AU596720B2 - Collapsible tube dispenser with integral cap - Google Patents

Description

~i i ~8~ 596720 S F Ref: 45293 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: 1 f oRpglated Art: *t o C e* ""Name and Address of Applicant: Johnsen Jorgensen Grinsted House Grinstead Road London SE8 SAB UNITED KINGDOM P'astics Limited Address for Service: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Hales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: Collapsible Tube Dispenser with Integral Cap The following statement is a full descriptior of t' s invention, including the "best method of performing it known to me/us 5845/29 itfWM^ -2- This invention is concerned with the provision of a container adapted to dispense a cream, paste or paste-like product hereinafter simply called paste. As an example, toothpaste is often supplied in a squeezable tube, manipulation of which expels a desired quantity of paste through the mouth of the tube which conventionally is closed, when the tube is not in use, by a simple screw oq/screw off cap.

The provision of a squeezable tube filled with paste and provided with a screw cap is a cheap and effective method of~ dispensing the paste product but the use of a cap separate from the tube introduces the problem that it is e~asy to drop the cap. Th9n it is often not so easy to find the *000 cap and, when it is found, the cap may be dusty.

In order to make it possible to use ~.hinged cap it has always been assumed the cap would have to be moulded or otherwise formed as a sepa4rate 0 unit which would then have to be assembled with the tube body u.sing a 135 similar screw thread or snap-on connection or an other appropriate method of attachment. Such an arrangement might have been satisfactory, in use but it has always been ruled out Qfl the ground of cost due to the need for a separate moulding which would cost more than a screw cap and for the extra asscmbly operation still required, A dispensing container assembly formed as a unitary structure comprising: a tubular container body forming a lower part of the assembly, a collar integrally connected to an upper part of the tubular contai ner, a shoulder moulded integrally with the collar, a neck mouloed integrally with the iihoulder and surrounding an opening through which contents of the container may be c6lspensed, and a cap being hinged to the shoulder member by means of a hinge formed integrally with the cap and shoulder to selectively open and close the opening.

In order that the invention rr~y be moro clearly understood reference is now directed to the accompanying drawing which show, by way of example only, some embodiments of a dispensing assembly including a cap with a snap type hinge formed integrally with a shoulder member, In the drawings Fig. 1 is a fragi.entary front view of one embodiment Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view, Fig. 4 is a plan view with the cap closed -3- Fig. 5 is a plan view with the cap open, Fig. 6 is a side view with the cap open, Fig. 7 is a perspective view with the cap open, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front view of a second embodiment, Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear view, Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view, Fig. 11 is a plan view with the cap closed, Fig. 12 is a plan view with the cap open, Fig. 13 is a side view with the cap open, Fig. 14 is a perspective view, and ,Fig. 15 Is a sectional view showing details of the construction of the tube body.

^Referring to Fig. 15 the assembly which comprises tubular body 4 and a cap 6 has a shoulder member 2, a foil/film laminated collar 3 and a foil/film laminated tubular body 4 which is welded or otherwise secured i:o the collar 3 and to the shoulder member 2 at 5. Formed integrally with 'che shoulder member 2 is the cap 6 which is connected to a neck 11 of the shoulder member 2 by hinge 7. As shown the cap 6 has a depending outer I skirt 8 and depending inner plug 9 to seal an opening 10 formed in the neck S '20 11.

The shoulder member 2 is moulded as an Integral unit which includes s the neck 11, the open mouth 10, th.e cap 6 and the hinge 7 connecting the 1 cap 6 to the neck 11, The hinged cap 6 integral with the shoulder member 2 is already in Its shut position, before assembly with the foil/film 25 lminated collar and tubular body which can then be filled with paste through the open bottom oF the container, after which the bottom is sealed in the normal way. Essentially, therefore in Fig. 1 we have provided a dispensing container comprising a body 4 to hold a supply of paste and a I shoulder member 2 forined separately and connected to the top of the body 4 and shaped to define a neck 11 and an opening 10 at the top of the nozzle, the shoulder member 2 being formed integrally with a cap 6 adapted to close the opening 10 of the container and being connected to the nozzle 11 of the shoulder member 2 by a hinge.

Figs. 1 to 7 illustrate one form of container assembly with a snap type hinge 7 formed Integrally with a shoulder member 2. By a snap ty)e hinge we mean a hinge that tends to settle either in Its closed position as shown e.g. in Fig. 4 or Its open position as shown eg. in Fig. 6. The 7 ?004.y i^ 1 i i. ii -4hinge 7 therefor has a center position and when moving the cap 6 from its closed position to its open position the cap tends to snap towards its shut position again but after passing the centre position the cap tends to snap open.

In Figures 1 to 7 we illustrate what we call a butterfly shaped snap hinge which comprises a central raised ridge 12 \ith wings 13, 14 one on each side of the ridge 12, the shoulder member 2 being cut away or recessed at 15 and the cap 16 being cut away or recessed at 16. A recess 17 is provided in the shoulder member 2 to assist in opening the cap 6, Figs. 8 to 14 illustrate another form of container assembly with a O snap type hinge 7 formed integrally with the neck 11 of the shoulder member 2, In this embodiment the hinge 7 has two outer connectors 18 and an inner connector 19.

In Figs, 2 to 14 two forms of snap-on type hinges are illustrated but it will be understood that any suitable form of hinged cap may be used e.g.

a push on or push in cap, the essential requirement being that the cap is formed Integrally with the shoulder member, A dispensing container in accordance with the invention is very useful as a container for toothpaste ard may also be used for many other 0 pastes including food, medicaments, toiletries, as well as Industrial boo*° greases and so on.

In the above description we have referred by way of example to a o o tubular container and to the use of a foil/film body and collar but it will be understood that any suitable type and/or shape or squeezable container and/or collar can be used. Ne prefer to mould the shoulder with the a integral cap from a suitable plastics materi.!.

Q

Claims (4)

1. A dispensing container assembly formed as a unitary structure compri sing: a tubular container body forming a lower part of the assembly, a collar integrally connected to an upper part of the tubular container, a shoulder moulded integrally with the collar, a neck moulded integrally with the shoulder and surrounding an opening through which contents of the container may be dispensed, and a cap being hinged to the shoulder member by means of a hinge formed integrally with the cap and shoulder to selectively open and close the opening.

2. A dispensing container assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a o0 the collar is connected to the upper part of the tubular container by means 0 04, of a foil/film lamination.

3. A dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hinge is a butterfly type hinge comprising a raised ridge with wings on each side thereof, the hinge being adapted to bias the cap into either an open or closed position.

4. A dispensing container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hinge is a snap type hinge comprising two outer connectors and an inner connector, the hinge being adapted to bias the cap into either an open or closed position. A dispensing container assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this NINETEENTH day of FEBRUARY 1990 Johnson Jorgensen Plastics Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON KLN/20041 ^0