Patent Application
20060043107
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general art of dispensing, and to the particular field of dispensing from collapsible wall containers.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Toothpaste is generally sold in collapsible wall tubes. The toothpaste is dispensed from these tubes by squeezing the walls of the tube after the cap has been removed. Many people have difficulty obtaining the last bit of toothpaste from a tube of toothpaste. Often people, especially children, tend to squeeze the tube from the middle of the tube or at any location they grasp the tube. This causes the tube to be unsightly and unbalanced.
Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube.
While the inventor is aware of several devices for squeezing a toothpaste tube, the devices of which the inventor is aware are generally complex and may be too difficult for a child to use.
Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube, and which is easy to use.
Still further, any such device should be easy to assemble onto the toothpaste tube and easy to remove if desired. If a device is difficult to use, it will not be commercially successful.
Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube, and which is easy to assemble onto the toothpaste tube.
Since most toothpaste tubes are quite flexible and are intended to be discarded after use, many toothpaste tube walls are quite thin and fragile. Any device that is intended to collapse the wall of a toothpaste tube should do so without endangering the integrity of the wall of the tube.
Therefore, there is a need for a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that does not endanger the integrity of the wall of the tube.
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube, and which is easy to use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that retains the balance and character of the tube, and which is easy to assemble onto the toothpaste tube.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for squeezing a toothpaste tube in a manner that does not endanger the integrity of the wall of the tube.
These, and other, objects are achieved by a toothpaste tube squeezer that has a handle and a body attached to the handle. A slot having tapered edges is defined in the body and accommodates a toothpaste tube therein. The squeezer is operated by placing the toothpaste tube in the slot and rotating the squeezer to twist the tube in a manner that forces toothpaste toward the neck end of the toothpaste tube.
Using the toothpaste tube squeezer embodying the present invention will permit a tube of toothpaste to be squeezed in a manner that does not endanger the tube yet will permit the toothpaste to be forced out of the tube from the bottom of the tube whereby the tube is maintained aesthetically pleasing and balanced.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a toothpaste tube squeezer 10. Squeezer 10 comprises a handle 12 having a first end 14, a second end 16, and a longitudinal axis 18 which extends between first end 14 and second end 18.
A body 30 is one-piece with handle 12 and includes a first end 32 which is a distal end, a second end 34 which is a proximal end and which is attached to handle 12 midway between first end 14 and second end 16 of handle 12, and a longitudinal axis 36 which extends between first end 32 and second end 34 of body 30. Longitudinal axis 36 is oriented at a right angle θ with respect to longitudinal axis 18 of handle 12.
A slot 40 is defined through body 30 and extends in the direction of longitudinal axis 36 of body 30 from adjacent to first end 32 to adjacent to second end 34 of body 30. Slot 40 includes edges 42 and 44 which are rounded to be convex with respect to open area 46 of slot 40. Due to this shape, a toothpaste tube located in slot 40 will be contacted by rounded edges and not sharp edges. This will protect the tube from tearing due to contact with edges adjacent to slot 40.
Use of squeezer 10 will be understood by those skilled in the art from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure. A bottom end of a toothpaste tube is placed in slot 40 and squeezer 10 is rotated to be attached to the toothpaste tube. Further rotation of the squeezer about longitudinal axis 36 will force toothpaste out of the top of the tube for dispensing that toothpaste. As toothpaste is used up, squeezer 10 is rotated whereby all of the toothpaste in the tube can be used.
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
