Abstract:
A multi-user toothpaste dispenser is disclosed. The multi-user toothpaste dispenser allows a plurality of user&#39;s their individual dispensing nozzle from a commonly shared toothpaste tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a toothpaste dispenser. Specifically, the present invention relates to a multi-user toothpaste dispenser. In particular, the present invention relates to a toothpaste dispenser that allows a plurality of users their individual dispensing nozzle from a commonly shared toothpaste tube. By providing a toothpaste dispenser with which a plurality of users can use their individual dispensing nozzle from a common tube, users may be assured that their toothbrush will only come in contact with their individual dispensing nozzle and not with other&#39;s. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    There have been many structures for dispensing toothpaste in the past. However, when a plurality of user&#39;s use such dispensers, they all take the toothpaste from the same nozzle of the same tube. This may have health risks, as germs from one user&#39;s toothbrush can come in contact with the toothpaste nozzle only to infect the next user&#39;s toothbrush. This may not only have a deleterious effect on the next user, but may also dissuade some from brushing their teeth. This may be especially true in families that have members employing varying degrees of hygienic habits. There is therefore a great need in the art for a toothpaste dispenser which ensures users of their own personal dispensing nozzle from a commonly shared toothpaste tube. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is now provided with this invention an improved toothpaste dispenser that allows a plurality of users their individual dispensing nozzle from a common toothpaste tube. This effectively overcomes the aforementioned difficulties and longstanding problems inherent in maintaining a hygienic toothpaste tube. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of certain embodiments of the invention a multi-user toothpaste tube dispenser is disclosed herein. The dispenser has a neck having a first end for mating with the toothpaste tube and a second end extending therefrom. The dispenser also has a rotatable top having a plurality of nozzles extending therefrom for aligning a nozzle with the second end of the neck. Each of the nozzles sealingly engages with the second end of the neck when aligned therewith for establishing fluid communication between the engaged nozzle and the toothpaste tube. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of certain embodiments of the invention, each of the nozzles has different indicia which may be colors, numbers, alphanumerics, letters, logos, embossing, or any other identifier of the user of that particular dispensing nozzle. 
         [0008]    According to yet another aspect of certain embodiments of the invention, a multi-user toothpaste tube dispenser is disclosed having an angled neck having a first end for mating with the toothpaste tube and a second end extending therefrom. The dispenser also has a ring having a aperture therethrough. The aperture sealingly engages with the second end of the neck. The dispenser further has a top attached to the ring. The top has a plurality of nozzles extending therefrom. The top may be rotated for aligning a nozzle with the aperture, so that each of the nozzles may sealingly engage with the aperture when aligned therewith for establishing fluid communication between the engaged nozzle and the toothpaste tube. 
         [0009]    Food allergic individuals may benefit from embodiments of the present invention. CCD (central disease control) recommends no using the toothpaste from top of the dispenser. 
         [0010]    The foregoing Summary of the Invention is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure contained herein nor limit the scope of the appended claims. To the contrary, as will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art, variations of the foregoing described embodiments may be implemented without departing from the claimed invention. 
         [0011]    As will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art, a major advantage provided by the present invention is to provide a plurality of user&#39;s their individual dispensing nozzle from a commonly shared toothpaste tube. Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. 
         [0012]    The method and apparatus of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed discussion of specific embodiments and the attached figures which illustrate and exemplify such embodiments. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention taken together in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a multi-user toothpaste dispenser. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a capped toothpaste tube. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an uncapped toothpaste tube. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an exploded orthogonal view of the embodiment of the multi-user toothpaste dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of an embodiment of a threaded receiver. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a personal dispensing top of an embodiment of a multi-user toothpaste dispenser. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a detailed cross-sectional view of the mating of the toothpaste tube with the neck of an embodiment of a multi-user toothpaste dispenser. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    The following preferred embodiment as exemplified by the drawings is illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the claims of this application. A multi-user toothpaste tube dispenser is disclosed herein. 
         [0022]    An embodiment of a multi-user dispenser  1 , as illustrated generally in  FIG. 1 , is adapted to mate with an ordinary toothpaste tube  2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ordinary toothpaste tube has a cap  3  and shown uncapped in  FIG. 3 . The toothpaste tube typically has threads  4  at its opening  6 . The toothpaste tube has a shoulder  8  at the base of its threads  4 . 
         [0023]    Constituent parts of an embodiment of the multi-user dispenser  1 , are shown in an exploded view in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of the multi-user dispenser  1  has an open bottom ring  10 . The open bottom ring  10  is sized to accept the shoulder  8  of the toothpaste tube therein and seat the toothpaste tube securely in the dispenser. 
         [0024]    The embodiment of the multi-user dispenser  1 , has a threaded receiver  12  abutting the open bottom ring  10 . The threaded receiver may be integral with or separate from the open bottom ring. The threaded receiver includes a neck  14 . The neck  14  is typically angled forming a bent tube. The neck  14  has a first end  16  abutting the open bottom ring, The first end  16  of the neck has internal threads  18 . The threads  18  of the neck mate with the threads  4  of the toothpaste tube, that is, the toothpaste tube screws into the threads  18  of the first end  16  of the neck  14 . Alternatively, the neck  14  may be directly connected to the toothpaste tube  2  without the intervening structures of the threaded receiver  12  or the open bottom ring  10 . The neck may include a protrusion  20  at a second end  22  opposite the first end  16 . 
         [0025]    Operatively attached to the threaded receiver  12  is a ring  24 . The ring  24  has a closed top  26  with an aperture  28  therethrough. The aperture  28  may include a protrusion  30  around its circumference. The aperture  28  is sized so that the second end  22  of the neck seals therewith. To increase the sealing engagement of the second end  22  of the neck with the aperture, the protrusion  20  of the neck may sealingly engage with the inner diameter of the protrusion  30  of the aperture. The top  26  of the ring  24  may be integral with or may be a separate piece into which the individual pieces mate. On the side  32  of the ring, a tab  34  may be placed. 
         [0026]    Attached to the ring  24  is a personal dispensing top  36 . The personal dispensing top  36  has a plurality of nozzles  38  extending therefrom. The top  36  is rotatable with respect to the ring  24  and when a particular nozzle is aligned with the second end  22  of the neck  14 , the toothpaste tube is then in fluid communication  42  with that particular nozzle. The tab  34  indicates which nozzle is in alignment and in fluid communication with the toothpaste tube. 
         [0027]    A pin  40  may be placed to extend between the ring  24  and the personal dispensing top  36 . The pin  40  may be an extruded pin. When the top rotates with respect to the ring, the top rotates about the longitudinal axis of the pin  40 . Of course, if the dispenser is constructed so that the neck  14  is directly connected to the toothpaste tube  2  without any intervening structures, for example, the threaded receiver  12  or the open bottom ring  10 , then the top directly rotates with respect to the neck. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of the threaded receiver. The threads of the tube are shown threaded into the neck. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the personal dispensing top. The top is shown in this particular embodiment with only two nozzles, but of course, as stated above there can be any number of nozzles for any number of users. The top may be rotated  44  with respect to the ring and about the longitudinal axis of the pin  40 . The top may also include a closure  46  for mating with the nozzles. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a detailed view of the mating of an embodiment of a neck of a multi-user toothpaste dispenser. As shown, the first end  16  of the neck has threads  18  for mating with the toothpaste tube. The neck  14  is angled from the portion  48  having the threads  18 . An interlocking collar  50  joins the angled neck with the portion  48 . Interposed in the locking collar between the portion  48  and the neck  14  may be a gasket  52 . 
         [0031]    Typically, each of the nozzles would be identified with a particular user. For example, each nozzle would typically have a different type of indicia for such identification. Examples of such indicia would include, at least, colors, numbers, alphanumerics, letters, logos, and/or embossing. In this way, a user may select his or her particular nozzle through which to apply toothpaste onto his or her toothbrush. Each of the nozzles may alternatively have a cap  54 . The cap  54  of the nozzles  38  may also include indicia matching the indicia of its associated nozzle. 
         [0032]    Although the particular embodiments shown and described above will prove to be useful in many applications in the dental arts to which the present invention pertains, further modifications of the present invention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.