Tube and emptying apparatus

Abstract

A tube having a cylindrical tube body, an end wall closing off one end of the body, and a dispensing nipple disposed on the end wall coaxially to the axis of the tube body. The end wall has at least one portion weakened by reduced wall thickness or reduced material hardness so that two parts of the end wall may be collapsed onto one another for completely emptying the tube. For emptying a tube, an apparatus is provided which has a trough-shaped casing for accommodating the tube and a squeezing body movable within the casing. The casing surrounds the tube through an angle of more than 180° and has a longitudinal slot for manually moving the squeezing body.

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         19 . A tube comprising:
 a cylindrical tube body,   an end wall closing off one end of the body, and   a dispensing nipple disposed on the end wall coaxially to an axis of the tube body,   wherein the end wall has at least one weakened portion, so that two parts of the end wall may be collapsed onto one another for completely emptying the tube, and   wherein a transition between the at least one weakened portion and a non-weakened portion of the end wall extends along a folding line substantially tangential to the dispensing nipple.   
     
     
         20 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the weakening resides in a reduced thickness and/or a reduced hardness of the end wall portion. 
     
     
         21 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of the dispensing nipple adjoining the end wall is weakened. 
     
     
         22 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the folding line has two sections which enclose an angle of less than 180° on the side of the dispensing nipple. 
     
     
         23 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the entire end wall is weakened. 
     
     
         24 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the end wall has star-shaped or sector-shaped weakened portions. 
     
     
         25 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the weakened portions form recesses on the outer side of the end wall. 
     
     
         26 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the shape of tube body has an elliptical cross-section or is formed of arcs of circles which are symmetric to the axis of the tube body. 
     
     
         27 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing nipple has a non-circular opening or an arrangement of openings. 
     
     
         28 . The tube of  claim 19 , wherein the dispensing nipple tapers in the dispensing direction. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for emptying a tube, the apparatus comprising:
 a trough-shaped casing for accommodating the tube which has a cylindrical tube body, an end wall closing off one end of the body, and a dispensing nipple disposed on the end wall, wherein the end wall has at least one weakened portion so that two parts of the end wall may be collapsed onto one another for completely emptying the tube; and   a squeezing body movable within the casing.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the casing surrounds the tube by an angle of more than 180° and has a longitudinal slot for manually moving the squeezing body. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the casing has two flanges limiting the longitudinal slot for retaining the squeezing body. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , having an elastic padding in the casing for supporting the tube. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , having a dispensing nozzle for receiving the dispensing nipple of the tube. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the dispensing nozzle has an internal thread adapted to be screwed onto the dispensing nipple of the tube. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the casing has a plane magnetic base.