US3726440A - Caulking gun - Google Patents

Abstract

The cartridge chamber is connected with the trigger assembly by a tubular casing and a pressure member which are adjustable so as to provide a caulking gun of any desired length and the trigger assembly is rotatably connected to the tubular casing or to the cartridge chamber so that the relative position of these two components may be varied.

Description

limited States Patent 91 Deeb [ Apr. 10, 1973 CAULKING GUN [75] Inventor: Fred E. Deeb, Tallahassee, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Speed Caulking, Inc., Tallahassee,

Fla.

[22] Filed: Dec. 2l, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 99,961

[52] US. Cl. ..222/174, 222/323, 222/327 [51] Int. Cl ..G01f 11/06 [58] Field of Search ..222/174, 323, 326, 222/327 [56] References (Iited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,019,905 11/1935 Huck ..'...-...222 526 3,510,028 5/ 1970 Batistelli...

2,441,292 5/1948 Schroeder ..222/526 X 3,512,684 5/ 1970 Sutton .222/327 2,720,422 10/1955 Mercer ..222/174 2,626,731 1/1953 Ekins ..222/323 X 3,070,827 1/1963 Ames ..222/174 X 3,381,861 5/1968 Stein ..222/327 X 3,401,847 9/1968 Downing "2227327 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren Att0rneyBacon & Thomas [57] ABSTRACT The cartridge chamber is connected with the trigger assembly by a tubular casing and a pressure member which are adjustable so as to provide a caulking gun of any desired length and the trigger assembly is rotatably connected to the tubular casing or to the cartridge chamber so that the relative position of these two components may be varied.

8 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAPR 1 01973 SHEET 1 [1F 3 IiN'VI'IN'I'OR. Fem E. 0668 MMW PATENTEDAPR 1 01873 SHEET 2 [1F 3 position;

CAULKING GUN DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Known caulking guns are either relatively short with the trigger assembly rigidly connected to the chamber which receives a conventional cartridge of caulking compound or other mastic material, or they are of substantial, fixed length as disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 3,512,684. Neither the short caulking guns nor the ones of fixed, substantial length meet all of the requirements of the construction and other industries where caulking material is applied at varying distances from the operator of the gun.

SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION The present improved caulking gun is more versatile than prior art caulking guns, and provides an arrangement wherein the length of the gun may be varied and the relative-position of the trigger assembly and the cartridge chamber may be rotatably adjusted.

It is an object of the invention to provide a caulking gun for conveniently applying caulking or mastic material at different distances from the gun operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caulking gun for applying caulking material in various directions and at different angles while maintaining the trigger assembly in an easily operable position.

An additional object is to provide a caulking gun which will permit the operator to apply caulking or.

specification and claims when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A are fragmentary, elevation views of a telescopically adjustable caulking gun, and showing in FIG. 1A in 'phantom lines, the gun in an extended FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the gun taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 showing in phantom lines positions to which the trigger assembly may be rotated with respect to the remainder of the caulking gun;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 3A are enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional views of the caulking gun illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view, partly in section, showing a modified form of the caulking 8"";

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the caulking gun of FIG. which has been extended in length;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the forward end portion of the caulking gun of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the forward end portion of the caulking gun of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a further modification of the present caulking gun; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view, partly in section, showing a further modification, of the rotary connection between the trigger assembly and the caulking cartridge chamber.

The caulking gun shown in FIGS. 1-6 includes atrigger assembly 1, achamber 3 for receiving a conventional cartridge containing caulking or mastic material, a tubular casing 5 which is of substantial length and is telescopically adjustable, and an elongated pressure member 7 which is also telescopically adjustable.

Thetrigger assembly 1 includes a handle or grip 9 and a trigger l1 pivotally mounted between the side walls of the grip 9 on a pin 13. A pawl 15 for advancing the pressure member is pivotally mounted on the upper end of the trigger 11 and is biased upwardly into engagement with the ratchet teeth 17 provided on a flat surface of therearmost rod portion 7a of the pressure member 7 by a wireresilient spring 19 carried by thetrigger 11. The trigger 11 is urged to the extended position shown in FIG. 1 by awire spring 21 which is coiled around the pin 13 and bears against the inner surface of the trigger, 11 and the interior of the grip 9. A holding pawl 23 is pivotally mounted between the side walls of the grip 9 on a pin 25 and is urged into engagement with the ratchet teeth 17 by a wire spring 27 carried by the pin 25. The pawl 15. advances the pressure member 7 upon actuation of the trigger l1 and the pawl 23 prevents retraction of the pressure member in the conventional manner when the trigger 11 isreleased.

