Abstract:
Toothpaste tubes can be messy and difficult to squeeze. There have been numerous attempts to create a neater toothpaste dispenser. This invention uses an air pump and an inflatable air bladder to squeeze toothpaste from a toothpaste tube out of a nozzle. The dispenser is less messy than a toothpaste tube, and easy enough to use one-handed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present application relates to the field toothpaste containers. 
         [0005]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0006]    Toothpaste is a dentifrice gel or paste for maintaining the health and appearance of teeth. Toothpaste traditionally comes packaged in plastic collapsible tubes that are sealed on one end and capped on the other. In operation, toothpaste is dispensed via the capped end by opening the cap and collapsing a portion of the tube, e.g., via squeeze action, so that toothpaste is dispensed from the open end of the tube. 
         [0007]    One of the problems with collapsible toothpaste tubes is that dispensing toothpaste after the tube is less than half full can be cumbersome. For instance, toothpaste users frequently squeeze the half-empty tube from the middle of the uncollapsed portion of the tube. This can lead to sizable amounts of toothpaste being reintroduced into the collapsed portion of the tube and caused said portion to partially reinflate. Once toothpaste gets re-introduced into the collapsed portions of the tube, the reinflated portion of the tube must be recollapsed to discharge all toothpaste contents from the tube. Children and people with physical limitations, such as, arthritis will struggle with the task of squeezing or recollapsing the reinflated portion of the tube. Many people, even people who are not children or have physical limitations, simply discard the tube without recovering the toothpaste contents of the formerly collapsed portion of the tube whereby substantial amounts of toothpaste are wasted. 
         [0008]    Toothpaste tubes also present additional problems. For example, it may be difficult to determine the appropriate pressure to apply to a tube to dispense a desired amount of toothpaste. In one bad scenario, a user may squeeze a toothpaste tube too hard resulting in toothpaste waste or a mess. 
         [0009]    Toothpaste tube caps also present a problem. Most toothpaste caps are small and screw onto the tube. The caps are easily lost or, often times, the toothpaste tube is left uncapped after use. When a toothpaste tube is left uncapped, toothpaste can leak creating a messy tube and possibly a messy countertop. When the cap is unscrewed or lost, toothpaste near the uncapped end of the tube can harden to make collapsing the tube difficult, if not impossible. 
         [0010]    There have been numerous attempts to improve apparatus and related methods of dispensing tooth paste. Improvements range from simple mechanical devices that aid a user in squeezing the toothpaste tube to complex machines that employ compressed air to dispense toothpaste. The most basic devices for squeezing toothpaste out of a tube are plastic mechanisms that assist in restricting re-inflation of a collapsed portion of a toothpaste tube when the uncollapsed portion is squeezed during use. See, e.g., Smilemakers® or Squeezit®. A user of these devices can insert a collapsed portion of a toothpaste tube into a device and move the mechanism toward the uncollapsed portion of the tube. The mechanism compresses the tube and allows the maximum amount of toothpaste to be squeezed out of the tube. The downside of these devices is that they are not easy to use—a user has to constantly adjust the position of the device along a toothpaste tube for best results. These devices may require use of both a user&#39;s hands to move the mechanism, which makes it difficult to dispense toothpaste onto a toothbrush. These simple devices do not solve the problems with toothpaste tubes. 
         [0011]    There are other devices that attempt to solve toothpaste tube problems. Karaboncuk (WO 03/072450) teaches a method of squeezing a toothpaste tube by placing a toothpaste tube in structure that is mounted to a wall. In the structure, a toothpaste tube fits between two planar structures connected by a spring wherein a lever causes the two planar boards to move together, squeezing the tube in the process. While capable of dispensing toothpaste, the toothpaste open end of the toothpaste tube faces down, so there still is the possibility that the tube may leak. Furthermore, wall mounted devices sometimes can be unattractive and mounting a device could potentially damage the wall. 
         [0012]    Similar to Karaboncuk&#39;s invention, is Matthews (U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,978). Matthews teaches a roller for collapsing a toothpaste tube against an inclining surface. In Matthews a user positions the sealed end of a toothpaste tube at the bottom of the incline surface and moves the roller over the toothpaste tube, up the incline, to dispense toothpaste (Le., collapses the tube between the incline surface and the roller). This invention is likely to be as messy as a toothpaste tube without any assisting device. 
         [0013]    Several toothpaste pump action dispensing devices exist that feature a pump for dispensing toothpaste via displacement by air rather than via collapsing a tube. For instance, Lee (U.S. 2010/327023) teaches a pump where a user can pump air into a tube and the air displaces the toothpaste. One of the problems with this pump is that in order to use the pump, the toothpaste must be in a specialized tube that is compatible with the pump. That is to say, the pump will not squeeze toothpaste out of an ordinary tube. 
         [0014]    In addition to pumps and basic dispensers, there are several toothpaste dispensing apparatus that use compressed air to squeeze toothpaste from a tube. Varon (U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,922) and Cocks (U.S. Pat. No. 1,751,129), for instance, teach placing toothpaste tube within a compartment so that the capped end of the tube is in fluid communication the outside of the compartment and filling the compartment with air so that the tube collapses under the pressure of the air in the compartment to discharge toothpaste from the opening. The problem with these devices is that air can leak from the compartment so that additional air must be introduced into the compartment for ideal toothpaste discharge. Furthermore, there is nothing in solid physical contact with the toothpaste tube so that toothpaste, in those dispensers, can undesirably reinflate collapsed portions of the tube. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to create a toothpaste dispenser that fully dispenses a tube of toothpaste. 
         [0016]    It is another object of the present invention to create a toothpaste dispenser that is less messy than a stand-alone toothpaste tube. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the present invention to create a toothpaste dispenser that can be operated with one hand so that children, the elderly, and physically challenged individuals can comfortably use the dispenser. 
         [0018]    It is another object of the invention to create a versatile device that can be made to match the decor of a bathroom. 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, disclosed is a device for dispensing toothpaste comprising; a housing; an inflatable bladder disposed within the housing and featuring a toothpaste tube receptacle; a nozzle with a coupling for a toothpaste tube; a lid; an air pump connected to the bladder; and, wherein the operating the air pump inflates the bladder so that said inflated bladder squeezes the toothpaste tube when retained by the nozzle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0020]    The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is an interior view (cross-section) of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an environmental interior (cross-section) view of the invention in use. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a close-up interior view of the nozzle that shows how it interacts with a toothpaste tube. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0027]    These drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosed subject matter may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    Generally disclosed is a toothpaste dispenser. In a preferred embodiment, disclosed is a device for dispensing toothpaste comprising; a housing; an inflatable bladder disposed within the housing; a nozzle with a receptacle for a toothpaste tube; a lid; an air pump connected to the bladder; and, wherein the operating the air pump inflates the bladder so that said inflated bladder squeezes the toothpaste tube when retained by the nozzle and lid. A more detailed description of the preferred embodiment is disclosed below with reference to the figures. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is an interior or cross-section view of a preferred embodiment of a toothpaste dispenser  1 . As shown, the dispenser  1  is defined by a housing  2 ; an air bladder  4  disposed within the housing  2  and featuring a toothpaste receptacle  6 ; a lid  22  with a female coupling  20  for receiving a male coupling (not shown) of a toothpaste tube (See  FIG. 3 ,  5 ); a nozzle  12  housed inside of the lid  22 ; and an air pump  8  that is in fluid communication with the air bladder  4  via a valve  14 . The housing  2  of the dispenser may be made of a solid material such as a hard plastic, metal, wood stone, glass, ceramic or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the housing  2  is cylindrical, the housing may have any other geometry without departing from the spirit and intent of this disclosure. Aesthetically, the housing  2  may be a solid color or it may have a pattern that matches the decor of the bathroom where it is used. 
         [0030]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the inside of the housing  2  may suitably feature an air bladder  4 . The air bladder  4 , as shown, is preferably connected to a valve  14  of the air pump  8 , wherein the valve  14  is configured to allow the air bladder  4  to inflate and deflate as needed. In one embodiment, for instance, the valve  14  may be similar to the valve employed on blood pressure measuring cuffs for inflating and deflating said cuff. Furthermore, the air bladder  4  may be made of a durable, flexible polymer material similar to the material used in blood pressure cuffs. This said, any material that is resilient enough to withstand repeated inflations and deflations of the bladder  4  or that will not tear when squeezing a toothpaste tube  5  may be used. 
         [0031]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the dispenser  1  features an air pump  8  fluidly connected to the air bladder  4 . The air pump  8  may feature a lever  10  and a valve  14 . A user operates the air pump  8  by pressing the lever  10 . By pressing down on the lever  10 , the air pump  8  forces air through the valve  14  and into the air bladder  4 . The air inflates the bladder  4  and this displaces the toothpaste receptacle  6 . The air displacement effectively squeezes the toothpaste tube  5 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the dispenser  1  dispensing toothpaste  16  onto a toothbrush  18 . As alluded to above, the air bladder  4  may be inflated to squeeze the toothpaste tube so that toothpaste  16  is forced through the nozzle  12 . As shown, the nozzle  12  features an opening that allows the toothpaste  16  to be dispensed onto a toothbrush  18 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the lid  22 , the nozzle  12 , and a toothpaste tube  5 . Referring again to the embodiments disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dispenser  1  may be configured to be used with a commercial tube of toothpaste  5 .  FIG. 3  shows how the device connects to a commercial tube of toothpaste  5 . The lid  22  preferably features a female coupling  20  capable of receiving a male coupling from the toothpaste tube  5 . Most commercial toothpaste tubes  5  feature a top with male coupling and a cap with male threading. The lid  22  takes the place of the cap by connecting a threaded male insert of the toothpaste tube  5  with the female coupling  20  of the nozzle  12 . Once the nozzle  12  is connected to the tube  5 , the tube  5  may suitably fit inside the toothpaste receptacle  6 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention. n this embodiment, the air pump  8  is disposed within the lid  22 . The lid  22  fits over top of the toothpaste tube  5  using female threading  20 . A user operates the dispenser  1  by pressing down on the lid  22 . In this embodiment, depressing the lid  22  will cause the air bladder  4  to fill with air, squeezing the toothpaste tube  5 . The drawing shows the nozzle  12  separate from the lid  22 . The nozzle  12  fits over top of the lid  22  so that toothpaste can be dispensed through the nozzle  12 . In other words, the lid  22  and the lever of the air pump  8  of the preferred embodiment have been combined into one piece that performs two functions—it pumps air into the air bladder  4  and it dispenses toothpaste. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  depicts and exploded view of another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the dispenser  1  is operated by pressing down on lever  10  which is housed within the lid  22 . The lever  10  operates a bellows-style air pump  8 . The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5  works the same way as the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The air pump  8  forces air through a valve  14 . The air inflates a bladder  4 . Inside of the bladder is a toothpaste receptacle  6 . When a toothpaste tube  5  is in the receptacle  6 , toothpaste  16  is forced through a nozzle  12  where it is dispensed onto a toothbrush  18 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  depicts a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the dispenser  1  shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  shows a toothpaste tube  5  inside of the toothpaste receptacle  6 . In this embodiment the toothpaste tube  5  connects to the nozzle  12  via threaded coupling  20 . 
         [0037]    In yet another embodiment (not shown), the air pump is operated electronically. 
         [0038]    It is to be noted that appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention, are not to scale, and therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments which are appreciated by those skilled in the arts. 
         [0039]    All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawing, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0040]    Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step of” in the clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6 may not be intended as a means plus claim.