Apparatus for squeezing material from collapsible tubes

• US 5,217,144 A
• Filed: 11/05/1991
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valco Cincinnati Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valco Cincinnati Inc.
• Inventors: Santefort, Richard A., Haerr, Ray H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/786,807
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 222/95, 222/103, 222/325
• US Class Current: 222/103
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/28 for expelling contents

Abstract

A collapsible tube dispenser is disclosed for use with collapsible tubes that contain highly viscous materials, such as silicone gasket RTV. The dispenser provides two engaging plates for squeezing the sides of a collapsible tube, which causes the contents of the tube to be expressed from its open end. The dispenser also includes two handles which can be gripped by a single hand of a human user. When the handles are kept apart from one another, a collapsible tube can be inserted into the slot formed between the engaging plates of the dispenser. When the handles are squeezed together, the engaging plates apply force to the sides of the tube, thus squeezing out a very controlled amount of highly viscous material. The dispenser is very easy to use, in that it can produce a bead of highly viscous material upon a target having a very narrow line width, and having great positional accuracy.

Claims

1. An apparatus adapted for use with a collapsible tube having a fluid material as its contents, said collapsible tube having elongated sides, a first end which is closed, and a second end which has an opening of predetermined size, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first handle, said first handle comprising;

(i) a first elongated member of sufficient width and thickness to fit within the palm of an adult hand, said first elongated member having a first and second end;

(ii) a substantially planar first engaging plate integrally connected to the first end of said elongated member, said first engaging plate having its planar surface substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said first elongated member, said first engaging plate having sufficient width to exceed the width of said collapsible tube at the collapsible tube'"'"'s first end, said first engaging plate having sufficient length so that it can make physical contact with a large enough portion of an elongated side of said collapsible tube so as to be able to force a portion at least of the collapsible tube'"'"'s contents from its open second end;

(b) a second handle, said second handle comprising;

(i) a second elongated member of sufficient width and thickness to be gripped by the fingers of an adult hand, said second elongated member having a first and second end;

(ii) means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate when the apparatus is in the configuration wherein the second end of said first elongated member is in distal relationship with the second end of said second elongated member;

(iii) a pivotable engaging member, operatively connected to the first end of said second elongated member, comprising;

(A) a pivot pin;

(B) a movable second engaging plate having a range of motion that allows the second engaging plate to be substantially parallel to said means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate, and also allows the second engaging plate to be substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said second elongated member, said second engaging plate having sufficient width to exceed the width of said collapsible tube at the collapsible tube'"'"'s first end, said second engaging plate having sufficient length so that it can make physical contact with a large enough portion of an elongated side of said collapsible tube so as to be able to force the collapsible tube'"'"'s contents from its open second end;

(C) means for supporting said movable second engaging plate, said means operatively connected to said pivot pin such that said pivotable engaging member can pivot around said pivot pin with respect to said second elongated member, said pivot pin'"'"'s location with respect to the means for supporting said movable second engaging plate being between the mid-point of the means for supporting said movable second engaging plate and the first, closed end of said collapsible tube;

(iv) means for supporting said pivotable engaging member such that the movable second engaging plate correctly provides a means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate when the apparatus is in the configuration wherein the second end of said first elongated member is in proximal relationship with the second end of said second elongated member, said means for supporting said pivotable engaging member being operatively connected to said pivot pin; and

(c) a clearance slot formed between said movable second engaging plate and said means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate at a location wherein the second engaging plate and the means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate are in proximal relationship to one another, said clearance slot having sufficient size to allow the through placement of said first engaging plate therein, said clearance slot additionally having sufficient size to allow the through placement of the first end of said collapsible tube therein.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said substantially planar first engaging plate has bent corners at locations proximal to said clearance slot, said bent corners providing means for properly positioning said first handle with respect to said second handle.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second elongated member of said second handle has a clearance notch cut out along the second elongated member'"'"'s length at a position proximal to said means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate, and further comprising a gusset support which is integrally connected to the first elongated member of said first handle and is also integrally connected to the first engaging plate of said first handle.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said pivotable engaging member include at least one first edge and at least one second edge, said first and second edges substantially defining two sides of a triangle.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second elongated member of said second handle is channel-shaped in form, said second elongated member having an open side, and wherein the first elongated member of said first handle is small enough in width to be placed within the confines of the open side of said second elongated member.

