TUBE SQUEEZING APPARATUS
The present invention is related to a self-operating apparatus that facilitates taking products like cleansing, health care, food stuff, etc. of high viscosity such as paste/cremes out of their conventional containers.
In prior art, brushing teeth requires first taking tooth paste tube from its location among many brushes without droping the rest to open tube cap with one hand holding still handle of the brush; while locating the cap in hand to some place or holding the same between teeth, to squeeze tube from its bottom by difficulty; to locate the cap to its former site while endeavouring to keep paste taken out of tube container over the bristles after tooth paste is dispensed. All of these operations take quite lot of a time and further requires a skill. Such difficulties, even if indirectly, bring about stumbling blocks in front of tooth brushing habit. Especially children face hardship in acquisition of such an habit as it requires overcoming many difficulties.
Furthermore, the habit of squeezing tooth paste container exhibits difference which varies from person to person. Failing to squeeze tube properly, omission to close caps or failing to recap the tubes failing to locate tubes to their former places cause especially clash to occur in places of common living. Tubes left in this way open form a pollution to view.
In addition to such difficulty in use, pastes from tubes left open or half closed run out and /or become dry as time passes by. This in neither economical nor hygenical.
Tubes squeezed from their middles or askew make it difficult their contents being taken out especially when tubes come close to their depletion and as a result some amount of paste is reluctantly left unutilized at their bottoms. As paste remaining in tube bottom is wasted this further cause a burden to national and family economy.
Another problem in the prior art is the fact that one comes in touch with tooth paste, especially with the cap of a tube, and that cap falling down to washbasin or to the floor.
Facts mentioned in connection with tooth paste tubes are also valid for all tubes containing high viscosity products such as shaving creams, ointements used in the treatment of skin-related and other diseases.
Various suggestions have been made in the art to offer solution to such problems. For instance, pump operated tubes were offered as an alternate to conventional containers bring no advantage for handling. Moreover, opening tube cap and closing the same and making the tube cap operative when paste in tube turns dry is much harder. Especially children are at a disadvantage as tubes are big for their hands and they have to grapple with tubes when squeezing the same is intended. Furthermore, the gravity center of tubes slips upwards as paste at tube bottom diminishes as a result of usage, in consequence of which the tube increasingly becomes unbalanced.
5,845,813 U.S. patent discloses a product operated by an electric motor. The invention ensures paste being taken out after tooth paste tube is squeezed between a plate and a rotary cylinder. Because of the electric motor, this is a costly product.
5,449,092 and 5,868,282 U.S. patents also disclose setups which are hand-turned and move downward on a grooved guide to squeeze tube and make certain that paste comes out.
In the state of the art, 5,449,742 U.S patent describes a product where paste tube is squeezed between a cylinder pushed downwards on two guides having circular notches by means of a handle capable of being moved upwards and downwards and a plate to let paste in tube to go off. Such guides cause costs to rise.
4,550,982 U.S. Patent, a tube in a housing with inlet facing upwards is squeezed at the bottom by means of a spring to deliver paste. However, it proves itself difficult to
produce such spring-loaded apparatus and their lifetime has shown itself to be too short.
In U.S. patent 4.548,337, an apparatus is disclosed where a push button operated air pump enables increasing pressure in an isolated compartment, as an upshot of which paste squeezed is let off.
In the German patent application 196,03,359, paste located in a cylinder by means of a piston connected to a screwed handle is forced to go out from a hole at the bottom. Discharge of the paste from tube to cylinder is not hygienic.
4,570,829 U.S. Patent discloses a setup operating by means of a complex system of hinges. On the other hand, 5,2711,529 U.S. patent mentions a apparatus which enables squeezing tube by means of a plate pushed forward by a handle.
The object of the present invention is to provide a self-operating apparatus which allows faster opening of tube cap and closing of the same automatically after use.
Another object of the present invention is to realize a non-electrical easy to use apparatus for tube squeezing.
Another object of the invention is to realize an apparatus for squeezing tubes enabling taking out the entire content of the same.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for squeezing tubes in an hygienic, aesthetical way, with ease of manufacturing, of a simple structure at low- cost.
Apparatus for squeezing tubes developed to realize these objects invention is shown in the drawings attached, where
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tube squeezing apparatus
Figure 2 is the side view indicating how a new tube is located in an apparatus for squeezing tubes.
Figure 3 is the top view of tube cap.
Figure 4 is the side view of the squeezing tubes apparatus.
Figure 5 is the side view of inner pieces of the tube squeezing apparatus.
Figure 6 is the closs sectional view showing the operation of the tube squeezing apparatus.
Figure 7 is the front view showing various applications of the apparatus tube squeezing apparatus.
All pieces shown on attached drawings are numbered as follows :
1. Apparatus for tube squeezing
2. Upper body
3. Lower body
4. Carrier
5. Spring
6. Plate
7. Hood
8. Cap
9. Pin
10. Tube
11. Window
12. Pushing point
13. Pusher
14. Pin Holder
15. Insert
16. Tail piece
17. Arm
18. Extension means
19. Side member
20. Arm holder
21. Step
22. Screw hole
23. Handle
24. Discharge outlet
25. Scoop
26. Screw
27. Nut
28. Projection
29. Brush holder
30. Brush
Apparatus for tube squeezing (1), which is the subject of this invention, used in taking out high viscosity products such as pastes/cremes easily comprises a lower body (3) in the form of half-cylinder, a spring (5) located in such lower body, a carrier (4) extending outwards from the inside of the lower body to form a housing to a tube (10) located upside down and with inlet left open, pushed towards the lower body by the spring, a cap (8) attached to the lower body on the condition that it is situated below the carrier with arms outside that lower body, to close the open inlet of the tube by being pushed thereto by means of the spring, an upper body (2) attached from its upper part to the top of the lower body as such to turn around a pin (9), having a form of half cylinder and a window (11) in front to attain to tube inlet, which enables pulling the cap from below of tube inlet by means of pushers (13) located in the inner face when pushed forward and makes certain that paste comes off the tube when this latter is squeezed between itself and the lower body (Figure 1).
The lower body (3) consists of a top section in the form of half cylinder widening downwards and of side members (19) in the form a plate extending downwards in parallel with each other from the sides of that top section. Bottom diameter of the body widens downwards so that the front face of the lower body becomes slanted. The tube hinges upon that slanted surface. When passing from cylindirical portion of the lower body to lower section with flat surface, a step (21) takes place inwards, which form the area where the pusher located in the inner surface of the upper body and arms (17) of the cap moved by that pusher are operational. Below the step, in front of plates, there are holders (20) for arms to which the cap will be attached by arms. These holders are in the form of a lateral P letter with head of the letter looking backwards. From one of its tips, these holders open outwards. In this way, the cap (8) is easily removed and mounted for cleaning. In the front of the lower body, a screw holder (22a) is present to enable fixing the spring and the carrier. On both sides of
this holder, there are pin holder (14b) to attach pin around which the upper body turns.
The rear part facing wall of the lower body may be closed with an appropriate plate (6) of suitable form. This plate may be fixed onto wall using screw holes, may be hanged or may be affixed by adhesives.
The top section of the lower body (3) may be closed using a hood (7) to provide a more aesthetical view and to clean the apparatus easily.
The spring is a convex band preferably in vertical plane. It is fixed from inside to the lower body (3) by means of screw holder (22c) located at its tip.
The carrier (4) comprises a handle (23) in the form of a band having a specific elasticity, extending between the side members (19) of the lower body and a scoop (25) extending outwards the side members vertical to that handle. In the middle of this part, there exists a discharge outlet (24) in the form of a truncated cone pointing down. This scoop of discharge outlet corresponds to the neck part of the tubes. The lower diameter of the discharge outlet is sized to allow the insertion of tub orifice. By means of a screw holder (22b) located at its upper part, the carrier may also be fixed from inside to the lower body (3).
