Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for melting and dispensing heat softenable thermoplastic material comprising a main body having therein a melt chamber, an inlet passageway means leading into one end of said chamber and a discharge passageway means in communication with the other end of said chamber, said melt chamber having at least two identifiable sections, the first having an interior wall with a cross section defined by a generally rounded perimeter, said section at the inlet end of said chamber and a second section having a varying cross section bounded by a generally indulating perimeter which becomes progressively distinct toward the discharge end, means for heating said main body and means for feeding said thermoplastic material through said inlet passageway into said chamber to cause said material to be progressively heated, melted and extruded through said discharge passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for melting and dispensing heat softenable thermoplastic material comprising a main body having therein a melt chamber, an inlet passageway means leading into one end of said chamber and a discharge passageway means in communication with the other end of said chamber, said melt chamber having at least two identifiable sections, the first having an interior wall with a cross section defined by a generally rounded perimeter, said section at the inlet end of said chamber and a second section having a varying cross section bounded by a generally indulating perimeter which becomes progressively distinct toward the discharge end, means for heating said main body and means for feeding said thermoplastic material through said inlet passageway into said chamber to cause said material to be progressively heated, melted and extruded through said discharge passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said melt chamber section, having a generally rounded perimeter interior wall cross section, continues from the inlet end beyond the midpoint of said chamber toward said discharge end, at which point said second section begins and said interior wall cross section gradually progresses from said generally rounded perimeter to said generally undulating perimeter and reaches its maximum undulation at said discharge end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said section having an undulating perimeter cross section is generally W-shaped at said discharge end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said inlet end of said chamber is substantially circular in cross section, the diameter of the chamber progressively decreases toward said discharge end and said cross section of said chamber in region of said undulating perimeter falls within the envelope of the cross section of the circular perimeter of said chamber, as projected to the discharge end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inlet passageway means includes sealing means, comprises a sleeve having an internal surface providing a sliding fit on said thermoplastic material and is formed of heat resistant non-heat-conductive rubbery elastic substance having sufficient flexibility to yield upon engagement with irregularities in said thermoplastic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for feeding said thermoplastic material through said inlet passageway includes manual means for advancing said thermoplastic material in rod form through said inlet passageway and into said melt chamber comprising means for clamping said material to be advanced, means for advancing said clamping means and from an extended position toward said inlet passage sequentially after activating said clamping means, and means for releasing said clamping means and returning said advancing means to the original position.