Dispensing – Inspection devices – Sight openings
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-05-01
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Inspection devices
Sight openings
C222S327000, C222S541200, C222S541900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223952
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cartridge for holding a supply of a flowable substance such as grease, caulking/sealing compounds, adhesives, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are several types of dispensing devices or guns available for dispensing different types of flowable substance which are marketed in cartridges. One type of dispensing device is the grease gun which for the purposes of this specification and claims is defined as including a cylinder provided with a dispensing screw cap at a first end and a spring biased plunger at an opposite end. The screw dispensing cap is threadingly engaged with the first end of the cylinder and is provided with a lever operated piston valve. The spring biased plunger is biased so as to exert force in a direction from the opposite end toward the first end. The typical cartridge used for holding grease and for use with this grease gun is in the form of a tubular cartridge which is sealed at both ends by removable end plates and has a lip about one end of the cartridge. In use, the dispensing screw cap is unscrewed from the grease gun and the plunger pulled back as far as possible and held in place. The end plates of the grease cartridge are then removed and the cartridge dropped into the cylinder so that the lip rests on the first end of the cylinder. The dispensing screw cap is then screwed back onto the cylinder and the plunger released. The plunger pushes directly on the grease and travels inside the cartridge to force the grease toward the dispensing screw cap. Grease therefore passes into the screw cap and can be dispensed by actuation of the lever operated piston valve.
A second type of dispenser is the caulking gun which for the purposes of the specification and claims is defined as including a semicylindrical housing with a plate at one end for retaining a trigger actuated plunger and a plate at an opposite end provided with a radial extending recess. The caulking gun is typically used to dispense caulking and sealing compounds as well as adhesives which are supplied in cartridges in the form of hollow tubes having a moveable plate sealing one end of the tube and an integral wall at an opposite end. A nipple is form on the integral wall and has an external thread onto which a separate nozzle can be screwed. These cartridges are typical dropped into the housing of the caulking gun between the two plates so that the nipple extends through the radial recess and the plunger is located behind the moveable plate. By squeezing the trigger, the plunger can be advanced toward the nipple pushing on the moveable plate thereby forcing the compound out of the cartridge when the nipple has been cut or otherwise opened.
Another type of dispensing gun is the vacuum gun which for the purposes of this specification and claims is taken as including a lever actuated vacuum mechanism which is provided with a threaded opening for threadingly engaging a nipple of a cartridge holding a flowable substance. The cartridge is in substance identical to the cartridges described above in relation to chalking and sealing compounds and adhesives although often the thread on the nipple may be different. One brand of vacuum dispensing gun is the REINER™ grease gun. When using the vacuum gun, the nipple of the cartridge is cut and then simply screwed into the opening of the lever actuated vacuum mechanism. The lever (or in some cases levers) can then be pumped to create a vacuum which sucks the contents out of the cartridge through the cut nipple. In doing so, the moveable plate at the opposite end of the cartridge slides along an inside wall of the cartridge maintaining a seal.
Notwithstanding any similarities between the cartridges described above, they can not interchangeably be used with different types of dispensing devices. For example, the conventional grease cartridge cannot be used in a caulking gun or in a vacuum gun. Similarly, the cartridge used for caulking guns cannot be used in a conventional grease gun.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for a flowable substance which can be used in a plurality of different dispensing devices.
According to the present invention there is provided a cartridge for holding a supply of a flowable substance, said cartridge adapted for use in a plurality of different dispensing devices which can force said substance from said cartridge, said cartridge including:
a hollow elongate body for containing a supply of a flowable substance;
a slidable seal fitted inside said body for sealing one end of said body, an opposite end of said body being closed by an integral wall;
a sealed nipple formed on said wall and through which said substance can flow when said nipple is cut;
a line of weakness formed about said body near said opposite end; and,
means protruding radially from an outer circumferential surface of said body and spaced from said opposite end by said line of weakness;
wherein, when said cartridge is to be used in a grease gun as hereinbefore defined, said slidable seal can be pulled out of said body and said wall removed by cutting along said line of weakness to allow dispensing of said substance, said flange supporting said cartridge in a cylinder of the grease gun; and
when said cartridge is to be used in a caulking gun as hereinbefore defined, said nipple can be cut and pressure applied to said slidable seal by a trigger actuated plunger of the caulking gun to force said substance out of said body through said nipple; and
when said cartridge is to be used in a vacuum gun as hereinbefore defined, said nipple can be cut and screwed into an opening of a lever actuated vacuum mechanism of vacuum device which, on operation sucks said substance from said body with said slidable seal sliding along an inside surface of said body to maintain a seal therewith.
Preferably said line of weakness comprises a band of reduced thickness formed in the material of said body.
Preferably said band is in the form of a channel having a pair of spaced apart parallel walls and a base extending between said parallel walls.
Preferably, said means protruding radially from said outer circumferential surface of said body comprises a flange.
Preferably the flange is formed integrally with the one of the spaced apart walls most distant said nipple.
Preferably said slidable seal is provided with gripping means which a person can manually grip to pull said plate from said body.
Preferably said gripping means comprises a ring formed integrally with said slidable seal.
Preferably the pull ring is attached to one end of a tear strip formed integrally with the slidable seal and adapted to tear away from the slidable seal when the ring is pulled to form a hole in the slidable seal to expose the inside of the body, between the seal and the substance, to atmospheric pressure.
Preferably said body is provided with a longitudinal extending transparent or translucent strip through which the position of said plate can be viewed.
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Bui Thach H.
Burr & Brown
Fuchs Lubritech (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Kaufman Joseph A.
LandOfFree
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