Mechanical dispenser and method for dispensing a fluent material

Abstract

A mechanical dispenser includes an elongated housing, first and second longitudinal racks, and an extruder. The housing is adapted for receiving and storing a fluent material. The first rack resides in the housing and incorporates a first series of spaced teeth. The second rack is located adjacent to the first rack in the housing, and incorporates a second series of spaced teeth. The second rack is slidably movable relative to the first rack. The extruder is located within the housing, and is adapted for rectilinear movement along the first rack. The extruder has first and second hinged pawls for engaging respective first and second racks. Upon movement of the second rack relative to the first rack from a first position to a second position, the first pawl of the extruder operatively engages a selected tooth of the first rack while the second pawl slides over a tooth of the second rack, thereby maintaining a first position of the extruder on the first rack. Upon return movement of the second rack to the first position, the second pawl operatively engages the tooth of the second rack while the first pawl slides over and engages an adjacent tooth of the first rack, thereby advancing the extruder on the first rack to a second position such that fluent material stored in the housing is urged towards one end of the housing and dispensed.

1 . A mechanical dispenser, comprising:
 an elongated housing adapted for receiving and storing a fluent material;   a first longitudinal rack residing in said housing and comprising a first series of spaced teeth;   a second longitudinal rack located adjacent to said first rack in said housing, and comprising a second series of spaced teeth;   said second rack being slidably movable relative to said first rack;   an extruder located within said housing and adapted for rectilinear movement along said first rack, and said extruder having first and second hinged pawls for engaging respective first and second racks, whereby:   upon movement of said second rack relative to said first rack from a first position to a second position, the first pawl of said extruder operatively engages a selected tooth of said first rack while the second pawl slides over a tooth of said second rack, thereby maintaining a first position of said extruder on said first rack; and   upon return movement of said second rack to the first position, the second pawl operatively engages the tooth of said second rack while the first pawl slides over and engages an adjacent tooth of said first rack, thereby advancing said extruder on said first rack to a second position such that fluent material stored in said housing is urged towards one end of said housing and dispensed.   
   
   
       2 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second hinged pawls comprise resilient springs. 
   
   
       3 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 1 , and comprising means for biasing said second rack in the first position. 
   
   
       4 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein said biasing means comprises a resilient spring. 
   
   
       5 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 1 , and comprising a pivotable handle operatively engaging said second rack to move said second rack from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       6 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said first rack and said housing are integrally formed together as a single unit. 
   
   
       7 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said extruder defines a tube-receiving slot adapted for receiving a closed end of a squeezable tube containing the fluent material. 
   
   
       8 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second racks comprise respective sets of spaced teeth, each set comprising four lines of teeth extending respectively from one end of said housing to the other. 
   
   
       9 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein said extruder comprises first and second sets of hinged pawls, each set comprising four pawls operatively engaging respective lines of teeth formed with each of said first and second racks. 
   
   
       10 . A mechanical dispenser according to  claim 1 , and comprising a removable spout located at one end of said housing. 
   
   
       11 . In combination with a squeezable tube containing a fluent material, a mechanical dispenser comprising:
 an elongated housing for receiving and storing said tube;   a first longitudinal rack residing in said housing and comprising a first series of spaced teeth;   a second longitudinal rack located adjacent to said first rack in said housing, and comprising a second series of spaced teeth;   said second rack being slidably movable relative to said first rack;   an extruder located within said housing and adapted for rectilinear movement along said first rack, and said extruder defining a tube-receiving slot through which a closed end of said tube is inserted;   said extruder having first and second hinged pawls for engaging respective first and second racks, whereby:   upon movement of said second rack relative to said first rack from a first position to a second position, the first pawl of said extruder operatively engages a selected tooth of said first rack while the second pawl slides over a tooth of said second rack, thereby maintaining a first position of said extruder on said first rack; and   upon return movement of said second rack to the first position, the second pawl operatively engages the tooth of said second rack while the first pawl slides over and engages an adjacent tooth of said first rack, thereby advancing said extruder on said first rack to a second position, and squeezing said tube such that fluent material stored in said tube is urged towards an open end of said tube and dispensed.   
   
   
       12 . A combination according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second hinged pawls comprise resilient springs. 
   
   
       13 . A combination according to  claim 11 , and comprising means for biasing said second rack in the first position. 
   
   
       14 . A combination according to  claim 13 , wherein said biasing means comprises a resilient spring. 
   
   
       15 . A combination according to  claim 11 , and comprising a pivotable handle operatively engaging said second rack to move said second rack from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       16 . A combination according to  claim 11 , wherein said first rack and said housing are integrally formed together as a single unit. 
   
   
       17 . A combination according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second racks comprise respective sets of spaced teeth, each set comprising four lines of teeth extending respectively from one end of said housing to the other. 
   
   
       18 . A combination according to  claim 17 , wherein said extruder comprises first and second sets of hinged pawls, each set comprising four pawls operatively engaging respective lines of teeth formed with each of said first and second racks. 
   
   
       19 . A combination according to  claim 11 , and comprising a spout removably attached to the open end of said tube. 
   
   
       20 . A method for dispensing a fluent material contained in a squeezable tube, said method comprising the steps of:
 inserting the squeezable tube into a housing of a mechanical dispenser;   locating an extruder of the mechanical dispenser at a closed end of the squeezable tube;   actuating the mechanical dispenser to urge the extruder in a direction towards an open end of the squeezable tube; and   as the extruder advances towards the open end of the squeezable tube, dispensing the fluent material contained in the squeezable tube.