Abstract:
A dispenser includes a base into which the open end of a conventional tube of toothpaste is threaded, a manually operated pump in the base to draw paste from the tube and discharge the paste onto a toothbrush, a perforated tube positioned in the tube of toothpaste to prevent prematurely collapsing of the walls and resulting flow restriction as paste is drawn from the tube, and a cover that hinges to the top of the base to conceal the tube and that provides presentation area for advertising, logos and other graphic or written information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     N/A. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing paste from a tube of paste having on open threaded end, a closed end and collapsible walls therebetween. 
     More particularly, the invention relates to a manual dispenser which, while suitable for other uses, is particularly useful as a toothpaste dispenser that conceals the tube of toothpaste in an attractive casing, and that is mountable to a vertical structure such as a wall or mirror to reduce clutter in the surrounding area. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Toothpaste is conventionally sold in a flexible tube having an open threaded neck-end with a cap, a closed folded end, and collapsible walls therebetween. The paste is dispensed by removing the cap and squeezing the tube to discharge toothpaste out the open end onto a toothbrush. 
     Of the various packaged forms of toothpaste currently available, the conventional tube of toothpaste is the most economical. Unfortunately, this cost advantage is associated with at least the following drawbacks and disadvantages related to use of conventional tubes of toothpaste: 
     If the cap is not promptly replaced after dispensing toothpaste, as seems to be the case with at least one person in almost every household, there is the possibility of losing the cap; exposure of the toothpaste to contamination; the paste crusting over at the open end, and drying out throughout the tube if the tube is not used relatively quickly; and the paste being inadvertently discharged from the tube as it is subsequently handled, or between uses while stored such as on a shelf, in a drawer, or on countertop. 
     If the tube is squeezed in the center to dispense toothpaste, as is often the case with the same person that does not promptly replace the cap, a portion of the paste is forced to the closed end of the tube. This results in a restriction in the center of the deformed tube and makes it more difficult to subsequently dispense paste from the back portion of the tube as the paste in the front of the tube is exhausted. 
     There is often a question of what to do with the tube of toothpaste between uses. Tubes of toothpaste in an unattractive condition can often be seen lying around a sink area. And even if properly closed and cleaned after each use, the tubes tend to become unsightly over time. 
     Numerous devices have been proposed to address these and other drawbacks associated with use of conventional tubes of toothpaste. In particular, as concerns the present invention, there are several known devices to hold a tube of toothpaste and manually dispense the paste upon demand by the user. 
     For reasons mentioned above, it is desirable that the toothpaste tube collapse beginning at the folded end and progressing toward the open end while dispensing the toothpaste—to insure relative ease in dispensing toothpaste from the tube. 
     Accordingly, several manual dispensing devices use an arrangement to simulate ideal manual squeezing of the tube from the folded closed end and progressing toward the open end upon subsequent uses. Examples of such devises are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,529 (Stuber); U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,932 (Bauman); U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,742 (Ives, SR.); Des. U.S. Pat. No. 359,188 (Clements); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,572 (Kolacek). 
     Certain other devices use a pump to draw toothpaste from the tube and dispense the paste onto a toothbrush. 
     Such devices are shown is U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,829 (Allen); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,922 Varon). 
     However, drawing toothpaste from a tube with suction from a pump at the open end can result in the walls of the tube being drawn toward one another, and collapsing prematurely near the center of the tube. This result is similar to the user squeezing the tube in the center—both of which result in a restriction near the center of the tube that inhibits flow of paste from the closed end of the tube during subsequent uses. 
     Consequently, there is a need for a manual toothpaste dispenser that addresses such drawbacks and disadvantages, and permits purchase and use of conventional tubes of toothpaste without the inconveniences normally associated therewith. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for holding a tube of toothpaste and manually dispensing the paste therefrom. 
     Important objectives of the invention include providing: 
     a toothpaste dispenser that dispenses paste quickly, cleanly, and more easily than conventional dispensing methods and apparatus; 
     a toothpaste dispenser that protects the contents of the tube from contamination and exposure to the elements; 
     a toothpaste dispenser that reduces wasted paste resulting from contamination or loss of the cap; 
     a toothpaste dispenser that can be mounted to a vertical structure, such as a wall or a mirror, to assist in reducing clutter of the tube lying around, and assist in organizing the sink or personal hygiene area; and 
     a toothpaste dispenser that prevents the walls of the tube from prematurely collapsing as paste is drawn from the tube, to insure an even flow of toothpaste during repeated uses. 
     These and other objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like items. 
