US2684790A - Ejector-closure for collapsible tubes - Google Patents

Description

July 27, 1954 J. W. PORTER, JR

EJECTOR-CLOSURE FOR COLLAP SIBLE TUBES Filed Sept. 17, 1952 45.

Patented July 27, 1954 OFFICE EJECTOR-(JLUSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES .lohn W. Porter, Jr., Muskogee, Okla.

Application September 17, 1952, Serial No. 310,050

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to collapsible paste, cream and paint tubes, and is directed particularly to improvements in the closure means for the same.

In connection with the use of collapsible tubes such as those with tooth paste, shaving cream and the like, the use of the conventional com pletely removable cap for closing the discharge mouth of the tube is responsible for considerable annoyance to users by reason of the fact that it usually takes both hands to either remove the cap or put it back on the tube, that is one hand holds the tube while the other hand is used to take on or put on the cap and also the cap must be picked up or laid down before or after handling the tooth brush or shaving brush or other instrument or means used to apply the tooth paste or shaving cream. In other words, ordinarily in using a conventional tube or cap there are three separate items to handle, the tube, the cap, and the brush, each requiring a hand to handle, and so one item must be put down before another item can be handled. In the present invention there are only two items to handle, the tube and the brush, as the tube can be opened and/or closed while being held in one hand. A conventional cap also is frequently dropped or lost, or the user forgets or neglects to replace it on the tube in which event some of the contents of the tube dries and hardens in the tube opening and has then to be picked out or cleaned out before the tube can be properly used again.

In the present invention the tube can be opened, operated and closed with one hand, quickly and easily. In some tube closures or dispensing valves already patented the valve closes with a great deal of friction surface in action. which requires too much pressure or squeezing on the tube. In some other such closures or dispensing valves already patented the valve plunger or shaft carries out some of the ejected tube contents in operation and thus requires too much care and effort on the part of the user to clean off the shaft after each using so that the shaft will not cake up with tube contents and become inefiicient or unusable. In these patents usually the shaft operates loosely through the same opening through which the tube contents are ejected. In some other such closures or dispensing valves already patented there is a passageway between the valve seat and the outside, and the unused tube contents in such passageway is exposed to the air and will after several usins's gradually harden and cake up and the passageway accordingly will be 0b structed preventing further efiicient use without being repeatedly picked out or cleaned out.

In the light of the foregoing it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a dispensing cap and incorporated valve for tubes of the character stated, which cap and incorporated valve is so designed that the discharge mouth becomes automatically closed after a predetermined amount of the tube contents has been ejected from the tube so that the user may then put the tube away without having to bother with replacing a cap thereon.

A further novel feature of the present invention is to provide a dispensing cap which automatically closes after a predetermined amount of tube contents has been elected and which can be readily opened by pressing or plunging inwardly upon a projecting portion of the structure, following which the tube will become again automatically closed when a predetermined amount of the contents has been ejected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a structure of the above character, a novel outlet, or valve, and means for closing the same whereby the simple and single act of drawing a tooth brush or shaving brush or the like across the outlet to pick up the ejected contents of the tube will completely remove all the paste from the outlet so that no paste remains in or around the outlet or valve to dry and cake as in those types above mentioned that call for a passageway between the valve seat and the out side or as in those types above mentioned wherein the valve shaft carries out some of the tube contents in operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a structure of the above character, a novel outlet and means for the use thereof whereby a relatively thin valve shaft with the least amount of friction surface operates and is actuated through but fits snugly but freely in an opening in the center of the valve seat, and a valve ball or valve plug that offers no friction in operation, and a valve ball or valve plug that is partly exposed in a seated position to insure a clean and simple ejecting of tube contents, and a valve opening that has no depth or passageway to get obstructed with ejected tube contents that harden on extended or repeated exposure to air.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a structure of the above character, a novel outlet and means for the use thereof whereby one or more magnets are employed to keep the valve in a closed position to prevent leakage in case the tube pressure or atmospheric pressure causes the valve to have a tendency to accidently open.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds, and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art of design and construction.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the device of the present invention applied to a conventional paste tube in substitution or replacement 101" the conventional tube cap, the device being shown in the shut-off condition in which it is left after the ejection of a portion of the tube contents.

Figure 2 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified construction.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the structure illustrated in Figure 1 and looking toward the outlet opening of the device.

Figure l is a View in perspective of the shutoff element shown in the modified embodiment comprising Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the numeral it generally designates the upper portion of a collapsible tube having the usual externally threaded spout or nozzle i2 through which is formed the discharge passage i i.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cap it which is internally threaded as illustrated for threaded engagement upon the outlet nozzle 52 of the tube in substitution for the usual or conventional threaded cap.

Formed integral with the cap it at the outer or top end thereof is the axially extending circular head it which is of smaller overall diameter than the cap it and is externally threaded as indicated at 23, for the purpose about to be described.

The top of the cap it has an opening or recess 22 therein which is of the same diameter as the passage and aligns with the passage when the cap is threaded onto the nozzle as shown, and the opening 22 leads into a substantially semi-- spherical socket 2 5 which is formed in the head l8, having a diameter slightly smaller than recess 22 and passage i i.

Formed transversely of the side of the head it is an angular recess Which has one flat wall face Elia which is parallel with the axial center of the passage it and the opening 22, and the right angularly disposed bottom wall face which is perpendicular to the face 25a.

The intersecting planes of the faces 25a and 2611 cut through the upper part of the socket 2 3 to form the paste discharge opening 3 which is defined by two joining arcuate edges as will be readily apparent upon reference to Figure 3 where one of such edges is clearly illustrated in the vertical face 2%, it bein understood that the other of such arcuate edges is formed in the flat horizontal or right angularly disposed face 261).

The numeral designates a valve ball which is of a diameter to seat in the semi-spherical socket and it will be seen upon reference to Figure 1 that when the ball is seated in the socizet a portion of it will project through the outlet opening 28 and will tightly close the opening as the surface of the ball will conform to the curvature of the two joined edges of the opening.

The top of the head i8 is provided with a suitable axial passage at 32 through which freely slides a stem 34, the lower end of which is screw threaded as illustrated.

The ball 30 has a threaded diametrical passage or bore 36 therethrough through which the threaded end of the stem 3i extends.

The outer end of the stem 3 is secured, as shown, in the center of the top of a second cap which is generally designated 38, the top of the cap being designated 38a and the interior of the cap being screw threaded as indicated at it.

The stem extends axially and securely through the cap 3-8.

As will be readily apparent the cap 35 is adapted to thread onto the head it] so as to cover the angular recess 25 in the bottom corner of which the opening 28 appears. While this cap is provided to cover the outlet opening it also functions as a push button to facilitate the movement of the valve ball 38 back away from the socket 2d through the passage is and to the interior of the tube.

The parts it and 38 may be made of any suitable material but are preferably formed of plastic. Also the ball 38 may be made of any suitable materlal, as well as the valve stem In the use of the device after the ball 35 has been pushed down into the tube, when the tube is compressed some of the paste contents thereof will be forced out through the passage ill and the outlet opening 28 and in such movement the valve ball will be forced into the passage and then will be caused to seat in the socket When the ball becomes thus seated it will tightly close the outlet opening and the material forced out through the opening can then be removed by drawing the tooth brush, shaving brush or whatever other body is employed for picking up the discharged paste, across the angular recess 2! across the exposed portion of the valve ball. B this action the material will be completely wiped off from the ball and from around the discharge opening so that none of the paste will remain to harden and clog the opening. When more of the paste is desired the user presses the cap 3 3 to force the stem 3 and the ball inwardly so that the process can be repeated.

It will be noted that the threaded portion of the stem 3% is of such an extent that the ball can be adjusted within certain limits on the stem by this means some regulation can be had of the quantity of paste ejected from the opening 23.

in order to insure the tight retention of the valve tell on the socket seat or bottom 2 where temperature changes might cause a slight unseating or the ball, the ball might be made of a suitable magnetizable metal the top portion of the head may have embedded therein a suitable magnet at which, when the ball is seated in the socket by the pressure of the paste, will hold the ball in this position.

In Figure 2 a slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated. In this construction the tube is designated Eta and the discharge nozzle is designated its. The dispenser device comprises the cap 25a and upon its outer end the head lta which is of smaller diameter than the cap and threaded as indicated at 28a in the same manner as the part shown in Figure 1. Likewise the outer end of the cap I611 is provided with the opening 22a which joins the passage Ma of the tube nozzle and in the head at the outer end of the opening 22a is a semi-spherical seat or socket 24a.

Formed across the side of the head 58a is the angle slot 26' which like the slot 26 has one face 26" which parallels the axis of the passage Ma and the right angularly disposed face 26". The angle formed by the intersection of these faces cuts into the socket 2 8a thus forming a discharge opening corresponding to the opening 28. In this construction, however, the longitudinal face 25 is somewhat farther removed from the axial center of the passage so that the semi-spherical valve element 30a does not protrude to the same extent through the outlet opening as does the valve ball 39 in the opening 28.

The top of the head I812 has a passage 32a through which extends a stem 34a, the inner end of which is threaded through the shut-off or valve element 30a as shown.

Upon the outer end of the stem Ma is a button 38 which corresponds to the cap 38. This button 38 is employed in the same manner as the cap 30 for facilitating the movement of the shut-off member 30a inwardly but does not provide any covering means for the outlet or discharge opening, but a conventional cap may be used when it is desired to pack the tube in a suitcase for travel etc.

While in the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 2 no showing has been made of a magnet for holding the shut-off element 30a seated it is to be understood that such element may be formed of metal and that such magnet means may be employed, if desired, for the same purpose as described in connection with the first described form of the invention.

In addition to the foregoing it is to be pointed out that while the invention has been described as comprised in a structure designed to be applied to the threaded nozzle of a paste tube after the removal of the conventional cap therefrom, the invention contemplates the incorporation of the invention as a permanent part of the nozzle structure.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the present invention provides a means for dispensing a measured quantity of paste from the collapsible tube and in addition such means functions as a shut-off which can be left in such shut-off condition until more of the contents of the tube is desired and at the same time none of the tube contents is left to dry around the outlet or discharge opening.

It will also be seen that cap 38 and button 38 act and operate as an anchor to keep the valve stem and. valve ball or plug from being lost inside the tube.

I claim:

1. In an ejector-closure attachment for collapsible tubes, including the discharge neck of the tube, a hollow cylindrical body open at both ends threaded on said neck, a hollow cylindrical extension at the outer end of said body having lesser diameter, said extension being closed at its outer end and open at its inner end, the interior of said extension being of a diameter equal to that of the passage through said neck, a stem depending through the center of the closed end of said extension and the said passage through the neck, a spherical valve element carried on the lower end of said stem, the inner surface of the outer end portion of the interior of said extension being semi-spherical in shape to provide a seat for said valve element, said extension having a discharge outlet opening laterally outward through its side in line with said seat, and means on the outer end of said stem for manipulating the same to affect movement of said valve element into and out of engagement with said seat, the movement of said valve element toward the seat acting to forcibly eject a portion of the content of the tube that is present in the neck outward through said outlet.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, with the said means comprising a cap threaded on said extension to close said outlet while supporting said valve element spaced inwardly from the inner end of the passage through said neck, so that a portion of the content of the tube can be forced into the said passage for subsequent ejectment through the outlet upon removal of the cap and its manipulation to draw the valve element through the passage and against said seat, said valve element closing said outlet when it is engaged with said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,897,043 Ellis Feb. 14, 1933 2,502,821 Brauner Apr. 4, 1950 2,555,907 Venard June 5, 1951 2,628,005 Keeshan Feb. 10, 1953

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