GB2251591A

GB2251591A - Squeezing tubes

Info

Publication number: GB2251591A
Application number: GB9100338A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Charles Herbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-08
Filing date: 1991-01-08
Publication date: 1992-07-15
Also published as: GB9100338D0

Abstract

A tube squeezer (1) has first (2) and second (3) spaced members at one end extending away from a side region (5). The members may be joined at their other end to another side region (6). A third member (4) is adjacent to the second member (3). In use a flattened portion (11) of a tube to be squeezed is located between two adjacent members, and the squeezer (1) is urged longitudinally towards the mouth of the tube so as to urge the contents of the tube towards the mouth of the tube. By passing the flattened portion (11) of the tube between the first (2) and second (3) members and then between the second (3) and third (4) members the squeezer (1) can be located in place after squeezing. Also disclosed is a pack of three squeezers each of a different size. <IMAGE>

Description

SQUEEZING TUBES This invention relates to a device for, and a method of, squeezing the contents out of a tube.

There have been many proposals for devices for squeezing tubes. Some proposals are impractical because they require complicated apparatus and are expensive. One simple type of tube squeezer of which I am aware is that described in British Patent Application No 2 035 948 which discloses a "key" around which a tube, such as a toothpaste tube, is wound by turning the "key".

The aim of the present invention is to provide another cheap and simple tube squeezer.

According to a first aspect the invention comprises a tube squeezer having first and second longitudinally spaced transverse members extending away from a side region, the transverse members being adapted in use to be located extending transversely of a tube to be squeezed to either side of a flattened portion of the tube, the squeezer being arranged such that when it is urged longitudinally of the tube the transverse members slide longitudinally along the tube and urge its contents longitudinally, towards the mouth of the tube.

Sliding the squeezer longitudinally of the tube avoids problems associated with curled tubes uncurling.

Preferably the squeezer includes locking means adapted to hold the squeezer in position on a tube against any tendency for the squeezer to return to a position further from the mouth of the tube. The locking means may comprise a third transverse member longitudinally spaced from the second transverse member. The first, second, and third transverse members may be connected to a common side member, may comprise bars or rods, and are preferably parallel to each other.

The first and second transverse members are preferably in the general plane of the flattened portion of the tube when the squeezer is moved towards the mouth of the tube.

The third transverse member may be in the same plane as the first and second transverse members.

A second side region may be provided transversely spaced from the first side region.

The squeezer is preferably an integral article of plastics material.

According to a second aspect the invention comprises a method of squeezing a tube having a closed end and a mouth end, the method comprising taking a squeezer in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, passing a flattened portion of the tube between the first and second transverse members, and moving the squeezer longitudinally of the tube towards the mouth of the tube so as to squeeze the contents of the tube towards the mouth.

The method preferably comprises the step of passing the flattened region of the tube between the second and third transverse members in order to lock the squeezer in place on the tube so as to keep the contents of the tube to the mouth side of the squeezer after a squeezing step has taken place.

The flattened portion of the tube may be kinked out of the general central plane of the tube by the lock means, and may also be returned to the general central plane.

According to a third aspect of the invention I provide a kit comprising a squeezer in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and instructions to use the squeezer in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

The kit may further include one or more further squeezers of different sizes to the first squeezer so as to enable the kit to accommodate tubes of different sizes.

The further squeezer or squeezers may be in addition to, or instead of, the instructions.

According to another aspect of the invention I provide a tube fitted with a squeezer in accordance with the the first aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a tube squeezer; Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a deformable tube fitted with the tube squeezer of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 5 illustrates one use of the tube squeezer.

The tube squeezer 1 shown in the drawings is a moulded plastics buckle-like object having a first transverse bar 2, a second transverse bar 3, a third transverse bar 4, two side regions 5 and 6 connecting the bars, and transverse gaps or slots 7 and 8 defined between the bars 2 and 3, and 3 and 4.

A tube 10 is shown fitted with the squeezer 1 in Figures 3 to 5. The tube has had its contents partially used up and so has a flattened closed end 11. When the squeezer is first fitted to the tube the user first squeezes the end il of the tube manually with his fingers and the end 11 is passed through the gap 7. The thickness of the flattened tube is such that it can just fit in the gap 7. The user grips the end 11 of the tube with one hand and slides the squeezer 1 towards the cap of the tube as shown in Figure 5. This squeezes the contents of the tube towards the cap end of the tube, substantially emptying the flattened portion of the tube behind the engagement of the squeezer with the tube.

To hold the squeezer in its advanced position on the tube to prevent the contents of the tube seeping back towards the end 11 the user passes the end 11 of the tube through the other gap 8, kinking the tube as shown in Figure 4.

The tube could be of any size and could contain any one of many possible compositions. The squeezer would be most valuable when used on tubes with expensive contents, such as tubes of cosmetics, or on very small or large tubes which are difficult to squeeze properly.

I envisage providing a pack of three squeezers 1 each of different sizes for use with tubes of different sizes.

An alternative method of using the squeezer is to slide it longitudinally of the tube, towards the mouth with the tube passing through the gaps 7 and 8 (with the tube squeezer in the configuration in Figures 3 and 4).

Claims

1. A tube squeezer having first and second longitudinally spaced transverse members extending away from a side region, the transverse members being adapted in use to be located transversely of a tube to be squeezed to either side of a flattened portion of the tube, the squeezer being arranged such that when it is urged longitudinally of the tube the transverse members slide longitudinally along the tube and urge its contents longitudinally, towards the mouth of the tube.

2. A tube squeezer according to claim 1 in which the first and second transverse members are preferably in the general plane of the flattened portion of the tube when the squeezer is moved towards the mouth of the tube.

3. A tube squeezer according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the squeezer includes locking means adapted to hold the squeezer in position on a tube against any tendency for the squeezer to return to a position further from the mouth of the tube.

4. A tube squeezer according to claim 3 in which the locking means comprises a third transverse member longitudinally spaced from the second transverse member.

5. A tube squeezer according to claim 4 in which the first, second, and third transverse members are connected to a common side member.

6. A tube squeezer according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the first, second and third transverse members comprise bars or rods.

7. A tube squeezer according to any one of claims 4 to 6 in which the third transverse member is in the same plane as the first and second transverse members.

8. A tube squeezer according to any preceding claim in which the transverse members are parallel to each other.

9. A tube squeezer according to any preceding claim in which a second side region is provided transversely spaced from the first side region.

10. A tube squeezer according to any preceding claim in which the squeezer is an integral article of plastics material.

11. A tube squeezer substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of squeezing a tube having a closed end and a mouth end, the method comprising taking a squeezer in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11, passing a flattened portion of the tube between the first and second transverse members, and moving the squeezer longitudinally of the tube towards the mouth of the tube so as to squeeze the contents of the tube towards the mouth.

13. A method of according to claim 12 in which the flattened region of the tube is passed between the second and third transverse members in order to lock the squeezer in place on the tube so as to keep the contents of the tube to the mouth side of the squeezer after a squeezing step has taken place.

14. A method according to claim 11 in which the flattened portion of the tube is kinked out of the general central plane of the tube by the lock means, and is returned to the general central plane.

15. A method of squeezing a tube substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A kit comprising a squeezer in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11 and instructions to use the squeezer in accordance with any one of claims 12 to 15, and/ our squeezers of different sizes to the first squeezer so as to enable the kit to accommodate tubes of different sizes.

17. A kit according to claim 16 in which the further squeezer or squeezers are included in addition to the instructions.

18. A kit according to claim 16 in which the further squeezer or squeezers are included instead of the instructions.

19. A tube fitted with a squeezer in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11.