Abstract:
A damaged glass surface restoring tool comprises a replaceable, hermetically sealed container of glass fluid restoring substance aligned within a vacuum chamber perpendicularly to the glass surface. A method of restoring a damaged glass surface creates a vacuum in a chamber aligned over a crack in the glass and applying to the crack a glass restoring substance there before unexposed to air in a straight line path of application.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the art of glass repair and restoration and more particularly to the art of restoring the surface of damaged glass and glass-like objects to their original condition by the use of vitreous substances. 
         [0003]    Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In the past, it has been known to provide apparatuses to infuse vitreous substances in liquid, fluid form into cracks, scratches, chips, pits, holes, divots and like damage sustained by glass and glass-like surfaces, where the liquid substance after infusion is hardened or cured to substantially the same hardness as the glass being restored. Such damage is often sustained by automobile windshields when rocks and similar debris are thrown by wind or adjacent motor vehicles&#39;s tires. Typically, the restoring substance is inserted into the crack, scratch, chip, pit, hole, divot or the like, the surface is smoothed to coincide with the surface being restored, and the substance is allowed to set or to harden by curing. One such apparatus, and a method for using such an apparatus is shown, for an example, in Werner, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,520. 
         [0005]    One of the problems experienced in restoring damaged glass is the presence of air bubbles and pockets finding their way into the vitreous substance before curing has completed. Apparatuses and methods for overcoming this problem have been shown which essentially provide a degree of vacuum over and within the crack, chip, scratch, hole, pit, divot or the like while inserting the substance in fluid form. See, for example, Boyle, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,092,203. Hereinafter in this specification, the term “crack” will be used to describe and include all like damage, such as, in addition to rough and smooth cracks, chips, scratches, pits, holes, divots, unintended indents and the like to the glass unless specifically stated otherwise. Similarly, the term “glass” will be used to refer to not only glass in its normal definition, but also to glass-like material, such as plastics and other vitreous material that are like glass in physical property or appearance. 
         [0006]    The use of such apparatuses and methods requires the infusing of a fluid substance such as a resin or vitrescent through the apparatus and into the crack, where the substance cures or hardens into the desired location. After each such use, a new volume of the fresh liquid, fluid substance must be inserted or re-charged into the apparatus for the next use, and indeed again and again prior to each of all subsequent uses. Between each such use of the apparatus, the new volume of the fresh liquid substance, e.g. resin inserted or re-charged into the apparatus for its next use is exposed to air, and however slight, a curing inevitably begins. In those instances where a re-charge has been accomplished a length of time prior to actual use of the apparatus, the curing can be advanced. Premature curing can clog the apparatus, and can interfere with the application of the restoring substance. The resulting outcome of the restoring process can even be affected so that after finishing, the result will not be what is desired. If the effect is substantial, the ability to see clearly through the not-quite-so-restored glass may be detrimentally distorted. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for restoring glass surfaces to an original, transparent condition by infusing or inserting a fluid restoring material into cracks from a reservoir that is not exposed to air or other curing environments until immediately before the fluid substance is inserted into the crack. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for receiving a restoring fluid substance for insertion into to cracks where the restoring substance is not exposed to air or other curing environments until the substance is injected into the cracks. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide hermetically sealed containers or cartridges containing the fluid restoring substance which are openable only immediately prior to insertion of the substance into the crack in the glass to be restored. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for inserting fluid restoring substance into cracks of glass to be restored in a straight line directly into the cracks and where the fluid restoring substance is hermetically sealed until the insertion is initially commenced. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In brief, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a glass crack repair tool is provided having an interior space to be positioned directly on to a glass surface and comprising an air extractor within the interior space which defines, with the glass surface and the interior space, a hermetically sealed chamber that extends generally perpendicularly from the crack. A charged, sealed cartridge containing a fluid, glass restoring substance is inserted into the chamber prior to fixing the interior space to the glass surface. The cartridge is unsealed and aligned within the chamber to be substantially perpendicular to the glass surface at the location of the crack. A cartridge extruder is provided capable of extruding the fluid substance from the cartridge. A method for restoring a crack in a glass is also described comprising positioning a repair tool having an air extractor against a glass surface to create a sealed chamber, wherein a cartridge containing a restoring substance is inserted within the chamber prior to fixing the repair tool against the glass surface, extracting air from the chamber to create a degree of vacuum within the chamber, and extruding the fluid restoring substance from the cartridge and into the crack through the vacuum chamber by way of a substantially straight line path from the cartridge to the crack. 
         [0009]    These and other novel aspects of the present invention, together with other aspects thereof, can be better understood by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which are designed to be read in conjunction and together with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a repair tool apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention being positioned onto a damaged surface; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is perspective view of the preferred embodiment with the repair tool fixed on the damaged surface of  FIG. 1 , having portions cut away for clarity of view; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 and 2  having the component parts exploded for clarity; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2  having half of the repair tool cut away to show interior detail; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view having half of the repair tool cut away as seen in  FIG. 4  showing air being extracted from a chamber in the operation of one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view having half of the repair tool cut away as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing restoring substance being inserted in accordance with one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view having half of the repair tool cut away for clarity of view showing an extraction and replacement of a cartridge in accordance with one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    A repair tool  10  is shown in proximity to a crack  12  in a windshield  14  of an automobile  16 , reference being had initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the accompanying drawings where reference numerals used herein refer to like reference numerals in the drawings. In  FIG. 1 , the tool  10  is shown being positioned in the direction of arrow  32  over the crack  12 . In  FIG. 2 , the tool  10  is shown in greater detail and positioned fixed on the windshield  14 , where some portions of the tool  10  are depicted cut away for clarity in understanding the apparatus  10 . 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 2 , the tool  10  is shown fixed to the windshield  14  by the suction cups  18  of a three-prong base mount  20  comprised of three suction cups  18 , one each attached to each of the three prongs. A vacuum cup  22  is shown having a vacuum cup extension  24 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  and to  FIG. 3 , where the tool  10  is shown in exploded view to show in greater detail all of the component parts of tool  10  as well as some additional parts for ease in understanding the invention, the vacuum cup extension  24  has threads on its outside, which are complemental to threads in the hole  25  through the base mount  20 . The threaded extension  24  is received by threaded fastening with the complemental threads of hole  25  of the base mount  20  to secure not only the extension  24  to the base mount  20 , but also to secure the vacuum cup  22  which is integral with the vacuum cup extension  24 . The vacuum cup  22  has an interior space  26  within its upper portion. The extension  24  has attached to its lower extremity a lower lip  30  in the form of an O-ring. The vacuum cup  24  and its extension  24  have a common, coaxial interior space which will be described and shown in greater detail below. The vacuum cup  22  has mounted and fixed at its upper end a vacuum cup cap  34 . 
         [0020]    The vacuum cup cap  34  has a central circular open interior having threads. An air extractor  38  has threads on its outside complemental to the threads of the opening in vacuum cup cap  34 . The air extractor  38  has an air extractor top handle  40  which is mounted and fixed to the top of air extractor  38 , so that when the top handle  40  is turned, the air extractor  34  is turned exactly the same in the same rotary direction. An air extractor top handle cap  42  is designed to fit and be placed atop the top handle  40 , as will be described and shown in greater detail below. 
         [0021]    The air extractor  38  has an air extractor extension  44  integral with and extending below the air extractor  38 . The air extractor extension  44  has an air extractor O-ring  46  around its lower end shaped to engage and provide an air seal with the interior space of the lower portion of the vacuum cup extension  24 . The air extractor extension  44  and the air extractor  38  have a common, coaxial cylindrical interior space which will be described and shown in greater below. 
         [0022]    A cartridge extruder  48  comprises a cartridge extruder head  50  connected to a cartridge extruder plunger  52 . The extruder plunger  52  is designed to fit, and to pass through an opening in the air extractor top handle cap  42 . 
         [0023]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 3 , a cartridge  56  has a cartridge cap  66  which holds or seats a bulb-like piston  58 , which is capable of being dislodged or unseated downwardly. At its other end, the cartridge  56  has a cartridge O-ring  62  for fitting within the interior space of the air extractor  38  and its extension  44 . The cartridge  56  will be charged with the fluid restoring substance until it is fitted within the tool  10 . Until the cartridge  56  is fitted within the tool  10 , as will be described in greater detail below, the end  64  will have an easily removable covering  60  such as a thin plastic with an adhesive around its edge to hold the fluid substance inside the cartridge  56 . 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 4  the commencement of the operation of repairing and restoring the damaged glass  14  is shown. The base mount  20  is attached by suction cups  18  to the windshield  14 , and the vacuum cup  22  is screwed by virtue of turning the vacuum cup extension  24  through the base mount hole  25 , seen better in  FIG. 2 , until the lip  30  engages the windshield  12  and makes a seal around the crack  12 . Initially, the air extractor  38  with its integral extension  44  is inserted into the interior space  26  of the vacuum cup  22 , until the further end of the extension  44  abuts the vacuum cup extension lip  30 . The vacuum cup cap  34  is fixed onto the vacuum cup  22  by first threading the cap  34  onto the air extractor  38  at its upper end. The vacuum cup cap  34  is then fixed to the vacuum cup  22 , so that by turning the vacuum cup cap  34  the vacuum cup  22  will turn in the same rotary direction. The air extractor top handle  40  then is fixed onto the air extractor  38 . Similarly, turning the air extractor top handle  40  will turn the air extractor  38  in the same rotary direction. The cartridge  56  has been charged with the fluid substance which is to be injected into the crack  12 . The thin plastic seal  60  at the end  64  of the cartridge  56  is removed and the cartridge  56  is inserted into the interior space of the air extractor  38  to the level where the air extractor extension  44  begins. The air extractor top handle cap  42  is capped onto the air extractor handle  40 . At this point, the windshield  12 , the vacuum cup extension  24  with the air extractor extension  44  therein, and the cartridge  56  define an interior space or chamber  28  that is hermetically sealed. The cartridge O-ring seal  62  seals the chamber  28  to prevent any air from escaping through the upper portion of the interior of the air extractor  38 . The resulting positioning aligns the axis of the cylindrical cartridge  56  coaxially with the vacuum cup  22  and its cylindrical interior space  26  as well as with the cylindrical interior of air extractor  38 , and this alignment is substantially perpendicular to the surface  14 , so that there is a direct path or line for the flow of  t he fluid substance from the cartridge  56  to the crack  12 . In addition, the flow will be substantially perpendicular to the surface  14 . 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 5 , the next step in the operation of restoring the windshield  14  is shown. By turning the air extractor top handle  40  in the counter-clockwise direction of the arrow  72 , the air extractor  38  is moved relative to the vacuum cup  22  upwardly in the direction of arrow  74 . This action expands the hermetical chamber  28  as the air extractor extension  44 , integral with the air extractor  38 , is moved upwardly as well. Note in this regard that the air extractor O-ring  46  seals the chamber  28  and prevents any air escape around the air extractor extension  44 . The chamber  28 , being thus hermetically sealed, has a degree of vacuum established therein. 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 6 , the next step in the operation of restoring the damaged windshield  14  is shown, where the cartridge extruder plunger  52  of the cartridge extruder  48  is inserted through the opening in the air extractor top handle cap  42 . The cartridge extruder head  50  is plunged downwardly in the direction of arrow  76  so that the end of the cartridge extruder plunger  52  engages the cartridge piston  58  to dislodge it from the cartridge cap  66  to engage and force the fluid restoring substance therein downwardly and out through the cartridge end opening  64 , and to flow into the chamber  28 , all in the direction of the arrows  70  and into the crack  12  of the windshield  14  in a direct, straight line or path. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 7 , the next step in the operation of restoring the damaged windshield  14  is shown where cartridge extruder  48  is removed along with the air extractor top handle cap  42 . The air extractor top handle cap  42  and the cartridge extruder  48  may be installed and/or removed as a unit; that is to say, the cap  42  and the extruder  48  may be handled separately or together as a unit. Further, the tool  10  is removed from its engagement with the windshield  14  either by separating the suction cups  18  from the windshield  14 , or by screwing the vacuum cup extension  24  in the counter-clockwise direction and lifting the vacuum cup  22  and the assembly associated with it upwardly. 
         [0028]    The then discharged cartridge  56  is removed from the tool  10  through the air extractor top handle  40  as shown in the direction of arrow  78 . The spent cartridge  56  may be discarded, or may be re-charged with the fluid substance with which the crack has now been filled. A user of the present invention may keep a supply of charged cartridges  56  for quick and ready re-use of the tool  10 . In such storage the fluid restoring substance will be kept sealed hermetically from contaminants, and from air and any other environment that might commence curing. The composition of the substance used in this restoration or repair process is not a part of the present invention herein. The composition of the substance used may be any desired resin or vitrescent or of any vitreous composition that will harden and cure as has been used in the past to restore glass surfaces and as are well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0029]    By using the foregoing steps, it may be appreciated that an apparatus is provided that allows for applying a restoring fluid substance to repair or restore a damaged glass surface such as a windshield  14 , directly in a straight line from a supply of the fluid restoring substance, such as a cartridge  56  having a supply of the restoring substance, directly to a damage such as a crack  12  in the glass surface such as a windshield  14 . The fluid substance is maintained within a sealed container such as cartridge  56 , hermetically sealed from any exposure to air or any other environment that would start the curing process, and is continued to be so maintained until the fluid restoring substance is instantly conveyed to the damaged area through another hermetically sealed path or conduit created by creating a vacuum in that path, such as chamber  28 , to the damaged area. Modifications may be perceived by those skilled in the art which will accomplish the same objectives as shown herein. 
         [0030]    The foregoing detailed description of my invention and of preferred embodiments as to products, compositions and processes, is illustrative of specific embodiments only. It is understood, however, that additional embodiments may be perceived by those skilled in the art. The embodiments described herein, together with those additional embodiments, are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.