US1826189A

US1826189A - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: US1826189A
Application number: US524817A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph B Rothwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-03-24
Filing date: 1931-03-24
Publication date: 1931-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1948-10-06

Description

Oct. 6, 1931. R. B. ROTHWELL DISPENSING DEVICE- Filed March 24, 1931 mllnkulllpll Patented Oct. 6, 1931 PATENT OFFICE RALPH B. ROTHWELL, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA DISPENSING DEVICE .Application led March 24, 1931. Serial No. 524,817.

My invention provides a dispensing device foil)` use in conjunction with a collapsible tu e.

Various preparations, such as toothpaste,

shaving cream, cold cream, salve and the like are provided in collapsible tubes. The preparation is exuded through a cap-closed mouth of the collapsible tube by squeezing on the body portion thereof and also by rolling or folding the closed end.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dispensing device whereby numerous objections to the present manner of handling a collapsible tube may be eliminated.

The dispensing device of my invention constitutes a supporting means for the collapsible tube and enables the tube to be placed in an upright position. The supporting structure of my invention is preferably provided in the form of a base which is adapted to rest on a surface. The supporting structure provides a means whereby one end of the collapsible tube may be engaged, and the body portion of the tube may extend from the supporting structure.

The dispensing device of my invention includes a means whereby the end of' the collapsible tube may be completely collapsed as the preparation is dispensed from the collapsible tube and assures that all of the preparation will be removed therefrom. The preferred form of my invention includes an exuding means which engages the collapsible tube, preferably at the point where the collapsible tube extends into the supporting structure. This exuding means in its preferred form includes a pair of engaging faces adapted to engage the opposite sides of the tube and to reduce it from a substantially elliptical cross-section to a very narrow and elongated cross-section. On the interior of the supporting structure is a means whereby the collapsed end of the tube may be rolled up. This rolling means acts upon the collapsed end of the tube and completely forces any of the preparation within this end of the tube from the end of the tube so that the end of the tube which is wound on the rolling means has absolutely no preparation conc tained in it.

The dispensing device of my invention does not interfere with the normal use of the collapsible tube. The device is relatively light and is of a relatively small size. The size of the device used on the ordinary toothpaste tube is suiiiciently small so that it may be l held in the hand while the toothpaste is being dispensed.

The dispensing device of my invention is so designed that it may be readily applied to a collapsible tube and may be readily detached therefrom.

My invention has numerous advantages in addition to those pointed out above. For example, the collapsible tube is always supported in an upright position and will take a 're1- atively small amount of space as compared to the space required when 'the tube is lying in a horizontal position. The collapsible tube is always in such a condition that the preparation may be readily dispensed therewith, and itis not necessary for the user to roll up the end of the tube whenever the preparation is to be used. In using my device the preparation may be forced from the mouth thereof by squeezing on the central part of the tube. At intervals the rolling means may be operated in order to roll up the end of the tube and to compact the contents of the tube into the main body portion above the dispens- 30 ing device. The body portion will then assume its normal shape and will be ready for further use.

A further advantage of my present invention is that it is of a portable nature and is not required to be secured to a wall. It may, therefore, in the case of a tube of toothpaste, be removed from the medicine cabinet with the tube and replaced, when desired.

A still further advantage of my invention is that it is of very simple design and therefore may be cheaply manufactured and offered to the public at a relatively low price.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two forms of my invention. Re# a5 ferring to these drawings in detail:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the utility of one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the dispenslng device shown in Fig. 1. 10o

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2. This form shows the tube rolled onto the rolling means.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View 4taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken 1n a plane similar to the plane on which Fig. 2 is taken, but showing an alternative form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I will describe the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. The dispensing device is provided in the form of a base structure or supporting structure 11. rThis structure 11 includes side walls 12 and end walls 14 which are arranged to form a rectangle. T he lower ends of the

walls

12 and 14 lie in the same plane and are adapted to rest on a flat surface. The upper portions of the side walls 12 are provided with inclined top walls 15. At the central part of the base structure 11 there 1s provided a longitudinal mouth 17 which separates the adjacent portions of the top walls 15. The opposing sides of the mouth 17 are defined by exuding means provided in the form of curved walls 18. The curved walls 18 may be semi-cylindrical and are formed on axes which extend parallel to the major axis of the mouth 17.

Provided in the end walls 14, as shown best in Fig. 4, are openings 20 which are formed on an axis which is below the mouth 17 and which is in the same vertical plane as the major axis of the mouth. Resting in the openings 2O is a shaft 21 of the rolling means of my invention. This shaft 21 has a diametral slot- 22 which is adapted to receive the end of a collapsible tube. Provided at the left end of the shaft 21, in Fig 4, is a flange 24 having a wing 25 by means of which the sha-ft 21 may be manually rotated. In the oppositeor right end of the shaft 21 is a key 26 which is inserted through a suitable slot in the shaft 21 after the same has been installed to prevent its inadvertent removal. The inner face of the flange 24 is provided with a series of semi-spherical depressions 29 which are arranged in a circle generated around the axis of the shaft 21, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Secured to the lower portion of the end wall 14 adjacent the flange 24 is a spring member 30. This spring member 30 is secured to the inner face of the end wall 14 by suitable bolt and nut means 31. The upper end of the spring member 30 is provided with an enl gager 33 which extends outwardly through an opening 34 provided in the end wall 14 and is adapted to engage in any of the depressions 29. The depressions 29 and the engager 33 constitute a ratchet means of the invention, which releasably holds the shaft 21 in a certain position, but upon the application of force permits it to be rotated in either direc L.

In the utilization of my invention the collapsible tube, such as indicated by the numeral 35, is adapted to be supported in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 1. The closed end of the collapsible tube is provided with a closing member 36 which is usually in the form of a plate bent into a U-shape and adapted to clamp the end of the tubular portion of the collapsible tube. The shaft 21 is turned into such a position that the slot 22 thereof is in a vertical plane. The end of the collapsible tube 35 is then extended downward through the mouth 17 and the closing member 36 is extended into the slot 22. The shaft 21 is then rotated into a position shown in Fig. 2, and the end of the tube is now sufficiently engaged so that the tube is connected to the dispensing device and is supported in a vertical position. The assembly has the appearance as shown in the perspective View of Fig. 1. The base structure 11 is. of sufficient size to provide an ample standard means for the tube but is not of such a size as to take up an unreasonable amount of space. When it is desired to dispense the preparation from the collapsible tube the cap 37 thereof is removed and the preparation may be dispensed by squeezin@ upon the body portion of the collapsible tu e or by operating the shaft 21 to roll up the end of the collapsible tube. If desired, the preparation may be removed a number of times by squeezing tde tube after which the shaft 21 may be rotated in order to roll up the end of the collapsible tube and restore the body portion of the tube to its normal shape.

One of the features of the invention, as I have pointed out in the introductory part of the specication, is that the dispensing device constitutes a base or supporting structure for a collapsible tube. This is quite a desirable feature because it enables the tube to be supported in an upright position in order that it will not occupy much space in a medicine cabinet, for instance. The tube is always in a position in which it is conveniently available for use.

Another feature of my invention is, as previously pointed out, that all of the preparation is removed from the tube. This is due to the novel cooperation between the rolling means and the exuding means. As shown best in Fig. 2, the exuding means reduces the size of the end of the tube as it passes through the mouth 17. The width of the mouth 17, however, is wider than the combined thickness of the two side walls of the collapsible tube; therefore, there is a small amounty of the preparation in the end of the tube as it passes downwardly from the mouth 17 on to the rolling means. The rolling means is adapted to completely co1- lapse the end .of the tube and to squeeze any remaining preparation therefrom. The manner in which this is accomphshed 1s shown clearly in Fig; 2. One wall of the collapsible tube is su stantially straight, as shown at 41 in Fig. 2, while t eV other wall is in the form of a reverse S curve, as indicated at`42.

Fig. 3 shows the dis ensing device with a considerable portion o the tube rolled on to the shaft 21. It will be noted that the shaft 21 is a suicient distance from the mouth 17 to permit the entire tube to be rolled thereon. The ratchet means provided by the invention holds the shaft 21 from inadvertent rotation. The ratchet means, however, permits a rotation of the shaft in either direction, and when the preparation has been entirely removed from the collapsible tube the collapsible tube is easily removable by engaging the mouth end of the tube and pullin upon it. The ratchet means does not ollger suilicient resistance to prevent the rotation of the shaft 21, and the shaft 21 will rotate and the collapsible tube will be removed through the mouth 17.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show an alternative form of my invention. In this form of the invention the structure is practically the same, and where it is the same like numerals will be used to identify those arts which correspond to parts shown in igs. 1 to 4 inclusive. The essential difference between the form of the invention just described and the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is in the form of exuding means provided. The top wall 15 is provided with a relatively wide opening 50 and supported in the opposing sides of the opening 50 are rollers 51, these rollers being sup-ported on horizontally extending shafts 52. The rollers 51 are spaced so as to provide an opening which serves as the mouth 17.

The rollers 51 have cylindrical surfaces which constitute the cylindrical or semi-cylindrical walls 18 which act as the exuding means. As the tube is drawn into the dispensing device the tube is engaged by the walls 18 of the rollers 51, squeezing the end of the tube in the same manner as the walls 18 of the first form of my invention. As the tube is drawn downward the rollers 5l may rotate.

From the statement of invention incorporated in the forepart of this specification and from the description of the two forms of the invention it is ,apparent that various modifications may be made which embody the characteristics of my invention. I therefore declare that I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described herein, but wish my invention to be construed as broadly as is defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rtable base :for supportin a collapsible tu e, the combination of wa s having lower edges adapted for engagement with a supporting surface; curved exudin walls forming an opening through which tie collapsible tube may pass into said base, the opening being wider than the combined wall thickness of the collapsible tube in order that there may be a layer of paste remaining in such portion of the collapsible tube to act as a support for the Wall of the collapsible tube to prevent same from bending; and rolling means inside said base for rolling up the end of said collapsible tube and to completely exude the paste therefrom.

2. In a portable base for supportin lapsible tube, the combination of: wa

a cols having lower edges adapted for engagement with a supporting surface; curved exuding walls forming an opening through which the collapsible tube may pass into said base, the opening being wider than the combined wall thickness of the collapsible tube in order that there may be a layer of paste remaining in such portion of the collapsible tube to act as a support for the wall of the collapsible tube to prevent same from bending, and said exuding walls being uniformly curved outwardly so as to support the walls of the collapsible tube, thus assisting in holding the collapsible tube in anupright position; and rolling means inside said base for rolling up to the end of said collapsible tube and to completely exude the paste therefrom.

3. In a portable base for supporting a collapsible tube, the combination of: walls having lower edges adapted for engagement with a supporting surface; curved exuding walls forming an opening through which the collapsible tube may pass into said base, the opening being wider than the combined wall thickness of the collapsible tube in order that there may be a layer of paste remaining in such portion of the collapsible tube to act as a support for the wall of the collapsible tube to prevent same from bending; rolling means inside said base for rolling up the end of said collapsible tube and to completely exude the paste therefrom; and means operable in conjunction with said rolling means, whereby the portion of said collapsible tube between said exuding walls and said exuding means is held taut.

4. A supporting and dispensing device for a collapsible tube comprising side and end walls forming a hollow open-bottomed base member adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, said side walls converging toward each other to form an elongated opening in the top of said member adapted for the passage of the collapsible tube therethrough, said opening being wider than the combined wall thickness of the tube, an enlarged uniformly and outwardly curved exuding surface integral with each of said side walls on op osite sides of said opening, a shaft rotatn y supported in said end Walls beneath said opening, a slot in said shaft adapted to reoeive the closed end of said tube, and means for rotating said shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 18 day of March, 1931.

RALPH B. ROTHWELL.