Tidy tube stand with removable support member

Abstract

A tube stand has a base with an interior space for receiving a spent portion of a tube, a panel removably attached to the bottom of the base, and a sleeve removably attached to the cover of the base. The sleeve preferably has a pseudo-conical shape with a circular transverse cross-section at its top end and an elliptical transverse cross-section at its bottom end. The sleeve provides vertical support for the upper portion of the tube but is advantageously removed to allow the base to still neatly hold the tube in an accessible manner when it is nearly empty. An alternative embodiment uses a lid with wedge blocks having V-shaped ramp surfaces that guide the end of the tube into a slot, the ramp surfaces providing lateral support for the tube.

1 . A method of dispensing contents of a deformable tube having a closed end and an open end, comprising:
 inserting the closed end of the tube through a slot in a cover of a base;   removably attaching a sleeve to the base cover, the sleeve surrounding an upper portion of the tube; and   compressing the upper portion of the tube to expel the contents of the tube through the open end.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing the base on a surface, with the sleeve supporting the tube in an upright position. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is constructed of a flexible material, and the upper portion of the tube is compressed by squeezing the sides of the flexible sleeve. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising pulling the closed end of the tube from a bottom side of the slot until the upper portion of the tube is taut, and placing a spent portion of the tube within the base. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising removably attaching a panel to an open bottom of the base to contain the spent portion within the base. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising removing the sleeve from the base cover and squeezing an uppermost portion of the tube that was surrounded by the sleeve to expel additional contents of the tube. 
   
   
       7 . A tube stand comprising:
 a base having side walls, a cover, a slot formed in the cover, an open bottom, and an interior space for receiving a spent portion of a tube;   a panel removably attached to the bottom of said base; and   a sleeve removably attached to the cover of said base.   
   
   
       8 . The tube stand of  claim 7  wherein said sleeve is constructed of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       9 . The tube stand of  claim 7  wherein said sleeve is removably attached to the cover of said base using mating features which provide a releasable fit. 
   
   
       10 . The tube stand of  claim 7  wherein said sleeve has a circular transverse cross-section at its top end and an elliptical transverse cross-section at its bottom end. 
   
   
       11 . The tube stand of  claim 7  wherein said sleeve has a smaller inner diameter at the top than at the bottom. 
   
   
       12 . A tube stand comprising:
 a hollow base having a top opening; and   a lid removably attached to said base and covering the opening, said lid having a slot therein for receiving an expended end of a collapsible tube, and having at least first and second wedge blocks located on an upper surface thereof, said first and second wedge blocks being located on opposite sides of the slot and having inward ramp surfaces forming a V-shape whose apex coincides with the slot, said wedge blocks providing lateral support for the collapsible tube.   
   
   
       13 . The tube stand of  claim 12  wherein:
 said base is generally rectangular; and   said lid is generally rectangular and has a deck along a lower surface thereof which provides a friction fit with inner walls of said base.   
   
   
       14 . The tube stand of  claim 12  wherein said wedge blocks are integrally molded with said lid.