US3168120A

US3168120A - Loading apparatus for caulking gun

Info

Publication number: US3168120A
Application number: US129362A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cypser Frank John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-08-04
Filing date: 1961-08-04
Publication date: 1965-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-02

Description

Feb. 2, 1965 F. J. CYPSER LOADING APPARATUS FOR CAULKING GUN Filed Aug. 4, 1961 FIG. 4

INVENTOR FRA K J'OHN CYPSER BY ATTORNE United States Patent 3,163,120 LOADING APPARATUS FGR CAULKENG GUN Frank John Cypser, 217 Cliff Sh, Clilfside, NJ. Filed Aug. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 129,362 4 Qiaims. (Cl. 141-27) This invention relates generally to a loading apparatus for caulking guns and the like, and particularly to a loading apparatus including means for mechanically loading a caulking gun.

In general, the loading of caulking compound into a dispensing gun has heretofore involved considerable difficulty and loss of time. According to one common loading practice, the end cap of the gun is first removed and the plunger withdrawn to its fully retracted rearward position. Then the compound is painstakingly transferred into the barrel of the gun from its container by using a knife or other similar tool. The compound is ordinarily highly viscous, depending upon its ambient temperature and its weight or grade as originally manufactured. It is also, by nature, extremely adhesive or sticky and hence, does not lend itself readily to loading by the above method. In fact, it is most difiicult, if not impossible by using the foregoing technique, to pack the compound into the dispensing gun without leaving voids which later interrupt the steady flow of compound from the gun during the caulking operation.

Several devices have been proposed to facilitate hand loading of dispensing guns in an attempt to avoid the above diiiiculties. For example, one form of device provides a piston-like member depressible in a receptacle containing compound to force compound or grease through an opening in the member and into a suitably positioned barrel of a dispensing gun. In one instance of which I am aware, the force of suction resulting from withdrawing the plunger of the gun when the latter is in sealed engagement with the opening in the piston, is relied upon to depress the piston and fill the gun with a relatively low viscous material, such as grease. Alternatively, manual pressure is suggested to be applied to such piston-like devices to depress them, thus forcing material into a dispensing gun. However, pressure must be applied centrally and evenly respective of the piston and along the axis of the gun, to avoid tilting of the fiat plate-like piston member, which tilting would permit grease or compound to escape around the edges or" the piston. Moreover, a further and more serious drawback is encountered when a material such as caulking compound is extremely viscous, as might occur if the compound were subjected to cold winter temperatures. In such circumstances, it is extremely diflicult, and perhaps impossible to apply suflicient pressure manually to force the compound into the dispensing gun.

In order to obviate the several difficulties enumerated which are present in the above prior art devices I have devised a completely mechanical system for loading a dispensing gun quickly and precisely, and with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator. The new loading apparatus incorporates the use of a flat piston of the type heretofore described, in combination with structure for holding and moving a dispensing gun and a receptacle containing compound relatively toward each other in a precise path and with the necessary application of pressure during loading of the gun. The device includes mechanical advantage means for applying pressure to the gun and piston in order to force the piston into a receptacle containing compound and compound into the gun. The pressure produced is sufiicient to assure loading of all grades of caulking, grease and even compounds of the consistency of putty, without serious effort on the part of the operator. A further and correlative advantage consequent upon the ease with which compound may 3,158,120 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 now be loaded into a gun, and the compact shape of the apparatus, is that loading may readily be accomplished on scaffolds or other workplaces where space is at a premium.

As a further aspect of the invention I have provided a novel container and cover combination usable in conjunction with the above loading apparatus. The new cover serves as a piston during the loading operation and is expendible with the receptacle when the latter is empty.

These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent after examining the following description in which reference is made, by Way of a non-limiting example, to one form of construction of a caulking gun loading apparatus devised in accordance with the invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the loading apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed showing of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a novel container and cover combination constructed according to a further aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing and initially to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, a loading apparatus 10 has been illustrated incorporating the principles of the present invention. The apparatus 1t includes a main upright frame member 11 attached by welding 12 to a support 13. The support 13 comprises in effect, a platform having a circular recess or indentation 14 for receiving the base of a generally cylindrical receptacle or container 16. The container 16 is conveniently a standard sized one gallon sheet metal container of the type conventionally found in commercial use, and measuring approximately 6 /2 inches in diameter with a depth or height of approximately inches. Within the container 16 is a quantity of viscous caulking compound 1'7, commonly used to seal the joints of window frames, as for example, between a window frame and the adjacent mounting structure of a building. Normally the container 16 is sold with an inwardly extending annular flange having a lip or depression therein adapted to receive depending portions of a lid or cover (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated, the annular flange of the container 16 has been removed so that the interior side Wall surfaces thereof present a smooth unobstructed cylindrical surface.

A fiat piston-like member 18 having a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the container 16 is inserted through the open top of the container to rest against the compound 17. The piston 18 may be constructed as shown of a main plywood disc section 19 having a groove 24 in its outer edge which receives a sealing or packing member such as an O-ring seal 21. In some instances, however, it is not necessary to provide the seal 21 since normally, the compound 17 tends to seal the edges of the disc 19 against the interior wall surfaces of the container.

At the center of the disc 19 is provided a circular opening 22 having an adjacent downwardly divergent surface 23. The opening 22 is bounded at the upper surface of the disc 19 by the cylindrical vertical wall portion 24 of a metal collar 25. The collar 25 has a horizontal flange 26 extending over upper surface portions of the disc 19 and is affixed thereto by screws 27.

A caulking or dispensing gun 28 is adapted to be held in position for the loading of caulking compound therein by the apparatus of the invention. The gun 28 has a barrel 29 and a handle 30 and, as conventional, includes an internally longitudinally slidable plunger or piston which is attached to a serrated rod 31. The toothed portions of the rod 31 are adapted to engage with mating compound-in the gun and to force the compoundout of thegun. 1

The nozzle end of the gun normally comprises a. threaded cap and nozzle tip (not; shown) which engages the open end of the barrel29; When the cap and nozzletip portions-have been removedfrom the barrel 29, the

d. I slide the shaft 4d toward the lower end of the slots 50, 50' to disengagethe sprocket 48 from the teeth 47 of the frame member 11. The operator may then rotate the handle 51 upwardly and with a slight upward movement openend of. the barrelmay' be placed? over the vertical lip or wall 24 at the centerof the piston 18-1 The handle or base portions of the gun;28 are str'addled bytwo symmetrical arms 34-"whichare shaped' to' fit against thebase cap 36 of'thegun. The arms34 form integral portions of a housing 37 which-extends laterally from, the frame member 11-; The-housihg 37, which may be fabricated of sheet metal, includes side" walls 38; 39 interconnected by a vertical wall 49 adjacent to the frame member 11 and by an-arcuate-segment or section'4-1- along opposite edge portions of the

ide Walls

38, 39. End reinforcing coll'ars 42; 43are secured to-the

side walls

38, 39 and to the vertical wall 40 as by welds 42 43'. Across theinterior of the collars 42 43

areadditional reinforcing plates

44, 46. The structure just described, comprisesa mean for slidably mountingthe housing 37 to the frame 11" and a earls for accurately guiding thehousing during its sliding movement. I

Advantageously, the frame member 11 has beenprovided as shown with a plurality ofteeth 47 which are adapted to'engage with teeth of a sprocket gear 48. 'The latter has a central shaft 49 which is received within'elongated slots-'0, 50 in each of

theside walls

38, 39 of the housing 37. As best seen-in'FIG. 3, the-shaft: 49 has an outwardly projecting portion secured to an actuating handie-5-1 by'meansof" a-cross pin 52; T wo'flat washerlikespacer 54, 55'arealso securedtotheshaft 49inter= nally'0f the housing walls 38;, 39' which prevent with drawal of the-shaft4? from" the slot 50 and prevent lateral movement of the sprocket 48.

In operation; with the caulking'gun 28' and the caulk; ing compound container 16 in the positionofFIG; 1, the operator of the device'has merelyto. depress the handle 51 in the direction of the arrow to fill the gun 28.. It should be emphasized that the construction'of the device is such that the downward pressure orforceis applied at. all times: along the axis of the barrel of the gun 28' and normal'to the horizontal surface of" the piston 18. The caulking'c'ompound 17' is thus subjectedto pressure which maybe made of,considerable magnitude. due. to the mech'anicaladvantage achieved by the relationship of the parts" of the device includingthe handle. 51, sprocket 48 andith'etoothedframeli.. Consequently,.even though the compound 17' be. of anextremley viscous nature and may be in some instances. of a consistency resembling puttygthe forces applied are such that compound will enter the barrel 29of the gun by being forced. upwardly therein throughopening 22 in the piston 18. The pres-. sure oftheeompound entering through. the barrel 29 will normallyforce' the plunger of the gun to retract automatically toits rearward or. fullyretracted' positionand' the fillingof'thebarrel may .be completed withoutleaw ing any void'withinihe gun to cause spitting of thecompound .whenit is later dispensedi.

During'the filling operation, it..will usually be necessary 7 for the operator to depress the handle 51in several. strokes irrorderto' move the piston and gun downwardly for a sufiicient distance for the barrelof the gun to befilled. Inthe present instance, I'providev for a simple unidirectional movementoi' the handle 51 during pressure strokes, by use ofithe elongated slots 50., 50' in the housing 37. which journal the shaft 49'. At the completion of a downward stroke of. the handle 51' and. when the shaft is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the operator may simply.

container and pistonof FIG: 1;

of the sprocket toward the frame 11, engagement of the sprocket frame teethwill again occur. Downward pressure of thehandle 51' acting through the

respective members

48, 47 when the latter are in-engagernent, will prevent sliding ofthe shaft 49 to. its lower or out of engagement position.

In FIG. 41 have shown an alternative. form. of piston and container whichpossesses certain advantages over the It will beremembered that when using the container 16 of FIG. 1, itiwas necessary to-removethe. inwardly: extending flange normally forming the upper edge of the standard: commercially used one gallon container; The piston 18 of EIG..1.'i's intended to be used witlrsuclr standard type containers and-t'obe retained for, future use as each container. is emptied In FIG.- 4; there is disclosed a container 61' having the samegeneral'dimensions as containerlfi but. having a-lid orcover- 61 which may operate as a. piston when used in connection with the present loading apparatus: Accordingly, the cover 61 has an upturned outerflanged edge 62;which' rests against the interior wall of the conminer 60' forming a seal therewith. Crimped or folded about the upper edge of the flange 62'isan inturned flange 63 of 'the container 60 which also effects a seal with the cover.

frusto-conical cross-section. At the center of the portion 61a, the cover is formed to have a verticalcylindriCal flange 64} It will'be-=understood that when the container 60 is placed into the loading apparatus of the invention, the open ended barrel 29' of'a caulking gun-28 may receive internally the verticalflange 64of'the'cover or piston 61. About the upper edge of the' vertical wall portion 64, is a small horizontal cap 66' which will first be removed beforethe barrel'ofthegun 28 is placed'over' the vertical flange 64.

The piston' 61 is formed having a plurality of'radially extendingdepressions or ribs 67 which extend from'the center thereof to-the-oute r flange 62. The'ribs'67 pre-- vent buckling of the-piston which under certain circumstances might occur if suflicient pressure were-applied by the loadingapparatus.

It will be understood, with reference to the piston and container ofFIG; 4, that when the cap'66 has been removed from the piston 61 and the-gun 28 positioned substantially as shown in FIG. 1 with the container 60 resting upon the platform 13, that pressure may be applied in' the'same manner against the gun and through the piston to the caulking compound in the container 60. The pressure will-force'the flange. 62 of piston 611to. be slidably released by the flange 63 of the container 60. Any tendency for the piston 61 to be fiattenedby pressurewill be resisted by the engagement of the flange 62 of. the piston againstthe interior of the container 60 and by reason of theadditional strength provided by the ribs 67. The piston 61', may thus be forced downwardly in the con? tainer 60 and as in the embodiment of FIG..1, compound" from withinthe container will be forced up and into the gun. When the container is empty, the container 60 and piston 61 may both be discarded.

Aparticular advantage of the present invention is the ease and extreme precision with. which a caulking gun may be. loaded. The gun itself is at all times held securely during its movement toward a receptacle containing compound and during this movement is guided pre-' 7 The cover 61 is made of relatively-thin resilient sheet metal. and has a portion 61a of generally flattened Additionally, the loading apparatus possesses the extremely useful advantage of being able to apply great pressure when required, for example, when a particular compound or material to be loaded is extremely viscous. Due to the compactness and great ease of operation of the device it may be placed upon a scaffold where space is at a premium and may be easily used by workmen without the dangers inherent in more awkward prior loading practices. This in itself will considerably aid in saving time since heretofore it has often been necessary for a workman to leave a scaffold each time a gun required loading.

