US20100051622A1

US20100051622A1 - Caulk Cartridge Cap

Info

Publication number: US20100051622A1
Application number: US12/204,210
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred Loso; Thomas John Dondlinger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-04
Filing date: 2008-09-04
Publication date: 2010-03-04

Abstract

A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container may include the steps of opening an end of a dispensing nozzle of the caulk cartridge type container, deforming the caulk cartridge type container so that dispensing material stored within the chalk cartridge type container flows through the end of the dispensing nozzle, positioning a dispensing sleeve on the end of the dispensing nozzle, deforming the caulk cartridge type container so that the dispensing material flows into the dispensing sleeve, curing the dispensing material within the dispensing sleeve. The curing step may cure the dispensing material only within the dispensing sleeve, and the dispensing nozzle may be tapered. The dispensing sleeve may form a friction fit with the dispensing nozzle, the dispensing sleeve may be deformable. The dispensing sleeve may be expandable, and the dispensing sleeve may be rigid.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to closures, and more particularly pertains to a cap which may be used to assist in sealing a caulk cartridge type container.

BACKGROUND

The use of closures to seal open containers is known in the prior art. Regardless of the fact that there are literally thousands of different types of closures and caps available for sealing containers, there has apparently been no attempt to provide a closure for a caulk cartridge type container so as to prevent the drying out or premature aging of caulking material contained within the container after it has been opened. In this regard, the caulk cartridge cap according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of all of the closures and caps presently available, and in so doing provides a cap primarily developed for the purpose of facilitating the storage of unused portions of caulking material. More particularly, the present invention recognizes the need in the prior art for a device of resealing caulk cartridge type containers and is thus designed to substantially fulfill this need.
Conventional economy brand caulking guns are generally manual trigger-operated devices incorporating a unidirectional gripping assembly which urges a piston rod forward to eject the compound from a cartridge. This may be a lightweight, skeleton-frame caulking gun designed to receive and carry a disposable caulk cartridge.
Caulking tubes (e.g., polyurethane or cardboard tube containers) are widely used for packaging of various materials such as sealants, adhesives, and other caulking compositions. These materials are normally paste or gel materials which harden when exposed to the environment or atmosphere.
Such tubes include a tapered dispensing nozzle at their leading end. The nozzle can be cut off at a desired location to enable the contents of the tube to be dispensed by a caulking gun which advances a plunger or disk through the tube. The nozzle can be cut off at an angle in order to aid in the dispensing of the caulking material.
Oftentimes, the entire contents of a caulking tube are not used at one time or on one jobsite. As a result, the composition in the tube will begin to dry out or cure. The longer the opened tube is stored before it is used again, the more of the composition that will undesirably cure. Because the compositions sold in caulking tubes are often very expensive, it can be quite costly when the composition cures in the tube and is therefore wasted.
Sometimes it is possible to dig out cured composition from the open end of the nozzle of the tube if the tube hasn't been stored too long after being opened. However, often it is not possible to do this because the composition has cured too deep. Sometimes it is possible to cut an additional length off the nozzle to allow access to uncured composition in the tube, but this procedure leaves too large an opening in the nozzle for useful dispensing of the composition.
Although it has been proposed to put a cap member over the open end of a caulking tube nozzle, this has not been entirely successful because some air remains in the nozzle or leaks past the cap. Thus, the composition can still become cured or hardened during storage, at least at the outer end of the nozzle.
A tapered dispensing tip has also been proposed for fitting over a caulking tube nozzle. However, the tip does not seal the end of the nozzle after the composition has been dispensed from the tube.
Although various types of spouts, caps and nozzles have been used on cans, tubes and bottles, none of such devices are suitable or practical for use on caulking tubes in a manner such that (1) the composition in the tube can be easily and readily dispensed, (2) the tube can be effectively sealed to prevent the composition in the tube and nozzle from hardening prematurely during shortage, and (3) the nozzle can be re-used on a variety of caulking tubes without modification and without loss of effectiveness.
There has not heretofore been proposed a technique or system for sealing the open nozzle of a caulking tube having the advantages provided by the present invention.

SUMMARY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the caulk cartridge type container;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the chalk cartridge type container and the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 4 illustrates that the chalk cartridge type container has dispensed no dispensing material into the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 5 illustrates that the chalk cartridge type container has begun to dispense dispensing material into the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 6 illustrates that the dispensing material has formed a seal with the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 7 illustrates that the dispensing material has hardened;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may include a caulk cartridge cap which is designed to enable the storage of unused portions of products of the types supplied within caulk cartridge type containers to maintain the unused portions in a reusable condition. The cap operates as a closure for purposes of resealing a caulk type cartridge to prevent the premature drying out or aging of the dispensing materials stored within the cartridge and to also prevent blockage within the cartridge applicator tube. The dispensing materials may include various materials such as sealants, adhesives, and other caulking compositions. The cap includes a sleeve which may form a friction fit with the dispensing nozzle and which may include an aperture which extends through the sleeve. The aperture may include a opening at each end of the sleeve so that the first opening may cooperate with the dispensing nozzle to provide a substantial airtight fit and may form a friction is fit with the exterior surface of the dispensing nozzle. The other end of the dispensing nozzle may include an aperture to allow the environment to interact with the dispensing material which may be stored within the caulk cartridge type container to allow the dispensing material to expand to the interior surface of the sleeve so that the dispensing material may cure in order to form a barrier so that the remaining dispensing material within the dispensing nozzle and the caulk cartridge type container is reusable and does not cure. The dispensing material which may be located within the dispensing nozzle remain substantially usable and consequently there is no need for the dispensing nozzle to be shortened in order to eliminate cured dispensing material within the nozzle and there is no need to puncture the cure dispensing material within the dispensing nozzle. The sleeve can be removed from the end of the dispensing nozzle which may allow the cured dispensing material to be removed within the sleeve and cast aside. The chalk cartridge type container can be used to dispense the dispensing material, and the sleeve can be replaced (alternatively with a new sleeve).
FIG. 1 illustrates a caulk cartridge type container 100 which may include a container body 101 which is shown as a substantial cylinder which may be deformable and may form a housing for the dispensing material. Other shapes are within the scope of the invention. In communication with the container body 100 may be a dispensing nozzle 103 which may be deformable or maybe rigid and which may be tapered or un tapered. As the container body 101 is deformed, the dispensing material enters the dispensing nozzle 103. The distal end of the dispensing nozzle 103 may be removed to allow the dispensing material to flow through a central channel 105 to a workpiece (not shown).
FIG. 2 illustrates a dispensing sleeve 200 having a substantially central channel 115 or aperture which may include a first opening 109 at a distal end of the dispensing sleeve 200 and a second opening 111 at a proximal end of the dispensing sleeve 200. The dispensing sleeve 200 may be formed from a straw. The dispensing sleeve 200 may be deformable and may be expandable to aid in the friction fit with the dispensing nozzle 103.
FIG. 3 illustrates a caulk cartridge type container 100 which may include a container body 101 which may be deformable and may form a housing for the dispensing material. In communication with the container body 100 may be a dispensing nozzle 103 which may be deformable. As the container body 101 is deformed, the dispensing material enters the dispensing nozzle 103. The distal end of the dispensing nozzle 103 may be removed to allow the dispensing material to flow through a central channel 105 to a workpiece (not shown).
FIG. 3 illustrates a dispensing sleeve 200 and which may be a detachably connected to the caulk cartridge type container 100 and which may have a substantially central channel 115 to cooperate with the central channel 105 and which may include a first opening 109 at a distal end of the dispensing sleeve 200 and a second opening 111 at a proximal end of the dispensing sleeve 200. The dispensing sleeve 200 may be deformable and may be expandable to aid in the friction fit with the dispensing nozzle 103. The outer surface of the dispensing nozzle 103 may be frictionally connected to the interior surface of the dispensing sleeve 200.
FIG. 4 illustrates that the dispensing sleeve 200 has been position on the dispensing nozzle 102. However no dispensing material 300 has entered the dispensing sleeve 200.
In FIG. 5, the dispensing material 300 has been urged to the dispensing nozzle 102 and enters the dispensing sleeve 200.
In FIG. 6, the dispensing material 300 continues to be urged into the dispensing sleeve 200 and substantially forms a seal with the inner surface of the dispensing sleeve 200.
In FIG. 7, as a result of the opening 109 in the distal end of the sleeve 200, air interacts with the dispensing material 300 positioned in the dispensing sleeve 200 and permitting the dispensing material 300 positioned in a dispensing nozzle 103 to remain soft and uncured and available to be used easily once the sleeve 200 has been removed with the hardened dispensing material 300.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container, comprising the steps of:

opening an end of a dispensing nozzle of the caulk cartridge type container;

deforming the caulk cartridge type container so that dispensing material stored within the chalk cartridge type container flows through the end of the dispensing nozzle;

positioning a dispensing sleeve on the end of the dispensing nozzle;

deforming the caulk cartridge type container so that the dispensing material flows into the dispensing sleeve;

curing the dispensing material within the dispensing sleeve.

2. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1, wherein the curing step cures the dispensing material only within the dispensing sleeve.

3. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing nozzle is tapered.

4. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1 wherein the dispensing sleeve forms a friction fit with the dispensing nozzle.

5. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing sleeve is deformable.

6. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing sleeve is expandable.

7. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing sleeve is rigid.