Description TUBE SQUEEZER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a tube squeezer; and, more particularly, to a tube squeezer applicable to tubes made from soft or hard materials with a small size and a simple construction.

[2]

Background Art

[3] In conventional, roughly two types of tube squeezers have been used for squeezing out contents from a tube. The first method is squeezing out by rotating rollers using one roller or more and the other method is squeezing out by winding up one end, i.e., an end of an opposite direction of a discharging port of a tube, after inserting the end into a groove formed on a rod on which the groove is formed.

[4] Describing squeezing out method in accordance with a prior art, as illustrated in

Fig. 1, Korea utility model publication Number 1984-6860 discloses a method which makes the contents squeezed with a tube wound around an axis when the end of a tube is inserted into a groove and a handle is rotated, by forming a handle to one side of the axis rod, forming an opening part on the other side along with a narrow inserting groove on the axis rod, and forming bumps on the circumference of the opening part for protecting toothpaste from slipping.

[5] This type can sustain a shape thereof in case when a tube made from hard material, but a tube squeezer is separated from a tube due to the restoring force of the tube in case that the tube is made from soft material.

[6] Also, as illustrated in Fig. 2, United States Patent 5,014,879 discloses a slot formed in a cylinder in the length direction, a bore formed on one side of the cylinder, and one side of the cylinder is jointed with the handle by a pin which penetrates and binds the bore. The handle is formed to be capable of rotating 180 between two fixed positions using the pin as an axis. After inserting the end of a tube to the slot of the cylinder and positioning the handle to make a line with the cylinder, the content of the tube is squeezed out as the end of the tube is wound to the cylinder when the handle is rotated as a user wishes. Also, after squeezing out the contents of a tube, by rotating the handle to one of two fixed positions, the tube is made not to be loosed by being caught up be the handle.

[7] In order to fix a tube not to be loosened after discharging the content of the tube, as the handle should be rotated more than half of a round, this type discharges unnecessary contents or this type is hard to squeeze the tube enough.

[8] After all, the prior art disclosed in Korean Utility Publication Number 1984-6860 can not be applied to a tube made from soft material, and the prior art disclosed in United State patent 5,014,879 cannot control the discharging amount of the content charged in a tube nor can squeeze the tube enough.

[9]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[10] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a tube squeezer capable of discharging contents by squeezing the contents regardless of material of the tube.

[11] It is another object of the present invention to provide a tube squeezer capable of controlling a discharging amount of contents by using a fixing plate formed thereon a plurality of fixing gaps.

[12]

Technical Solution

[13] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided to a tube squeezer, including an inserting rod provided with an inserting groove formed along the direction of length for inserting a tube and a cylindrical fixing plate fixed to one side of the inserting rod, wherein a plurality of fixing gaps is arranged at a predetermined interval along a circumferential surface.

[14] The inserting gaps are open at the other side of the inserting rod.

[15] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided to a tube squeezer, including an inserting rod provided with an inserting groove along a lengthwise direction for inserting a tube, a handle fixed to one side of the inserting rod and a cylindrical fixing plate provided with a penetrating hole on an approximately central portion thereof in a shape corresponding to a shape of the inserting rod so as to insert the inserting rod and a plurality of fixing gaps arranged at a predetermined interval along a circumferential surface thereof so as to be inserted and coupled to a side surface of the tube, wherein the fixing plate is movable along a lengthwise direction of the inserting rod at a state that the inserting rod is penetrated and coupled to the penetrating hole.

[16] Wherein the inserting rod is a polygon.

[17] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided to a tube squeezer, including an inserting rod fixed to a lower end of a tube and a cylindrical fixing plate fixed to one side of the inserting rod, wherein a plurality of fixing gaps is arranged at a certain interval along a circumferential surface thereof.

[18] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided to a tube squeezer, including an inserting rod fixed to a lower end of a tube, a handle

fixed to one side of the inserting rod and a cylindrical fixing plate provided with a penetrating hole on an approximately central portion thereof in a shape corresponding to a shape of the inserting rod so as to insert the inserting rod and a plurality of fixing gaps arranged at a predetermined interval along a circumferential surface thereof so as to be inserted and coupled to a side surface of the tube, wherein the fixing plate is movable along a lengthwise direction of the inserting rod at a state that the inserting rod is penetrated and coupled to the penetrating hole. [19]

Advantageous Effects

[20] The present invention is capable of simplifying a structure of a tube squeezer.

[21] The present invention is capable of reducing a time for discharging contents by maintaining a tube a tight state continuously. [22] The present invention is capable of finely adjusting a discharge amount of contents by using a fixing plate formed thereon a plurality of fixing gaps. [23]

Brief Description of the Drawings [24] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [25] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a tube squeezer in accordance with a prior art;

[26] Fig. 2 is a plan view showing another tube squeezer in accordance with a prior art;

[27] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an integrated type tube squeezer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[28] Fig. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating a usage of a tube squeezer shown in Fig. 3;

[29] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tube squeezer in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

[30] Fig. 6 is an exemplary view illustrating a usage of a tube squeezer shown in Fig. 5.

[31]

Mode for the Invention [32] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [33] At first, in allotting reference numerals to each element of each figure, it should be noticed that the same reference numeral is used for the same element even when indicated in other figures. Also, although a lot of specific items such as particular elements of a circuit are indicated in following description, they are intended to help understanding the present invention and it is apparent to those who are skilled in the art

that the present invention can be carried out without those specific items. And in describing the present invention, when judged that a related and known function or a particular description on design might unnecessarily blur the features of the present invention, the detailed description can be omitted.

[34] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an integrated type tube squeezer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating a usage of a tube squeezer shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tube squeezer in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is an exemplary view illustrating a usage of a tube squeezer shown in Fig. 5.

[35] Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, an inserting rod 11 provided with an inserting groove 12 which is capable of inserting the end of the tube 21, in other words, the opposite end of an outlet, and a cylindrical fixing plate 13, fixed on one side of the inserting rod 11, and on which a number of fixing gaps 14 are arranged along the circumference for making a fit with one side of the wound tube 21 are composed.

[36] Herein, the size of the fixing plate 13 is formed slightly larger than the circumference of the tube 21 when the tube 21 is completely wound around the inserting rod 11 so that the upper part of the tube 21 can be wound completely.

[37] Also, the other side of the inserting rod 11 is open to separate the completely wound tube 21 from the inserting rod 11 of the tube squeezer.

[38] And, it is preferable that the inserting rod 11 is made of hard material as the inserting rod 11 twists to wind the tube 21.

[39] In other words, a tube squeezer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention rotates the fixing plate 13 to discharge the content as much as a user wishes after inserting the lower end of the tube 21 to the inserting groove 12 of the inserting rod 11. According to this, the lower end of the tube 21 is wound around the circumference of the inserting rod 11 and the charged content inside of the tube 21 is squeezed to be discharged through the outlet.

[40] After squeezing, if the side of the tube is inserted into one of a number of fixing gaps 14 formed along the circumference of the fixing plate 13 by moving the fixing plate 13 to the direction of the tube 21, the tube 21 is fixed with the tube 21 wound around the inserting rod 11 of the tube squeezer.

[41] At this time, the length and the shape of the inserting rod 11 can be changed in accordance with the material characteristic of the tube 21 and the content of goods. And, the size and the number of the fixing gaps 14 of the fixing plate 13 can be changed according to the material and the size and the tube 21 and the content of goods.

[42] Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 to illustrate another embodiment of the present

invention, an inserting rod 32 which is formed with an inserting groove 31 for inserting the lower end of the tube 21, or, the opposite end of the outlet, and a handle 33 is which is attached to one side of the inserting rod 32 are included.

[43] Also, separated from the inserting rod 32 and the handle 33, a penetrating hole 41 which corresponds to the shape of the inserting rod 32 is formed so that the inserting rod 32 can penetrate, and a cylindrical fixing plate 43 wherein a number of fixing gaps 42 are formed along the circumference in order to make one side of the wound tube 21 is inserted to be coupled.

[44] Herein, the size of the fixing plate 43 is formed slightly larger than the circumference of the tube 21 when the tube 21 is completely wound around the inserting rod 32 for winding the upper part of the tube 21 completely.

[45] Also, the other side of the inserting rod 32 is open so that the completely wound tube 21 can be removed from the inserting rod 32 of the tube squeezer.

[46] And it is desirable to make the inserting rod 32 with hard material as the inserting rod 32 twists to wind the tube 21.

[47] In other words, a tube squeezer in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention rotates the handle 33 to discharge the content as much as a user wishes, after penetrating the inserting rod 32 into the penetrating hole 41, moving the fixing plate 43 to the direction of the handle 33 as much as possible, and inserting the lower end of the tube 21 to the inserting gap 31 of the inserting rod 32. According to this, the lower end of the tube 21 is wound around the circumference of the inserting rod 32 and the charged content inside of the tube 21 is squeezed to be discharged through the outlet.

[48] After finishing the use of the tube squeezer, if a side of the tube is inserted to couple with one of a number of fixing gaps 42 formed along the circumference of the fixing plate 43 by moving the fixing plate 43 to the direction of the tube 21, the tube 21 is fixed with the tube 21 wound around the inserting rod 32.

[49] At this time, the length and shape of the inserting rod 32 can be changed according to the material characteristic of the tube 21 and the content of goods. Also, the size and the number of the fixing gaps 42 of the fixing plate 43 can be changed according to the material and size of the tube 21 and the content of goods.

[50] Meanwhile, as another embodiment of the present invention, an integral type tube squeezer in accordance with the present invention can be fixed to be bound with the lower end of the tube. At this time, the inserting rod can be composed as a whole type without an inserting groove.

[51] Also, as another embodiment of the present invention, a split type tube squeezer in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention can be fixed and bound to the lower end of the tube. At this time, the inserting rod can be composed as a whole

type without an inserting groove. [52] Therefore, a tube squeezer in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can discharge the content regardless of the tube material. [53] And a minute control of the discharging amount of the content using a fixing plate formed with a number of fixing gaps is possible.

[54] The present invention is capable of simplifying the structure of a tube squeezer.

[55] Also, as the tube is always maintained inflated, the time for discharging the contents is saved. [56] Also, it is possible to minutely control the discharging amount of the content using a fixing plate formed with a number of fixing gaps. [57] Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. [58]