SLEEVE FOR LOADING A DISPENSING DEVICE WITH BULK VISCOUS MATERIAL
A sleeve is provided which is arranged for use during loading of bulk viscous material, such as latex and silicone caulking compounds, into the barrel of a device for dispensing such compounds. The loading sleeve comprises a slightly larger open proximal end for receiving the barrel and a slightly narrower open distal end. A sidewall tapers as it extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the sleeve to create an interference fit with the barrel of the dispensing device when the barrel is inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve also includes an inwardly extending flange located at the open distal end of the sleeve to provide a seat for the barrel of the dispensing device when it is inserted into the sleeve.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/723,521, filed on Nov. 7, 2012 entitled SLEEVE FOR LOADING A DISPENSING DEVICE WITH BULK VISCOUS MATERIAL, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONReloadable caulking guns known for the application of materials such as latex and silicone caulking compounds in bulk form are available from a number of manufacturers of such products. These so called bulk dispensing guns employ a loading sleeve, which must be screwed on and off of the barrel while manually holding the long heavy gun in a vertical orientation. The purpose of the loading sleeve is to prevent the exterior surface of the gun barrel from contacting the latex and silicone caulking compounds during loading of the bulk dispensing gun.
The loading sleeve of the prior art is internally threaded at its distal end. The barrel of the dispensing gun is inserted into the loading sleeve. An external thread located at the dispensing end of the barrel of the dispensing device is arranged to mate with the internal thread located at the distal end of the loading sleeve to form a threaded threaded connection. There are several drawbacks with this arrangement. First, screwing the loading sleeve onto the dispensing end of the barrel of the dispensing device can be difficult due to the size and weight of the dispensing device and the loading sleeve. Second, due to the thread design of the loading sleeve, a gap often exists between the outer surface of the barrel of the dispensing device and the inner surface of the loading sleeve. Therefore, the threaded connection serves as the only barrier to prevent air and dispensing material from seeping onto the exterior surface of the dispensing gun during loading. In many cases, this threaded connection is inadequate for this purpose and bulk material and air may seep onto the exterior surface of the bulk dispensing gun during loading. The loading sleeve of the present invention overcomes both of the foregoing drawbacks.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA sleeve is provided which is arranged for use during loading of bulk viscous material, such as latex and silicone caulking compounds, into the barrel of a device for dispensing such compounds. The loading sleeve comprises a slightly larger open proximal end for receiving the barrel and a slightly narrower open distal end. A sidewall tapers as it extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the sleeve to create an interference fit with the barrel of the dispensing device when the barrel is inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve also includes an inwardly extending flange located at the open distal end of the sleeve to provide a seat for the barrel of the dispensing device when it is inserted into the sleeve.
The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:
Referring now to
As shown in
In use, prior to attaching the loading sleeve 10 to the dispensing end 34 of the barrel 14, the end cap and nozzle (neither component shown) of the dispensing device must be removed therefrom. The loading sleeve 10 is then placed over the dispensing end 34 of the barrel 14 until the dispensing end 34 seats against the inwardly extending flange 50 of the loading sleeve 10. This creates an interference fit between the loading sleeve and the barrel which prevents viscous material from leaking onto the outside surface or the barrel 14 including the threaded dispensing end 34 during loading.
Next, the user may submerge the distal end 46 of the loading sleeve 10 attached to the barrel 14 into the viscous material 18, typically provided in bulk form in a container 22 such as a generally cylindrical pail, drum, etc. The loading sleeve 10 prevents viscous materials from contacting the exterior of the barrel during loading and eliminates cleanup prior to dispensing. The loading sleeve is sufficiently submerged into the drum to prevent air infiltration into the barrel 14 during loading. Next, the user pulls back on the piston rod 30 of the dispensing device to retract the piston 26 inside the barrel to create a vacuum and draw bulk caulking material from the drum into the barrel. Use of the loading sleeve 10 prevents viscous material 18 from contacting the exterior of the barrel including its threaded dispensing end 34 and eliminates the need for cleanup. Next the user removes the loading sleeve 10 from the dispensing end of the barrel and replaces the nozzle and the end cap components (not shown). The loading sleeve is provided with external ribs 54 extending circumferentially along the sidewall 38 of the loading sleeve 10 to facilitate manual removal of the loading sleeve 10 from the barrel 14. Next, the user replaces the cap and nozzle components (not shown) to render the loaded dispensing device ready for use.
Claims
1. A sleeve arranged for use during loading of bulk viscous material into the barrel of a bulk dispensing device, said sleeve comprising:
- a. a slightly larger open proximal end for receiving the barrel, and a slightly narrower open distal end;
- b. a sidewall tapering as it extends from said proximal end to said distal end to create an interference fit when the dispensing device barrel is inserted into said sleeve; and,
- c. an inwardly extending flange located at the open distal end of said sleeve to provide a seat for the dispensing device barrel when it is inserted into said sleeve.
2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the open distal end includes a diameter of approximately 2.100 inches.
3. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sidewall includes an outside surface, and wherein said sleeve additionally comprises at least one external rib located on said sidewall outside surface.
4. The sleeve of claim 3, wherein said at least one external rib comprises three external ribs.
5. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is arranged for use during loading of bulk viscous material from a pail or drum.
6. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sidewall is of generally cylindrical construction.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 7, 2013
Publication Date: May 8, 2014
Inventor: Mark C. Schneider (Moorestown, NJ)
Application Number: 14/073,929
International Classification: B65B 3/12 (20060101);