US2589206A - Combined closure and dispensing applicator for collapsible tubes - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 1952 J. B. TEGARTY 2,539,206 COMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSING APPLICATOR FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Nov. 9, 1946 2 Sl-EETSSHEET 1 IN VEN TOR. J OH/ICB. 77mm? BY /4 T'TY March 11, 1952 J. B. TEGARTY COMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSING APPLICATOR FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1946 INVENTOR. JZH/Y' Z Tram? 72 Patented Mar. 11, 1952 COMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSING APPLICATOR FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES John B. Tegarty, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Justin W. Macklin, Cleveland, Ohio, as trustee Application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 708,841

10 Claims. (01. 222-205) This invention relates to an applicator in the nature of dispensing and closure means for collapsible tubes containing paste, such as deodorant, toothpaste, and the like.

The objects of the invention include preserving the standard construction of a collapsible tube with a head member having a threaded nipple and providing for attachment to the threads a closure device which may serve as a fountain head and applicator, and which may open to permit extruding the paste from the collapsible tube container through a passage or passages at the upper or outer end of the head member, and which by a partial turn of one part may tightly seal the openings through which paste has been extruded.

The simplicity of operation coupled with cheapness of construction, along with durability in use, are important objects.

A more specific object is to so design and shape such an applicator head as to present a novel and artistic appearance.

Other objects will become apparent in the following description which pertains to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible tube equipped with my dispensing closure device.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are perspective views of the two parts thereof.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the open position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical axial section through the same.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the fountain head portion with the cap removed.

Fig. 7 is an axial section taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail and perspective showing one of the attaching fingers for the cap member.

In the drawings T is a collapsible tube such as used for toothpaste, creams, and the like, having the usual sealing seam l by which it is folded or collapsed toward its conical head 2 having the usual threads which may be screwed into the threads 5 of the applicator and closure of my invention.

The threads 5 are shown as formed in a cylindrical boss or nipple 6 in axial alignment with a tubular portion I shown as having a closed end 8, and a constricted or beveled portion 9 through which a pair of dispensing openings I0 extend. At the juncture between the threaded nipples 6 and the tube 1 is an integral outwardly extendins disk I2 carrying a downwardly extending 2 skirt [4 of such a length that it overlaps the upper end of the tube T, as shown in Fig. 1 and particularly in Fig. 5, where the tube is indicated in broken lines.

A closure for the openings It] comprises a cuplike member or cap I5 having an inwardly and downwardly extending sleeve I6 embracing the upper end of the passage member 1, and having an outwardly sloping and curving side wall, the lower edge of which fits against the disk member l2. The top or dispensing end of the cap member is shaped to provide recesses 20 and inwardly projecting valve seat members 22.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the recesses 20 are shown registering with the discharge openings l0. As the cap is turned, the closure portions 22 slide over the openings l0, closing them as shown in Fig. 7.

It is desirable that this opening and closing be accomplished with about a quarter of a turn of the cap I5, and that the cap be firmly held to bring the tapered portion of the upper end, namely, the inside of the valve portions 22, into contact with the bevel through which the'opening's l0 extend. To this end I provide a novel and effective arrangement permitting convenient assembly and effective securing of the parts in operative position, while'permitting subsequent repeated turning for opening and closing.

In the preferred arrangement shown, the disk 12 is provided with arcuate slots 30 having widened portions 3| to permit the entry of beveled hooked fingers 35 which extend downwardly from and are rigid with the lower edge of the dome-shaped cap member 15.

The projections 35 are shown as notched at the upper side to ride along a rail or ramp 36 having one level of downward projection 31 which is slopingly joined with a deeper or higher portion 38, along which the notch of the hooked fingers 35 may slide.

To assemble the cap and head member, more specifically the disk l2, the fingers are thrust through the widened portion 3| of the slots 30, the sides of the cap springing inwardly during the insertion of the hook fingers. The fingers then spring outwardly engaging beneath the disk [2 in a position to effectively hold the members 22 against the bevel 9.

