US3747806A

US3747806A - Dispenser for collapsible tubes

Info

Publication number: US3747806A
Application number: US00199433A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Goings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-17
Filing date: 1971-11-17
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24

Abstract

A dispenser for collapsible tubes which includes an elongate flexible plastic support for the collapsible tube which engages the opposite sides of the tube with the cap and dispensing end of the tube extending through a central aperture therein. The flexible member has rows of generally rectangular apertures formed adjacent the opposite side edges thereof to serve as a rack. A pair of tube squeezing rollers are journaled in a housing adapted to engage over the flexible member with the tube therein. Each of the tube squeezing rollers has a sprocket gear on each end thereof with the gears engaging in the rack on the flexible member. A hand crank on one end of one roller is provided for rotating the roller so that the housing moves downwardly on the flexible member with the rollers squeezing the front and rear of the flexible tube to dispense the contents therefrom.

Description

Elite v Goings States Patent [1 1 DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Harford E. Goings, 5428 Center Dr., Camp Springs, Md. 20031 [22] Filedf Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,433

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr.

Attorney-Alexander B. Blair [57] ABSTRACT A dispenser for collapsible tubes which includes an elongate flexible plastic support for the collapsible tube which engages the opposite sides of the tube with the cap and dispensing end of the tube extending through a central aperture therein. The flexible member has rows of generally rectangular apertures formed adjacent the opposite side edges thereof to serve as a rack. A pair of tube squeezing rollers are journaled in a housing adapted to engage over the flexible member with the tube therein. Each of the tube squeezing rollers has a sprocket gear on each end thereof with the gears engaging in the rack on the flexible member. A hand crank on one end of one roller is provided for rotating the roller so that the housing moves downwardly on the flexible member with the rollers squeezing the front and rear of the flexible tube to dispense the contents therefrom.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures D D U Cl U DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to flexible tube dispensers of the type for forcing the contents of a flexible tube therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A flexible tube dispenser in which a gear driven pair of squeezer rollers are moved downwardly over a flexible member supporting a collapsible tube therein with the flexible member having a rack for engagement by gears on the gear driven rollers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive collapsible tube dispenser having a forced speed for ejecting the contents of the tube therefrom.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the flexible member shown in elongate form prior to folding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures the reference numeral indicates generally a collapsible tube dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention.

The collapsible tube dispenser 10 includes an elongate flexible member 11 having an aperture 12 formed therein intermediate the opposite ends thereof and intermediate the opposite sides thereof.

Apertures

13, 14 are formed at opposite ends of the flexible member 11 to receive a grommet 15 to secure the opposite ends of the flexible member 11 together.

A plurality of generally rectangular apertures 16 are formed along each side edge of the flexible member 11 in an evenly spaced row to form a rack generally indicated at 17. A collapsible tube 18 is positioned with its cap 19 extending through the aperture 12 with the tube 18 lying between the opposite sides of the flexible member 11. A generally rectangular housing 20 includes a pair of

end walls

21, 22 arranged in spaced apart parallel relation and a pair of

side walls

23, 24 arranged in spaced apart parallel relation and extending between the

end walls

21, 22 and integrally connected thereto. The housing 20 is open at its top and bottom and is adapted to engage over the flexible member 11 with the collapsible tube 18 supported therein. A tube squeezing roller 25 is journaled in the housing 20 and has a spur gear 26 rigidly secured to each end thereof for engagement in the rack 17. A second tube squeezing roller 27 is journaled in the housing 20 in opposed relation to the tube squeezing roller 25 and similarly carries a pair of spur gears 26 on its opposite ends for engagement with the rack 17. A hand crank 28 is rigidly securd to the tube squeezing roller 27 to permit the roller 27 to be rotated by turning the hand crank 28.

In the use and operation of the invention the grommet 15 is hung on a suitable hook to suspend the collapsible tube dispenser 10 at a convenient point. With the spur gears 26 engaged in the racks R7 the hand crank 28 is turned after opening the cap 19 and the

tube squeezing rollers

25, 27 move downwardly to press the flexible member 11 inwardly on opposite sides of the collapsible tube 18 to force the contents of the tube 18 out of the lower end thereof. After a suitable quantity has been dispensed from the collapsible tube 18 pressure on the hand crank 28 is released and the cap 19 is replaced with the dispenser 10 remaining on its hook until again needed. Following the complete collapsibling of the collapsible tube 18 with all of its contents removed the tube 18 is removed from the flexible member 11 and a new tube 18 is inserted with the housing 20 then starting from the upper end of the tube dispenser 10 for dispensing from the new tube.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible tube dispenser comprising an elongate flexible plastic member for engaging the opposite sides of a collapsible tube and supporting the collapsible tube therebetween, a housing, means in said housing for engaging over the flexible member with the collapsible tube therebetween for squeezing the flexible member to thus squeeze the flexible tube, a plurality of rack forming apertures formed in rows down the opposite side edges of said flexible member and hand rotatable spur gears on said housing engaged in said rack for moving said housing downwardly while squeezing the contents of the flexible tube outwardly therefrom.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein squeeze rollers are journaled in said housing and said spur gears are rigidly mounted on said squeeze rollers.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a hand crank is rigidly secured to one of said rollers for rotating said one of said rollers and the spur gears secured thereto.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided on said flexible member for supporting said collapsible tube dispenser.