A viscous fluid dispensing device

Abstract

A viscous fluid dispensing device 99 comprising a cylinder 2 having a longitudinal axis and an urging means 1 adapted to urge along said axis. The cylinder is arranged to receive a container for fluid

Description

07 07 25 Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a viscous fluid dispensing device, in particular a reusable device for dispensing viscous fluids such as sealants; more particularly but not exclusively silicone sealant bags. Background 10 In many societies there are increasing numbers of people using sealants in an increasing population, as well as increasing standards of premises upkeep. However at the same time there is a growing recognition of environmental factors and 15 many people are loath to dispose of so much plastic as typically common with sealants, in particular disposable sealant containers, which are not capable of recycling. In addition or the alternative, many applications of sealant are in locations with restricted space, and re-usable guns for sealant containers are typically bulky and 20 unwieldy, extending radially from the container so as to provide securement onto and over the container. This can be problematic in restricted spaces such as around sinks or in bathroom environments. Prior Art 25 GB2374070 (ARMISHAW) discloses a dispenser suitable for dispensing sealant, comprises a body in which material to be dispensed is located, dispensing means operable to urge the material through an outlet in the body, a unitary end cap removably attached to the body and a nozzle removably attachable to the end cap. 30 DE 202018107157U1 (DINOL) discloses a screw sleeve for a cartridge having a cylindrical cartridge connecting portion with an internal bayonet thread for connection to a cylindrical screw sleeve connecting portion with an external bayonet thread of a cartridge in order to connect the screw sleeve to the cartridge by means of a bayonet 35 closure, as well as a cylindrical mixer holding section with a central mixer holding opening in order to hold a mixer on the cartridge, characterized by a stiffening measure 07 07 25 and / or a pressing device in order to increase the pressing pressure generated by the bayonet lock with which the mixer is pressed against the cartridge. EP 1 611 962 (STAHL) discloses a receiving body for a spray gun system comprises 5 a fixing support for fixing a nozzle to which a guiding cone is connected, wherein the cone progresses into a radially extending support edge and a system consisting of a spray gun with the receiving body arranged between a nozzle and a bag. The support edge may be formed as a peripheral flange and / or have a thread for fixing the nozzle. 10 Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a viscous fluid dispensing device comprising: a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and an urging means adapted to urge along said axis; the cylinder receives a flexible container for 15 fluid that moves from a first elongate filled configuration to a second short spent configuration when urged by the urging means; and a collar that concentrically receives the cylinder within a first end and receives a dispensing nozzle at a second end providing a fluid communication pathway from the flexible container exiting through the dispensing nozzle; wherein the collar has an internal receiving portion adapted to 20 receive the flexible container when in the spent configuration, the internal receiving portion has an internal diameter that is larger than the internal diameter of the cylinder and wherein the first end of the collar has a connection means comprising a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of studs on an external surface of the cylinder to form a bayonet connection. 25 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a viscous fluid dispensing device comprising: a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and an urging means adapted to urge along said axis; the cylinder receives a flexible container for fluid that moves from a first elongate filled configuration to a second short spent 30 configuration when urged by the urging means; and a collar that concentrically receives the cylinder within a first end and receives a dispensing nozzle at a second end providing a fluid communication pathway from the flexible container exiting through the dispensing nozzle; wherein the collar has an internal receiving portion adapted to receive the flexible container when in the spent configuration, the internal receiving 35 portion has an internal diameter that is larger than the internal diameter of the cylinder and wherein the first end of the collar has a connection means comprising a plurality 07 07 25 of studs on an external surface for being received in a plurality of slots on the cylinder to form a bayonet connection. In this way the device may enable a user to use multiple containers of a high viscosity 5 fluid such as silicone sealant, with a reusable device, and dispose of the container, taking the collar from the cylinder and the container from the collar sequentially, and disposing of the container alone. It may be envisaged that the device is therefore suited to dispensing extrudable fluid 10 contained in a collapsible, flexible, cylindrical sausage-shaped skin container, as known in the art, from a rigid cylindrical tube provided by the cylinder. The internal receiving portion comprises an internal diameter larger than the internal diameter of the cylinder. 15 In this way the film-shaped bag body for packing a column-shaped sealing fluid is not caught between the end, the inner wall surface of the cylinder, and the urging means, and can expand into this space instead, so that the sealing material can be smoothly extruded and it is efficiently extruded to the last. 20 In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a bayonet connection means with the cylinder, such that a bulky connection means formed by concentric male and female threaded parts is avoided. In this way the device may have a minimised diameter. 25 The connection means may comprise an enlarged diameter shoulder on the cylinder, providing part of the connection means, wherein such shoulder enables a continuous or progressive or smoothed collar and connection means profile, minimising snagging opportunities. 30 In this way the connection means and according collar depth may be minimised such that the device may have a smaller diameter profile so as to allow access to restricted spaces such as in and around bathroom facilities. Additionally or alternatively the bayonet connection means, on the external face of the cylinder ensures that the viscous fluid is not liable to interfere with or compromise the connection means. 