Abstract:
A grout dispenser which dispenses a grout mixture from a container through a tracking square-toothed-shaped nipple having an off-on valve and extrudes the mixture into spaces between previously-set tiles. A utility stand, a grout float device and a tracking wheel to maintain a straight line are included. In use, the strip glides over the edges of the installed tiles on a predetermined width, spaces or tracks. By gliding over the uncured grout, mortar, the float gives the spaces or tracks a concave appearance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a grout dispenser with a stand and a float and an improved method for grouting the joints of the installed floor tiles and, more particularly, relates to a compressible grout dispenser with a parallelepiped nipple and a wheeled float. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Prior antiquated grouting tools are labor-intensive and grout-wasting. Grout is applied between the joints of flooring tiles during installation using various methods. The grout takes on a concave appearance when applied by using a hand float. While adhering the floor tiles to sub-flooring is a relatively easy task, a tremendous amount of manual labor to apply grout between floor tile joints is required. Kneeling on hands and knees is necessary to apply grout. Some previous inventions provide some solutions to the problems inherent with kneeling and bending down during the grout application process, while other inventions teach apparatus to level out grout so that it does not have a concave appearance when applied between floor tiles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,653, issued to Dubizhansky, is one such example, in that it discloses a method for grouting tile which comprises applying a protective layer over the tile prior to grouting and then removing this layer after the grouting has occurred. However, as can be seen from this description, this method is labor-intensive 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,545, issued to Bernett, discloses a method for grouting tile which comprises adding a property-improving material to the grout before it is applied. Again, this highlights how existing grouting tools and method for applying grout still remain quite labor-intensive and cumbersome to use in practice. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,272, issued to Nolan, teaches a simple effective tool for finishing jointing; however, such tool requires kneeling and bending and requires one to squeeze the container or cylinder in order to extrude the grouting material, while further restricting the amount of grouting material instantly available during an application without having to re-fill or replace the source of the grouting material. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,854, issued to Groeneveld, illustrates a device for finishing joints between tegular elements applied to a surface. 
   Many prior art patents, uniform application of grout between joints is achieved by the combined use of removable spacers and an applicator of low viscosity gout sealant. Also, a conventional way to finish the grouting is to use a bristle or a soft material. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,043, issued to Velliquette, teaches a rotatable striper wheel made of absorbent material which is automatically saturated from a gravity-fed sealant contained in a squeeze bottle. It also teaches a disposable grout sealant applicator, which is nothing but a compressible bottle for ready-mixed grout and illustrates the problem of having to continually press the applicator for continuous application and consistent grout thickness, while also bending over and kneeling down to apply the grout between tiles for flooring. In addition, this device does not hold enough grout to finish many feet of grouting. Application of grout using this device and similar devices often leads to cramps in hands, lower back strain from long hours of bending and kneeling to apply grout  11  between flooring tiles, and does not lend itself to easy application of a desired consistent thickness and acceptable shape of grout. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,538, issued to Cloud, illustrates a device designed to contain a large quantity of grout in a tubular handle, has a valve and it being gravity fed. The applicator can be used while standing or sitting and there is no kneeling. A worker has to work hard to drag the nozzle in the tracks of the installed tiles. For the sealant flow the entering air has to control by a finger or a thumb. While the sealant is flowing in the tracks of the installed tiles the concave shape cannot be formed until the grout is semi hardened. The device has a limited use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a grout dispenser that comprises a dispenser, a utility stand and a grouting float. The dispenser dispenses a grout mixture of predetermined thickness from a cylindrical container through a square-toothed-shaped nipple that extrudes or feeds out the grout mixture into spaces in between previously-set tiles. The dispenser covers all types of tracks and it includes a cylindrical container, a compressible piston with a shaft and a handle, and a tracking square-toothed-shaped nipple. While in use, the grout within the grout dispenser is compressed by the piston and also by the force of gravity. The dispenser also includes a tracking railroad-like wheel, which has an outer, around its circumference and it travels in the tracks of the installed tiles. The nipple and the tracking wheel travel together through the tracks for straight line. A utility stand is to be used whenever the cylindrical container is to be filled with grouting of predetermined thickness. The nipple itself includes an orifice with an off-on valve. The grouting float has a body with two wheels, a shaft, a handle, and a rectangular strip of material, preferably plastic. A rod is lodged on the center of the angular strip, which is parallel to the spaces or tracks of the installed tiles. 
   In use, the strip glides over the edges of the installed tiles on a predetermined width, spaces or tracks. By gliding over the uncured grout, mortar, the float gives the spaces or tracks a concave appearance. The length-wise convex with bar/rod, with perpetual longitudinal up-down movement guides the workers to follow the spaces or tracks in a straight line. The rectangular strip with the convex shaped bar lodged in it, can be changed to ⅛″, ¼″, ⅜″ and ¾″ or to larger sizes for various types of grouting, including any other mortar material. With the support of horizontal pipes through the attached brackets to the cylinders/containers, 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th  dispensers can be added for multi-combination use. Also the dispenser can be used for the wider grout joints. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a grout dispenser that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the grout dispenser that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the grout dispenser in detail, it is to be understood that the grout dispenser is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The grout dispenser is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present grout dispenser. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a grout dispenser which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a grout dispenser which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a grout dispenser which is of durable and reliable construction. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a grout dispenser which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segment of the purchasing public. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side cutaway view of the grout dispenser. 
       FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of the utility stand associated with the grout dispenser. 
       FIG. 2B  is a side elevation view of the utility stand associated with the grout dispenser. 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the float associated with the grout dispenser. 
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a concave mechanism. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the grout dispenser as it appears mounted on the utility stand. 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a grout dispenser as it would actually appear in use installing grout in between a number of installed tiles. 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional exploded view of a supporting pipe/bar two slots for pin insertion. 
       FIG. 6B  is a side elevation view of two grout dispensers attached to one another as they would actually appear in use installing grout in between a number of installed tiles. 
       FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional exploded view of a supporting pipe/bar having three slots for pin insertion. 
       FIG. 7B  shows a side elevation view of three grout dispensers attached to each other as they would actually appear in use installing grout in between a number of installed tiles. 
       FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional exploded view of a supporting pipe/bar having four slots for pin insertion. 
       FIG. 8B  shows a side elevation view of four grout dispensers attached to each other as they would actually appear in use installing grout in between a number of installed tiles. 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the float associated with the grout dispense. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a float. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view of various parts of the grout dispenser after the grout dispenser has been disassembled. 
       FIG. 12A  is a front elevation view of the tracking wheel embedded, surrounding closely in the tracks of the installed tiles. 
       FIG. 12B  is a side elevation view of the tracking wheel embedded, surrounding closely in the tracks of the installed tiles. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective rear view of the nipple attached to the bottom cap. 
       FIG. 14A  is a perspective rear view of the nipple attached to the bottom cap. 
       FIG. 14B  is a top plan view of a nipple. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an embodiment of the orifice valve in an open position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 15  thereof, a new grout dispenser embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  2  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 15 , the grout dispenser  2  is shown. The specific wordings are used in these descriptions for fulfilling the requirements only and it is not to be assumed as a limitation on the present invention. 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B, and  3  illustrate the basic components of the present grout dispenser  2 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , grout dispenser  2  comprises a body  15 , which is preferably cylindrical. The body  15  has an inner diameter and has two ends comprising a top end and a bottom end, with the top end of the body  15  including a removable cap  17  and the bottom end of the body  15  including a bottom cap  33 . 
   A hook  16  is attached to the body  15  of the dispenser  2 , with the hook  16  acting as both a storage hook and a carrying handle. Furthermore, the body  15  further includes a bracket  23 , although the bracket  23  is truly only needed when two or more dispensers  2  are attached to one another for multi-use purposes. 
   The cap  17  has an attached piston shank locking/unlocking device  18  and a ventilation cap  20  attached to it. Furthermore, cap  17  has a rotatable piston handle  19 , a shank  21 , and a piston  24 , which, when taken together, make a complete assembly of a reciprocating, hand-operated piston for pressing grout  85 , located within the body, through a nipple  28  that is attached to the bottom cap  33 . The nipple  28  has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, with the first end of the nipple  28  being the portion that is attached to the bottom cap  33 . In addition to the pressure from the piston  24 , gravity (a natural, downward force) also plays an important part in extruding the grout  85  through an orifice valve  27  located within the nipple  28  and out through an opening  30  on a square-toothed nipple  29  attached to the nipple  28 . The opening  30  is on the second end of the nipple  28 . 
