigarettes from the cartridge  150 / 250  without also lifting them from the dispenser  100  in a combined movement. 
     In addition to the above description and listed Figures, two sets of sequential drawings of the stages of operation of the dispenser  100  in use with each of the two embodiments of the cartridge  150 / 250  are included as Annex  1  and Annex  2  respectively. The drawings of these annexes are side and plan views and show the internal features of the dispenser  100  and cartridge  150 / 250 , with one side view sequence in each Annex also showing the cigarettes within the cartridge  150 / 250 . The reference numerals are omitted from the drawings of these annexes for clarity but correspond to all of the numbered features shown in  FIGS. 1 to 29C .