Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container – With wall-collapsing means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-02-13
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
With wall-collapsing means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186362
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device which conveniently extracts material from a tube. The invention is especially intended to remove extrudable substances such as toothpaste, ointments, creams, and the like, from the tubes in which such materials are packaged.
Toothpaste tubes and the like present the perennial problem of how to extract the contents of the tube cleanly and evenly, and without unduly distorting the tube or wasting its contents. One known solution is to roll the tube gradually, by hand, as the contents are used. This solution, while an improvement over randomly squeezing the tube by hand, is inconvenient, and, unless the operation is performed flawlessly, will usually result in waste of some of the material in the tube.
It has therefore been proposed to provide a pair of rollers, disposed on either side of the tube, wherein the rollers bear upon the tube and cause its contents to move upward, towards the opening. This solution achieves essentially the same result as rolling the tube by hand, but it has the advantage that the rolling is more mechanized. However, a practical means of implementing a roller-based device has not been shown in the prior art. The roller devices proposed in the past are too mechanically complex to be manufactured inexpensively and used conveniently. They are not easily attached to, and removed from, the tube.
The present invention solves the problems described above, by providing a device which comprises a pair of rollers which fit around a tube of material, but which can easily be removed and re-attached to the tube. The latter feature enables the device to be used on one tube until the contents are spent, and then to be transferred quickly to a new tube. The extractor of the present invention can squeeze virtually any material from a tube, including toothpaste, medicines, ointments, creams, hair colorings, and other substances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The extractor of the present invention includes four parts, namely two roller assemblies and two end caps. Each roller assembly includes a roller and two pairs of truncated balls, the balls being held to the roller by a neck. The balls are inserted in sockets defined by the end caps.
In one embodiment, the balls have slits which effectively divide each ball into two sections. The slits are constructed so that the sections of the ball can move towards and away from each other. The balls are made of a resilient material, so that, in the absence of an external compressive force, the sections tend to assume a spaced-apart position.
Each slit has a length which is greater than the implied radius of the ball, thereby allowing the sections of the ball to move back and forth without cracking. As the ball is inserted into the socket, through a chamfered section which guides the ball, the sections are compressed, and move together, thereby allowing the ball to be inserted fully into the socket. When each ball is fully inserted in its socket, there is no longer any compressive force acting on the ball, and the sections return to their normal position. The effect is to lock each ball within its socket. Nevertheless, it is still relatively easy to pull the ball and socket apart, without tools, because pulling the ball urges the sections against the interior wall of the socket, thereby pushing the sections of the ball together, and making it easy to move the ball through the end cap.
In another embodiment, the balls are not compressible, but the sockets instead have walls which resiliently deform when a ball is inserted. The result is the same as in the first embodiment. In both embodiments, the end caps are resiliently locked onto the balls.
Having only four separate parts, the extractor is easy to assemble and dis-assemble. It can be assembled first, and then advanced onto a tube, or it can be assembled in position on the tube, and then advanced. Movement of the extractor along the tube is accomplished by hand rotation of the rollers. The balls and sockets act as bearings for the rollers as they turn.
The extractor of the present invention insures that virtually all of the material in a tube will be used, and that the tube will remain neat and clean while in use. When the tube is empty, the extractor can be easily removed from the old tube and re-installed on a new tube.
The present invention therefore has the primary object of providing an extractor for emptying the contents of a tube of material.
The invention has the further object of maintaining a tube of material in a neat and clean condition while its contents are gradually removed.
The invention has the further object of providing an extractor for emptying the contents of a tube, in which a pair of rollers are conveniently journalled within sockets of an end piece.
The invention has the further object of providing an extractor for emptying a tube, wherein the extractor has only four parts, and wherein the extractor can be quickly and easily assembled and dis-assembled.
The invention has the further object of providing an extractor for a tube, the extractor having rollers which connect to end caps with ball and socket joints, and wherein the ball and socket includes means for facilitating entry of the ball into the socket.
The reader skilled in the art will recognize other objects and advantages of the present invention, from a reading of the following brief description of the drawings, the detailed description of the invention, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1773104 (1930-08-01), Johnson
patent: 1983462 (1934-12-01), Johnson
patent: 5131567 (1992-07-01), Lipsey
patent: 5167348 (1992-12-01), Okami et al.
patent: 5277335 (1994-01-01), Okani et al.
patent: 5372282 (1994-12-01), Barchus
patent: 466853 (1928-09-01), None
patent: 830828 (1952-01-01), None
patent: 444344 (1949-01-01), None
patent: 452153 (1949-10-01), None
patent: 620967 (1961-05-01), None
Derakshani Philippe
Eilberg William H.
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