Patent Application
20230030400
In certain situations where a sealant needs to be applied between two bodies to be joined, the sealant bead frequently needs to be applied carefully such that the bead is positioned in the appropriate joining location between the two bodies, and such that the bead is not exposed outside the joining location. For example, when replacing a damaged windshield, the adhesive bead is laid down in a strip on the windshield glass, at a location where the bead will be disposed exactly between the windshield glass and the body of the vehicle. As the portion of the vehicle body that supports the windshield is typically narrow, the bead must be laid down as a linear strip at a predetermined distance from the perimeter edge of the windshield glass, with little margin of error for deviation from such distance.
Typically, in windshield installation, the installer uses his or her dexterity and concentration to apply the adhesive bead as needed. However, if, at any point, such dexterity and concentration becomes insufficient, a deviation from the needed distance from the perimeter edge of the windshield glass, or a poor bead quality of the applied adhesive can result. A solution for accurately applying the adhesive bead in a controlled manner is therefore desired.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a guide for a sealant applicator nozzle is disclosed. The guide can include a base portion couplable to the sealant applicator nozzle, and a bearing element having a bearing surface. At least a portion of the bearing surface can face the sealant applicator nozzle, and a lateral distance between the bearing surface and the sealant applicator nozzle can be variable. The bearing element may be rotatable with respect to the base portion, and may be eccentrically rotatable with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the bearing element. The guide can include a post coupled to the base portion and the bearing. The guide can further include an aperture defined in the base portion, the sealant applicator nozzle being receivable within the aperture.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the guide can include a base portion having an aperture for receiving the sealant applicator nozzle, a post having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the base portion, and a bearing element coupled to the second end of the post, the bearing element having a bearing surface, at least a portion of the bearing surface facing the sealant applicator nozzle. The bearing element can be eccentrically rotatable with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the post. A lateral distance between the bearing surface and a tip of the sealant applicator nozzle can be variable.
According to another exemplary embodiment, a method of applying sealant using a sealant applicator nozzle, is disclosed. The method can include providing, coupled to the nozzle, a guide having a bearing element, adjusting a lateral distance between a tip of the nozzle and a bearing surface of the bearing element, placing the tip of the nozzle against a surface to which sealant is to be applied, placing the bearing element such that the bearing element bears against an edge of a structure proximate the surface, and applying the sealant to the surface as the bearing element bears against the edge. At least a portion of the bearing surface can face the nozzle. A distance between the tip of the nozzle and the edge can correspond to the lateral distance between the tip of the nozzle and the portion of the bearing surface facing the nozzle. Adjusting the lateral distance can include eccentrically rotating the bearing element.
Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:
Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope 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. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows.
As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, and as shown in
In one exemplary embodiment, base portion 110 may be substantially planar and may include a nozzle coupling aperture 112. Nozzle coupling aperture 112 may be sized and shaped to couple to one or more known nozzles 10, for example such nozzles as commonly used to apply sealants, caulks, adhesives, glues, and so forth. Nozzle coupling aperture 112 may therefore be provided in a variety of sizes. Nozzle coupling aperture 112 may further include a plurality of notches 114 defined in the perimeter of the nozzle coupling aperture. Notches 114 may be sized and shaped to engage corresponding ribs 14 disposed around the circumference of nozzle 10, and can function to prevent rotation of nozzle 10 within aperture 112. Base portion 110 may further include an indicator 116, which may be provided, for example, as an angular protrusion on the external perimeter surface of base portion 110. In the exemplary embodiment, base portion 110 has a substantially a teardrop-like shape, with aperture 112 located at a larger-diameter end of base portion 110, and post 130 located at a smaller-diameter end of base portion 110; however, any shape for base portion 110 that enables guide 100 to function as described herein may be contemplated and provided as desired.
Base portion 110 may be coupled to post 130 in any known manner that enables guide 100 to function as described herein. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, a first end 132 of post 130 may be received within an aperture 118 of base portion 110; in other exemplary embodiments, the first end 132 of post 130 may be received within a recess defined on base portion 110, or may otherwise be coupled to base portion 110. Coupled to a second end 134 of post 130 may be bearing 150. Bearing element 150 may be coupled to post 130 in any known manner that enables guide 100 to function as described herein. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the second end 134 of post 130 may be received within an aperture 152 of bearing element 150; in other exemplary embodiments, the second end 134 of post 130 may be received within a recess defined in bearing element 150, or may otherwise be coupled to bearing element 150.
It should be appreciated that bearing element 150 may be rotatable with respect to base portion 110, and therefore, the couplings of post 130 may be provided in any manner that enables such functionality. In other words, bearing element 150 may be rotatably coupled to post 130 and post 130 may be fixedly coupled to base portion 110, bearing element 150 may be fixedly coupled to post 130 and post 130 may be rotatably coupled to base portion 110, or post 130 may be rotatably coupled to both bearing element 150 and base portion 110. It should further be appreciated that these rotatable couplings may not be freely rotatable, but only rotatable upon an application of sufficient force, for example when rotated by hand. The rotatable couplings may therefore have a friction or interference fit, such that, without application of sufficient force, the position of bearing 150 relative to base portion 110 is static and maintained.
Bearing element 150 may include a bearing surface 154, which, in some embodiments, may be a circumferential surface of bearing element 150. Bearing surface 154 may be oriented in a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of post 130. Furthermore, at least a portion of bearing surface 154 may be oriented such that it is facing tip 12 of nozzle 10 when guide 100 is coupled to the nozzle. In the exemplary embodiment, bearing 150 has a substantially cylindrical shape with bearing surface 154 being the lateral surface of the cylinder; however any shape for bearing element 150 that enables guide 100 to function as described herein may be contemplated and provided as desired.
Bearing element 150 may further be eccentrically coupled to post 130 such that the central longitudinal axis of post 130 and the parallel-thereto central longitudinal axis 156 of bearing element 150 are not collinear. In other words, post 130 may be coupled to bearing element 150 at a location disposed between the central longitudinal axis 156 of bearing element 150 and the bearing surface 154 of bearing 150.
In operation, guide 100 may be coupled to a nozzle 10 by inserting nozzle 10 into coupling aperture 112 until a friction fit exists between nozzle 10 and the perimeter of aperture 112. Nozzle 10 may be oriented such that a V-cut 16 of the nozzle is aligned with indicator 116 of the base portion. If present, ribs 14 of the nozzle may be received within notches 114 of the coupling aperture. Accordingly, a snug and secure fit of the nozzle within the coupling aperture may be maintained.
Bearing element 150 may then be rotated with respect to base portion 110 to a desired position. As a consequence of the eccentric coupling of bearing element 150, the lateral distance d between the tip 12 nozzle 10 and bearing surface 154 can vary continuously depending on the rotational position of the bearing.
The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
