Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6223952
-
Patent Number
6,223,952
-
Date Filed
Friday, October 1, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 1, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Kaufman; Joseph A.
- Bui; Thach H.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 222 157
- 222 158
- 222 159
- 222 156
- 222 154
- 222 15306
- 222 326
- 222 327
- 222 5412
- 222 5419
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A cartridge for holding a supply of a flowable substance includes a cylindrical tube which is closed at one end by a slidable seal. An opposite end of the tube is closed by an integral end wall which is provided with a sealed nipple extending from the center thereof. The nipple is provided with an external thread. A line of weakness is formed about the tube near end wall. A flange extends radially from the outer circumferential surface of tube adjacent the line of weakness. A translucent strip is formed along the length of the tube to allow viewing of the position of the slidable seal within the tube. To use the cartridge in a grease gun, the seal is pulled out and the end wall cut off along the line of weakness. To use the cartridge in a caulking gun, the cartridge is simply dropped into the body of the caulking gun and the end of nipple cut off. To use the cartridge in a vacuum gun, the end of nipple is cut off and the nipple is screwed into the vacuum gun.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cartridge for holding a supply of a flowable substance such as grease, caulking/sealing compounds, adhesives, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are several types of dispensing devices or guns available for dispensing different types of flowable substance which are marketed in cartridges. One type of dispensing device is the grease gun which for the purposes of this specification and claims is defined as including a cylinder provided with a dispensing screw cap at a first end and a spring biased plunger at an opposite end. The screw dispensing cap is threadingly engaged with the first end of the cylinder and is provided with a lever operated piston valve. The spring biased plunger is biased so as to exert force in a direction from the opposite end toward the first end. The typical cartridge used for holding grease and for use with this grease gun is in the form of a tubular cartridge which is sealed at both ends by removable end plates and has a lip about one end of the cartridge. In use, the dispensing screw cap is unscrewed from the grease gun and the plunger pulled back as far as possible and held in place. The end plates of the grease cartridge are then removed and the cartridge dropped into the cylinder so that the lip rests on the first end of the cylinder. The dispensing screw cap is then screwed back onto the cylinder and the plunger released. The plunger pushes directly on the grease and travels inside the cartridge to force the grease toward the dispensing screw cap. Grease therefore passes into the screw cap and can be dispensed by actuation of the lever operated piston valve.
A second type of dispenser is the caulking gun which for the purposes of the specification and claims is defined as including a semicylindrical housing with a plate at one end for retaining a trigger actuated plunger and a plate at an opposite end provided with a radial extending recess. The caulking gun is typically used to dispense caulking and sealing compounds as well as adhesives which are supplied in cartridges in the form of hollow tubes having a moveable plate sealing one end of the tube and an integral wall at an opposite end. A nipple is form on the integral wall and has an external thread onto which a separate nozzle can be screwed. These cartridges are typical dropped into the housing of the caulking gun between the two plates so that the nipple extends through the radial recess and the plunger is located behind the moveable plate. By squeezing the trigger, the plunger can be advanced toward the nipple pushing on the moveable plate thereby forcing the compound out of the cartridge when the nipple has been cut or otherwise opened.
Another type of dispensing gun is the vacuum gun which for the purposes of this specification and claims is taken as including a lever actuated vacuum mechanism which is provided with a threaded opening for threadingly engaging a nipple of a cartridge holding a flowable substance. The cartridge is in substance identical to the cartridges described above in relation to chalking and sealing compounds and adhesives although often the thread on the nipple may be different. One brand of vacuum dispensing gun is the REINER™ grease gun. When using the vacuum gun, the nipple of the cartridge is cut and then simply screwed into the opening of the lever actuated vacuum mechanism. The lever (or in some cases levers) can then be pumped to create a vacuum which sucks the contents out of the cartridge through the cut nipple. In doing so, the moveable plate at the opposite end of the cartridge slides along an inside wall of the cartridge maintaining a seal.
Notwithstanding any similarities between the cartridges described above, they can not interchangeably be used with different types of dispensing devices. For example, the conventional grease cartridge cannot be used in a caulking gun or in a vacuum gun. Similarly, the cartridge used for caulking guns cannot be used in a conventional grease gun.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for a flowable substance which can be used in a plurality of different dispensing devices.
According to the present invention there is provided a cartridge for holding a supply of a flowable substance, said cartridge adapted for use in a plurality of different dispensing devices which can force said substance from said cartridge, said cartridge including:
a hollow elongate body for containing a supply of a flowable substance;
a slidable seal fitted inside said body for sealing one end of said body, an opposite end of said body being closed by an integral wall;
a sealed nipple formed on said wall and through which said substance can flow when said nipple is cut;
a line of weakness formed about said body near said opposite end; and,
means protruding radially from an outer circumferential surface of said body and spaced from said opposite end by said line of weakness;
wherein, when said cartridge is to be used in a grease gun as hereinbefore defined, said slidable seal can be pulled out of said body and said wall removed by cutting along said line of weakness to allow dispensing of said substance, said flange supporting said cartridge in a cylinder of the grease gun; and
when said cartridge is to be used in a caulking gun as hereinbefore defined, said nipple can be cut and pressure applied to said slidable seal by a trigger actuated plunger of the caulking gun to force said substance out of said body through said nipple; and
when said cartridge is to be used in a vacuum gun as hereinbefore defined, said nipple can be cut and screwed into an opening of a lever actuated vacuum mechanism of vacuum device which, on operation sucks said substance from said body with said slidable seal sliding along an inside surface of said body to maintain a seal therewith.
Preferably said line of weakness comprises a band of reduced thickness formed in the material of said body.
Preferably said band is in the form of a channel having a pair of spaced apart parallel walls and a base extending between said parallel walls.
Preferably, said means protruding radially from said outer circumferential surface of said body comprises a flange.
Preferably the flange is formed integrally with the one of the spaced apart walls most distant said nipple.
Preferably said slidable seal is provided with gripping means which a person can manually grip to pull said plate from said body.
Preferably said gripping means comprises a ring formed integrally with said slidable seal.
Preferably the pull ring is attached to one end of a tear strip formed integrally with the slidable seal and adapted to tear away from the slidable seal when the ring is pulled to form a hole in the slidable seal to expose the inside of the body, between the seal and the substance, to atmospheric pressure.
Preferably said body is provided with a longitudinal extending transparent or translucent strip through which the position of said plate can be viewed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a longitudinal section view through a cartridge in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1
a
is a front portion of a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the cartridge; and,
FIG. 2
is a plan view of a plate incorporated in the cartridge shown in FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIG. 1
, the cartridge
10
for holding a supply of a flowable substance such as grease comprises a hollow elongate body in the form of a cylindrical tube
12
which is closed at one end
14
by a slidable seal
16
. The slidable seal
16
fits inside the tube
12
and forms a seal about its periphery with inside surface
18
of the tube
12
. The slidable seal
16
is able to slide along the length of the tube
12
.
Opposite end
20
of the tube
12
is closed by an integral end wall
22
. Sealed nipple
24
extends outwardly from the center of the end wall
22
and provides an opening, when cut, for the dispensing of the substance held within the tube
12
. The nipple
24
is provided with an external thread
26
which can engage either a nozzle (not shown) which can be used to limit the rate of dispensing of the substance; or, the thread
26
can be engaged in a dispensing gun such as a REINER vacuum gun.
A line of weakness
28
is formed about the tube
12
near the end wall
22
. The line of weakness
28
is in the form of a “square U” channel
30
having a pair of spaced apart parallel walls
32
and
34
which are joined by a base
36
extending therebetween. In
FIG. 1
, the line of weakness is shown spaced a small distance back from end wall
22
. However, in practice to minimise wastage of the contents of the cartridge
10
, the line of weakness would preferably be very close to or immediately adjacent inside surface
23
of wall
22
as shown in
FIG. 1
a
. In this way, if the end wall
22
is removed by cutting through the line
28
the cutting implement will scrape or come very close to scraping inside surface
23
, thus minimising loss or wastage of the contents.
