U.S. patent application number 12/018051 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for apparatus and method for open thread, reusable, no-waste collapsible tube dispensers.
Invention is credited to Scott Anderson, Susan Pottish.
Application Number | 20080142544 12/018051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35941601 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080142544 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pottish; Susan ; et
al. |
June 19, 2008 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPEN THREAD, REUSABLE, NO-WASTE
COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSERS
Abstract
The invention includes a method of using a cap containing an
internal thread form matching an external thread form on a flexible
throat for a collapsible tube enclosing at least one contained
product. Twisting the cap engages the internal thread form and the
external thread form. These collectively urge the cap and the
flexible throat to seal the contained product into the collapsible
tube. Deforming the flexible throat through squeezing the
collapsible tube dispenses essentially all the product. The
collapsible tube may preferably include an external thread form on
a flexible throat coupled to a flexible shoulder. The external
thread form mates to a cap with an internal thread form urging the
flexible throat to seal against the cap when the cap is twisted
onto the flexible throat. The flexible throat and flexible shoulder
flatten to dispense essentially all of the product.
Inventors: |
Pottish; Susan; (Ukiah,
CA) ; Anderson; Scott; (US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EARLE JENNINGS
8 KENYON AVE
KENSINGTON
CA
94708
US
|
Family ID: |
35941601 |
Appl. No.: |
12/018051 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10928676 |
Aug 26, 2004 |
|
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12018051 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/92 ;
220/288 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 30/807 20150501;
Y02W 30/80 20150501; B65D 35/08 20130101; B65D 2231/00 20130101;
B65D 35/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/92 ;
220/288 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/02 20060101
B65D035/02; B65D 35/44 20060101 B65D035/44 |
Claims
1. A collapsible tube for containing at least one product,
comprising: an external thread form on a flexible throat coupled to
a flexible shoulder, whereby said external thread form mates with
an internal thread form, included in a cap, urging said flexible
throat to seal against said cap when said cap is twisted onto said
flexible throat, and said flexible throat and said flexible
shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all of said product, said
external thread form further comprises: at least two external open
threads, each of said external open threads possesses at least one
break, and all of said breaks of all of said external open threads,
form at least one column in the radial axis of said flexible
throat.
2. The collapsible tube of claim 1, further comprising: said
flexible shoulder mating to a collapsible tube body, whereby said
flexible throat and said flexible shoulder flatten with said
collapsible tube body to dispense essentially all of said
product.
3. The collapsible tube of claim 1, further comprising: said
flexible shoulder mating to itself.
4. The collapsible tube of claim 1, wherein said external open
thread involves at least one of an external acme thread, an
external buttress thread, an external V thread, and an external box
thread.
5. The collapsible tube of claim 1, wherein said collapsible tube
contains at least two contained products.
6. The collapsible tube of claim 1, wherein said contained product
is at least one member of the group consisting of: pharmaceutical
product, a personal care product, a paint product, a toothpaste
product, a food product, a glue product, a hazardous chemical, a
grease product, and a viscous plastic.
7. A cap for a collapsible tube, comprising: an internal thread
form for mating with an external thread form on a flexible throat
to urge said flexible throat to seal against said cap when said cap
is twisted; said cap further comprising one of: an interior bulge
to act upon said flexible throat to urge said flexible throat to
engage said internal thread form and said external thread form; and
an interior rim to act upon said flexible throat to urge said
flexible throat to engage said internal thread and said external
thread form.
8. Said cap of claim 7, wherein said cap is not flexible.
9. Said cap of claim 8, wherein said cap is rigid.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
10/928,676, filed Aug. 26, 2004, which is incorporated herein in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to open thread screw and cap
mechanisms with particular application to forming collapsible tube
dispensers.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] The earliest collapsible tube dispensers in the U.S. patent
database date from the early nineteenth century. Since that time,
there has been continued innovation, leading to the various
collapsible tube dispensers used for pharmaceuticals, personal care
products, toothpaste, foods, artist's paints, glues, hazardous
chemicals, grease products and viscous plastics, to name some of
the more common uses of these tubes. As used herein, personal care
products include, but are not limited to, cosmetics, facial care
products, skin care products, and/or hair care products.
[0006] There are problems with the collapsible tube technologies of
the prior art. They do not lend themselves both to being reusable
and supporting the complete, controlled dispensing of their
contents. As the term is used herein, reusable will refer to the
capability to dispense small, or controlled, portions of the
contents multiple times, perhaps on different occasions. Reusable
may further refer to the capability to refill the contents multiple
times. And reusable may further refer to a container, which can be
cleaned, and refilled with differing contents.
[0007] One prior art collapsible tube dispenses all the tube's
contents and is reuseable. The tube is not cylindrical but a
two-sided pouch of soft plastic material. The tube has a mechanism
of closing the throat, requiring no conventional screw and cap. The
throat contains a soft plastic sheet insert that effectively sucks
itself closed when pressure is released. This tube may be limited
to applications in which there is no unexpected or forceful
pressure applied to the tube. Example applications where it is not
applicable include being packed in a suitcase, or purse, since the
closure responds to finger pressure. The tube may also be limited
to applications in which a high degree of barrier to the
environment is not critical, such as pharmaceuticals, because the
opening does not clean itself when closing except to the degree
that it draws contents outside the tube to the inside of the tube.
It may be undesirable for personal care products or other products
demanding a high degree of aesthetic features, such as oversized
caps allowing the tube to stand vertically.
[0008] There are some one-time use containers made essentially of a
squeeze tube with a narrow end, which is cut to open the tube. All
of the contents are then squeezed out, and the tube is discarded.
These one-time use containers are not reusable, and represent a
significant amount of overhead both for the manufacturer and for
the ecology of people and systems, which must cope with these
discarded containers.
[0009] With the exception of some one-time use containers,
collapsible tube dispensers typically possess a rigid shoulder and
a rigid throat. The rigid throat provides an exterior, rigid screw.
This exterior rigid screw mates with a cap providing a matching
interior screw pattern. When the cap is screwed onto the exterior
screw of the throat, a seal is formed, which seals in the contents
of the collapsible tube.
[0010] For the last century or two, screws have been built with
either threads that taper away from the body, or remain of constant
thickness. These screw threads will be referred to herein as open
threads. Up until now, using these open thread screws requires that
the throat of a collapsible tube be essentially rigid. An
essentially rigid throat on a collapsible tube dispenser virtually
guarantees that some of the tube contents will not readily leave
the tube, causing the tube to waste some of its contents. The rigid
shoulder further guarantees this waste.
[0011] The use of tubes for carrying food in sports and wilderness
exploration environments is known. None on the market, however, are
both reusable and completely collapsible. Thus, they do not
dispense all their contents. A refillable tube that does dispense
all its contents is especially desirable when food is otherwise
scarce.
[0012] FIG. 1A shows a prior art exterior screw 20 with a prior art
external thread form 22. The prior art external thread form 22 is
shown in an expanded view through the following examples shown in
Figures 1B and C with a matching internal thread form 24.
[0013] There is a local coordinate system in FIG. 1A, which will be
used throughout this document. The z axis 10 extends through the
center of the cylinder of the prior art exterior screw 20, and is
the central axis of the cylinder. The r axis 12 is the radial
direction of the thread at a point, which, for the sake of
discussion, is referred to as thread point 22 in Figure 1A. The n
axis 14 is normal to the thread point 22. When the screw is turned
in the n direction, it engages more of the threads.
[0014] The engagement of an exterior screw thread and matching
interior screw is shown in the expanded view of the prior art open
screw thread 22 in Figure 1A. The expanded view is a cross-section
of the threads taken in the plane of the z axis 10 and the r axis
12.
[0015] Figure 1B shows an example of FIG. 1A using a standard acme
thread for the external thread form 22 and the matching internal
thread form 24. A first external acme thread 22-1 matches the first
internal acme thread 24-1. A second external acme thread 22-2 with
the second internal acme thread 24-2.
[0016] FIG. 1C shows an example of FIG. 1A using a standard
buttress thread for the external thread form 22 and the matching
internal thread form 24. A first external buttress thread 22-3
matches the first internal buttress thread 24-3. A second external
buttress thread 22-4 with the second internal buttress thread
24-4.
[0017] FIG. 1D shows an example of FIG. 1A using a box thread for
the external thread form 22 and the matching internal thread form
24. A first external box thread 22-5 matches the first internal box
thread 24-5. A second external box thread 22-6 with the second
internal box thread 24-6.
[0018] One skilled in the art will recognize that FIGS. 1B to 1D
show some of the many variations in open threads in use today.
Other commonly used threads include various "V" shaped threads, as
well as variations in angles of the walls, variations in the shape
of the peaks and troughs of the threads.
[0019] To summarize, what is needed is a reusable collapsible tube,
which can dispense essentially all of its contents. There is a need
for reusable collapsible tubes which may be reopened to load the
contents, particularly for food containers for use in travel and
wilderness settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The invention includes a method of using a cap containing an
internal thread form matching an external thread form on a flexible
throat for a collapsible tube enclosing at least one contained
product. Twisting the cap engages the internal thread form and the
external thread form. These collectively urge the cap and the
flexible throat to seal the contained product into the collapsible
tube. Deforming the flexible throat through squeezing the
collapsible tube dispenses essentially all of the contained
product.
[0021] This method of using a collapsible tube permits dispensing
essentially all of the contained product. The collapsible tube is
also reusable, permitting its use in a variety of fields where
today everyone is forced to waste the last part of the contained
product. This is valuable in such diverse areas of application as
pharmaceuticals, personal care products, toothpaste, foods,
artist's paints, glues, hazardous chemicals, grease products, and
viscous plastics.
[0022] The collapsible tube may preferably include an external
thread form on a flexible throat coupled to a flexible shoulder
mating to a collapsible tube body. The external thread form mates
to a cap with an internal thread form urging the flexible throat to
seal against the cap when the cap is twisted onto the flexible
throat. The flexible throat and the flexible shoulder flatten with
the collapsible tube body to dispense essentially all of the
product.
[0023] The external thread form may preferably include at least two
external open threads. These external open thread preferably
include at least one break. The break may form a column, a canted
column, or a fluted column. The fluted column may widen toward the
flexible shoulder, or away from the flexible shoulder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1A shows a prior art exterior screw with a prior art
external thread form;
[0025] FIG. 1B shows a prior art example of FIG. 1A using a
standard acme thread for the external thread form and the matching
internal thread form;
[0026] FIG. 1C shows a prior art example of FIG. 1A using a
standard buttress thread for the external thread form and the
matching internal thread form;
[0027] FIG. 2A shows a top view of a collapsible tube showing a
first break forming a canted column;
[0028] FIG. 2B shows a front view of the collapsible tube in FIG.
2A showing a first break and a second break;
[0029] FIG. 3A shows a side view of the collapsible tube in FIG. 2A
with the first break forming rectangular column;
[0030] FIG. 3B shows a detail of FIG. 3A showing the flexible
throat with a thread form including at least two, and in this case
four open threads, which could be by way of example, external acme
threads, external buttress threads, external V threads, external
box threads, or combinations or modifications of these well known
open threads;
[0031] FIG. 3C shows the first break forming a fluted column
expanding toward the flexible shoulder;
[0032] FIG. 3D shows the first break 600 forming a fluted column
expanding away from the flexible shoulder;
[0033] FIG. 4 shows the collapsible tube as in FIGS. 2B to 3B with
a cap;
[0034] FIG. 5A shows the collapsible tube of FIG. 4 with the cap
engaged and filled with at least one content;
[0035] FIG. 5B shows a cross section of FIG. 5A of the collapsible
shoulder, flexible throat engaging the internal thread form and the
external thread form using buttress threads;
[0036] FIG. 6A shows the collapsible tube of FIG. 4 with a second
cap engaged and filled with contents;
[0037] FIG. 6B shows a cross section of FIG. 6A with the
collapsible shoulder and flexible throat of FIG. 5B engaging a
hollow version of the second cap;
[0038] FIG. 7 shows a cross section of FIG. 6A with the collapsible
shoulder and flexible throat of FIG. 5B engaging a filled version
of the second cap;
[0039] FIGS. 8A to 8D show the front view of a collapsible tube
with none, one, two, and three breaks in its external threads,
respectively;
[0040] FIGS. 9A to 9D shows the front view of the collapsible tubes
of FIGS. 8A to 8D partially deformed by squeezing the collapsible
tube bodies and flexible shoulders;
[0041] FIGS. 10A to 10D show the further squeezing of the
collapsible tube of FIGS. 8A and 9A, which has no breaks in its
external threads;
[0042] FIGS. 10E to 10H show the further squeezing of the
collapsible tube of FIGS. 8C and 9C, which has a first break and a
second break;
[0043] FIGS. 11A to 11D show the side view of the squeezing of the
collapsible tube shown in FIGS. 9C, and 10E to 10H, with the
contained product being dispensed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] The invention's collapsible tubes preferably utilize a
flexible shoulder 504, shown in FIGS. 2A to 11D, being squeezed
toward the flexible throat 502, which concentrates the contents 900
so that very little is wasted in normal use. FIGS. 2A to 11D show
various embodiments of a collapsible tube 500, including at least a
first break 600 forming various columns in the radial axis of the
flexible throat 502.
[0045] FIG. 2A shows a top view of the collapsible tube 500 showing
a first break 600 forming a canted column. FIG. 2B shows a front
view of the collapsible tube 500 in FIG. 2A showing a first break
600 and a second break 602. FIG. 3A shows a side view of the
collapsible tube 500 in FIG. 2A with the first break 600 forming
rectangular column.
[0046] FIG. 3B shows a detail of FIG. 3A showing the flexible
throat 502 with a thread form including at least two, and in this
case four open threads. These threads could, be by way of example,
external acme threads, external buttress threads, external V
threads, external box threads, or combinations or modifications of
these well known open threads.
[0047] FIG. 3C shows the first break 600 forming a fluted column
expanding toward the flexible shoulder.
[0048] FIG. 3D shows the first break 600 forming a fluted column
expanding away from the flexible shoulder.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows the collapsible tube as in FIGS. 2B to 3B with
a cap 800.
[0050] FIG. 5A shows the collapsible tube of FIG. 4 with the cap
800 engaged and filled with at least one content.
[0051] FIG. 5B shows a cross section of FIG. 5A of the collapsible
shoulder 504, flexible throat 502 engaging the internal thread form
and the external thread form. The internal thread form includes
internal buttress threads 804-1 to 804-4. The external thread form
includes external buttress threads 702-1 to 702-4. The internal
thread form and the external thread form collectively urge the cap
800 and the flexible throat 502 to seal the contained product into
the collapsible tube. The cap 800 further, preferably includes an
interior bulge 802 which acts upon the flexible throat 502 to urge
the flexible throat 502 to engage the internal thread form and the
external thread form.
[0052] As shown and discussed herein, the threads on the flexible
throat 502, the flexible shoulder 504, and when applicable, the
collapsible tube body 506, are preferably made of flexible
materials. These flexible materials include, but are not limited
to, at least one thermoset elastomeric and/or thermoplastic
elastomer. Elastomeric plastics include, but not limited to,
urethane, polyvinyl chloride, ThermoPlastic elastomer Olefin (TPO),
Thermal PolyVinyl chloride (TPV), ThermoPlasRubber (TPR) and/or
Silicone based compounds. An elastomeric plastic is typically a
polymer blend or compound, which above its melting temperature,
exhibits a thermoplastic behavior enabling it to be shaped into a
fabricated article, such as a collapsible tube or cap. When the
article is within its design temperature range, it exhibits
elastomeric behavior without cross-linking during fabrication. The
fabrication process is reversible. The article can be reprocessed
and remolded. The method of making these collapsible tubes 500 may
include, but is not limited to, using a mold, into which the
material(s) are injected and/or blown. The material may be injected
one or more times. When material is injected more than one time,
the process is often known as a multi-shot molding.
[0053] In FIGS. 5B, 6B, and 7, the internal thread form slides
along the external thread form, and the external thread form slides
along the internal thread form to slide along each other, when the
internal thread form and the external thread form engage. After
they engage, continued sliding causes the internal thread form and
the external thread form to lock, sealing the contained product
into the collapsible tube.
[0054] One skilled in the art will recognize that various bumps and
ridges in the cap and throat may be used to enhance engagement. As
used herein the engagement enhancing bumps and ridges are not part
of the screw sliding operations.
[0055] FIG. 6A shows the collapsible tube of FIG. 4 with a second
cap 820 engaged and filled with contents. FIG. 6B shows a cross
section of FIG. 6A with the collapsible shoulder 504 and flexible
throat 502 of FIG. 5B engaging a hollow version of the second cap
820. FIG. 7 shows a cross section of FIG. 6A with the collapsible
shoulder 504 and flexible throat 502 of FIG. 5B engaging a filled
version of the second cap 820. Note the interior rim 822 included
in the second cap 820 may preferably extend to below at least the
first external thread 804-1 to aid in urging the reforming of the
flexible throat 502. It may further preferred that the interior rim
822 extend below the second external thread 804-2, etc. One skilled
in the art will recognize that many variations in the caps 820 and
800 are preferred in different situations, causing variation in at
least their size, shape, number of threads, and whether or not they
are hollow.
[0056] FIGS. 8A to 8D show the front view of a collapsible tube
with none, one, two, and three breaks in its external threads,
respectively.
[0057] FIGS. 9A to 9D shows the front view of the collapsible tubes
of FIGS. 8A to 8D partially deformed by squeezing the collapsible
tube bodies 506 and flexible shoulders 504.
[0058] FIGS. 10A to 10D show the further squeezing of the
collapsible tube of FIGS. 8A and 9A, which has no breaks in its
external threads.
[0059] FIGS. 10E to 10H show the further squeezing of the
collapsible tube of FIGS. 8C and 9C, which has a first break 600
and a second break 602.
[0060] FIGS. 11A to 11D show the side view of the squeezing of the
collapsible tube shown in FIGS. 9C, and 10E to 10H, with the
contained product 900 being dispensed.
[0061] This method of using a collapsible tube permits dispensing
essentially all of the contained product. The contained product may
be any of the following: a pharmaceutical, a personal care product,
a toothpaste, a food, an artist's paint, a glue, a hazardous
chemical, a grease product, and/or a viscous plastic.
[0062] Substances will be referred to herein as viscous plastics
when they are viscous enough to be pressed out of a collapsible
squeeze tube to form a blob or a line for various purposes, such as
caulk or other sealants, compounds used to create a braille letter,
or other identifying mark on items for the blind, or decorative
substances that are not simply paint but create texture and mass
when applied, or compounds that dry when exposed to air forming
durable shapes, marks, seals, decorations, and the like.
[0063] The collapsible tube 500 may have the tube closure 510,
repeatedly opened and sealed shut by using a mechanical device
(sometimes known as a key). Versions of key typically include a
plastic cylinder with a slit in its center that slides over the
open end of the tube, rolls toward the flexible throat 504 of the
collapsible tube 500 to seal the tube closure 510, and locks itself
in the closed position.
[0064] The collapsible tube 500 shown in the preceding FIGS. may
preferably be made of at least one flexible thermoset elastomeric
and/or flexible thermoplastic elastomer. Elastomeric plastics
include, but not limited to, urethane, polyvinyl chloride,
ThermoPlastic elastomer Olefin (TPO), Thermal PolyVinyl chloride
(TPV), ThermoPlasRubber (TPR) and/or Silicone based compounds. The
cap to which the flexible threads mate may also be manufactured
using existing collapsible tube manufacturing technology and
materials.
[0065] The cap 800 and the cap 820 shown in the preceding FIGS. may
preferably be made of at least one rigid thermoset elastomeric
and/or rigid thermoplastic elastomer. Elastomeric plastics include,
but not limited to, urethane, polyvinyl chloride, ThermoPlastic
elastomer Olefin (TPO), Thermal PolyVinyl chloride (TPV),
ThermoPlasRubber (TPR) and/or Silicone based compounds. The cap to
which the flexible threads mate may also be manufactured using
existing cap molding technology and materials. The interior bulge
802 on the cap that inserts into the flexible throat 502 may also
be a standard cap design. The interior rim 822 on the cap that
inserts into the flexible throat 502 may also be a standard cap
design. These caps may also be made from conventional cap
materials.
[0066] The preceding embodiments have been provided by way of
example and are not meant to constrain the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *