WO1998010872A1

WO1998010872A1 - Portable pneumatic sealant dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1998010872A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/015996
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert C. Virnelson
Original assignee: Astor Corporation
Priority date: 1996-09-10
Filing date: 1997-09-10
Publication date: 1998-03-19

Abstract

A window sealing device (10) of a compact, portable, light weight, mobile, and easy to use nature. The window sealing device (10) including a hand-held dispenser (20), a pressurized fluid source (21), a fluid delivery device (22), a carrier (23), and a replaceable sealant supply (24). The pressurized fluid source (21) is stored in a carrier (23) which is removably secured to the body by the user. The hand-held dispenser (20) is fluidly connected to the pressurized fluid source (21) by the fluid delivery device (22) such that a trigger therein controls pressurized fluid flow control sealant dispensation from the replaceable sealant supply (24) within the hand-held dispenser (20).

Description

PORTABLE PNEUMATIC SEALANT DISPENSER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The invention relates to dispensing of sealants or adhesives around a windshield or other vehicle window, and more particularly to a portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device in which a single user carries or holds the entire dispensing device thereby giving the user complete mobility and freedom during sealing as well as eliminating the need for bulky equipment on wheels, carts, or in a truck. Specifically, the invention relates to a portable pneumatic sealant dispenser having a hand held dispenser gun fluidly connected via a hose to a pressurized fluid source such as a C0₂ container that is securely mounted to the user in a holster wrapped around the user's waist.

Background Art

Windshields and other fixed windows within vehicles require a sealed and secure bond that adheres the window to the vehicle. This bond is required for safety both in terms of preventing injury as well as preventing easy access into the vehicle. This bond must also be water tight to prevent moisture from leaking into the vehicle. Present technology involves sealants that supply all of these characteristics. However, the process in which this present technology is installed involves bulky and heavy equipment which is either immobile or mobile only in a bulky manner. Years ago, all vehicle window installation took place at the installer's place of business, and thus the compactness and transportability of the equipment was not important. However, recent window installation and particularly replacement vehicle window installation is often done on site, that is at the location of the vehicle owner with the window to be replaced, such as the owner's home or place of business, thereby providing convenience to the vehicle owner. The bulky equipment is now mounted within transport vehicles or on large carts transportable in trucks or vans. The installer then typically works close to his vehicle. These systems are inconvenient to use due to the size of the components and the need for a large transport vehicle. In addition, these systems often require the user to remain in close proximity to the transport vehicle. These systems have constraints on mobility due to their fixation to either the transport vehicle or a cart or other means of moving the bulky equipment . These systems o ten include a plurality of long and awkward cords and hoses extending between the compressed air source and the dispensing source that become tangled, caught, or a hazard to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of the invention including providing a completely portable sealant dispensing device.

Still another objective of the invention is to eliminate the need for replacing a vehicle window at the window installer's place of business.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a portable sealant dispensing device that does not require the vehicle window installer have a truck or other vehicle in which large pressurized tanks are hauled and supplied for use during dispensing of sealant using a pressurized fluid source.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a portable sealant dispensing device so compact and light weight that the user may carry and/or strap all of the dispensing device to his/her body.

Still other advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding for the following summary and detailed description. Accordingly, the objectives and advantages are obtained by the improved portable pneumatic sealant dispenser of the present invention, the general nature of which may be stated as including a portable window sealing mechanism for dispensing sealant at the site of a vehicle requiring window sealing where the mechanism is sized to be carried during use by one user. The portable window sealing mechanism including a hand-held dispenser, a plunger actuation source, and a body mounted carrier. The hand-held dispenser including a frame for holding a sealant filled cartridge during dispensation, a plunger for forcing dispensing of sealant from the sealant filled cartridge, and a trigger for actuating the dispensation. The plunger actuation source connected to the plunger and actuated by the trigger for applying a dispensing force on the plunger. The body mounted carrier mountable on a user who is holding the dispenser and for housing the plunger actuation source therein.

Furthermore, the objectives and advantages are obtained by a method of using the improved portable pneumatic sealant dispenser of the present invention, the general nature of the method which may be stated as sealing a window in a window frame within a vehicle remotely located away from a window installation facility by the steps of mounting a plunger actuating mechanism of a portable sealant dispenser to a user's body, and dispensing sealant at a desired seal area around a window in a remotely located vehicle where the sealant is dispensed from a sealant cartridge within' a handheld dispenser connected to the plunger actuating mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims .

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a portable pneumatic sealant dispenser dispensing sealant around a windshield on a vehicle; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the portable pneumatic sealant dispenser of FIG. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings .

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The invention is a portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device 10 as is shown in FIG. 1 for use by a user 11 who is the window installer on a vehicle 12 with at least one fixed window 13. Particularly in FIG. 1, the fixed window 13 is embodied as a windshield within a window opening 14 in the vehicle 12, although the window 13 may be a side or back window that is fixed, that is a window not openable such as by rolling a crank, or the window may even be a sun or moon roof in the top of the vehicle. It is further recognized that the window in other embodiments may be on a building or any other structure whether movable as a vehicle. One of the objectives of this invention is providing a portable, compact, and light weight window sealant dispensing device that is easy to transport and use, even when the window is not easily accessible .

Specifically, the user 11 is dispensing a sealant or adhesive from the portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device 10 along or adjacent to the edge of the windshield 13 thereby forming a bead or seam 15 for affxing the windshield 13 against a flange or other support structure within or adjacent the window opening 14 as is well known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device 10 includes a hand-held dispenser 20, a pressurized fluid source 21, a fluid delivery device 22, a carrier 23, and a replaceable sealant supply 24. In general, the fluid delivery device 22 fluidly connects the hand-held dispenser 20 to the pressurized fluid source 21. The carrier 23 is tied, wrapped, looped, connected, or otherwise fastened or held to the body of the user 11 whereby the carrier 23 holds the pressurized fluid source 21 therein.

The hand-held dispenser 20 is any system capable supplying sealant on-demand where the dispenser is sized so as to be easily held and operated by the user. In one embodiment as is shown in FIGS. 1-2, the hand-held dispenser 20 is a caulk-like gun capable of dispensing sealant from a two barrel cartridge where the gun is actuatable by a pressurized fluid. Specifically, the hand-held dispenser 20 includes a cylindrical barrel 30, an end cap 31, a pressure control valve 32 with a relief valve therein, a fluid conduit 33, a handle 34 with a pressure connect coupling 35 therein, a trigger 36, a cartridge support frame 37 with an end 38, a pair of springbiased plungers 39, and a control arm 40. The plungers 39 are extendable and retractable from the barrel 30 in which a piston or other well known pneumatic driver is slidable. The piston is sealably positioned within the barrel so as to be forcibly actuatable therein based upon pressurized fluid released from the pressurized fluid source 21 using trigger 36 as a control . Fluid pressure forces piston movement thereby causing plunger movement as is well known in the art. Valve 32 controls the pressure allowable within the barrel while trigger 36 controls the actual pressure present therein with the relief valve working to relieve pressure as needed as is well known in the art. One example of a hand-held dispenser 20 for use in the portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device 10 is an AC Air Applicator manufactured by P.C. Cox Ltd. of Newbury, Berkshire, England under model no. MK 5b capable of maximum pressurization to 8.5 bar (125 psi) .

The pressurized fluid source 21 is any system capable of attachment to the dispenser 20 for providing means for actuating or otherwise causing the sealant within the sealant supply 24 to be dispensed therefrom. In one embodiment as is shown in FIGS. 1-2, the pressurized fluid source 21 is a sealed canister 50 capable of holding pressurized gases and liquids with a valve assembly 51 in one end thereof. In the preferred embodiment the fluid source is carbon dioxide which is in liquid form when stored in the canister, which becomes a gas upon discharge from the canister. The valve assembly 51 provides a flow control valve and a relief valve therein. The valve assembly 51 also includes a pressure connect coupling 52 for pressurized sealing of fluid delivery device 22 to valve 51. One example of a pressurized fluid source 21 for use in the portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device 10 is a C0₂ tank manufactured by the Cliff Impact Division of Parker in Eastlake, Ohio. In this example, the valve is connected to the source 21 by a valve supplied by Benchmark Manufacturing, Inc. It is further recognized that the pressurized fluid source may take on other embodiments and designs as needed which may or may not even encompass a pressurized fluid so long as the source is capable of supplying the needed actuation means for dispensing of the sealant from the sealant supply 24 in the hand-held dispenser 20. The fluid delivery device 22 is any closed passage of a flexible nature and preferably of an extendable and retractable construction for fluidly connecting the pressurized fluid source 21 to the hand-held dispenser 20. In one embodiment as is shown in FIGS. 1-2, the fluid delivery device is a pneumatic hose 60 with pressure connect couplings 61 and 62 on opposing ends of the hose. The hose is generally manufactured out of a polymer material such as rubber, polyethylene, or polypropylene.

The carrier 23 is any means of securing, tieing, wrapping, looping, connecting, holding or otherwise fastening the pressurized fluid source 23 to the body of the user 11. In one embodiment as is shown in FIGS 1-2, the carrier 23 includes a belt 70 with a holster 71 affixed thereto. However, it is recognized that the carrier 23 may be other devices capable of carrying by the user such as a backpack or a shoulder harnessed carrier.

The sealant supply 24 is any means of supplying the necessary sealant to be dispensed. In one embodiment as is shown in FIGS 1-2, the sealant supply is a disposable cartridge 80 including a pair of elongated tubes or chambers 81 and 82, a mixing outlet 83, and a sealant delivery system or static mixer nozzle 84. In this embodiment the sealant is a reactant adhesive or sealant that comprises at least one tube of inactivated sealant such as tube 81, and at least one tube of activator such as tube 82, which when mixed reacts to form an activated sealant. One example of sealant supply 24 is the 330 ml version of the Tre shield 700 brand adhesive tube as manufactured by Tremco, Inc. of Beechwood, Ohio.

In operation, the portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device 10 is both compact and portable thereby allowing the user to transport the device in any vehicle since the dispenser is a small hand-held device and the pressurized fluid source is similarly a small canister. This is in contrast to current window sealant systems that are not portable or movable but use large pressurized fluid sources that must be hauled in large trucks or vans and are often permanently affixed within the mobile truck or van. The user 11 of device 10 may also use the device in locations that previous window sealant dispensers could not reach due to the difficulty in positioning the large pressurized fluid source within the transport vehicle or due to a lack of sufficient hose length. Specifically, the major pieces of the portable pneumatic sealant dispensing device 10, that is the hand-held dispenser 20, pressurized fluid source 21, fluid delivery device 22, carrier 23, and replaceable sealant supply 24, are transported to the job in a disassembled state in either the trunk or back seat of a transport vehicle. It is recognized that this device could actually be stored in a suitcase or briefcase sized case with a handle for easy transport. Once at the job site, the device 10 is assembled. The assembly is simple and merely requires two steps. First, the user 11 must couple the hose 60 to the sealed canister 50 through fittings 52 and 61, and to the handle 34 of the hand-held dispenser 20 through fittings 35 and 62. Second, the user 11 must insert a disposable cartridge 80 into the frame 37 between the plungers 39 and the end 38 if a cartridge from a previous job is not still present with sealant left therein. The sealant dispensing device 10 is now assembled.

The user 11 next wraps a carrier 23 around his/her waist and snugly secures the carrier thereto. The carrier 23 provides holster 71 for carrying the sealed canister 50 therein. The sealed canister 50 is then inserted into the holster 71 and the user picks up the hand-held dispenser 20. The user 11 is now ready to seal a windshield 13 into the window hole 14. The user is free to move around the vehicle, climb up on or over the vehicle, or even move to an area far away from the transport vehicle the user drove to the remote location since device 10 is compact, portable, light weight, and completely self contained on the user's body. To actually dispense sealant, the user controls valves 51 and 32 to open the fluid connection between the canister 50 and the mechanism within the barrel for driving the plungers 39. Specifically, the pressurized fluid flows out of canister 50, through valve 51, hose 60, and into conduit 33 where conduit 33 extends from valve 32 to coupling 35 through handle 34. The trigger 36 controls fluid flow through conduit 35. When the trigger is actuated to allow fluid to pass and pressure control valve 32 is adjusted to allow a certain quantity of fluid therethrough, the plungers 39 are actuated to move at a preset manner thereby dispensing sealant and activator from tubes 81 and 82. The sealant mixes in and is dispensed out of static mixer nozzle 84, which includes a tortuous path thereby advancing mixing and making contamination more difficult. At this point activated sealant is dispensed from nozzle 84 whereby the user moves the nozzle in a desired manner to spread the sealant as desired along a seam, bead or other path where sealing is desired. Once dispensing is no longer desired, the trigger 36 is disengaged. The device 10 via canister 50 has a limited supply of propellant or compressed fluid as needed to actuate plungers 39 and therefor the canister must be replaced from time to time. However, the canister holds sufficient quantities to perform a number of sealing jobs before replacement is needed. This allows the user much more freedom in comparison to a large pressurized tank that either must be fixed and/or stored in a transport vehicle, or else wheeled around following the user on a cart.

As indicated above, the device 10 provides a compact, portable, light weight and easy to use window sealing dispenser for applying adhesive or sealant along a window seam to pemmanently seal the window therein. The device is intended for use in the vehicle market for adhering windshields, back windows and other non-moving windows to the vehicle. The device is usable either on the original assembly line or more likely in the replacement market where window installers often travel to the location of the vehicle in which the window needs replaced. It is also recognized that this device 10 has applications outside of the vehicle market such as on commercial buildings where windows are often permanently affixed to the building, particularly high-rise structures where the windows must be installed using cranes.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved window sealing dispenser assembly is constructed and used, the characteristic of the construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims .

Claims

1. A method of sealing a window in a window frame within a vehicle remotely located away from a window installation facility, the method comprising: mounting a plunger actuating mechanism of a portable sealant dispenser to a user's body; and dispensing sealant at a desired seal area around a window in a remotely located vehicle where the sealant is dispensed from a sealant cartridge within a hand-held dispenser connected to the plunger actuating mechanism.

2. The method of sealing a window as defined in claim 1 wherein the mounting step further comprises: snugly securing a carrying pouch to the user's body, and positioning the plunger actuating mechanism within the holster.

3. The method of sealing a window as defined in claim 2 wherein the snugly securing the carrying pouch comprises a belt with a holster thereon around a waist of the user's body.

4. The method of sealing a window as defined in claim 1 wherein the sealant dispensing step further comprises: triggering dispensation of sealant from the sealant cartridge through a trigger connected between the plunger actuating mechanism and the sealant cartridge.

5. The method of sealing a window as defined in claim 4 wherein the triggering step further comprises : actuating a plunger within the hand-held dispenser to compress sealant within the sealant cartridge thereby forcing the sealant to exit the cartridge.

6. The method of sealing a window as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of: prior to dispensing sealant, assembling the portable sealant dispenser.

7. The method of sealing a window as defined in claim 6 wherein the assembling step further comprises in any order : inserting a sealant cartridge within the hand-held dispenser, and connecting the plunger actuating mechanism to the hand-held dispenser.

8. The method of sealing a window as defined in claim 7 further comprising: pressurizing the plunger actuating mechanism.

9. A portable window sealing mechanism for dispensing sealant at the site of a vehicle requiring window sealing where the mechanism is sized to be carried during use by one user, the portable window sealing mechanism comprising: a hand-held dispenser including a frame for holding a sealant filled cartridge during dispensation, a plunger for forcing dispensing of sealant from the sealant filled cartridge, and a trigger for actuating the dispensation; a plunger actuation source connected to the plunger and actuated by the trigger for applying a dispensing force on the plunger; and a body mounted carrier mountable on a user who is holding the dispenser and for housing the plunger actuation source therein.

10. The portable window sealing mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein the plunger actuation source is a pressurized fluid source.

11. The portable window sealing mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein the pressurized fluid source is a canister of compressed carbon dioxide.

12. The portable window sealing mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein the carrier is a belt with a holster thereon.

13. The portable window sealing mechanism as defined in claim 9 further comprising a hose for fluidly connecting the plunger actuation source to the plunger.

14. The portable window seaiing mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein the hand-held dispenser includes a barrel from which the spring biased plungers extend and retract .