Apparatus and method for open thread, reusable, no-waste collapsible tube dispensers with control ribs and/or detent

Abstract

At least one collapsible tube for containing at least one product, comprising: external flexible thread form on flexible throat coupled to flexible shoulder. The flexible throat and flexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all the contained product. The flexible shoulder may include a raised detent for stopping a cap and/or raised flexible ribs to control the direction of flattening the flexible shoulder. At least one cap for the collapsible tube including an interior bulge or an interior rim, both for urging an included interior thread form to engage with an external flexible thread form included in the flexible throat, and further including a lower surface to engage with the raised detent, and/or internal ribs and/or internal posts to engage with the raised flexible ribs. Manufacturing methods for the collapsible tubes and caps, and these items as products of the manufacturing processes.

1 . A collapsible tube for containing at least one product, comprising: an external flexible thread form on a flexible throat coupled to a flexible shoulder; wherein said flexible shoulder comprises a raised detent near the widest circumference of said flexible shoulder that stops a cap when twisted onto said flexible throat at a final position;
 wherein said external flexible thread form mates with an internal thread form, included in said cap, urging said flexible throat to seal against said cap when said cap is twisted onto said flexible throat; wherein said external flexible thread form further comprises: at least two external open threads; and   wherein said flexible throat and said flexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all of said product.   
   
   
       2 . The collapsible tube of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said flexible shoulder mating to a collapsible tube body;   wherein said flexible throat and said flexible shoulder flatten with said collapsible tube body to dispense essentially all of said product.   
   
   
       3 . The collapsible tube of  claim 1 , further comprising: said flexible shoulder mating to itself. 
   
   
       4 . The collapsible tube of  claim 1 , wherein said raised detent comprises: a raised rim near said widest circumference sufficient to create a barrier to said cap turning beyond when said cap is in said final position. 
   
   
       5 . The collapsible tube of  claim 1 , wherein said raised detent comprises at least one gap for engaging with a bump on said cap to create a cue indicating to a user that said final position has been reached. 
   
   
       6 . The collapsible tube of  claim 1 , wherein said contained product is a member of the group consisting of a pharmaceutical product, a personal care product, a paint product, a toothpaste, a food product, a glue product, a hazardous chemical, a grease product, and a viscous plastic product. 
   
   
       7 . The collapsible tube of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible shoulder comprises at least two raised flexible ribs to control the flattening of said flexible shoulder in a single direction. 
   
   
       8 . The collapsible tube of  claim 7 , wherein said flexible shoulder further comprises at least two of an external of said raised flexible ribs. 
   
   
       9 . The collapsible tube of  claim 7 , wherein said flexible shoulder further comprises at least two of an internal of said raised flexible ribs. 
   
   
       10 . The cap for use with said collapsible tube of  claim 1 , comprising a lower surface to engage with said raised detent to stop said cap from twisting past said final position; and
 further comprising a member of the group consisting of:   an interior bulge to act upon said flexible throat to urge said flexible throat to engage said internal thread form and said external flexible thread form; and   an interior rim to act upon said flexible throat to urge said flexible throat to engage said internal thread and said external flexible thread form.   
   
   
       11 . A method of manufacturing for at least one of the members of a group consisting of: said collapsible tube and said cap of  claim 10 , wherein said method comprises at least one member of the group consisting of the steps of:
 molding a first injected material to create said collapsible tube with said raised detent included in said flexible shoulder;   molding a second injected material to create said cap including said lower surface for engaging said raised detent.   
   
   
       12 . At least one member of the group consisting of said collapsible tube with said raised detent and said cap with said lower surface, as products of the process of  claim 11 . 
   
   
       13 . A collapsible tube for containing at least one product, comprising: an external flexible thread form on a flexible throat coupled to a flexible shoulder; wherein said flexible shoulder comprises at least two raised flexible ribs to control the flattening of said flexible shoulder in a single direction;
 wherein said flexible throat and said flexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all of said product;   wherein said external flexible thread form mates with an internal thread form, included in a cap, urging said flexible throat to seal against said cap when said cap is twisted onto said flexible throat; and   wherein said external flexible thread form further comprises: at least two external open threads.   
   
   
       14 . The collapsible tube of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 said flexible shoulder mating to a collapsible tube body;   wherein said flexible throat and said flexible shoulder flatten with said collapsible tube body to dispense essentially all of said product.   
   
   
       15 . The collapsible tube of  claim 13 , further comprising: said flexible shoulder mating to itself. 
   
   
       16 . The collapsible tube of  claim 13 , wherein said flexible shoulder further comprises at least four of an external of said raised flexible ribs. 
   
   
       17 . The collapsible tube of  claim 13 , wherein said flexible shoulder further comprises at least four of an internal of said raised flexible ribs. 
   
   
       18 . The collapsible tube of  claim 13 , wherein said flexible shoulder further comprises a raised detent near the widest circumference of said flexible shoulder that stops said cap when twisted onto said flexible throat at a final position. 
   
   
       19 . The collapsible tube of  claim 18 , wherein said raised detent comprises: a raised rim of flexible material near said widest circumference sufficient to create a barrier to said cap turning beyond when said cap is in said final position. 
   
   
       20 . The cap for use with said collapsible tube of  claim 13 , comprising:
 an internal post with sufficient length to snap over said raised flexible ribs of said flexible throat as said cap is turned into said final position, producing a cue indicating to the user that said final position has been reached; wherein said cue includes at least one member of the group consisting of an auditory cue and a tactile cue; and   wherein said cap, further comprises a member of the group consisting of:   an interior bulge to act upon said flexible throat to urge said flexible throat to engage said internal thread form and said external flexible thread form; and   an interior rim to act upon said flexible throat to urge said flexible throat to engage said internal thread and said external flexible thread form.