Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container – Nonmetallic
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-07
2001-12-25
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
Nonmetallic
C222S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332560
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a collapsible dispensing tube and, more particularly, to a collapsible dispensing tube including exterior structure for securing the tube in various coiled positions.
As is well known, many types of viscous materials, such as gels, liquids, pastes and the like, are sold in flexible tubes having a sealed crimp at one end and a narrow nozzle at an opposite end with closing structure such as a valve or cap thereon. These tubes may be made from many materials, but a majority of them are made from flexible plastic via an injection molding process. The viscous material to be dispensed from the flexible tube is generally inserted in one end, and this end is then sealed to form an embossed, crimped end seal.
In order to expel the viscous material, the tube can be squeezed or otherwise deflected inwardly with the closure removed from the nozzle. For reasons of economy, it is preferable to exhaust the supply of material in a tube before discarding it. In this context, it has been found that coiling the tube or rolling the tube upon itself can most efficiently expel the material while preventing the material from migrating away from the cap end of the tube. There is a tendency, however, for the tube to uncoil, enabling the material to migrate while also encouraging users to squeeze the tube from the middle or top near the cap rather than more efficiently from the bottom.
There have been a number of attempts made to provide suitable clips and retaining clamps and the like for such tubes, but they are generally ineffective or overly complicated. There thus remains a need for a collapsible tube that includes structure for controlling the tendency of the tube to uncoil and yet is convenient to use and inexpensive to implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The solution according to the present invention incorporates a hook and slot arrangement on opposite sides of the collapsible tube. As the tube is coiled or rolled upon itself to expel the viscous material, the engaging elements on one side of the tube are brought into engagement with the slot on the opposite side of the tube and secured. Since a plurality of the engaging elements are arranged along a longitudinal axis of the tube, successive engaging elements from the crimped end of the tube toward the cap end of the tube are inserted into the slot with increased coiling or rolling of the tube onto itself. The hook and slot arrangement thus prevents the plastic tube from uncoiling and thus more efficiently dispenses the material from the tube.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a collapsible dispensing tube including a tube exterior surface comprises a slot formed in a first side of the tube exterior surface, and a plurality of engaging elements positioned on a second side of the tube exterior surface, opposite from the first side. The slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements securely when the second side of the tube exterior surface is rolled onto the first side of the tube exterior surface. Preferably, the slot and engaging elements are correspondingly sized such that the slot receives the engaging elements in a snap fit. The engaging elements may be formed integral with the tube exterior surface, and the slot may be formed integral with the tube exterior surface. The slot may comprise a substantially C-shaped groove in the tube exterior surface, wherein an opening of the substantially C-shaped groove is smaller than a width of the engaging elements. Preferably, the tube is formed of plastic.
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Bomberg Kenneth
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
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