The cap (8) comprises an insert (15) preferably in the shape of hemisphere of a size that allows tube orifice extending downwards from discharge outlet on the carrier to seat. One extension means (18) raising vertical to the surface from rear parts of the cap's two side walls and extending by making a curve with vertical downwards from these extension members and arms (17) formed each of a projection extending parallel to these extension means are in Z form. At the rear of the cap, there is a tail piece (16) having a curved face extending downwardly. This tail piece rests on the lower tip of the spring (5). This latter pushes the cap outwards by means of curved face of the tail piece. (Figure 3 )
The upper body(2), in turn, is located to be able to rotate around the pin axis (9) from pin holders (14a) placed in the top section of that body. The bottom diametre of the upper body is extended downwards to provide upper body front surface with a slant greater than that provided to the front face of the lower body. In this way, the gap between the upper body and the lower body increases downwards; this gap has the form required for locating a tube upside down. Moreover, as the rear edges of the upper body form with the vertical an angle of 5 to 30 degrees, the upper body does not hit wall when moving.
On the inner side surfaces of the upper body, there are two pushers (13) resting reciprocally onto outwards extending projections of the arms extending outwardly. These pushers may be either in the shape of a small projection or each of them in the form of a lateral strip. In the front of the upper body, there is, a window (11) to take paste from the orifice of the tube by insertion of a brush. Below this window, there is a push point (12) from where the upper body is pushed forward. To ensure that minimum strength is applied for tube squeezing, the said point is preferably located at the lowest tip of the upper body ( Figures 4 and 5).
The apparatus for tube squeezing of this invention may be made of wood, or metals, but preferably plastics being cheap and suitable for production in series.
In the apparatus for tube squeezing of the invention a pin in the shape of a single piece cylinder extending from one pin holder to the other (14a) is used. However, two pieces of soldered screws or nails may be used as well.
In another embodiment of the apparatus for tube squeezing of the present invention, one or more holders (29) are present for locating tooth brushes (30) to the sides of the device.
In another embodiment of this invention, to make tooth brushing enjoyable for children various sound and light effects may be added. Beside these, by way of adding animation elements such as brows, eyes, mouth, ears, it is possible to produce an apparatus that look like the ( Figures 7a to 7d) popular characters.
For mounting the device for tube squeezing first of all spring and carrier are placed one after the other and fixed from inside by means of screws to lower body. Next to this, the cap is attached to arm holders situated at the lower body side members. The upper body is established onto lower one by a pin passing through this latter. Finally, the hood and the plate are mounted to complete operation. Under such circumstances, the scoop of the carrier pushed forward by spring extends outwards between lower body's side members, and the cap pushed by spring stands below the scoop.
The apparatus for squeezing tubes may be fixed stationary onto walls, on boards, or onto any flat surface at a height close to shoulder of the user by fixing with screws or adhesives.
To locate tubes into apparatus for squeezing tubes, it is sufficient to raise the upper body upwards and to install tube into discharge outlet of the carrier with care to place tube upside down and to set tube orifice into holder present on the cap and finally to lower upper body. (Figure 2)
In the course of using the apparatus for squeezing tubes, first the brush is inserted inside the window and some pressure is applied in the direction "A" from push point onto upper body by the other hand. This latter pressure causes the upper body to turn around the pin. The pressure thus applied is conveyed to the cap by the medium of pushers made operational in the space below the cascade. The cap turning downwardly around its extension members leaves the tube's orifice. With the pushing continued, the carrier bends backwards and paste comes off from the tube which is squeezed between the lower and upper bodies. After the paste is taken on the brush the upper body is set free. As the upper body becomes free, the cap is pushed outwardly by the spring resting on the tail piece. Finally, the cap closes the orifice of the tube (Figure 6).
When required, the cap may be cleaned by removing from the lower body.
By means of the apparatus for squeezing tubes of this invention, the user does not have to look for the tube, does not have to open or close the cap and can easily use the apparatus. This apparatus facilitates handicapped people to reach tooth paste under suitable conditions. Furthermore, the irksome appearance of tooth paste tubes with cap removed and left open, half squeezed, with contents run out are definitely eliminated. Particularly, when furnished with effects such as sound and light and toys, children will love to tooth brush. Furthermore, the apparatus for squeezing tubes is easy and economical to manufacture due to its simple structure.