U.S. patent application number 09/860071 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for apparatus for dispensing paste material from a collapsible tube.
Invention is credited to Vatman, Isaak.
Application Number | 20020170923 09/860071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25332429 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020170923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vatman, Isaak |
November 21, 2002 |
Apparatus for dispensing paste material from a collapsible tube
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube of
the present invention includes a pair of pinch rollers adapted to
squeeze the tube from its tile to its nose and clamping means for
stabilizing the tile as the rollers are moved away from the tile
toward the nose. According to one embodiment, the tile is grasped
by a vise which is fastened with a screw. According to another
embodiment, the tile is held between a slot and a plank under the
action of a cam lever. In both embodiments, the pinch rollers are
preferably spring biased and carried on a lead screw driven
carriage which is advanced from the tile toward the nose by
rotating a knob or turning a crank.
Inventors: |
Vatman, Isaak; (Stamford,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David P. Gordon, Esq.
65 Woods End Road
Stamford
CT
06905
US
|
Family ID: |
25332429 |
Appl. No.: |
09/860071 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 35/285
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/102 |
International
Class: |
B65D 035/28 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube
having a tile at one end and a nose at the other end, said
apparatus comprising: a) tile stabilizing means for stabilizing the
location of the tile of the tube; and b) movable squeezing means
for squeezing the tube, said movable squeezing means being movable
towards and away from said tile stabilizing means.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said tile
stabilizing means includes either a vise or a movable clamping bar
and a cam lever.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said movable
squeezing means includes a pair of rollers mounted on a movable
carriage.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: c) a lead
screw threadably coupled to said movable carriage; and d) manual
turning means coupled to said lead screw, wherein said movable
carriage defines a threaded throughbore which receives said lead
screw such that rotation of said manual turning means in one
direction causes said movable carriage to move towards said tile
stabilizing means, and rotation of said manual turning means in
another direction causes said movable carriage to move away from
said tile stabilizing means.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: e) a base
defining a channel in which said carriage moves.
6. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: e) a
base; f) a front plate coupled to said base; and g) a rear plate
coupled to said base, said front plate defining a first opening and
said rear plate defining a second opening, said first and second
openings for capturing said lead screw.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: said lead screw
includes non-threaded ends extending through said first and second
openings, and said lead screw has a threaded middle portion having
a diameter greater than a diameter of said second opening.
8. An apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube
having a tile at one end and a nose at the other end, said
apparatus comprising: a) a base member having a front plate and a
rear plate; b) tile stabilizing means coupled to said rear plate
for stabilizing the location of the tile of the tube relative to
the rear plate; and c) movable squeezing means for squeezing the
tube, said movable squeezing means being movable between said front
and rear plates.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: said tile
stabilizing means includes a vise or a movable clamping bar and a
cam lever.
10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: said movable
squeezing means includes a pair of rollers mounted on a movable
carriage.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: c) a
lead screw threadably coupled to said movable carriage; and d)
manual turning means coupled to said lead screw, wherein said
movable carriage defines a threaded throughbore which receives said
lead screw such that rotation of said manual turning means in one
direction causes said movable carriage to move towards said tile
stabilizing means, and rotation of said manual turning means in
another direction causes said movable carriage to move away from
said tile stabilizing means.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: said front plate
defines a first opening and said rear plate defines a second
opening, said first and second openings for capturing said lead
screw.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: said lead screw
includes non-threaded ends extending through said first and second
openings, and said lead screw has a threaded middle portion having
a diameter greater than a diameter of said second opening.
14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said base defines
a channel in which said carriage moves.
15. A combination, comprising: a) a collapsible tube containing
material therein, said collapsible tube having a tile at a first
end and a nose at a second end; and b) a dispensing apparatus
including i) tile stabilizing means for stabilizing the location of
said tile of said collapsible tube, and ii) movable squeezing means
for squeezing said tube, said movable squeezing means being movable
towards and away from said tile stabilizing means.
16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein: said material
comprises a dental creme, gel or paste.
17. A combination according to claim 15, wherein: said tile
stabilizing means includes a vise or a movable clamping bar and a
cam lever, and said movable squeezing means includes a pair of
rollers mounted on a movable carriage.
18. A combination according to claim 17, wherein: said dispensing
apparatus further includes a lead screw threadably coupled to said
movable carriage, and a manual turning means coupled to said lead
screw, wherein said movable carriage defines a threaded throughbore
which receives said lead screw such that rotation of said manual
turning means in one direction causes said movable carriage to move
towards said tile stabilizing means, and rotation of said manual
turning means in another direction causes said movable carriage to
move away from said tile stabilizing means.