     A preferred toothpaste dispenser according to the invention includes: 
     a base into which the open end of the tube of toothpaste is threaded, 
     a pump located in the base to draw paste from the open end of the tube and to dispense paste from a discharge tube on the opposite side of the base, 
     a push button or lever to manually actuate the pump and dispense the toothpaste, 
     a perforated tubular structure that slips into the tube of toothpaste prior to threading onto the base, the tubular structure keeping the walls of the tube of toothpaste from prematurely collapsing as paste is drawn therefrom, and 
     a cover that hinges at the top of the base to cover and conceal the tube in an attractive presentation, the cover being provided with an area onto which advertising, logos or information may be etched or carried on a label. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a new and improved toothpaste dispenser incorporating the unique aspects of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the dispenser. 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view showing the cover in a partially open position. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of certain components of the dispenser. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing the dispenser mounted to a wall and dispensing paste onto a toothbrush. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the dispenser shown with the cover fully open. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the dispenser shown with the cover fully open. 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing an alternate mounting of the dispenser. 
     FIG. 9 is perspective view rotated 90 degrees of the hollow support tube shown in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiment has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Reference numerals shown in the drawings correspond to following: 
       10 —Toothpaste dispenser 
       12 —Toothpaste 
       14 —Tube of toothpaste 
       14   a —Threaded outlet of tube 
       14   b —Folded end of tube 
       14   c —Walls of tube 
       16 —Toothbrush 
       18 —Vertical Wall 
       22 —Base structure 
       24 —Pump 
       26 —Perforated tube 
       26   a —Tapered upper end of perforated tube 
       26   b —Lower end of perforated tube 
       28 —Cover 
       30 —Back wall 
       32 —Base 
       34 —Mounting holes 
       36 —Fasteners 
       42 —Suction cups 
       44 —Threaded inlet to pump 
       46 —Discharge tube 
       48 —Push button 
       50 —Openings in perforated tube 
       52 —Front wall 
       54 —Side walls 
       56 —Top wall 
       58 —Label 
       60 —Hinges 
       62 —Hinge plates 
       64 —Hinge pins 
       66 —Hinge journals 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is shown in the drawings as toothpaste dispenser  10  (FIG. 1) that dispenses toothpaste  12  from a tube  14  of toothpaste onto a toothbrush  16  (see FIG.  5 ). The dispenser  10  is shown in several views and operative positions in FIGS. 1-3 and FIGS. 5-7, and additional details of certain dispenser components are shown in FIGS.  4  and  8 - 9 . 
     The dispenser  10  includes a base structure  22  and a cover  28 . The base structure  22  is provided with a back wall  30 , and an integral base  32 . The back wall  30  is a generally planar (see e.g., FIG.  4 ), somewhat elongated unit, having a width and length sized for correspondence with the maximum width and length of tube  14  of toothpaste to be held in the dispenser  10 . Mounting holes  34  are formed through the back wall  30  proximate the top and bottom ends thereof to enable mounting the dispenser such as to a vertical wall member  18 . Suitable mounting mechanisms include, but are not limited to, suction cups  42  (see e.g., FIG. 5) for mounting to a smooth surface such as a mirror or glazed ceramic tile, and threaded fasteners  36  (FIG. 8) for permanent mounting of the dispenser. The base  32  projects forwardly from the lower end of the back wall  30 . 
     A threaded opening  44  is formed downwardly from the top surface of the base  32 . The opening  44  is sized for threading the open-end neck  14   a  of the toothpaste tube  14  of toothpaste. A discharge tube  46  projects downwardly from the bottom of the base  32 . 
     A manually operable pump mechanism  24 , represented by dashed lines, is located in a cavity in the base  32  of the dispenser. The pump establishes fluid communication between the threaded opening  44  in the base and the discharge tube  46 , and is operative to draw paste from the tube  14  through the threaded end  14   a  installed into the opening  44 , and to dispense the paste out the discharge tube. The pump is activated by a push button  48  that extends forwardly from the front of the base  32 . Pressing the push button towards the base effects operation of the pump to dispense a quantity of toothpaste. Thereafter, a return spring of the pump mechanism resets the push button in anticipation of the next dispensing cycle. Instructional indicia such as “PUSH HERE” is provided on the push button for straightforward, self-evident operation. The details of the pump mechanism are not a subject of the present invention, and are therefore, not shown or discussed in detail. Any of several known pumps, as well as certain pumps likely to be devised, may be provided in the dispenser. 
