Patent Application
20240116681
The present invention relates generally to caps or covers for adhesive sealant tubes and, more particularly, relates to caps or covers operably configured to couple with adhesive sealant tubes and discharge the adhesive sealant through the cap.
Adhesive silicone is widely used by many users throughout the world for many different purposes, including providing sealing for windshields, sunroofs, doors, lights, hose connections, and many more applications. Typically, adhesive silicone is room temperature vulcanized and commercially sold to users in a flexible tubes configured to be depressed to squeeze out the silicone or in cartridges that are configured to be utilized with an external ratcheting assembly, similar to a caulk gun. The container utilized to house the adhesive silicone is also typically sold with a nozzle to effectuate removal and application of the adhesive silicone from the container in which it is housed.
Whether utilizing tubes, cartridges, or other containers, many users experience the unfortunate problem of having unused silicone housed in the container cure and become unusable after initial use. To prevent or inhibit said issues, some known devices permit the user to recouple the original cap with the tube or container or provide the user with a secondary cap or cover operably configured to couple with and cover the opening on the nozzle. However, the sealant adhesive located proximal to the opening of the tube still routinely cures, rendering the product unusable or impractical for use by many users.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides an adhesive sealant discharge cap for handheld adhesive sealant tubes that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that enables the adhesive sealant tube to be effectively and efficiently utilized repeatedly after initial use.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an adhesive discharge cap for handheld adhesive sealant tubes that includes a cap body having an outer sidewall with an upper terminal end, a lower terminal end opposing the upper terminal end and defining a lower opening, a cap body length separating the upper and lower terminal ends of the cap body, and an outer surface and an inner surface defining a threaded coupling configuration surrounding the inner surface of the outer sidewall. Further, the discharge cap includes a sealant discharge conduit coupled to the cap body, with a lower terminal conduit end defining a lower conduit opening, an upper terminal conduit end opposing the lower terminal conduit end and defining an upper conduit opening, a conduit length separating the lower terminal conduit end and the upper terminal conduit end, with a conduit inner surface defining a conduit channel spanning the conduit length, with a conduit outer surface opposing the conduit inner surface and defining, with the inner surface of the cap body, and a tube receiving channel surrounding the sealant discharge conduit and spanning along the cap body length from the lower opening of the cap body to an internal wall disposed within the cap body, wherein the lower terminal conduit end is spatially offset a length below the lower terminal end of the cap body and the upper terminal conduit end spatially offset a length above the upper terminal end of the cap body.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the outer surface having a plurality of ridges radially extending the outer surface of the outer sidewall and configured to provide a gripping surface for a user.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, wherein the cap body and the discharge conduit are of a monolithic structure.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the sealant discharge conduit tapers in diameter proximal to the lower terminal tube end.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the cap body and the sealant discharge conduit are of a polymeric material including at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS plastic, or nylon.
In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, at least 10% of the conduit length is spatially offset a length below the lower terminal end of the cap body and at least 10% of the conduit length is spatially offset a length above the upper terminal end of the cap body.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the lower terminal end of the cap body defines a lower cap plane, wherein the sealant discharge conduit oriented at a perpendicular angle relative to the lower cap plane and extending 5-25 mm in length below the lower terminal end of the cap body.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the sealant discharge conduit having a flange radially extending outwardly from the conduit outer surface, directly coupled with the inner surface of the cap body, and defining the internal wall defining an internal inner limit of the tube receiving channel.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the flange is threadedly coupled to the threaded coupling configuration defined by the inner surface of the cap body.
Also in accordance with the present invention, a discharge cap is utilized in an improved combination with a handheld adhesive sealant tube operably configured to house an adhesive sealant within an enclosed tube cavity defined by the handheld adhesive sealant tube, having an upper end defining a tube opening for discharging the adhesive sealant, and defining a threaded configuration proximal to the upper end of the upper end of the handheld silicone adhesive sealant tube. The improvement includes a cap body having an outer sidewall with an upper terminal end, with a lower terminal end opposing the upper terminal end and defining a lower opening, with a cap body length separating the upper and lower terminal ends of the cap body, and with an outer surface and with an inner surface defining a threaded coupling configuration surrounding the inner surface of the outer sidewall and selectively removably coupled to the threaded configuration defined by the handheld adhesive sealant tube. The improvement also includes a sealant discharge conduit coupled to the cap body, with a lower terminal conduit end defining a lower conduit opening, an upper terminal conduit end opposing the lower terminal conduit end and defining an upper conduit opening, a conduit length separating the lower terminal conduit end and the upper terminal conduit end, with a conduit inner surface defining a conduit channel spanning the conduit length, with a conduit outer surface opposing the conduit inner surface and defining, with the inner surface of the cap body, and a tube receiving channel surrounding the sealant discharge conduit with the upper end of the handheld adhesive sealant tube disposed therein, wherein the lower terminal conduit end is disposed within the enclosed tube cavity and below the upper end of the handheld adhesive sealant tube and the upper terminal conduit end is spatially offset a length above the upper terminal end of the cap body and above the upper end of the handheld adhesive sealant tube.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the receiving channel spans along the cap body length from the lower opening of the cap body to an internal wall disposed within the cap body.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an adhesive sealant discharge cap for handheld adhesive sealant tubes, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. Also, for purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in the figures and is not to be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said orientation may be changed based on the user's perspective of the device. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the discharge conduit or adhesive sealant tube.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient adhesive sealant discharge cap for handheld adhesive sealant tubes that enables an adhesive sealant tube to be utilized repeatedly after initial use and inhibits curing of the adhesive sealant near or at the upper end of the sealant tube where the adhesive sealant is configured to be discharged.
Referring now to
With reference to
More specifically, the cap body 102 can be seen having an outer sidewall 104 with an upper terminal end 108, a lower terminal end 110 opposing the upper terminal end 108 and defining a lower opening 900, and a cap body length separating the upper and lower terminal ends 108, 110 of the cap body 102. As used herein, the term “wall” is intended broadly to encompass continuous structures, as well as, separate structures that are coupled together so as to form a substantially continuous external surface. The cap body length may be approximately 20-30 mm. The cap body 102, along with the sealant discharge conduit 112, may be beneficially of a substantially rigid polymeric material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS plastic, or nylon. The cap body 102 and sealant discharge conduit 112 may also be beneficially manufactured using an injection molding process. In one embodiment, the cap body 102 and the discharge conduit 112 are of a monolithic structure to ensure structural integrity during use. In other embodiments, the cap body 102 and the discharge conduit 112 may be formed with separate components and coupled together as a unitary structure through, for example, mechanical methods such as a threaded configuration or chemical methods such as adhesive or welding.
The cap body 102 can be seen having an upper surface 120 that may be substantially planar, wherein the cap body 102 may be formed with a bore and the upper surface 120 may defined an enclosed aperture for receiving the discharge conduit 112 therethrough. The cap body 102 also includes an outer surface 106 and an inner surface 300 opposing the outer surface 106 of the cap body 102, wherein the inner surface 300 defines a threaded coupling configuration completely or partially surrounding the inner surface 108 of the outer sidewall. The threaded coupling configuration may be threaded configuration like shown in the figures, but may also include other tongue-and-groove configurations or coupling configurations with a raised or protruding surface configured to restrict longitudinal movement of the cap body 102 relative to the upper end 202 of the adhesive sealant tube 200.
In one embodiment, the outer surface 106 includes a plurality of ridges radially extending the outer surface 106 of the outer sidewall 104 and configured to provide a gripping surface for a user. Said another way, the plurality of ridges (as shown in the figures) may be longitudinally oriented, parallel, and equally spaced (less than 5 mm) ridges (and corresponding recesses) that provide surfaces for the user to hold onto and apply sufficient torque to the cap body 102 in order to secure the cap body 102 to the adhesive sealant tube 200. Another embodiment of the cap body with an outer surface having a plurality of ridges or recesses can also be seen in
Still referring to
As best seen in
Beneficially and with reference to
In one embodiment, the sealant discharge conduit 112 tapers in diameter (or be angled to a point) proximal to the lower terminal tube end 114 to facilitate in puncturing a seal on the adhesive sealant tube 200 and/or any cured adhesive material located proximal to the upper end 202 of the tube 200. The conduit channel 306 may be approximately 2-20 mm, but is preferably around 4 mm, in diameter. In one embodiment, at least 10% of the conduit length is spatially offset a length below the lower terminal end 110 of the cap body 102 and at least 10% of the conduit length is spatially offset a length above the upper terminal end 108 of the cap body 102, thereby providing an effective and efficient cap assembly for discharging adhesive sealant material. Described differently, the lower terminal end 110 of the cap body 102 may define a lower cap plane 500, wherein the sealant discharge conduit 112 is oriented at a perpendicular angle relative to the lower cap plane 500 and extends 5-25 mm in length below the lower terminal end 110 of the cap body 102. As such, when desired for use, the user will remove the original cap on the sealant tube 200, insert the sealant discharge conduit 112 into the tube 200, and, in most embodiments, screw the cap body 102 onto the threads used for the original cap until reaching the internal wall 302. The cap body 102 will be removed in opposite fashion.
It should be understood that terms such as, “front,” “rear,” “side,” top,” “bottom,” and the like are indicated from the reference point of viewing the adhesive discharge cap 100 shown in the figures, but change relative to the perspective. Although a specific order of executing process and use steps has been disclosed herein, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more steps described or shown as occurring in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps can be combined into a single process.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63253002 | Oct 2021 | US |