19. A combination according to claim 17, wherein: said dispensing
apparatus further includes a base, a front plate coupled to said
base, and a rear plate coupled to said base, said front plate
defining a first opening and said rear plate defining a second
opening, said first and second openings for capturing said lead
screw, and said front plate further defining means for holding said
nose of said collapsible tube.
20. A combination according to claim 19, wherein: said lead screw
includes non-threaded ends extending through said first and second
openings, and said lead screw has a threaded middle portion having
a diameter greater than a diameter of said second opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to apparatus for dispensing material
from a package. More particularly, the invention relates to an
apparatus for dispensing paste materials from a collapsible
tube.
[0003] 2. State of the Art
[0004] Since toothpaste was first sold in a tube, people have
concerned themselves with improving the manner in which toothpaste
is dispensed from the tube. These efforts have focused on economy,
aesthetics, and ease of use.
[0005] With regard to economy, the concern has been to find a way
to collapse the tube of toothpaste in a progressive manner such
that all of the toothpaste is squeezed out of the tube before the
tube is discarded and replaced. Over time, the consumer will save
money by purchasing fewer tubes of toothpaste. It is estimated that
as much as 10%-15% of the contents of a toothpaste tube are never
dispensed.
[0006] With regard to aesthetics, it has been plainly observed that
a partially depleted tube of toothpaste resembles a disfigured
caricature of its former self. A wrinkled, twisted, and/or
partially rolled tube gives the appearance of being unkempt if not
unhygienic.
[0007] With regard to ease of use, unless the toothpaste tube is
depleted carefully, it soon becomes unmanageable. Even when the
tube still contains a substantial quantity of toothpaste, it may be
difficult to dispense the toothpaste if the tube is severely
deformed. This is particularly so in the case of persons having
diminished manual dexterity such as small children and those
afflicted with arthritis or similar maladies.
[0008] Throughout the years many products other than toothpaste
have been sold in similar "squeeze tube" containers and it has
become known to purchasers of these products that they present the
same or similar problems as those presented by toothpaste tubes. It
may be noted that some products present special problems which do
not necessarily afflict toothpaste tubes. Some products, such as
denture creme, for example, become quite viscous when chilled even
a relatively small amount. As those living in cold climates will
have experienced, dispensing denture creme on a winter morning can
present an unwelcome challenge.
[0009] For more than seventy years inventors have concerned
themselves with these problems and have offered numerous solutions.
For example, as early as 1930, P. H. D. Winsor proposed a
toothpaste tube squeezing device in U.S. Pat. No. 1,842,000.
According to Winsor, the primary object of his invention was to
provide "a device for dispensing the contents of a collapsible
container in an economical, convenient, and sanitary manner."
Following Winsor's lead, P. F. Roache disclosed, in 1936, a shaving
cream and toothpaste dispenser which is described and illustrated
in U.S. Pat. No. 2,085,673. Back then Roache said that he aimed to
provide "a simple and inexpensive device" which will "afford a
fixed sanitary support for a collapsible container to prevent the
misplacement of the latter and which may be easily and quickly
actuated to first open the collapsible container and then discharge
therefrom a desired amount of its contents and automatically close
the container when manually released to prevent evaporation of the
contents and contamination by foreign matter." Thus, Roache
recognized and addressed additional toothpaste issues, namely the
commonly known spousal complaint of the misplaced toothpaste cap
and the non-so-commonly known problem of the misplaced toothpaste
tube.
[0010] Nearly half a century later, the problems associated with
toothpaste tubes were still considered to be largely unsolved. In
1982, Edwin B. Wolfe filed an application for a "toothpaste
extractor" which ultimately issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,242.
Whereas many efforts which preceded Wolfe's involved manually
operated devices, Wolfe's invention was, among other things,
"electrically operated". In its broadest claimed incarnation, it
included no fewer than four switches. One of the more interesting
features of Wolfe's device was that it held multiple toothpaste
tubes which allowed "the family that has the need to use several
types of paste to accomplish this need without any inconvenience,
requiring only the push of a button and the turn of a knob."
[0011] Contemporaneous with Wolfe's efforts, Carl A. Wright
recognized the need for a toothpaste dispenser which was "very
convenient to use", "easy to load", and "easy to maintain".
Wright's "relatively minimalist" approach to a "dispenser for a
collapsible tube" is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,763 which
issued in 1986.
[0012] Although all of the above described devices are structurally
distinguishable, all have the significant similarity that all
provide a pair of spaced apart rollers which are disposed to
squeeze the tube from the "tile" of the tube to the "nose" of the
tube. As used herein, the term "tile" is used to indicate the
crimped or welded end of the tube farthest from the dispensing
opening and "nose" is used to generally describe the end out of
which toothpaste is released.
[0013] It is the opinion of the inventor herein that all of these
previous devices fail miserably to solve the primary problems of
economically dispensing as much toothpaste as possible before
discarding the tube and easing the awkward task of dispensing paste
from a partially depleted tube, particularly in cold weather. In
deference to these primary problems, the inventor has realized
something which has not been realized in nearly a century of
effort, i.e., that in order to effectively dispense paste from a
tube using a roller device, it is necessary to stabilize the tile
portion of the tube.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube which
nearly completely empties the tube of its contents.
[0015] It is also an object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for dispensing paste materials from a collapsible tube
which eliminates the need to manually handle misshapen partially
depleted tubes.
[0016] It is another object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube which
facilitates dispensing tube contents when operated by a person
having diminished manual dexterity.
[0017] It is a further object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for dispensing material from a collapsible tube which
facilitates dispensing viscous tube contents.
[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide an economical,
simple, and reliable design for an apparatus which dispenses paste
from a collapsible tube.
[0019] In accord with these objects which will be discussed in
detail below, the apparatus for dispensing material from a
collapsible tube of the present invention includes a pair of pinch
rollers adapted to squeeze the tube from its tile to its nose and
clamping means for stabilizing the tile as the rollers are moved
away from the tile toward the nose. According to one embodiment,
the tile is grasped by a vise which is fastened with a screw.
According to another embodiment, the tile is held between a slot
and a plank under the action of a cam lever. In both embodiments,
the pinch rollers are preferably spring biased and carried on a
screw driven carriage which is advanced from the tile to the nose
by rotating a knob or turning a crank.
[0020] Although the invention is described with reference to
toothpaste and similar personal hygiene materials, it may have
application in dispensing other materials (e.g. epoxy, silicons,
various medications, etc.) from similar types of tubes. Additional
objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description
taken in conjunction with the provided figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the first
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a rear end view of the first embodiment of the
invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a section taken along line A-A in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the second
embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the
invention;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a section taken along line B-B of FIG. 4; and
[0027] FIG. 7 is a section taken along line C-C of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, a first embodiment of a
dispenser 10 according to the invention includes a base 12 which is
formed as a guiding channel, a front plate 14 defining a U-shaped
opening 16 for the nose of a tube (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) and
a rear plate 18 defining an opening 20 for the tile of the tube. A
clamping bar 22 is located in the opening 20 and is engaged by a
clamping screw 24 which extends into the opening 20. A lead screw
26 is mounted between the front plate 14 and the rear plate 18 and
is provided with a drive knob 28. A carriage 30 carrying a pair of
pinch rollers 32, 34 and having an internal thread 35 is mounted on
the lead screw 26 and sits loosely in the guiding base 12. One of
the rollers 32 is spring biased toward the other by a flat spring
36 and is provided with a knob 38.
[0029] The lead screw 26 has reduced diameter unthreaded ends 43,
44. Unthreaded end 43 is captured by an opening 47 in the front
plate 14, while the unthreaded end 44 is captured in an opening 49
in the rear plate 18. Because the threaded portion of the lead
screw has a larger diameter than the unthreaded end 44, the lead
screw cannot be pulled by knob 28 through the opening 49 in the
rear plate 18. The unthreaded end 44 is captured by the drive knob
28 via use of a set screw 52. In order to capture the lead screw
26, the front plate 14 and/or the rear plate 18 can be formed
separately from the base 12 and coupled together by screws, bolts,
welding, or otherwise. Alternatively, the base 12, front plate 14,
and rear plate 18, can be formed as an integral unit, and a plug
(not shown) can be used in the front plate to capture the lead
screw.
[0030] The apparatus 10 operates as follows. The tile of the tube
is inserted through the pinch rollers 32, 34 with the aid of the
knob 38, into the space 20 between the clamping bar 22 and the rear
plate 18 and is clamped in place by tightening the clamping screw
24. The nose of the tube is inserted into the U-shaped opening 16
of the front plate 14 and the cap (not shown) is removed from the
nose. Rotation of the knob 28 in a first direction causes the lead
screw 26 to rotate, thereby driving the carriage 30 with the pinch
rollers 32, 34 (and guided by guiding base 12) toward the nose. As
a result, the pinch rollers 32, 34 squeeze the tube and force paste
to be dispensed through the nose of the tube. Eventually, after
many uses, the carriage 30 and rollers 32, 34 will move adjacent
the front plate (rollers shown in phantom). The spent tube may then
be removed from the dispenser 10 by: rotating the knob 28 in an
opposite direction (preferably, while holding the nose of the tube
or a cap attached thereto) until the carriage 30 assumes its
original position, loosening the clamping screw 24, removing the
tile from between the clamping bar 22 and the rear plate 18, the
tube from between the rollers 32, 34 of carriage 30 (using knob 38
if necessary), and lifting the tube out of the dispenser 10. A new
tube of paste may then be placed into the dispenser by: inserting
the tile of the new tube through the pinch rollers 32, 34 (with the
aid of the knob 38) into the space 20 between the clamping bar 22
and the rear plate 18, clamping the tile in place by tightening the
clamping screw 24, and inserting the nose of the tube into the
U-shaped opening 16 of the front plate 14.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7, a second and presently
preferred embodiment of a dispenser 110 according to the invention
includes a base 112 which is formed as a guiding channel, a front
plate 114 defining a U-shaped opening 116 for the nose of a tube
(shown in phantom in FIGS. 4 and 5) and a rear plate 118 defining
an opening 120 having a slot 121 for the tile of the tube. A
clamping bar (plank) 122 is located in the opening 120 and is
engaged by a cam lever 124 which extends into the opening 120. A
lead screw 126 is mounted between the front plate 114 and the rear
plate 118 and is provided with a drive knob 128 and a crank handle
129. A carriage 130 carrying a pair of pinch rollers 132, 134, and
having an internal thread 135 is mounted on the lead screw 126 and
sits loosely in the base 112. A cam lock 136 is located above the
roller 132 and is movable from an open position where rollers 132,
134 are spaced apart from each other to a closed position where the
rollers are moved close together.
[0032] The lead screw 126 has reduced diameter unthreaded ends 143,
144. Unthreaded end 143 is captured by an opening 147 in the front
plate 114, while the unthreaded end 144 is captured in an opening
149 in the rear plate 118. The unthreaded end 144 is captured by
the crank handle 129 and/or by the knob 128 via use of a one or
more set screws 152. Typically, both the front plate 114 and the
rear plate 118 will be formed from two pieces and coupled together
by screws, bolts, welding, gluing, or otherwise.
[0033] The apparatus 110 operates as follows. The cam lever 124 and
the cam lock 136 are opened. The tile of the tube is inserted
through the pinch rollers 132, 134 into the space 120 between the
clamping bar 122 and the slot 121 and is clamped in place by
closing the clamping bar 124. The cam lock 136 is also closed. The
nose of the tube is inserted into the U-shaped opening 116 of the
front plate 114 and the cap (not shown) is removed from the nose.
Rotation of the knob 128 (or turning the crank 129) causes the lead
screw 126 to rotate, thereby driving the carriage 130 toward the
nose, moving the pinch rollers and causing paste to be dispensed.
Eventually, after many uses, the carriage 130 and rollers 132, 134
will move adjacent the front plate (as shown in phantom in FIG. 4).
The spent tube may then be removed from the dispenser 110 by:
opening the cam lock 136 to release the pinch rollers 132, 134,
rotating the knob 128 or crank 129 in an opposite direction until
the carriage 130 assumes its original position, opening the cam
lever 124, removing the tile from between the clamping bar 122 and
the rear plate 118 and the tube from between the rollers 132, 134
of carriage 130, and lifting the tube out of the dispenser 110. A
new tube of paste may then be placed into the dispenser in the same
manner as previously described with reference to FIGS. 4-7.
[0034] There have been described and illustrated herein several
embodiments of an apparatus for dispensing material from a
collapsible tube. While particular embodiments of the invention
have been described, it is not intended that the invention be
limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad
in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read
likewise. Thus, while a screw activated clamp and a cam activated
clamp were described as means for grasping or stabilizing the tile,
it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other
mechanisms could be utilized, including, without limitation screws
or cams which directly contact the tile, pairs of jaws which close
from two directions, etc. Also, while a particular lead screw
mechanism was described as the preferred means of driving the
carriage, other mechanisms could be utilized including, without
limitation different types of gears, electromechanical devices,
etc. Where electromechanical devices are utilized, instead of
utilizing knobs or cranks to operate the drive mechanism, the
closing of an electrical circuit (e.g., via a button) can be
utilized. Further, while a particular pinch roller arrangement was
described as the preferred means for squeezing the tube, it will be
appreciated that other mechanisms including, without limitation,
wedges or blocks could be utilized. In addition, while particular
arrangements of a front plate, a rear plate, and a guiding base
have been described and shown, it will be appreciated that these
elements may assume many different forms, and may be coupled
together in many different manners. Furthermore, while the
invention was described with reference to toothpaste and similar
personal hygiene materials, it may have application in dispensing
other hygienic materials (e.g., cremes, gels, etc.) or materials
not related to hygiene (e.g. epoxy, silicons, various medications,
etc.) from similar types of tubes. It will therefore be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be
made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit
and scope as so claimed.
* * * * *