Abstract:
A dispenser for extruding from a paste tube a paste portion. The dispenser includes a support portion and a cover portion, which have hinges at one end and which enclose a chamber for the paste tube. By pressing on the cover member, a paste portion is extruded from the tube. The hinges are adjustable to suit the tube, when full or one-half full, or near empty. The support portion and cover portion have respective resilient liners for providing a spring rate and for snugly holding the tube.

Description:
The invention relates to a paste tube dispenser, and in particular the invention relates to a paste tube dispenser having an elastomeric liner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art paste tube dispenser is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,303 issued Jan. 21, 1986. 
     Related patents include U.S. Pat. Nos.: 
     4,111,338, issued Sept. 5, 1978, 
     2,781,951, issued Feb. 19, 1957, 
     2,759,636, issued Aug. 21, 1956, 
     2,643,029, issued June 23, 1953, 
     2,537,008, issued Jan. 9, 1951, 
     2,535,671, issued Dec. 26, 1950, 
     2,515,440, issued July 18, 1950, 
     DES. 267,993, issued Feb. 22, 1983, and 
     DES. 204,050, issued Mar. 15, 1966. 
     The prior art paste tube dispenser includes, a base member having a rear support wall and first and second inner side walls, and includes a cover member hinged to the inner side walls and having a bottom wall and a top wall and first and second outer side walls and a front wall, said front wall and rear support wall and first and second inner side walls forming a variable-volume chamber in which a paste tube is disposed, said bottom wall having an opening which receives a neck of the paste tube for dispensing a portion of paste from the neck upon pressing the front wall towards the rear support wall. 
     One problem with the prior art paste tube dispenser is that it is difficult to dispense a selective amount of paste from the tube. Further, it is still more difficult to dispense a selective amount of paste from the tube as the tube approaches an empty condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a paste tube dispenser is provided. This dispenser comprises, a base member having a rear support wall and first and second inner side walls; a cover member having a bottom wall and top wall and first and second outer side walls and a front wall; first and second adjustable hinge means respectively connecting the first inner and outer side walls and the second inner and outer side walls; said front wall and rear wall and first and second inner side walls forming a variable-volume chamber in which a paste tube is disposed, said bottom wall having an opening which receives a neck portion of the paste tube; and first and second resilient liners disposed respectively between the paste tube and the rear wall and between the paste tube and the front wall, for gradually dispensing a portion of paste pressing the front wall towards the rear wall. 
     By using the first and second resilient liners disposed respectively between the paste tube and the rear wall and between the paste tube and the front wall, a spring rate is applied on the paste tube, as the front wall is pressed towards the rear wall, whereby the portion of paste can be more gradually dispensed. Also, by using the adjustable hinge means, the cover member can be adjustably positioned relative to the rear support wall, thereby reducing the depth of the chamber to suit the paste tube thickness, as the paste tube gradually approaches an empty condition, whereby the volume of the dispensed paste portion can be more accurately controlled. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantage will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paste tube dispenser according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view as taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view as taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view as taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a section view as taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view corresponding to FIG. 4, except with its cover in an open position; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation view corresponding to FIG. 4, except with its hinge means readjusted; 
     FIG. 10 is a second embodiment of a tube dispenser having a table rest support; 
     FIG. 11 is a third embodiment of a tube dispenser having a circular hinge pin and hole; and 
     FIG. 12 is a fourth embodiment of a tube dispenser having a circular hinge pin and spaced slots. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a paste tube dispenser 10 is provided. Dispenser 10 includes a support member 12, and a cover member 14, which together with the support member 12 forms a variable-volume chamber or space 16 (FIG. 7) therebetween. Dispenser 10 also includes first and second adjustable hinges 18, 20, and first .and second liners 22, 24. A paste tube 26, which has a neck portion 28 and a cap 30, is placed, when desired, within chamber 16. 
     Support member 12 has a rear wall 32, which is attached to a building wall or partition 33, or the like. Rear wall 32 has a hole 34, which receives a support screw 36, for mounting to a wood or plaster finish of wall 33. Rear wall 32 also has first and second adhesive strips 38, 40, for mounting to a tile finish of wall 33. Support member 12 also has first and second inner side walls 42, 44, and a bottom wall 46 which has an opening 48 that receives neck 28. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, cover 14 has a front wall 50, first and second outer side walls 52, 54, a bottom edge 56, and a top wall 58. Chamber 16 decreases in volume and in depth by an application of a force 60 which causes a torque on front wall 50. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9, hinges 18, 20 have first and second hinge pins or tabs 62, 64, which are fixedly connected to respective inner faces of outer side walls 52, 54. Pins 62, 64 have a profile, in a side view, which is rectangular in shape with rounded ends. Pins 62, 64 hold cover 14 in an open position, if desired. As shown in FIG. 8, a force 65, causes a torque on cover 14, to move cover 14 to a horizontal, open position. 
     Hinges 18, 20 have respective cutouts 66, 68 in respective walls 42, 44. Cutouts 66,68 are substantially identical, but opposite hand. Cutout 66 (FIG. 7) has a first or near slot 70 a second or middle slot 72, and a third or far slot 74. Slots 70, 72, 74 are vertical slots. Cutout 66 also has a horizontal slot 76. As shown in FIG. 8, cover 14 can be held in an open position by pin 64 and horizontal slot 76. Slot 74 and slot 72 can be used when tube 26 is full or nearly full. Slot 70 can be used when tube 26 is nearly empty, as shown in FIG. 9. Also, tubes of different thicknesses can be used in dispenser 10. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 9, liners 22, 24 are provided. Liner 22 has a concave inner surface 78. Liner 24 has a convex inner surface 80. Surfaces 78, 80 bear against and apply opposing forces or uniform pressures against opposite surfaces of tube 26. Liners 22, 24 are made of a resilient material such as a sponge material, or elastomeric material, or rubber-like material. Surfaces 78, 80 apply forces, or pressures, with about the same spring rate. Such forces act normal to the surfaces 78, 80 against tube 26, extruding paste portion 82. As tube 26 empties, pins 62, 64 can be moved from slot 74 to slot 72, and then to slot 70, as shown by comparing FIGS. 4 and 9. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, a second embodiment or dispenser 100 is provided. Parts of embodiment 100 which are the same as corresponding parts of embodiment 10 have the same numerals, but with a subscript &#34;a&#34; added thereto. Dispenser 100 has a support member 12a and a cover member 14a, which enclose a tube that has a neck 28a with a cap 30a. Support 12a has a foldable stand 102, which has a solid plate 104, that is attached to adhesive strip 38a, and that has corner recesses or return bends 106. Stand 102 also has a bent wire 108, which has vertical leg portions 110, 112, with bent ends 114, that are received in corner recesses 106. In use, dispenser 100 extrudes a paste portion in a direction 116 by the application of a force 118. Stand 102 rests on a table 120. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, a third embodiment or dispenser 130 is provided. Dispenser 130 has a left hinge (not shown) and a right hinge 132, which are identical, but opposite hand. Right hinge 132 has a circular hole 134, which is disposed in a support 12b, and has a circular pin 136, which is fixedly connected to a cover 14b. This type of hinge 132 is less costly to manufacture than hinge 20 of dispenser 10. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, a fourth embodiment or dispenser 140 is provided. Dispenser 140 has a left hinge (not shown) and a right hinge 142, which are identical, but opposite hand. Right hinge 142 has a near slot 144, a middle slot 146 and a far slot 148 in support 12c, and has a circular pin 150 which is fixedly connected to cover 14c. This type of hinge 142 is less costly to manufacture than hinge 20 of dispenser 10. 
     The advantages of dispenser 10, and dispensers 100, 130, 140, are indicated hereafter. 
     A) The difficulty of dispensing a selective amount of paste from tube 26 by each of the dispensers 10, 100, 130, 140 is minimized as compared to prior art. 
     B) The difficulty of dispensing a selective amount of paste from tube 26 by each of the dispensers 10, 100, 130, 140, while the tube 26 is in a nearly empty condition, is minimized. 
     C) Tubes of different thicknesses can be used in dispenser 10, 100, 130, 140. 
     D) Dispensers 10, 100, 140 have adjustable hinges such as 18, 20 for adjusting the inside depth between liners 22, 24. 
     E) Dispensers 10, 100, 130, 140 have liners 22, 24, which are resilient, and which have a selective spring rate, for gradually applying pressure according to the spring rate of the liners. 
     F) Liners 22, 24 permit a relatively slight pressure on cover 14 before an initial deflection is caused. 
     G) Liners 22, 24 apply a substantially uniform pressure over both sides of tube 26, when cover 14 is pressed, for deflecting the tube surfaces in a symmetrical fashion. 
     While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that changes may be made within the preview of the appended claims without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects.