US2134910A - Paste tube - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 1, 1938. w c. DVORAK 2,134,910

PASTE TUBE Filed March 7, 1.953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Aiiorneq's Nov. 1, 1938. w. c. DVORAK PASTE TUBE Filed March '7, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Inventor Wencz'l C'Jvorwk Aiiorneys Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 7,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to flexible paste tubes of the type usually employed for toothpaste, shaving cream, salves, and the like, and an object of the invention is to provide a paste tube having improved closure means therefor.

In accordance with the present invention the paste tube is provided with a valve for closing the neck thereof and means operable in response to pressure applied at a predetermined point on the tube for moving the valve to an unseated position to permit the contents of the tube to exude therefrom.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a plan view of the tube embodying the features of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 3, but showing the valve in closed position, the valve being shown in open position in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating certain details hereinafter more fully referred to,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the valve core and stem, and

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 'l'l of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the improved flexible paste tube comprises the flexible tubular body 5 sealed at one end in the usual manner as at 6 and provided at the opposite end thereof with a shoulder portion 1 that is substantially rectangular in cross section as shown in Figure 7 and tapers to an integral neck 8.

The neck 8 is provided at the discharge end thereof with an internal conical valve seat 9 against which is adapted to normally seat the substantially conical valve core I provided on one end of a stem ll.

Anchored within the shoulder 1 adjacent the inner end of the shoulder is one end of a flat spring [2 to which is welded or otherwise secured as at E3 the inner end of the stem II.

At the side thereof opposite to the anchored end 14 of the spring l2 the shoulder l is formed to provide a recess I which accommodates the angular free end [6 of the aforementioned spring l2,

The portion of the tube 5 forming the outer wall of the recess I5 is provided at point I! in a 1938, Serial No. 194,458

manner forming a finger seat whereby at the recess !5 the wall of the tube may be pressed inwardly for thepurpose of bringing pressure against the end N5 of the spring to flex the spring inwardly to a position suggested in Figure 3 whereby to move the valve member ID inwardly off of its seat 9 and thereby permit the contents of the tube, in response to external pressure on the tube, to exude therefrom.

At the inner end thereof the shoulder 1 is provided with a cross brace l8 that at the end thereof forming the inner end wall of the recess 45 terminates short from the periphery of the tube 5 so as to permit the tube to shift longitudinally slightly relative to the shoulder 'l as is necessary incidental to the compressing of the tube at the point I! thereon.

Also so as not to interfere with the flexing inwardly of the spring 12 brace I8 is provided with an elongated slot l9.

It will thus be seen that normally under action of spring [2 valve member ID seats within the seat 9 providing an efficient closure for the tube serving to exclude dirt from the tube.

When it is desired to discharge some of the contents of the tube therefrom pressure with the thumb, preferably, engaging the wall in the region of recess I5 is applied at the point I! to the wall of the tube and this pressure is transmitted to the end I6 of the spring l2 causing the latter to flex inwardly to the position shown in Figure 3. This obviously results in the valve l0 being drawn inwardly out of engagement with its seat 9 so that as external pressure is applied to the tube either by rolling the tube upon itself as is sometimes done, or otherwise, some of the contents of the tube will be forced to exude therefrom through the neck 8.

Upon release of pressure at the point I! spring will spring back to its normal position urging the valve member ID into engagement with its seat 9 for substantially sealing the tube, the parts when the tube is sealed being as shown in Figure 4.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of a flexible paste tube embodying the features of the present invention will be had without a more detailed description thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is cla med as new is:

1. In a flexible paste tube, an integral neck provided internally thereof with a valve seat, a a spring member anchored at one end within said tube and extending transversely of the tube, a

valve stem secured at one end thereof to the spring intermediate the ends of the spring, a valve disk on the free end of said stem and normally urged by said spring into seating engagement with said valve seat, said spring adapted to bow longitudinally incidental to pressure being applied to the wall of the tube in a manner to flex a portion of said wall inwardly into engagement with the free end of the spring, to thereby draw said valve disk inwardly of the tube out of engagement with said valve seat.

2. In a flexible paste tube, an integral neck provided internally thereof with a valve seat, a spring member anchored at one end within said tube and extending transversely of the tube, a valve stem secured at one end thereof to the spring intermediate the ends of the spring, a valve disk on the free end of said stem and normally urged by said spring into seating engagement with said valve seat, said spring adapted to bow longitudinally incidental to pressure being applied to the wall of the tube in a manner to flex a portion of said well inwardly into engagement with the free end of the spring, to thereby draw said valve disk inwardly of the tube out of engagement with said valve seat, and a brace extending transversely of said tube interiorly thereof, said brace at one end thereof and the wall of said tube being mutually separated so as not to interfere with the inward flexing of the tube wall when the latter is so flexed inwardly for flexing said spring, said spring being disposed intermediate said brace and the neckequipped end of the tube. v

3. In a flexible paste tube of the character described, an integral neck, a transverse spring member mounted internally of the tube and adapted to be flexed longitudinally incidental to the application of pressure laterally to the tube at a point substantially in alinement with said spring member, a valve stem secured at one end thereof to said spring intermediate the ends of the latter, and a closure member for said neck on the free end of said stems, and movable inwardly of the neck to an open position incidental to the aforementioned longitudinal flexing of said transverse spring member.

4. In a flexible paste tube of the character described, an integral neck, a transverse spring member mounted internally of the tube and adapted to be flexed longitudinally incidental to the application of pressure to the tube, a valve stem secured at one end thereof to said spring intermediate the ends of the latter, and a closure member for said neck on the free end of said stem, said tube at one side thereof being provided with an internal pocket, and said spring having the free end thereof extending into said pocket and provided with a lateral longitudinally curved projection to facilitate contact of the wall of the tube with the spring for flexing the latter incidental to pressure being applied to the wall of the tube in the region of said pocket.

WENCIL C. DVORAK.

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