Device for squeezing and winding collapsible tubes

A device for squeezing and winding a collapsible tube, the device comprising:

• a body including a tubular portion and a pair of jaw portions which are integrally supported on the tubular portion wherein the tubular portion defines a cavity for receiving an empty collapsible tube portion and wherein the jaw portions define an axially extending opening into the cavity and the jaw portions extend outward from the tubular portion on respective opposite sides of the opening,
• a slotted elongated key for extending axially in the cavity and having a handle portion for winding and pulling an emplty portion of the collapsible tube through the opening into the cavity,
• said tubular portion also defining a flexible wall portion spaced from the opening which permits the jaw portions at the opening to separate and admit a content containing tube portion of the collapsible tube therebetween,
• said jaw portions being substantially more rigid than the flexible wall portion and being adapted for being readily engaged and squeezed by fingers of a user to squeeze the content containing tube portion between the jaws to express the contents from the content containing tube portion admitted therebetween,
• said jaw portions having respective inner surfaces which extend for a radial length within the range from 5 to 40 mm in corresponding planes extending radially from the axis of the tubular portion, and
• said jaw portions further having exterior surfaces which are flat and extend tangentially from the exterior surface of the tubular portion so that the exterior surfaces, with the inner jaw surfaces, define a tapered jaw configuration extending from the tubular portion.

A device for squeezing and winding a collapsible tube, the device comprising:

• a body including a pair of members defining a tubular portion and a pair of jaw portions which are integrally supported on the tubular portion wherein the tubular portion has an axially extending opening and the jaw portions extend outward from the tubular portion on respective opposite sides of the opening,
• said tubular portion defining a cavity for receiving an empty collapsible tube portion,
• a slotted elongated key for extending axially in the cavity and having a handle portion for winding and pulling an empty portion of the collapsible tube through the opening into the cavity, said tubular portion also defining a flexible wall portion including a flexible hinge formed integral with the pair of body portions for permitting the pair of body portions to pivot relative to each other and to permit the jaw portions to separate and admit a content containing tube portion of the collapsible tube therebetween,
• said jaw portions being adapted for being readily engaged and squeezed by fingers of a user to squeeze the content containing tube portion between the jaws to express the contents from the content containing tube portion, and
• a pair of projecting members extending from opposite sides of one jaw portion for engaging and guiding the other jaw portion.

A device for squeezing and winding a collapsible tube, the device comprising:

• a body including a tubular portion and a pair of jaw portions which are integrally supported on the tubular portion wherein the tubular portion has an axially extending opening and the jaw portions extend outward from the tubular portion on respective opposite sides of the opening for expressing contents from a content containing portion of the collapsible tube,
• said tubular portion defining a cavity for receiving an empty portion of the collapsible tube,
• a slotted elongated key for extending axially in the cavity and having a handle portion for winding and pulling an empty portion of the collapsible tube through the opening into the cavity,
• said key including a tubular shank with a longitudinal slot therein for receiving the closed end of the collapsible tube,
• a pin for insertion into and for withdrawal from the tubular shank to secure and to release, respectively, the closed end of the collaspsible tube therein, and
• said pin including a shaft with a point on one end and a head on the opposite end wherein the shaft has a diameter sufficiently large so that, upon insertion of the shaft into the tubular shank, the closed end of the collapsible tube is clamped between the shaft and the tubular shank, the point on the shaft is designed to bend the closed end of the collapsible tube during insertion of the pin into the tubular shank, and the head is designed to facilitate grasping and withdrawal of the pin from the tubular shank.