阅读说明：本技术 旅行管 (Travelling pipe ) 是由 C·A·米克索夫斯基 T·W·齐普里安 S·D·库克 C·N·斯洛纳 于 2018-03-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种可重复使用的旅行管,其具有挠性管部分、套环和可螺接在盖上的盖。套环装配在管部分的颈部上并在管部分的颈部与套环之间形成垫圈状的密封。盖具有可防止顶部可翻转的盖意外打开的可旋转的锁定提环。当锁定提环未定位成防止盖意外打开时,其可收回到嵌套位置中,以使提环的手柄与套环的外侧表面基本上齐平。(A reusable travel tube having a flexible tube portion, a collar and a cap threadably attached to the cap. The collar fits over the neck of the tube portion and forms a gasket-like seal between the neck of the tube portion and the collar. The lid has a rotatable locking bail that prevents accidental opening of the top reversible lid. When the locking bail is not positioned to prevent accidental opening of the lid, it may be retracted into a nested position such that the handle of the bail is substantially flush with the outside surface of the collar.)

1. A reusable travel tube, comprising:

a flexible pipe portion having a flanged neck;

a collar fitted over and around the neck of the portion of flexible pipe, wherein the flange fits over a top rim of the collar; and

a cap configured to be screwed onto the collar via a threaded portion of the collar, a rotatable locking bail.

2. The reusable travel tube of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a rotatable locking bail for preventing the lid from opening.

3. The reusable travel tube of claim 2, wherein the locking bail comprises a curved handle attached at a first end to the collar by a ball joint and at a second end to the collar by a pin joint, wherein the second end is slidable along a slot in a side wall of the collar.

4. The reusable travel tube of claim 3, wherein the handle includes a pair of teeth extending therefrom and the lid is a reversible-top lid.

5. The reusable travel tube of claim 4, wherein each of the teeth has a beveled edge.

6. The reusable travel tube of claim 5, wherein the chamfered edge moves over an edge of a top surface of the lid as the rotatable locking bail rotates over the lid.

7. The reusable travel tube of claim 2, wherein the rotatable locking bail is switchable between a nested position and a locked position, wherein the locking bail has a curved handle that is substantially flush with an outer sidewall of the collar in the nested position.

8. The reusable travel tube of claim 7, wherein the curved handle comprises a pair of teeth extending from the handle, and wherein the curved handle is rotatable on the lid with at least one of the teeth abutting a top surface of the lid.

9. The reusable travel tube of claim 8, wherein at least one of the teeth has a beveled edge.

10. The reusable travel tube of claim 9, wherein in the nested position at least one of the teeth is received within a groove of the collar.

11. The reusable travel tube of claim 1, wherein the flange is substantially perpendicular to a sidewall of the neck.

12. The reusable travel tube of claim 11, further comprising a tooth extending downwardly from the flange, wherein a side wall of the tooth is substantially parallel to a side wall of the neck.

13. The reusable travel tube of claim 12, wherein a top rim of the collar fits within a void formed by the flange, the teeth, and a sidewall of the neck.

14. The reusable travel tube of claim 3, wherein the slot includes a lower wall having a protrusion on a top surface of the lower wall.

15. The reusable travel tube of claim 14, wherein an opening extends from a first side surface of the lower wall to a second side surface of the lower wall.

16. A cover system for a reusable travel tube, the cover system comprising:

a collar fitted over and around the neck of the reusable travel tube, the collar comprising a rotatable locking bail; and

a top reversible lid configured to be threaded onto the collar via a threaded portion of the collar, the rotatable locking bail to prevent opening of the top reversible lid.

17. The lid system of claim 16, wherein the rotatable locking bail is switchable between a nested position and a locked position, wherein the locking bail has a curved handle that is substantially flush with an outer sidewall of the collar in the nested position.

18. The lid system of claim 16, wherein the locking bail comprises a curved handle attached at a first end to the collar by a ball joint and at a second end to the collar by a pin joint, wherein the second end is slidable along a recessed slot in a sidewall of the collar.

19. The lid system of claim 17, wherein the curved handle comprises at least one tooth having a beveled edge, the at least one tooth extending from the handle, and wherein the curved handle is rotatable on the lid with the beveled edge abutting a top surface of the lid.

20. The cover system of claim 18, wherein the recessed slot comprises a lower wall having at least one protrusion on a top surface of the lower wall, and wherein an opening extends from a first side surface of the lower wall to a second side surface of the lower wall.

Background

The present invention generally relates to travel bottles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reusable squeezable tube for storing and dispensing washware or food and suitable for shipping.

Containers are used to store food and toiletries, such as lotions and sunscreens. Typically, such containers are used to contain toiletries for travel. Typical travel containers are made of rigid plastic and are generally used only once. While these plastic travel containers are capable of storing and even dispensing viscous fluids, there is a continuing effort to develop new containers that are reusable and provide improved functionality and convenience.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one embodiment, a reusable travel tube is provided. The travel tube includes a flexible tube portion, a collar, and a cap. The flexible pipe portion has a flanged neck portion. A collar fits over and around the neck of the flexible tube portion and a flange fits over the top rim of the collar. The cap is configured to be threaded onto the collar via the threaded portion of the collar.

According to another embodiment, a lid system for a reusable travel tube is provided. The lid system includes a collar and a top reversible lid. The collar fits over and around the neck of the reusable travel tube. The collar includes a reusable locking bail. The top reversible cover is configured to be threaded onto the collar via a threaded portion of the collar. The reusable locking bail prevents the top reversible lid from opening.

Drawings

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by making reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a travel tube according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the travel tube shown in fig. 1 with the bails in a nested position.

FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the travel tube shown in FIG. 1.

Fig. 4A is a side cross-sectional view of the neck of the tube portion of the embodiment shown in fig. 1-3.

FIG. 4B is a side cross-sectional view of the cap, collar and tube portion assembled together.

FIG. 4C is a side cross-sectional view of the cap, collar and tube portion assembled together, showing the relative dimensions of the cap and collar.

Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the collar of the embodiment shown in fig. 1-3.

Fig. 5B is a close-up view of the ball and socket feature for attaching the bail shown in fig. 5A.

Fig. 6A and 6B show an embodiment of a travel tube with a bail in a locked position.

Fig. 7A-7C illustrate the operation of a locking bail according to one embodiment.

Fig. 7D shows a collar according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an embodiment of a travel tube.

Detailed Description

The present invention generally relates to travel bottles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reusable squeezable tube for storing and dispensing washware or food and suitable for shipping.

Referring to fig. 1-8, a reusable, squeezable travel tube will be described. According to one embodiment, the travel tube 100 includes a cap 110, a collar 120, and a silicone tube portion 130. The collar 120 includes a locking bail mechanism 122 to prevent the cap 110 from accidentally opening and leaking the contents of the travel tube 100. Additionally, the locking bail 12 may be used as a fixation point for clamps, hooks, or other tethers. When not used to lock the cap 110 in place, the lock bail 122 may be retracted into a low profile nesting position on the collar 120.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a squeezable travel tube 100 according to one embodiment. The travel tube 100 includes a crushable flexible tube portion 130 fitted with a collar 120. As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 2, and described in further detail below, collar 120 fits over and is secured to neck 132 of tube portion 130. An opening 134 at the neck 132 allows the tube 100 to be refilled and cleaned. As shown in fig. 2, the collar 120 is provided with a threaded portion 129 corresponding to a threaded portion (not shown) in the cap 110 so that the cap 110 can be screwed on the collar 120 to assemble the travel tube 100. According to one embodiment, the threaded portion 129 is oriented such that when the cover 110 is threaded onto the collar 120 and tightened, the cover 110 is preferably oriented as shown in fig. 6A and 6B, with the hinge 112 on a side of the cover 110 preferably opposite the bail 122.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, cap 110 may be a flip-top cap having a small opening through which a viscous fluid may be squeezed from tube portion 130 in a controlled manner. According to other embodiments, the cap may be a simple screw cap. The opening 134 at the relatively wide mouth of the tube portion 130 and the collar 120 allow for easy filling and cleaning of the tube portion 110. The user can easily control the dispensing of fluid from the tube 100 by means of a relatively small opening (not shown) in the top reversible cap 110.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the travel tube 100 showing the cap 110, collar 120, and tube portion 130. The exploded view of fig. 3 shows another feature of collar 120: a retractable locking bail 122 attached to the collar 120 and described in more detail below. As described above, the cap 110 is threaded onto the collar 120 via the threaded portion 129 on the collar 120 and a corresponding threaded portion (not shown) in the cap 110.

