Dispensing – Nozzles – spouts and pouring devices – With separable attaching means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-08
2002-10-15
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Nozzles, spouts and pouring devices
With separable attaching means
C401S266000, C425S087000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06464115
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to caulking gun assemblies and attachments thereto, and their use in facilitating the application of caulk, sealant and glue (compound) to application surfaces, such as studs, joists and beams. More specifically, the invention provides a new, reusable caulking guide and reinforcing tip, removably attachable to the dispensing nozzle of a caulking gun assembly, for assisting the efficient application of compound to extended surfaces of different and varying widths from different and varying angles of attack, while also reinforcing and protecting the dispensing nozzle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As used throughout this specification: the term “compound” means any caulking, glue, sealant or like compound or substance; the term “tube” or “tube of compound” means any tube, cartridge or like container in which compound is packaged; the term “gun” or “caulking gun” means any caulking gun or like device used to dispense compound from its tube; and the term “gun assembly” or “caulking gun assembly” means a caulking gun upon which a tube of compound has been mounted.
Compound is typically packaged within a long, cylindrical storage tube, constructed of either plastic or cardboard, and having a generally cylindrical dispensing nozzle at the front end of the tube and a circular back-end cap at the opposite end of the tube. The user mounts the tube upon a caulking gun, typically by fitting the tube into a long, semicircular holding receptacle on the gun. When the gun is “loaded”, the back-end cap of the tube of compound is positioned against a back-end plate located at the back-end of the holding receptacle of the gun. The back-end plate of the gun is longitudinally translatable relative to the holding receptacle, and is activated by a trigger on the gun. When the trigger is kept depressed, the back-end plate of the caulking gun is forced forwards along the span of the holding receptacle and through the tube of compound. This also forces the back-end cap of the tube of compound forwards through the tube, thereby causing the packaged compound to be dispensed out through the dispensing nozzle. Compound continues to dispense for so long as the trigger is kept depressed.
Several difficulties arise in using these caulking gun assemblies.
A first significant difficulty relates to the several problems experienced in attempting to apply a straight and uniform bead of compound. It is very important that this be done well. Where compound is applied sloppily, the structural integrity of the project may be compromised, compound will be wasted, and the job will usually appear unsightly and require additional clean-up. Typically, the user of a caulking gun assembly commences a job by positioning the tip of the dispensing nozzle directly upon or slightly above the construction member to which the compound is to be applied. The challenge is then to keep the caulking gun trigger depressed, such that compound dispenses continuously and at a consistent rate, while simultaneously advancing the gun assembly along the length of the intended application surface at an appropriate relative angle and rate, this exercise being done “free-handedly”. This can prove difficult even in the best of circumstances, owing to human limitations in co-ordination and stamina. As well, many common circumstances can compound the difficulties. Compound can prove difficult to apply to any narrow application surface, because the dispensing nozzle can easily slip off the surface. Compound can also be difficult to apply to a surface of considerable length, and/or to a surface which is awkwardly situated (overhead, etc.) or crowded. A job in these circumstances can require the user to undergo difficult and/or prolonged reaches and bodily contortions, and sometimes without having both hands free to operate the gun assembly. Job efficiency and personal comfort can suffer significantly. So can user safety, such as where the user must position himself over portions of a floor which have yet to be installed.
A second significant difficulty is that dispensing nozzles are easily damaged. A dispensing nozzle tends to bend, buckle or break when subjected to certain degrees of lateral pressure, commonly applied during normal free-handed use of the gun assembly. Where a dispensing nozzle is damaged, compound is wasted, and the job at hand may require additional clean-up and have to be redone.
The use of reusable caulking gun tips, spouts, nozzles and other attachments intended to facilitate various aspects of using caulking gun assemblies is known in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,142,022, issued to Chappell, describes a nozzle device for applying mortar when pointing brick walls. The device includes a rigid, non-flexible trowel plate at the end of the nozzle designed to allow the application of mortar into an existing mortar joint between bricks and to smooth the material as it is being applied. The device does not act, and cannot act, as a guide to apply caulking or like material to an extended surface or construction member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,077, issued to Gibson, describes a rounded tip spout. The nozzle of Gibson simply reconfigures the tip to provide a hemispherical end with material being discharged from the side of the hemisphere. The hemispherical shape is designed to smooth the bead of caulk as it is applied into a corner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,876, issued to Hattman, describes a triangular spear attachment. Like Gibson, the Hatman invention is intended to facilitate applying caulk into corner surfaces. The nozzle of Hattman may be provided with a flange at the base of the nozzle to assist in securing and removing the nozzle from the existing nozzle of the tube of compound. The flange on the Hattman nozzle does not provide substantial reinforcement between the joint of the existing nozzle and the front face plate of the tube of compound. The flange in the Hattman application is of a significantly smaller diameter than the front face plate of the tube of compound and consequently it has little or no reinforcing effect on the front face plate to arrest or prevent buckling of the face plate or the bending of the existing nozzle at the junction with the face plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,551 issued to Torsden, describes a nozzle attachment, having two planar side walls at right angles to one another. The device is intended to facilitate applying caulk to both sides of a right-angle corner, while also providing a guide to position the nozzle within the corner. Although this nozzle solves the problem of supplying filler material, simultaneously to each side of a right angled corner and provides a guide for assisting this, its geometry is not adaptable so as to allow it to be used to apply caulking material along an extended construction member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,834 issued to Ward, describes an apparatus for extruding a fillet at the junction of two surfaces which form a right angled corner. Like Torsden, the Ward guide is designed to assist in the application of caulk to both sides of a right angled corner, however, additionally the guide includes a means for wiping the contacting surfaces so as to produce a neat and uniform fillet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,618 issued to Croft describes a corner finishing tool for use in drywall finishing. The tool has wings spreading from a centre ridge that is configured to act as a collection reservoir and spreading mechanism for drywall compound in interior right-angled corners. The “wings” assist in positioning the tool in the interior corner and also directs excess drywall compound outwardly from the interior corner. The Croft invention is not designed or intended to be used in conjunction with a caulking gun. The device is intended to smooth material being applied but does not act as a guide to apply caulking or like material to an extended surface or construction member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,716, issued to O'Sullivan, describes a nozzle attachment, which consists of a flexible extension tube attachment, and a sho
McColl Donald
Wemyss Jeff C.
Bui Thach H.
Derakshani Philippe
LandOfFree
Caulking guide and reinforcing tip does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Caulking guide and reinforcing tip, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Caulking guide and reinforcing tip will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2952723