Collapsible tube dispenser

Claim 1

A dispenser for toothpaste and the like material packaged in a collapsible tube comprising: a generally rigid, wedge-shaped housing defined by first and second side walls which flare apart from a bottom end of the housing to a top end of the housing, a first opening formed in said top end of the housing and a second opening formed in said first side wall; a pressure plate; means for pivotally mounting and supporting said pressure plate upright in said housing intermediate said side walls whereby to define a pivot for the bottom end of said pressure plate at the intersection of the planes of the confronting surfaces of said pressure plate and said second side wall, the top end of the plate being freely positionable in said housing; means for adjustably positioning said pressure plate at a predetermined position intermediate said first and second side walls comprising a member axially movable in said second opening through said first side wall, one end of said member terminating in the interior of said housing and abutting said pressure plate, the other end of said member terminating exteriorally of said housing, wherein movement of said pressure plate away from said first side wall causes the material in the collapsible tube to exit through said first opening with said tube collapsing uniformly; said bottom housing end being enclosed by disposition of the bottom ends of said side walls adjacent and latterally engaging opposite sides of the bottom end of said pressure plate; and means for supporting said housing in an upright position whereby a toothpaste tube may be disposed in an upwright supported position within the pressure chamber formed by said pressure plate and said second side wall for selectively dispensing selected portions of the tube contents by actuation of said movable member.