Musical toothpaste tube closure

• US 6,557,728 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Barnett, Michael, Anderson, Jeffrey Blake
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US09/594,269
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 222/39, 222/638, 222/556, 368/10, 446/408, 116/137.R
• US Class Current: 222/39
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/248 the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02

Abstract

A dentifrice closure on a dentifrice tube can emit a signal upon the opening of the closure to dispense some of the dentifrice. The closure is comprised of a base portion to attach the closure to the dentifrice tube and a lid portion that closes the dispensing opening of the dentifrice tube and which contains switch timer and signal generator. The signal generator can be a light, but preferably is a sound generator, and most preferably a music generator. Upon the lid being opened, a switch activates the timer which in turn activates the signal generator. Regardless of the position of the switch after a lid opening (the lid can be quickly closed) the signal will be emitted for a set period of time.

Claims

1. A dentifrice tube and closure said dentifrice tube closed on one end and having a dispensing opening at another end, said dispensing opening being closed by a closure, said closure having a base portion and a lid portion, said base portion attaching said closure to the another end of said dentifrice tube, said lid portion including a signal generator, a timer and a switch, said switch being in contact with said base portion when said lid portion is closed onto said base portion whereby when said lid portion is opened relative to said base portion said switch activates said timer which activates said signal generator to emit a signal for a given period of time.

2. A dentifrice tube and closure as in claim 1 wherein said signal generator is a sound generator.

3. A dentifrice tube and closure as in claim 2 wherein said sound generator is a music sound generator.

4. A dentifrice tube and closure as in claim 1 wherein said signal generator is a light source.

5. A dentifrice tube and closure as in claim 1 wherein base portion has a means for removably connecting said closure to said tube.

6. A dentifrice tube and closure as in claim 5 wherein said removable means comprises a set of mating threads on said tube and on said closure.

7. A dentifrice tube and closure as in claim 1 wherein said signal generator plays a tune for from about 50 to about 120 seconds.

8. A dentifrice tube and closure as in claim 7 wherein said signal generator plays a tune for about 60 to 90 seconds.