Device for squeezing tubes of paste
Unite States Patent 1 Leeson 51 Apr. 29, 1975 [76] Inventor: George Joseph William Leeson, 86  
 Caroline St., South Yara, Victoria, Australia, 3141 22 Filed: June 4,1973  
  21 App1.No.:366,976  
 [52] US. Cl 222/100; 222/105 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 35/34 [58] Field of Search 222/100, 99, 97, 98, 101, 222/391, 336, 102, 95; 192/415, 12 BA [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,968,578 7/1934 Tulin 222/100 X 2,104,954 1/1938 Stanton 1 222/100 2,542,571 2/1951 Rakestraw 222/100 2,570,204 10/1951 Cambell, Sr. 229/98 X 2,639,059 5/1953 Durham... 222/98 3,006,508 10/1961 Preidel 222/98 3,327,825 6/1967 Fann 192/12 BA X 3,365,956 1/1968 Koch 192/12 BA 3,378,123 4/1968 Papa, Jr 192/12 BA X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 589.176 12/1959 Canada 222/99 373,804 8/1939 ltaly 222/102 Primary E.\aminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant E.taminerChar1es A. Marmor Attorney, Agent, or FirmCushman, Darby &amp; Cushman [57] ABSTRACT A device for squeezing the contents from tubes of paste including a mandrel about which a tube is wound to expel the contents therefrom. A frame is provided for rotatably supporting the mandrel so that the mandrel is rotated when an actuating member is rotated via drive and clutch springs which cooperates with the mandrel and the actuating member. A pressure member is supported in a position in advance of the mandrel so that when the mandre1 is rotated, the tube will be pressed against the pressure member to thereby assist in squeezing the contents from the tube. Upon release of the squeezing pressure of the pressure member on the tube, the tube casing relaxes to thereby create a suction force for forcing the paste proximate the opening of the tube back into the tube.  
 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR SQUEEZING TUBES F PASTE This invention relates to a device for squeezing the contents from tubes of paste, and more particularly relates to a device which squeezes the bottom portion of the tube forcing the contents towards, and outwardly through, the outlet of the tube.  
  The invention is particularly applicable to squeezing toothpaste from tubes therefor.  
  Many devices have been produced for squeezing toothpaste from tubes, however, one disadvantage with the known devices is the tendency to squeeze too much, or too little, paste, from the tube during any particular actuation of the device, while after the squeezing pressure is released, pressure built up within the contents of the tube tends to cause a small amount of paste to exhaust through the outlet of the tube if the closure is not applied to the tube immediately after use.  
  It may therefore be an object of the present invention to provide a device for squeezing the contents from tubes of paste, including a control mechanism whereby at each actuation of the device a predetermined quantity of paste will be squeezed from the tube.  
  The invention may therefore envisage a device for squeezing the contents from tubes of paste, including a mandrel or key about which, in use, a tube is wound to expel the contents therefrom, means rotatably supporting the mandrel, actuating means for rotating said mandrel, and combined drive and clutch means cooperating with said mandrel and said actuating means to allow only a predetermined amount of rotation of said mandrel each time the device is actuated.  
  By limiting the amount of rotation of the mandrel to a particular value each time the device is actuated, the amount of paste expelled from the tube will be substantially constant.  
  Preferably the combined drive and clutch means includes a stop means cooperating with said actuating means for limiting the amount of movement thereof and thus the amount of rotation transmitted to said mandrel.  
  Preferably the combined drive and clutch means includes a drive coil spring looped around said end of said mandrel having one free end retained by said actuating means which when rotated in one direction causes said spring to tighten about said end of said mandrel to impart rotational movement thereto, and whereby upon reversal of said actuating means said spring releases its grip on said end of said mandrel to allow rotation of said spring and actuating means about said mandrel.  
  Preferably the stop means is a lug fixed with respect to said supporting means, and said actuating means includes a slot of predetermined length adapted to receive said lug.  
  Preferably said slot is provided in the circumferential edge of a flange provided on, and integral with, said actuating means and surrounding said mandrel.  
