Abstract:
A tip attachment for use in dispensing products from tubes or squeeze bottles, such as caulking, sealants, adhesives, lubricants or the like. An elongate tip attaches to a threaded base member, the threaded base member adapted for engagement with a standard straight tip of the product tube. The tip is suitable angled, providing the ability to apply the product into a variety of locations that might otherwise not be reachable with the standard straight tip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to caulking devices and the like, and more particularly to an attachment for use as the tip for a caulking tube, glue tube, lubricant tube or other material application device.  
         [0002]     Typically, there is some type of caulking or sealing to be done within the various phases of building, construction, home repair and hobbies. Sealants, glues, lubricants, cleaners, etc. for such uses are supplied in a squeeze/push type tube/bottle, containing products intended for use or one times. The product is traditionally been delivered using a standard straight tip at the end of the tube. The tube is purchased and stored with the tip closed, and at first use, the tip is cut to allow the product to be dispensed by squeezing of the tube. Typically, in the case of caulking, the product tube end opposite the tip has a piston or ram member that is adapted to be driven into the tube by a calking gun so as to force the product out the tip end of the tube.  
         [0003]     Often the spaces or location needing product are difficult to access and proper application of the caulking/sealant product is difficult with the standard straight tip.  
         [0004]     In an attempt to overcome some of these difficulties, attachment tips for replacing the standard tip have been devised. Many of these, however, require a customized attachment to the product tube. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,716 envisions an attaching nut to attach an angled guide tube to the product tube, and then a dispensing tube is inserted into the angled guide tube, providing an angled dispensing feature.  
         [0005]     Other tips are secured by positioning in the caulking gun prior to placement of the product tube therein. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. D468,601, where a circular flange portion is provided to secure the tip relative to the caulking gun. This type of configuration is more difficult to change or replace, and is harder to clean.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,712 shows a flexible caulk tube nozzle for attaching to the standard straight tip. An accordion flexible portion of the tip allows it to be adjusted to an angle. A concern, however, is that in use, the according portion may be likely to shift position if the tip is bumped or if sufficient pressure is applied to the end of the tip against the application site when dispensing product through the tip. Further, more viscous products are likely to be dispensed under higher pressure, and would be more likely to cause the accordion portion to return to the straight position when attempting to dispense.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In accordance with the invention, a screw on caulking tip attachment is provided, which may be angled, adapted for placement over the standard straight tip of a caulking or other product tube. The tip suitably includes an interior thread portion having sharp cutting threads, for engagement with the outer surface of a standard straight tip of a caulk tube or the like.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved add on tip for a product dispensing tube.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved angled tip that is adapted to thread onto a standard product dispensing tube tip and provide a removable dispensing tip.  
         [0010]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved angled dispensing tip attachment adapted for multiple such tips to be attached together to provide an even greater angle dispensing tip or complex tip angles.  
         [0011]     It is another object of the invention to provide an improved dispensing tip that is re-usable.  
         [0012]     The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the tip attachment in accordance with the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a second side view of the tip attachment, viewed from an axis 90 degrees from the view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded sectional view of the tip attachment, taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the tip portion of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the base of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the assembled tip attachment;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is an environmental view with the tip attachment installed on a caulking tube;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the tip attachment in accordance with the invention, illustrating the tip portion thereof having been cut for use;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are front and side views of a square tip adapted for glazing;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  are front and side views of a glue tip or flashing tip;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are front and side views of a corner tip;  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  are front and side views of a grouting tip or flashing tip;  
         [0025]      FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  are front and side views of a long tip adapted for utility uses;  
         [0026]      FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  are front and side views of a siding tip having a toe guide;  
         [0027]      FIG. 21  and  FIG. 22  are front and side views of a super glue tip;  
         [0028]      FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24  are front and side views of a dome tip; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26  are front and side views of an angled tip. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     The tip attachment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a curved tip portion and a threaded engagement portion for attachment to a standard straight tip of a product tube, such as a caulking tube or the like.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which are side views of the tip attachment  10 ,  FIG. 1  being a first side view and  FIG. 2  being a second side view rotated 90 degrees. The tip attachment  10  comprises an elongate angled tip portion  12 , attached to a base member  14 . Base member  14  is suitably hex shaped on its exterior.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exploded sectional view of the tip attachment  10 , taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4 , a bottom view of the tip portion of  FIG. 3 , it may be observed that the interior of the tip portion  12  is generally hollow and is slightly thicker at the base portion than at the upper portions thereof. A suitable thickness at location  16  is 0.0625 inches, while at location  18 , is 0.0468 inches. The base of tip portion  12  is substantially circular in cross section as may be observed in  FIG. 4 , a bottom view of the tip portion.  
         [0033]     At the base of tip portion  12 , a short tapered region  20  is provided, being narrowest at the very bottom and extending outwardly as we move up the length of the tip portion. A circumferential notch  22  is defined around the periphery of the top of the tapered region  20 . A protruding tab portion  24  is defined at a portion of the notch opposing sides of the base, thereby providing 2 such tabs  24  (as is seen in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0034]     Referring still to  FIG. 3  and to  FIG. 5 , a top view of the base portion  14  of  FIG. 3 , the base has a substantially circular interior portion having a diameter  26  of 0.4687 inches. Threads  28  are formed in the interior face of the base from the bottom of the base portion up about 75% of the overall height of the base. The preferred depth  28  of the threads is 3/64 (0.0468) inch, and they are suitably sharp edge cutting threads that operate in a manner corresponding to a cutting die. The base  14  has an inwardly extending interior circumferential notch  30 , having a taper of corresponding shape to the shape of the taper portion of notch  22  in the tip portion  12 . A slot  32  is defined at opposite sides of the upper edge of the base  14 , having a shape corresponding to the shape of tab  24 . There are 2 such slots  32 , positioned 180 degrees from each other around the interior circumference of the base  14 .  
         [0035]     A circumferential slot  34  is defined about the interior of the base  14 , below the notch  30  and above the threaded portion  28 .  
         [0036]     It may be observed in  FIG. 5 , that the exterior walls of the base  14  are in the form of a hexagon nut, in the illustrated embodiment.  
         [0037]     The two portions portion  12  with the taper  20 , notches  22 , tabs  24  and portion  14 , with the notch  30 , tab  32  and slot  34  cooperate such that the tip attachment  10  is assembled by snapping the two portions  12  and  14  together, whereby the tip and base are held together for use. A purpose of the tabs  24  and notches  30  is to prevent the tip portion from spinning relative to the base.  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a bottom view of the assembled tip attachment, in a particular embodiment, the overall diameter  46  of the base portion is ⅝ inch (1.6 cm), while an individual face length  48  of the hex shape is 7/16 inch (1.125 cm).  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an environmental view with the tip attachment installed on a caulking tube  36 , the tube has a standard straight tip  38  at the dispensing end thereof. In use, a top portion of the standard straight tip is cut off, and the attachment tip of the present invention is placed thereover. The base  14  is grasped (whether by hand or by use of a tool) and rotated, such that the threads  28  will bite into the material of the standard straight tip and securely engage the attachment tip thereto. Typically 1 to 1.5 turns is suitable for sufficient engagement. The peripheral end of the tip portion  12  may then be cut (or it can be cut before installing) to provide an opening of a desired side, and the user may then begin to dispense and apply the caulk or whatever other material is in the caulking tube  36 .  FIG. 8  is a side view of the tip attachment in accordance with the invention, illustrating the tip portion thereof having been cut for use to apply material from the caulking tube.  
         [0040]     Threads  28  are suitably formed as sharp cutting threads, to provide the most desirable engagement with the standard straight tip.  
         [0041]     The tip attachment is also suitably used as a removable cap for a standard straight tip, by employing the tip attachment in the uncut configuration, as in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0042]     Another advantage to the attachment time in accordance with the invention is that if caulking (or whatever material is in the tube  36 ) dries in the tip, the tip may be removed and easily cleaned out for reuse. This is advantageous in that typically the dried material will be only in the tip attachment, and material therebelow in the standard straight tip will likely remain uncured, so that the entire tube won&#39;t be wasted as a result of the material drying in the standard straight tip, as was the case heretofore.  
         [0043]     A typical angle of the tip attachment in the preferred embodiments is 25 to 30 degrees. Multiple ones of the tip attachment may be employed by attaching subsequent tip attachments to one another, (the base  14 ′ of a second attachment  10 ′ being screwed onto a first tip portion  12 , etc.) enabling a more pronounced curve, or a compound curve, with one or more second tips oriented in a different direction to provide differing tip inflections (concave up, down, etc.), by adjusting the orientation of the tip portions, to enable application of caulking or the like to hard to reach places.  
         [0044]     The overall length  40  ( FIG. 7 ) of the preferred embodiment tip attachment  10  is approximately 2 inches. As noted above, the base width is suitable ⅝ inches. The tip portion  12  comprises a tapered hollow cone shaped cylinder angled at an angle  42  of approximately 25 to 30 degrees. The threads inside base  14  are suitably 15/32 inch threads with a depth of 3/64 inch. Also, alternate threads are 7/16-14 threads with the depths noted in connection with the drawings. The tip portion  12  is suitably made of polyethylene, polypropylene, PAVC, nylon, ABS, or a polyblend or the like. The base  14  has a height  44  of ⅜ inch and is also suitably made of the above noted materials, and further may be a metal, such as brass, etc. The base  14  can also suitable be molded out of a glass filed Nylon or Delran. It is preferred to have the base portion be of sufficiently hard material to provide sharp cutting threads.  
         [0045]     While caulking is employed herein as the typical example, other materials such as sealant, lubricants, glues and other materials provided in tubes or squeeze bottles and the like are suitable for use with the tip attachment described herein.  
         [0046]     In manufacturing the tip attachment in accordance with the present invention, it is suitable made as two separate parts as shown in  FIG. 3 , tip  12  and base  14 . The manufacture of both may be accomplished by molding, with the threads being added as a post molding step if necessary. In the case where the base portion is not made of a moldable material (e.g. when made of metal), different manufacturing steps would be employed to construct that portion, with post threading step if desired or necessary. The two pieces  12  and  14  are then snap assembled. This two piece construction enables multiple tip styles beyond the illustrated tip to be made, while employing the same base style  14 . Also, different size bases  14  can be employed, adapted to fit different size standard straight tips, while enabling use of the various tips  12  without having to make those of different size. This is accomplished by configuring the other size base members  14  so that the portions thereof that interact with the tip are of the size illustrated, while the other end of the base and corresponding threads can be modified to fit other uses.  
         [0047]     In an alternative embodiment, instead of the snap joining configuration, the two parts may be molded together, or formed separately and glued or otherwise permanently fastened together.  
         [0048]     Other tip configurations may include triangular cross section rather than circular, or square or flat/rectangular, for example. A flat tip is suitable for effectively reaching underneath flashing, for dispensing of material thereunder.  
         [0049]     Other tip end shapes can be v-shaped, dome shaped, chisel shaped, double taper in addition to the standard round. The tip  12  illustrated is initially provided with a closed end to allow the user to cut to desired shape, but any of the tips may be provided with a hole or opening in the end thereof. A suitable initial opening size is ⅛ inch.  
         [0050]     While the illustrated tip length is 2 inches, other lengths may be provided as desired for different applications.  
         [0051]     The base may be changed also, to conform to other uses requiring different thread configuration and base sizes.  
         [0052]     The product may be provided with a color to indicate different sizes or uses, for example, different colors for different thread sizes in base  14 . Tips more adapted for dispensing certain materials (e.g. less likely to be permanently adhered to by specific materials being dispensed) may be given a different color than other tip types.  
         [0053]     Suitable examples of variations of tip configurations are shown in connection with  FIGS. 9-26 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are front and side views of a square tip adapted for glazing, for example. The tip  50  suitably forms a square opening, and is molded to this open configuration, not needing to be cut open for initial use.  
         [0055]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  are front and side views of a glue tip or flashing tip  52 , wherein flared wing portions  54  are provided. The opening of the tip is suitably round or oval, and is molded to the open configuration, not needing to be cut unless desired by the user for modification thereof.  
         [0056]      FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are front and side views of a corner tip, having a molded open triangular shape opening. This tip is suitable, for example, for use in dispensing material along a corner.  
         [0057]      FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  are front and side views of a grouting tip or flashing tip  58 . Above the round tip opening, which is pre-molded to that open configuration, is a split flare portion  60 , which will flare apart along vertical line  62  ( FIG. 15 ) when pushed, and return to its closed configuration when not pushed against a surface, for use in applying grout, for example.  
         [0058]      FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  are front and side views of a long tip  64  adapted for multiple utility uses. This tip is preferably provided with a closed end so that the user can cut the tip to the desired angle and opening diameter, as needed by the particular material being applied and the user&#39;s application need.  
         [0059]      FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  are front and side views of a siding tip  66  having a toe guide  68  for assisting in guiding the tip when moving it while applying material. This tip has a round opening that it pre-molded to the open configuration. This particular configuration is useful with particular styles of siding, such as fiber cement siding of the Hardie Plank brand style, for example.  
         [0060]      FIG. 21  and  FIG. 22  are front and side views of a super glue tip  70  adapted for use with a super glue or cyanoacrylate glue style adhesive container. The tip  70  has interior threads  72  sized to be received by a typically super glue container, and has an exemplary height  74  of 1 and ⅜ths inch. The opening of this tip  70  is suitably pre-molded to the desired diameter, rather than requiring the user to cut the tip to a desired size.  
         [0061]      FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24  are front and side views of a dome tip  76 , wherein the opening is pre-molded to the desired configuration, having a bottom portion that is v-shaped and a top portion that is curved or semi-circular.  
         [0062]      FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26  are front and side views of an angled tip  78 . The angle  80  of the tip curve is suitably 25 degrees.  
         [0063]     Accordingly, the above described tips allow caulking or other material to be applied in tight areas that would otherwise not be reachable (or would be difficult to reach) with a standard straight tip. The engagement of the tip attachment is such, however, that it may be removed as desired to allow continued use of the standard straight tip.  
         [0064]     The tip provides a one piece tip in use, without requiring moving parts, without requiring manipulation of the tip to pull it out to a dispensing mode, for example.  
         [0065]     While plural embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.