Patent Application
20180029069
The invention relates to an applicator for applying a sealing compound, and an application device having a corresponding applicator and a container, for applying a sealing compound. The invention further relates to a method for applying a sealing compound, using such an applicator or such an application device.
These types of applicators or application devices with applicators are known in the prior art as application tools, and are used, for example, in industry, handicrafts, or the do-it-yourself sector. By use of such applicators, for example sealing compounds may be dispensed for sealing joints between components in the sanitary sector. These types of sealing compounds for sealing joints between components are widely used in particular where on the one hand a seal that is impermeable to air and moisture is required between the components, but on the other hand the components must have a certain movability relative to one another. This is necessary in particular when stresses occur in the joint due to varying mechanical load, or as the result of the diversity of the two materials, having different thermal expansion coefficients, that abut at the joint.
One known application tool is disclosed in WO 2008/017330 A1, for example. The invention described therein relates to a cartridge gun having a receiving unit for a cartridge that is filled with the product to be dispensed, a dosing unit for the product to be dispensed, and a handle. The cartridge gun is used in particular for silicone joints in the sanitary sector. An alternative cartridge gun is also disclosed in WO 2000/20124 A1.
Various auxiliary means are known in the prior art as aids for smoothing the sealing compound. For example, DE 202008014930 A1 discloses a joint smoother made up of multiple spatulas, having different radii, that are connected so as to be rotatable by 360 degrees on one side. A similar tool with regard to use is also disclosed in DE 19847514 A1. Furthermore, DE 10154442 A1 discloses an arrangement comprising a cartridge, a tool for subsequently treating joints with permanently elastic joint compound, and an attached application nozzle, the tool being connectable to the cartridge in a form-fit manner.
In addition, there are various application nozzles for cartridges containing the sealing compounds. Thus, for example, WO 2007/133096 A2 discloses a nozzle for installation on a cartridge, having a dispensing opening for dispensing a sealing compound, and a delta-shaped blade section for treating the dispensed sealing compound. Furthermore, DE 29901981 U1, US 2010/0278958 A1, DE 19646352 A2, DE 10334167 A1, and WO 2012/150471 A1 disclose similar tools for handling sealing compounds.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved applicator for applying a sealing compound, and an application device that has such an applicator.
With regard to the applicator, this object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements are set forth in the dependent claims. With regard to the application device, this object is achieved by the features of claim 8.
The basic concept of the invention is to provide an applicator having a feed opening and a dispensing opening situated opposite from the feed opening for applying a sealing compound to a substrate. The feed opening is preferably provided on a proximal side of the applicator, and the dispensing opening is provided on an oppositely situated distal side. According to the invention, the applicator has a protruding blade for smoothing the applied sealing compound, the blade also preferably having a planar top side and a preferably likewise planar bottom side, and the bottom side being situated adjacent to the dispensing opening. The dispensing opening preferably adjoins, essentially directly, the surface of the bottom side. The applicator preferably also has a feed channel that opens into the dispensing opening, the channel preferably extending essentially parallel to the plane of the bottom side. According to the invention, it is also provided that the blade has a right blade section and a left blade section situated opposite from the right blade section, the right blade section and the left blade section protruding laterally, and the blade also having a front blade section, protruding in a distal direction, that joins the right blade section and the left blade section. Moreover, it is provided according to the invention that the blade sections are preferably beveled on their outer sides, at least in areas, in such a way that a right outer edge is provided on the right blade section, a left outer edge is provided on the left blade section, and a front outer edge that joins the right outer edge and the left outer edge is provided on the front blade section, the outer edges lying in the plane of the bottom side, and the dispensing opening preferably being situated at a distance from the front outer edge in the longitudinal extension of the applicator. Accordingly, it is provided according to the invention that the dispensing opening is recessed with respect to the front outer edge in the proximal direction or in the direction of the proximal side.
The bottom side of the applicator preferably faces the substrate in the application position of the applicator. Also advantageous are a design of the blade and a selection of an appropriate substrate, and guiding of the applicator in such a way that the outer edges of the left and the right blade sections are each guided along a surface region of the substrate.
Applying a sealing compound is particularly simple with such an applicator. An advantageous option for dispensing the sealing compound may be provided in particular on the one hand due to situating the dispensing opening adjacent to the bottom side, and on the other hand, situating the dispensing opening at a distance from the front outer edge, i.e., recessing the dispensing opening with respect to the front outer edge in the proximal direction. The sealing compound may be dispensed onto the substrate via the dispensing opening during use, and immediately thereafter on the one hand smoothing of the dispensed sealing compound via the front outer edge is made possible, and on the other hand, via the left and right outer edges situated on the laterally protruding blade sections it may be ensured that adjacent surface regions of the substrate are not acted on by the sealing compound.
