Toothpaste tube having an integral flip-up end cap

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a tube to dispense a pair of liquids, such as, for example, different colored gels or pastes that are combined to form a toothpaste to be applied to a toothbrush. First and second exit ports from which the pair of liquids are dispensed communicate with first and second fluid chambers that are created by a partition wall that extends completely across the interior of a hollow tube body. A flip-up end cap is integrally connected to the tube body by means of a thin, flexible hinge so that the end cap is rotatable from a closed position at which to cover the first and second exit ports to an open position at which the exit ports are uncovered. A pair of exit port closures project from the flip-up end cap to be received within and block respective ones of the first and second exit ports when the end cap is rotated to the closed position.

1 . A tube comprising:
 a hollow tube body in which to store and from which to dispense a liquid, said hollow tube body having a closed top and a closed bottom;   at least a first exit port extending through said closed top to communicate with the interior of said hollow tube body and from which the liquid stored within said hollow tube body is dispensed;   an end cap integrally connected to said tube body and carried therewith as an inseparable unit; and   a flexible hinge coextensively extending between said end cap and said tube body so that said end cap is rotatable from a closed position over said closed top at which to cover said first exit port extending therethrough to an open position off said closed top at which said first exit port is uncovered.   
   
   
       2 . The tube recited in  claim 1 , wherein said end cap has a first exit port closure projecting therefrom, said first exit port closure sized to be received within and block said at least first exit port when said end cap is rotated to the closed position over the closed top of said hollow tube body. 
   
   
       3 . The tube recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a partition wall extending across the interior of said hollow tube body to create first and second internal chambers in which to store and from which to dispense first and second liquids. 
   
   
       4 . The tube recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a second exit port extending through the closed top of said hollow tube body, said first exit port communicating with said first internal chamber at the interior of said hollow tube body from which the first liquid is dispensed, and said second exit port communicating with said second internal chamber from which the second liquid is dispensed. 
   
   
       5 . The tube recited in  claim 4 , wherein said end cap also has a second exit port closure projecting therefrom, said first exit port closure sized to be received within and block said first exit port, and said second exit port closure sized to be received within and block said second exit port when said end cap is rotated to the closed position over the closed top of said hollow tube body. 
   
   
       6 . The tube recited in  claim 3 , wherein said partition wall extends across the interior of said hollow tube body so as to lie between said first and second exit ports. 
   
   
       7 . The tube recited in  claim 3 , wherein said partition wall has a curved configuration across the interior of said hollow tube body. 
   
   
       8 . The tube recited in  claim 3 , wherein said hollow tube body and said partition wall are manufactured from a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       9 . The tube recited in  claim 8 , wherein one end of each of said hollow thermoplastic tube body and said partition wall are crimped and melted together to create a heat seal by which to form the closed bottom of said tube body. 
   
   
       10 . The tube recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a recess formed in said hollow tube body below said closed top thereof, said recess being sized to receive the thumb of a user so that a lifting force can be applied to cause said end cap to rotate at said flexible hinge from the closed position to the open position. 
   
   
       11 . A tube comprising:
 a hollow tube body having a closed top and a closed bottom;   a partition extending across the interior of said hollow tube body to create a plurality of liquid chambers in which to store and from which to dispense a corresponding plurality of liquids;   a plurality of exit ports extending through said closed top to communicate with respective ones of said plurality of liquid chambers at the interior of said hollow tube body from which the liquids stored in said plurality of liquid chambers are dispensed;   an end cap integrally connected to said tube body and carried therewith as an inseparable unit; and   a flexible hinge coextensively connected between said end cap and said tube body so that said end cap is rotated from a closed position over said closed top at which to cover said plurality of exit ports to an open position off said closed top at which said plurality of exit ports are uncovered.   
   
   
       12 . The tube recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of exit port closures projecting from said end cap and sized to be received within and block respective ones of said plurality of exit ports when said end cap is rotated to the closed position over the closed top of said hollow tube body.