Toothpaste Tube and Dispenser

Abstract

There is a toothpaste tube with flexible wall that deforms under atmospheric pressure. One end of the tube is closed and the other end has a head attached with an opening for dispensing. Inside the tube at the head there is a resilient dispensing member extending along a small fraction of the tube length. The dispensing member has a cavity to accommodate the paste. In the first embodiment, the dispensing member has two prongs extending from the head on the two flatter sides of the tube. The dispensing member can be squeezed together with the tube by hand or between fingers to reduce the size of its cavity and dispense the paste through the opening. Upon release of hand or finger pressure, the dispensing member returns to the original shape and brings its adjacent part of the tube into original shape. The expansion of the dispensing member and the tube adjacent to it creates a vacuum that pulls the paste from the farther parts of the tube and fills the cavity and the tube at the opening end. The tube deforms uniformly under atmospheric pressure and will be ready for next dispensing. In the second embodiment, the dispensing member is a thin wall tube. In the third embodiment, the tube wall near the head is made thicker or more resilient than the rest of the tube and functions as the dispensing member.

1 . A paste tube and dispenser comprised of:
 a flexible tube containing paste having a head with an opening at one end for dispensing the paste and closed at the other end, the tube deforms under atmospheric pressure,   a resilient dispensing member near the opening, the dispensing member has a cavity to accommodate a portion of the tube or paste,   the dispensing member can be squeezed together with the tube by hand or between fingers to reduce the size of its cavity and dispense the paste through the opening,   upon release of hand or finger pressure, the dispensing member returns to the original shape and brings its adjacent part of the tube into the original shape,   the expansion of the dispensing member and the tube adjacent to the dispensing member creates a vacuum that pulls the paste from the farther parts of the tube and fills the cavity or tube at the opening end,   the atmospheric pressure deforms the tube uniformly to compensate for the reduction in volume of paste inside the tube,   the tube will be automatically ready for the next squeezing and dispensing the paste.   
   
   
       2 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member is inside the paste tube. 
   
   
       3 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member is attached to the outside surface of the paste tube. 
   
   
       4 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member is an extension of the head. 
   
   
       5 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member is attached to the head. 
   
   
       6 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the head is also the dispensing member. 
   
   
       7 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member is a tube. 
   
   
       8 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the tube wall near the head is thicker or is more resilient than the rest of the tube and functions as the dispensing member. 
   
   
       9 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member has two flaps at opposite sides of the paste tube wall. 
   
   
       10 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing member has a U shape with a hole in the middle for paste flow. 
   
   
       11 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the middle part of the dispensing member is attached to the tube head and the two sides of the dispensing member face opposite sides of the tube wall. 
   
   
       12 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the opening has restricted area to control dispensing and prevent excessive suction of paste from the head opening. 
   
   
       13 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the opening is additionally provided with a one way valve which opens outwardly from the tube. 
   
   
       14 . A toothpaste tube and dispenser comprising:
 A tube containing toothpaste, having a flat closed end and open end,   a head attached to the open end to reduce tube opening to a smaller size and allow attachment of a closing cap,   a resilient dispensing member at or near the head, the dispensing member has a cavity to accommodate a portion of the tube or paste,   the dispensing member can be squeezed together with the tube by hand or between fingers to reduce the size of its cavity and dispense the paste through the opening,   upon release of hand or finger pressure, the dispensing member returns to the original shape and brings its adjacent part of the tube into the original shape,   the expansion of the dispensing member and the tube adjacent to the dispensing member creates a vacuum that pulls the paste from the farther parts of the tube and fills the cavity or tube at the opening end,   the atmospheric pressure deforms the tube uniformly to compensate for the reduction in volume of paste inside the tube,   the tube will be automatically ready for the next squeeze and dispensing the paste.   
   
   
       15 . The toothpaste tube and dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the dispensing member is integrated with the paste tube. 
   
   
       16 . The toothpaste tube and dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the dispensing member is an extension or attachment of the head. 
   
   
       17 . The toothpaste tube and dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the dispensing member has two opposing walls adjacent to the tube wall. 
   
   
       18 . The toothpaste tube and dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the dispensing member has a tubular wall. 
   
   
       19 . The paste tube and dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the tube wall near the head is thicker or is more resilient than the rest of the tube and functions as the dispensing member.