Collapsible dispensing tube

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6332560
  • Patent Number
    6,332,560
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, December 7, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 25, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Bomberg; Kenneth
    Agents
    • Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Abstract
A collapsible dispensing tube such as a toothpaste tube or the like includes structure for maintaining the dispensing tube in a coiled position as the viscous material within the dispensing tube is expelled. The tube is provided with a slot formed in a first side of its exterior surface and a plurality of engaging elements positioned on a second side of the exterior surface. The slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements securely when the engaging element side of the tube is coiled onto the slot side of the tube. This construction readily prevents a dispensing tube from uncoiling to thereby more efficiently dispense the material within the tube.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to a collapsible dispensing tube and, more particularly, to a collapsible dispensing tube including exterior structure for securing the tube in various coiled positions.




As is well known, many types of viscous materials, such as gels, liquids, pastes and the like, are sold in flexible tubes having a sealed crimp at one end and a narrow nozzle at an opposite end with closing structure such as a valve or cap thereon. These tubes may be made from many materials, but a majority of them are made from flexible plastic via an injection molding process. The viscous material to be dispensed from the flexible tube is generally inserted in one end, and this end is then sealed to form an embossed, crimped end seal.




In order to expel the viscous material, the tube can be squeezed or otherwise deflected inwardly with the closure removed from the nozzle. For reasons of economy, it is preferable to exhaust the supply of material in a tube before discarding it. In this context, it has been found that coiling the tube or rolling the tube upon itself can most efficiently expel the material while preventing the material from migrating away from the cap end of the tube. There is a tendency, however, for the tube to uncoil, enabling the material to migrate while also encouraging users to squeeze the tube from the middle or top near the cap rather than more efficiently from the bottom.




There have been a number of attempts made to provide suitable clips and retaining clamps and the like for such tubes, but they are generally ineffective or overly complicated. There thus remains a need for a collapsible tube that includes structure for controlling the tendency of the tube to uncoil and yet is convenient to use and inexpensive to implement.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The solution according to the present invention incorporates a hook and slot arrangement on opposite sides of the collapsible tube. As the tube is coiled or rolled upon itself to expel the viscous material, the engaging elements on one side of the tube are brought into engagement with the slot on the opposite side of the tube and secured. Since a plurality of the engaging elements are arranged along a longitudinal axis of the tube, successive engaging elements from the crimped end of the tube toward the cap end of the tube are inserted into the slot with increased coiling or rolling of the tube onto itself. The hook and slot arrangement thus prevents the plastic tube from uncoiling and thus more efficiently dispenses the material from the tube.




In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a collapsible dispensing tube including a tube exterior surface comprises a slot formed in a first side of the tube exterior surface, and a plurality of engaging elements positioned on a second side of the tube exterior surface, opposite from the first side. The slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements securely when the second side of the tube exterior surface is rolled onto the first side of the tube exterior surface. Preferably, the slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements in a snap fit. The engaging elements may be formed integral with the tube exterior surface, and the slot may be formed integral with the tube exterior surface. The slot may comprise a substantially C-shaped groove in the tube exterior surface, wherein an opening of the substantially C-shaped groove is smaller than a width of the engaging elements. Preferably, the tube is formed of plastic.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the collapsible dispensing tube according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a cross sectional view of the dispensing tube according to the present invention; and





FIG. 3

shows the collapsible dispensing tube in a coiled state rolled upon itself with the tube engaging elements engaging the tube slot.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to the drawings, the collapsible tube


10


according to the present invention is preferably formed of a plastic material with a sealed crimp


12


at one end and a cap


14


or other suitable closure means at an opposite end as is conventional. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the tube


10


can be formed of many suitable materials of varying degrees of pliability, and the invention is not necessarily meant to be limited to plastic.




The body of the tube


10


includes an interior surface that delimits an interior space for a viscous material such as toothpaste to be expelled from the tube. As is conventional, expelling the viscous material from the tube can be efficiently accomplished by coiling or rolling the tube onto itself as shown, for example, in FIG.


3


. An exterior surface


16


of the tube is provided with structure that prevents a coiled or rolled tube from uncoiling. As shown in

FIG. 2

, a slot


18


is formed in one side of the tube exterior surface


16


, and a plurality of engaging elements


20


are positioned on an opposite side of the tube exterior surface. The engaging elements


20


are aligned along a substantially central longitudinal axis of the respective side of the tube exterior surface


16


as shown in the drawings. The slot


18


and engaging elements


20


are preferably correspondingly sized and/or shaped such that the slot receives the engaging elements securely when the engaging element side of the tube exterior surface


16


is rolled onto the slot side of the tube exterior surface


16


. In an alternative example, the slot or groove


18


may be provided as a ladder arrangement of stacked horizontal grooves along the length of the tube.




As shown, the slot


18


is preferably C-shaped, and a preferred shape for the engaging elements


20


is a hook-like shape or a J-shape. In this context, however, the engaging elements


20


could be formed of any shape in complement with a correspondingly shaped slot


18


. For example, the engaging elements


20


could be circular, pointed, flat or of any other configuration that is capable of securely engaging a correspondingly sized and/or shaped slot


18


. The invention is thus not necessarily meant to be limited to the illustrated example.




As mentioned, it is conventional to coil or roll collapsible tubes containing a viscous material to efficiently dispense the viscous material. As shown in

FIG. 3

, the structure according to the present invention serves to secure a coil dispensing tube in its coiled state and prevent the coiled tube from uncoiling. As the tube is rolled onto itself, the engaging elements


20


are engaged with the slot


18


. Preferably, the engaging elements


20


are pressed into the slot


18


in a snap fit. Although the opening of the C-shaped slot


18


is smaller than a width of the engaging elements


20


, pressing the engaging elements


20


into the slot


18


causes the slot


18


to deflect and receive the engaging elements


20


. Once the engaging element is received, the slot


18


regains its original shape via the plastic or like constructed material and secures the engaging elements


20


therein. Since it is not intended that the collapsible dispensing tube would be uncoiled by the user, the slot


18


and engaging elements


20


can be configured to effect a secure engagement that is difficult to disengage. This construction, however, could of course be varied to suit various intended uses as would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.




While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A collapsible dispensing tube including a tube exterior surface, the tube comprising:a slot formed in a first side of the tube exterior surface; and a plurality of engaging elements positioned on a second side of the tube exterior surface, opposite from the first side, wherein the slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements securely when the second side of the tube exterior surface is coiled onto the first side of the tube exterior surface.
  • 2. A collapsible dispensing tube according to claim 1, wherein the slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements in a snap fit.
  • 3. A collapsible dispensing tube according to claim 1, wherein the engaging elements are formed integral with the tube exterior surface.
  • 4. A collapsible dispensing tube according to claim 3, wherein the slot is formed integral with the tube exterior surface.
  • 5. A collapsible dispensing tube according to claim 1, wherein the slot comprises a substantially C-shaped groove in the tube exterior surface, and wherein an opening of the substantially C-shaped groove is smaller than a width of the engaging elements.
  • 6. A collapsible dispensing tube according to claim 1, wherein the tube is formed of plastic.
  • 7. A collapsible dispensing tube including a sealed crimp at one end and a cap at an opposite end, the tube having an exterior surface and an interior surface delimiting an interior space for a viscous material to be expelled from the tube by rolling the tube onto itself, the tube comprising:a slot formed in a first side of the exterior surface; and a plurality of engaging elements positioned on a second side of the tube exterior surface, opposite from the first side, wherein the engaging elements are sized to fit securely in the slot.
  • 8. A method of manufacturing a collapsible dispensing tube including a tube exterior surface, the method comprising:(a) forming a slot in a first side of the tube exterior surface; and (b) positioning a plurality of engaging elements on a second side of the tube exterior surface, opposite from the first side, wherein the slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements securely when the second side of the tube exterior surface is coiled onto the first side of the tube exterior surface.
  • 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein steps (a) and (b) are practiced by sizing the slot and engaging elements correspondingly such that the slot receives the engaging elements in a snap fit.
  • 10. A method according to claim 8, wherein step (b) is practiced by forming the engaging elements integral with the tube exterior surface.
  • 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein step (a) is practiced by forming the slot integral with the tube exterior surface.
  • 12. A method according to claim 8, wherein step (a) is practiced by forming a substantially C-shaped groove in the tube exterior surface, wherein an opening of the substantially C-shaped groove is smaller than a width of the engaging elements.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Number Name Date Kind
1370264 Bachmann Mar 1921
2430046 Dreyfus Nov 1947
3160323 Weisberg Dec 1964
3198392 Wilson et al. Aug 1965
3211342 De Wayne Miles Oct 1965
3260412 Larkin Jul 1966
3335912 Reeves, Jr. Aug 1967
3401837 Wiedeman Sep 1968
3458087 Cox, Jr. Jul 1969
3508587 Mauch Apr 1970
4235653 Ausnit Nov 1980
4733800 Bjorkengren et al. Mar 1988
4807782 Meinerding et al. Feb 1989
5167349 Rodder et al. Dec 1992
5344049 MacDonald Sep 1994
5373968 Nelson Dec 1994
5467897 Williams Nov 1995
5732854 Ruben et al. Mar 1998
5857593 Patronaggio Jan 1999
5884811 Bunchman Mar 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
34 30 677 Nov 1985 DE