The forward portion of the grip 9 terminates in acircular flange 29 and an annular, channel-shaped member 31 and a threadedsupport member 33 are fixedly secured to the forward face of thecircular flange 29 byrivets 35 or other suitable fasteners. Aspacer member 37 is rotatably' mounted within thechannelshaped member 31 and is maintained therein by the inwardly extendingflange 39 provided on themember 31 engaging the shoulder 41 formed on thespacer member 37. The channel-shaped member 31 is circular on its inner surface and the circular periphery of thespacer member 37 is spaced a short distance from the inner surface of the channel-shaped member so that it may rotate freely therein.

In order to provide guiding means for the rear portion of the pressure member 7, a bushing 43 having a guide opening 46 formed therein is threaded into the interior of thesupport member 33 and the grip 9 is pro-' tion 47 so that it may telescope or slide freely within the rear section without binding or undue friction.

Abushing 51 having an octagonal exterior surface is fixed within the rear end of the rear section.47 and this section is connected to the trigger assembly by thethreads 53 formed in the bushing 41 in engagement with the threads 55 formed on the exterior surface of thesupport member 33.

Thechamber 3 for receiving a conventional cartridge of caulking or other mastic compound, is of customary configuration and includes asemi-cylindrical body portion 59, afront wall 61 fixed to the forward end of thebody portion 59 and provided with the conventional vertical slot, not shown, for receiving the nozzle of a caulking cartridge, and arear wall 63 fixed to the rear end of thebody portion 59. The front end of thetubular front section 49 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the rear surface of thewall 63. Acentral opening 65 is formed in therear wall 63 for supporting and guiding the forward end of the pressure member 7.

Thesections 47 and 49 of the tubular casing may be telescopically adjusted to a plurality of positions for varying the length of the caulking gun. A pair of elongatedflat springs 67 and 67a extend longitudinally on opposite sides of the innersurface of the fronttubular section 49 adjacent the rearmost end thereof and are fixed at one end to the front section by the rivets 69. Acircular head member 70 and 70a is fixed to the other end of thesprings 67 and 67a and extend freely outwardly through theopenings 72 and 72a formed in the wall of thefront section 49 and intokeeper openings 74 and 74a formed at spaced intervals in the wall of the rear section'47.

The pressure memberrear portion 7a includes an out-turnedrear end portion 76 for rotating the pressure member and the ratchet teeth 17 thereof into and out of engagement with the drive and holding pawls and 23. The forward end of the-pressure member 7 includes arod 78 extending through'the guide opening 65 and into thechamber 3 with a heavy metal push plate ordisc 80 disposed in thechamber 3 and riveted or otherwise secured to the free end of therod 78.

The forward end of therod portion 7a of the pressure member 7 is connected with the rear end of therod portion 78 by adjustable means including an elongated, squaretubular member 82 and a short, squaretubular member 84 of a size to slide freely within thetubular member 82.

' As shown in FIG. 5, asquare block member 86 is positioned within the rear end of the longtubular member 82 and the forward end of theportion 7a of the pressure member is secured to the rear end of thetubular member 82 by arivet 88 which passes through the side walls of thetubular member 82, through theblock 86 and through the end of therod 70.

The rear end of therod 78 is secured to the shorttubular member 84, as shown in FIG. 6, by a rivet 90 extending through therod 78, through a square block 92 disposed within themember 84 and through the walls of the saidtubular member 84.

Thetubular members 82 and 84 are telescopically adjustable so that the lengthof the pressure member may be changed with a change in length of the tubular casing 5. A pair offlat spring members 94 and 94a are secured at one end thereof to the inner surface of opposed walls of thetubular member 84 by rivets 96 and 96a.Circular head members 98 and 98a are fixed to the other end of thesprings 94 and 94a and extend freely outwardly throughopenings 99 and 990 formed in the side walls of thetubular member 84. A series oflatch openings 100 and 100a are formed in the wall of thetubular member 82 spaced along its length at intervals equal to the spacing of thekeeper openings 74 and 74a and receive therein thehead members 98 and 98a.

