Material shaping assembly

Abstract

The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser includes a shape template with a length and a plurality of apertures formed within the length and a template-holding toothpaste cap. The plurality of apertures are arranged in a linear configuration with at least two of the plurality of apertures having a shape different from one another and the cap is shaped to removably physically couple to a neck of a toothpaste tube. The cap has a mouth with inwardly-disposed wall elements forming a pair of inwardly-facing U-shaped channels adapted to slidably secure the shape template within. The cap also has an inner surface defining a toothpaste-guiding channel extending through the cap and defining a passageway for passing toothpaste from an interior of the tube through one of the plurality of apertures when the shape template is secured within the mouth.

1 . A shape-producing toothpaste dispenser comprising:
 a shape template having a length and a plurality of apertures formed within the length, the plurality of apertures arranged in a linear configuration with at least two of the plurality of apertures having a shape different from one another; and   a cap shaped to removably physically couple to a neck of a toothpaste tube, the cap having:
 a mouth with inwardly-disposed wall elements forming a pair of inwardly-facing U-shaped channels adapted to slidably secure the shape template within; and 
 an inner surface defining a toothpaste-guiding channel extending through the cap and defining a passageway for passing toothpaste from an interior of the tube through one of the plurality of apertures when the shape template is secured within the mouth. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface comprises:
 a circular inwardly-facing portion adapted to engage the neck of the tube.   
     
     
         3 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the cap further comprises:
 threads disposed on the inner surface, the threads being adapted to mate with a standard toothpaste tube.   
     
     
         4 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a line of weakness disposed along the length, the line of weakness allowing the shape template to bend at an approximately 90-degree angle without breaking.   
     
     
         5 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tab disposed at an end of the shape template operable to limit an amount of slidable movement of the shape template within the U-shaped channels.   
     
     
         6 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an area along the length of the shape template free of apertures and proximal to the tab, the area disposed to seal an interior of the toothpaste tube from the environment when aligned with the passageway.   
     
     
         7 . In combination with a toothpaste tube having a neck with external threads, the improvement comprising:
 a shape template having a proximal extent, a distal extent, a length connecting the proximal extent to the distal extent, and a plurality of apertures formed within the length between the proximal extent and the distal extent, each aperture having a shape different from at least one other of the plurality of apertures; and   a cap shaped to removably mate with the tube of toothpaste, the cap having:
 a mouth having inwardly disposed wall elements forming a pair of inwardly facing U-shaped channels adapted to slidably secure the shape template within; and 
 a circular inwardly-facing surface, the inwardly-facing surface sized to physically couple to the toothpaste tube and define a passageway for passing toothpaste from an interior of the tube through one of the plurality of apertures when the shape template is secured within the inwardly facing U-shaped channels. 
   
     
     
         8 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the inwardly-facing inner surface further comprises:
 threads adapted to mate with external threads on the neck of the toothpaste tube.   
     
     
         9 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a line of weakness disposed along the length, the line of weakness allowing the shape template to bend at an approximately 90-degree angle without breaking.   
     
     
         10 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a tab disposed at an end of the shape template operable to limit an amount of slidable movement of the shape template within the U-shaped channels.   
     
     
         11 . The shape-producing toothpaste dispenser according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an area along the length of the shape template free of apertures and proximal to the tab, the area disposed to seal an interior of the toothpaste tube from the environment when aligned with the passageway.   
     
     
         12 . A method of extruding toothpaste from a tube, the method comprising:
 physically coupling an extrusion cap to a neck of a toothpaste tube, the extrusion cap shaped to removably mate with the tube of toothpaste and having:
 a circular inwardly-facing inner surface; and 
 a mouth having inwardly disposed wall elements forming a pair of inwardly facing U-shaped channels; and 
   sliding a shape template within the U-shaped channels to align an aperture formed within the shape template with an inner diameter of the neck, the shape template having a proximal extent, a distal extent, a length connecting the proximal extent to the distal extent, and a plurality of apertures formed within the length between the proximal extent and the distal extent, the aperture having a shape different from at least one other of the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the physically coupling comprises:
 aligning threads disposed on the circular inwardly-facing inner surface of the cap with external threads on the neck.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 bending the shape template at an approximately 90-degree angle along a line of weakness disposed along the length, the line of weakness allowing the shape template to bend without breaking.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 sliding the shape template within the U-shaped channels until a tab disposed at an end of the shape template contacts a portion of the U-shaped channels.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the contact between the tab and the U-shaped channels aligns an area along the length of the shape template free of apertures and proximal to the tab with the inner diameter of the neck and seals an interior of the toothpaste tube from the environment. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 applying pressure to the tube of toothpaste whereby toothpaste within the tube of toothpaste is extruded through the aligned aperture.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 entirely removing the shape template from the U-shaped channels and inserting a different shape template into the U-shaped channels.