Patent ID: 7168435

Claim:
A dispenser for material which is in the form of a coherent body and is to be applied to a surface, comprising: (a) a manipulable applicator unit including an applicator for the material; and (b) a material container unit having proximal and distal ends and comprising an assembly including (i) a well, opening through the proximal end of the unit, in which the applicator is removably insertable, for storing and shielding the applicator; (ii) a receptacle with an open side, disposed distally of the well and opening laterally of the unit, for holding a coherent body of the material; and (iii) a cover manually movable relative to the receptacle for opening and closing the receptacle, the receptacle when open providing access for the applicator to be brought into contact with material of the coherent body; wherein the container unit includes a housing member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion of the housing member has a side wall with a lateral opening formed therein, wherein at least the distal portion of the housing member is hollow, and wherein the receptacle is disposed within the hollow distal portion of the housing member so as to be manually rotatable relative thereto to move the open side of the receptacle into and out of register with the lateral opening of the housing member, wherein the housing member has a generally cylindrical hollow interior extending between and opening through the proximal and distal ends of the unit, and wherein the receptacle and well are respectively formed as distal and proximal portions of an integral elongated inner member inserted within and extending from end to end of said hollow interior, the housing member and the inner member having a common long axis and the inner member being rotatable relative to the housing member about said common long axis, and wherein the applicator unit and the container unit are configured such that the entire applicator unit cannot be inserted in the well.