In particular for the application position described above, when the applicator is placed on a suitable substrate in the area of the dispensing opening, a space may be created which is filled with the sealing compound being dispensed during dispensing of the sealing compound on the substrate, to allow reliable smoothing of the dispensed sealing compound in particular via the front sealing edge.
The beveled design of the blade sections is also particularly advantageous, and makes it possible to provide the outer edges. The beveled design of the blade section is selected in such a way that the blade sections are tapered in the sectional view due to the beveling, with the tip representing the outer edge in the sectional view. In addition, the outer edges all lie in one plane. This shape of the outer edges allows a particularly clean, neat application appearance. The front outer edge may allow particularly good smoothing of the dispensed sealing compound, and the left and right outer edges may allow particularly effective removal of sealing compound from the adjacent surface regions of the substrate.
The applicator is preferably made of a plastic material. An elastomer, for example a thermoplastic elastomer, is conceivable here, which with a suitable design of the applicator on the one hand may provide good results in the smoothing of sealing compound, in particular by means of a suitable rigidity of the front outer edge. On the other hand, the left and right outer edges may have a flexible design to allow effective removal of sealing compound from the adjacent surface regions of the substrate. Of course, other plastic materials are also conceivable as an alternative. For example, the applicator may be made of a polymer material such as a polyethylene (PE) or a polypropylene (PP). Alternatively, production of the applicator from various plastic materials is conceivable, wherein the materials may preferably have different properties, in particular in order to provide a front outer edge and/or a left and a right outer edge having the properties described above.
In principle, all compositions known to those skilled in the art, for example from the handicraft or do-it-yourself sectors, and in particular that are suitable for sealing joints between components in the sanitary sector or similar fields of application, are suited as sealing compounds that may be used according to the invention. These may cure under the action of moisture in the air, and include, for example, sealing compounds containing a silicone and/or a prepolymer that bears silyl groups. For the sealing compounds based on silyl-terminated prepolymers, those containing prepolymers having a polyurethane or polyoxyalkylene backbone, in particular a polypropylene glycol backbone, are particularly suited.
Sealing compounds may likewise be used in the method according to the invention which cure by evaporation of a solvent, in particular water. These include, for example, sealing compounds that contain an acrylate in the form of an aqueous dispersion, for example.
Compositions that are based on thermoplastic polymers and applied in the molten state to the treated component, or that are heated and calendered on, are likewise usable as sealing compounds within the meaning of the present invention. Suitable thermoplastic polymers are EPDM, PIB, EVA rubber or butyl rubber, TPO or PVC, polyethylene, polyester, polyurethane, or mixtures thereof.
The applicator according to the invention is suited in particular for dispensing a sealing compound onto a substrate. However, the applicator is particularly suited for dispensing a second sealing compound onto a first sealing compound that is already present. For example, joints that are provided with sealing compound, such as those known from the sanitary sector, for example, become unsightly over time and/or become cracked and/or brittle and/or lose the flank adhesion. Many of these problems may result in leaks, so that for example water and dirt may infiltrate into the sealing compound provided in the joint and provide a breeding ground for pathogens and/or bacteria and/or fungi. By use of an applicator according to the invention, in the described preferred procedure a new layer of sealing compound may be applied to the sealing compound that is already present, so that the existing sealing compound is thus coated with the new sealing compound in the sense of renewal of the surface.
In one advantageous refinement of the invention, the stated distance between the dispensing opening of the applicator and the front outer edge is in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm, preferably in the longitudinal extension of the applicator. The dispensing opening is accordingly recessed from the closest region of the front outer edge in a range of 1 mm to 3 mm. The distance is particularly preferably in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. A particularly good application appearance is made possible by such a distance. Due to the distance, it may also be ensured that on the one hand sufficient new sealing compound is applied to completely cover the old joint, but on the other hand an excessive amount of new sealing compound is not used.
It is also particularly advantageous to use a dosing opening having a diameter in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm. The diameter is particularly preferably in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Alternatively or in addition to the distance described above, it may be ensured by the diameter in the described preferred range that on the one hand sufficient new sealing compound is applied to completely cover the old joint, but on the other hand an excessive amount of new sealing compound is not used.
Another advantage is the design of the beveling of the blade sections of the applicator, preferably also on their outer sides, in such a way that a right inner edge is provided on the right blade section, a left inner edge is provided on the left blade section, and a front inner edge that joins the right inner edge and the left outer edge is provided on the front blade section.
It has also proven to be particularly advantageous when the inner edges lie in the plane of the top side of the applicator, which may in particular facilitate simple manufacture of the applicator.
Another advantage is the use of a concavely curved front outer edge. A particularly good formation of the dispensed sealing compound may be enabled as the result of a concavely curved area. In particular for the procedure described above, within the meaning of renewal, the concave design may enable a particularly good coating of the existing sealing compound. To this end, the front outer edge preferably has a radius in a range of 6 mm to 50 mm. The radius is particularly preferably in a range of 10 mm to 30 mm. The front outer edge is preferably a circular arc having a length in the range of 3 mm to 12 mm, particularly preferably in a range of 6 mm to 10 mm. Alternatively, the form of the front outer edge in the shape of an elliptical arc is of course conceivable.
Of course, other alternative designs of the front outer edge are also conceivable. Thus, it may be meaningful in particular to use a front outer edge that joins the left and the right outer edges linearly and/or in the form of a straight line.
In all cases, however, it has proven to be meaningful to use a front outer edge that joins the left outer edge and the right outer edge and which is preferably in alignment with neither the left outer edge nor the right outer edge. The front outer edge is particularly preferably angled with respect to its two adjacent outer edges in such a way that the transition between the front outer edge and the left outer edge and the right outer edge, respectively, is provided in each case by a tip.
In one advantageous refinement, the right outer edge and the left outer edge extend at an angle with respect to one another which is preferably less than 90°. The angle is particularly preferably in the range of 70° to 88°.
In one refinement of the invention, it is advantageous to provide the applicator with a feed opening in order to feed the sealing compound from the container, the feed opening being enclosed by a lower edge, and the left and right blade sections preferably protruding beyond the level of the lower edge in the proximal direction. In one advantageous refinement, the left and right blade sections taper in the proximal direction.
A further basic concept of the present invention is the provision of an application device having a proximal side and a distal side situated opposite from the proximal side, and having a container on the proximal side that contains a sealing compound to be applied, and an above-described applicator, for applying a sealing compound to a substrate, on the distal side. According to the invention, it is provided that the applicator has at least one dispensing opening for applying the sealing compound to a substrate, and a protruding blade for smoothing the applied sealing compound. According to the invention, the blade of the applicator is also designed in such a way that it has a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side being situated adjacent to the dispensing opening, and the blade having a right blade section and a left blade section situated opposite from the right blade section, and the right blade section and the left blade section laterally protruding, and the blade also having a front blade section that protrudes in the distal direction. Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that the blade sections are preferably beveled on their outer sides, at least in areas, in such a way that a right outer edge is provided on the right blade section, a left outer edge is provided on the left blade section, and a front outer edge that joins the right outer edge and the left outer edge is provided on the front blade section, the outer edges lying in the plane of the bottom side, and the dispensing opening, as described above, being situated at a distance from the front outer edge.
The applicator may be designed as described above, and may have all the described advantageous refinements. In particular sealing compounds described above are suitable for use as sealing compounds.
The container may be any desired container for holding the sealing compound. Particularly suited is a container made of a plastic material, which is designed in such a way and has a wall such that the user may manually press the container in order to dispense the sealing compound. The container may in particular have a tube-like design. In all cases, it has proven advantageous for the container to have a rigid container shoulder with a container neck on the distal side so that the applicator may be securely fastened. However, the container may also be designed as a cartridge, known in the prior art, wherein the sealing compound is preferably dispensed by means of a cartridge gun known to those skilled in the art. Another variant is a design of the container as a pressure container, known to those skilled in the art. Known pressure containers are usually made of a rigid plastic material or a metallic material, the sealing compound inside the container being pressurized by suitable means. A valve that is activated for dispensing the sealing compound is provided on the distal side of the container.
In one advantageous refinement, the applicator and the container have corresponding components for providing a means for defining the position of the applicator relative to the container, in order to prevent twisting of the applicator relative to the container and thus secure the position of the applicator relative to the container. These means may be provided in particular via a key-lock principle. It is conceivable in particular to provide a first part of the means on the applicator, and a corresponding part of the means on the container. In the installed state, both parts of the means engage with one another, thus providing positional definition in the form of anti-twist protection. For example, the container may have indentations into which protruding areas of the applicator may engage in the installed state. Alternatively, it is conceivable to provide protruding cams on the container which engage with corresponding recesses in the applicator in the installed state. Of course, similar designs are also conceivable.
A further basic concept of the present invention is a method for applying a sealing compound, using an above-described applicator according to the invention or an above-described application device according to the invention, comprising a container and in particular an applicator according to the invention.
In one advantageous refinement, the method is used for applying a sealing compound for a joint, the joint already having a first sealing compound, and a further sealing compound being applied to the first sealing compound by means of the applicator and/or the application device.
One preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention and of an application device according to the invention is depicted in the appended figures, which show the following:
The applicator 200 on its proximal side has a hollow cylindrical section 206 which is delimited in the distal direction by a lower edge 207. The lower edge 207 encloses a feed opening 202, concealed in
The blade 212 has a right blade section 209 on one side of the dome-like projection 208 and the hollow cylindrical section 206, and has a left blade section 210 situated opposite from the right blade section 209. Both blade sections 209, 210 lie in a plane, and in each case protrude laterally from the dome-like projection 208 and the hollow cylindrical section 206. In addition, the blade 212 has a front blade section 211 which joins the right blade section 209 and the left section 210, and which is integrally formed onto the distal end of the dome-shaped projection 207. The blade sections 209, 210, 211 are designed and situated relative to one another in such a way that on a top side 218 of the blade 212 they lie in a plane. At its lateral outer area the right blade section 209 has a chamfer-like bevel 213 that extends at a 45° angle in the direction of a bottom side, not discernible in
In particular due to the above-described basic shape of the blade 212, which is essentially triangular or chevron-like, in conjunction with the described design of the bevels 213, 214, in particular the right outer edge 220 and the left outer edge 221 extend at an angle with respect to one another, the vertex of the angle being situated in the distal direction, so that the distance between the outer edges increases in the proximal direction. The angle is preferably less than 90°; in the exemplary embodiment shown, an angle of 85° has proven advantageous. In other respects, the same also applies for the right inner edge 230 and the left inner edge 231.
Due to the concave design of the front outer edge 218 in particular, a tip 216 that protrudes in the distal direction is provided in the transition from the front outer edge 218 to the right outer edge 220. Correspondingly, a further tip 217 which likewise protrudes in the distal direction is provided in the transition from the front outer edge 218 to the left outer edge 221. On the opposite side of the applicator 200, the right blade section 209 and the left blade section 210 protrude in the proximal direction beyond the level of the lower edge 207, and open into a tip 232 or tip 233, respectively, that is radially spaced apart from the lower edge 207.
The applicator 200 also has a dispensing opening for dispensing the sealing compound onto a substrate, the dispensing opening being situated on the end-face side of the dome-shaped projection 208 pointing in the distal direction, but in
The use of a described applicator 200, in particular as a component of a described assembly, namely, by utilizing the described application device 1 for applying a sealing compound to a substrate, is particularly suited, for example, for sealing a joint in the sanitary sector. Of course, other uses are also conceivable. In all cases, such guiding of the applicator 200 is provided in which the bottom side 229 and the application opening 201 face the joint or the corresponding substrate to be provided with the sealing compound. The sealing compound may be dispensed, as described above, by exerting pressure on a container 100. The applicator 200 is subsequently guided in such a way that the dispensed sealing compound is smoothed, in particular by means of the front application edge 218.
The use is suited in particular for fields of application in which the joint is defined by two surface regions that are situated at an angle with respect to one another, for example two tiles situated at a right angle. In this case, the right application edge 220 and the left application edge 221 may be guided along the surface of the tiles during dispensing of the sealing compound and during smoothing of the surface of the sealing compound by means of the front application edge 218, for example to remove sealing compound from these areas. Alternatively, in another field of application, with a suitable surface the applicator 200 may be guided via the two tips 216, 217, and the dispensed sealing compound may once again be smoothed by means of the front outer edge 218.
The applicator 200, in particular as a component of a described assembly, namely, by using the described application device 1, is particularly suited for applying a second sealing compound to a first sealing compound that is already present in order to apply a new layer of second sealing compound to the first sealing compound already present. In this way, the first sealing compound may be coated with a layer of second sealing compound, thus achieving a renewal of the surface.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102015206652.5 | Apr 2015 | DE | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2016/058259 | Apr 2016 | US |
| Child | 15729083 | US |