Collar 120 is attached to tube portion 130 by fitting collar 120 over neck 132 of tube portion 130. Fig. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the neck 132. As shown in fig. 4, the neck 134 has a flange 136 with teeth 138 on its end. The flange 136 is substantially perpendicular to the main body of the neck 134, and the teeth 138 extend downwardly from the flange at a substantially perpendicular angle. Thus, the sides of the teeth 138 are substantially parallel to the sides of the neck 134. The thickness T of the flange 136 is preferably in the range of about 0.75-3mm, and more preferably about 1.2 mm. It will be appreciated that this thickness T is the thickness of the flange 136 in an uncompressed state, because the flange 136 is compressed when the cap 110 is tightened on the collar 120, and therefore the thickness T is smaller. The width W of the teeth 138 is preferably in the range of about 1-3.5mm, and more preferably about 1.5 mm. The height H of the teeth 138 is preferably in the range of about 1.5-3.5mm, and more preferably about 2.15 mm. According to one embodiment, tube portion 130 is formed of a flexible silicone material (which may be compressed) and collar 120 is formed of a substantially rigid polypropylene material.

The dimensions of neck 132 allow for a gasket-like strong seal between tube portion 130 and collar 120 when collar 120 is fitted over neck 132. Fig. 4B also shows the sealing surface 118 of the cap 110. The distance between the sealing surface 118 of the cap 110 and the top surface of the top rim 119 of the collar 120 is the thickness t after tightening, as shown in fig. 4B. As described above, the flange 136 is compressed when the cap 110 is tightened on the collar 120. Thus, a tight gasket-like seal is achieved where both the height H and width W of the teeth 138 are greater than the thickness T (especially the thickness T after tightening).

Fig. 4B is a side cross-sectional view of cap 110, collar 120, and tube portion 130 assembled together. As shown in fig. 4B, flange 136 is above top rim 119 of collar 120 with teeth 138 abutting the outer surface of collar 120. Fig. 4B shows the teeth 138 around the outer surface of the collar 120 above the threaded portion 129. The top rim 119 of collar 120 fits within the space between flange 136, teeth 138 and the main body of tube portion 130. Fig. 4A shows a chamfered lower edge 139 of the teeth 138 facing the body of the tube portion 130. The beveled lower edge 139 makes it easier to fit the flange 136 and teeth 138 on the top rim 119 of the collar 120.

Fig. 4C shows the relative dimensions of the cap 110 and collar 120. Diameter D of cap 110_CoverPreferably wider than the total height H of the cap 110 and collar 120_{General assembly}. Preferably, the total height H of the cap 110 and collar 120_{General assembly}Diameter D of the cap 110_CoverIs 0.75 or less. According to one embodiment, the diameter D of the cap 110_CoverIs about 41mm and the total height H of the cap 110 and collar 120_{General assembly}Is about 27.4 mm. In this embodiment, the diameter D of the collar 120_{Lantern ring}Slightly wider, about 45mm, and the inner diameter D of the tube 130_PipeIs about 24 mm. Inner diameter D of tube 130_PipeTo the total height H of the cap 110 and collar 120_{General assembly}The ratio of (a) is preferably 0.75 or more. In this embodiment, the height H of the cover 110_CoverIs about 16.75 mm. Inner diameter D of tube 130_PipeHeight H from cover 110_CoverPreferably at least about 1.25. According to one embodiment, the height H of the visible collar 120 with the cap 110 threaded thereon_{The collar is visible}(not shown) is about 10.5 mm. Height H_{The collar is visible}And the inner diameter D of the tube 130_PipePreferably about 0.55 or less. Height H_{The collar is visible}Diameter D of the cap 110_CoverPreferably about 0.3 or less. Height H_{The collar is visible}Diameter D of the collar 120_{Lantern ring}Also preferably about 0.3 or less.

As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the locking bail 122 may be pulled out, temporarily stretched and positioned in a locked position to lock the lid 110 in the closed position. In the locked position, the teeth 128A, 128B of the lock bail 122 push against the top of the lid 110 to prevent the invertible top of the lid 110 from accidentally flipping or opening due to internal pressure. As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, in the locked position, teeth 128A, 128B are positioned to push down against the top of lid 110, preferably near the side opposite hinge 112, to prevent lid 110 from inadvertently flipping open or opening due to internal pressure. Thus, locking teeth 128A, 128B have greater locking capability/leverage on cover 110 by moving further away from hinge 112. The teeth 128A, 128B can remain in the locked position because some additional force is required to pull the handle 125 or momentarily bend the teeth 128A, 128B so that the teeth 128A, 128B slide up over the edge of the top of the lid 110 to disengage the teeth 128A, 128B (and the bail 122) from the top of the lid 110. As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, a groove 128C is provided between the teeth 128A, 128B. This groove 128C allows the bail 122 to be clipped or tethered even when the bail 122 is in the locked position. In some embodiments, only one tooth extends from the handle 125 for pushing down on the cap 110 in the locked position.

The locking bail 122 is attached to the collar 120 by a ball joint 123 at one end on one side of the collar 120 and to the collar 120 by a bell pin joint 124 at the other end on the other side of the collar 120. As shown in fig. 5B, a ball 123A at one end of the handle 125 fits within a corresponding socket 123B in the collar 120. As shown in fig. 5A, the flare pin 124A at the other end of the handle 125 is fitted within a slot 127 in the side wall of the collar 120 such that the flare pin 124A is fixed within and slidable along the slot 127. In the nested position, the horn pin 124A fits within a correspondingly shaped space 124B at one end of the slot 127. It will be appreciated that the curvature of the handle 125 substantially corresponds to the curvature of the collar 120. This can be seen when the bail 122 is in the nested position, as shown in fig. 7A.

As shown in fig. 5B, collar 120 may have a label region 117, which is a textured region at the base of collar 120. The label area 117 is slightly textured to allow the user to write on the area 117, for example, to mark/identify the contents or to write the user's name. The label area 117 is slightly recessed to prevent the label from being wiped off or soiled.

As shown in fig. 7A, an outwardly flared tab 126 is located at an end of the handle 125 opposite the flare pin 124A. When the bail 122 is in the nested position and the tab 126 is pushed by the user in the direction of arrow a, the horn pin 124A slides along the slot 127 in the direction of arrow a until it reaches the other end of the slot 127, as shown in fig. 7B. Fig. 6A and 6B also show a horn pin 124A at the other end of the slot 127. When the horn pin 124A slides along the slot 127, the bail 122 stretches a little and snaps into the extended position when the horn pin 124A reaches the other end of the slot 127. When the bail 122 is in the fully nested position and the extended position in the relaxed state (when the horn pin 124A is located at the other end of the slot 127), the bail 122 also snaps into the nested position. Between these two states, the bail 122 is stretched (the stretching is greatest at the midpoint between the nested and extended positions). The bail 122 is preferably formed from a polypropylene or polyamide material.

In this extended position with the horn pin 124A at the other end of the slot 127, the handle 125 can be rotated upward, pulled, and snapped into a locked position on the cover 110, as shown in fig. 7C. It should be understood that for simplicity, fig. 7A-7C only show the collar 120, without the cap 110 and tube 130. Fig. 3 shows that the imaginary axis X is formed by the pins 123A, 124A. The handle 125 is rotatable about an imaginary axis X formed by the pins 123A, 124A. To unlock the bail 122, the handle 125 is rotated in the opposite direction and downward from the position shown in fig. 7C to the extended position shown in fig. 7B. To move the bail 122 back into the nested position as shown in fig. 7A, the bail 122 is pushed in a direction opposite to that shown by arrow a. Thus, if the handle 125 is rotated in a clockwise direction to a locked position, the handle 125 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to an unlocked position. Similarly, if the handle 125 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to the locked position, the handle 125 is rotated in a clockwise direction to the unlocked position.

The locking bail 122 may also serve as a handle by which the travel tube 100 may be held or hooked for attachment to another item, such as a lanyard, carabiner, hook, bag, or backpack. When not used as a handle or to lock the lid 110 in the closed position, the locking bail 122 may be retracted into the nested position such that the bail 122 is substantially flush with the surface of the collar 120. Fig. 7A shows the lock bail 122 in an unlocked nested position with the handle 125 nested within the slot 127 in the collar 120. In the nested position, teeth 128A fit within correspondingly shaped recesses 121, while teeth 128B fit within slots 127, such that the outer surface of handle 125 is substantially flush with the outer surface of collar 120. As described above, the curvature of the handle 125 corresponds to the curvature of the collar 120.

According to one embodiment, to move the locking bail 122 from the locked position, as shown in fig. 6A and 6B, to the unlocked nested position, as shown in fig. 1 and 7A, the user pushes the handle 125 in a direction away from the hinge 112 to disengage the teeth 128A, 128B from the top of the lid 110. As described above, the bail 122 is in the locked position with the handle 125 and teeth 128A, 128B on the top surface of the lid 110. It should be noted that when the handle 125 is simply rotated upward, the bottom surfaces of the teeth 128A, 128B do not disengage the top surface/lip of the cap 110. In one embodiment, the teeth 128A, 128B are chamfered on the side facing the center of the tube 100 when in the locked position. The chamfer helps the teeth 128A, 128B slide on top of the cap because additional force is required to stretch the handle 125 slightly to push the bottom surfaces of the teeth 128A, 128B over the lip of the top surface of the cap 110. The opposing sides of the teeth 128A, 128B are not chamfered to prevent the bail 122 from unlocking. Thus, in this embodiment, the force required to unlock the bail 122 is greater than the force required to lock the bail 122. As described above, the teeth 128A, 128B may also flex to allow the teeth 128A, 128B to pass up and over the edge of the cover 110. The combination of stretching of the bail 122 and/or flexing of the teeth 128A, 128B may allow the teeth 128A, 128B to slide up and over the edge of the cover 110.

The ball joint 123 allows rotation of the pin 123A and translation of the pin 124A from one end of the slot 127 to the other end of the slot 127 and rotation of the handle 125 about the imaginary axis X.

Fig. 7D shows another embodiment of collar 220. In the embodiment shown in fig. 7D, the collar 220 is provided with a retention feature for retaining the lock bail 122 in the nested position to prevent accidental release of the handle 125. In the embodiment shown in fig. 7D, collar 220 has a lower wall 235 that is located within recessed slot 227. The lower wall 235 is concave and the slot 227 above the lower wall 235 is open. In the illustrated embodiment, the retention features include openings (such as holes 231) in the lower wall 235 of the collar 220 and corresponding protrusions or projections 233 on a top surface or rim of the lower wall 235. As shown in fig. 7D, the aperture 231 extends through the thickness of the lower wall 235 from one side surface of the lower wall 235 to the other side surface of the lower wall 235.

As shown in fig. 7D, the projections 233 are positioned over the apertures 231 and provide a snap detent when the handle 125 is in the nested position. When the handle 125 is in the nested position, the protrusion 133 retains the handle 125 in the nested position. When the user intentionally pushes the handle 125 out of the nested position, the aperture 131 allows the protrusion 133 to flex a little and then snap back into place. In other embodiments, the retaining feature includes only the protrusion 133 (and no hole in the lower wall 235) for retaining the handle 125 in the nested position. In other embodiments, the retention feature may include more than one protrusion 133. For example, a second protrusion may be positioned on the top surface of the lower wall to hold the handle 125 in a fully pushed back position (as shown in fig. 7B).

Fig. 8 is a side view of tube portion 130. As shown in fig. 8, has a concave, slightly dished end 134 on the bottom surface. The slightly dish-shaped end 134 allows the travel tube 100 to stand upright on the end. It will be appreciated that the travel tube 100 can stand upright on the cover 110 or on the slightly dished 134. Erecting the travel tube 100 on a slightly dish-shaped 134 is particularly useful when filling and refilling the travel tube 100.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in many other forms without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention. In view of all of the foregoing, it is to be understood that the present embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive, and that the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.