US5595327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Caulk gun with tube engaging receptacle
Assignee: Z-PRO INTERNATIONAL Inc
•
Filing: 1994-10-27
•
Granted: 1997-01-21
•
Expires: 2014-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A caulk gun having a piston with a flexible rim providing dripless dispensing of caulk or adhesive and including a tube-engaging receptacle for securely holding a tube is disclosed. The advantages of a dripless caulk gun are provided by a piston having a flexible circumferential rim that engages an inside surface of a caulk or adhesive dispensing tube to create an atmospheric seal. The plunger moves the piston against an inside movable surface of the dispensing tube. When the trigger is released, the plunger mechanism moves backward, and the piston creates a partial vacuum within the caulk tube thereby halting dispensing. The dispensing tube is attached to the caulk gun by secure engagement with a tube-engaging receptacle. The receptacle may be provided with threads that threadingly engage with a portion of the dispensing tube. Alternatively, the tube-engaging receptacle may be provided with threads and a threaded lockring wherein the lockring fits down over the caulk tube and presses against a protruding band. Also disclosed is a piston for providing dripless operation wherein the piston comprises a disc and gasket that can be attached to prior art plunger assemblies.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher G. Dentler
- 👤 John N. Zagone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:49
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05C; B05C17/00; B05C17/005; B05C17/01; B05C17/0116; B05C17/012; B05C17/0123; B05C17/014; B05C17/00576
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A caulk gun for dispensing caulk from a cylindrical caulk tube having a rear drive plate, the gun comprising: (a) a handle having a trigger mechanism pivotally connected to the handle; (b) a plunger assembly including a plunger slidably connected to the handle, wherein operation of the trigger toward the handle drives a plunger in a forward direction and operation of the trigger away from the handle urges the plunger in a rearward direction; (c) a piston connected to the plunger and having a flexible, circumferential rim for engaging the drive plate of the caulk tube, wherein the piston mechanically pushes against the drive plate when the plunger moves forwardly and the piston creates a pressure differential against the drive plate when the plunger moves rearwardly thus urging the drive plate rearwardly; and (d) a tube receiving receptacle coupled to the handle for receiving and fixedly engaging a portion of the elongate cylindrical tube and preventing movement of the cylindrical tube when the plunger pushes against the drive plate and the plunger urges the drive plate rearwardly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A caulk gun for dispensing caulk from a cylindrical caulk tube having a rear drive plate, the gun comprising: (a) a handle having a trigger mechanism pivotally connected to the handle; (b) a plunger assembly including a plunger slidably connected to the handle, wherein operation of the trigger toward the handle drives a plunger in a forward direction and operation of the trigger away from the handle urges the plunger in a rearward direction; (c) a piston connected to the plunger and having a flexible, circumferential rim for engaging the drive plate of the caulk tube, wherein the piston mechanically pushes against the drive plate when the plunger moves forwardly and the piston creates a pressure differential against the drive plate when the plunger moves rearwardly thus urging the drive plate rearwardly; and (d) a tube receiving receptacle coupled to the handle for receiving and fixedly engaging a portion of the elongate cylindrical tube and preventing movement of the cylindrical tube when the plunger pushes against the drive plate and the plunger urges the drive plate rearwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The caulk gun of claim 1 wherein the tube receiving receptacle comprises a threaded bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The caulk gun of claim 1 wherein the tube receiving receptacle comprises a threaded bore and a threaded collar that couples with the threaded bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The caulk gun of claim 1 wherein the tube-receiving receptacle comprises an inclined surface and a collar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The caulk gun of claim 1 wherein the tube-receiving receptacle comprises a cup-shaped receiver having tube-engaging restraints.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
224 words
A caulk gun for dispensing caulk from an elongate cylindrical caulk tube having a drive plate, the caulk gun comprising: (a) a handle having a pivotally attached trigger; (b) an elongate rod slidably connected to the handle and in operable contact with the trigger wherein movement of the trigger in a first direction moves the rod in a first longitudinal direction and movement of the trigger in a second direction moves the rod in a second longitudinal direction; (c) a piston connected to an end of the rod the piston having a flexible, circumferential rim that can form an atmospheric seal along an inner surface of the elongate, cylindrical tube, wherein movement of the rod in the first longitudinal direction pushes the piston against the drive plate in the tube thus urging the tube in the first longitudinal direction and movement of the rod in the second longitudinal direction creates an atmospheric differential urging the drive plate in the second longitudinal direction and urging the tube in the second longitudinal direction; and (d) a tube-engaging receptacle fixedly coupled to the handle for fixedly engaging the elongate, cylindrical tube so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the tube when the piston is pushing against the drive plate and when the piston creates the atmospheric differential that urges the drive plate in the second longitudinal direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
224 words
A caulk gun for dispensing caulk from an elongate cylindrical caulk tube having a drive plate, the caulk gun comprising: (a) a handle having a pivotally attached trigger; (b) an elongate rod slidably connected to the handle and in operable contact with the trigger wherein movement of the trigger in a first direction moves the rod in a first longitudinal direction and movement of the trigger in a second direction moves the rod in a second longitudinal direction; (c) a piston connected to an end of the rod the piston having a flexible, circumferential rim that can form an atmospheric seal along an inner surface of the elongate, cylindrical tube, wherein movement of the rod in the first longitudinal direction pushes the piston against the drive plate in the tube thus urging the tube in the first longitudinal direction and movement of the rod in the second longitudinal direction creates an atmospheric differential urging the drive plate in the second longitudinal direction and urging the tube in the second longitudinal direction; and (d) a tube-engaging receptacle fixedly coupled to the handle for fixedly engaging the elongate, cylindrical tube so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the tube when the piston is pushing against the drive plate and when the piston creates the atmospheric differential that urges the drive plate in the second longitudinal direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The caulk gun of claim 6 wherein the plunger rod passes through the tube-engaging receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The caulk tube of claim 6 wherein the tube-engaging receptacle includes a threaded bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The caulk gun of claim 6 wherein the tube-engaging receptacle includes a threaded surface and threadingly engagable collar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The caulk gun of claim 6 wherein the tube-engaging receptacle includes an inclined surface and a collar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The caulk gun of claim 6 wherein the tube-engaging receptacle includes a cup-shaped receiver having a plurality of tube-engaging restraints.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
162 words
A caulk gun system for dispensing caulk from a caulk tube having a moveable drive plate, the caulk gun system comprising: (a) a handle having a pivotally mounted trigger; (b) an elongate plunger rod slidably attached to the handle and operably attached to the trigger for longitudinal movement during operation of the trigger, and a piston coupled the rod, the piston including a tube coupler; (c) the caulk tube having a receptacle-engagement device, and wherein the piston tube coupler engages the movable drive plate located in the tube so as to move the drive plate in first and second opposed directions; and (d) a tube-engagement receptacle fixedly connected to the handle and including a tube-engagement device that fixedly connects to the receptacle-engagement device on the tube so as to fix the position of the tube relative to the handle when the rod and piston engage the tube drive plate so as to urge the tube in the first and second opposed directions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A caulk gun system for dispensing caulk from a caulk tube having a moveable drive plate, the caulk gun system comprising: (a) a handle having a pivotally mounted trigger; (b) an elongate plunger rod slidably attached to the handle and operably attached to the trigger for longitudinal movement during operation of the trigger, and a piston coupled the rod, the piston including a tube coupler; (c) the caulk tube having a receptacle-engagement device, and wherein the piston tube coupler engages the movable drive plate located in the tube so as to move the drive plate in first and second opposed directions; and (d) a tube-engagement receptacle fixedly connected to the handle and including a tube-engagement device that fixedly connects to the receptacle-engagement device on the tube so as to fix the position of the tube relative to the handle when the rod and piston engage the tube drive plate so as to urge the tube in the first and second opposed directions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The caulk gun system of claim 12 wherein the receptacle-engagement device is a helical thread on the tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The caulk gun system of claim 12 wherein the receptacle-engagement device is band on the tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The caulk gun system of claim 12 wherein the receptacle-engagement device is a wall defining an opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The caulk gun system of claim 12 wherein the tube-engagement device is a helical thread.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The caulk gun system of claim 12 wherein the tube-engagement device is helical thread and a threaded collar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The caulk gun system of claim 12 wherein the tube-engagement device is tapered surface and a collar.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
A caulk gun for dispensing caulk from a caulk tube having a drive plate therein, the caulk gun comprising: (a) a handle having an operable trigger; (b) a plunger for pushing the drive plate of the caulk tube forwardly to expel caulk from a forward end of the tube and for urging the drive plate rearwardly to cease expelling caulk from the tube, the plunger being mounted on and operable through actuation of the trigger; and (c) a tube receiver fixed to the handle for receiving and gripping a portion of a caulk tube; such that actuation of the handle moves the plunger forwardly relative to the receiver and against the drive plate within the caulk tube to expel caulk from the forward end as the receiver grips the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
130 words
A caulk gun for dispensing caulk from a caulk tube having a drive plate therein, the caulk gun comprising: (a) a handle having an operable trigger; (b) a plunger for pushing the drive plate of the caulk tube forwardly to expel caulk from a forward end of the tube and for urging the drive plate rearwardly to cease expelling caulk from the tube, the plunger being mounted on and operable through actuation of the trigger; and (c) a tube receiver fixed to the handle for receiving and gripping a portion of a caulk tube; such that actuation of the handle moves the plunger forwardly relative to the receiver and against the drive plate within the caulk tube to expel caulk from the forward end as the receiver grips the tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The caulk gun of claim 19 wherein the receiver includes threads on a surface of the receiver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The caulk gun of claim 19 wherein the receiver includes threads and a locknut.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The caulk gun of claim 19 wherein the receiver includes a tapered surface on a pinch collar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4090639A
Cited
US4318499A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-07-22 | 2001-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-21 | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-22 | 2009-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |