Patent Publication Number: US-2016236218-A1

Title: Dispenser for dispensing a flowable substance

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to dispensers for dispensing a flowable substance, for example a fluid personal care product such as a liquid hand soap. 
     It is known to provide a flowable substance, such as a liquid hand soap, a dentifrice, a hair care product, or a body wash, in the chamber of a dispenser having a pump for dispensing the flowable substance by pumping the flowable substance from the chamber to an exterior of the container. However, typically it is difficult or impossible to extract all of the flowable substance from the chamber using the pump, meaning that a residual volume of the flowable substance in the chamber is wasted. Also, typically a handle of the pump is provided uppermost on the dispenser, which makes stacking of multiple ones of the dispenser impossible or, at best, unstable. 
     There is a need for a dispenser that is usable to extract more, preferably all, of a flowable substance in a chamber thereof. There also is a need for a dispenser having a pump assembly, wherein multiple ones of the dispenser are stackable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing a flowable substance, comprising: a body having at least one contact portion lying in a first plane for supporting the dispenser on a horizontal surface and a container defining a chamber for storing a flowable substance, the chamber having a floor, a first portion of the floor at a first side portion of the chamber lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane, and a second portion of the floor at a second side portion of the chamber lying in a third plane parallel to the first plane, wherein the second plane lies between the first and third planes; and a pump system comprising a pump for pumping the flowable substance from the chamber to an exterior of the container, and a tube extending from the pump and having an opening within the chamber between the second and third planes. 
     Optionally, at least a portion of the floor between the first and second portions is inclined relative to the first plane. 
     Optionally, the floor is stepped between the first and second portions. 
     Optionally, the first portion of the floor is the portion of the floor closest to the first plane. 
     Optionally, the chamber is elongate in a direction parallel to the first plane. Further optionally, the direction parallel to the first plane extends between the first and second side portions of the chamber. 
     Optionally, the tube extends in a direction perpendicular to the first plane. 
     Optionally, the opening is an open end of the tube. 
     Optionally, the open end of the tube extends below the third plane. 
     Optionally, the dispenser comprises an aperture through which a flowable substance is introducible into the chamber in parallel to the pump system. Further optionally, the container comprises a lid by which the aperture is selectively blockable. 
     Optionally, the aperture and the pump system are spaced apart in the direction parallel to the first plane. 
     Optionally, an uppermost portion of the container lies in a fourth plane parallel to the first plane, and the pump system comprises a handle movable by a user to operate the pump, wherein the handle is lockable at a position relative to the container with an uppermost portion of the handle lying in the fourth plane. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing a flowable substance, comprising: a body having at least one contact portion lying in a first plane for supporting the dispenser on a horizontal surface and a container defining a chamber for storing a flowable substance, wherein an uppermost portion of the container lies in a second plane parallel to the first plane; and a pump system comprising a pump for pumping the flowable substance from the chamber to an exterior of the container, and a handle movable by a user to operate the pump, wherein the handle is lockable at a position relative to the container with an uppermost portion of the handle lying in the second plane. 
     Optionally, when locked at the position relative to the container, the handle is immovable relative to the container in a direction towards the first plane. 
     Optionally, when locked at the position relative to the container, the handle is immovable relative to the container in a direction away from the first plane. 
     Optionally, when unlocked relative to the container, the handle is movable relative to the container towards and away from the first plane to operate the pump. 
     Optionally, the handle is lockable and/or unlockable by rotating the handle relative to the container about an axis that is perpendicular to the first plane. 
     Optionally, the handle is locked at the position relative to the container with the uppermost portion of the handle lying in the second plane. 
     Optionally, the container comprises an aperture through which a flowable substance is introducible into the chamber in parallel to the pump system. Further optionally, the container comprises a lid comprising the uppermost portion of the container and by which the aperture is selectively blockable. 
     Optionally, the chamber is elongate in a direction parallel to the first plane. 
     Optionally, the aperture and the pump system are spaced apart in the direction parallel to the first plane. 
     Optionally, the chamber has a floor, a first portion of the floor at a first side portion of the chamber lying in a third plane parallel to the first plane, and a second portion of the floor at a second side portion of the chamber lying in a fourth plane parallel to the first plane, wherein the third plane lies between the first and fourth planes. 
