US3868036A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety package for collapsible tubes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-13
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1992-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A flexible, unbreakable protective tube or sleeve is placed and retained about a conventional collapsible squeeze tube which may contain a harmful substance. The protective tube prevents a child from breaking and biting into the squeeze tube, and yet permits an adult user to apply pressure to the collapsible tube and thereby cause material to be forced out of that tube. Also disclosed is a flexible safety cap enclosure for the tube, in which pressure greater than that which can be applied by a child must be applied to the outer wall of the enclosure to bring the latter into engagement with the squeeze tube cap, after which rotation of the closure removes the cap from the tube.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Wittwer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:06
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045; B65D50/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A safety package for use in combination with a flexible squeeze tube of the type made of a material that can be broken by a child to enable the child to reach the contents of the tube and having a discharge opening formed in a reduced-diameter neck that extends from the tube, a closure cap being removably secured to the neck to cover the discharge opening when the tube is not in use to dispense material therefrom, said safety package comprising a sleeve member made of a flexible material that cannot be broken by a child, said sleeve member being shaped and dimensioned so as to enclose the squeeze tube, a permanently sealed lower end portion for receiving and retaining the lower end of the squeeze tube, and a tapered upper end portion having an opening therein of a diameter greater than that of the tube neck portion through which the neck portion passes, said tapered end portion enclosing the upper end of the squeeze tube and providing, along with said sealed lower end, means for permanently retaining the squeeze tube within said package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A safety package for use in combination with a flexible squeeze tube of the type made of a material that can be broken by a child to enable the child to reach the contents of the tube and having a discharge opening formed in a reduced-diameter neck that extends from the tube, a closure cap being removably secured to the neck to cover the discharge opening when the tube is not in use to dispense material therefrom, said safety package comprising a sleeve member made of a flexible material that cannot be broken by a child, said sleeve member being shaped and dimensioned so as to enclose the squeeze tube, a permanently sealed lower end portion for receiving and retaining the lower end of the squeeze tube, and a tapered upper end portion having an opening therein of a diameter greater than that of the tube neck portion through which the neck portion passes, said tapered end portion enclosing the upper end of the squeeze tube and providing, along with said sealed lower end, means for permanently retaining the squeeze tube within said package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
In combination with the safety package of claim 1, an enclosure for placement about the cap, said enclosure including an inner member normally surrounding but spaced from the cap, an outer wall, and rib means extending between said inner member and said outer wall, whereby a force applied to said outer wall is transferred by said rib means to said inner member to urge the latter into frictional engagement with the cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 2, in which said cap enclosure includes an enlarged diameter flange extending radially outwardly from said outer wall, said flange having a dimension in the direction of said rib means that exceeds the span of a child''s hand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 2, in which said inner member is a cylinder open at its lower end and having a diameter normally exceeding that of the cap, said cylinder having means for frictionally engaging the outer surface of the cap when a sufficient force is applied to said outer wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The safety package of claim 1, in which said removal preventing means further includes at least a pair of opposing resilient fingers extending radially from said opening for engaging the neck portion of the squeeze tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3269604A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |