GB1602298A

GB1602298A - Tube-squeezing dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB1602298A
Application number: GB4901777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-11-11

Description

(54) A TUBE-SQUEEZING DISPENSER (71) I, DAVID KNIGHT, a British Subject, formerly of 76B Salisbury Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, and now of 59, Antrim Road, Woodley, Nr. Reading, Berks, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to dispensers for viscous substances, such as toothpaste, supplied in manually compressible tubes.

According to the invention, there is provided a dispenser for use in dispensing a viscous substance from a manually compressible tube with an outlet nozzle, the dispenser comprising a support for the tube and frame which is movable relative to, and guided by, the support for movement along the tube and which carries first and second squeezing members for engaging opposite sides of the tube, the first squeezing member being pivoted on the frame and being coupled to a lever, operable by the user whereby the user can rotate the first squeezing member about its pivot axis, and the second squeezing member also being pivoted on the frame; the surface of the first squeezing member being so disposed relative to its pivot axis that rotation of the first member in a first direction causes it initially to move towards the second squeezing member to nip and to press the tube against the second squeezing member so that subsequently the second squeezing member is caused to rotate whereby the first and second squeezing members roll on the surfaces of the tube so that the areas of contact between the first and second squeezing members and the tube move along the tube towards the nozzle, rotation of the first member in a direction opposite to the first direction causing the first squeezing member to move away from the second squeezing member, allowing the frame to move away from the second squeezing member, allowing the frame to move along the tube towards the nozzle.

Preferably, the first member is a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to and spaced from its central longitudinal axis.

Preferably the second member is also a roller mounted for rotation about its central longitudinal axis. With such an arrangement it is advantageous so to position the pivot axes that the central longitudinal axes of the rollers lie in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube when the rollers are nipping the tube.

With such an arrangement the tube is not bent during the nipping operation.

At least one of the members may be knurled or provided with similar means for gripping the tube in order to prevent the tube slipping away from the members during the nipping operation. In the embodiment of the invention having two rollers, the first member being an eccentric roller, it is preferable for the eccentric roller to be provided with the gripping means. The eccentric roller should pivot in such a sense as to tend to advance the frame supporting the rollers along the tube towards the nozzle as a result of the gripping engagement of the tube by the roller.

Preferably there is provided a casing to support the frame and the tube, the frame being slideable within the casing. The casing may be attached to, for example, a wall to facilitate one-handed operation of the dispenser.

In embodiments of the invention having a casing as described above, the casing may include a cover for the nozzle of the tube to replace the usual cap, usually of the screwon type, which is supplied with the tube.

The invention will be further described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1, is a view, partly ghosted, of one embodiment of the invention for dispensing toothpaste.

Fig 2. is a vertical section through the dispenser shown in Fig 1. and Fig 3. a plan view, with parts cut away, of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings a tube of toothpaste 10 is mounted vertically in a casing 11, the closed end of the tube 10 being uppermost. The casting 11 is attached to a wall by means of screws 12. Two rollers 13 and 14, circular cross-section, are mounted between the sides of a frame 15 which is slideable within the casing 11. The rollers 13 and 14 nave pivots 16 and 17 respectively, the roller 13 being an eccentric roller, and engage opposite sides of the tube 10. A thumb lever 18 is provided for pivoting the roller 13.

In preparing the dispenser for use the closed end of the tube 10 is placed between the rollers 13 and 14 and the tube, together with the frame 15, is then placed in the casing 11 after removal of a lid 19. To dispense tooth paste from the tube 10, the eccentric roller 13 is pivoted by moving the lever 18 in the direction indicated in Fig. 2. The rollers 13 and 14 are knurled and so grip the tube 10 and nip that portion of the tube which is between the roller. Toothpaste is extruded from the nozzle 20 of the tube 10. During the movement of the lever 18 in the direction indicated the frame 15 advances down the tube 10 as a result of the friction between the eccentric roller 13 and the tube. When the portion of the tube 10 between tne rollers 13 and 14 is fully nipped the lever 18 is raised i.e., moved in the opposite direction to that indicated in Fig 2.During raising of the lever 18 the eccentric roller 13 pivots away from the tube 10 and the frame 15 advances down the tube under gravity. Now, with another portion of the tube 10 between the rollers 13 and 14, more toothpaste may be extruded from the nozzle of the tube by depressing the lever 18 again. Thus, by successively depressing and raising the lever 18, the frame 15 moves from the closed end of the tube 10 towards the nozzle 20, progressively extruding toothpaste from the tube.

A cover for the nozzle 20 of the tube may be mounted on the casing 11 to prevent the toothpaste becoming hard or dripping from the tube when the dispenser is not in use.

An example of such a cover is a sphere, or part of a spherical surface, arranged to engage the end of the nozzle of the tube. The sphere could be mounted to pivot away from, and to one side of, the nozzle to allow access to the nozzle. A spring could be used to support the sphere in both the closed and open positions. An alternative example of a cover consists of a nozzle mounted on the casing and into which the nozzle of the toothpaste tube fits snugly. A membrane of a rubber or plastics material is fixed over the end of the nozzle and divided into petal-like portions by, for example, 3 crosscuts. During nipping of the toothpaste-tube the tooth paste being extruded from the nozzle of the tube forces the petals of the membrane apart.When the tube is not being nipped the elasticity of the material of the membrane results in the petals closing to their original positions thus sealing the nozzle.

