US20240174408A1

US20240174408A1 - Dispensing tube with shoulder tip applicator & suction based lid

Info

Publication number: US20240174408A1
Application number: US18/428,324
Authority: US
Inventors: Alina Kravchenko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-02-07
Filing date: 2024-01-31
Publication date: 2024-05-30

Abstract

A novel dispensing tube system and method of making the same. The system enables one-handed application while maintaining cleanliness. Comprising three parts, the dispensing tube system includes a Body Cylinder Hollow Tube Container for holding tube contents, an Applicator Tip Shoulder with a central hole, and a Suction Cup-Based Lid featuring a finger for a secure seal. Addressing the limitations of traditional tube application methods requiring two hands, the invention is particularly advantageous in scenarios where users have only one free hand or need to apply ointments in challenging areas. The Applicator Tip, replacing conventional shoulder parts, ensures hygienic, controlled, and mess-free distribution, while the Suction Cup-Based Lid facilitates one-hand application by securely attaching to a hard, flat surface. The system's design streamlines mass production without additional costs, offering a user-friendly and sanitary solution for diverse application needs.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is a new dispensing tube that allows the user to apply the contents of the tube with just one hand while keeping their hands clean from the contents of the tube.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A tube for a one-hand application. Made up of 3 Parts: A, B, and C, described and illustrated as A. Body Cylinder Hollow Tube Container (the body that holds the contents of the tube) that permanently attaches to the rim of Part B. Applicator Tip Shoulder that has a hole in the center for the contents to come out of and C. Suction Cup Based Lid that has a finger that slides into the hole of the applicator tip to create a secure seal. Part C. Suction Cup Based Lid has a suction cup base to be attached to any hard flat surface for a one-hand application process.

3. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY

The current method of applying ointment from a tube is to hold the tube with one hand while opening the lid with the other. Then squeezing a desired amount either directly into the desired surface or on one's hand, then using fingers to distribute the contents of the tube. The problem is that this method requires two hands and makes the user's fingers dirty from the ointment. It is beneficial for the user to have one free hand while applying the ointment in cases where the other hand is needed, for example, holding another body part such as the testicles of a man while applying jock-itch ointment with the other hand. As well as in cases where the user may only have one hand, such as handicapped people or people with healing injuries such as a broken or sprained hand or arm, and in other cases where the user is applying diaper cream ointment onto a wiggly baby it would be essential to keep one hand on the baby at all times during the diaper cream application process to keep the baby safe.
To understand the full scope of the preferred embodiments, it is essential to understand the current method of manufacturing tubes. FIG. 1 is the straight front view of the prior art tube (tube tunnel, shoulder threads, and twist-on lid) with all parts disconnected. This is the traditional way that tubes are made, consisting of the tunnel Part 1, the shoulder part 5 with threads part 4, and the lid with female threads part 7 and the lid part 6.
Starting with Part 1—Body Tube Container (the body that holds the contents of the tube). is made by rolling out a flat piece of plastic or metal and then making it into a tube. This tube is then cut into specific lengths depending on the size of the tube contents. Then once the shoulder Part 5 has been attached to Part 14, the rim of the tunnel part of the tube (the body that holds the contents), the tube is then placed upside down in a filling machine with the top part of the tube still open so that the tube can be filled with the desired contents such as cream. Then Part 4—male threads of the shoulder part of the prior art are twisted into Part 7—female threads of the lid part of the prior art and closed with Part 6—lid part of the prior art.
The problem with the current way that cream tubes are manufactured is that they require two hands to apply the contents of the tube. The user needs to hold the Part 1—Body Tube Container (the body that holds the contents of the tube) with one hand, squeeze the desired contents onto the other hand or surface area and use their fingers to spread the ointment.
The problem is that if the user's hands are not completely clean, they will transfer the germs onto the area of the surface they are spreading the contents of the tube. In cases where the surface of the skin has a rash, open skin, or an infection, it can be made even worse when germs are transferred from the user's hand onto the skin area with the ointment. This is why direct application from the tube is the more sanitary and desired method of applying ointment onto the skin's surface more hygienically.
In addition, the current method is also not a preferred method because it leaves the user's hands covered in the ointment; in the case where the user has long fingernails or where the contents of the tube is water resistant, it makes it difficult to wash the ointment off of the user's fingers while getting stuck under the user's nails.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

- Part 1—Body Tube Container.
- Part 2—Tube Container Top Seal.
- Part 3—Stick to indicate the hollowness of the tunnel part of the tube.
- Part 4—Male threads of the shoulder part of the prior art.
- Part 5—Shoulder part of the prior art.
- Part 6—Lid part of the prior art.
- Part 7—Female threads of the lid part of the prior art.
- Part 8—Applicator tip part of the invention.
- Part 9—Hole (Female) part of the applicator.
- Part 10—Exterior part of the applicator.
- Part 11—Rim part of the shoulder of the invention.
- Part 12—Lip of the rim part of the shoulder of the invention.
- Part 13—Shoulder part of the invention.
- Part 14—Rim of the tunnel part of the tube.
- Part 15—Interior part of the applicator.
- Part 16—Interior hole part of the applicator.
- Part 17—The suction cup of the lid of the invention.
- Part 18—Base of the lid of the invention.
- Part 19—Exterior part of the lid of the invention.
- Part 20—Top rim part of the lid of the invention.
- Part 21—Finger seal part of the lid (Male) that goes inside Part 9—the hole of the applicator where the tube contents come out of.
- Part 22—Connection of the suction cup top to the base of the lid.
- Part 23—Interior base part of the lid of the invention.
- Part 24—Hard flat surface.
- Part 25—Male threads of the inner rim part of the lid of the invention.
- Part 26—Female threads of the rim part of the applictator part of the invention.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the straight front view of the prior art tube (tube tunnel, shoulder threads, and twist-on lid) with all parts disconnected.

FIG. 2 is the straight front view of the prior art tube with shoulder threads attached to the tube tunnel and the tube filled with contents such as cream and sealed at the base.

FIG. 3 shows the invention's side perspective view (tube tunnel, applicator tip, and suction-based lid) with disconnected parts.

FIG. 4 is the side perspective with all parts of the invention connected, including a permanent seal between the applicator rim shoulder Part 13 and Part 14, the base of the tube tunnel.

FIG. 5 is the perspective view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention.

FIG. 6 is the side perspective view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention.

FIG. 7 is the back perspective view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention.

FIG. 8 is the front perspective view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention.

FIG. 9 is the top perspective view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention.

FIG. 10 is the bottom view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention.

FIG. 11 is the top view of the Applicator shoulder part of the invention.

FIG. 12 is the side perspective view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention attached to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base.

FIG. 13 is the side view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention attached to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base.

FIG. 14 is the front view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention attached to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base.

FIG. 15 is the back view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention attached to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base.

FIG. 16 is the bottom perspective view of the suction cup-based Lid part of the invention with a clear exterior so you can see Part 21—The finger seal part of the lid.

FIG. 17 is the bottom perspective view of the suction cup-based Lid part of the invention.

FIG. 18 is the top perspective view of the suction cup-based Lid part of the invention with a clear exterior so you can see Part 21—The finger seal part of the lid.

FIG. 19 is the top perspective view of the suction cup-based Lid part of the invention.

FIG. 20 is the top view of the suction cup-based Lid part of the invention.

FIG. 21 is the bottom view of the suction cup-based Lid part of the invention.

FIG. 22 is the front view of the Applicator shoulder part of the invention connected to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base, with the front view of the suction cup-based lid detached.

FIG. 23 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 22 , where you can see the inside of the tube and suction cup-based lid.

FIG. 24 is the front view of the Applicator shoulder part of the invention connected to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base, with the front view of the suction cup-based lid attached.

FIG. 25 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 24 , where you can see the attachment of the tube and suction cup-based lid.

FIG. 26 is the bottom perspective view of the Applicator shoulder part of the invention connected to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base, with the suction cup-based lid detached.

FIG. 27 is the bottom perspective view of the Applicator shoulder part of the invention connected to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base, with the suction cup-based lid attached.

FIG. 28 is the bottom perspective view of the round-head tip applicator version of the invention with the body of the tube tunnel detached.

FIG. 29 is the top perspective view of the round-head tip applicator version of the invention with the body of the tube tunnel detached.

FIG. 30 is the straight-side view of the round-head tip applicator version of the invention.

FIG. 31 is the top view of the roundhead tip applicator version of the invention.

FIG. 32 is the straight perspective view of the invention's round head tip applicator version connected to the tube's body and sealed at the top, and the suction cup-based Lid detached.

FIG. 33 is the straight perspective view of the invention's round head tip applicator version connected to the tube's body and sealed at the top and the suction cup-based Lid attached.

FIG. 34 is the front view of the Applicator shoulder part of the invention connected to the body part of the tube and sealed at the base, with the front view of the suction cup-based lid attached.

FIG. 35 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 34 , where you can see the attachment of the tube and suction cup-based lid, with the additional version including the threads inside where part B Shoulder applicator tip is attached to the threads.

FIG. 36 is the upclose zoom in view of the seal between Part 13—Shoulder part of the invention sealed (via injection mold) with Part 14—Rim of the tunnel part of the tube, snapped into the lid part of the invention.

FIG. 37 is the top perspective view of the suction cup-based Lid part of the invention with male threads on the inner rim.

FIG. 38 is the side perspective view of the Applicator's shoulder part of the invention with female threads that is attached to the body part of the tube.

FIG. 39 is the bottom perspective view of the Applicator shoulder part of the invention with male theads connected to the lid part of the invention via the female threads.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment replaces Part 5—the shoulder part of the prior art and Part 4—male threads of the shoulder part of the prior art with Part 8—the applicator tip part of the invention, which has a Part 9—Applicator: the hole (Female) part of the applicator where the contents of the tube come out of. The applicator can be seen independently (not attached to the body of the tube) in its various views in FIGS. 5-11 and attached to the body of the tube in FIGS. 12-15 .
Part 8—the applicator tip part of the invention has a flat surface that acts as a spread and a curved tip edge that tapers toward the tip making it accessible for fitting into tight crevices of the body such as in between the butt cheeks, armpits, under the breast area of the user or under the testicle area, making it extra user friendly during the application process in those hard to reach spots.
There are many scenarios where the user would need an extra free hand during the application process. When applying diaper ointment, a free hand is beneficial for holding the baby safely and preventing any potential falls. In the case where the user would apply ointment underneath the testicles for jock itch relief, it is beneficial to have an extra free hand to hold the testicles out of the way so that the user can easily apply the ointment onto the desired area without the testicles being in the way. In addition, when ointment needs to be applied underneath the breast area, the user will need the hand to hold the breast up and out of the way for the application process. There are also many uses where the user would have only one hand at all times; if they have an injury on the other hand or are handicapped from using the other hand at all times, a one-hand cream applicator would make applying ointment possible for these people.
The one-hand cream application process is achieved with Part 17—The suction cup base part of the lid to be secured onto Part 24—a hard flat surface. This allows the applicator to snap in and out of the standing docked lid and stand upright for easy access.
In a preferred embodiment, the lid snaps in and out of the application with Part 11—the rim part of the shoulder of the invention that is smaller in diameter than Part—13, the shoulder part of the invention, which acts as a support and seals tightly against Part 20—top rim part of the lid. There is also an indention on the inside of Part 20—top rim part of the lid that grips the Part 12—rim lip that allows the lid to stay securely snug on the applicator by the pressure of the Part 12 rim lip against the interior of the lid.
In an alternative embodiment, the rim part of the shoulder screws into the top rim part of the lid with screw threads.
Part 9—Applicator: the hole (Female) part of the applicator, where the contents of the tube come out of, is in the exact center of the applicator so that when Part 21—finger part of the lid (Male) is placed inside of it, it aligns perfectly from any direction. This allows for a secure seal of Part 9—Applicator: the hole (Female) part of the applicator, thus preventing any tube contents from coming out.
During the manufacturing process, the original shoulder, Part 5 with the threads Part 4, would be replaced by the preferred embodiment (Applicator) where Part—13—The shoulder part of the invention would be attached to Part 14—Rim of the tunnel part of the tube. This would keep the filling process of the tube to remain the same, allowing mass manufacturing production to be performed without any disruptions, such as waste of time or material. But now, with the added benefits and solutions that the preferred embodiment offers, including:
(1) Applicator tip that allows hygienic distribution of the contents without getting the user's hands messy and without cross-contamination of germs from the user's fingers onto the surface skin area.
(2) Applicator tip that easily fits between the crevices of hard-to-reach places such as between butt cheeks, under the arm, under the breast, and under a male's testicles.
(3) The applicator tip part of the invention allows for smooth and even distribution of the ointment. When the user is applying diaper ointment, a thicker layer of ointment is preferred, especially at night, to prevent and treat a diaper rash, and the applicator allows the user to control the thickness of the ointment applied easily.
(3) Applicator tip can be both made of a hard or soft material; in the case where it is made of a soft material, the application is more gentle and pleasant than the feel of one's fingers.
(5) The Applicator does not add extra material to the manufacturing costs because it replaces the prior art shoulder and threads. And allows the filling process of the tube to remain the same; this keeps the costs of time and material down for mass production.
(6) The Applicator has a hole (Part 9—hole (Female) part of the applicator where the contents of the tube come out of) that perfectly aligns with the Part 21—finger seal part of the lid (Male) that goes inside the Part 9, this allows the user to snap the lid in and out of the tube without worrying about aligning the hole with the seal.
(7) Lid that snaps in and out of the applicator with a suction cup-based lid, allowing the user to easily take the lid off and on with just one hand by suctioning Part 17 Suction cup part of the lid onto Part 24—hard flat surface. This allows for the fast and easy one-hand cream application because the suction cup-based lid would remain on the flat hard surface when the user grips the body of the tube from the standing docked lid. In other words, the suction cup would allow the applicator attached to the tube's body to stand upright, as illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 .
How the invention works: When it is time to apply the ointment, the user would simply (1) pull the tube from the standing docked lid, (2) squeeze the desired amount of ointment that would come of it Part 9 hole part of the Applicator. (3) Then apply the ointment directly from the tube onto the desired surface using Part 8—Applicator tip part of the invention. And (4) place the tube attached to the applicator back into the standing docked suction cup-based lid.
Cleaning: If the user would prefer to clean the applicator tip in between applications, that can be easily accomplished with a sanitary wipe to the tip of the applicator, and the interior of the lid can be washed with soap and water or placed in a dishwasher.

Claims

I claim:

1. A tubular dispensing system, comprising:

a body cylinder hollow tube container with a tube rim;

a shoulder applicator tip, comprising:

a shoulder permanently affixed to the tube rim, said shoulder being substantially round, said shoulder comprising a shoulder rim and shoulder securing means;

an applicator exterior attached to the shoulder;

said applicator exterior comprising an applicator tip;

and a hole in the applicator tip;

a suction cup based lid, comprising:

a lid base;

a lid exterior attached to the lid base, said lid exterior being substantially cylindrical, and said lid exterior having a substantially circular lid rim;

a suction cup secured to the lid base;

lid securing means on the lid rim, for temporarily securing the lid rim to the shoulder rim;

and a finger seal secured to the lid base, positioned so that the finger seal plugs the hole when the lid rim is temporarily secured to the shoulder rim.

2. A tubular dispensing system as described in claim 1, wherein:

the shoulder securing means comprises a rim lip on the shoulder rim;

and the lid securing means comprises an indentation in the lid exterior;

so that the indentation grips the rim lip when the lid rim is temporarily secured to the shoulder rim.

3. A tubular dispensing system as described in claim 1, wherein:

the shoulder securing means comprises female threads on the shoulder rim;

and the lid securing means comprises male threads on the lid rim.

4. A tubular dispensing system as described in claim 2, wherein the applicator exterior is formed from a soft plastic material.

5. A method of manufacturing a tubular dispensing system, comprising the steps of:

providing a body cylinder hollow tube with a tube rim on one end and a tube top on the other end;

using a first injection mold process to fabricate a shoulder applicator tip with a shoulder and an applicator exterior attached to the shoulder, said applicator exterior comprising an applicator tip with a hole, said shoulder being substantially round, said shoulder comprising a shoulder rim and shoulder securing means;

placing the body cylinder hollow tube container upright in a filling machine;

filling the body cylinder hollow tube container with a dispensable product;

using a first heat-sealing method to permanently seal the tube top;

using a second heat-sealing method to permanently attach the tube rim to the shoulder rim;

using a second injection mold process to fabricate a suction cup based lid, comprising a lid base, a lid exterior attached to the lid base, said lid exterior being substantially cylindrical, and said lid exterior having a substantially circular lid rim, a suction cup secured to the lid base, lid securing means on the lid rim, for temporarily securing the lid rim to the shoulder rim, and a finger seal secured to the lid base, positioned so that the finger seal plugs the hole when the lid rim is temporarily secured to the shoulder rim.

6. A method of manufacturing a tubular dispensing system as described in claim 5, wherein:

the shoulder securing means comprises a rim lip on the shoulder rim;

and the lid securing means comprises an indentation in the lid exterior;

7. A tubular dispensing system as described in claim 5, wherein:

the shoulder securing means comprises female threads on the shoulder rim;

and the lid securing means comprises male threads on the lid rim.

8. A tubular dispensing system as described in claim 6, wherein the applicator exterior is formed from a soft plastic material.