  Preferably a holding coil spring is provided between said mandrel and a sleeve also surrounding said mandrel, said holding coil spring having a free end retained by said sleeve, whereby operation of said actuating means and transmission of rotation to said mandrel, said mandrel is free to rotate within and relative to said sleeve, but upon return rotation of said actuating means in the opposite direction said holding coil spring will tighten about said mandrel to hold it fixed with respect to said supporting means via said sleeve.  
  Preferably a return spring is provided between said actuating means and said sleeve to allow rotation of said actuating means in the opposite direction after actuation of said device to return said actuating means to its original position.  
  Preferably the means supporting said mandrel includes a pair of upstanding support walls spaced apart from each other and including holes therethrough for supporting said mandrel at a pair of spaced positions adjacent opposed ends thereof.  
  Preferably the mandrel is adapted to be slid axially into position in said support walls to be releasably retained therein.  
  Preferably the mandrel is releasably retained by means of a resilient tab on the end of said mandrel remote from said actuating means which cooperates with one of said holes in said support walls.  
  Preferably the pressure member is a pressure bar fixedly supported by said pair of supporting walls in said position in advance of said mandrel to extend parallel therewith.  
  Preferably the upstanding support members are interconnected by a bridging portion formed integrally therewith which bridging portion includes provision for attaching said device to a flat surface.  
  The provision for attachment may be holes for receiving screws, bolts or the like. Alternatively the provision for attachment may be by means of an adhesive pad of the type where a cover strip is removed initially to reveal an adhesive surface for attachment to a horizontal or vertical surface.  
  One form of the invention which may be preferred will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a side elevation of this preferred form of the invention,  
  FIG. 2 is an end elevational view in the direction of arrows 22 of FIG. 1,  
  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 33 of FIG. 1,  
  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 44 of FIG. 1, but also showing a tube of paste in the device,  
  FIG. 5 is an end elevational view in the direction of arrows 55 of FIG. 1,  
 FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1,  
  FIG. 7 is an exploded longitudinal view of the mandrel, drive, clutch and actuating means of this preferred embodiment, and  
  FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 6.  
  Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, the device generally indicated as 10, includes a support body having a base portion 11 and a pair of opposed upright support walls 12 and 13. the base portion 11 has applied to its under surface an adhesive layer (not shown) for attaching the device to a flat surface such as a wall or bench top.  
  The provision for attachment may alternatively be a plurality of holes 5 receiving attachment screws, bolts, or the like as illustrated in FIG. 6.  
  Upstanding support wall 12 includes a hole 14 therethrough for receiving one end of a mandrel 15 to be later described. Upstanding support wall 13 also includes a hole 16 therethrough for supporting the opposite end of the mandrel 15.  
  A pressure bar 17 is also provided between the side walls 12 and 13 and fixed with respect thereto. This pressure bar as will be evident from later description assists in supporting and guiding a tube of paste while it is being wound onto the mandrel 15 and applying pressure thereto to assist in squeezing the paste therefrom and due to its cooperation with the tube of paste allows for the creation of a pressure lower than atmospheric in the tube after release of the squeezing pressure.  
  The mandrel 15 is hollow for a large proportion of its length and includes a longitudinally extending slot 18 communicating with the interior of the mandrel l and opening through one end of the mandrel. The end of the slot opening through the end of the mandrel is widened at 19 to allow the crimped end of a tube of paste to be slid axially into the slot with the crimped end portion receive in the interior of the hollow mandrel l5. Rotation of the mandrel winds the tube about it and causes the contents of the tube to be pushed towards, and outwardly through, the outlet from the tube at the top thereof.  
  To allow the mandrel to be withdrawn, so as to allow a tube to be inserted or removed, the mandrel is capable of being axially withdrawn from the supporting body. In order to allow the mandrel 15 to be retained in position in the supporting body against normal axial forces during operation, a small tab 20 is formed by providing an axially extending slit 21 in the end of the mandrel 15 adjacent the widened entrance 19 to the slot 18. The tab is normally bent slightly radially outwardly from the line of the surface of the mandrel 15 to prevent the mandrel from being withdrawn unintentionally. The axial force applied to insert or withdraw the mandrel forces the tab 20 into line with the surface of the mandrel as it bears against the edge of the hole 14 in the support wall 12.  
