Abstract:
A dispensing adaptor is disclosed for tubes of high viscosity compositions. The adaptor includes an adaptor body, the interior of which defines a tube tip receiving opening having a size and shape corresponding to the tip of a tube of high viscosity composition, an adapter tip on the adaptor body through which the tip receiving opening continues, a custom tip for the adapter tip that fits on the adapter tip, and at least two sets of custom tip attachments on the adapter body.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to tubes such as those used in conventional caulking guns. In particular, the invention relates to the applicator tips from which caulking (or another composition of similar viscosity) is dispensed from a caulk tube. 
     Conventional caulking tubes typically include a cone-shaped end portion that the user cuts to open the tube to release the caulk. 
     As an associated problem, once the applicator tip (which is typically made of a polymer) is cut, the size of the opening can no longer be reduced, but only increased by cutting the tip at a larger-diameter portion closer to the tube. Additionally, caulking tips are often cut at a slight angle because an angled tip provides for smoother release of the caulk and better adherence to the surface being caulked. Thus, if a user cuts the cone at an improper or less helpful angle, the only manner of correcting the angle is to cut the tip again and form a larger opening. In turn, if the user wants a smaller opening, or a different angle for the opening, the only realistic option is to start with a fresh tube of caulk. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the invention is an adaptor for conventional caulk tubes. In this embodiment, the invention is a snap on, cone-shaped threaded adaptor that fits over the applicator end of a conventional caulk tube. The several tips of different sizes are attached to the cone section of the snap on adapter. 
     In another embodiment the adaptor can include a replaceable closed-end tip, for resealing a partially-used tube of caulk for later reuse. 
     In another embodiment the invention is the combination of a tube of a highly viscous composition with a tube tip for dispensing a composition from said tube and a dispensing adapter mounted on the tube tip. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become clearer based on the followed detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adapter and tips according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adapter and tips according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment, the invention is a caulk tube adapter that replaces—and in the illustrated embodiment overlies—the conventional dispenser tip of a caulking tube. 
     Caulk is a widely-available, common, well-understood, and highly viscous composition that is commercially sold in tubes and is appropriate for describing the features of the invention. The skilled person will understand, however, that the invention is not limited to caulk per se, but is useful for dispensing a variety of substances that have compositions and viscosities that make them convenient to be stored in and dispensed from tubes that are analogous to caulk tubes. 
     Additionally, because caulk is highly viscous, a caulk tube is often used as a cartridge in a caulking gun. Caulking guns are likewise well understood in the art and are common enough that no need exists to illustrate one separately. In general, a caulk gun is used to apply mechanical force to a caulk tube (usually in a piston-like manner) to in turn urge the caulk out of the relevant opening; i.e., the caulk tube tip  31  in the drawings. 
     The invention is, however, not limited to rigid cartridges or caulking guns, but instead can be used in conjunction with any type of commercial packaging that includes the caulk tube tip  31  or its equivalent. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the adapter broadly designated at  10 . The adapter  10  includes an adapter body  11  and an adapter tip  12 , which is illustrated as threaded in  FIG. 1 . The adapter tip  12  includes an adapter tip dispensing opening  13 . The adapter tip  12  includes a set of male threads  14  that will be best understood with respect to  FIG. 4 . The adapter body  11  includes at least one set, and preferably several sets, of attachments illustrated as the clips  15 . The attachments (C-clips are exemplary) are positioned adjacent an indented saddle (or slot)  16  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) into which the respective custom tips  17  and  20  can nest and be engaged by the C-clips  15 . The C-clips are exemplary rather than limiting and other fasteners can be selected by those of skill in this art and without undue experimentation. Basically, the C-clips or their equivalents are sufficiently flexible to permit the custom tips to be attached or removed on a repeated basis without damaging either the clips of the custom tips. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the adapter and its various subparts can be formed of any material that is structurally sufficiently strong and that generally does not react unfavorably with caulk. Because of their well-understood properties, wide availability, ease of manufacture into shaped items, and relatively low-cost, polymers are generally appropriate for the adapter of the invention. Typical polymers for the adapter can include (but are not limited to) polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, polyurethanes, and polycarbonates. Depending upon the expected use environment, the polymer can be selected on the basis of cost, strength, resistance to chemical attack, or some other factor. 
     It will also be understood that although polymers are convenient materials for the adapter, the adapter material is not limited to polymers. Thus, when other materials would be superior or necessary for a particular application, no functional reason precludes the use of materials such as ceramics, metals, or composites. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment for which many of the features are either identical or similar to the first embodiment. The adapter is broadly designated at  21  and includes an adapter body  11  which is generally the same as the adapter body  11  illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2 , however, illustrates a snap type adapter tip  22  as will be described in more detail with respect to  FIG. 3 . The adapter body  11  also includes the C-clips  15  and the indented saddles  16  for carrying the custom tips  23  and  24 . 
     Although  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate that the respective adapters  10 ,  21  carry two of the custom tips  17 ,  20 ,  23 ,  24  it will be understood that this is exemplary rather than limiting. Thus, and depending upon the size of the adapter and tips, a larger number of custom tips can be mounted on the adapter body  11 . 
     The orientation of  FIG. 2  also illustrates that in both embodiments the adapter body  11  forms a tube tip receiving opening  25  which has a size and shape that will snugly receive a caulk tube tip  31  in a manner that will be described in more detail in  FIG. 3 . The tube tip receiving opening  25  extends entirely through the adapter body  11  (e.g.,  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) to form the adapter tip dispensing opening  13 . In some embodiments (not shown), the tip receiving opening can form an additional structure within, or in some cases extending from, the adapter body  11 . 
     It will be understood that the adapter is not limited to a single size tube tip receiving opening  25 , but that the adapter body  11  and the tube tip receiving opening  25  can be formed in different sizes to fit different caulk tube tips. 
     In a similar manner, the rear portions of the custom tips  17 ,  20 ,  23 ,  24  also include respective adapter receiving openings  26  for receiving the adapter tip  22 . 
     In both embodiments ( FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ), the forward portions of each custom tip  17 ,  20 ,  23 ,  24  includes a custom tip dispensing opening  27 . In particular, the adapter receiving opening  26  extends entirely through the custom tip to form the custom tip dispensing opening  27 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the adapter  21  illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the adapter  21  in its environmental context; i.e., attached to the caulk tube  30  and specifically on the caulk tube tip  31 .  FIG. 3  illustrates that the snap type adapter tip  22  includes an annular groove  32  and that each snap fit custom tip  23 ,  24  includes an annular hook  33 . The snap fit custom tip  23 ,  24  is sufficiently flexible for the hook  33  to expand over the larger portions of the adapter tip  22  and then snap into the annular groove  32  to secure the custom tip  23 ,  24  on the adapter tip  22 . 
     Snap fittings are generally well understood in the art and will not be otherwise discussed in detail. A variety of snap type fittings can be employed, however, and thus the illustrated version is exemplary rather than limiting of these choices. In a snap fitting, the shape of the groove  32 , the shape of the hook  33  and other factors can be adjusted to require greater or lesser force to add or remove the custom tip  23 ,  24  from the adapter tip  22  as may be desired or necessary. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the adapter  10 ,  21  fits on the caulk tube tip  31  with a friction fit. In other embodiments (not shown), the adapter  10 ,  21  and the caulk tube tip  31  can snap together using appropriate fittings. In yet other embodiments (not shown) the adapter  10 ,  21  can be held in place by the caulk gun rather than as a friction or snap fit onto the caulk tube tip  31 . In these embodiments, either the adapter  21  or the adapter opening  25  can terminate in a washer-like structure that drops into (and behind) the U-shaped tip opening of a typical caulk gun. When the caulk gun applies pressure against the caulk tube, the tube holds the washer (and thus the adapter) firmly in place. 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates a different shape custom tip  28  in which the face of the custom tip dispensing opening  27  is illustrated as oblique (rather than parallel) to the face of the adapter tip dispensing opening  13 , and in which the custom tip dispensing opening is somewhat smaller than the other illustrated embodiments. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the adapter  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The elements of the adapter  10  of this embodiment are the same in most respects as the adapter  21  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , with the exception that the threaded adapter tip  12  includes the male threads  14  and the custom tips  17 ,  20  include female threads  34  that correspond to the male threads  14 . 
       FIG. 4  also illustrates a closed end custom tip  18  which can be positioned on the adapter  10  to close the caulk tube of  30  (and seal). It will be understood, of course, that the close tip can be combined with a snap on custom tip or that angled tip  28  can be threaded for use with the threaded adapter  10 . 
     It will be further understood that for clarity purposes the illustrated custom tip dispensing openings  27  are not necessarily drawn to scale. In practice, the invention provides the advantages of custom tip dispensing openings  27  that are relatively small to thereby provide the user with an option to produce a smaller bead of caulk from the somewhat larger caulk tube tip  31 . 
     The user can position the adapter  10 ,  21  on a caulk tube tip  31 . In exemplary embodiments the shape of the tube tip receiving opening  25  corresponds to the shape of the caulk tube tip  31 . Because of this, the caulk tube tip  31  can be trimmed prior to or during use. Indeed, one of the advantages of the adapter is that a caulk tube  30  and caulk tube tip  31  can be used without the adapter of the invention until the adapter is needed. In other words, when the user, having already cut the caulk tube tip  31  to a desired opening size, wants to change—and specifically reduce—the opening size, the user can add the adapter  10 ,  21  to the caulk tube tip  31 . 
     Additionally, with the adapter  10 ,  21  in position, the user can select and change the desired custom tip  17 ,  20 ,  23 ,  24  conveniently on an as-needed or desired basis. As a further advantage, the closed end tip  18  can be used to close the caulk tube  30  to keep the caulk from drying in the tube and thus keep the caulk available for further use. 
     The removable nature of the adapter  10 ,  21  and the convenient materials (e.g. polymers) from which it is formed make it easy to clean the adapter  10 ,  21  during or between uses. 
     In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms have been employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.