6. An apparatus adapted for use with a collapsible tube having a fluid material as its contents, said collapsible tube having elongated sides, a first end which is closed, and a second end which has an opening of predetermined size, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first handle, said first handle comprising;

(i) a first elongated member of sufficient width and thickness to fit within the palm of an adult hand, said first elongated member having a first and second end;

(ii) a substantially planar first engaging plate integrally connected to the first end of said elongated member, said first engaging plate having its planar surface substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said first elongated member, said first engaging plate having sufficient width to exceed the width of said collapsible tube at the collapsible tube'"'"'s first end, said first engaging plate having sufficient length so that it can make physical contact with a large enough portion of an elongated side of said collapsible tube so as to be able to force a portion at least of the collapsible tube'"'"'s contents from its open second end;

(b) a second handle, said second handle comprising;

(i) a second elongated member of sufficient width and thickness to be gripped by the fingers of an adult hand, said second elongated member having a first and second end;

(ii) at least one base support integrally connected to the first end of said second elongated member, said base support providing a means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate when the apparatus is in the configuration wherein the second end of said first elongated member is in distal relationship with the second end of said second elongated member;

(iii) at least one upright support, said upright support having a first edge which is integrally connected to said base support, said upright support also having a second edge, said upright support having a through-hole;

(iv) a pivotable engaging member, operatively connected to the first end of said second elongated member, comprising;

(A) a pivot pin;

(B) a movable second engaging plate having a range of motion that allows the second engaging plate to be substantially parallel to said base support, and also allows the second engaging plate to be substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of said second elongated member, said second engaging plate having sufficient width to exceed the width of said collapsible tube at the collapsible tube'"'"'s first end, said second engaging plate having sufficient length so that it can make physical contact with a large enough portion of an elongated side of said collapsible tube so as to be able to force the collapsible tube'"'"'s contents from its open second end, the second engaging plate also being correctly positioned for providing a means for limiting the travel of said first engaging plate when the apparatus is in the configuration wherein the second end of said first elongated member is in proximal relationship with the second end of said second elongated member;

(C) means for supporting said movable second engaging plate, said means operatively connected to said pivot pin such that said pivotable engaging member can pivot around said pivot pin with respect to said second elongated member, said pivot pin'"'"'s location with respect to the means for supporting said movable second engaging plate being between the mid-point of the means for supporting said movable second engaging plate and the first, closed end of said collapsible tube;

(v) said pivot pin being placed through said through-hole in the upright support; and

(c) a clearance slot formed between said movable second engaging plate and said base support at a location wherein the second engaging plate and the base support are in proximal relationship to one another, said clearance slot having sufficient size to allow the through placement of said first engaging plate therein, said clearance slot additionally having sufficient size to allow the through placement of the first end of said collapsible tube therein.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said substantially planar first engaging plate has bent corners at locations proximal to said clearance slot, said bent corners providing means for properly positioning said first handle with respect to said second handle.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the second elongated member of said second handle has a clearance notch cut out along the second elongated member'"'"'s length at a position proximal to said base support, and further comprising a gusset support which is integrally connected to the first elongated member of said first handle and is also integrally connected to the first engaging plate of said first handle.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the first and second edges of said upright support substantially define two sides of a triangle.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the second elongated member of said second handle is channel-shaped in form, said second elongated member having an open side, and wherein the first elongated member of said first handle is small enough in width to be placed within the confines of the open side of said second elongated member.

11. An apparatus adapted for use with an elongated collapsible tube having a fluid material as its contents, said collapsible tube having upper and lower surfaces, a first rear end which is closed, and a second front end which has an opening for dispensing the fluid therefrom when said tube surfaces are squeezed together, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first handle, said first handle comprising;

(i) a first elongated member dimensioned to be grasped by an adult hand, said first elongated member having upper and lower ends;

(ii) a first engaging plate fixedly connected to the upper end of said first elongated member, said first engaging plate being configured to abut and press against the lower surface of the collapsible tube, the rearmost portion of said first engaging plate defining a first pivot point;

(b) a second handle separate and distinct from said first handle, said second handle comprising;

(i) a second elongated member dimensioned to be grasped by an adult hand, said second elongated member having upper and lower ends;

(ii) a second engaging plate pivotally connected to the upper end of said second elongated member, said second engaging plate being configured to abut and press against the upper surface of the tube, the rearmost portion of said second engaging plate defining a second pivot point; and

(c) said first and second pivot points lying in abutting pivotable relationship when said handles are brought together in their operable positions so that said handles are pivotable about said pivot points and so that said first and second engaging members are in spaced graspable relationship and a portion at least of the lower and upper surfaces of the collapsible tube is positioned between said first and second engaging plates, respectively, said first and second engaging plates operating to approach each other and thereby press the collapsible tube therebetween as said first and second elongated members are squeezed together.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, including means for preventing the displacement of the collapsible tube from the apparatus as the elongated members are squeezed together.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said collapsible tube displacement preventing means comprises:

(a) a gap formed between the rearmost edges of said engaging plates and dimensioned to allow the rearmost portion of the collapsible tube to pass therethrough, said rearmost edges of the engaging plates contacting and retaining the sides of the collapsible tube; and

(b) the pivotal connection of said second engaging plate to the upper end of said second elongated member being configured so as to assist the pressing of the collapsible tube between said first and second engaging plates, while at the same time to align said rearmost edges of the engaging plates such that they contact and retain the sides of the collapsible tube.

14. An apparatus adapted for use with an elongated collapsible tube having a fluid material as its contents, said collapsible tube having upper and lower surfaces, a first rear end which is closed, and a second front end which has an opening for dispensing the fluid therefrom when said tube surfaces are squeezed together, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first handle, said first handle comprising;

(i) a first elongated member dimensioned to be grasped by an adult hand, said first elongated member having upper and lower ends;

(ii) a first engaging plate fixedly connected to the upper end of said first elongated member, said first engaging plate being configured to abut and press against the lower surface of the collapsible tube, the rearmost portion of said first engaging plate defining a first pivot point;

(b) a second handle separate and distinct from said first handle, said second handle comprising;

(i) a second elongated member dimensioned to be grasped by an adult hand, said second elongated member having upper and lower ends;

(ii) a second engaging plate pivotally connected to the upper end of said second elongated member, said second engaging plate being configured to abut and press against the upper surface of the tube in a manner such that said fluid within the tube is prevented from escaping toward the first rear end of the tube, but instead can only be propelled toward the second front end of the tube, the rearmost portion of said second engaging plate defining a second pivot point; and

(c) said first and second pivot points lying in abutting pivotable relationship when said handles are brought together in their operable positions so that said handles are pivotable about said pivot points and so that said first and second engaging members are in spaced graspable relationship and a portion at least of the lower and upper surfaces of the collapsible tube is positioned between said first and second engaging plates, respectively, said first and second engaging plates operating to approach each other and thereby pass the collapsible tube therebetween as said first and second elongated members are squeezed together.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said pivotable second engaging plate'"'"'s rearmost edge presses against, along with the collapsible tube'"'"'s upper surface, the first engaging plate'"'"'s surface, thereby preventing fluid within the tube from escaping toward the first rear end of the tube, and urging the fluid toward the second front end of the tube.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said pivotable second engaging plate'"'"'s rearmost edge is configured to prevent cutting into the collapsible tube'"'"'s upper surface while the pivotable second engaging plate'"'"'s rearmost edge presses against that tube'"'"'s upper surface.