Tube clip with retainer for collapsible tubes

Abstract

A tube clip is designed to be attachable to collapsible tubes having a discharge nozzle at the top end and a permanent closure at the bottom end. To attach the tube clip to the collapsible tubes, a V-shape clamp of the tube clip is compressed by the pressure of the fingers to grip the permanently closed bottom end of the collapsible tube. The closed jaw of the V-shaped clamp of the tube clip prevents the collapsible tube from sliding out of the tube clip. For easy dispensing of the tube contents, the bottom end of the collapsible tubes will be rolled up around the tube clip with two protruding clasps, and then the two protruding clasps will be folded over the newly coiled emptied end portion of the collapsible tube to keep the coiled emptied end portion from unwinding. The two protruding retainer clasps are opened, before each roll up, and folded over the newly coiled emptied end portion of the collapsible tubes as the contents of the tubes are continuously dispensed, usually in small amounts at a time.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to tube clips for collapsible tubes dispensing various viscous materials such as toothpaste, medicines, ointments, paint pigments, glues, creams of various types, etc., wherein the tube clips include a retaining means for the emptied flattened end portion of the collapsible tubes.

2. Prior Art

Collapsible tubes have generally been used to package various viscous materials such as toothpaste, medicines, ointments, paint pigments, glues, creams of various types, etc., for the efficient dispensing of the tube contents by simply applying manual pressure to the tube. When the collapsible tubes are made of thin plastic or elastic materials, the emptied flattened tube end cannot be kept rolled up or folded as the contents are dispensed. Thus, the fluent tube contents inevitably flow back into the emptied end portion of the tubes as the pressure is removed from the tubes. This process normally results in the entrapment of a portion of the tube contents in the pockets when the tubes are presumably empty, and eventually result in wasting a portion of the contents.

During the past several decades, various suggestions and designs have been advanced for dispensing the contents of the collapsible tubes more efficiently. Most of these prior art devices involve cumbersome apparatus for which the costs of producing such apparatus far exceed the potential benefits to be gained therefrom. Still others, with simpler designs, concentrate on a set of particular requirements associated with a specific product like a toothpaste tube, and thereby deprive them of general applicability to other collapsible tubes with different physical dimensions. This invention, therefore, seeks to improve upon some of the suggestions that have previously been advanced to create a tube clip that can be used for a variety of collapsible tubes.

The patent search process for this invention identified a total of thirty-three (33) U.S. patents issued in the general category of collapsible tube dispensers that are of portable types. Only thirteen (13) of the thirty-three (33) U.S. patents make any reference to retaining or manipulating the emptied flattened portion of collapsible tubes. Therefore, these thirteen (13) U.S. patents are considered directly relevant prior art devices from the technical perspective of the present invention.

As the contents of collapsible tubes are dispensed, the tubes normally tend to flatten wherever squeezed. Some of the earlier inventions attempt to manage the flattening process of the tubes and guide the flattened portion of the tubes into an enclosed retainer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,359 issued to Piggush sets forth a COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SUPPORT AND COILER comprising an elongate channel. An elongate slotted key receives the closed end of the tube into the channel and a pair of oppositely divergent walls compress the tube walls as the tube is drawn into the channel by rotation of the key. The invention is characterized by the provision of open ends for the channel so that the key and spent collapsible tube may be withdrawn for replacement of the tube without dismantling the invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,314 issued to Elias, et al. sets forth a DEVICE FOR SQUEEZING AND WINDING COLLAPSIBLE TUBES for winding the emptied tube portion. A pair of jaws are squeezed together manually by the user and the emptied portion of the collapsible tube is wound on a key extending into a cylindrical cavity within the tubular portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,496 issued to Davidson sets forth a APPLICATOR CLAMP FOR A DISPENSING TUBE having a unit body including a pressure plate terminating in an open-ended retainer tube, and a throated opening adapted to progressively receive flattened end portions of the dispensing tube projected through one end of the retainer tube and anchored therein. Manual pressure applied to the plate into the dispensing tube extrudes the stored material through the outlet.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,782 issued to Meinerding, et al. sets forth a CONTENTS-SAVER PLASTIC DISPENSING TUBE having a resilient means such as a rubber band attached to the bottom of the tube to prevent the bottom of the tube from unwinding after it has been wound up.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,823 issued to Sparr sets forth a SPLIT CLIP FOR FOLDED COLLAPSIBLE TUBE having a longitudinally slotted sleeve constructed of stiff, but slightly resilient material. The one end of the sleeve may be longitudinally advanced into engagement with a reversely folded flattened portion of a collapsible tube in order to prevent fluent material within the non-flattened end of the tube from returning to the flattened end portion thereof when the non-flattened end is squeezed to express additional fluent material therefrom.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,380 issued to Schuckmann sets forth a DEVICE FOR EMPTYING TUBES providing two resilient members protruding upwardly to form a V-shape. The tube is drawn into the V area and flattened to expel material by manual pressure applied to opposite sides of the members. This pressure acts to reduce the volume of the V area, with the corresponding collapse of the tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,144 issued to Sundstrom sets forth a RETAINER CLIP FOR FLEXIBLE TUBE comprising a rectangular body having a slot for insertion of the sealed end of the tube. The clip includes a rotatable holder on each side thereof adapted to gripping and holding folded flat segment of the tube in a neatly arranged position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,093 issued to Zeller sets forth a TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER having a base plate and a shorter cover plate connected at their back ends by a hinge. Pressure on the cover plate dispenses toothpaste from a portion of the tube until that portion is substantially flat. The flattened portion is then doubled over and the tube repositioned in the dispenser. The flattened portion is thereby sealed against reentry of toothpaste, and pressure on the cover plate now dispenses from the next higher portion of the tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,987 issued to Liberatore sets forth an APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CONTENTS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF having a reel rotatably mounted within a cylinder. The cylinder has a slot for receiving therethrough the closed end of the tube and the reel has a passageway for receiving therein the same closed end. The cylinder and reel each have a knob with indicator thereon radially aligned with the slot and passageway, respectively. A user aligns the slot and passageway using the indicators allowing the tube end to be easily inserted.

U.S. Pat. No.5,442,839 issued to Miller sets forth a CONTROL CLIP FOR USE WITH A TOOTHPASTE TUBE comprising an integrally attached front and back member. The front member terminates in an inwardly depending lip which, when engaging the edge of a fold made in the emptied part of the tube, prevents the coil from unfolding and the tube from slipping from the clip.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,221 issued to Conlee sets forth a FLEXIBLE TUBE END-LAP RETAINER comprising a one-piece device having a particular configuration so as to fit snugly over the end of a collapsible tube. During the normal use process, a toothpaste user will lap or fold the bottom end of the tube when the tube becomes partially depleted. This lapping process forces the remaining paste upward toward the top of the tube for easy dispensing of its contents. The end-lap retainer device is attached to the laps or folds, holding them firmly in place, thereby preventing any unlapping or back flow of the contents when pressure is applied to the tube during dispensing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,967 issued to Souza sets forth a COMBINATION HOLDER AND SQUEEZING DEVICE FOR TUBE DISPENSERS having a pair of angularly related generally planar plates that are joined to each side to form a diverging angle between the plates. A conventional container/dispenser such as a toothpaste tube is received between the plates and extends therebeyond such that the closed end and a flattened portion of the tube passes through the opening and is coiled within the barrel portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,737 B1 issued to Condon sets forth a SQUEEZABLE TUBE CLIP AND RETAINER providing a tube clip for use with flexible wall dispensing tubes to aid in the dispensing of the tube contents. The tube clip includes a body having a slot in which the closed end of the tube is received so that movement of the body along the tube squeezes the tube to displace the tube contents toward the tube cap. The tube clip body includes a retainer for retaining that portion of the tube which has been squeezed and emptied, and the retainer permits the emptied tube end to be folded and tucked under the retainer to maintain the tube of a concise configuration and shape as it is used.

While the foregoing prior art devices perform basic functions to extrude the contents of collapsible tubes and manage the emptied flattened portion of the tubes, none of those devices can produce the same results independent of specific products for which they are designed. In summary, none of the foregoing devices can be used as a universal tube clip for collapsible tubes in general.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION—OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES

It is, therefore, the primary objective of this invention to provide a tube clip that is of simple construction and applicable to a variety of collapsible tubes without being constrained by dimensional specifications of a particular product. That is to create a tube clip that can be used as a universal tube clip for a variety of collapsible tubes.

It is also an objective of this invention to provide a tube clip that can easily be attached to the permanently closed end of any collapsible tubes just by the pressure of the fingers.

It is likewise an objective of this invention to provide a tube clip with a means to retain the emptied end portion of collapsible tubes in a rolled-up or coiled compact configuration.

Another objective is to produce a tube clip in one piece without any moving parts.

Lastly, it is also an objective of this invention to provide a tube clip whose normal operations will allow one hand manipulation to expel the contents of collapsible tubes.

The combination of the foregoing objectives has led to the development of a tube clip with a means to retain the emptied end portion of collapsible tubes that is of simple construction and readily applicable to a variety of collapsible tubes of various dimensions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a tube clip with retainer for collapsible tubes comprises a unit body of simple construction with a V-shape clamp for attachment of the tube clip to the permanent closure end of the collapsible tubes, and two protruding retainer clasps extending from the both ends of the V-shape clamp for holding the coiled emptied end portion of the collapsible tubes in a compact configuration. The V-shape clamp is designed to grip the permanently closed end of the collapsible tubes by the pressure of the fingers to attach the tube clip to the tubes. As the contents of the tubes are dispensed, the emptied end portion of the tubes is rolled up around the tube clip toward the nozzle end of the tubes. The protruding retainer clasps are opened, before each roll up, and folded over the newly coiled emptied end portion of the collapsible tube in a compact configuration to keep the coiled emptied end portion from unwinding. This process of opening and folding the protruding retainer clasps is repeated as the contents of the tubes are continuously dispensed usually in small amounts at a time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objectives and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a tube clip with a V-shape fastening clamp,

FIG. 1A shows a plan view of a tube clip pattern showing an embodiment of a plurality of retainer clasps and a V-shape fastening clamp,

FIG. 1B shows a cross sectional view of a V-shape fastening clamp,

FIG. 2 shows a tube clip with two fastening flaps,

FIG. 3 shows a tube clip with two fastening hooks,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a collapsible tube having a tube clip attached in accord with the invention,

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a tube clip illustrating the retainer clasps still open following a roll-up,

FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a tube clip illustrating the retainer clasps folded over a tube to keep the coiled emptied end portion of a collapsible tube from unwinding, and

FIG. 7 shows an elevational view of a collapsible tube having a tube clip in place retaining the coiled emptied end portion in accord with the invention.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

1  Tube clip
2  V-shape fastening clamp
3  Fastening flaps
4  Fastening hooks
5  Retainer clasps
6  Collapsible tube
7  Coiled emptied end portion
8  Permanent closure end
9  Nozzled top end
10 Removable cap
11 Upper plate of V-shape fastening clamp
12 Lower plate of V-shape fastening clamp
13 Planar base plate

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the invention is embodied in a simple unit body indicated in perspective view of a tube clip 1 with a V-shape fastening clamp 2 and retainer clasps 5 for collapsible tubes 6. The upper plate 11 of the V-shape fastening clamp 2 is to be pressed downward to the lower plate 12 to keep the tube clip 1 in engagement with the permanent closure end 8 of the collapsible tube 6. FIG. 1A shows how the V-shape fastening clamp 2 and the two retainer clasps 5 are constructed as extensions of the planar base plate 13. The upper plate 11 of the V-shape fastening clamp 2 is formed as an extension of the planar base plate 13, and is lifted and bent toward the lower plate 12 of the V-shape fastening clamp along the dash line, which becomes the hinge line for the V-shape fastening clamp 2. FIG. 1B displays a cross-sectional view of the tube clip 1 highlighting the V-shape fastening clamp 2.

FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of the tube clip 1 in an alternative embodiment with two fastening flaps 3. The number and width of fastening flaps 3 may vary depending on the size of the collapsible tube 6 but pressing down individual fastening flaps 3 to grip the permanent closure end 8 of the collapsible tube 6 can be more expedient than the aforementioned V-shape fastening clamp. Another embodiment in FIG. 3 sets forth a perspective view of the tube clip 1 with two fastening hooks 4. This embodiment is suitable for collapsible tubes of smaller dimension.

In FIG. 4, the tube clip 1 is attached to the permanent closure end 8 of the collapsible tube 6. Removal of the removable cap 10 provides access to the interior of the collapsible tube whereby the content thereof may be discharged through this capped nozzle by squeezing the collapsible tube 6 by the fingers. The collapsible tube 6 is permanently closed at the bottom end 8 opposite of the nozzled top end 9.

FIG. 5 shows the emptied flattened bottom end 7 rolled-up around the closed V-shape fastening clamp 2 with the protruding retainer clasps 5 still open.

In FIG. 6, the protruding clasps 5 are folded around the emptied flattened bottom end 7 in a rolled-up compact configuration. Once the rolled-up portion 7 of the collapsible tube 6 is tightly locked, the user can easily apply manual pressure anywhere on the collapsible tube 6 to expel the tube content with one hand. As the tube content is progressively depleted, the user can place the collapsible tube 6 on a flat surface and open the retainer clasps 5 to roll up the coiled bottom end 7 of the collapsible tube 6 toward the nozzled top end 9. As the tube content is sufficiently compressed toward the nozzled top end 9 of the collapsible tube 6, the user can now fold the retainer clasps 5 around the coiled emptied end 7 portion of the tube before dispensing the tube content. This process of opening and folding the retainer clasps 5 around the coiled emptied end portion 7 of the collapsible tube 6 is to continue as the tube content is progressively depleted usually in small amounts at a time.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail may be made to the embodiments without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tube clip designed for collapsible tubes of the type containing various viscous materials, said collapsible tubes having a discharge nozzle at one end and a permanent closure at the other end, comprising:

a) a planar base plate with an attachment means to engage with the permanent closure end of said collapsible tubes;

b) a plurality of protruding retainer clasps extending from two opposite ends of said planar unit plate to retain the rolled-up emptied end portion of said collapsible tubes; and

c) in combination, said planar base plate, attached to the permanent closure end of said collapsible tubes, is progressively rolled up in a direction toward said discharge nozzle for continuously dispensing, usually in small amounts at a time, the stored material through said discharge nozzle while said protruding retainer clasps are opened, before each roll up, and folded over the newly coiled emptied end portion of said collapsible tubes to keep the coiled emptied end from unwinding.

2. A tube clip of claim 1 wherein said planar base plate is bounded by rectilinear edges.

3. A tube clip of claim 1 wherein said planar base plate is bounded by curvilinear edges.

4. A tube clip of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises one or more flaps extended along the bottom edge of said planar base plate.

5. A tube clip of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises one or more hooks extended along the bottom edge of said planar base plate.

6. A tube clip designed for collapsible tubes of the type containing various viscous materials, said collapsible tubes having a discharge nozzle at one end and a permanent closure at the other end, comprising:

a) a V-shape clamp, generally horizontal traverse plates, attachable to the permanent closure end of said collapsible tubes;

b) a plurality of protruding retainer clasps extending from the both side ends of said V-shape clamp to retain the rolled-up emptied end portion of said collapsible tubes; and

c) in combination with said V-shape clamp, attached to the permanent closure end of said collapsible tubes, the emptied end portion of said collapsible tubes is progressively rolled up in a direction toward said discharge nozzle for continuously dispensing, usually in small amounts at a time, the stored material through said discharge nozzle while said protruding retainer clasps are opened before each roll up, and folded over the newly coiled emptied end portion of said collapsible tubes to keep the coiled emptied end from unwinding.