Refillable grout dispenser with guide

Abstract

The refillable grout dispenser with guide has a reversible dispensing tip that fits into either end of the tube. The dispenser is operated by standard caulking guns. A plunger disc is pushed through the tube by the caulking gun plunger, forcing the grout out the dispensing tip. The dispensing tip may be removed from one end of the tube, and may be re-installed on the other end of the tube so that the tube may be refilled with grout and used again. The tip has a guide pin extending from near its opening. The guide pin helps keep the dispensing tip raised above the surface the grout is being applied to, and also helps the user move the dispenser along the desired path. The outer surfaces of the dispensing tip may be flat to help the user grip the tip when removing or installing it.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 646,529, filed Jan. 25, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to dispensers. More specifically, the invention relates to dispensers used in dispensing grout, caulk, or other similar materials. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Caulk, grout and other sealing compounds used in building construction are often sold in tubes. The tubes are designed to fit into dispensing mechanisms known as caulking guns. The tubes usually have an opening at their front end through which the compound is dispensed when a plunger at the back of the caulking gun is pushed through the tube and toward the front opening. When all of the sealing compound is pushed out of the tube, the empty tube is removed from the caulking gun and replaced with a new, full tube. Repeatedly disposing of these empty tube...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The refillable grout dispenser with guide has a reversible dispensing tip that fits into either end of a caulking tube. The dispenser is operated by standard caulking guns. A plunger disc is pushed through the tube by the caulking gun plunger, forcing the grout out the dispensing tip. The plunger disc has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the caulking tube. The plunger disc may be made of an elastic material or may have a sealing gasket or O-ring secured around its circumference to seal the connection between the side of the plunger disc and the tube wall. This prevents any sealing compound from escaping past the plunger disc during operation, thereby forcing the sealing compound through the dispensing tip when the plunger is depressed.

[0012] In a second embodiment, the dispensing tip and jam ring are basically formed as a single unit at the receiving end of the dispensing tip. The inner end of the receiving end provides a surface against which the plunger disc may abut during use of the dispenser. The tapered nozzle may be conical with a circular passage opening, or may have a number of flat planar surfaces that converge as they get further from the receiving end. The flat surfaces allow the user to grip the dispensing tip more easily when screwing or unscrewing the dispensing tip into or out of the jam ring, and also allow the user to grip the dispensing tip more easily when twisting the dispensing tip and turning the locking pin into or out of the L-shaped slot. All edges connecting the flat, planar surface on the nozzle are rounded for ergonomic reasons.

[0013] A passage extends through the dispensing tip from the receiving end and through the nozzle. This passage allows the sealing compound contained in the tube chamber to be dispensed onto a surface that is to be sealed. The passage may have any cross-sectional profile, including circular or rectangular, and is tapered along with the nozzle, allowing the nozzle to be trimmed at different locations to provide passage openings of different sizes. This allows the user to adjust the area the sealing compound dispensed is spread over.

[0015] The dispensing tip may additionally include a guide pin extending from near its passage opening. The guide pin helps keep the dispensing tip raised above the surface that the grout is being applied to, and also helps the user move the dispenser along the desired path. The guide pin may have a groove cut down its side, allowing the guide pin to be pressure fit into a bore in the nozzle. The bore is axially parallel to the passage extending through the dispensing tip, but is offset radially so that the guide pin does not interfere with the compound as it is dispensed.

Problems solved by technology

Repeatedly disposing of these empty tubes is wasteful and harmful to the environment over time.

Any gaps in the application of the compound may create a number of problems, such as allowing heat and moisture to pass through barriers, allowing pests, such as insects and rodents, to enter a building, etc.

If the opening in the tip of the tube is too close to the surface onto which the compound is being applied, the compound may back up into the tip and clog the opening.

This creates a gap in the sealing compound and opens the door for possible damage to the building.

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