  The mandrel 15 is caused to rotate about its axis by means of an actuating member 22 connected via a combined drive and clutch mechanism 23 (see FIG. 7) to a solid end portion 24 of the mandrel 15 (see FIG. 7). The actuating member 22 includes an outwardly extending lever portion 25 and actuating button 27, with an inner portion 26 cooperating with the combined drive and clutch mechanism 23 and a flange portion 28 housing the combined drive and clutch mechanism with an intervening step 29 to enable gripping when the assembly is withdrawn from the device.  
  Referring particularly to FIG. 7, the combined drive and clutch mechanism 23 comprises a holding coil spring 30 adapted to be received around the solid portion 24 of the mandrel 15, a holding sleeve 31 having a longitudinal slot therein for receiving a free end 32 of the holding spring 30. The slot extends generally tangential to the inner surface of the sleeve 31 and the free end 32 of the spring 30 is doubled back to effectively cause the bulk of any forces applied to the spring to be tensional forces rather than shear forces. The holding sleeve 31 also includes a lug 33 adjacent one end for receipt within a notch 34 in the hole 16 in the end wall 13 of the support body to hold the sleeve fixed with respect to the support body.  
  The flange portion 28 of the actuating member 22 includes a notch 36 (see FIG. 8) extending a short distance circumferentially around the flange 28 which in the assembled condition receives the lug 33 on the holding sleeve 31. The combined drive and clutch mechanism 23 also includes a drive spring 37 also adapted to be received around the solid portion 24 of the mandrel 15. The drive spring 37 is received within the flange 28 of the actuating member 22, with the free end 38 of the spring 37 received within a slot 35a in the inner wall of the inner portion 26 of the actuating member 22 similar to the slot 35 in the holding sleeve 31 with both the slot and free end being angled to apply tensional rather than shear forces to the drive spring 37. When the unit is assembled, the lug 33 is received within the slot 36 in the flange 28 as previously mentioned and moves from one end thereof to the other, to thereby confine movement of the actuating member 22 to within the limits of the length of the slot 36 thus confining the rotation of the mandrel to being within those limits.  
  Within the inner portion 26 of the actuating member 22 adjacent the outer end thereof there is provided a circumferentially extending deformable rib which engages in a corresponding notch 39 around the end 24 of the mandrel 15 to hold the mandrel 15, actuating member 22 and drive and clutch assembly 23, in the assembled condition and closing the end of inner portion of the actuating member 22 by the integral button 40 on the end of the mandrel.  
  A return spring 41 is provided surrounding the drive spring 37 between the holding sleeve 31 and the actuating member 22, and in the assembled condition is within the flange portion 28 of the actuating member 22. The ends of the spring 41 are received in holes 42 and 43 in the holding sleeve and member 22. The effect of the return spring 41 is that it will become tensional during actuating of the actuating member 22 when rotating the mandrel 15, and upon release of the actuating member 22 will serve to return the member to its normal position.  
  The operation of the device is as follows. With the lever of the actuating member 22 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, downward movement in the direction of arrow A causes the drive spring 37 to be drawn tightly about the end portion 24 of the mandrel 15 to transmit drive thereto. The slot 36 on the flange 28 of the actuating member 22 is at the position shown in FIG. 8 with one end of the slot 36 adjacent the lug 33 on the holding sleeve 31, and the actuating member 22 will continue imparting rotation to the mandrel until the other end of the slot contacts the lug 33 at which point, since the sleeve 31 is held fixed with respect to the support body due to the receipt of the lug in the notch 34, further rotation of the actuating member 22, and thus the mandrel 15, is prevented.  
