TOOTHPASTE DISPENSER

DISTRIBUTEUR DE PATE DENTIFRICE

English Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure
This invention relates to a wall mounted toothpaste dispenser having a lever
and pump action for dispensing a consistent, measured amount of toothpaste.
Its main components are a wall-mounted base receptacle, a lever actuated pump
assembly removably supported in the base receptacle and a cover that fits
over the whole. Circumferentially spaced squeeze rollers perform the pumping
action. By varying the number and spacing of the squeeze rollers the
dispensed amount of toothpaste can be varied.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A lever and pump dispenser for toothpaste in a fixed mounting wherein
arcuate lever movement sets in motion a spur and ratchet combination in
increments of 22 1/2 degrees, said increments being expanded through a
planetary gear and spider assembly linking the ratchet action to a group
of circumferentially spaced squeeze rollers that coact sequentially with
a paste filled supply tube that terminates in a self-sealing exit spout.

Description

532~
1 --
This invention relates to a wall mounted toothpaste dispenser having a pump
action with a measured amount dispensed for each movement of a pump lever.
The main components of the dispenser are a base receptacle that is fixed to a
wall surface, a pump assembly removably supported in the base receptacle and a
cover that fits over the whole.
The fixed base acts as a holder for the pump assembly unit that is in its own
housing and is removable as such. With the cover in place a depending pump
lever is the only visible part of the pump assembly.
Manual movement of the pump lever through an arc of 22 1/2 rotates a spur and
ratchet peripheral assembly on the pump. A sun and planetary gear receives
the same rotation to step up the increments from 2~ 1/2 to 90. Squeeze
rollers at the same 90 spacing engage and depress a soft plastic tube in a
pumping action so that a measured amount is squeezed out every 90 of rota-
tion. The squeeze rollers and the internal gear train are on a common spider.
At the top of the pump unit is a rigid tapered tube upon which is impaled an
uncapped tube of toothpaste. In lower assembly with a sleeve portion of the
rigid tube is a soft plastic tube that receives pressure from the squeeze
rollers to perform the pumping action. The dispensed material passes through
a self-sealing orifice at the lower end of the soft plastic tube-and into a
rigid exit spout.
The cover is a vertically elongated pod that keeps the impaled tube of tooth-
paste in a vertical attitude. The cover also provides plane surfaces for
mounting toothbrush holders.

9~
-- 2 --
In further description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings wherein,
Figure 1 shows the left side in section,
Figure 2 is a front sectional view and,
Figure 3 is the right side in section.
As shown in Figure 1, a spur in the upper portion of an oscillatable pump
lever engages a ratchet wheel in increments of 22 1/2. On the inside of the
ratchet wheel is a ring gear that meshes with a pair of planetary gears pro-
viding a multiplication of four.
Through the spider assembly of Figure 2, this multiplication is transferred to
the squeeze rollers of Figure 3. The number of squeeze rollers may be varied
as well as the amount of toothpaste dispensed. It has been found, however,
that four rollers engaging a soft tube in step by step rotation provide a
satisfactory operation. A rigid tapered tube at the top of the housing, as
shown in Figure 3, receives a tube of toothpaste in an upside down impaled
relationship. An exit spout receives the lower end of the soft tube and is
self-sealing between oscillations of the pump lever.
As shown in the front sectional view of Figure 29 side plates or caps are
removable so that the internal components can be held secured in place. It is
not recommended that the unit be taken apart.
A removable elongated pod, not shown7 completes the assembly.