WO2007113244A1

WO2007113244A1 - Universal dosed expelling device for tubes of toothpaste

Info

Publication number: WO2007113244A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/053091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrizio Costa; Giordano Locci
Original assignee: Fabrizio Costa; Giordano Locci
Priority date: 2006-04-06
Filing date: 2007-03-30
Publication date: 2007-10-11
Also published as: EP2007641A1; CN101460367A; ITMI20060676A1

Abstract

There is described an external device for the dosed expulsion of a substance (3) contained in a deformable tubular enclosure (1) closed at an end (13) and having an outlet port (12) for said substance (3). Said device comprises a base frame (4) that supports said enclosure (2), at least one movable expelling means (5, 51, 101-102) suitable for deforming, following pressure exerted on said expelling means (5), the enclosure (1) thus causing 10 the substance (3) to be expelled from the outlet port (12) of the enclosure (2), and a dosing device (200) connected to the outlet port (12) of the enclosure (1).

Description

"Universal dosed expelling device for tubes of toothpaste"

* * * *

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a universal dosed expelling device for tubes of toothpaste.

Several times a day, i.e. after each meal, it is necessary to use toothpaste for oral hygiene.

The growing awareness of dentists of the prevention of oral problems has even led to an increase of the products used to limit gum or dental problems. However, the most suitable instruments remain the toothbrush and toothpaste.

In household bathrooms standard tubes of toothpaste are usually found (the dimensions are similar for all toothpaste manufacturers in terms of length, cross section, outlet port and thread of the latter) in addition to toothbrushes or other products such as mouthwash or dental floss.

A standard tube of toothpaste is defined as a deformable tubular enclosure closed at one end following narrowing of the enclosure, and having at the other end an outlet port closed by a removable lid coupled with the outlet port via a standard screw-nut screw connection. The deformability of the tube of toothpaste enables the toothpaste contained in the tube to be expelled by simple pressure, obviously taking care to remove the lid.

At work, on the other hand, people are forced to keep the toothpaste in the drawer of a desk, in a locker or the like, in other words far from the place ofuse.

Equally, in public places such as restaurants or snack bars either the person forgoes teeth-cleaning after the meal or carries a toothbrush and toothpaste in a handbag, belt pouch or the like. For this reason preferably a travel kit has to be purchased that is very costly because of the reduced dimensions. The toothpaste further finishes quickly. Consequently, the need to clean the teeth immediately after the meal frequently clashes with the practical difficulty of performing the cleaning operation due to the lack in loco of suitable instruments, namely toothpaste and a toothbrush. Further, in the home, as toothpaste is portable by definition, it has no specific space in which it can be placed after use. Hence there is also a risk of losing it.

Moreover, after use, the toothpaste tube is often wet, so it has to be dried, otherwise the resting surface is in turn wet. Apart from certain very costly types having an integrated dispenser, toothpaste tubes have toothpaste-dosing problems. Apart from when the tube is new or nearly new, dosage often requires both hands, thus making application on the toothbrush difficult as it no longer has a stable support.

The aforesaid drawbacks generally arise when handling a tube containing a useful non solid commonly pasty or semiliquid substance such as, for example, cosmetic compositions (beauty creams, aftershave), food products (sauces such as mayonnaise, anchovy paste, tomato paste, etc), industrial products (silicone, glue, etc) and pharmaceutical products (ointments also in gel, much used especially by families with children). The object of the present invention is to make an external dosed expelling device that is easily couplable with commercially widely available deformable standard "tubes".

According to the invention, this object is reached with an external device for dosed expulsion of a substance contained a deformable tubular enclosure closed at an end and having an outlet port for said substance, characterised in that it comprises a base frame that supports said enclosure, at least one movable expelling means suitable for deforming, following pressure exerted on said expelling means, the enclosure thus determining the expulsion of the substance from the outlet port of the enclosure, and a dosing device connected to the outlet port of the enclosure. Said device, which will henceforce be identified also by the term doser, is universal, being adaptable to enclosures, such as, for example, common tubes of toothpaste, of various dimensions.

The doser is further fixable to walls or shelves through simple connecting systems, for example a screw-nut screw connecting system with through holes obtained on the base frame.

These and other features of the present invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the enclosed drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a plan view from above of a doser coupled with an enclosure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; figure 2 shows a section view according to line H-II of figure 1, some details being on an enlarged scale; figure 3 shows a section view similar to that of figure 2, but with the doser in the work position, i.e. during expulsion of the substance contained in the enclosure, with a detail on an enlarged scale; figure 4 shows a section view according to line IV-IV of figure 2; figure 5 shows a section view according to line V-V of figure 3; figure 6 shows a section view according to line VI-VI of figure 2; figure 7 shows a side section view according to a second embodiment of the present invention; figure 8 shows a side section view similar to that of figure 7 but in a work position; figure 9 shows a side view of a third embodiment of a doser according to the present invention; figure 10 shows a top view of the doser of figure 9; figure 11 shows a section view according to line XI-XI of figure 10, being the doser in rest condition; figure 12 shows a partial section view corresponding to figure 11, being the doser in operation condition; figure 13 shows a perspective view of the doser without the external cover; figure 14 shows an exploded view corresponding to figure 13; figure 15 shows a top view of a fourth embodiment of a doser according to the present invention; figure 16 shows a partial section view according to line XVI-XVI of figure 15.

A doser 1 for a tube 2 of toothpaste 3, i.e. a deformable tubular enclosure closed at an end and having an outlet port 11 on the head 12, comprises a base frame 4 that supports at an end thereof a flexible expelling component 5 that is substantially parallelepipedon hinged on said base frame

4 by means of side portions 6 (figures 1-6).

The doser 1 comprises on the head also a positioning shim 7 (figures 2 and 6) having a flared through hole 8, a rear retaining tongue 9 and a removable lid 10 hinged on the base frame 4.

The hole 8 supports a seal 50 for coupling with the head 12 of the tube 2.

Said lid 10 is maintained in a closed position thanks to a snap connection with the positioning shim 7 and supports a freshness layer 51 that is coupled with the port 11 when the lid is closed.

The tube 2 comprises a substantially flat tail portion 13 and a threaded portion 14 that is suitable for being coupled with the lid of the tube 2 (not shown).

For the doser 1 - tube 2 coupling, it is sufficient to raise the expelling component 5 that is rotated by an angle that is greater than 180°, positioning the tube 2 on the base 4, exploiting the hole 8 with the seal 50 of the shim 7

(after removing the lid of the tube 2) and the tongue 9. The latter is adjustable by thus adapting to the dimensions of the tube 2, which normally has quite standard measurements. The latter is adjustable by thus adapting to the dimensions of the tube 2, which normally have quite standard dimensions.

Also the lid 10 is adjustable, thus enabling the outlet port 11 of tubes 2 to be closed with heads 12 that are slightly different by dimension. The adaptability of the doser 1 is further promoted by the flare of the hole 8 and by the softness of the layer 51 in silicone material.

Once the coupling (figures 1-2) has been performed, to dose the toothpaste 3 the lid 10 is removed and the expelling component 5 (figures 3 and 5) is pressed against the tube 2, deforming it. Said deformation causes the toothpaste to emerge from the port 11. The toothpaste dose 3 depends on the pressure exerted.

In order to ensure that the pressure exerted on the component 5 is well directed, said component 5 is flexible. As the outlet direction of the toothpaste 3 is well defined, from the tail 13 to the head 12 of the tube 2 it is wise to initially press in the tail 13 zone of the tube 2 and then concentrate pressure towards the head 12 as the tube 2 empties.

Further, the flexibility of the component 5 permits better adaptation to the irregular shape of the tube 2 after the latter has been partially emptied and thus irremediably deformed.

When the toothpaste 3 is almost finished, the tube 2 can be easily removed from the doser 1 thus enabling easier complete emptying of the tube 2.

In figures 7-8 there is illustrated a second embodiment of the doser 1, which, with respect to the previously described embodiment, comprises a lower expelling means 52 and a stiff cover 53 that interacts with the (upper) expelling means 5 by means of a protrusion 54.

Said lower expelling means 52, just like the (upper) expelling means 5 is curved and flexible (for example made of nylon), and is hinged on the base frame 4 at the same point (single hinge) of the upper expelling means 5.

The lower expelling means 52 and the upper expelling means 5 are fitted in such a way as to mirror the longitudinal axis of the tube. In this way the portions nearest the fulcrum meet before the portions nearer the head. This has two important consequences (figure 8): the tube is held in position without additional retaining means; apart from the point of the expelling means (5) in which the operator exercises the pressure, the expulsion energy starts to act from the tail 13 of the tube inasmuch as in this zone the expelling means 52 and 5 meet first; consequently there are no returns of toothpaste to the tail 13 of the tube 2. The expelling means 52 normally rests on the base 4. The cover 53 is hinged on the same point of the expelling means (5,

52).

Variations in the embodiments of the doser 1 disclosed above by way of example are possible. The following can in fact be provided: a stiff expelling component 5 possibly with a convex lower surface to promote the exit of toothpaste and/or a profiled head in such a way as to promote the complete emptying of the tube 2; additional, for example lateral, retaining means; a disinfecting device (in addition to the freshness layer 51) that preserves the "freshness" of the toothpaste (it may also be useful especially when several people use the same doser, for example in public places such as restaurants); a hole 8 with a female thread engageable with the male thread (usually standard) of the head 12 of the tube; in this situation, removable shims 7 can be provided with holes 8 of various dimensions and threads; this solution would make the doser 1 - tube 2 coupling much more stable; connecting means suitable for fixing the doser 1 to walls or shelves (elements that are adhesive on both sides, screw-nut screw systems). Figures 9-14 show a further embodiment of a doser 100 according to the present invention, comprising two flexible expelling components 101- 102 reciprocally movable with loaded leaf springs 103, and a dosing device 200. Said expelling components 101-102 are connected to respective cover portions 150-151 on which the user acts.

The dosing device 200 comprises a connection member 201, having a first threaded portion 202 for connection with the outlet port 11 of the tube

2, and a second portion 203 with seal connectible with a canalization body 204, an internal channel 205 for the passage of the toothpaste 3, and a handling crown 206.

The canalization body 204 that is part of said device 200, comprises an accumulation chamber 208 wherein it is housed a first shutter 209 seal forced by a first spring 210 (first valve 301), an outlet chamber 211 of the toothpaste, connected to the chamber 208 by a "L" shaped channel, wherein is housed a second shutter 213 seal forced by a second spring 214 (second valve 302).

In said chamber 208 it is also housed a mobile glass 215 stressed to translate by a command lever 216 pivoted in said canalization body 204. Said lever 216 is actuated by the user by a shim 250 connected with the cover portion 150 which provides the rotation of the lever 216, being also provided a further leaf spring 220 for the return of the lever 216 in a rest position.

The chamber 211 communicates with the outside by an outlet channel 217 and comprises a silicone freshness member 218 with a cross-shaped outlet orifice 219 having a fixing grummet 251.

Said further embodiment comprises a click closure system 152 and a visual detecting system 153 of the filling condition of the tube 2.

Compared to the previous embodiments it is pointed out the presence of two couples of leaf springs 103 which maintain the expelling pressure on the tube 2 (figure 11), even without the action of the user namely in a rest condition, being in this arrangement the toothpaste 3 forced to emerge from the tube 2 and to go through the channel 205.

In a rest condition (figure 11) the shutter 209 allows the passage of the toothpaste 3 from the channel 205 to the accumulation chamber 208 (first valve 301 open, spring 210 download) with subsequent filling of the "L" shaped channel 212. The second valve 302 is closed (spring 214 compressed).

When the user acts on the cover portions 150-151 (operation condition, figure 12) the first valve 301 is closed forced by the glass 215 actuated by the lever 216; because of the pressure of the toothpaste 3 in the "L" channel 212, the second valve 302 is opened allowing the filling of the chamber 211 and the outflow of the toothpaste through the cross-shaped outlet 219 that is deformed by the pressure of the toothpaste 3. Expelled the desired amount of toothpaste 3, namely finished the user action, the second valve 302 is closed and the first one 301 is opened (the lever 216 returns to the position of figure 11 by the leaf spring 220).

The double valve system allows an improved dosing (adjusting the force of the springs) and avoids the reflux of the toothpaste inward the device 200 which further is air-free due to the double valve system.

Thus the freshness of the toothpaste 3 is maintained for long time even after the first opening of the tube.

Exhausted the toothpaste 3, the device 200 is removed and cleaned also removing a cap 240 from the "L" channel 212. The freshness member 218 can be replaced.

Figures 15-16 show a fourth embodiment which differs from the previous third embodiment (figures 9-14) in that it comprises a command button 300 that actuates the shim 250. The dosing device 200 doesn't change. Substantially the cover portions 150-151, once blocked in a closure position by the blocking system 152, do not operate to dose the toothpaste; they are absolutely handling members, for protection and coverage of the expelling means 101-102 and of the dosing device 200.

The dosed expulsion device according to the present invention, as described in the aforementioned embodiments, is suitable for any deformable enclosure having an outlet port, namely enclosures comprising food products (sauces such as mayonnaise, anchovy paste, ketchup, etc), cosmetics (beauty creams, aftershave, etc) and similar.

The dosing device 200 is also adaptable to any means whose supply pressurized fluids. For example by a flexible tube it is possible to connect it to any domestic tap or to a dispenser of drinks of public premises (beer, coke and similar).

Claims

1. External device for the dosed expulsion of a substance (3) contained in a deformable tubular enclosure (1) closed at an end (13) and having an outlet port (12) for said substance (3) characterised in that it comprises a base frame (4) that supports said enclosure (2), at least one movable expelling means (5, 51, 101-102) suitable for deforming, following pressure exerted on said expelling means (5, 51, 101-102), the enclosure (1) thus causing the substance (3) to be expelled from the outlet port (12) of the enclosure (2), and a dosing device (200) connected to the outlet port (12) of the enclosure (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (103) for maintaining the enclosure (1) pressed by the expelling means (5, 101-102).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least a couple of springs (103).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises two couples of springs (103) progressively acting two by two from the closed end (13) to the outlet port (12) of the enclosure avoiding the reflux of the substance (3).

5. Device according to claims 3-4, characterized in that it comprises leaf springs (103).

6. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said dosing device comprises a canalization body (204) having an accumulation chamber (208) of the substance (3) which houses a first closure valve (301) connected by a channel to an outlet chamber (211) which houses a second closure valve (302), and a command lever (216) of said valves (301-302).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said dosing device (200) comprises a rest arrangement in which the first valve (301) is open, the accumulation chamber (208) is filled of substance (3) and the second valve (302) is closed, and an operation arrangement in which by the lever (216) the first valve (301) is closed due to the mobile glass (215) housed in the accumulation chamber (208), the second valve (302) is open for the pressure of the substance (3), thus causing the going out of the substance (3).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a button (300) for actuating said lever (216).

9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a cover portion (151-152) for actuating said lever (216).

10. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a universal connection member (201) having a first portion (202) for connection with the outlet port (12) of the enclosure (1), and a second portion (203) for connection with the dosing device (200), and an internal channel (205) for the passage of the substance (3).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that said universal connection member (201) comprises a handling member (206).

12. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a freshness member (218).

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that said freshness member (218) is made of silicone material with a cross-shaped outlet orifice (219).

14. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises click closure means (152).

15. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises detecting means (153) of the filling condition of the enclosure (1).

16. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that at least one expelling means (5, 52, 101-102) is flexible.

17. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that at least one expelling means (5, 52, 101-102) is deformable.

18. Device according to anyone of claims 1-15, characterised in that at least one expelling means (5, 52, 101-102) is stiff.

19. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that at least one expelling means (5, 52) is curved.

20. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises two expelling means (5, 52, 101-102).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterised in that said expelling means (5, 52, 101-102) is substantially hinged at the same point.

22. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a movable cover (53, 151-152).

23. Device according to claim 22, characterised in that said cover (53) comprises at least a protuberance (54) suitable for interacting with said at least an expelling means (5).

24. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises retaining means (9) of the enclosure (2).

25. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises positioning means (7) of the enclosure (2).

26. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a removable lid (10) arranged for preventing the undesired escape of the substance (3) contained in the enclosure (2).

27. Device according to claim 26, characterised in that said lid (10) supports a freshness layer (51).

28. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said at least an expelling means (5, 52) is hinged on said base frame (4).

29. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said at least an expelling means (5, 52) comprises a convex lower surface suitable for facilitating the escape of the substance (3).

30. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said substance (3) is substantially pasty.

31. Device according to any one of claims 1-29, characterised in that said substance (3) is substantially liquid.

32. Device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said substance (3) contains common toothpaste.

33. Device according to any one of claims 1-31, characterised in that said substance (3) comprises a cosmetic composition.

34. Device according to any one of claims 1-31, characterised in that said substance (3) comprises a pharmaceutical composition.

35. Device according to any one of claims 1-31, characterised in that said substance (3) comprises an industrial product.

36. Dosing device of a pressurized substance, characterized in that it comprises a canalization body (204) having an accumulation chamber (208) of the substance (3) which houses a first closure valve (301) connected by a channel to an outlet chamber (211) which houses a second closure valve (302), and a command lever (216) of said valves (301-302).

37. Dosing device according to claim 36, characterized in that it comprises a rest arrangement in which the first valve (301) is open, the accumulation chamber (208) is filled of substance (3) and the second valve

(302) is closed, and an operation arrangement in which by the lever (216) the first valve (301) is closed due to the mobile glass (215) housed in the accumulation chamber (208), the second valve (302) is open for the pressure of the substance (3), thus causing the going out of the substance (3).

38. Method of dosing a pressurized substance, characterized in that it comprises: filling of an accumulation chamber (208) by the pressurized opening of a first valve (301); closing of said first valve (301) by an external actuating force; - opening of a second valve (302) by pressurized substance (3) and pressurized expelling of said substance (3) from said chamber (208) to the outside through said second valve (302).

39. Method according to claim 38, characterized in that it comprises, downstream the second valve (302), the passage through a freshness member (219).