Means, in the form of a flange
38
is formed about and protrudes radially from the outer circumferential surface the tube
12
. The flange is near the end wall
22
but spaced therefrom by the channel
30
. Advantageously as shown in
FIG. 1
a
, the flange
38
may be immediately adjacent the channel
30
so that the side of the flange nearest wall
22
is coplanar with side wall
32
.
A translucent strip
40
is formed along the length of the tube
12
from end wall
22
to end
14
. The purpose of the strip
40
is to allow viewing of the position of the slidable seal
16
within the tube
12
. To assist in this, the slidable seal
16
may be made of a bright color or at least a contrasting color to that of the substance held within the tube
12
. Additionally a scale can be marked along the strip
40
to allow measured dispensing of the substance held in the tube
12
.
Slidable seal
16
is typically in the form of a shallow cup having a circumferential side wall
42
which is in sealing contact with the inside surface
18
of tube
12
. Base
44
of the slidable seal
16
is in the form of a disc formed integrally with the circumferential wall
42
. The slidable seal
16
is orientated so that the volume of shallow cup is accessible from outside the tube
12
. A gripping means in the form of a pull ring
46
(refer
FIG. 2
) is formed on the base
44
. Pull ring
46
can be attached to one end of a tear strip
48
which is formed integrally with the base
44
. An opposite end
50
of the tear strip
48
is fixed to the base
44
. When the ring
46
is pulled tear strip
48
is torn away from the base
44
leaving a hole therein, but remains attached to the base
44
at point
50
. The tear strip
48
is of the same thickness of the base
44
and therefore when torn away the inside of body
16
is exposed to atmospheric pressure and the seal is broken. Thus, the only force required on pull ring
46
to remove the slidable seal
16
is that required to overcome the friction between the circumferential wall
42
and inside wall
18
. One does not need to exceed any other sealing pressure or force within the tube
12
.
When the cartridge
10
is to be used in a caulking gun as hereinbefore defined, the cartridge
10
is dropped into the caulking gun and the end of nipple
24
cut off. A nozzle (not shown) can then be screwed onto the nipple
24
to assist in controlling the flow rate of the substance and to also aid in the application of the substance to the work piece at hand. The trigger actuated plunger of the caulking gun is received by slidable seal
16
and bears against the base
44
. By actuation of the trigger the plunger is progressed down the tube
12
pushing the slidable seal
16
with it and thus pushing the substance within the tube
12
out through the nipple
24
and nozzle.
When it is desired to use the cartridge
10
in a grease gun as hereinbefore defined, the slidable seal
16
is removed by pulling on the ring
46
and the end wall
22
is removed by cutting along the channel
30
. The cutting should be performed by a sharp knife rather than a saw such as a hacksaw. The reason for this is to eliminate the formation of small cuttings or crumbs which can mix with the substance being dispensed and enter the apparatus or workpiece into which the substance is being injected. Indeed, because of the existence of the cut line the need for using a hacksaw is essentially eliminated because the wall thickness is such that a knife can easily penetrate and cut the tube
12
. Hacksaws typically would be required when the thickness of the wall of the tube
12
has not been reduced. Further, the channel
30
/line of weakness
28
ensures that the end wall
22
is cut-off square. This will facilitate the easy assembly of the grease gun. The flange
38
in this configuration is supported on the end of the cylinder portion of the grease gun which receives the screw dispensing cap thus preventing the tube
12
from dropping any further down. This ensures that once the grease has been dispensed the tube
12
can be easily removed.
