Sharpener, specifically for cosmetic sticks

A sharpener for sharpening an end of a writing stick which has a soft interior, sharpening being effected by inserting the writing stick into the sharpener and rotating the sharpener and the writing stick relative to each other, the sharpening of the writing stick generating waste material, said sharpener comprising:

• a sharpener body having an insertion end with an opening for receiving the end of the writing stick and a longitudinal axis extending through the opening;
• a sharpener blade mounted on said body and having a cutting edge arranged at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said body;
• a chip collecting cap having an interior wall and removably mounted on said body for enclosing an end of said body remote from said insertion end, said chip collecting cap being movable relative to said body between a secure position in which it is secured against rotation relative to said body and a released position in which it is rotatable relative to, and about the longitudinal axis of, said body;
• and
• means defining a cleaning projection supported by said body, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body into said chip collecting cap and being adjacent the interior wall of said chip collecting cap for scraping waste material from said interior wall when said chip collecting cap is rotated relative to said sharpening body.