Although an embodiment of the invention has been shown and dscribed in which the first and second members are rollers, it will be appreciated that they can take other forms.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A dispenser for use in dispensing a viscous substance from a manually compressible tube with an outlet nozzle, the dispenser comprising a support for the tube and a frame which is movable relative to, and guided by, the support for movement along the tube and which carries first and second squeezing members for engaging opposite sides of the tube, the first squeezing member being pivoted on the frame and being coupled to a lever, operable by the user whereby the user can rotate the first squeezing member about its pivot axis, and the second squeezing member also being pivoted on the frame; the surface of the first squeezing member being so disposed relative to its pivot axis that rotation of the first member in a first direction causes it initially to move towards the second squeezing member to nip and to press the tube against the second squeezing member so that subsequently the second squeezing member is caused to rotate whereby the first and second squeezing members roll on the surfaces of the tube so that the areas of contact between the first and second squeezing members and the tube move along the tube towards the nozzle, rotation of the first member in a direction opposite to the first direction causing the first squeezing member to move away from the second squeezing member, allowing the frame to move along the tube towards the nozzle.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which the surface of the first squeezing member is convexly curved in a plane normal to the axis of rotation so that, initially, rotation of the first member in the first direction causes the first member to move continuously toward the second.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 in which the first squeezing member comprises a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to and spaced from its central longitudinal axis.

4. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims in which the second squeezing member comprises a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about its central longitudinal axis.

5. A dispenser according to claim 4 when appendant to claim 3 in which the pivot axes of the two rollers are positioned so that the central longitudinal axes lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube when the rollers are nipping the tube.

6. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims in which the surface of at least one of the first and second squeezing members is adapted to grip the tube to pre

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Claims

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nave pivots 16 and 17 respectively, the roller 13 being an eccentric roller, and engage opposite sides of the tube 10. A thumb lever 18 is provided for pivoting the roller 13.

In preparing the dispenser for use the closed end of the tube 10 is placed between the rollers 13 and 14 and the tube, together with the frame 15, is then placed in the casing

11 after removal of a lid 19. To dispense tooth paste from the tube 10, the eccentric roller

13 is pivoted by moving the lever 18 in the direction indicated in Fig. 2. The rollers 13 and 14 are knurled and so grip the tube 10 and nip that portion of the tube which is between the roller. Toothpaste is extruded from the nozzle 20 of the tube 10. During the movement of the lever 18 in the direction indicated the frame 15 advances down the tube 10 as a result of the friction between the eccentric roller 13 and the tube. When the portion of the tube 10 between tne rollers

13 and 14 is fully nipped the lever 18 is raised i.e., moved in the opposite direction to that indicated in Fig 2.During raising of the lever 18 the eccentric roller 13 pivots away from the tube 10 and the frame 15 advances down the tube under gravity. Now, with another portion of the tube 10 between the rollers 13 and 14, more toothpaste may be extruded from the nozzle of the tube by depressing the lever 18 again. Thus, by successively depressing and raising the lever 18, the frame 15 moves from the closed end of the tube 10 towards the nozzle 20, progressively extruding toothpaste from the tube.

A cover for the nozzle 20 of the tube may be mounted on the casing 11 to prevent the toothpaste becoming hard or dripping from the tube when the dispenser is not in use.

An example of such a cover is a sphere, or part of a spherical surface, arranged to engage the end of the nozzle of the tube. The sphere could be mounted to pivot away from, and to one side of, the nozzle to allow access to the nozzle. A spring could be used to support the sphere in both the closed and open positions. An alternative example of a cover consists of a nozzle mounted on the casing and into which the nozzle of the toothpaste tube fits snugly. A membrane of a rubber or plastics material is fixed over the end of the nozzle and divided into petal-like portions by, for example, 3 crosscuts. During nipping of the toothpaste-tube the tooth paste being extruded from the nozzle of the tube forces the petals of the membrane apart.When the tube is not being nipped the elasticity of the material of the membrane results in the petals closing to their original positions thus sealing the nozzle.

Although an embodiment of the invention has been shown and dscribed in which the first and second members are rollers, it will be appreciated that they can take other forms.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A dispenser for use in dispensing a viscous substance from a manually compressible tube with an outlet nozzle, the dispenser comprising a support for the tube and a frame which is movable relative to, and guided by, the support for movement along the tube and which carries first and second squeezing members for engaging opposite sides of the tube, the first squeezing member being pivoted on the frame and being coupled to a lever, operable by the user whereby the user can rotate the first squeezing member about its pivot axis, and the second squeezing member also being pivoted on the frame; the surface of the first squeezing member being so disposed relative to its pivot axis that rotation of the first member in a first direction causes it initially to move towards the second squeezing member to nip and to press the tube against the second squeezing member so that subsequently the second squeezing member is caused to rotate whereby the first and second squeezing members roll on the surfaces of the tube so that the areas of contact between the first and second squeezing members and the tube move along the tube towards the nozzle, rotation of the first member in a direction opposite to the first direction causing the first squeezing member to move away from the second squeezing member, allowing the frame to move along the tube towards the nozzle.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1 in which the surface of the first squeezing member is convexly curved in a plane normal to the axis of rotation so that, initially, rotation of the first member in the first direction causes the first member to move continuously toward the second.
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 in which the first squeezing member comprises a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to and spaced from its central longitudinal axis.
4. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims in which the second squeezing member comprises a cylindrical roller mounted for rotation about its central longitudinal axis.
5. A dispenser according to claim 4 when appendant to claim 3 in which the pivot axes of the two rollers are positioned so that the central longitudinal axes lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube when the rollers are nipping the tube.
6. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims in which the surface of at least one of the first and second squeezing members is adapted to grip the tube to pre

vent the tube slipping between the rollers.
7. A dispenser according to claim 6 in which the surfaces of the first and second squeezing members are knurled so as to grip the tube.
8. A dispenser according to claim 3 in which the lever extends radially outwards from the surface of the first squeezing member.
9. A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims in which the support comprises a housing for receiving the tube, the internal surface of the housing serving to guide the frame in its movement relative to the tube.
10. A dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.