Abstract:
The present application relates to a caulk dispenser. The dispenser includes a tube member having an internal chamber for holding caulk, where the chamber defines a volume. The tube member further comprises a first end with an outlet port and a second closed end. The dispenser further includes a cap member with a first end and a second end, where the cap member first end forms a substantially flat surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to caulk dispensers and more particularly to caulk dispensers that may remain in upright orientations. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Caulk dispensers are employed to apply a bead of viscous sealing material to a surface. Such dispensers have use in a wide variety of applications, including household and commercial use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to an aspect, the present invention provides a caulk dispenser comprising a tube member having an internal chamber for holding caulk, the chamber defining a volume, the tube member further comprising a first end defining an outlet port and a second closed end; and a cap member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the cap member first end forms a substantially flat surface and having a plurality of rounded corners, wherein at least two of the corners comprise different radii of curvature, and wherein the cap member second end is selectively attached to the tube member first end. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect, the present invention provides a caulk dispenser comprising a tube member having an internal chamber for holding caulk, the chamber defining a volume, the tube member further comprising a first end defining an outlet port and a second closed end and wherein the chamber volume decreases from the tube member second closed end to the tube member first end; and a cap member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the cap member first end forms a substantially flat surface and having a plurality of rounded corners, wherein at least two of the corners comprise different radii of curvature, and wherein the cap member second end is selectively attached to the tube member first end. 
         [0005]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a caulk dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a cap member of the caulk dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the of the caulk dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a caulk dispenser in accordance with an additional embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a caulk dispenser in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0012]    Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0014]    A caulk dispenser  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , caulk dispenser  100  includes a tube member  102 , for housing the caulk to be dispensed, that is connected to a cap member  104 . As further explained below, cap member  104  includes a substantially flat surface  106  that allows for caulk dispenser  100  to stand in a balanced, vertical orientation. Such configuration further allows for caulk dispenser  100  to provide a consistent, prominent, and desirable display option. 
         [0015]    Tube member includes an internal chamber (not shown) that defines a volume between a first end  108  and a sealed second end  110  of tube member  102 . Tube member  102  may be shaped as required by the user to effectively house the caulk material and to also, in some embodiments, allow caulk dispenser  100  to maintain an upright orientation when desired. For example and as shown in  FIG. 1 , tube member  102  may be shaped such that the volume of the internal chamber decreases between second end  110  and first end  108 . In additional embodiments of the present invention and as shown in  FIG. 5 , tube member  102 ′ may be shaped such that the volume of the internal chamber remains substantially the same between second end  110 ′ and first end  108 ′. The user&#39;s specifications may dictate the particular shape of the tube member utilized and a cylindrical tube member is shown in  FIG. 5  merely as an example of one such particular shape. 
         [0016]    Tube member  102  may be constructed of any material known in the art for housing caulking materials. For example in some embodiments, tube member  102  may be constructed of paper, plastic, or other materials. In some embodiments of the present invention, tube member  102  may be constructed of a flexible material, such as plastic, such that a user may apply force to tube member  102  to aid in dispensing caulk from caulk dispenser  100 . 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , tube member first end  108  includes an outlet port  112  that is in fluid communication with the internal chamber of tube member  102 . Outlet port  112  is positioned on tube member first end  108  such that caulking material may exit caulk dispenser  100  when desired by the user. Outlet port  112  may be formed integrally with tube member  102  or may be separately attached by means known in the art, such as by a mating screw thread arrangement. Outlet port  112  may be shaped as required by the user. For example, outlet port  112  may include an outwardly extending conical shape such that a thin layer of caulk may exit outlet port  112 . However, in additional embodiments, outlet port  112  may be shaped as a hole or any other shape as desired by the user. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , cap member  104  includes a first end  114  with a substantially flat surface  106  and a second end  116  that is selectively connected to tube member first end  108 . In order to establish the selective connection between cap member second end  116  and tube member first end  108 , various methods may be utilized. For example and as shown in  FIG. 3 , cap member second end  116  may include a threaded portion  118  that is selectively mated with a threaded portion  120  of tube member first end  108 . In additional embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , tube member second end  110 ″ may include an outer lip  122 ″ such that cap member second end  116 ″ may “snap-fit” and connect to tube member  102 ″. In further embodiments, other connection methods known in the art may be utilized. The user&#39;s specifications may dictate the particular embodiments employed. 
         [0019]    As indicated above, cap member first end  114  includes a substantially flat surface  106  that may, in some embodiments, aid in maintaining caulk dispenser  100  in a vertical orientation. As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , substantially flat surface  106  may include corners  124 , for example four, as shown. Although the embodiment of the figures is shown with four corners, it should be noted that in additional embodiments, substantially flat surface may include three, five, six, seven, eight, or more corners. In embodiments of the present invention, at least two of the corners  124  of substantially flat surface  106  include radii of curvature that are different from one another. For example, the radii of curvature may range between about 0 inches to more than about one inch where, in some embodiments, one corner may include a radius of curvature greater than about 0.25 inches and another corner may include a radius of curvature less than about 0.25 inches. Further, in some embodiments where four corners are utilized, a first corner may include a radius of curvature between about 0 inches to about 0.125 inches, a second corner may include a radius of curvature between about 0.125 inches to about 0.25 inches, a third corner may include a radius of curvature between about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches, and a fourth corner may include a radius of curvature greater than about 0.5 inches. 
         [0020]    The use of different corner sizes allows for a user to smooth the viscous material deposited from caulk dispenser in a particular corner, regardless of the size of the corner. In use, the cap may be employed for smoothing caulk that has been dispensed. The provision of different corner sizes allows for the matching of a corner of the cap member  104  to the corner or seam into which caulk has been dispensed. 
         [0021]    Cap member  104  may be constructed of materials sufficient to allow caulk dispenser  100  to maintain the vertical orientation of caulk dispenser  100  as discussed above. For example, in some embodiments, cap member  100  may include plastic, metal, combinations of the two or other materials known in the art. 
         [0022]    The construction of the caulk dispenser of the present invention, as indicated above, allows for the caulk dispenser to remain in a balanced, vertical orientation when not in use. Such advantages allow a retailer to display the dispenser in a more consistent, prominent, and desirable display options at retail stores or other locations over existing dispensers, which are typically either placed in boxes with dividers or are displayed in an unreliable, unbalanced position. In addition, the vertical orientation allows for the dispenser to remain in one place when it is in use by a user instead of possibly rolling away. It should be noted that although the dispensers of the present invention have been described in connection with the holding and dispensing of caulking materials, in other embodiments, the dispensers of the present invention could be utilized in connection with other materials as well. For example, the dispensers of the present may be used in connection with glue, paints, or other materials. The user&#39;s specifications may dictate the necessary material to be housed and dispensed by the dispensers of the present invention. 
         [0023]    These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.