BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a tube for a flowable material which is susceptible
to flavor loss.
[0002] The use of collapsible tubes for a flowable material, such as dental cream, is known.
The tubes normally define a chamber, have a tapered shoulder, and have a neck extending
from the shoulder. The tubes are normally constructed from a laminate, such as polyethylene,
aluminum foil, paper, and polyethylene. Although the tubes operate satisfactorily
in dispensing the material, it has been found that the material is subject to flavor
loss in the region of the shoulder.
[0003] The normal solution to this problem has been to use plastics in the tube with enhanced
flavor barrier properties. However, these materials have been found to be excessively
expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a tube for a flowable
material susceptible to flavor loss.
[0005] The tube of the present invention comprises, an elongated collapsible inner body
portion comprising a laminate and defining a chamber to receive the material, with
the body portion having an outer end. The tube has a top portion comprising a tapered
shoulder, and a hollow neck communicating with the chamber. The top portion has an
annular body portion extending inwardly from the shoulder and having an inner end.
[0006] A feature of the present invention is that the top portion is constructed of a material
which is resistant to causation of flavor loss in the material.
[0007] Thus, a feature of the present invention is that the tube prevents flavor loss of
the material which is dispensed from the tube.
[0008] Another feature of the invention is the provision of means for securing the inner
end of the top portion to the outer end of the body portion.
[0009] Further features will become more fully apparent in the following description of
the embodiments of this invention and from the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tube for a flowable material of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a tube generally designated 10 comprising
an elongated collapsible inner body portion 12, and an outer top portion 14 which
is secured to the body portion 12. The body portion 12 comprises a laminate 16, such
as polyethylene 18, aluminum foil 20, paper 22, and polyethylene 24. The body portion
12 defines a chamber 26 to receive a flowable material 28, such as dental cream, which
is susceptible to flavor loss. As shown, the body portion 12 has an outer end 30.
[0012] The top portion 14 is constructed of a material which is resistant to causation of
flavor loss in the material 28, such as aluminum. The top portion 14 has a tapered
shoulder 32, and a hollow neck 34 for dispensing the material 28 through the neck
34 when the body portion 12 is squeezed or collapsed. The top portion 14 has an annular
body portion 36 extending inwardly from the shoulder 32 and having an inner end 38
which is tapered. The tapered inner end 38 of the top portion 14 is received in the
outer end 30 of the body portion 12, and the inner end 38 of the top portion 14 is
secured to the outer end 30 of the body portion 12 by suitable means, such as crimping.
[0013] As shown, the neck 34 of the top portion 14 has outer threads 40. The tube 10 has
a cap 42 with inner threads 44 which cooperate with the threads 40 of the neck 34
in order to secure the cap 42 onto the neck 34 and close the neck 34. The cap, 42,
may also be of the captive or flip-top variety.
[0014] Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the tube 10 has a top portion 14
constructed of a material which is resistant to causation of flavor loss of the material
28 to prevent dispensing of material 28 through the neck 34 with flavor loss. At the
same time, the top portion 14 has the appearance of the laminate 16 for a pleasing
appearance of the tube 10.
[0015] The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only,
and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will
be obvious to those skilled in the art.
1. A tube for flowable material susceptible to flavor loss, compirsing:
an elongated collapsible inner body portion comprising a laminate and defining a chamber
to receive the material, said body portion having an outer end; and
an outer top portion of a material which is resistant to causation of flavor loss
in the material, said top portion comprising a tapered shoulder and a hollow neck
communicating with the chamber, said top portion having an annular body portion extending
inwardly from the shoulder and having an inner end; and
means for securing the inner end of the top portion to the outer end of the body portion.
2. The tube of claim 1 wherein the laminate of the body portion comprises polyethylene,
aluminum foil, paper, and polyethylene.
3. The tube of claim 1 wherein the top portion comprises aluminum.
4. The tube of claim 1 wherein the outer surfaces of the neck has threads, and including
a cap having inner threads to secure the cap onto the neck by the threads to close
the neck.
5. The tube of claim 1 wherein the inner end of the top portion is tapered, with the
taper being received inside the laminate of the outer end of the inner body portion.
6. The tube of claim 5 wherein the securing means comprises crimping of the outer
end of the inner body portion and the inner end of the top portion.
7. The tube of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the neck is suitable for the fitment
of a captive of flip-top cap.