07 07 25 5 In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a threaded connection means. In some such embodiments of the device the connection means comprises an internal thread on the cylinder, for example corresponding to or contained within a shoulder as 10 described. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises radially projecting fins on the collar. 15 In some embodiments of the device the nozzle comprises a separate and separable part In some embodiments of the device the nozzle and collar comprise a securement means for temporary securement of the nozzle to the collar 20 In some embodiments of the device the securement means comprises an external thread on the collar. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only 25 and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures 30 Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; 07 07 25 Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device 5 shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; 10 Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 5; 15 Figure 8 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 5; Figure 9 shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of the device according to the 20 present invention; Figure 10 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 9; 25 Figure 11 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 9; and Figure 12 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 10; 30 And Figure 13 shows a sectional view of the first pictured embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1. Detailed Description of Figures 07 07 25 With reference to the figures there are shown embodiments of a viscous fluid dispensing device 99 generally comprising: a cylinder 2,82 having a longitudinal axis 5 A and an urging means 1 adapted to urge along said axis; the cylinder arranged to arranged to receive a container (not shown) for fluid which container is flexible and adapted to move from a first elongate filled configuration to a second short spent configuration; a nozzle 4,24 providing a fluid communication pathway from the container, wherein said fluid communication pathway is associated with the urging 10 means; and a collar 3,23,33 adapted to prevent exit of the container from the cylinder under the urging means, wherein the collar comprises a receiving portion 121 adapted to receive the container when in the spent configuration. In particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the embodiment 15 comprises a rigid cylinder 2, which may be formed in aluminium or a translucent or transparent plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or similar. The cylinder is accompanied with a pumping mechanism 1, such as is common in the art, which mechanism provides the urging means for the fluid from the container. 20 The mechanism comprises an end cap 16, a base arm 6 and a pivoted pumping arm 5, and a rod 61 that passes through the end cap and is driven by pumping the pumping arm against the base arm. 25 The urging means comprises a moveable bung 62 which begins at the end of the cylinder distal the collar 3, and which bung is driven along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder by the rod towards the collar, wherein in the first filled configuration the bung is near the end cap 16, and in the second spent configuration the bung is near the collar 3. The end cap 16 screws onto a screwthread 66 on the end of the cylinder 2 30 distal the collar 3. The container in use is a foil bag or sausage as is known in the art of sealants, such as silicone or bathroom sealants. 35 The container can therefore be purchased separately and may comprise a consumable, that may be inserted into the container by removal of the urging means 07 07 25 from an end, or in the pictured embodiments may be envisaged to be inserted into the cylinder by removal of the collar from the cylinder. The bar 61 is urged by a spring 8 and release of the bung is by pressing the catch 7 and pulling the hooked bar end 7 away from the collar, in a manner known in the art. 5 In the first pictured embodiment the container is opened at the end in use distal the end cap, and the collar is subsequently connected to the cylinder by a bayonet connection means 12,13. 10 Such bayonet connection means comprises studs 13 extending from the external surface of the cylinder, and L shaped slots 12 in the sidewall of the collar 3. The cylinder further comprises an enlarged annular band or shoulder 11, against which the collar locates. The shoulder further provides rigidity and maintains the ovality of 15 the cylinder end at the collar so as to ensure that disruption thereto and will not lead to fluid leakage causing compromises in the connection means. The nozzle 4 is secured onto and over the collar by a threaded securement means 14. In the pictured embodiment this securement means is provided by an external 20 threaded column 41 extending axially from the collar away from the cylinder. The nozzle is thereby screwed thereonto, and may be easily disposed of after use by unscrewing, whereby the threading is located external the column that forms a part of the fluidic pathway in use. 25 The collar comprises four radially projecting fins 15 that project outwards so as to provide a means of providing purchase for use in rotating the collar and disconnecting from the cylinder, particularly after usage. 30 Such fins are provided on the external surface of a domed end that closes the annular sidewall of the collar, and which domed end is perforated centrally by the column that provides the fluidic pathway for the viscous fluid in use, from the container. Internally the domed end further advantageously provides useful space within the receiving portion 121 adapted to receive the container when in the spent configuration. 07 07 25 The collar 3 may be envisaged to be formed in aluminium in some embodiments or ABS. The nozzle may be envisaged to be a consumable, formed in plastic, and comprises a thumbscrew turn collar of enlarged diameter at the column extending from the collar. 5 With reference to the second pictured embodiment 199 the embodiment comprises a nozzle 24 with a threaded end 25 for threaded connection to the collar 23 having a projecting column 42 which has a reduced diameter compared to the first pictured embodiment. 10 With reference to the third pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a connection means between the collar 33 and the cylinder 82 that is provided by a screwthread, which screwthread 81 is located on the external surface of the cylinder beyond the ridge, and on the internal surface of the collar sidewall distal the domed 15 end. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

07 07 251. A viscous fluid dispensing device comprising: a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and an urging means adapted to urge along said axis; the cylinder receives 5 a flexible container for fluid that moves from a first elongate filled configurationto a second short spent configuration when urged by the urging means; and a collar that concentrically receives the cylinder within a first end and receives a dispensing nozzle at a second end providing a fluid communication pathway from the flexible container exiting through the dispensing nozzle; wherein the 10 collar has an internal receiving portion adapted to receive the flexible containerwhen in the spent configuration, the internal receiving portion has an internal diameter that is larger than the internal diameter of the cylinder and wherein the first end of the collar has a connection means comprising a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of studs on an external surface of the cylinder to form a 15 bayonet connection.

2. A viscous fluid dispensing device comprising: a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and an urging means adapted to urge along said axis; the cylinder receives a flexible container for fluid that moves from a first elongate filled configuration 20 to a second short spent configuration when urged by the urging means; and acollar that concentrically receives the cylinder within a first end and receives a dispensing nozzle at a second end providing a fluid communication pathway from the flexible container exiting through the dispensing nozzle; wherein the collar has an internal receiving portion adapted to receive the flexible container 25 when in the spent configuration, the internal receiving portion has an internaldiameter that is larger than the internal diameter of the cylinder and wherein the first end of the collar has a connection means comprising a plurality of studs on an external surface for being received in a plurality of slots on the cylinder to form a bayonet connection.

303. A viscous fluid dispensing device according to any preceding claim wherein the cylinder comprises an annular radially extending band or shoulder.

4. A viscous fluid dispensing device according to any preceding claim comprising 35 radially projecting fins on the collar.

5. A viscous fluid dispensing device according to any preceding claim wherein the nozzle is a separate and separable part.

6. A viscous fluid dispensing device according to any preceding claim wherein the 5 nozzle and collar comprise a securement means.

7. A viscous fluid dispensing device according to claim 6 wherein the securement means comprises an external thread on the collar.07 07 25

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