Dispensing – With casing or support – Pole or extension
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-04-24
Derakehani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With casing or support
Pole or extension
C222S327000, C401S048000, C401S193000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220485
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dispensing devices and, more particularly, to an extended dispensing device for application of a bead of caulk or adhesive along hard to reach structural components. The extended dispensing device employs a repairable design with easy to replace components, interchangeable barrels to accept different caulk cartridges, and interchangeable application guides for guiding the application of a bead of caulk or adhesive along trusses, joists and other structural components.
2. Description of the Background
There are many types of conventional caulk guns all used to dispense a variety of fluid compounds including urethane, vinyl, polyester, epoxy and other plastics or resins. Some of these caulk guns are specially adapted for a particular purpose. One example of a specialty caulk gun is the extended gun that is commonly used in the roofing and flooring context. Extended caulk guns have a barrel, nozzle and cartridge that are separated from the trigger and driving mechanism by an elongated extension, thereby enabling operation of the gun at a distance from where the bead of caulk is applied. This allows an extended reach when compound must be applied to remote areas, such as overhead joists or trusses. Extended caulk guns provide great utility to the flooring and roofing industry. However, different flooring or roofing jobs present different requirements, and extended guns offer very little flexibility. For instance, a larger quart-size cartridge should be used for a longer run job to save costs and avoid frequent cartridge replacement. On the other hand, a smaller {fraction (1/10)}th gallon cartridge should be used for short run jobs. Otherwise, the unused portion of the cartridge goes to waste. Conventional extended guns are made to accommodate either the typical ¼ gallon cartridges or {fraction (1/10)}th gallon cartridges, but not both. Since the extended caulk guns are specialty items, they are relatively expensive to purchase and it is impractical to buy two (one for the ¼ gallon cartridge and one for the {fraction (1/10)}th gallon cartridge). The expense of extended guns also promotes a market for replacement and repair parts, but existing extended guns are generally not repairable. They typically use a welded and/or riveted design and make no provision for swapping out worn parts. Accordingly, there remains a demand for a more flexible extended dispensing gun in which parts are interchangeable to facilitate repair, and which is capable of accommodating at least two different-sized cartridges such as the typical ¼ gallon cartridges and {fraction (1/10)}th gallon cartridges.
In addition to the above-described expense of extended guns, their length makes them difficult to maneuver because the weight of the caulk cartridge must be supported at the end of the elongate extension. It is known to mount a caulk application guide at the distal end of the barrel underneath the nozzle to support the cartridge and ensure that a bead of caulk is properly applied. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,565 to Paradiso shows an extended reach caulking gun with an application guide 24 mounted at the distal end (Paradiso FIG. 1). The guide takes the form of a U-shaped member which is screwed or riveted to the underside of the gun at the barrel end. The U-shaped guide is adapted to straddle and ride along a joist or truss thereby helping to apply the compound in a straight line and with improved accuracy. The U-shaped guide assists in applying compound along studs, rafters and other building components that call for the application of compound along a defined path. Unfortunately, the fixed span of the U-shaped guide 24 is only capable of accommodating studs of a particular size. The guide 24 cannot straddle double studs or many other types of components such as window sills or roof seams. While Paradiso '565 goes on to suggests other guide configurations (see FIGS. 5-7) to accommodate other components, these are not interchangeable and the gun cannot be easily adapted for a particular job.
Accordingly, there is also a demand for an extended gun having interchangeable guide members, inclusive of an adjustable guide member, to facilitate quick and easy adaptation for different types of jobs and for applying compound along different types of building components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an extended piggyback dispensing device that is capable of accommodating at least two different-sized cartridges, such as the typical ¼ gallon cartridges and {fraction (1/10)}th gallon cartridges. The smaller cartridge may be used for short run jobs while the larger cartridge serves for long run jobs, and the ability to change between the two prevents wasted compound.
It is another object to provide a variety of improved caulk gun application guide assemblies and a means for attachment of the same to the above-described piggyback dispensing device to instantly adapt the guide for guidance along different types of building components.
It is still another object to provide an extended piggy-back feature and interchangeable caulk gun guide assemblies as described above all of which can be readily retrofit to an existing extended caulk gun.
It is another object to provide purchasers of the above-described gun with the lasting value of an extremely flexible design that allows effortless repair of worn parts, swapping out of caulk gun guide assemblies, and swapping out of barrels for different-sized cartridges.
According to the present invention, the above-described and other objects are accomplished by providing a piggyback dispensing feature for extended dispensing devices. The piggyback feature may be incorporated in any conventional extended dispensing device of the type generally comprising a housing having a downwardly extending handle, an extension bracket attached forwardly of the housing, a barrel assembly attached to the extension bracket opposite the housing, a piston rod slidably supported in the housing and extension bracket and protruding into the barrel assembly. The improvement comprises an interchangeable push-disk piston mounted on the distal end of the piston rod, and a smaller barrel assembly adapted to be seated inside the other larger barrel assembly to accommodate a smaller-sized cartridge. The piggyback barrel assembly makes it possible to use one extended gun for at least two different-sized cartridges, such as the typical ¼ gallon cartridges and {fraction (1/10)}th gallon cartridges.
A number of interchangeable/adjustable guide members are also shown for attachment to the dispensing gun to guide the application of a bead of caulk or adhesive along trusses, joists and other structural components. The multiple interchangeable guide members facilitates quick and easy adaptation for different types of jobs and different types of building components.
The guide assembles include a quick-change guide assembly that allows a quick-change reversal to accommodate either a single joist or a double joist position.
The guide assemblies also include an adjustable guide with opposing legs that are readily adjustable by hand and on-the-fly to accommodate large-width and double-trusses and joists.
All of the guide assemblies can be secured to the dispensing gun by a quick-change detent-lock to allow quick reversal or swapping out to accommodate single joist, double joist, and other structural components.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3981595 (1976-09-01), Blake
patent: 4932565 (1990-06-01), Paradiso
patent: 5984557 (1999-11-01), Fennell
Derakehani Philippe
Law offices of Royal W. Craig
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