   The shank  21  has two ends comprising a top end and a bottom end, with the top end of the shank extending through the cap  17 . The piston  24  is attached to the bottom end of the shank  21  and has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the inner diameter within the body  15  of the grout dispenser  2 . The handle  19  is attached to the top end of the shank  21 . 
   An on/off handle  34  is attached to the orifice valve  27 , with the valve  27  having open and shut positions. The handle  34  is to be lifted and removably attached to a snap lock  32  on the bottom cap  33  to place the orifice valve  27  into an open position. The handle  34  shown in  FIG. 1  highlights the valve  27  in the “shut” position. Once the handle  34  is removably attached to the snap lock  32 , the valve  27  comes into an “open” position, thereby allowing grout  85  within the body  15  of the dispenser  2  to exit the nipple  28  through the opening  30 . 
   A reciprocating piston  24  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a depressed position. In addition, an external bracket  25  is attached to the bottom cap  33 , with a tracking wheel  26  being attached to the bracket  25 . The tracking wheel further includes an exterior band  26 A, as shown in  FIG. 11 , that circumferentially surrounds the tracking wheel  26 . When the dispenser is being pulled along while in use, the nipple  29  and the exterior band  26 A travel just above tracks in between installed tiles on a floor surface, with the exterior band  26 A sliding over and smoothing grout  85  that had just been lain in a particular track  58 . The joint  31  indicates that the nipple  28  is attached permanently to the bottom cap  33  at an angle that provides a continuous, smooth flow of grout. A snap lock  32  is located at the bottom center of the bottom cap  33 . 
   As best depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the utility stand  38  acts as a supporting stand for the dispenser  2  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The dispenser  2  can be mounted on the utility stand  38  for temporary storage or also to assist an individual in filling the body  15  of the dispenser  2  with more grout  85 . The stand  38  has four supports  35  which are attached to a lower circular band  36  and to an upper band support  39  with the hardware  37  at the designated eight points as shown in  FIG. 2A . The four points of the bands  36  and  39  are divided into four quarters to accommodate the weight of the dispenser  2  when it is completely filled with grout or dispensing low viscous liquid. The combination of the bands  36  and  39  along with the supports  35  in the stand  38  create a space that is small enough that allows the body  15  of the dispenser  2  to be placed atop the stand  38  by placing the bottom cap  33  on top of the band  39 . The height of the stand  38  is equal to approximately ¾ of the height of that of the dispenser  15 . An aperture  40  formed by said lower circular band  36  allows the dispenser  2  to be placed within the stand  38 . 
   As presented and illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a grout float device  41 A with two wheels  43  are connected to a length-wise axle  42  which travels to the base  41 B, which has two ends comprising a first end and a second end. The axle  42  also has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, with each end of the axle  42  exiting the respective end of the base  41 B. Each end of the axle  42  is connected to a wheel  43 . Inside washers  46  act like spacers between the base  41 B and each of the wheels  43 . Outside washers  45  are placed between the wheels  43  and the cotter pins  44 , which are attached to each end of the axle  42  and act to prevent the wheels  43  from inadvertently being removed from the axle, especially while the grout float device  41 A is in use. Support stand  47 , which has two ends comprising a lower end and an upper end, is perpendicularly connected to the base  41 B via the lower end of said base  41 B. Furthermore, the upper end of support stand  47  is connected to a handle  48  which has two ends, a first end and a second end. The grout float device  41 A is attached to the base  41 B. 
   A cylindrical rod  49 , the sliding wing  50  and the hinge mechanism  51  are all parts of the grout float device  41 A. The sliding wing  50  is attached to the hinge mechanism  51 , while the cylindrical rod  49  is attached to the sliding wing  50 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the middle section of the slot  68  of the base  41  acts as a hinge joint for hinge mechanism  51  for a motion in one plane. Before putting the axle  42  in the base  41 , the hinge mechanism  51  needs to be threaded in through the slot  68  of the body, at which time, the axle  42  is threaded in the base  41 . This is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , where it acts as a back support for the hook  51 . The cylindrical rod  49  which is embedded in the wing  50  is attached to the hinge mechanism  51  with the pin  67  for up and down motion of the concave mechanism  69 , as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 9 . 
   As the grout float device  41 A goes over the uncured grout in the tracks  58  (illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of the installed tiles, a worker may handle the grout float device  41 A at any angle with the level of the floor tiles. The most comfortable angle in which the grout float device  41 A should be pulled is approximately 60 degrees in relation the ground surface. While the worker pulls the grout float device  41 A, the wings  50  slide over the edges of the installed tiles to support the cylindrical rod  49  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The levels of the wheels  43  and the wings  50  are the same as that of the installed tiles on the floor. It gives the rod  49  enough depth for creating the concave appearance of the uncured grout. The shank  47  of the base  41  should have enough length for the worker to pull the float  41  with the handle  48  in an up-right position. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the dispenser  2  is supported by the upper circular band  39  of the stand  38  at the contact point  52 . Similarly, the bracket  25  is supported by the upper circular band  39  of the stand  38  at the contact point  53 . These supports protect the body  15  and the nipple  28  from damages and from badly handling the dispenser  2 . Another important purpose of the stand  38  is to make it easy to fill and refill the dispenser  2 . Also, the stand  38  can be used to park the dispenser while the worker is taking a break. 
   As best presented and illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the dispenser  2  is shown at approximately a 60 degree angle, indicated by  56 , with the installed tiles  55 . As best depicted in the illustration, nipple  28  and tracking wheel  26  travel straight in the track  58  which is created by spacers for grouting the tiles. The body  15  is shown in  FIG. 5  without grout mixture in it. 
   In order to use the dispenser  15 , the worker has to first fill the dispenser  15  according to the demand or a need from the job. The widths of the nipple  29  and the tracking wheel  26  are similar and the distance between nipple  28  and tracking wheel  26  is fixed in a way that when a nipple  28  is put in the track and the worker lowers the body  15  towards him and forms an angle with the installed tiles, the body  26  automatically falls into the tracks. 
   The body  15  of the dispenser  2  should be able to hold approximately a quart to a gallon of grout. By lowering the body  15  and the nipple  29  and the tracking wheel  26  into the track  58 , the weight of the predetermined thickness grout easily slides down through the body  28 . An applied force from the piston  24  pushes the grout out of the nipple  28 . At the time of starting the job, the on-off handle  34  is at the shutoff position. Opening the handle  34  is done by it and locking it in the snap lock  32 . The rotatable handle  19  makes easy for the worker to handle movement of dispenser  2 . An arrow  57  shows the direction in which the worker pulls the dispenser  15 . In addition to the presentation and the illustration in  FIG. 5 , another body  15 A is added to the body  15  in order to double the extrusion of grout for faster work. The twin pack of bodies  15  and  15 A is adjustable for tile sizes from 6, 8, 12, 16, and 18 inches as shown in  FIG. 6 . This means the grouting can be done in one-half the normal time, thus saving material, time and labor. Also there is less strain-stress on the worker. 
   Various sizes of tiles are manufactured by a tile manufacturer. Referring to  FIG. 5 , a single grout dispenser can be used for almost all the different sizes of tiles. The dispenser  15  takes care of any single track at a time. When the installed tiles get smaller, it will take more time for each track to be filled. As presented and illustrated in  FIG. 6A , two dispensers  2  are put together for the different width of the installed tiles. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the slots  63  of the supporting pipe/bar  61  can be utilized for various locations of the dispensers from 6, 8, 12, 16, and 18 inches, just by pulling up the pins  59 . After locating the tracks positions the pin  59  can be dropped back into the supporting pipe/bar  61 . The first grout dispenser  2  always stays at the fixed position while the additional grout dispenser  15 A can be moved to the right side as required per job. This method of doing the job cuts down the required time onto one-half the normal time. In addition to the presentations and to the illustrations in  FIGS. 5 and 6A , an additional grout dispenser  15 B can be added to the assembly of  FIG. 6A , as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  7 B, and  8 B. The supporting pipe/bar  64  has several slots  63  for adjusting the dispensers. The body  15  stays fixed while bodies can be moved to the right side for the required jobs. The triple bodies of assembly of  15 ,  15 A, and  15 B cuts down the required time into one-third the normal time. As best depicted in  FIG. 8B , another grout dispenser  15 C can be added in order to quadruple the extrusion of grout for four rows of the tracks at the same time. The assembly of four bodies cuts down the required working time into one-fourth the normal time. As seen in  FIG. 8A , the supporting pipe/bar  66  has many slots  63  for fixing the three dispensers at the required locations. The body  15  stays at the fixed position while bodies  15 A,  15 B and  15 C can be moved to the right side. As mentioned before, the pins  59  are to be used to fix the different slots  63  as required per job demand. 
