GB2310417A

GB2310417A - Dispenser for toothpaste or like tube contents

Info

Publication number: GB2310417A
Application number: GB9603772A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Montague-Smith
Original assignee: MONTAGUE SMITH PETER
Current assignee: MONTAGUE SMITH PETER
Priority date: 1996-02-22
Filing date: 1996-02-22
Publication date: 1997-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-22
Also published as: GB9603772D0; GB2310417B

Abstract

A dispenser for fixing to a vertical surface, capable of dispensing paste or cream material contained within tubes with threaded nozzles, or any other form of compressible packaging closed at one end with a threaded nozzle at the other end, being of a physical size, when filled, to fit into the dispenser, the dispenser being comprised of a main body, figure 17, with slotted walls to guide and retain a winder key; a removable lid; a slotted winder key with a knob; a U shaped washer to effectively lock the tube within the dispenser; a plastic washer; and a multi fit screw on cap, figures 10 and 11, which provides means of outflow of the contents. The universal nozzle has inwardly projecting radial fingers 1 which will engage a number of different sized threads.

Description

WALL MOUNTED TOOTHPAT DI DSPENSER- The invention relates to a dispenser, in the form of a container for fixing on a wall or other vertical surface, capable of conveniently dispensing toothpaste or gel, shaving cream or hand cream, from a variety of tubes currently in use, with different threaded nozzles, held within the dispenser. It represents a considerable advance over J. Tripoli, U.S. patent number 2,822,111, February 4, 1958 in that the Multi Fit Screw on Cap screws on to the external thread of the tube nozzle, allowing the paste to flow through the full internal diameter of the tube nozzle, plainly regarded by manufacturers as necessary for proper flow. The Tripoli Adapter, screws into the flow space provided by tube manufacturers and seriously impedes the flow of paste by reducing the internal diameter of tube delivery nozzles by as much as seventy percent (see axial bore 46, Tripoli Fig.4).

Although the most obvious advantage of the dispenser is convenience, the dispenser also presents the opportunity of dispensing paste, gel or cream from a form of compressible package, not currently in use, much larger than the tubes currently used for toothpaste, provided that the package is closed at one end, a threaded nozzle is provided at the other end and the dispenser is dimensionally capable of containing the package, when filled.

Being hidden within the dispenser, without the usual constraints of visual package appeal, the package could be made of biodegradable material and thus appeal to the popular environmental conscience.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure, scale 1:2, shows a perspective of the main body of the dispenser, with the top removed, a slot (Ref. 1) to accept the winder key and integral guides (Ref.2) to retain the winder key. The hole in the base (Ref.3) is provided to allow the nozzle of the tube to pass through.

Figure, scale 1:2, shows the side of the dispenser with a slot to accept the winder key.

Figure 3, scale 1:2, shows the back of the dispenser with cut outs (Ref. 1 and 2) to allow for lift off fixing with screws to a vertical surface.

Figure 4, scale 1:2, shows the winder key with round element (Ref.l) which fits against the inner surface of the main body, the other round element (Ref.2) which fits into the integral guides on the opposing side of the main body and round knob (Ref.3) with which the key is rotated by hand.

Figure 5, scale 1:2, shows a section across the main body.

Figure 6, scale 1:2, shows the lift off top, which may or may not embody cut outs for toothbrushes, the dotted line indicating the thickening of the material on the underside to allow for a push on fit.

Figure 7, scale 1:2, shows a section of the lift off top.

Figure 8, (sheet 2/3) scale 1:1, shows the slide on U shaped washer.

Figure 9, scale 1:1, shows the flexible plastic washer.

Figure 10, scale 1:1, shows a perspective of the multi fit screw on cap.

Figure 11, scale 1:1, shows a plan view of the element of the cap with the tongues (Ref.l) which enables it to fit a variety of tube nozzles.

Figure 12, scale 1:1, shows a side view of the screw on cap with flip off lid.

Figure 13, scale 2:1, shows one tongue element in detail to larger scale.

Figure 14 scale 1:2, shows the tube inserted into the winder key slot.

Figure 15 scale 1:2, shows the winder key, with tube inserted, positioned in the main body of the dispenser when the top is removed.

Figure 16 (sheet 3/3), scale 1:2, shows the tube having been lowered within the dispenser.

Figure 17 scale 1:2, shows the tube established within the dispenser, the multi fit cap screwed on and the removable top in position.

The invention relates to a dispenser capable of containing tubes of varying dimension currently in use, with nozzles of varying size and thread, and conveniently dispensing the paste, gel or cream material held within the tube. It would also be capable of dispensing paste, gel or cream material from a form of compressible package not currently in use, provided that the package, when filled, is of a physical size to fit into the dispenser and a threaded nozzle is provided at one end, as with a conventional tube. The dispenser is, for example, capable of dispensing paste, gel or cream from a package made from biodegradable material, much larger than the tubes currently used to package toothpaste.

The dispenser is comprised of the following elements: The MAIN BODY, shown in Figure 1, manufactured in one piece in moulded rigid plastic, with a slot (Ref.1) provided in one side and integral guides (Ref.2) provided on the opposing side. A hole (Ref.3) is provided in the base to allow the threaded nozzle of the tube to pass through and for the neck of the tube to rest against the inner surface of the base. The holes and slots (Ref.1 and 2) shown in Figure 3 provide for simple lift off fixing to a vertical surface.

A WINDER KEY, shown in Figure 4, manufactured from metal or strong rigid plastic, providing a round guide (Ref.1), which locates against the inner surface of the main body, another round guide (Ref.2), which locates in the integral guide slot and a winder knob (Ref.3), which locates outside the main body.

The DISPENSER TOP, shown in Figure 6, moulded in the same rigid plastic material as the main body, with cut outs provided to accept toothbrushes.

The dotted line indicates the area of thickening of the plastic material in order to provide for a push on fit. This is also clearly shown in the section of the top shown in Figure 7.

The SLIDE ON U SHAPED WASHER, shown in figure 8, with a cut out of such width to barely fit the nozzle of tubes between the raised threads, effectively locks the tube within the main body of the dispenser by sliding the U shaped washer between the raised threads of the nozzle of the tube and against the external surface of the base of the main body.

The FLEXIBLE PLASTIC WASHER, shown in Figure 9, has an overall diameter equal to the overall diameter of the base element of the multi fit cap (Fig. 10). The centre cut out of the washer is not less than 16mm in diameter to allow it to pass over the threaded nozzles of most tubes currently in use.

The multi fit SCREW ON CAP, shown in Figure 10, is made of moulded flexible plastic and incorporates a lift off lid. The tongues shown in Figure 11, further detailed in Figure 12 and Figure 13, provide for the cap to screw on to a variety of nozzles of differing size and thread currently found on tubes containing toothpaste, hand cream and shaving cream.

The dispenser is used in the following manner: Step 1. The Winder Key (Fig.4) is removed from the Main Body and the compressed end of the tube is inserted through the slot in the Winder Key, as shown in Figure 14, sheet 2/3. With the tube held still, the Winder Key is rotated at least half of one turn until the tube is firmly held within the slot.The screw on cap is then removed from the nozzle of the tube.

Step 2. The Winder Key is then inserted into the Main Body, as shown in Figure 16, sheet 3/3, with round guide (Fig.4 Ref.2) positioned within the guide slot (Fig. 1, Ref.2). This positions round guide (Fig. 4 Ref.l) against the inner surface of the Main Body and the winder knob (Fig.4 Ref.3) outside the Main Body. (For purposes of clarity the winder knob is not shown in Figure 15, sheet 2/2).

Step 3. The Winder Key is then moved down the Main Body, relative to the length of the tube being inserted, until the threaded nozzle has passed through the hole in the base and the neck of the tube is resting against the inner surface of the base, as shown in Figure 16, sheet 3/3.

Step 4. The slide on U shaped washer is then slid between the raised threads of the tube nozzle and against the external surface of the base of the main body, thus effectively locking the tube within the body of the dispenser.

Step 5 The plastic washer is then placed over the threaded nozzle of the tube and the multi fit Screw on Cap is screwed onto the threaded nozzle of the tube, as shown in Figure 17, sheet 3/3, whilst holding the compressed end of the tube in the slot of the Winder Key with finger and thumb.

Step 6. The paste or cream contained within the tube is dispensed, in easily controllable quantity, by slowly turning the winder knob in the same direction as it was started when inserted in the slot of the Winder Key during Step 1.

Claims

CLA I MS

1. A dispenser which can be fixed to a vertical surface, capable of dispensing paste or cream material from tubes with threaded nozzles, or any other form of compressible package, closed at one end with a threaded nozzle at the other end and dimensionally capable, when filled, of being inserted into the body of the dispenser, comprising a Main Body with means provided to guide and retain a slotted winder key, a Winder key with a slot and two round guides to fit into the Main Body and a winder knob outside the main body, a Lift off Top to the main body, which may or may not have cut outs to accept toothbrushes, a Slide on U Shaped Washer, a Flexible Plastic Washer and a Multi Fit Screw on Cap, capable of fitting a variety of threaded nozzles of differing size and thread found on tubes currently in use.

2. A dispenser which can be fixed to a vertical surface, capable of dispensing paste or cream material from tubes, or any other form of compressible packaging dimensionally capable, when filled, of being inserted into the body of the dispenser, closed at one end with a threaded nozzle at the other end, comprising a Main Body, a Slotted Winder Key with two round guides, a Lift off Top, and a Slide on U shaped Washer, cut out to fit between the raised threads of the tube nozzle, as claimed in Claim 1, or in lieu of the U shaped Washer, a number of Plastic Washers with cut out centres of varying sizes, the diameters of the cut out centres being of such dimension to actually fit the thread of nozzles of tubes currently in use or yet to be used and a Multi Fit Screw on Cap capable of fitting a variety of threaded nozzles of differing sizes and thread found on tubes currently in use.

3. A dispenser substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 17 of the accompanying drawing.