     Optionally, the pump system comprises a tube extending from the pump and having an opening within the chamber between the third and fourth planes. Further optionally, the tube extends in a direction perpendicular to the first plane. 
     Optionally, at least a portion of the floor between the first and second portions is inclined relative to the first plane. 
     Optionally, the floor is stepped between the first and second portions. 
     Optionally, the direction parallel to the first plane extends between the first and second side portions of the chamber. 
     Optionally, the container comprises a first portion at least partly defining the chamber and having an open end, and a second portion attached to the open end of the first portion, wherein the first and second portions of the container are non-unitary, wherein the second portion comprises an orifice, and wherein the pump system is at least partially disposed in the orifice. Further optionally, the first portion of the container defines the floor of the chamber and the second portion of the container partly defines the chamber. 
     Optionally, the first portion of the container is transparent. 
     Optionally, the second portion of the container is opaque. 
     Optionally, the second portion of the container comprises the aperture. 
     Optionally, the dispenser comprises the flowable substance in the chamber. 
     Optionally, the flowable substance is a fluid personal care product. Further optionally, the fluid personal care product is selected from a liquid hand soap, a dentifrice, a hair care product, and a body wash. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of a dispenser according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of a dispenser according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of two of the dispensers shown in  FIG. 4  stacked one on top of the other with a separator therebetween; and 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded perspective view of the components of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a dispenser  1 , for dispensing a flowable substance, of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser  1  comprises a body  6 , which comprises a base  8  and a container  10 . In this embodiment, the base  8  is unitary with, i.e. integrally formed with, the container  10 , but in other embodiments the base  8  and container  10  may be separately formed and connected to each other after their formation. The body  6  has a plurality of contact portions  11   a ,  11   b  lying in a first plane P 1 -P 1  for supporting the body  6  and the rest of the dispenser  1  on a horizontal surface. In the illustrated embodiment, one  11   a  of the contact portions is a planar portion of the container  10  and the other  11   b  of the contact portions is planar portion of the base  8 . 
     In a variation to the illustrated embodiment, the container  10  has one or more non-planar contact portions lying in the first plane P 1 -P 1 , such as one or more point apexes or line apexes that are each a portion of a curved or non-planar surface of the container  10 , yet the combination of the contact portion(s) of the container  10  and the contact portion(s) of the base  8  enables the body  6  to be supported on a horizontal surface. In a variation to the illustrated embodiment, the base  8  has one or more non-planar contact portions lying in the first plane P 1 -P 1 , such as one or more point apexes or line apexes that are each a portion of a curved or non-planar surface of the base  8 , yet the combination of the contact portion(s) of the container  10  and the contact portion(s) of the base  8  enables the body  6  to be supported on a horizontal surface. 
     In a further variation to the illustrated embodiment, the base  8  has one or more contact portions lying in the first plane P 1 -P 1  and no part of the container  10  lies in the first plane P 1 -P 1 . For example, the base  8  may have a flat underside for contacting the horizontal surface or may have only one annular contact portion for contacting the horizontal surface. In such variations, the base  8  may extend for at least a majority, optionally all, of a width of the dispenser  1  in a first direction X. Other configurations of contact portion(s) will be apparent to the skilled person. 
     The container  10  has first, second, third and fourth sides  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d  extending upwardly in a direction away from the first plane P 1 -P 1  and defining or delimiting a chamber  12  in the container  10  for storing a flowable substance, i.e. a substance that is able to flow at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Herein, by “room temperature” it is meant a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, and by “atmospheric pressure” it is meant a pressure of 101 kPa. The first and second sides  10 ,  10   b  are opposed, and the third and fourth sides  10   c ,  10   d  are opposed. 
     The chamber  12  has a floor  14  at the end of the chamber  12  closest to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . The floor  14  has a first portion  14   a  at a first side portion  12   a  of the chamber  12  and a second portion  14   b  at an opposed second side portion  12   b  of the chamber  12 . The first side portion  12   a  of the chamber  12  extends inwardly from the first side  10   a  of the container  10 , and the second side portion  12   b  of the chamber  12  extends inwardly from the second side  10   b  of the container  10 . The chamber  12  can be considered to have a width in the first direction X. The first side portion  12   a  of the chamber  12  preferably extends from the first side  10   a  of the container  10  and towards the second side  10   b  of the container  10  over a distance that is no more than 50% of the width of the chamber  12 , and more preferably less than 30% of the width of the chamber  12 . Similarly, the second side portion  12   b  of the chamber  12  preferably extends from the second side  10   b  of the container  10  and towards the first side  10   a  of the container  10  over a distance that is no more than 50% of the width of the chamber  12 , and more preferably less than 30% of the width of the chamber  12 . 
     The first portion  14   a  of the floor  14  lies in a second plane P 2 -P 2  parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1 , and the second portion  14   b  of the floor  14  lies in a third plane P 3 -P 3  parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . The second plane P 2 -P 2  lies between the first and third planes P 1 -P 1 , P 3 -P 3 . The first portion  14   a  of the floor  14  is the portion of the floor  14  closest to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . A portion  14   c  of the floor  14  between the first and second portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the floor  14  is inclined relative to (i.e. is non-parallel to) the first plane P 1 -P 1 , so as to connect the first and second portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the floor  14 . In a variation to the illustrated embodiment, the floor  14  may be stepped (i.e. include steps therein) between the first and second portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the floor  14 , so as to connect the first and second portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the floor  14 . In other embodiments, the floor  14  may include a combination of stepped and inclined portion(s) between the first and second portions  14   a ,  14   b.    
     The area of the first portion  14   a  of the floor  14  may be less than 50% of the total area of the floor  14 , more preferably between 1% and 30% of the total area of the floor  14 , more preferably between 5% and 25% of the total area of the floor  14 , and most preferably between 5% and 15% of the total area of the floor  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second portions  14   a ,  14   b  of the floor  14  is substantially planar and parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . In variations to the illustrated embodiment, the second portion  14   b  of the floor  14  is planar or non-planar and lies in the third plane P 3 -P 3  but is part of a portion of the floor  14  that is non-parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1  for encouraging flow of the flowable substance within the chamber  12  towards the first portion  14   a  of the floor  14  under the influence of gravity. In some variations to the illustrated embodiment, the first portion  14   a  of the floor  14  is planar or non-planar and lies in the second plane P 2 -P 2  but is part of a portion of the floor  14  that is non-parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the container  10  is transparent. The transparent nature of the container  10  allows a user to see how much flowable substance remains in the chamber  12  during use. In variations to this embodiment, the container  10  may be partially, or fully, translucent or opaque. 
     As will be appreciated from consideration of  FIG. 1 , the container  10  and the chamber  12  therein are each elongate in the first direction X that is parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1  and that extends between the first and second side portions  12   a ,  12   b  of the chamber  12  and between the first and second sides  10   a ,  10   b  of the container  10 . That is, the container  10  and the chamber  12  therein each has a major axis extending in the first direction X and a minor axis extending in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X and parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . The first and second sides  10   a ,  10   b  of the container  10  are opposed and spaced apart in the first direction X, while the third and fourth sides  10   c ,  10   d  of the container  10  are opposed and spaced apart in the second direction Y. Accordingly, the first and second sides  10   a ,  10   b  of the container  10  are minor sides of the container, and the third and fourth sides  10   c ,  10   d  of the container  10  are major sides of the container  10 . The enlarged nature of the third and fourth sides  10   c ,  10   d  relative to the first and second sides  10   a ,  10   b  provides space on the third and fourth sides  10   c ,  10   d  for including advertising material and/or indicia of the contents of the container  10 , while maintaining a narrow footprint of the entire container  10  and dispenser  1  as a whole. Accordingly, the dispenser  1  would not occupy a large area of a work surface when in use, or of a shelf when being marketed in a shop. One of the third and fourth sides  10   c ,  10   d  may be intended to face customers on a shelf in a shop or store, while the first face  10   a  may be intended to face a user when the dispenser  1  is present on a work surface. 
     The dispenser  1  further comprises a pump system  20  comprising a pump  22  for pumping the flowable substance from the chamber  12  to an exterior of the container  10 , i.e. to an exterior of the dispenser  1 . The pump  22  may be of any suitable format known in the art, and will not be described herein in more detail. In addition to the pump  22 , the pump system  20  comprises a tube  24  extending from the pump  22  in a direction perpendicular to the first plane P 1 -P 1  and having an opening  26 , in the form of an open end of the tube  24 , within the chamber  12  between the second and third planes P 2 -P 2 , P 3 -P 3 . Preferably, as in the illustrated embodiment, the opening  26  of the tube is closer to the second plane P 2 -P 2  than to the third plane P 3 -P 3 . In variations to the illustrated embodiment, the opening  26  of the tube  24  within the chamber  12  between the second and third planes P 2 -P 2 , P 3 -P 3  may take the form of an opening in a circumferential wall of the tube  24 . In some such variations, the tube  24  has a closed end, while in other such variations the tube  24  also has an open end, which open end may not be within the chamber  12  between the second and third planes P 2 -P 2 , P 3 -P 3 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the tube  24  is a dip tube  24  that is not unitary with the container  10 , but in other embodiments the tube may be defined by, integral with, or otherwise molded into, a side of the container  10 , such as the first side  10   a . Such alternative constructions still are considered a tube. 