   In the preferred top plan view and exploded views of the embodiments as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , respectively, the grout float device  41 A and its parts are shown in the different views for the general understanding of the simple device. The concave mechanism  69  is shown in the track  58  and the wing  50 , both sides, are shown on the installed tile  55  level. The wheels  43  and the wing  50  must be on the same level as the installed tiles level. The cylindrical rod  49 , also illustrated in  FIG. 3A , is surrounded closely by the width between two tiles. This suitable depth is helpful to give the uncured grout the concave appearance created by the rod  49 . 
   In the preferred exploded views of the embodiments as shown in  FIG. 11 , the bottom cap  33  has an assembly of the bracket  25  and the tracking wheel  26 , an orifice valve  27  and the nipple body  28 . The snapping lock  32  locks the handle  34  for the opening position of an orifice valve  27 . A view  24 A shows a bottom view of the piston  24 . A view  33 A is a top view of the cap  33 . A view  21 A is the side view of the shank  21 . The body  15  is the main body of the dispenser  15 . The view  70 A is the left and  70 B is the right side views of the cylinder  70  of the body  15 . 
   The device  18  as shown in  FIG. 1  is an important part of piston  24 . The device attaches the shank  21  to the cap  17  and locks the shank  21  at a desirable position. The male threaded device  18 D, as shown is attached/welded to the center of the top cap  17 . A packing neoprene gasket  18 B goes into the top track of the device  18 D and it remains there. The locking device  18 A has a bottom track for the remaining part of the gasket. Thus the gasket  18 B sits half in the device  18 A and the remaining half in the device  18 D. The view  18 C is the top and the bottom views of the device  18 B. Particularly, the exploded parts of the piston shank  21  locking/unlocking device  18 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , are important because as the piston  24  is compressed on the contain in the cylinder  70 , it can be locked by turning the device  18  to left, and to right to unlock. The pressure is applied on the shank  21  by device  18 , by squeezing the neoprene gasket  18 B. The view  18 E shows the out side diameter of the shank  21 . The views  18 F,  18 G, and  18 H are the top views of the device  18 . 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the smaller wheel  26  and a circle wheel  26 A are surrounded closely by the track  58 . The wheel  26  rests on the surface of the installed tiles whereas the band like circle wheel  26 A travels through the track  58 . An arrow  26 B indicates the right side view of the wheel  26  and  26 A combined. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , a rear elevation view of the body  28  is shown with locking handle  34 . An orifice valve  27  is shown here in a shut position of the body  27 . The square toothed nipple  29  is shown here as a front view of the body  28 . 
   In  FIG. 14 , the left side elevation view of the square toothed nipple of the nipple  28  and the handle  34  at the off position is shown.  FIG. 14B  is a top plan view of the nipple  28 . 
   As depicted in  FIG. 15 , an orifice valve  27  is illustrated here separately to show the open position of the valve  27  whereas in  FIG. 13  it shows at the shut position. 
   The illustrations of the invention in  FIGS. 1 through 14 , thus stipulates that the grout capable of filling the tracks of the various widths, dispensers between the installed tiles. The most practical and the combination of the preferred embodiments is to be considered the most from ⅛″ to ¾″ spaces device. As far as the invention of the float  41  is concerned, separately, it can be used at any floor tile installation, however, small or big. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.