Winding and securing device for flexible collapsible tubing containing viscous materials

Abstract

A one-piece, generally planar, key-like device for use with flexible, collapsible, tubes that contain viscous materials for extrusion through the open end of the tube. The device includes an elongated shaft portion having a opening disposed longitudinally therewithin for receiving the flattened end of the tube, and a handle for rotating the shaft and having locking means for securing the tube in the wound up condition. The closed, substantially flat end of the tube is inserted into the elongate slot and the handle rotated to wind up depleted portions of the tube after extrusion of viscous material from the open end of the tube. The handle locking means includes extensions overlapping the shaft portion on opposite sides for merging with the wound up tube portion to thereby secure the tube in the wound up position. The device may be left on the tube and will effectively prevent the viscous material remaining in the tube from flowing back into the emptied portion of the tube.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for aiding in extrusion of a viscous fluid from a collapsible flexible tube, said tube having a flattened closed end and an opening at the other end thereof from which said viscous fluid is extruded, said device comprising: 
 a unitary member including an elongated generally rectangular portion having a generally elongate longitudinal slot disposed therein for accepting said closed end of said tube; and    a handle portion for gripping and rotating said shaft portion to wind an initially partially depleted portion of said tube around said shaft, said handle portion including means for capturing and securing the tube in the wound up position.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said means for capturing and securing the tube in the wound up position includes extensions of said handle portion overlapping opposite sides of said elongated rectangular portion to thereby form concave cut outs in said handle.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  whereby said wound up tube is captured and secured by the wound up portion of said tube with said cut outs, said extensions serving to grip and hold said tube in the wound up condition.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said generally elongated rectangular portion extends from said handle portion in a substantially key-like configuration.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said device is substantially planar.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said device is manufactured from high impact poly-carbon plastic material by injection molding.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said device has dimensions of approximately {fraction (1/8)} inch in thickness and 3{fraction (1/16)} inch in length.  
     
     
         8 . A key-like device for aiding in extrusion of a viscous fluid from a partially depleted collapsible flexible tube, said device comprising: 
 means for constraining the uncapped closed end of the tube;    handle means for rolling up said partially depleted portion of the tube about said means for constraining the uncapped closed end of the tube; and    means in said handle means for locking said partially depleted rolled up portion after each use such that said partially depleted portion is segregated from any remaining contents of the tube.    
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said means for constraining the uncapped closed end of the tube is a generally elongated rectangular member extending from said handle means and having an elongate longitudinal opening disposed therein for accepting and constraining said closed end of said tube.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said handle means for locking said partially depleted rolled up portion includes extensions of said handle overlapping opposite sides of said elongated rectangular member.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said key-like device is of one piece generally planar high impact poly-carbon plastic material and is approximately {fraction (1/8)} inch in thickness and 3{fraction (1/16)} inch in length.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said slot is approximately 2¼ inch in length and ⅛ th  inch in width to accommodate a standard size toothpaste tube.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein said slot has curved end edges each having a radius of approximately 0.03125 inches.  
     
     
         14 . A device for aiding in extrusion of a viscous substance from a flexible, collapsible plastic tube or the like, said tube having an opening at one end thereof from which said viscous substance is extruded and an opposite closed end, said device comprising: 
 a substantially planar one piece key-like member including an elongated portion having an opening disposed longitudinally therein for receiving the closed end of said tube, and a handle portion for gripping and rotating said device;    said handle portion being positioned to rotate said device to wind up depleted portions of the closed end of said tube around said elongated portion; and having means for locking said tube in the rolled up position.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said handle locking means includes extensions of said handle portion overlapping opposite sides of said elongated rectangular portion to form concave cut outs in said handle, said wound up depleted portion engaged with said cut outs to hold said tube in the wound up position.  
     
     
         16 . A method of winding up the depleted portion of a flexible collapsible tube containing viscous material and having a flattened closed end and an opening at the other end for extruding said material, and securing the wound up depleted portion to prevent unwinding of the tube and re-flow of said material into the depleted tube portion, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a winding and securing device having an elongated generally rectangular portion and a handle portion for rotating said elongated portion, said handle portion having locking means for securing said wound up depleted portion;    engaging the depleted tube portion with said elongated generally rectangular portion,    rotating said handle to wind up said depleted portion around said elongated portion,    engaging said handle locking means with said wound up depleted portion to secure said wound up portion of said tube to prevent unwinding of said tube and re-flow of said material.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said elongated generally rectangular portion includes an elongate opening disposed therein configured for accepting said closed end of said tube.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said handle locking means includes extensions of said handle portion overlapping opposite sides of said elongated rectangular portion to thereby form concave cut outs in said handle.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of engaging said handle locking means with said wound up depleted portion includes merging the wound up portion of said tube with said cut outs, said extensions serving to grip and hold said tube in the wound up position.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said winding and securing device is of substantially key-like configuration manufactured as a single planar piece from high impact poly-carbon plastic material by injection molding with dimensions of approximately {fraction (1/8)} inch in thickness and 3{fraction (1/16)} inch in length, and said slot is approximately 2¼ inch in length and ⅛ th  inch in width to accommodate a standard size toothpaste tube