Abstract: A hand-held hot melt glue gun having a melt chamber, a needle and a nozzle that is movable with respect to the needle to open or close a discharge port in fluid communication with the melt chamber. A spring closure urges the needle and nozzle toward relative positions to close the discharge port. An opening element moves the nozzle with respect to the needle to open the discharge port, and a trigger mechanism is provided for advancing solid glue into the melt chamber and for operating the opening element. A time delay mechanism provides a time delay between the opening of the discharge port and advancement of glue into the melt chamber.

Abstract: A hot melt glue gun provides a melt chamber for supplying melted glue to a discharge nozzle. An auxiliary chamber is connected to the melt chamber, and melted glue is drawn from the melt chamber into the auxiliary chamber when discharge of glue is terminated. The glue drawn from the melt chamber reduces the possibility of glue dripping from the discharge nozzle.

Abstract: A dispenser for a fluid material includes a handle portion and a cartridge having the material to be dispensed. The cartridge is easily mounted to the handle portion or removed, whereby the handle portion may be used with a variety of cartridges, each of which may contain a selected material. The handle portion includes a plunger that is moved linearly by actuation of a trigger mechanism, which is engaged by a user's finger. The trigger mechanism is configured to release pressure applied to the plunger quickly upon release of pressure on the trigger and to allow the plunger to move away from the cartridge to ensure release of pressure in the material to be dispensed to prevent dripping.

Abstract: A nozzle for applying a fluid material to an object includes a tubular wall with several circumferentially spaced ribs that extend outward from the tubular wall to engage an object to which the fluid material is to be applied. The ribs space the tubular wall from the inner wall to provide a gap for the fluid material and aligning the tubular wall with the hole in the object. The tubular wall provides at least one opening between adjacent pairs of ribs for the fluid material to flow into the gap. A sealing surface on the nozzle engages a portion of the object preventing escape of the fluid from the gap. In a process for using the nozzle, a user manually detects equilibrium between the pressure applied to the fluid in the nozzle and the pressure in the nozzle to determine when the gap has been filled.

Abstract: A system for applying heated compositions includes a heated supply tank for receiving and supplying a composition at a first temperature, and a heated discharge chamber for receiving the composition from the supply tank, heating it further to a desired temperature, and discharging the composition for its end use. The system may be a bulk dispenser or a hand-held glue gun. In preferred embodiments, the compositions are hot melt adhesives, particularly hot melt adhesives of reduced density.

Abstract: Consistent with the present invention, tissue adhesive compositions and an associated laser exposure system are provided for bonding or sealing biological tissues. The compositions are comprised of chemically derivatized soluble collagen which is formulated to concentrations ranging from 300 mg/ml (30%) to 800 mg/ml (80%) collagen protein. In particular, Type I collagen, for example, is first prepared by extraction from bovine or porcine hide and purified. The collagen preparations are then chemically derivatized with sulfhydryl reagents to improve cohesive strength and with secondary derivatizing agents, such as carboxyl groups, to improve the adhesive strength of the solder to the tissue. The compositions are then formed into viscous solutions, gels or solid films, which when exposed to energy generated from an infrared laser, for example, undergo thermally induced phase transitions.

Abstract: Consistent with the present invention, tissue adhesive compositions and an associated laser exposure system are provided for bonding or sealing biological tissues. The compositions are comprised of chemically derivatized soluble collagen which is formulated to concentrations ranging from 300 mg/ml (30%) to 800 mg/ml (80%) collagen protein. In particular, Type I collagen, for example, is first prepared by extraction from bovine or porcine hide and purified. The collagen preparations are then chemically derivatized with sulfhydryl reagents to improve cohesive strength and with secondary derivatizing agents, such as carboxyl groups, to improve the adhesive strength of the solder to the tissue. The compositions are then formed into viscous solutions, gels or solid films, which when exposed to energy generated from an infrared laser, for example, undergo thermally induced phase transitions.

Abstract: A hand held hot melt glue gun has an elongate body portion that is easily held in a user's palm for accurate placement of the glue. The body forms a heat chamber that lies in the body parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. A trigger mechanism operates by motion transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body and includes an arm that extends from the trigger on one side of the heat chamber to an opposite side of the heat chamber to engage a gripper for advancing the glue.

Abstract: Consistent with the present invention, tissue adhesive compositions and an associated laser exposure system are provided for bonding or sealing biological tissues. The compositions are comprised of chemically derivatized soluble collagen which is formulated to concentrations ranging from 300 mg/ml (30%) to 800 mg/ml (80%) collagen protein. In particular, Type I collagen, for example, is first prepared by extraction from bovine or porcine hide and purified. The collagen preparations are then chemically derivatized with sulfhydryl reagents to improve cohesive strength and with secondary derivatizing agents, such as carboxyl groups, to improve the adhesive strength of the solder to the tissue. The compositions are then formed into viscous solutions, gels or solid films, which when exposed to energy generated from an infrared laser, for example, undergo thermally induced phase transitions.

Abstract: Consistent with the present invention, tissue adhesive compositions and an associated laser exposure system are provided for bonding or sealing biological tissues. The compositions are comprised of chemically derivatized soluble collagen which is formulated to concentrations ranging from 300 mg/ml (30%) to 80 mg/ml (80%) collagen protein. In particular, Type I collagen, for example, is first prepared by extraction from bovine or porcine hide and purified. The collagen preparations are then chemically derivatized with sulfhydryl reagents to improve cohesive strength and with secondary derivatizing agents, such as carboxyl groups, to improve the adhesive strength of the solder to the tissue. The compositions are then formed into viscous solutions, gels or solid films which are used to encapsulate structural components such as a cojoinal network or mesh. The resultant patch which when exposed to energy generated from an infrared laser, for example, undergo thermally induced phase transitions.

Abstract: A heating system for a hand-held glue gun has a low-mass melting chamber, high-power resistance heating element, and thermostat (24). The heating element is arranged between the chamber and thermostat (24), so that the thermostat's (24) response to the heating element mirrors that of the load in the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low viscosity, high tensile strength adhesive of the hot melt pressure sensitive type composition comprising:(a) from about 15 to about 30% by weight of an A-B-A block or A-B-A-B-A-B- multi-block copolymer containing from about 35 to about 55 parts styrene per 100 parts polymer where polymer blocks A are styrene blocks and polymer blocks B are butadiene or hydrogenated butadiene;(b) 70 to about 85% by weight to a composition tackifying resin; and(c) 0.1 to about 1.5% by weight of a stabilizer. Because the adhesive of the present invention has low viscosity and high tensile strength at both high and low temperatures, the adhesive formulation of the present invention is particularly well-suited to disposable diaper construction, hinge binding in books, PET bottle labeling, and attaching base cups to PET beverage bottles.