Patent ID: 9302290
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: B05C,B26D,B65D,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A caulking gun for use with an associated caulk tube comprising a canister and a dispensing tip through which caulk material in the canister is dispensed, the caulking gun comprising: a body having a tube housing for housing the associated caulk tube while caulk material is dispensed; a piston assembly that is supported to the body and that comprises: (1) a piston rod; and, (2) a piston attached to the piston rod; a trigger mechanism that is supported to the body and that comprises: (1) a trigger that comprises a contact surface and that is movable with respect to the body; (2) an advance plate that is adjustable into: (a) a first condition where it grips the piston rod; and, (b) a second condition where it does not grip the piston rod; and, (3) an advance biasing device that applies a biasing force on the advance plate toward the second condition; a drip free mechanism that is supported to the body and that comprises: (1) a hold plate that is adjustable into: (a) a first condition where it grips the piston rod; and, (b) a second condition where it does not grip the piston rod; and, (2) a hold biasing device that applies a biasing force on the hold plate toward the first condition; wherein the trigger mechanism is operable by moving the trigger with respect to the body to contact the advance plate with the contact surface of the trigger to adjust the advance plate into the first condition to move the piston rod and the piston to: (1) overcome the biasing force of the advance biasing device, (2) overcome the biasing force of the hold biasing device to adjust the hold plate into the second condition; and, (3) cause the caulk material to dispense through the dispensing tip; and, wherein the drip free mechanism is operable by releasing the trigger to (1) permit the advance biasing device to force the advance plate into the second condition; and, (2) permit the hold biasing device to force the hold plate into the first condition to prevent the piston rod from moving to prevent additional caulk material from being dispensed; wherein the body comprises first and second extensions; wherein the advance plate contacts the second extension when the advance plate is in the second condition; and, wherein the hold plate contacts the first extension when the hold plate is in the first condition; wherein the hold plate: (1) has an extension; and, (2) comprises a contact surface; and, wherein the caulking gun further comprises a lever that: (1) is movable with respect to the body; and, (2) comprises a contact surface; the lever is adjustable into: (1) a first condition where the lever contact surface contacts the hold plate contact surface; and, (2) a second condition where the lever contact surface does not contact the hold plate contact surface; wherein when the lever is in the first condition: (1) the hold biasing device forces the hold plate into the first condition where it grips the piston rod; and (2) when a force is applied to the extension of the hold plate, the hold plate remains in the first condition where it grips the piston rod; and, wherein when the lever is in the second condition: (1) the hold biasing device forces the hold plate into the first condition where it grips the piston rod; and (2) when a force is applied to the extension of the hold plate, the hold plate is moved into the second condition where it does not grip the piston rod.