Patent Application
20160129405
1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure patent relates to static mixing of two fluids. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a cartridge for producing homogenously colored caulk by the static mixing of two differently colored or tinted caulks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical caulk is white, grey or black. Some consumers like to use caulk in other colors, including colors that match the consumer's tub, sink, countertop, windows, etc. The present disclosure is intended to provide an easy to use cartridge for producing colored caulk.
The disclosure relates to a mixing apparatus for use with a caulking cartridge to produce a homogenously colored caulk. The mixing apparatus may comprise a rod having a distal end and a proximal end; a mixing element affixed to the distal end of the rod; a stopper moveably affixed to the rod between the distal end and the proximal end; and a driving knob affixed to the proximal end of the rod.
The mixing element may comprise a first screw lead and a second screw lead located downstream of the first screw lead nearer the distal end. The first screw lead and the second screw lead may be in stationary alignment with each other and may be offset from each other by an angle between 0 and 180 degrees and preferably about 90 degrees.
Each screw lead may have a helix angle of between about 3.5 degrees and about 25 degrees and, preferably, about 12.75 degrees.
In another aspect of the disclosure a method of making a homogeneous colored caulk is provided. The method may comprise the steps of:
(a) Providing a caulk cartridge comprising a cylindrical tube and a plunger removably attached to a proximal end 40 of the tube;
(b) Providing a mixing apparatus according to the disclosure;
(c) Removing the plunger from the caulk cartridge;
(d) Injecting a colorant into the proximal end of the cartridge;
(e) Inserting the mixing apparatus into the cartridge tube so that the rod extends axially within the tube, the driving knob is located outside the tube and the mixing element is located within the tube;
(f) Sealing the proximal end of the cartridge tube with the stopper;
(g) Moving the mixing element in reciprocal fashion within the tube by moving the driving knob back and forth;
(h) Removing the mixing apparatus; and
(g) Resealing the cartridge by replacing the plunger in the proximal end.
The method may include the additional step of rotating the mixing element within the tube.
While the invention may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments with the understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.
Turning to the drawings, there is shown in
The mixing apparatus 10 comprises a rod 12, a mixing element 14, a stopper 16 and a driving knob 18.
The rod 12 has a distal end 20 and a proximal end 26 to which the driving knob 18 may be attached. The rod 12 moves slidingly within a centrally located axial channel defined by the stopper 16.
The first screw lead 22 and the second screw lead 24 are in stationary alignment with each other and may be offset from each other by an angle between 0 and 180 degrees and preferably about 90 degrees. Preferably one screw lead is left handed and the other screw lead is right handed. For example, in
The helix angles (Ø22, Ø24) of the screw leads 22, 24 may be between about 3.5 degrees and about 25 degrees and, more preferably, about 12.75 degrees. The helix angle (Ø22) of the first screw lead 22 may or may not be the same as the helix angle (Ø24) of the second screw lead 24.
The driving knob 18 is attached to a proximal end 26 of the rod 12. In the illustrated embodiment the driving knob 18 is a knob-like structure, although it can be in the form of a handle or any suitable configuration
The mixing apparatus 10 is designed to be used with a caulking cartridge 30 such as that shown in
In another aspect of the disclosure a method of making a tinted or colored caulk is provided. The method may comprise the following steps:
(a) Removing the plunger 36 from a caulk cartridge 30.
(b) Injecting colorant into the proximal end 40 of the cartridge 30. This may require removing a small amount of caulk to make room for the colorant.
(c) Inserting a mixing apparatus 10 according to the disclosure into the cartridge tube 32.
(d) Sealing the proximal end 40 of the cartridge tube 32 with the stopper 16.
(e) Moving the mixing element 14 back and forth within the tube 32 to completely mix the colorant and the caulk. The number of strokes needed to properly mix the colorant and the caulk can vary, with ten being a typical number. The user may have to rotate the mixing element 14 within the tube 32 to achieve better mixing near both ends 38 and 40. During mixing the rod 12 extends axially within the tube 32 with the driving knob 18 located outside the tube 32 and the mixing element 14 located within the tube 32.
(f) Removing the mixing apparatus 10 from the cartridge 30.
(g) Resealing the cartridge 30 by replacing the plunger 36 in the proximal end 40.
The user is now ready to apply the tinted caulk using the cartridge 30. The mixing apparatus 10 can be cleaned if necessary, and reused to tint another caulk cartridge.
It is understood that the embodiments of the disclosure described above are only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the disclosure. Modifications and alternative embodiments of the disclosure are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope.