     The pump system  20  also comprises a handle  28  having an outlet  29 , through which outlet  29  the flowable substance is dispensable, and an internal passageway  27  connecting the pump  22  to the outlet  29 . The handle  28  is movable by a user relative to the container  10  to operate the pump  22 , thereby to pump the flowable substance from the chamber  12  to the exterior of the container  10  via the internal passageway  27  and the outlet  29  in order to dispense the flowable substance. More specifically, movement of the handle  28  relative to the container  10  in a direction towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1  and in a direction perpendicular to the first plane P 1 -P 1  causes the operation of the pump  22  and dispensing of the flowable substance through the internal passageway  27  and the outlet  29 . 
     The handle  28  is lockable relative to the container  10 , to cause the handle  28  to become immovable relative to the container  10  in the direction towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1 , by rotating the handle  28  relative to the container  10  in a first rotational direction about an axis that is perpendicular to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . Once locked relative to the container  10 , the handle  28  is unlockable relative to the container  10  by rotating the handle  28  relative to the container  10  in a second rotational direction about the axis, wherein the second rotational direction is opposite to the first rotational direction. When unlocked, the handle  28  and container  10  are relatively positioned as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Once unlocked relative to the container  10 , the handle  28  is again moveable relative to the container  10  in the direction towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1  and in the direction perpendicular to the first plane P 1 -P 1  to cause the operation of the pump  22 . In variations to this embodiment, the handle  28  may be lockable relative to the container  10  by a different mechanism. In other variations to this embodiment, the handle  28  may not be lockable relative to the container  10 . 
     As a result of the first portion  14   a  (i.e. the portion of the floor  14  closest to the first plane P 1 -P 1 ) of the floor  14  lying in the second plane P 2 -P 2 , when the flowable substance in the chamber  12  is nearly exhausted the residual volume of the flowable substance in the chamber  12  tends to collect on the first portion  14   a . As a result of the opening  26  of the tube  24  being within the chamber  12  and between the second and third planes P 2 -P 2 , P 3 -P 3 , the pump assembly  20  is usable to extract most, and preferably all, of the flowable substance from the chamber  12 . 
       FIG. 3  shows another dispenser  2 , for dispensing a flowable substance, of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like components in  FIGS. 1 to 3  have like reference numerals and will not be described again for conciseness. 
     The dispenser  2  of  FIG. 3  is the same as the dispenser  1  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , except that the container  10  of  FIG. 3  comprises an aperture  16  through which a flowable substance is introducible into the chamber  12  from the exterior of the container  10  and dispenser  2 . The aperture  16  is in parallel to the pump system  20 . That is, there are two flow paths in parallel between the chamber  12  and the exterior of the container  10 , one via the aperture  16  and the other via the pump system  20  and outlet  29  thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to introduce flowable substance into the chamber  12  via the aperture  16  once the supply of flowable substance in the chamber  12  has been exhausted, and without needing to disconnect the pump  20  assembly from the container  10 . The aperture  16  and the pump system  20  are spaced apart in the first direction X that is parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . 
