Dispenser for a collapsible tube

• US 5,810,205 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Judi Duni, Marlene Berrins, Michele Halder
• Original Assignee: Nuri Kohen
• Inventors: Kohen, Nuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US08/851,884
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 222/100, 222/101, 222/102, 222/103, 222/105
• US Class Current: 222/103
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/28 for expelling contents

Abstract

A dispenser for a collapsible tube, such as a tube of toothpaste, is disclosed. The dispenser comprises a dispenser body which has a base, a pair of opposing sides and a stopper. The stopper extends across one end of the base and has an opening in it which is large enough that the neck of the tube can extend through it, but not large enough for the rest of the tube to pass through. A reversible push block is designed to engage the opposing sides of the dispenser body and to slide along the length of the base to come into contact with the tube and force out its contents. One edge of the push block is thinner than the other. The thinner edge is used when the tube still has much of its original contents. The thicker edge is used by reversing the push block and is used when the tube is nearly empty to force out the last bit of useable product.

Claims

1. A dispenser for a collapsible tube, said dispenser comprising:

a dispenser body formed to receive a collapsible tube of a type having a relatively flat back end and a relatively cylindrical front end, the front end terminating in an extended neck, the dispenser body comprising a base, a pair of opposing sides substantially normal to the base and substantially parallel to one another, and a stopper;

the stopper extending substantially normal to the dispenser body and having an opening therein, sized such that the extended neck but not the cylindrical front end of the tube can pass through the opening;

the dispenser body being sized to engage a reversible push block such that when the push block is engaged it can traverse substantially the length of the dispenser body in a path substantially parallel to the plane of the base;

and the reversible push block having a first edge, an oppositely positioned second edge, two sides and an underside, the first edge being substantially thinner than the second edge, and the underside being tapered along the first edge and gradually becoming less tapered in the direction of the second edge, the push block being positioned, such that when the dispenser is in a first mode of operation, the first edge faces the stopper and when the dispenser is in a second mode of operation the second edge faces the stopper.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the push block further comprises at least one protrusion on each of the two sides, the protrusions cooperating with the sides of the dispenser body to provide for the push block to traverse substantially the length of the dispenser body.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the protrusions cooperate with grooves in the opposing sides of the dispenser body which extend substantially parallel to one another.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising fastening devices to attach the dispenser to a flat surface.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the fastening devices comprise adhesive.

6. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the fastening devices comprise suction cups.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a grasp bar on the push block.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the opening in the stopper is sized to allow a capped tube neck to pass through.

9. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the suction cups are mounted on a mounting plate which is attached along an underside of the dispenser body.