Toothpaste dispenser
First Claim
1. Apparatus for dispensing toothpaste from an elongated container of toothpaste which includes a tubular neck at one end, said neck having a mouth, said apparatus comprising:
- a stiff pressurization tube which is relatively slender compared to said neck and mouth;
an inflater head mounted on one end of said pressurization tube and having at least one outlet opening through which pressurized fluid injected into said pressurization tube may issue;
a balloon sleeved over said inflater head and having a balloon neck circumferentially sealed relative to the external periphery of said pressurization tube, so that as pressurized fluid issues from said at least one outlet opening of said inflater head, such pressurized fluid will pressurize and tend to inflate said balloon;
a dispenser cap for said container neck including cooperative securement means for securing said dispenser cap on said container neck;
said dispenser cap including an openable/closeable valve which, only when in an open condition, allows toothpaste to flow out through said mouth of said container neck, under motivation provided by superatmospheric pressure within said balloon due to pressurization of said balloon by injection of pressurized fluid thereinto via said pressurization tube and inflater when said balloon is disposed within said container on said inflater head;
said pressurization tube having an inlet end;
said dispenser cap including an opening having an annular gasket sealingly fitted therein;
said pressurization tube near said inlet end thereof being circumferentially sealingly received in said annular gasket so that said pressurization tube may be supplied with pressurized fluid through said inlet end from externally of the toothpaste container while said dispenser cap remains in place on said neck;
the dispenser cap including an internally threaded skirt as said cooperative securement means;
a tubular coaxial extension of said skirt, and an axially outer end wall;
a tubular side outlet communicating laterally through the tubular coaxial extension with the interior of the cap;
said openable/closeable valve being provided on said tubular side outlet distally of said tubular coaxial extension;
said opening of said dispenser cap in which said annular gasket is fitted being provided in said axially outer end wall of said dispenser cap;
said annular gasket further including an annular boss located externally of said outer end wall of said dispenser cap for facilitating connection of a source of pressurizing fluid to said inlet end of said pressurization tube from externally of said dispenser cap, said pressurization tube, from externally of said dispenser cap being constructed and arranged for connection with a source of pressurizing fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tube of toothpaste is provided with an internal balloon or similar elastically expansable chamber near its far end, from which a slender inflation tube extends axially out of the neck and is communicated to the exterior of a cap. The cap includes a lateral projection provided with a push to close/pull to open captive closure-type valve. A valved source of compressed gas is communicated to the inflation tube. An actuator is linked both to the cap valve and to the compressed gas valve, so that as the cap valve is opened to dispense toothpaste, the compressed gas valve may be opened to pressurize and inflate the balloon within the tube. Thus the toothpaste reservoir is pressurized for dispensing. The compressed gas line to the inflation tube is provided with a safety valve incorporating a whistle. An appliance is provided housing and mounting the foregoing elements. It may also house and mount toothbrushes and include a floss dispenser.
24 Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for dispensing toothpaste from an elongated container of toothpaste which includes a tubular neck at one end, said neck having a mouth, said apparatus comprising:
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a stiff pressurization tube which is relatively slender compared to said neck and mouth; an inflater head mounted on one end of said pressurization tube and having at least one outlet opening through which pressurized fluid injected into said pressurization tube may issue; a balloon sleeved over said inflater head and having a balloon neck circumferentially sealed relative to the external periphery of said pressurization tube, so that as pressurized fluid issues from said at least one outlet opening of said inflater head, such pressurized fluid will pressurize and tend to inflate said balloon; a dispenser cap for said container neck including cooperative securement means for securing said dispenser cap on said container neck; said dispenser cap including an openable/closeable valve which, only when in an open condition, allows toothpaste to flow out through said mouth of said container neck, under motivation provided by superatmospheric pressure within said balloon due to pressurization of said balloon by injection of pressurized fluid thereinto via said pressurization tube and inflater when said balloon is disposed within said container on said inflater head; said pressurization tube having an inlet end; said dispenser cap including an opening having an annular gasket sealingly fitted therein;
said pressurization tube near said inlet end thereof being circumferentially sealingly received in said annular gasket so that said pressurization tube may be supplied with pressurized fluid through said inlet end from externally of the toothpaste container while said dispenser cap remains in place on said neck;the dispenser cap including an internally threaded skirt as said cooperative securement means;