  Upon the release of pressure on the lever of the actuating member 22 it returns under the action of the return spring 41 to its initial position as shown, while the drive spring 37 releases its grip about the end portion 24 of the mandrel 15, allowing the drive spring 37 and the actuating member 22 to rotate relative to the mandrel 15. During this return movement the mandrel is fixed with respect to the support body by means of the holding spring 30 which cooperates with the fixed holding sleeve 31 and tightens around the end portion 24 of the mandrel 15 as it tends to move back with the actuating member 22, to thereby hold the mandrel fixed relative to the support body during the return motion.  
  With particular reference to FIG. 4 which shows a tube of paste 44 within the device for descriptive purposes, during each increment of rotation of the mandrel the tube is wound about the mandrel 15. The combined action of winding onto the mandrel and the reaction pressure of the pressure bar 17 forces the contents from the tube 44. Upon release of the squeezing pressure a slight backlash in the mechanism of the device allows a release of some of the bearing pressure imposed by the pressure bar 17 thus relaxing the tube and producing some back pressure in the contents of the tube causing the portion of paste at the opening of the tube to be drawn back into the tube. This is of some advantage in preventing direct exposure of the contents and eliminate the necessity to position the cap on the tube between uses. One particular alternative to the use of a holding spring 30 may be the substitution of a racket and pawl arrangement.  
  The components of the device may be produced from any suitable metal or plastics materials, except for the driving spring 37, the holding spring 30, and the return spring 41, which are of normal metal coil spring materials.  
 I claim:  
 l. A device for squeezing the contents from tubes of 20 paste, including a mandrel about which, in use, a tube is wound to expel contents therefrom, means for rotatably supporting the mandrel, actuating means for rotating said mandrel, a drive spring positioned about said mandrel and having a free end fixed with respect to said actuating means, said drive spring gripping and rotating said mandrel a predetermined amount each time said actuating means is actuated, means for resetting said actuating means by returning said actuating means and said drive spring to their original positions after said actuating means is released, a holding spring also positioned about said mandrel and having a free end fixed with respect to said means for rotatably supporting said mandrel, said holding spring gripping said mandrel to restrain the mandrel against movement while said actuating means and said drive spring are being returned to their original positions, and a pressure member having a curved surface at the point of engagement with the tube being supported at a position in advance of the mandrel wherein upon rotation of said mandrel to wind said tube thereabout the tube will be brought into pressure engagement with said pressure member but upon cessation of said rotation of said mandrel the tube is free to tend to move away from pressure engagement with the pressure member and the tube casing is free to relax to allow creation of a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure in said tube wherein a portion of the paste at the opening of said tube is forced back into said tube under the action of the higher atmospheric pressure externally of said tube.  
  2. The device of claim 1 wherein said resetting means includes a return spring having one end secured to said actuating means and having a second end fixed with respect to said means for rotatably supporting said mandrel.  
  3. The device of claim 2 further comprising stop means cooperating with said actuating means for limiting the amount of movement of said actuating means and thus the amount of rotation transmitted to said mandrel.  
  4. The device of claim 3 wherein said stop means is a lug fixed with respect to said supporting means and wherein said actuating means includes a slot of predetermined length adapted to receive said lug, the movement of said actuating means being limited by the walls of said slot impinging upon said lug.  
  5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means supporting said mandrel includes a pair of upstanding support walls spaced apart from each other interconnected by a bridging portion which bridging portion includes provision for attaching the device to a flat surface, and wherein said support walls include holes therethrough for supporting said mandrel at a pair of spaced positions adjacent opposed ends thereof, and wherein said mandrel is adapted to be slid axially into position in said support walls to be releasably retained therein.  
  6. A device claimed in claim 5, wherein the mandrel is releasably retained by means of a resilient tab on the end of said mandrel remote from said actuating means which cooperates with one of said holes in said support walls.  
 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 1 3,880,328 DATED pril 9, 975  
 INVENTOR(S) 1 George Joseph William LEESON It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:  
 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data August 11, 1972 Australia PB 00 42 Signed and Scaled this Thim&#39;eth Day Of January I979 DONALD W. BANNER RUTH (T. MASON Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks