FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to storage apparatus for deformable packaging tubes of the type widely used for packaging pastes such as toothpaste and the like, gels, creams, and others semi-liquids and liquids (herein referred to as either the packaged product or simply the product) wherein small amounts of the packaged product are used intermittently, as and when required, typically by squeezing the tube. Such deformable packaging tubes are particularly widely used for packaging personal hygiene preparations the most notable of which are toothpaste, cosmetics and medicinal preparations, as well as culinary condiments and the like, adhesives, and components of playthings.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Deformable packaging tubes are an extremely convenient and cost-effective means of packaging numerous different products especially in the pharmaceutical, medical and food industries. However, such deformable tubes do have a number of disadvantages.

One drawback of such packaging tubes is that there is a tendency for at least some product to move towards the closed end of the tube when it is squeezed to dispense some product from the opposite discharge end. It is accordingly difficult to effectively dispense the entire contents of a tube unless it is made of a permanently deformable material having substantially no plastic memory or resilience, as in the case of old-fashioned collapsible metal tubes. In the instance of tubes made of some types of plastics material, appreciable resilience or a plastic memory tends to cause the tube to revert to a distended condition irrespective the proportion of product that has been dispensed.

In the latter instance, the content of the packaging tube, if it is reasonably liquid, tends to flow onto a side wall of the packaging tube that typically lies in a normally horizontal position. Urging such a product towards the discharge end of the tube can be challenging. Also, such resilience or plastic memory can also cause air to flow into the tube which is detrimental to most products

Many different proposals have been put forward to overcome these difficulties. Many of the prior art devices operate on the basis of rolling the tube up from its closed end and the device, in each instance, includes means for maintaining it in its rolled-up condition.

Others pinch the tube between a pair of rollers or skids biased towards each other so that, as the rollers or skids proceed from the straight closed end of the tube towards the discharge end, the tube is flattened and its contents urged towards the discharge end.

Many of these prior art devices have costly, and in some instances complicated, operating mechanisms. In the instance of some generally more costly products, a rather large cap is provided for the object and so that the tube can be stood upright with its closed end up uppermost. In such an instance the product will generally tend to flow downwards towards the outlet end which is lowermost. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide storage apparatus for deformable packaging tubes that assists, at least to some extent, in overcoming one or more of the disadvantages indicated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a hanger for a deformable packaging tube the hanger having a clamp arrangement for operatively attaching a transverse closed end of a deformable packaging tube to the hanger, and a suspension facility selected from a suspension formation whereby the clamp can be releasably suspended from a separate suspension member with the deformable packaging tube hanging downwardly therefrom, and a mounting face for mounting the hanger to a generally vertical surface with the closed end of a deformable packaging tube generally parallel to the mounting face but spaced outwards therefrom with the packaging tube hanging downwards to provide a space directly beneath the clamp arrangement for accommodating an outwardly bulging region of a full packaging tube adjacent the straight closed end thereof.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the clamp arrangement to include at least one jaw cooperating with an opposed surface or jaw of the clamp so as to operatively engage opposite sides of a transverse closed end of a deformable packaging tube, in use; for the hanger to be made of bent metal sheet material, especially bent stainless steel sheet material and most especially spring stainless steel, in which instance the jaw may be a free edge of a flange of the metal sheet that forms one edge of an operatively generally horizontal slot for accommodating and supporting a flat closed end of a deformable packaging tube; for an opposite side of the slot to be formed either by a flat inner surface of one limb of a generally channel shaped hanger, or by a co-operating jaw in the form of an edge of an inwardly directed flange extending from the opposite side of a channel shaped hanger.

In a most preferred form of the invention, the hanger is bent to a generally channel or Vee shape from stainless spring steel sheet material having a thickness of from 0.4 mm to 1 mm and preferably about 0.5 mm to about 0.7 mm. In such an instance the depth of the channel or Vee may be about 10 to 30 mm, and preferably about 12 mm in the instance of a channel and about 25mm in the instance of a narrow Vee-shape. The width of the channel or Vee at its widest part may be from 5 mm to about 10 mm with a convenient width being about 7 or 8 mm.

As regards the length of the hanger, it is considered that the hanger need not have a length as great as the width of the closed end of a deformable packaging tube and it could be significantly shorter. As a general rule it is considered that a length of the hanger could be from about 20 mm to about 50 mm with a preferred length being about 28 mm.

Of course, numerous other ways of manufacturing a hanger according to the invention are possible including fabrication utilizing two strips of bent metal, typically spot welded together at spaced positions, as well as extrusion of an appropriate material such as aluminium or a suitable, optionally fibre reinforced, plastics material. In a first variation of the invention the hanger is configured to co-operate with a separate suspension member secured to a generally upright support surface such that a deformable packaging tube may be releasably suspended from the suspension member. A particular feature of the first variation of the invention provides for a screw threaded fastener to be included in the hanger for urging a jaw towards an opposed surface or co-operating jaw of the clamp to firmly clamp an end of a deformable packaging tube to the hanger. In such an instance a nut, such as a manually operable wing nut or knurled nut, may be provided for cooperating with the screw threaded fastener. In this instance it is preferred that the hanger be of a generally channel shape in cross-section with somewhat divergent limbs to the channel. In such an instance pulling the limbs towards each other is arranged to effect the clamping action when the screw threaded fastener is tightened.

In one sub-variation of the first variation of the invention the hanger is arranged so that the suspension formation suspends the hanger and attached deformable packaging tube with the channel shaped hanger in a generally horizontal orientation. In one arrangement a jaw defined by an edge of a limb or flange extending inwardly from one limb of the channel operatively clamps the closed end of the deformable packaging tube between itself and a generally vertical limb or flange of the hanger.

In such an instance the suspension formation may be arranged such that it clips onto a suspension member in the form of a support rod or the like and the suspension formation may also be rotatable about a generally vertical axis so that the maximum width of a deformable packaging tube can be accommodated in a most appropriate orientation.

In another sub-variation of the first variation of the invention the hanger may be operatively of a narrow inverted and thus generally vertical U or Vee shape in the operative orientation with a shaped cut-out approximately centrally of the length of the hanger for enabling the hanger to be introduced upwardly and then transversely onto a suspension member in the form of a rod or stud with the hanger being lowered into cooperating relationship with the rod or stud once a suitable position has been reached. Alternatively, the hanger could simply be provided with an aperture centrally located in its length whereby the hanger can be suspended from a simple hook projecting from an upright surface. The invention also provides storage apparatus for deformable packaging tubes comprising at least one hanger as defined above and a cooperating suspension member having support means whereby it can be supported in a generally horizontal orientation. The suspension member may be an elongate operatively generally horizontal rod and the support means may be at least one base whereby the suspension member can be secured to a generally upright surface with preferably both of the ends of the suspension member being provided with a base for securing them to a generally upright surface.

Alternatively, the support means may be a freestanding base supporting the suspension member in an elevated position. The rod may be bent to a generally shallow U-shape in plan view or to a squat arch shape in plan view.

In a second variation of the invention the hanger has a mounting face for mounting the hanger to a generally vertical surface with the closed end of a deformable packaging tube generally parallel to the mounting face but spaced outwards therefrom and any packaging tube hanging downwards with a space being provided directly beneath the clamp arrangement for accommodating an outwardly bulging region of a full packaging tube adjacent the straight closed end thereof.

Further features of the second variation of the invention provide for the hanger to have a front face directed outwardly away from the mounting face and extending at an incline to the mounting face between the clamp and an operatively lower edge of the mounting face; for the clamp to be an operatively generally horizontal slot accommodating and supporting a flat end of a deformable packaging tube in a plane at generally right angles to the length of the tube; for the slot to be defined between an upper edge of the front face and a surface of an outwardly projecting flange extending at generally right angles to the mounting face; and for the hanger to be formed to a generally elongate triangular shape in cross-section with a short side thereof operatively uppermost and extending between the mounting face and the clamp. In instances in which the upper edge of the stainless steel defining the front face is located opposite the under surface of the outwardly projecting flange, a slot is defined between such edge and the under surface of the flange. As a general rule, the stainless spring steel will provide a sharp edge that will not become blunt in use and in consequence of engagement with a straight closed end of a deformable packaging tube.

It will be understood that the very nature of the straight sealed end of at least most plastics packaging tubes tends to form a line of weakening between the tube itself and the flat seal that, in effect, forms a sort of a hinged zone that enables the tube to hang almost straight downwards in the second variation of the invention with the flat sealed end at generally right angles to the length of the tube. The thin sheet steel edge of the bent sheet construction of the hanger is particularly well-suited to supporting such a tube adjacent that hinged zone.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood different embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the first variation hanger provided by the invention attached to a deformable packaging tube, typically of a personal hygiene preparation, in an operative position in which it is suspended from a generally horizontal rod;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the hanger alone;

Figure 3 is a front view of the hanger illustrated in Figure 1 showing the upper end of the deformable packaging tube in ghosted lines; Figure 4 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the invention similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 but with some variations;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one form of suspension member having four different flexible packaging tubes suspended therefrom;

Figure 6 is an elevation of a freestanding base supporting an elevated suspension rod; Figure 7 illustrates in end view a second embodiment of the first variation of hanger according to the invention and its associated suspension rod;

Figure 8 is a side view thereof showing the deformable packaging tube in ghosted lines;

Figure 9 is the same view as Figure 8 but showing a simple aperture whereby the hanger can be suspended on a suspension member; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing an end view of a further embodiment of the first variation of the hanger according to the invention;

Figure 11 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the second variation of the invention;

Figure 12 is a side view illustrating the embodiment of Figure 11 supporting a tube of toothpaste or other personal hygiene preparation in an operative position on a wall or other vertical support surface;

Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the hanger shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an end view of the embodiment of the second variation of the invention illustrated in Figures 11 to 13;

Figure 15 is a front view thereof;

Figure 16 is an end view of a variation of the embodiment of the hanger illustrated in Figures 11 to 15; and,

Figure 17 is an isometric view of a roller that may be used in flattening a deformable packaging tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the first variation of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, an operatively generally horizontal hanger [1] for a deformable packaging tube [2] has a suspension formation [3] located centrally along the length of the hanger so as to suspend the hanger and tube from a suspension member in the form of a generally horizontal rod [4].

The hanger is, in this instance, made of stainless spring steel sheet material bent to a generally channel shape with an inwardly bent flange [5] extending inwards from the edge of one limb [6] of the channel. The orientation of the channel is such that the flange is located in a generally vertical plane. The free edge of the other limb [7] of the channel forms a jaw [8] that is spaced slightly from the inner surface of the generally vertical flange. A slot [9] is thus formed between the jaw and the inner surface of the opposite limb.

The channel shape is adapted to be generally horizontal in its operative position, as illustrated in Figure 1 , with the slot directed downwards and the flat transverse closed end [10] of the deformable packaging tube clamped firmly between the jaw and the opposite generally vertical flange, as shown clearly in Figure 2.

In order to effect a clamping action, a screw [11] passes through the two limbs of the hanger centrally of the length thereof for urging the jaw towards the opposed surface of the flange. In this instance a wing-nut [12] is provided for the purpose of tightening the screw. In order to ensure effective clamping, the lower limb of the channel shape diverges somewhat from the other limb so that tightening of the screw causes the jaw to move arcuately towards the opposed face of the flange. An extremely effective clamp is thus provided.

A variation of this arrangement is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the flange [13] is at a slightly obtuse angle to its supporting limb [14] so that as the other limb [15] is urged inwards, the slot narrows and a more pronounced clamping action ensues. In this embodiment of the invention the suspension formation is provided on a separate unit [16] through which the screw passes so that a hook projects outwards on one side of the hanger in order to be able to clip onto the rod [4]. The suspension formation is, in this instance, also rotatable about a generally vertical axis so that, whilst the rod can only be introduced into the hook with the suspension unit in one general angular orientation, the tube and hanger can be rotated with the rod in the installed position so that the maximum width of a deformable packaging tube can be accommodated in a most appropriate transverse orientation, as shown clearly in Figures 5 and 6.

In one embodiment of this first variation of the invention the stainless steel sheet material has a thickness of about 0.8 mm; the channel has a depth of about 12 mm; a width at its widest part of about 7 mm; and a length of about 28 mm.

It is to be noted that the use of stainless spring steel material is highly advantageous from many points of view including that of its hardness that is such that the cut edges that form jaws will be naturally sharp and remain sharp and effective over extended periods of time

A complete storage apparatus according to the invention could thus include an operatively horizontal rod of generally squat arch shape in plan view, as illustrated in Figure 5, and from which a series of tubes can be suspended. The operatively generally horizontal rod has, at its free ends, a base [18] for securing it to a generally upright surface [19]

Figure 6 illustrates a freestanding storage unit [20] having an elevated horizontal suspension member in the form of a horizontal rod [21 ] supported by a freestanding base [22]. A freestanding storage unit, it is envisaged, will be particularly useful in application to culinary condiments and the like that are supplied in tubes. However, such a freestanding version may also find application in many cosmetic and grooming applications both on a commercial and a domestic scale. The fact that the hanger is made of stainless steel enables the unit to be stored in a refrigerator without any danger of corrosion. Similarly, if the freestanding storage unit itself is to be stored in a refrigerator it should be similarly made of an appropriate material.

Spring steel and especially spring stainless steel also enables the hanger to return to its original position when disengaging it from a tube end and to be engaged with a tube end of a different configuration. Numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the first variation of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Thus, the screw could be omitted provided that the jaw or jaws engage the flat end of the packaging tube sufficiently firmly.

An different embodiment of this first variation of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 in which the hanger [24] is of a narrow, operatively inverted generally vertical U or Vee shape that has, approximately centrally of the length of the hanger, a shaped cut-out [25] for enabling the hanger to be introduced upwardly and then transversely onto a suspension rod with the hanger being lowered into cooperating relationship with the rod or stud, as shown in Figure 8.

The advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that by die stamping a single sheet of metal, the suspension formation is provided integral with the hanger and any costs associated with the provision of a separate hook and screw and the assembly of the hanger are obviated.

The same advantages can be achieved, in another instance, by simply stamping an aperture [23] through the hanger in place of thecut-out, as illustrated in Figure 9. Such an aperture can be used to suspend the hanger from a simple hook or one of multiple spaced projecting free-ended studs on a base, for example.

Figure 7 illustrates one arrangement in which the free edge [26] of a transverse flange [27] forms a slot with the opposite limb of the U or Vee shaped hanger and the resiliency of the metal is selected so that by sliding the closed end of a deformable packaging tube between the two, it is firmly maintained in position. Figure 10 illustrates an alternative arrangement in which both of the two limbs [28] of the narrow inverted U or Vee shaped hanger are provided with inwardly bent and upwardly directed symmetrical flanges the free edges [29] of which form two opposed jaws that serve to clamp the closed end of a deformable packaging tube between them. The arrangement in this instance may be such that the flat closed end of the tube can be introduced into the slot between the two jaws in either an inwards or transverse direction and the two jaws prevent the end of the tube from falling out of the hanger by the saw-tooth relationship that the two flanges assume to each other. In this instance the end of the tube must be slid out from the hanger transversely.

It will be appreciated that, in use, the storage apparatus provided by this invention can be effectively used to store multiple tubes of different products all of which will be held in a downwardly hanging orientation. A relatively small storage space is required for a relatively large number of deformable packaging tubes that would otherwise generally be stored in a rather loose and untidy arrangement on a horizontal surface. The fact that the tubes are held in a orientation in which they hang downwards has the added benefit that any liquid or semiliquid product within the tube will run down towards the discharge end of the tube thereby obviating the problem of such product adhering to the side wall of the tube and being difficult to squeeze out. In the embodiment of the second variation of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 1 to 15 of the accompanying drawings, an operatively horizontal hanger [31 ] for a deformable packaging tube [32] has a mounting face [33] for mounting the hanger to a generally vertical surface [34] such as that of a wall or inside of a cupboard door. Typically, the mounting face will be adhesively secured to the generally vertical surface and with this end in view, the mounting face may be provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive covered with a cover strip or a supply of a suitable adhesive may be supplied with the hanger. The adhesive coat, in addition, may be carried by a deformable pad of a type well known in the adhesives art.

In this instance, the hanger is formed to a generally triangular shape in cross- section from bent stainless spring steel sheet having a thickness of about 0.5 mm. The operatively vertical mounting face has an operative height of about 25 mm, and the short uppermost operatively horizontal side of the triangle forms a flange [35] that extends outwardly from the mounting face by a distance of about 7 mm.

The outermost edge of the flange is associated with a slot [36] formed between the downwardly directed surface of the flange and the upper edge [37] of an upwardly inclined front [38] of the hanger.

The slot is dimensioned such that the straight closed end [39] of the deformable packaging tube [32] may be introduced into the slot and held generally at right angles to the plane of the mounting face but spaced outwards therefrom.

The front of the hanger is inclined upwardly from the lower edge [40] of the mounting face and, this being so, it provides space directly beneath the clamp for accommodating an outwardly bulging region [41 ] of a full packaging tube immediately adjacent the straight closed end with the packaging tube hanging downwards from the clamp that holds the closed straight end generally horizontally.

In use, the deformable packaging tube can be manually squeezed against the generally vertical surface in order to dispense contents of the tube intermittently, as and when required.

At any stage during the use of the contents in the packaging tube, a roller [45] carried by a suitable handle [46], as illustrated in Figure 17, may be employed for flattening the tube from the straight closed end towards the discharge end either whilst the packaging tube is supported in the hanger or with the tube removed from the hanger and supported, for example, on a horizontal surface such as a vanity surface. Numerous other ways of manufacturing a hanger according to the invention are possible including, as illustrated in Figure 16, fabrication utilizing two strips [48, 49] of bent metal typically spot welded together at spaced positions towards the lower edge [50] of the hanger. It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

In particular, other ways of manufacturing a hanger according to the invention are possible, as indicated above.

Also the basic shape of the hanger can be varied widely as can the shape and configuration of the suspension member.