Toothpaste dispenser

A toothpaste dispense comprising:

• a. a housing having first and second axes and adapted for mounting an elongated toothpaste tube therein with the longitudinal axis of the associated tube extending along said first axis;
• b. squeeze means movably mounted in said housing for movement along said first axis to squeeze the assoicated toothpaste tube mounted in said housing;
• c. drive means mounted in said housing and operable in first and second directions, said drive means being operatively engaged with said squeeze means for moving said squeeze means along said first axis to squeeze toothpaste out of the associated toothpaste tube mounted in said housing when said drive means is operated in said first direction and for moving said squeeze means in the opposite direction when said drive means is operated in said second direction;
• d. gate means on said housing movable between a closed position, in which said gate means is positioned to prevent the flow of toothpaste out of the associated toothpaste tube mounted in said housing, and an open position in which said flow is permitted, said gate means being operatively engaged with said drive means for movement of said gate means to said closed position when said drive means is operated is said second direction and movement of said gate means to said open position when said drive means is operated in said first direction, said gate means remaining in said open position when said drive means continues to operate in said first direction;
• and
• e. means operable upon movement of said gate means to said closed position to stop the movement of said squeeze means in said opposite direction, said squeeze means thereby being enabled to start its squeezing action at successively farther-advanced positions along the associated toothpaste tube after successive closures of said gate means.