Caulk smoothing apparatus

Smoothing apparatus for smoothing flowable materials including a support portion having an end and a smoothing portion coupled to the support portion proximate said end for use in smoothing the flowable material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to devices for facilitating the use of caulking 
materials. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Caulk materials are often used to fill cracks and joints between surfaces. 
Since the bead of caulk material is virtually the last item to be placed, 
it needs to be uniform and visually pleasing. Thus it is desirable that 
the bead of caulk be even and smooth. Achieving an even and smooth bead is 
extremely difficult and generally requires diligent practice to perfect. 
For the homeowner who seldom caulks, laying and smoothing a bead of caulk 
can be frustrating and typically results in an unsatisfying bead. 
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and 
other deficiencies inherent in the prior art. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved caulk smoothing apparatus. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a caulk smoothing apparatus 
which is easy to use and produces a uniformly smooth bead. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention in 
accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is smoothing 
apparatus for smoothing flowable materials. The apparatus includes a 
support portion having an end and a smoothing portion coupled to the 
support portion proximate said end for smoothing the flowable material. In 
a specific embodiment, the support portion includes sidewalls forming a 
cap receivable by a nozzle of a flowable materials container, and 
retention means for retaining the smoothing portion. The smoothing portion 
includes a resilient material in the shape of a cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate 
corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first 
directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates a caulk smoothing apparatus generally 
designated by the reference numeral 10 and the end of a caulking tube 12 
with tapered dispensing nozzle 13. It should be noted that although the 
present invention is shown and described with reference to a caulking 
tube, apparatus 10 is also intended to be used with other containers and 
flowable materials such as squeeze tubes and sealants, respectively, etc. 
Caulk smoothing apparatus 10 includes a support portion 14, which in this 
embodiment acts as a cap for caulk tube 12, and a smoothing member 15. 
Support portion 14 has a generally tubular sidewall 16 extending between a 
closed end 17 and an open end 18. Support portion 14 receives dispensing 
nozzle 13 through open end 18. Dispensing nozzle 13 extends through open 
end 18 substantially to closed end 17, and in this specific embodiment, 
does not materially add to the length of dispensing nozzle 13. This allows 
the use of existing packaging. 
With additional reference to FIG. 2, support portion 14 is tapered outward 
from closed end 17 to open end 18. Preferably, a taper of three degrees is 
utilized to match the taper of conventional dispensing nozzles. It will be 
understood that this angle may vary. Sloped ribs 20 extend from sidewall 
16 proximate closed end 17, with the slope extending outward, away from 
sidewall 16, in the direction of open end 18. Ribs 20 are preferably 
evenly spaced about sidewall 16, and are preferably at least two in 
number, although one may be sufficient. A flange 22 extends from and 
encircles sidewall 16 intermediate open end 18 and ribs 20. 
Still referring to FIG. 1, smoothing member 15 is preferably formed of 
cylindrical sponge material having opposing ends 24 and 25, each having 
outer edges 26 and 27. It will be understood that a variety of materials 
may be employed, typically being of resilient material. A bore 28 extends 
from end 24 to end 25, and receives support portion 14 therein. With 
additional reference to FIG. 3, smoothing member 15 is carried by support 
portion 14 proximate closed end 17. Smoothing member 15 is positioned by 
forcing closed end 17 into bore 28 at end 24 until member 15 is stopped by 
flange 22. As member 15 is received over support portion 14, ribs 20 slide 
into bore 28. Ribs 20 act as retaining members, preventing member 15 from 
being removed from support portion 14 without effort. After extended use, 
smoothing member 15 may become worn out. It can be replaced, however, ribs 
20 will generally cause damage thereto upon removal. 
The act of forcing member 15 onto support portion 14 causes the outer 
surface of member 15 to bow, forming a barrel shape and causing outer 
edges 26 and 27 to draw inward. This facilitates the use of smoothing 
apparatus 10, as the edge will be less likely to engage and collect the 
flowable material. Typically, inner edge 26 will draw inward more than 
outer edge 27 because of the taper of support portion 14. The degree of 
bowing can be controlled by the relative diameters of bore 28 and support 
portion 14. As the diameter of support portion 14 increases relative the 
diameter of bore 28 more bowing will occur. 
Turning now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a support portion, generally 
designated 14' is illustrated. A prime symbol is employed to designate 
elements identical to those elements found in embodiment 14. This 
embodiment is identical to support portion 14 with the exception of 
threads 30 formed on the inner surface of sidewall 16' proximate open end 
18'. Threading permits support portion to be securely and sealingly 
engaged to containers with threads. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, yet another embodiment of a smoothing apparatus 
generally designated 40 is illustrated. Smoothing apparatus 40 is shown in 
engagement with a dispensing nozzle 42 of a caulking tube 43. Apparatus 40 
includes a tapered cap portion 43 and a support portion 44 extending 
therefrom. Support portion 44 rotatably carries a smoothing member 45. 
Smoothing element 45 is preferably a cylindrical sponge or other resilient 
material having a bore 46. Bore 46 is lined with a substantially rigid 
material, such as plastic, in the form of a tubular insert 47 so that 
smoothing member 45 will easily rotate on support portion 44. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, cap portion 43 has a closed end 50 from 
which support portion 44 extends and an open end 51 for receiving 
dispensing nozzle 42. Support portion 44 is generally tubular, extends 
from cap portion 43 and terminates in a bifurcated end 52 with outwardly 
directed flanges 53. Each furcation is biased outwardly, but can be 
displaced inwardly to receive smoothing member 45. The outward bias of the 
furcations and flanges 53 prevent the removal of smoothing member 45 
without specifically displacing the furcations inward. 
Turning to FIGS. 8 and 9, a further embodiment of a caulk smoothing 
apparatus generally designated 60, is illustrated. Apparatus 60 differs 
from the previous embodiments in that it is a hand held device which does 
not function as a cap for a dispensing tube. Apparatus 60 includes a shaft 
61 having an engagement end 62. End 62 is pointed, in this embodiment to 
be more easily inserted into the resilient material of a smoothing member 
63. Again, as in the other embodiments, smoothing member 63 is preferably 
a resilient cylinder made of sponge or other foam material. In this 
instance, smoothing member 63 does not have a bore extending therethrough, 
rather, end 62 of shaft 61 is forced into the material. It will be 
understood that a bore may be provided as discussed in the previous 
embodiment, and furthermore, that the previous embodiments can be employed 
without a bore as described here. 
Still referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, sloped ribs 64 extend from shaft 61 
proximate end 62, with the slope extending outward, away from shaft 61, in 
a direction opposite to end 62. Ribs 64 are preferably evenly spaced about 
shaft 62, and are preferably at least two in number, although one may be 
sufficient. A shoulder 65 formed in shaft 61 extends therefrom. 
Smoothing member 63 is positioned by forcing end 62 into an end thereof 
until member 63 is stopped by shoulder 65. As member 63 is received over 
shaft 61, ribs 64 prevent removal. The act of forcing member 63 onto shaft 
61 causes the outer surface of member 63 to bow, forming a barrel shape as 
discussed previously. 
Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for 
purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. 
To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from 
the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the 
scope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the 
following claims.