It will be understood that the foregoing description relates to a particular embodiment or embodiments and is merely representative. Changes may be made therefrom without departing from the clear teachings of the invention. Therefore, in order to appreciate fully the spirit and scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A caulking gun loading apparatus comprising a frame, means connected to said frame for supporting a receptacle containing caulking compound, means connected to said frame for holding a caulking gun with the open ended barrel thereof toward said receptacle, piston means slidable in said receptacle having aperture means generally at the center thereof for permitting the passage of compound therethrough upon movement of the piston means into said container, means on said piston adjacent to said aperture means for permitting engagement between the piston and an end portion of the barrel of the gun and passage of the compound into the gun, the holding means for said gun including guide means slidably engaging the frame for guiding movement of the gun and piston along the longitudinal axis thereof and along the longitudinal axis of the container, and mechanically operated mechanical advantage means for moving said receptacle and caulking gun relatively toward each other to force the piston and gun into the receptacle, whereby compound is moved from the receptacle to load the gun.

2. The caulking gun loading apparatus according to claim 1 in which platform means are provided for supporting the receptacle and the means attached to the frame for holding and guiding the caulking gun includes manually operated press means for moving the caulking gun downwardly and into the container.

3. The caulking gun loading apparatus according to claim 1 in which the receptacle is of cylindrical construction and the piston comprises a flat resilient sheet metal member having an upturned flange about the periphery thereof, the piston serving as a cover for the receptacle when not in use, the flanged portion of said piston comprising a piston seal during movement of the piston into the receptacle.

4. A caulking gun loading apparatus comprising an upright frame member, a flat base support therefor, said support comprising a platform for receiving a generally cylindrical receptacle containing caulking compound, a flat plate-like piston adapted for insertion in said container in juxtaposed relation to the compound, said piston defining a centrally located aperture permitting the passage of compound therethrough upon movement of the piston axially and downward into the receptacle, a housing member slidably movable along the upright frame member having downwardly facing arms adapted to abut and to straddle a base portion of a caulking gun, the opposite end of barrel portions of the gun being adapted to cover the opening in the piston, said slidable housing member and the piston connection with said barrel comprising guide means for maintaining positive axial downward movement of said gun and piston relative to said receptacle, a sprocket journalled for rotation in said housing having teeth in engagement with mating teeth on the frame member, a manually operable handle attached to said sprocket for movement of the sprocket and the arms of the housing relative to the frame, said movement causing the caulking gun to exert pressure against the piston and the piston to be depressed within the receptacle whereby caulking compound will flow from the receptacle into the gun.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,562,250 Patton Nov. 17, 1925 1,981,495 Butler Nov. 20, 1934 2,136,492 Creveling Nov. 15, 1938 2,393,217 Brewton Jan. 15, 1946 2,601,169 Purvis June 17, 1952 2,614,727 Robinson Oct. 21, 1952 2,726,802 Jones Dec. 13, 1955 2,925,100 Senger Feb. 16, 1960 3,015,404 Wuyckens Jan. 2, 1962

Claims

1. A CAULKING GUN LOADING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME FOR SUPPORTING A RECEPTACLE CONTAINING CAULKING COMPOUND, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME FOR HOLDING A CAULKING GUN WITH THE OPEN ENDED BARREL THEREOF TOWARD SAID RECEPTACLE, A PISTON MEANS SLIDABLE IN SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING APERTURES MEANS GENERALLY AT THE CENTER THEREOF FOR PERMITTING THE PASSAGE OF COMPOUND THERETHROUGH UPON MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON MEANS ONTO SAID CONTAINER, MEANS ON SAID PISTON ADJACENT TO SAID APERTURE MEANS FOR PERMITTING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE PISTON AND AN END PORTION OF THE BARREL OF THE GUN AND PASSAGE OF THE COMPOUND INTO THE GUN, THE HOLDING MEANS FOR SAID GUN INCLUDING GUIDE MEANS SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE FRAME FOR GUIDING MOVEMENT OF THE GUN AND PISTON ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF AND ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE CONTAINER, AND MECHANICALLY OPERATED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID RECEPTACLE AND CAULKING GUN INTO THE RECEPTACLE, WHEREBY FORCE THE PISTON AND GUN INTO THE RECEPTACLE, WHEREBY COMPOUND IS MOVED FROM THE RECEPTACLE TO LOAD THE GUN.