Patent Application
20180318869
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of applying sealants (e.g., caulk) and adhesives to surfaces. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an applicator for coupling to a sealant or adhesive dispensing unit (e.g., caulk gun).
Sealant dispensing units, such as caulk guns, have been in wide use for many years. The benefits of such a unit is the ability to quickly and easily dispense a large amount of needed material. However, because of this ability, too much product is often dispensed, requiring additional clean up by a user. Further, the product may not distribute evenly, which may not leave a good aesthetic appearance. When this occurs, the user must use another device or a finger to attempt to evenly distribute the caulk. This leads to decreased productivity of a user, which can increase costs. It can also lead to considerable waste of the product, which unnecessarily increases cost.
Further, dispensing units typically have a straight tip leading from the tube. This can make applying product in tight or angled spaces very difficult. Users have attempted to cut the tip at varying angles to attempt to solve this problem, but an angled tip restricts the use of the applicator to that specific angle, which may not be desirable in other circumstances.
As such, there remains a need for an apparatus that can aid a user in applying consistent product to a surface, that creates an aesthetically pleasing look, that allows a user to apply product at varying angles, and that saves on cost. The present disclosure seeks to solve these and other problems.
In one embodiment, a pivoting applicator assembly comprises a base member and a pivoting member, wherein the base member is coupled to an applicator tube (e.g., caulk tube) and wherein the pivoting member is coupled to the end of the base member and is configured to pivot thereon.
In one embodiment, an applicator tube comprises a working end configured to receive a pivoting member, wherein the pivoting member is configured to pivot thereon.
The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not to be considered limiting in scope. Any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
Reference to the drawings is done throughout the disclosure using various numbers. The numbers used are for the convenience of the drafter only and the absence of numbers in an apparent sequence should not be considered limiting and does not imply that additional parts of that particular embodiment exist. Numbering patterns from one embodiment to the other need not imply that each embodiment has similar parts, although it may.
Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad, ordinary, and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. For exemplary methods or processes, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive.
It should be understood that the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence, arrangement, or with any particular graphics or interface. Indeed, the steps of the disclosed processes or methods generally may be carried out in various sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
The term “coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).
As previously discussed, there is a need for an apparatus that can aid a user in applying consistent product to a surface, that creates an aesthetically pleasing look, that allows a user to apply product at varying angles, and that saves on cost. The pivoting applicator assembly shown and described herein solve these needs and others.
In one embodiment, as shown in
As further shown in
It will be appreciated that the pivoting applicator assembly described herein may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including plastics, rubbers, carbon fibers, and others.
Further, a manufacturer may desire to manufacture the base member directly into the dispensing tip of the product, as shown in
It is appreciated from the foregoing that the pivoting applicator assembly described herein solves the need for an apparatus that can aid a user in applying consistent product to a surface, that creates an aesthetically pleasing look, that allows a user to apply product at varying angles, and that saves on cost.
Exemplary embodiments are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages herein. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/500,087, filed on May 2, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62500087 | May 2017 | US |