When it is desired to use the cartridge
10
in a vacuum gun, as hereinbefore defined, such as a REINER gun, the end of nipple
24
is cut off and thread
26
engaged with the thread of the REINER gun. Levers on the REINER gun can then be pumped to create a vacuum which sucks the contents through the nipple
24
. As this occurs, the slidable seal
16
is drawn further down the tube
12
. In the REINER gun, the cartridge
10
is substantially supported by the nipple
24
. It is therefore recommended that the line of weakness
28
not be so weak as to allow the end wall
22
to become separated from the remainder of the tube
12
when the cartridge
10
is supported by the nipple
24
.
In both the vacuum gun and the caulking gun, substantially the whole length of at least a sector the tube
12
can be viewed. Provided the cartridge
10
is orientated so that the translucent strip
40
is in a position that can be viewed, one will be able to observe the position of the slidable seal
16
within the tube
12
. This will allow the user to accurately gauge the amount of substance remaining in the tube
12
.
Now that an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts. For example, the flange
38
can be replaced with a plurality of radially extending tabs which provide the same function as the flange
38
. While the translucent strip
40
is not essential to the invention this function can be mimicked by forming the whole of the tube
12
from a translucent or transparent material. Further, the pull ring
46
can be dispensed with altogether and/or replaced with another mechanism which allows a slidable seal
16
to be removed from the tube
12
. For example, the inside of the circumferential wall
44
can be provided with one or more detents which can be engaged by the blade of a screwdriver to allow the levering out of the slidable seal
16
. All such modifications and variations are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description and the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A cartridge for holding a supply of a flowable substance, said cartridge adapted for use in a plurality of different dispensing devices which can force said substance from said cartridge, said cartridge including:a hollow elongate body for containing a supply of a flowable substance; a slidable seal fitted inside said body for sealing one end of said body, an opposite end of said body being closed by an integral wall; a sealed nipple formed on said wall and through which said substance can flow when said nipple is cut; a line of weakness formed about said body near said opposite end; and, means protruding radially from an outer circumferential surface of said body and spaced from said opposite end by said line of weakness; wherein, when said cartridge is to be used in a grease gun, said slidable seal can be pulled out of said body and said wall removed by cutting along said line of weakness to allow dispensing of said substance, said flange supporting said cartridge in a cylinder of the grease gun; and when said cartridge is to be used in a caulking gun, said nipple can be cut and pressure applied to said slidable seal by a trigger actuated plunger of the chalking gun to force said substance out of said body through said nipple; and when said cartridge is to be used in a vacuum gun, said nipple can be cut screwed into an opening of a lever actuated vacuum mechanism of vacuum device which, on operation sucks said substance from said body with said slidable seal sliding along an inside surface of said body to maintain a seal therewith.
- 2. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said line of weakness includes a band of reduced thickness formed in the material of said body.
- 3. A cartridge according to claim 2 wherein said band is in the form of a channel having a pair of spaced apart parallel walls and a base extending between said parallel walls.
- 4. A cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said means protruding radially from said outer circumferential surface of said body is a flange.
- 5. A cartridge according to claim 4 wherein said flange is formed integrally with the one of the spaced apart walls most distant said nipple.
- 6. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said slidable seal is provided with gripping means which a person can manually grip to pull said plate from said body.
- 7. A cartridge according to claim 5 wherein said gripping means comprises a ring formed integrally with said slidable seal.
- 8. A cartridge according to claim 7 wherein the pull ring is attached to one end of a tear strip formed integrally with the slidable seal and adapted to tear away from the slidable seal when the ring is pulled to form a hole in the slidable seal to expose the inside of the body, between the seal and the substance, to atmospheric pressure.
- 9. A cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said body is provided with a longitudinal extending transparent or translucent strip through which the position of said slidable seal can be viewed.
- 10. A cartridge according to claim 9 wherein markings are provided along said strip to facilitate measured dispensing of said substance.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
PO6012 |
Apr 1997 |
AU |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/AU98/00224 |
|
WO |
00 |
10/1/1999 |
10/1/1999 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO98/45051 |
10/15/1998 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (16)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
4229122 |
Mar 1994 |
DE |
4403434 |
Oct 1994 |
DE |
2090921 |
Jul 1982 |
GB |