Patent ID: 6260737
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: B05C

Abstract:
A product dispensing device comprising:a hollow body having a first end and a second end;a product holding mechanism at the first end;a plunger defining a rack, supported by and extending through the product holding mechanism and the hollow body from the first end to the second end; anda drive mechanism, pivotally coupled to the hollow body, including an integral trigger, trigger return spring, and pawl connected to the trigger via an intergral pawl bias spring for bringing the pawl into contact with the plunger, the pawl having a set of pawl teeth shaped to complement the rack,whereby when a user actuates the trigger the pawl teeth move the plunger forward toward the first end of the body, and when the user releases the trigger the pawl teeth slide back over the rack moving the plunger rearwards and allowing the user to further advance the plunger upon subsequent actuation of the trigger; andwherein the hollow body further includes a pocket defined by a forward pocket wall and a rear pocket wall, and a floating gripper, disposed within and shorter than the pocket, is slidably frictionally coupled to the plunger, the friction force of the floating gripper being greater than the rearwards force on the plunger caused by the rearwardly sliding pawl teeth, whereby when the user actuates the trigger to advance the plunger the floating gripper contacts the forward pocket wall and the plunger slides through the floating gripper, and when the trigger is released, the plunger, acting upon the force of the sliding pawl teeth, moves rearwards until the floating gripper contacts the rear pocket wall.