In this position the recesses 20 register with the openings l0. These dispensing openings I0 may now be closed by turning the cap 15, and as the hook fingers 35 ride along the ramp ribs 31 and 38, the increasing downward pull effects a tight sealing of the openings II] by the pore tions 22.

The cap I 5 has two somewhat flattened sure faces I! arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, which lend a unique and artistic appearance, and facilitate gripping and turning the cap on the head portion.

It will be seen that the circular lower edge of the cap portion l5, however, covers and conceals the slots 30 at all times, assuring a'neat appearance.

The two portions of the closure head having been assembled as described, the threads 5 are tightly screwed upon the threaded nipple of the tube T, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The parts of the closure head are so designed as to be capable of being molded in plastic by conventional or injection molding. Plastic material is selected for appearance and color, if desired, and in any event the plastic tightly grips and freezes the machine threads of the nipple on the tube avoiding loosening as the closure cap is operated for ejecting the paste, and again closing the dispensing openings.

The shape of the recesses is such that they may be readily wiped clean after each use, and the end or top of the cap presents a good shape from which the material may be extruded and removed by the fingers, or the palm of the hand is used.

' It will be seen that the tube may be used for direct application to the users skin, as, for example, at the underarm.

It will be noted that these parts are so designed that they may be compression or injection molded of thermo-plastic material. They may be ribbed and braced for stiffening purposes, and various modifications may be made in shape, size and details of construction from that shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An applicator and closure for use with a collapsible tube having a discharge opening, and comprising a base member provided with securing means'for attachment to the tube, and having an outwardly extending member having a skirt turned toward and adapted to engage the end of the collapsible tube, said member being provided with arcuate openings in said outwardly extending member within the skirt, a cap memher having projections extending through said arcuate openings and engaging the outwardly extending member on the side toward the tube, the cap member having a valve surface, and a projecting passage member rigid with the base member leading from the threaded nipple and having an eccentric opening, said eccentric openings being positioned to register in one position of the cap, the cap member being adapted to turn, thus moving the projections within the arcuate openings and closing the delivery passage at the valve surface.

,7 2. A closure and applicator for use with a collapsible tube having a delivery opening, and comprising a head member provided with securing means adapted tightly to engage the tube at its opening, and having an outwardly projecting passage extension member registering with the opening in the tube and terminating in an end surface having delivery openings therethrough, a radially outwardly extending portion having a skirt adapted to engage the adjacent end of the tube, there being arcuate slots formed in the outwardly projecting portion, a cap member having outwardly turned hooked members at its open end projecting through said slots and engaging 4 said outwardly extending portion, and having a portion embracing the passage member on the base and a valve surface complementary to the said end surface, the arcuate slots each having an enlarged portion permitting the cap member to be assembled with the base member by springing it inwardly at the projections and the resiliency of the cap thereafter assuring the engagement of the projections while the cap acts to cover the slots, said valve surface having openings adapted to register with said delivery openings, and the slots being of such length as to permit rotary movement to open and close the delivery opening, and means beneath which the hooked members engage to assure a tightening and wiping action at the orifice during the closing movement of the cap on the base member, and to assure a tight seal of the delivery orifice.

3. A closure and an applicator adapted for use with a container having a threaded nipple and a delivery opening therethrough, the closure and applicator comprising a head member provided with threads adapted to tightly engage the threads on the nipple and having an axial tubular extension closed at its outer end except for having an eccentric opening at the end, a cap rotatably engaging the tubular extension and having an eccentric opening adapted to register with the first mentioned opening and adapted to be turned out of registration therewith, the base member having a laterally extending flange provided with a pair of arcuate slots opening longitudinally of the axis of the tubular extension, cams associated with the arcuate slots, the cap member having an annular portion normally closing said arcuate opening and extending through and movable in said arcuate slots and having hooked members with shoulders presenting surfaces extending transversely of said axis and adapted to engage the cams.

4. An applicator and closure such as described in claim 3 in which there are radially extending enlargements of the arcuate slots to permit the springing of the hook members on the cap into their engaging position.

5. A closure and applicator device adapted to be rigidly secured to the delivery nipple on a collapsible tube comprising a head member provided with means for embracing and coacting with the tube nipple, the head member having an outwardly extending disk-like portion and a skirt portion turned therefrom parallel with the axis of the tube and adapted to engage the tube adjacent the nipple thereon, a cup-like cap member rotatably engaging said disk member and having laterally turned hooks at its open side, arcuate slots in the disk member through which said hooks project,'cam surfaces adjacent the slots adapted to be engaged by the hooks, the cap member having an eccentric opening in its closed end, a tubular extension on the head member adapted to communicate with the discharge opening of the collapsible tube, and having an eccentric opening adapted to be registered with the cap opening when in one position of the cap and be closed in another position of the cap.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which the cap and disk form a closed exterior and the hooks project from the edge of the cap and extend through the slots in the disk into engagement with the cam surfaces.

7. An applicator cap and closure structure adapted for use with a collapsible tube of the type having a discharge nipple, said structure comprising a head member having means for securing it to the nipple and provided with a passage for registering with the discharge passage of the nipple, an outwardly extending wing member rigid with the head and having arcuate slots and adjacent cam surfaces concentric with the discharge passage of the head, a cap comprising a cup-like member having its edge fitting the edge of the wing member and having hooks extending through said slots to the opposite side of the wing member from the cap and engaging the cam surfaces, the cap having an eccentric opening and the discharge passage having an eccentric opening adapted to be brought into registration upon the turning of the cap, the hooks and cam surfaces engaged thereby being adapted to cause a tight closure of the discharge opening, and the cap presenting a Wiping and apply ing surface outside of the discharge opening.

8. A'structure such as described in claim 7 in which the arcuate slots in the wing member are curved on a radius such that the slots are closed by the edge of the wall of the cup-like cap and through which the hooks extend for holding and tight closing engagement, the ends of the slots serving to limit the opening and closing turning movement of the cap.

9. A closure and applicator device adapted to be rigidly secured to the delivery nipple on a collapsible tube, and comprising a head member provided with means for embracing and coacting with the tube nipple, said means having an out wardly laterally extending support, a cup-like cap member rotatably engaging said support and having laterally turned hooks at its edge, in-

wardly facing arcuate guide surfaces on said sup- :2

port, cam surfaces adjacent the arcuate surfaces at the side thereof opposite the cap and adapted to be engaged by the hooks, the cap member having a transverse material spreading and applying face having rounded edges at the perimeter thereof and an eccentric opening through the face, a tubular extension on said head member having an eccentric opening adapted to register with said cap opening and to be opened in one position of the cap and be closed in another position of the cap and adapted to communicate 6 with the discharge opening of the collapsible tube.

10. An applicator closure and cap adapted for attachment to a discharge nipple of a container comprising a cap and base member, the cap member having an elongated transverse Wiping surface with rounded edges at the perimeter and an eccentric opening therethrough, an axial tube on the base member adapted to communicate with the opening through the container nipple and having an eccentric opening positioned to register with the eccentric opening of the axial tube and to be turned away from it on rotary movement of the cap, the cap member being in the nature of a cup having projections toward the base and the base member having retaining and tightening cam shoulders arcuate with respect to the axial tube and sloping with relation to a transverse plane to tighten the cap as it is turned to the position to close the axial tube eccentric opening, said cap member being provided with a telescoping sleeve embracing the axial tube member at its outer .end, and the cam surfaces being so shaped as to prevent disengagement of the sleeve and axial tube.

JOHN B. TEGARTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,548,118 Densmore Aug. 4, 1925 1,795,737 Rundell Mar. 10, 1931 1,958,432 Hartog May 15, 1934 2,017,140 Worth Oct. 15, 1935 2,133,907 Masbach et al July 19, 1938 2,186,449 Drobniewsky Jan. 9, 1940 2,330,939 Wilson Oct. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 396,851 Great Britain Aug. 17, 1933 555,718 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1943

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