     A perforated tubular structure, inserted into the tube  14  of toothpaste prior to installation of the tube on the base  32  of the dispenser, prevents the walls  14   c  of the tube of toothpaste from prematurely collapsing completely onto one another as paste is drawn from the tube. The perforated tubular structure in the embodiment shown is provided in the form of a cylindrical perforated hollow tube  26  open ends  26   a ,  26   b . The perforated tube is sized to slip into the tube  14  of paste, through the opening  14   a , and to extend therefrom to proximate the folded end  14   b  of the tube. The perforated tubular structure is characterized with multiple lateral openings  50  that are angularly and longitudinally spaced through the tube walls along the length thereof to establish multiple flow paths into the interior of the tube and out the lower end  26   b  of the tube. The preferred tube has a relatively thin wall, and size of the openings  50  are of the same order of magnitude as the size of the opening  14   a  in the tube so as to not restrict the flow of toothpaste substantially more than the restriction established by the tube itself. In preferred embodiments, the outside diameter of the upper end  26   a  of the perforated tube  26  is tapered inwardly upon progressing toward the free end thereof, or rounded or otherwise configured to provide an initial lead-in clearance with the inlet opening  14   a , for ease of aligning and inserting that end of the perforated tube into and through the opening  14   a  in the tube  14  of toothpaste. 
     The cover  28  includes a front wall  52 , a pair of sidewalls  54 , and a top wall  56 . The front wall  52  extends generally parallel to the back wall  30 , along the length thereof, and includes a generally planar or otherwise configured front surface to carry advertising or other information, either formed (e.g., molded or etched) in the front surface or on a label  58  affixed thereto. The sidewalls  54  extend integrally from the sides of the front wall  52  rearwardly to the back wall  30 , and along the length thereof, to define, in cooperation with the base  32 , a generally surrounded compartment to enclose the tube  14  of toothpaste. The top wall  56  extends integrally between the front wall  52  and the sidewalls  54 , to the back wall, to close off the top of the cover. 
     A hinge mechanism  60  is provided between the cover  28  and the back wall  30  at the upper ends thereof for pivotal connection of the cover to the base structure  22 , and swinging of the cover between a closed position (see FIGS. 1-2) and an open position (FIGS. 7-8) sufficient for installation and removal of the tube of paste. The hinge  60  shown is established with (a) a pair integral laterally spaced hinge plates  62  projecting forwardly from the upper end of the back wall  30 , (b) a pair of integral hinge pins  64  projecting laterally outwardly from the hinge plates  62 , and (c) a pair of hinge journals  66  formed in the upper end of the sidewalls  54 , extending outwardly from the inside surfaces thereof and pivotally receiving the hinge pins  64 . The hinge components are sized for snapping the cover onto and off the base structure. A latch mechanism is also provided to normally maintain the cover in the closed position. In this instance, the hinge pins  64  and journals  66  are sized for a snug or friction fit; or, for example, a detent mechanism may be provided in the hinge mechanism  60 , or the cover sized for a snug fit onto the upper portion of the base  32 . 
     Use of the dispenser  10  is a straightforward procedure. Prior to use, the dispenser is mounted to a stable structure such as a wall or mirror. The tube  14  of toothpaste is prepared for installation into the dispenser by removing the lid from the tube, and then inserting the perforated tube  26  through the threaded end  14   a  into the tube of toothpaste. The dispenser cover  28  is raised, and the end  14   a  of the prepared tube of toothpaste is threaded into opening  44  until snugly in position on base  32  of the dispenser. The cover is then closed, and the dispenser is ready for use. When a quantity of toothpaste is desired, the user positions the head of the toothbrush  16  under the free end of the discharge outlet tube  46 , and then presses the push button  48  toward the base  32 , causing the pump to draw a measured quantity of paste from the tube  14  and dispense the paste out the discharge tube and onto the toothbrush. The reset spring of the pump mechanism then returns the push button outwardly to its normal reset position, ready for use by the next person. When the tube  14  of paste is empty, the empty tube is removed and replaced with a new one into which a perforated tube  26  has been installed. The perforated tube from the used tube of paste is either disposed of along with the used tube, or is removed and reused in the new tube of toothpaste. 
     From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention brings to the art a new and improved dispenser that cleanly dispenses a quantity of toothpaste from a conventional tube of toothpaste, and eliminates annoyances normally associated with tubes of toothpaste. Among other things, the dispenser fully encloses the tube of paste, the cover supports presentation of advertising or other information, the push button provides a simple, straightforward operation, and the perforated tube promotes efficient dispensing of the toothpaste by preventing the walls of the tube from collapsing onto each other as paste is drawn from the tube of toothpaste.