With the caulking gun assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the length thereof is adjustable by pressing the head members and 70a inwardly against the tension of thesprings 67 and 67a until the outer surface of the heads is below the inner surface of the inner wall of therear section 47 and by simultaneously pressing thehead members 98 and 98a inwardly until the outer surface thereof is below the inner surface of thetubular member 82 and'then applying sufficient force to the front andrear section 49 and 47 to cause them to telescope. The outer surface of thehead members 70 and 70a will slide along the inner surface of therear tubular section 47 until the nextadjacent keeper openings 74 and 74a are reached whereupon thesprings 67 and 67a will force thehead members 70 and 70a outwardly into these openings. At the same time, the outer surface of thehead members 98 and 98a will slide along the inner surface of thetubular member 82 until the next adjacent latch openings and 100a are simultaneously reached at which time thesprings 94 and 94a will force thehead members 98 and 98a outwardly into said openings. In order to reach thehead members 98 and 98a, suitablerectangular openings 102 are formed in the side wall of therear section 47 at suitable intervals. As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1A, the caulking gun has been extended from the position shown in solid lines in the manner described above. v

The extended caulking gun shown in FIGS. 7-10 includes a trigger assembly similar in structure and operation to the one described above in connection with FIGS. 1 through 6, acaulking cartridge chamber 122, a cylindricaltubular casing 124 and apressure member 126.

,The caulking gun of FIGS. 7-10 is extensible byproviding cylindrical tubular casings of varying length and by varying the length of the pressure member in accordance with the length of the, tubular casing employed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the integraltubular casing 124 is of minimum length and is threaded onto the trigger assembly in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3. Thepressure member 126 comprises anelongated rod 128 havingratchet teeth 130 formed along a flat surface at the rear end of the rod and is provided with anoutturned end 132 for rotating theratchet teeth 130 out of engagement with the conventional driving and holding pawls.

Thecaulking cartridge chamber 122 is connected with the forward end of thetubular casing 124 by means of a threaded stud 134-fixed to therear wall 136 of the chamber and threaded into aninsert 138 which is fixed in the forward end of the tubular casing.

A heavy metal push plate ordisc 140 which engages the piston of the caulking cartridge, is secured to the forward threadedend 146 of thepressure rod 126 by a threadednut 142 welded or otherwise rigid with the rear surface of thepush plate 140.

In assemblying the extended caulking gun of FIGS. 7 and 9, the tubular casing is first screw-threaded onto thetrigger assembly 120 with thepressure member 126 extending through the guide opening 144 provided in the threadedstud 134. Thecaulking cartridge chamber 122 is then connected to the forward end of thetubular casing 124 by threading thestud 134 into the threadedinsert 138 and thepush plate 140 is attached to therod 126.

When a caulking gun of greater length is required, a longertubular casing 124a is connected to thetrigger assembly 120 and to the caulking cartridge chamber in the manner described above and thepressure member 126 is extended to whatever length is necessary for use with the tubular casing being employed. By providing a plurality of tubular casings of different length and by providing an extension member of the length required for use with each tubular casing, a gun of the length needed for any of a variety of situations may be assembled.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, atubular extension 148 having a threadedinsert 150 fixed in the rear endthereof is screwed onto the threadedend 146 of therod 128. The forward end of thetubular extension 148 carries a fixedinsert 152 with ashort rod 154 extending outwardly therefrom. The threadednut 142 of thepush plate 140 is threaded onto the outer end of therod 154 to complete the assembly. Obviously, an extension could be fixed to the outer end of thecasing 124 to extend its length in a manner similar to that shown for extending the length of therod 128.

The caulking gun shown in FIG. 11, which is of substantially conventional length and includes atrigger assembly 170 provided with thecustomary trigger 172 and ratchet feed and holding pawls for engaging the ratchet teeth 174 of thepressure member 176, features a rotary connection between the trigger assembly and the cartridge chamber.

A threadedcoupling 178 is secured to the forward face of thetrigger assembly head 180 byrivets 182 and is provided on its inner surface withscrew threads 184.

Thecaulking cartridge chamber 186 is connected with thetrigger assembly 170 by means of a short,cylindrical spacer member 188 fixed to the outer surface of therear wall 190 of thechamber 186 byrivets 192. Thepressure rod 176 extends through the guide opening 193 provided in thespacer member 188 and a heavymetal push plate 194 having anut 195 fixed t0 the rear surface thereof is threaded onto the outer end of the pressure 'rod 176. Thethreads 196 formed on thespacer member 188 are engaged with thethreads 184 of thecoupling 178 for securing thetrigger assembly 170 to thechamber 186.

Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to have the caulking cartridge chamber fixed against rotation relative to the trigger assembly. This is accomplished in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 by screwing therear tubular section 47 onto the threadedsupport member 33 as far as possible, that is until the rear end of thetubular member 47 abutts against the opposed shoulder portion of the threadedsupport member 33. The same result may be obtained relative rotation between the chamber and the trigger assembly is prevented by screwing thespacer member 188 into thecoupling 178 until the rear surface of the spacer member abutts against the opposed surface of the coupling.

Under other circumstances, it may be desirable to have the trigger assembly connected with the caulking cartridge chamber for rotation relative thereto and this is accomplished in the forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 10 by leaving a small space between the rear end of the tubular section and the threaded support member, for example, a distance equal to that between one thread and the next one, and this could be accomplished by first screwing the tubular section onto the threaded support until the rear end abutts against the threaded support and by then rotating the trigger assembly one turn in the opposite direction to unscrew the trigger assembly on thread.

In FIG. 11 the same thing could be accomplished by first threading the spacer member into engagement withthe opposed surface of thecoupling 178 and by then rotating the trigger assembly in the opposite direction for one revolution with regards to thechamber 186. FIG. 2 illustrates that the trigger assembly or grip of the caulking gun may be rotated in either direction from a central location with regards to the position or attitude of I the caulking cartridge chamber.

FIG. 12 illustrates another form of rotary connection between thetrigger assembly 201 and thecaulking cartridge chamber 203 for providing a caulking gun which is more versatile for applying caulking and other mastic material in difficult to reach places and at different angles and directions.

A circular channel-shapedmember 205 is fixed by therivets 207 to the forward face of ahead plate member 209 carried by thetrigger assembly 201 and a shortrigid extension member 211 is fixed by therivets 213 to the outer surface of therear wall 215 of thechamber 203. The inwardly extendingflange portion 217 of thechannel member 205 engages a shoulder 219 formed on theextension member 211 for maintaining the extension member within the circular channel of themember 205 while at the same time permitting relative rotation between thetrigger assembly 201 and thechamber 203. Thepressure rod 221 extends through a central guide opening 223 formed intheextension member 211 and a heavymetal push plate 225 having a threadednut 227 fixed thereto is screwed onto the outer threaded end of thepressure rod 21. In the event that relative rotation between the trigger assembly and the caulking cartridge chamber is not desired, apin 231 attached to the trigger assembly by a chain 233 may be inserted through aligned openings formed in thechannel member 205 and anopening 235 formed in theextension member 211.

1 In order that the'present caulking gun will be strong,

durable and not readily damaged due to rough handling and at the same time will be as light in weight as possible, thetubular casings 5, 124 and 124a are preferably made of a light weight material such as aluminum or magnesium or an alloy of such metals. Obviously, the cross-sectional configuration of the tubular casings may be of any desired shape, including circular and the pressure members of FIGS. 1-10 may be rotatable relative to the tubular casings thereof without affecting the operation and assembly of the guns.

The caulking guns shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof than those illustrated and described may be employed for providing adjustable caulking guns in accordance with the spirit of this invention, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the purview of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1.,A caulking gun for use in dispensing material froma cartridge having a tubular body provided with a nozzle on one end thereof and having a movable piston received within its opposite end, said gun comprising: a chamber having front, rear and bottom walls for receiving said cartridge; a trigger assembly having a trigger; a tubular casing of substantial length connected at one end to said chamber and at its other end to said trigger assembly; an elongated pressure member extending from said trigger assembly andprojecting into said chamber; push plate means disposed in said chamber sembly and simultaneously advancing said push plate means in said chamber. r

2. A caulking gun according toclaim 1 including guide means for the pressure member for guiding one end thereof for reciprocation relative to said trigger assembly and for guiding the other end thereof for substantially the entire distance between the connection of the tubular casing and the trigger assembly and the connection of the tubular casing and said chamber.

4. A caulking gun according toclaim 1 in which said pressure member is disposed coaxially within said tubular casing.

5. A caulking gun according to claim 4 including guide means for the pressure member for guiding one end thereof for reciprocation relative to said trigger assembly and for guiding the other end thereof for reciprocation in said chamber.

6. A caulking gun according toclaim 1 in which both said telescoping tubular casing and said telescoping pressure member include a plurality of spaced-apart latch means for holding said telescoping casing and said telescopin member in adjusted position.

7. A cau king gun according toclaim 1 in which one of said sections of said tubular casing is connected to said trigger assembly by means permitting relative rotation between the trigger assembly and said one section, and means is provided for selectively preventing relative rotation between the trigger assembly and said one section of the tubular casing.

8. A caulking gun for use in dispensing material from a cartridge having a tubular body provided with a nozzle on one end thereof and having a movable piston received within its opposite end, said gun comprising: a

chamber having front, rear and bottom walls for receiving said cartridge; a trigger assembly having a trigger; means connecting said chamber with said trigger assembly for rotation relative thereto, said means comprising a circular member carried by the rear wall of the chamber and a channel shaped member carried by the trigger assembly and enclosing the peripheral portion of the circular member; means to selectively fixedly secure togethersaid trigger assembly and said chamber and thereby prevent relative rotation therebetween including aligned openings provided in the circular member and. in the channel shaped member and a pin selectively inserted insaid aligned openings; a pressure rod extending from said trigger assembly and projecting into said chamber; push plate means disposed in said chamber and carried by the forward end of saidpressure rod for engaging the cartridge piston; and means responsive to actuation of said trigger for advancing said rod relative to the trigger as-'

Claims (8)

1. A caulking gun for use in dispensing material from a cartridge having a tubular body provided with a nozzle on one end thereof and having a movable piston received within its opposite end, said gun comprising: a chamber having front, rear and bottom walls for receiving said cartridge; a trigger assembly having a trigger; a tubular casing of substantial length connected at one end to said chamber and at its other end to said trigger assembly; an elongated pressure member extending from said trigger assembly and projecting into said chamber; push plate means disposed in said chamber and carried by the forward end of said pressure member for engaging the cartridge piston; said tubular casing comprising a pair of relatively movable, telescoping sections providing means for adjusting the length of said tubular casing varying the distance between said trigger assembly and said chamber; said pressure member comprising a pair of relatively movable, telescoping sections providing means for adjusting the length of said pressure member by substantially the same amount that the tubular casing is adjusted; and means responsive to actuation of said trigger for advancing said pressure member relative to the trigger assembly and simultaneously advancing said push plate means in said chamber.

2. A caulking gun according to claim 1 including guide means for the pressure member for guiding one end thereof for reciprocation relative to said trigger assembly and for guiding the other end thereof for reciprocation in said chamber.

3. A caulking gun according to claim 1 in which said pressure member is spaced from said tubular casing for substantially the entire distance between the connection of the tubular casing and the trigger assembly and the connection of the tubular casing and said chamber.

4. A caulking gun according to claim 1 in which said pressure member is disposed coaxially within said tubular casing.

5. A caulking gun according to claim 4 including guide means for the pressure member for guiding one end thereof for reciprocation relative to said trigger assembly and for guiding the other end thereof for reciprocation in said chamber.

6. A caulking gun according to claim 1 in which both said telescoping tubular casing and said telescoping pressure member include a plurality of spaced-apart latch means for holding said telescoping casing and said telescoping member in adjusted position.

7. A caulking gun according to claim 1 in which one of said sections of said tubular casing is connected to said trigger assembly by means permitting relative rotation between the trigger assembly and said one section, and means is provided for selectively preventing relative rotation between the trigger assembly and said one section of the tubular casing.

8. A caulking gun for use in dispensing material from a cartridge having a tubular body provided with a nozzle on one end thereof and having a movable piston received within its opposite end, said gun comprising: a chamber having front, rear and bottom walls for receiving said cartridge; a trigger assembly having a trigger; means connecting said chamber with said trigger assembly for rotation relative thereto, said means comprising a circular member carried by the rear wall of the chamber and a channel shaped member carried by the trigger assembly and enclosing the peripheral portion of the circular member; means to selectively fixedly secure together said trigger assembly and said chamber and thereby prevent relative rotation therebetween including aligned openings provided in the circular member and in the channel shaped member and a pin selectively inserted in said aligned openings; a pressure rod extending from said trigger assembly and projecting into said chamber; push plate means disposed in said chamber and carried by the forward end of said pressure rod for engaging the cartridge piston; and means responsive to actuation of said trigger for advancing said rod relative to the trigger assembly and simultaneously advancing said push plate means in said chamber.

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