초록 ▼

A dispenser apparatus for use to dispense a material from a squeezable and collapsible tube is provided. The dispenser apparatus comprises a housing unit having a storage portion at the top end, a dispensing portion at the bottom end, and at least one channel which extends vertically from the top en

A dispenser apparatus for use to dispense a material from a squeezable and collapsible tube is provided. The dispenser apparatus comprises a housing unit having a storage portion at the top end, a dispensing portion at the bottom end, and at least one channel which extends vertically from the top end to the bottom end. The dispenser also includes a feeder plate which is downwardly sloping from the storage portion to the dispensing portion, and a dispensing member above the feeder plate. When the dispensing member is in an open position, passage of one tube from the storage portion to the dispensing portion is permitted, and when the dispensing member is in a closed portion, passage of any tube into the dispensing portion is precluded. When in the dispensing portion, material can be dispensed from the tube, and thus converted the full tube to a collapsed, empty shape. Only when the tube has taken on the collapsed empty shape, is the tube removable from the dispensing portion. A device for reducing theft or other loss of the incompletely used tubes results.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing a material from a squeezable and collapsible tube, which tube has a first closed end and a second end having a mouth, and which tube is structured in such a manner that when a portion of said tube has been compressed, that at least a portion of said tube remai

1. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing a material from a squeezable and collapsible tube, which tube has a first closed end and a second end having a mouth, and which tube is structured in such a manner that when a portion of said tube has been compressed, that at least a portion of said tube remains in the compressed state, said dispenser apparatus comprising:a housing unit having a front wall, a rear wall, first and second side walls, a bottom plate having an opening defined therein, a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinal axis extending from said top end to said bottom end;a storage portion, within said housing, having a first end through which squeezable and collapsible tubes can be added to said storage portion, and a second end through which squeezable and collapsible tubes can exit said storage portion, and having storage room for at least one squeezable and collapsible tube;a dispensing portion having:a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said dispensing portion is operatively connected with said second end of said storage portion so that a squeezable and collapsible tube can be moved from said storage portion to said dispensing portion;a dispensing means in the region between said storage portion and said dispensing portion in said housing unit, which dispensing means is capable of moving a squeezable and collapsible tube from said storage area to said dispensing area;a compressing member which, when in use, is located at least partially within said dispensing portion of said housing unit; anda port defining an opening on the front wall of said housing, at said second end of said dispensing portion;wherein when said squeezable and collapsible tube is in said dispensing portion, it is oriented such that the mouth of the squeezable and collapsible tube is aligned with said opening in said bottom plate of said housing unit;whereby when said dispenser apparatus is in use, said compressing member compresses said squeezable and collapsible tube so as to dispense the material from the squeezable and collapsible tube through its mouth, and transform said squeezable and collapsible tube from a full shape to a collapsed shape; andwherein said port is dimensioned to have a size similar to said collapse shape so that only a squeezable and collapsible tube in a collapsed shape may be removed from said dispensing portion through said port. 2. A dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said storage portion defines the region at the top end of said housing unit, and said dispensing portion defines the region at the bottom end of said housing unit. 3. A dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first end of said dispensing portion is integrally formed with said second end of said storage portion. 4. A dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said storage portion and said dispensing portion form a vertical channel extending in said housing unit from said top end to said bottom end, each of said at least one channel being dimensioned so as to receive a plurality of squeezable and collapsible tubes therein. 5. A dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said dispensing means comprises a feeder plate having a first end and a second end, said first end of said feeder plate being downwardly sloping from one of said walls in the region of said second end of said storage portion, towards said dispensing portion, and being a substantially vertical wall within said dispensing portion. 6. A dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said dispensing means additionally comprises a dispensing member above said first end of said feeder plate, and in the region between said storage portion and said dispensing portion, in said channel in said housing unit, which moves a squeezable and collapsible tube from said storage area to said dispensing area. 7. A dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein when said dispensing member is in an open position, passage of one squeezable and collapsible tube from said storage portion to said dispensing portion is permitted, andwherein when said dispensing member is in a closed position, passage of any squeezable and collapsible tube from said storage portion to said dispensing portion is precluded. 8. A dispenser apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said dispensing member is a trough shaped member extending substantially horizontally through said channel and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said housing unit, on which member said squeezable and collapsible tubes rest while in said storage portion, and which member is rotatable to a position whereby a single squeezable and collapsible tube from said storage portion is allowed to fall onto said inclined plane, and then allowed to fall into said dispensing portion. 9. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein said feeder plate defines said second end of said storage portion, and wherein said feeder plate is substantially flat. 10. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dispensing portion accommodates one squeezable and collapsible tube at a single time. 11. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compressing member is chosen from the group consisting of rollers, pressure plates, keys, and combinations thereof. 12. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein only after the material contained in the squeezable and collapsible tube has been essentially completely dispensed therefrom, is the squeezable tube removable from dispensing portion, through said port. 13. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, further comprising grasping means in the region around said opening defined in said bottom plate so as to hold the squeezable and collapsible tube in position in said dispensing portion of said housing unit. 14. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a receiving plate removably attached to said bottom end of said housing unit such that a receiving vessel is placeable thereon for receiving the material dispensed from the squeezable and collapsible tube. 15. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lockable cover plate, wherein said lockable cover plate substantially covers the storage portion of said housing unit, and wherein when said lockable cover plate is in a locked position, the plurality of squeezable and collapsible tubes in said storage portion are inaccessible. 16. The dispenser apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a second lockable cover plate which covers at least a part of said dispensing portion. 17. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein said compressing member compresses said squeezable and collapsible tube in a progressive squeezing and/or compressing action from the closed end of the squeezable and collapsible tube towards the mouth of the squeezable and collapsible tube. 18. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein said port is rectangular in shape and is sized so that only a coiled, compressed squeezable and collapsible tube can be removed from said dispensing portion. 19. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein said port is a vertical slot on said front wall and is sized so that only a flat, compressed squeezable and collapsible tube can be removed from said dispensing portion. 20. The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein openings are provided on at least a portion of said front wall in order that the contents within said housing unit may be viewed. 21. A dispensing system apparatus for dispensing materials from a plurality of squeezable and collapsible tubes, comprising a plurality of dispenser apparatuses as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dispenser apparatuses have been joined together in a contiguous relationship.