     The container  10  of the dispenser  2  also comprises a lid  18  by which the aperture  16  is selectively blockable. In  FIG. 3 , the lid  18  is shown at a first position relative to the rest of the container  10  and the chamber  12 , at which first position the lid  18  does not block the aperture  16 , so that the chamber  12  is in fluid communication with the exterior of the container  10  and dispenser  2  via the aperture  16 . The lid  18  is movably connected to the rest of the container  10  by a hinge. By rotating the lid  18  relative to the rest of the container  10  about the hinge, the lid  18  is movable to a second position at which the lid  18  blocks the aperture  16 , thus preventing fluid communication between the chamber  12  and the exterior of the container  10  and dispenser  2 . In variations to the illustrated embodiment, the lid  18  may be movably connected to the rest of the container  10  by other than a hinge, or may be detachable from the rest of the container  10 . The lid  18  may be movable to its first position relative to the rest of the container  10  when the dispenser  2  is on the shelf of a store or shop, to permit consumers to sample a scent of the flowable substance before purchase or use. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the handle  28  is shown at its locked position relative to the container  10 . The dispenser  2  of  FIG. 3  has the same relationship between the floor  14  of the chamber  12  and the position of the opening  26  of the tube  24  as the dispenser  1  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Accordingly, when the handle  28  is unlocked relative to the container  10  in the same manner as the handle  28  of the dispenser  1  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is unlockable relative to the container  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pump assembly  20  of the dispenser  2  of  FIG. 3  is usable to extract most, and preferably all, of the flowable substance from the chamber  12  in the same manner as the pump assembly  20  of the dispenser  1  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  shows another dispenser  3 , for dispensing a flowable substance, of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like components in  FIGS. 1 to 4  have like reference numerals and will not be described again for conciseness. 
     The dispenser  3  of  FIG. 4  is the same as the dispenser  2  of  FIG. 3  except that (a) an uppermost portion  19  of the container  10  of  FIG. 4  lies in a fourth plane P 4 -P 4  parallel to the first plane P 1 -P 1 , and (b) the handle  28  of  FIG. 4  has an uppermost portion  28   a  which, when the handle  28  is locked relative to the container  10  to cause the handle  28  to become immovable relative to the container  10  in the direction towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), also lies in the fourth plane P 4 -P 4 . 
     The uppermost portion  19  of the container  10  is that part of the container  10  furthest from the first plane P 1 -P 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, the uppermost portion  19  of the container  10  comprises a planar area of a top surface of the lid  18  of the container  10 . In variations to the illustrated embodiment, the uppermost portion  19  of the container  10  comprises one or more point apexes or line apexes of a top surface of the container  10 . For example, when the uppermost portion  19  of the container  10  is part of a curved top surface of the container  10 , the fourth plane P 4 -P 4  would be tangential to the curved top surface of the container  10  and thus only a line apex of the curved top surface of the container  10  would lie in the fourth plane P 4 -P 4 . In a variation to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the lid  18  is omitted and the uppermost portion  19  of the container  10  is thus not comprised in the lid  18  but is comprised in the rest of the container  10 . 
     The uppermost portion  28   a  of the handle  28  is that part of the handle  28  furthest from the first plane P 1 -P 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, the uppermost portion  28   a  of the handle  28  comprises a planar area of a top surface of the handle  28 . In variations to the illustrated embodiment, the uppermost portion  28   a  of the handle  28  comprises one or more point apexes or line apexes of a top surface of the handle  28 . For example, when the uppermost portion  28   a  of the handle  28  is part of a curved top surface of the handle  28 , the fourth plane P 4 -P 4  would be tangential to the curved top surface of the handle  28  and thus only a line apex of the curved top surface of the handle  28  would lie in the fourth plane P 4 -P 4 . 
     As a result of the uppermost portions  19 ,  28   a  of the container  10  and the handle  28  both lying in the fourth plane P 4 -P 4  when the handle  28  is locked relative to the container  10  to cause the handle  28  to become immovable relative to the container  10  in the direction towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1 , the uppermost portions  19 ,  28   a  form elements upon which another article, such as another of the dispensers  3 , may be supported when the dispenser  3  is supported on a horizontal surface. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , two of the dispensers  3  shown in  FIG. 4  may be stacked one on top of the other, optionally with a separator  30  such as a layer of cardboard therebetween, with the lower dispenser  3  being supported on a horizontal surface  5 , the separator  30  contacting the uppermost portions  19 ,  28   a  of the container  10  and the handle  28 , and the upper dispenser  3  supporting on the separator  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the container  10  of the dispenser of  FIG. 4  comprises first and second non-unitary, or non-integral, portions  10   e ,  10   f . Each of the first and second portions  10   e ,  10   f  of the container  10  partly defines the chamber  12 , with the first portion  10   e  of the container  10  defining the floor  14  of the chamber  12 . The first portion  10   e  of the container  10  further has an open end  13 , through which the chamber  12  is in fluid communication with the exterior of the container  10  when the dispenser  3  is in the unassembled state of  FIG. 6 . The open end  13  extends for the entire width of the chamber  12  in the first direction X. Moreover, the open end  13  extends for the whole dimension of the chamber  12  in the second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. 
     During assembly of the dispenser  3 , the second portion  10   f  is attached to the open end  13  of the first portion  10   e  so that, when the dispenser  3  is fully assembled, the second portion  10   f  of the container  10  obstructs the open end  13  of the first portion  10   e  of the container  10 . The second portion  10   f  of the container  10  comprises an orifice  17  extending therethrough, within which orifice  17  the pump system  20  is partially disposed so as to extend through the orifice  17 . The second portion  10   f  of the container  10  also comprises the aperture  16  extending through the second portion  10   f  in parallel to the orifice  17 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the lid  18  is comprised in the second portion  10   f  of the container  10 . The lid  18  may be unitary with the rest of the second portion  10   f  of the container  10 , and for example connected to the rest of the second portion  10   f  of the container  10  by a living hinge, or the lid  18  may be non-unitary with, but connected to, the rest of the second portion  10   f  of the container  10 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion  10   e  of the container  10  is transparent and the second portion  10   f  of the container  10  is opaque. Since the first portion  10   e  of the container  10  lacks the orifice  17  and aperture  16 , the first portion  10   e  of the container  10  is simple to manufacture and lends itself to manufacture e.g. by blow molding or injection molding a transparent material. 
     In assembling the dispenser  3  of  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the second portion  10   f  of the container  10  is attached to the open end  13  of the first portion  10   e  of the container. The attachment may be e,g, by adhesion, snap-fit, or another mechanism or combination of the same. Afterwards, before, or during attachment of the second portion  10   f  to the first portion  10   e , the base  8  is attached to a bottom end  15  of the first portion  10   e  of the container  10 , which bottom end  15  is at an opposite end of the first portion  10   e  of the container  10  to the open end  13 . The attachment may be e,g, by adhesion, snap-fit, or another mechanism or combination of the same. The pump assembly  20  is then inserted into the orifice  17  and attached to the container  10 , e.g. through a snap-fit connection (not shown) between the pump assembly  20  and the second portion  10   f  of the container  10 . The flowable substance is introduced into the chamber  12  from the exterior of the container  10  via the aperture  16 , and then the lid  18  is moved to its second position to block the aperture  16 . Alternatively or additionally, the flowable substance may be introduced into the chamber  12  from the exterior of the container  10  via the orifice  17 , prior to insertion of the pump assembly  20  into the orifice  17 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4  the handle  28  is unlockable relative to the container  10  in the same manner as the handle  28  of the dispenser  1  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is unlockable relative to the container  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  by relative rotation of the handle  28  and the container  10 . However, in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , after unlocking the handle  28 , the handle  28  is biased upwards a little by a resilient device (not shown) of the pump assembly  20  so that the fourth plane P 4 -P 4  lies between the first plane P 1 -P 1  and the uppermost portion  28   a  of the handle  28 . The handle  28  then is movable relative to the container  10  towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1  to operate the pump  22 . 
     In variations to the illustrated arrangement of  FIG. 5 , the separator  30  may be omitted and the upper dispenser  3  may contact directly the uppermost portions  19 ,  28   a  of the container  10  and the handle  28  of the lower dispenser  3  while still being stably supported. 
     In each of the dispensers  1 ,  2 ,  3  described above, the handle  28  is lockable at a position relative to the container  10 , to cause the handle  28  to become immovable relative to the container  10  in the direction towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1 , by rotating the handle  28  relative to the container  10  in a first rotational direction about an axis that is perpendicular to the first plane P 1 -P 1 . In respective variations to these embodiments, the handle  28  may be lockable at a position relative to the container  10  by some other mechanism to cause the handle  28  to become immovable relative to the container  10  in the direction towards and away from the first plane P 1 -P 1 . 
     In each of the dispensers  1 ,  2 ,  3  described above, the chamber  12  is empty but fillable with a flowable substance. In variations to these embodiments, a flowable substance may be stored in the respective chambers  12 . The flowable substance may be a fluid personal care product, such as any of a liquid hand soap, a dentifrice, a hair care product, a body wash, or another fluid personal care product. Alternatively, the flowable substance may be a home care product, such as a floor cleaner or a surface cleaner.