US2200923A - Closure construction for collapsible tubes - Google Patents

Description

'May 14, 1940. H. s. HOGGATT CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Sept. 2, 1939 INVENTOR. HUTaEE EHUQEE TTORNEYS.

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Patented May 14, 1940 I CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR v COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Horace S. Hoggatt, Richmond, Ind.

Application September 2, 1939, Serial No. 293,272

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in closure constructions for collapsible tubes.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a closure construction for collapsible tubes such as are adapted to receive toothpaste, shaving cream, and the like, which is preferably an integral and permanent part of the tube, and adapted to normally assume a closed position, but which upon pressure will open the tube to permit of ejection of a quantity of the contents of the tube. Y v A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved closure construction for tubes, preferably collapsible tubes, which may or may not be of an integral construction with the tube, but which is relatively simple in nature, and of a practical construction, having no detachable parts which may become displaced or lost, and which may with facility be operated to dispense a quantity of the contents of the tube.

A further object of this invention is the provision, of an improved closure construction for collapsible tubes which does not include any detachable cap parts, and preferably includes parts which may be a permanent part of the tube, operable in one hand of an operator to permit of instant ejection of a quantity of the contents of the tube, and which is of such nature as to automatically close the tube upon the release of hand pressure upon the part of the operator.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved collapsible tube for receiving paste materials which embodies an integral closure construction, and which may be manufactured at relatively low cost, and operated with facility to eject a desired quantity of the contents of the tube; the improved tube having a stream-line appearance and having no detachable parts.

.-A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved collapsible tube which embodies a closure construction which may be operated with facility by a person to eject a quantity of the contents of the tube, and which closure construction is of such a nature as to automatically close the openingupon release of hand pressure upon the part of the operator, and which through such action will tend to draw any residual part of the contents of the tube, which may be around the opening, into the tube, and thus prevent collection of contents of the tube at the dispensing aperture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the severel views: t Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved ube.

Figure 2 isa fragmentary cross-sectional view at the closure end of thetube, showing the tube closed.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but with the closure construction held in open position between the fingers of anoperator.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the closure end of the tube, showing the dispensing opening closed.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the closure features of the improved tube.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of 29 illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved tube which embodies an improved closure construction B.

The tube A may be of any collapsible material, such as ordinarily is ,used for the reception of toothpaste, shaving cream, and the like; the improved tube not being limited to the dispensing of such substances. The tube A is preferably collapsible at its normally closed end 20, and at the 30 opposite end the tube is stream-lined and provided with a. closure construction B, over which the material of the tube is preferably fused or secured so as to hide the parts of the closure construction B, as are shown in Figure 6 of the drawing.

The closure construction B preferably consists of two pliant spring steel strips 25 and 26. The outer strip 25 includes the,downwardly divergent leg portions 21 and 28 which are formed without apertures therein, and preferably which are of rather tapering width;- tapering diminishingly upward to the arcuate or bight portion 29 which joins said legs. This bight portion 29 is preferably provided with a rectangular shaped dispensing opening 30 therein. lhe material of this spring steel piece 25 is of such nature that the legs 2'! and 28 normally tend to assume their downwardly divergent position notwithstanding parts of the tube to which this strip may be 2.1- fixed, nor the contents of the tube.

The inner steel spring strip 26 is secured within the strip 25. It includes a long leg portion 35 and a shorter leg portion 36. The portion 35 may preferably be a plane, and at-its extreme e'ndjit is secured at 31, as by welding or soldering, to the inside at the lower end of the leg 28 of the strip 25, as is shown in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawing. Therefrom the leg 35 extends at an acute angle upwardly and the arcuate or bight portion 4| to which the other leg 36 is connected is adapted to fit at the inside surface of the arcuate bight portion 29 of the steel piece 25, as is shown in the drawing. The leg 36, while referred to as such, is preferably -arcuated and adapted to move freely at the inside surface of the strip 25along the inner surface of the leg 28 and the under-surface of the arcuate bight portion 26. Of course the steel spring piece 26 normally tends to unfold, and thus it is maintained in close frictional engagement-with the inside surface of the strip 25, in the relation shown in the drawing. The leg portion 35 of the strip 26, inasmuch as it crosses. the ,outlet of the tube, is provided with an opening 40 through which the material of the tube may readily fiow, although this opening 40 is not the dispensing opening. The arcuate or bight portion 4| of the strip 26 has a dispensing opening 43 therein which is normallyoutof alignment with the dispensing opening 30 of the strip 25 when the strips 25 and 26 are expanded, as is shown in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawing. This is their normal position, according to the inherent springiness of these strips. The opening 43 may,

however, be moved to align with the dispensing opening 30 merely by pressure at the free ends of the leg portions 21 and 28 of the strip 25; This action will force the arcuate bight end 40 of the strip or piece 26 and the leg portion 36 thereof along the inside surfaces of the bight portion 29 and le 28 of the piece 25, to align the openings and permit dispensing of the contents of the tube, as is shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The end portions of the strip 26 may be less in width'than the legs of the strip 25, inasmuch as the=latter is intended to maintain the proper shapeland positioning. of the collapsible end of the tube.

The pliant material -of .the tube proper may be fused or secured. along the outer surfaces of the legs and bightportion of the closure strip 25, as is shown in the drawing. Ofcourse the collapsible material of this tube will flex, along with the leg portions of the closure strip, as is quite evident from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing.

It is preferred to streamline the closure end of the tube, as shown in Figure l of the drawing,

and this is one reason for taperingthe width of the closure strips or pieces.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the collapsible tube closure construction will enable a facile operation of the tube; permitting ejection of a desired amountof the contents of the tube merely by pressureof. the leg portions 2| and 28 of the closure [COIlStlllCtiOli end of the tube together. This action aligns the dispensing openings of the strips 25 and 26, and compels the dispensing'of the contents of the tube inasmuch as pressure of the fingers of the operator will restrictthe capacity of the tube at the dispensing end thereof.

It is obvious that there are nodetachable cap parts of the tube. The closure action of the portions 25 and 26 of the closure construction is automatic, and this action, tending as it does to expand the end of the tube, will withdraw any residue portions of the contents of the tube into the tube from the dispensing openingfas the latter is being closed; thus preventing the gathering of the contents of the tube around the dispensing opening and maintaining the tube in a sanitary and neat appearing condition.

It is preferred to provide rectangular open ings at thev dispensing end of the tube, although it is realized that other shaped openings may be provided, and the end of the tube may be shaped other than that shown in the drawing.

Various changes in the .shapefsize, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without 2. A closure arrangement for receptacles, such as collapsible tubes, comprising complementary slidable and flexible closure portions, one of which at least inherently assumes a definite relation with respect to the other, said parts having dispensingopenings therein normally out of. alignment when the said parts assume their normal position, and being in alignment when the said parts are flexed.

3. A-clOsure construction for collapsible tubes and the like comprising a. U-shaped piece of spring material having leg portions and a bight portion, the bight portion having a dispensing opening therein, said piece tending to assume a definite position from which it may be flexed, and a. second part attached adjacent the outer end of one of the legs of the first mentioned piece and extending therefrom across the space between said legs and having an arcuate portion complementary to the bight portion of the first mentioned closure piecev and having also a dispensing opening therein adapted to align with the opening of the first mentioned piece only when the legs of the first mentioned piece. are brought together against the normal tendency of said first mentioned piece to maintain said legs'in spread condition. v

4. In a. collapsible tube the. combination of a collapsible tube body, and, complementary spring actuated closure parts having'dispensing openings therein, said closure parts being normally spring actuated to maintain said'openings out of alignment and flexible under pressure to position said openings in alignment when the tubeis squeezed at a designated location, for dispensing materials therefrom.

5. In a fluid dispensing tubethe combination of a tube body, complementary relatively. movable closure parts having dispensing openings therein, said closure parts both being spring actuated to normally assume a. relative position with the'dis pensing openings out of alignment, the closure parts being so related to the tube that they may be relatively moved to Dlacesaid openingsin' ings out of alignment upon release of pressure.

connected to the collapsible tube body comprising a pair ofcomplementary related resilient parts each having openings therein, said parts being relatively connected and having portions thereo! provided with dispensing openings therein which are relatively slidable so as to align the openings when pressure is applied so as to distort said closure portions against their inherent resilient tendency.

'7. A closure construction for collapsible tubes and the like comprising a substantially U-shaped strip of spring material including leg portions and a bight portion, the bight portion having a dispensing opening therein, and a second strip of springy material having a part secured adja: cent the outer end of one of the legs of the first mentioned strip and extending therefrom diagonally across the space between the legs of the first mentioned strip and having a bight portion adapted to slidably fitlat the inner side of the bight portion of the first mentioned strip, the bight portion of the second mentioned strip also having a dispensing opening therein out of alignment with the dispensing opening of the bight of the first mentioned strip when the first mentioned strip is in normal position, relative movement of the legs of the first mentioned strip towards each other being adapted to move the bight portion of the second mentioned strip to align the openings of both of said bights.

8. A closure construction for collapsible tubes and the like comprising a substantially U-shaped strip of spring material including leg portions and a. bight portion, the bight portion having a dispensing opening therein, and a second strip of springy material having a part secured adjacent the outer end of one of the legs of the first mentioned strip and extending therefrom diagonally across the space between the legs of the first mentioned strip and having a bight portion adapted to slidably fit at the inner side of the bight portion of the first mentioned strip, the bight portion of the second mentioned strip also having a dispensing opening therein out of alignment with the dispensing opening of the bight o! the first mentioned strip when the first mentioned strip is innormal position, relative movement of the legs oi the first mentioned strip towards each other being adapted to move the bight portion of the second mentioned strip to align the openings of both of said bights, the leg of the second mentioned strip having an opening therethrough to permit free flow of ma- 86 terial to be dispensed at all times.

HORACE S. HOGGA'II.

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