Toothpaste Dispenser

The invention relates to a dispenser for toothpaste and like viscous substances contained in tubes, and referred to hereinafter generally as toothpaste. More particularly, the invention provides a toothpaste dispenser operated by a hand lever to dispense, with each operation of the lever, a metered quantity of paste (e.g. a sufficient quantity to cover a toothbrush) from a standard toothpaste tube or the like.

In a preferred form of the invention, the dispenser is integrated in a portable wall unit adapted to receive standard toothpaste tubes, so that the unit may be installed in a convenient location in a bathroom and the like, and be readily dismantled when a tube is empty, so that a fresh tube can be fitted. The wall unit may be constructed to simulate a tooth- brush.

Acknowledgment is made of the following U.S. patents pertaining to fluid dispensers:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,832; Dec. 4, 1962

U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,242; Mar. 17, 1981

U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,133; Sept. 14, 1982

U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,268; Sept. 20, 1982

A toothpaste dispenser in accordance with one aspect of the invention comprises a dispensing duct of compressible resilient material, preferably a high-memory plastic, having an inlet end adapted to attach to the neck of a standard toothpaste tube and an outlet end through which paste is dispensed, a lever-operated plunger means for compressing the dispensing duct responsive to movement of the lever in one direction and releasing the duct responsive to movement of the lever in the reverse direction, and valve means internally of the duct preventing flow of paste other than through the outlet end when the tube is compressed, and preventing flow of paste through the outlet end while allowing paste to be received from the toothpaste tube through the inlet end when the duct is released. The dispenser operates with a pumping action, dispensing a charge of paste when the duct is compressed and drawing in a fresh charge of paste into the duct by suction when it is released and expands to its uncompressed normal cross-section. The length of the dispensing duct which is compressed is a factor in governing the quantity of paste dispensed with each stroke of the plunger.

The dispenser may preferably be integrated into a conveniently formed portable unit having an elongate compartment adapted to receive an inverted toothpaste tube, and a dispenser compartment at the base of the elongate compartment in which is housed the dispensing duct, the plunger, and the remainder of the dispenser mechanism, with the operating lever projecting through a slot in the top of the dispenser compartment. The unit may be formed to simulate a toothbrush with the elongate compartment constituting the toothbrush handle portion, and the dispenser compartment constituting the toothbrush bristle portion.

Further features of the invention include, for example, the provision of spring loaded pivotal pressure doors which apply lateral pressure to the dispensing duct when it is released by the plunger, to promote and assist in reversion of the duct to its normal cross-section, thereby enhancing the pumping action of the dispenser, and a sliding cap for the outlet of the dispensing duct, the cap being operated by the lever so as to open the outlet on pumping strokes of the plunger and slide over the outlet when the lever is released in a manner slicing off paste which has been dispensed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toothpaste dispenser in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the dispenser.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line 7--7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, of the lower part of the dispenser illustrating the operation thereof.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the rear panel of the dispenser.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pressure door.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a resilient dispensing duct.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention provides a toothpaste dispenser 10 in the form of a wall unit simulative of a toothbrush. The unit comprises a front casing 14 which interfits with a rear panel 16 as will be described, both of which may be molded in lightweight plastic. The rear panel may be provided with self-adhesive tabs 18 or the like, for securing the unit on a bathroom or like wall. Internally, the casing defines an upper elongate compartment 20 (see FIG. 3) for a standard size toothpaste tube 22, and a lower compartment 24 containing the dispenser operating mechanism. The upper compartment 20 is defined by a part of the casing 26 simulating the toothbrush handle portion, and the lower compartment is defined by a part of the casing 28 defining the toothbrush bristle portion. A handle 30 of a operating lever extends from a slot 31 in the top wall of casing part 28, and an outlet nozzle 32 covered by a sliding cap 34 is provided in the front wall of casing part 28. When the lever is pulled down, cap 34 is raised and a metered amount of toothpaste from tube 22 is dispensed through the nozzle. When the lever is released, it is returned automatically to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the cap 34 is lowered thereby slicing off the paste which has been dispensed.

In order to replace used toothpaste tubes, casing 14 may be detached from the rear panel 16. To this end, the casing and rear panel have a hinge connection at the bottom of the unit defined by a bar 36 on the panel and a mating journal 38 on the casing, while at the top of the unit rear panel 16 has a jaw 40 which mates with a resilient snap-in jaw 42 formed internally of the casing. A pushbutton 44 in the top wall of the casing releases the jaws.

Within compartment 24, casing 14 carries a mounting plate 46 with an opening receiving the upper inlet end of a disposable resilient dispensing duct 48 of inexpensive high-memory plastic, for example, the duct having a vertical upper portion 50 and an angled lower portion 52. The diameter of the duct is such that it can receive the threaded neck of a standard toothpaste tube. In use, tube 22 is thus threaded into the upper end of duct 48 and the weight of the tube is supported by plate 46. Plate 46 may be suitably secured in slotted bearings 47, 49 or the like in opposite sidewalls 23, 25 of compartment 24. The angled lower portion 52 of duct 48 is held in a support block 54 on base 56 of the casing and the outlet end 58 of the duct is received in outlet nozzle 32. Internally, duct 58 includes a pair of diaphragm-type one-way check valves 60, 62 in spiders 64, 66, the valves each being oriented to allow fluid flow through the duct in the direction toward the outlet nozzle, but preventing flow through the duct in the reverse direction.

Block 54 also provides front and rear guides 68, 70, (See FIG. 8) for a plunger 72 adapted to be moved up and down by a lever 74 (to which handle 30 is attached) so as to alternately compress and relax the duct 48 to provide a pumping action effective to dispense metered amounts of paste from tube 22 as will be described. Lever 74 has a pair of limbs 76, 78 which straddle block 54 and which are pivoted at the base of the block by a pivot pin 80. A link 82 is pivotally connected between the lever and plunger 72, so that when the lever is moved clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3, to the position shown in FIG. 8, the plunger is depressed thereby compressing the angled portion 52 of duct 48. When the lever 74 is released, it returns to the initial position shown in FIG. 3 under the influence of a return spring 84 connected between lever 74 and link 82, thereby raising the plunger and allowing duct 48 to expand to its original cross-section. When duct 48 is compressed by the plunger, valve 62 allows paste within the duct to be forced through nozzle 32 while valve 60 prevents the paste from being forced back into the tube 22. When the plunger is raised and the duct expands to its original cross-section, thereby creating a vacuum within the duct, valve 60 allows paste from tube 22 to be drawn into the duct by suction, while valve 62 prevents outside air from being drawn into the duct. Thus, the plunger and duct provide a pumping action whereby a metered quantity of paste is dispensed with each downward stroke of the plunger. The quantity of paste dispensed is dependent on the length of the plunger and the plunger stroke. Thus, in practice, the plunger length and stroke (which may be controlled by the length of slot 31) are interrelated in order to provide metered dispensing of the required amount of toothpaste.

In order to promote return of the duct to its original cross-section, when the plunger is raised, the apparatus includes a pair of pressure doors 86, 88 pivotally mounted on block 54 on opposite sides of angled portion 52 of duct 48, by means of pivot pins 90, 92. The doors have curved inner surfaces 87, 89 (FIGS. 4 and 11) which engage the duct, and the doors are urged inwardly by convergent spring arms 94, 96 of springs 98, 100 secured by the pivot pins (see FIGS. 4 and 7). When the plunger descends to compress the duct, spring arms 94, 96 are cammed outwardly by the limbs 76, 78 of lever 74 so that the doors offer substantially no resistance to lateral expansion of the duct. Then, when the lever is released and returned, thereby raising the plunger, the spring arms are released and urge the doors into engagement with the duct to squeeze it back into its original shape. A crossbar 77 is provided between limbs 76, 78 to support the limbs and prevent their bending inwardly.

The apparatus also includes a mechanism operated by lever 74 for raising and lowering cap 34. The cap is formed as a dependency from a slide 102 secured against the front wall of casing 28 by a bracket 104. A pivoted link 106 connects the slide to one end of a lever 108 pivoted at its opposite end to plate 46. Lever 74 carries a cam pin 110 disposed in engagement with a downwardly inclined cam surface 112 of lever 108 (see FIGS. 3 and 8). Thus, when lever 74 is operated to depress plunger 72, it also raises lever 108 thereby raising cap 34. The disposition of the cam surface 112 is such that cap 34 is raised before paste is dispensed from nozzle 32. A spring 114 is connected between slide 102 and pins 116, 118 associated with block 54 (see FIG. 9) so that when lever 74 returns to the FIG. 3 position, spring 114 lowers slide 102 and cap 34. The cap has a sharp bottom edge 35, and the cap slides over the face of nozzle 32. Thus, when the cap is lowered, it effectively slices of toothpaste which has been dispensed from that remaining in the apparatus.

Lever 74 may be operated repeatedly to dispense metered quantities of paste until tube 22 is empty. Then, the tube may be readily replaced by removing the casing of the unit from the rear panel. The unit may be configured to accept, medium or large size toothpaste tubes. The dispensing duct may also be readily removed and replaced if required.

Dispensers in accordance with the invention provide reliable and sanitary dispensing of toothpaste in an effective and economical manner. The sliding cap provides effective severing of the dispensed paste and the cap and nozzle surfaces allow for efficient cleaning away of paste by wiping with a toothbrush or the like. The dispensing duct is of a sanitary disposable design, and the apparatus can be adapted for use with diverse commercially available toothpaste tubes. The configuration of the dispenser lends itself to ready application and removal from a bathroom wall, and the device may be readily dismantled and reassembled when replacing toothpaste tubes. Effective positive-action metered dispensing is provided by the combination of the dispensing duct, plunger and pressure doors, and the entire apparatus may be incorporated in a unit which lends itself to production in an eye-catching esthetically pleasing simulation of a toothbrush article.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.