U.S. patent application number 13/012187 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-26 for toothpaste dispenser.
Invention is credited to Vernon Francis LIGHTFOOT.
Application Number | 20120187147 13/012187 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46543425 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120187147 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIGHTFOOT; Vernon Francis |
July 26, 2012 |
TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing the contents of a collapsible tube,
such as a toothpaste tube. The toothpaste dispenser includes dual
arms affixed to the tube that are used to reposition the contents
of the tube and maintain the tube in modified configurations. The
toothpaste dispenser of embodiments of the present invention allows
for the product contained in the tube to be more readily compressed
and dispensed from the tube relative to manual compression alone,
thereby leaving less product in the tube when the tube is
discarded.
Inventors: |
LIGHTFOOT; Vernon Francis;
(Santa Rosa, CA) |
Family ID: |
46543425 |
Appl. No.: |
13/012187 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/103 ;
222/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 35/28 20130101;
B65D 35/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/103 ;
222/107 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/28 20060101
B65D035/28; B65D 35/00 20060101 B65D035/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for dispensing the contents of a compressible tube,
comprising: a compressible tube configured to contain toothpaste,
wherein said tube comprises a nozzle and an opposing sealed end;
and dual arms comprising at least two bendable segments and at
least two unbendable segments, wherein said dual arms are
permanently affixed to said sealed end, wherein said dual arms are
configured to selectively reposition the toothpaste within said
tube, and wherein said dual arms are configured to manipulate and
maintain the configuration of said tube.
2-5. (canceled)
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dual arms comprise a
polymer.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dual arms comprise mating
hook and loop fastener strips.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising hook and loop
strips affixed to said tube, wherein said mating hook and loop
fastener strips and hook and loop strips engage each another to
maintain the configuration of said tube.
9. (canceled)
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle.
11. An apparatus for dispensing the contents of a compressible
tube, comprising: a compressible tube configured to contain
toothpaste, wherein said tube comprises a nozzle and an opposing
sealed end; and a single-component reinforcement rod, wherein said
reinforcement rod comprises a slit running partially lengthwise
therein for selectively repositioning the toothpaste within said
tube and engaging and manipulating the configuration of said tube,
wherein said tube is positioned within said slit, and wherein said
reinforcement rod comprises dual bendable portions.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reinforcement rod is
permanently affixed to said sealed end of the tube.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reinforcement rod is
releasably affixed to said sealed end of the tube.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to dispensers for
pastes stored in collapsible tubes. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a toothpaste dispenser for dispensing
toothpaste from a toothpaste tube.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional tube dispensers for pastes, such as toothpaste
tubes, are an inefficient means for dispensing a product. Users
typically squeeze the tube dispensers causing the product to be
extruded. This form of product delivery is extremely inefficient,
as manual squeezing of a tube dispenser is typically not effective
in removing the entire amount of the product from the tube, and a
portion of the product may therefore remain inside the tube when
the user chooses to discard it. Moreover, the manual squeezing
action can be difficult for users with limited mobility due to
conditions such as joint pain or arthritis.
[0003] There remains a need in the art for a device that
facilitates delivery of product, prevents emptied, coiled portions
of the tube dispensers from uncoiling, and which is simple to use
and inexpensive to manufacture and produce. These and other needs
are met by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing
the contents of a compressible tube, such as a toothpaste tube.
[0005] Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to
an apparatus for dispensing the contents of a compressible tube,
comprising: a compressible tube configured to contain toothpaste,
wherein said tube comprises a nozzle and an opposing sealed end;
and dual arms affixed to said sealed end, wherein said dual arms
are configured to selectively reposition the toothpaste within said
tube, and wherein said dual arms are configured to manipulate and
maintain the configuration of said tube.
[0006] In some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus
further comprises a reinforcement rod, wherein said reinforcement
rod comprises a slit running partially lengthwise therein for
engaging and manipulating the configuration of said tube. In other
embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a handle.
[0007] The dual arms of embodiments of the apparatus of the present
invention may be flexible or may comprise a bendable portion. The
dual arms may be permanently affixed to said sealed end of the tube
or releasably affixed to said sealed end of the tube. In certain
embodiments, the dual arms comprise a polymer. In other
embodiments, the dual arms comprise mating hook and loop fastener
strips and the apparatus further comprises hook and loop strips
affixed to the tube. The mating hook and loop fastener strips and
hook and loop strips engage each another to maintain the
configuration of the tube.
[0008] The above summary of the present invention is not intended
to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of
the present invention. The Figures and the detailed description
that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other objectives, features and advantages of the
present invention are described in the following detailed
description of the specific embodiments and are illustrated in the
following Figures, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a toothpaste dispenser according to one
embodiment of the present invention, showing dual arms permanently
attached to a tube;
[0011] FIG. 2A depicts a front view of a toothpaste dispenser
according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing dual
arms maintaining the tube in a folded configuration;
[0012] FIG. 2B depicts a reverse view of the toothpaste dispenser
of FIG. 2A, showing dual arms maintaining the tube in a folded
configuration;
[0013] FIG. 3A depicts a toothpaste dispenser according to one
embodiment of the present invention, showing dual arms maintaining
the tube in a rolled configuration;
[0014] FIG. 3B depicts a toothpaste dispenser of FIG. 3A, showing
dual arms maintaining the tube in a rolled configuration;
[0015] FIG. 4A depicts a toothpaste dispenser according to one
embodiment of the present invention, showing a reinforcement rod
having dual arms prior to releasable attachment to a tube;
[0016] FIG. 4B depicts a toothpaste dispenser according to one
embodiment of the present invention, showing the reinforcement rod
having dual arms after being used to flatten the tube, thereby
repositioning the contents of the tube towards the nozzle of the
tube;
[0017] FIG. 4C depicts a toothpaste dispenser according to one
embodiment of the present invention, showing the reinforcement rod
having dual arms maintaining the tube in a folded
configuration.
[0018] FIG. 5A depicts a toothpaste dispenser according to one
embodiment of the present invention, showing mating hook and loop
fastener strips dual arms attached to a tube; and
[0019] FIG. 5B depicts the reverse side of the toothpaste dispenser
of FIG. 5A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention relates to various embodiments of a
toothpaste dispenser for dispensing toothpaste from a toothpaste
tube. Embodiments of the present invention facilitate the extrusion
of toothpaste from the toothpaste tube and maintain the tube in its
rolled shape as toothpaste is sporadically delivered.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a toothpaste dispenser 10 of one
embodiment of the present invention having dual arms 12, 14 that
are permanently attached to sealed end 16 at the bottom of tube 18.
The tube 18 shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional toothpaste tube
having sealed end 16 and a nozzle 20. However, in other embodiments
of the invention, the dual arms 12, 14 can be attached to any tube
known within the art. The dual arms 12, 14 are each comprised of a
flexible or bendable portion, 22, 24 (e.g., score lines,
corrugations), respectfully, to facilitate placement of the dual
arms 12, 14 about the tube 18. The user may employ the dual arms
12, 14 to fold the tube 18, as shown in FIG. 2A, or alternatively,
to roll the tube 18 around sealed end 16, as shown in FIG. 3A.
During the folding or rolling processes of embodiments of the
present invention, the product contained in tube is more readily
compressed and dispensed from the tube than by manual compression
alone, thereby leaving less product in the tube when the tube is
discarded.
[0022] As depicted in FIGS. 2A-B and 3A-B, once the user folds or
rolls the tube 18, one or more of bendable portions, 22, 24, can be
bent or manipulated so that one or both of the dual arms 12, 14 are
positioned around the folded or rolled portion of tube 18, so that
tube 18 will retain its modified form. The user can then gently
manually compress tube 18 to dispense the contents of the tube,
e.g., toothpaste. As such, the dual arms 12, 14 assist in
dispensing the product, e.g., toothpaste, from the tube 18. When
the compressing of the tube 18 becomes too burdensome for the user,
the user can repeat the rolling and folding process until the
majority of the product is extruded from the tube 18.
[0023] In some embodiments of the present invention where the
toothpaste dispenser is permanently attached to the tube,
attachment can be achieved by the manufacturer during formation and
processing of the tube. For example, in certain embodiments, the
dual arms are integral to the tube and are comprised of the same
material as the tube. In other embodiments, the dual arms are
permanently attached using an adhesive or other bonding agent, or
using a mechanical attachment device (e.g., screw, tack or
staple).
[0024] The present invention also encompasses embodiments where the
toothpaste dispenser is releasably attached to the tube. In some
such embodiments, the dual arms are releasably affixed to a tube
using a relatively weak adhesive or a mechanical attachment device
(e.g., clamp, mating hook and loop fastener strips). In certain
embodiments, the relatively weak adhesive is one that allows for
repeated removal and adherence of the toothpaste dispenser. Use of
the releasably attached toothpaste dispenser of embodiments of the
present invention allows the user to remove the toothpaste
dispenser after the product has been dispensed from tube and
utilize or re-use the device on a different tube. Another
embodiment of the releasably attached toothpaste dispenser is shown
in FIGS. 4A-4C.
[0025] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a toothpaste dispenser 40 comprising
a reinforcement rod 42 having dual arms 44, 46 that is separate
from the tube 48, and is releasably attached to the tube 48 as
needed by the user. FIG. 4A depicts toothpaste dispenser 40 of one
embodiment of the present invention prior to engagement to the tube
48. The reinforcement rod 42 includes a slit 50 by which to engage
the tube 48. The slit 50 also serves to compress and flatten tube
48 thereby repositioning the contents of the tube as the
reinforcement rod 42 traverses the body of the tube 48, one
embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 4B. The dual arms 44, 46 each
include a bendable portion, 52, 54, which allows the reinforcement
rod 42 to bend in either direction around the body of the tube 48
to maintain tube 48 in a folded or otherwise modified form, as
shown in FIG. 4C.
[0026] The toothpaste dispenser of the present invention may be
comprised of any suitable material known in the art. Exemplary
materials include metals, ceramics, plastics (e.g., polypropylene),
fabrics, flexible materials, and natural materials. In certain
embodiments, the toothpaste dispenser is comprised of a mating hook
and loop fastener strips. As shown in FIGS. 5A-B, the toothpaste
dispenser 50 includes dual mating hook and loop fastener strips 52,
54 affixed to sealed end 56 at the bottom of tube 58. The tube 58
shown in FIGS. 5A-B is a conventional toothpaste tube having a
sealed end 56 and a nozzle 60 and hook and loop strips 62, 64
affixed to one side of the tube. As the toothpaste is used, the
tube 58 is folded, or the sealed end 56 is rolled to reposition the
contents of the tube towards the nozzle 60. The mating hook and
loop fastener strips 52, 54 engage the hook and loop strips, 62, 64
upon the folding or rolling of the tube 58 and effectively maintain
the modified configuration of the tube 58. The hook and loop strips
62, 64 and the mating hook and loop fastener strips 52, 54 can be
of any suitable dimension. In some embodiments, the strips have a
length sufficient to extend approximately along the length of the
tube 58 and a width large enough to hold the tube surfaces
together.
[0027] The toothpaste dispenser of the present invention may be of
any size, shape and color. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the toothpaste dispenser includes a handle or grip to
facilitate manipulation of the device. In addition, the dual arms
of embodiments of the present invention are not limited to being
positioned at the sealed end of the tube. Rather, in some
embodiments, the dual arms can be positioned at one or more
locations throughout the body of the tube.
[0028] Although the dispenser of embodiments of the present
invention is indicated for toothpaste, the contents of the tube can
be any product suitable for delivery from a compressible tube. The
tube may contain a variety of products, such as toothpaste, gel,
cream, liquids, medicinal products, lotions, salves, cosmetics,
food products, or the like.
[0029] The invention described and disclosed herein has numerous
benefits and advantages compared to conventional devices. These
benefits and advantages include, but are not limited to ease of use
and monetary savings. Embodiments of the present invention provide
an alternative means for dispensing products contained in tubes for
users with joint pain, arthritis or other condition in which
conventional manual compression of the tube is problematic or
burdensome. In addition, the present invention allows the user to
more completely dispense the product contained within the tube,
thereby providing the user with monetary savings as the present
invention allows for more complete use of the contents within the
tube. While the invention has been described in terms of various
preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that
various modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes can be
made without departing from the spirit of the present
invention.
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