a tubular coaxial extension of said skirt, and an axially outer end wall;
a tubular side outlet communicating laterally through the tubular coaxial extension with the interior of the cap;
said openable/closeable valve being provided on said tubular side outlet distally of said tubular coaxial extension;said opening of said dispenser cap in which said annular gasket is fitted being provided in said axially outer end wall of said dispenser cap; said annular gasket further including an annular boss located externally of said outer end wall of said dispenser cap for facilitating connection of a source of pressurizing fluid to said inlet end of said pressurization tube from externally of said dispenser cap, said pressurization tube, from externally of said dispenser cap being constructed and arranged for connection with a source of pressurizing fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for dispensing toothpaste, comprising:
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an elongated container of toothpaste, said container including wall means defining a tubular neck at one end, said tubular neck having a mouth, and defining a closed end distally of said tubular neck; a stiff pressurization tube which is relatively slender compared to said neck and mouth; an inflater head mounted on one end of said pressurization tube and having at least one outlet opening through which pressurized fluid injected into said pressurization tube may issue; a balloon sleeved over said inflater head and having a balloon neck circumferentially sealed relative to the external periphery of said pressurization tube, so that as pressurized fluid issues from said at least one outlet opening of said inflater head, such pressurized fluid will pressurize and tend to inflate said balloon; a dispenser cap for said container neck including cooperative securement means for securing said dispenser cap on said container neck; said dispenser cap including an openable/closeable valve which, only when in an open condition, allows toothpaste to flow out through said mouth of said container neck, under motivation provided by superatmospheric pressure within said balloon due to pressurization of said balloon by injection of pressurized fluid thereinto via said pressurization tube and inflater; said pressurization tube having an inlet end; said dispenser cap including an opening having an annular gasket sealingly fitted therein;
said pressurization tube near said inlet end thereof being circumferentially sealingly received in said annular gasket so that said pressurization tube may be supplied with pressurized fluid through said inlet end from externally of the toothpaste container while said dispenser cap remains in place on said neck;the dispenser cap including an internally threaded skirt as said cooperative securement means;
a tubular coaxial extension of said skirt, and an axially outer end wall;
a tubular side outlet communicating laterally through the tubular coaxial extension with the interior of the cap;
said openable/closeable valve being provided on said tubular side outlet distally of said tubular coaxial extension;said opening of said dispenser cap in which said annular gasket is fitted being provided in said axially outer end wall of said dispenser cap; said annular gasket further including an annular boss located externally of said outer end wall of said dispenser cap for facilitating connection of a source of pressurizing fluid to said inlet end of said pressurization tube from externally of said dispenser cap, said pressurization tube being constructed and arranged for connection with a source of pressurizing fluid; and a source of pressurizing fluid connected with said inlet end of said pressurization tube from externally of said dispenser cap. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A toothpaste dispenser for dispensing toothpaste from a container of toothpaste, which container is provided with a pressurizable, expansible chamber initially disposed distally of a mouth of such container, a pressurization conduit communicated to said chamber, and an openable/closeable toothpaste outlet valve for said container mouth, so that when said chamber is pressurized through said pressurization conduit, if said openable/closeable toothpaste outlet valve is opened, toothpaste will flow out of said chamber through said container mouth as said container expands towards said container mouth, said toothpaste dispenser comprising:
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a device including a body mounted on a base; said body including means defining a first compartment for mounting said container so that said openable/closeable toothpaste outlet valve is located where a user may conveniently place a bristled head of a toothbrush in proximity thereto; said body including means defining a second compartment for mounting a self-contained supply container of pressurized fluid having a normally-closed, push-to-open valve having an outlet; and tube means for connecting said outlet of said valve of said self-contained supply of pressurized fluid with said pressurization conduit, so that by pushing said push-to-open valve said expansible chamber within said container of toothpaste may be pressurized, so that when said openable/closable toothpaste outlet valve is opened, toothpaste will flow therefrom onto the bristled head of the toothbrush placed by the user in proximity thereto. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification