Abstract:
An applicator for a liquid grout sealer including an elongated tubular body defining a sealer reservoir, a sealer valve at an end of the tubular body including a spring normally biasing the sealer valve into a closed position and pressure activated by axial pressure on the tubular body into an open position against the bias of the spring, and an applicator wheel carried by the sealer valve for receiving sealer from the reservoir through the sealer valve in the open position and for distributing sealer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/149,280, filed Aug. 16, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to applicators of grout sealer. 
     More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for applying liquid grout sealer to grout and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Grout is used in many applications, e.g. between floor tiles, wall tiles, etc. However, grout is relatively porous so that foreign materials can enter interstices, as well as residing on the surface, and stain the grout, which detracts from the appearance. Accordingly, the surface of the grout is generally sealed to prevent the foreign materials from entering. Generally, the grout sealer is in a liquid form which is applied by using a brush, rag, or other distribution device. 
     The problem with applying grout sealer using a brush or other prior art device is that it is very slow and messy. Applying the sealer to grout between floor tiles, for example, is very time consuming since one must use care to not get the sealer on the tile surfaces but should completely cover the grout between the tiles to ensure a proper seal against liquids and the like which can enter and stain the grout. Further, in the use of a brush or the like one must continually move the brush from a reservoir of the sealer (where the brush is loaded with sealer) to the grout. During this movement it is nearly impossible to not drip sealer on the tiles and on any other surfaces which are present. Also, the thickness of the sealer can vary substantially when it is applied by brush, which can result in quicker wear of the sealer, a poorer seal in thin areas, and different colors of seal when comparing the thicker areas to thinner areas. 
     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 applicator for a liquid grout sealer. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved applicator for a liquid grout sealer which is easy and efficient to use. 
     And another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved applicator for a liquid grout sealer which provide a uniform and clean application of grout sealer. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved applicator for a liquid grout sealer with built in reservoir of sealer which is easy to use and which can be distributed uniformly. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved applicator for a liquid grout sealer which can quickly and easily seal various widths of grout. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved applicator for a liquid grout sealer which provides adequate channeling of the sealer from a reservoir without dripping and puddling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is an applicator for a liquid grout sealer including an elongated tubular body, which operates as a sealer reservoir, with a pressure activated sealer valve at the lower end that only releases sealer when the user presses down on the applicator handle. The pressure activated sealer valve is spring loaded so that when pressure is released the valve is closed and no sealer can flow. The pressure activated sealer valve provides sealer directly to an applicator wheel which has axially extending slots around the periphery which distributes the sealer evenly and accurately without dripping or puddling. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an applicator for grout sealer in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the applicator of FIG. 1 with a portion disassembled; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a pressure activated valve used in the applicator of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the pressure activated valve illustrated in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the pressure activated valve of FIG. 3 assembled with the body, portions thereof broken away and shown in section; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pressure activated valve illustrated in FIG. 3, with the valve in a closed orientation; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the pressure activated valve illustrated in FIG. 6, with the valve in an open orientation; 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view, portions thereof broken away and shown in section, of the pressure activated valve illustrated in FIG. 3, with the valve in a closed orientation; and 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view, portions thereof broken away and shown in section, of the pressure activated valve illustrated in FIG. 3, with the valve in an open orientation. 
    
    
     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 an applicator  10  for grout sealer in accordance with the present invention. Applicator  10  includes a handle  11  affixed to an end  12  of an elongated tubular body  13 . Tubular body  13  acts as a reservoir for liquid sealer which is to be applied to grout, for example grout between floor tiles. A pressure activated sealer valve  15  is threadedly engaged with a lower end  16  (opposite handle  11 ) of body  13 , with FIG. 2 illustrating valve  15  unassembled from body  13 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, pressure activated sealer valve  15  is illustrated in more detail. Included in valve  15  is a valve chassis  20  formed with a cylindrical housing  21  having a radially outwardly projecting flange  22  adjacent the upper end thereof. A plurality (three in this embodiment) of axially extending ribs  23  are formed on the upper surface of flange  22  so as to support a mounting ring  24 . As can be seen by referring additionally to FIG. 7, valve chassis  20  defines a central axially extending opening through housing  21 , flange  22 , ribs  23 , and mounting ring  24 . The opening through chassis  20  is constricted adjacent the upper end to form a liquid sealing surface  37  at the periphery of the opening while the lower portion of the opening is larger and formed to receive a compression spring therein, as will be explained presently. 
     Valve  15  also includes a wheel fork assembly  30  formed with a hollow cylindrical body  31  bifurcated at the lower end to define a wheel receiving fork  32 . Fork  32  extends axially outwardly from the lower end of body  31  to from a flange-like structure for assembly purposes. Body  31  has an upper end  34  with axial slots  35  formed therein and upper end  34  terminates in an axially outwardly extending flange  36 . Slots  35  in upper end  34  form upper end  34  into a snap-lock arrangement. The outer diameter of hollow cylindrical body  31  is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening defined by liquid sealing surface  37  of chassis  20  and forms a mating sealing surface. A valve tension (compression) spring  40  is positioned around body  31  with one end bearing against the flange-like structure of fork  32  at the lower end of body  31 . Axial slots  35  provide sufficient spring action to allow flange  36  and body  31  to be inserted into the opening in valve chassis  20  so that flange  36  extends above mounting ring  24  and the outer surface of body  31  forms a liquid seal with sealing surface  37  of chassis  20 . A plug  42  is inserted axially into the upper end of body  31  so as to engage flange  36  and mount assembly  30  within chassis  20  for limited axial movement. 
     A screw ring  45  includes a cylindrical portion  46  with an axially inwardly extending flange  47  formed at the lower end. The inner periphery of cylindrical portion  46  is threaded to engage threads formed on the outer periphery of lower end  16  of body  13 . Ring  45  is assembled by inserting fork  32  through the central opening of ring  45  and moving ring  45  axially along chassis  20  and assembly  30  until the upper surface of flange  47  sealingly engages the lower surface of flange  22 . With ring  45  threadedly engaged over lower end  16  of body  13 , lower end  16  bears against the upper surface of flange  22  of chassis  20  and flange  47  of ring  45  bears against the lower surface of flange  22  to form a liquid tight seal and to fixedly engage pressure activated sealer valve  15  on tubular body  13 . Further, the outer surface of hollow cylindrical body  31  sealingly mates with liquid sealing surface  37  of chassis  20  to prevent the flow of liquid sealer out of tubular body  13  when valve  15  is in the closed position (illustrated in FIGS.  3  and  6 ). 
     One or more (in the present embodiment two) openings  50  are formed in hollow cylindrical body  31  so as to extend radially through the wall of body  31 , as can be seen best in FIG.  4 . Openings  50  are positioned to be oriented below flange  22  and closed by liquid sealing surface  37  when valve  15  is in the closed position (illustrated in FIGS.  3  and  6 ). When valve  15  is moved to an open position (i.e. spring  40  is compressed), assembly  30  is moved axially upwardly in chassis  20  until openings  50  are oriented above flange  22  and liquid sealer can flow from tubular body  13  through openings  50  (between ribs  23 ) and into hollow cylindrical body  31 . Valve  15  is illustrated in the open position in FIGS. 7 and 9. The axially extending opening through hollow cylindrical body  31  is restricted at the lower end (see FIG. 6) to limit the flow of liquid sealer to a suitable amount, which will become apparent from the following description. 
     A sealer distribution or applicator wheel  55  is constructed to be positioned in fork  32  at the lower end of body  31 . A wheel axle is inserted through mounting holes in fork  32  and through an axial opening in applicator wheel  55  so as to rotatably mount applicator wheel  55 . Regularly spaced, axially extending slots  56  are formed in the periphery of wheel  55  with each slot  56  having an enlarged inner end that operates as a reservoir  57 . In this specific embodiment, each slot  56  and associated reservoir  57  is formed sufficiently small to provide capillary action for liquid sealer contained in reservoir  57 . Thus, in operation, liquid sealer flows from hollow cylindrical body  31 , through the restricted opening at the lower end, and is drawn into each reservoir  57  through an associated capillary slot  56  (as best seen in FIG.  7 ). At the lower surface of applicator wheel  55 , liquid sealant is drawn out of reservoirs  57  through associated capillary slots  56  and evenly distributed onto grout by the outer periphery of wheel  55 . 
     Thus, reviewing the overall operation of applicator  10 , valve assembly  15  is disengaged from tubular body  13 , as shown in FIG. 2, and tubular body  13  is conveniently filled with liquid sealer or the like. Valve assembly  15  is then threadedly engaged onto lower end  16  of tubular body  13 , as illustrated in FIG.  1 . To apply the sealer to grout on a floor or the like, applicator wheel  55  is positioned on the grout and the operator releases sealer by pressing downwardly on handle  11  to move valve assembly  15  from the closed position (illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8) into the open position (illustrated in FIGS.  7  and  9 ). While pressing downwardly on handle  11  to move valve assembly  15  from the closed position into the open position, the operator rolls applicator wheel  55  along a line of grout, which causes sealer to flow from tubular body  13  through valve assembly  15  and onto wheel  55 . As explained above, the sealer flows into reservoirs  57  at the top of applicator wheel  55  and out of reservoirs  57  at the bottom of applicator wheel  55  to evenly distribute the sealer over the surface of the grout. When downward pressure on handle  11  is removed, spring  40  biases valve  15  into the closed position and no more sealer is distributed. 
     Here it should be noted that applicator wheels having different widths can be easily installed in fork  32  so that different widths of grout can be easily and conveniently sealed. Further, the restricted opening at the lower end of hollow cylindrical body  31  can be formed larger or smaller to allow different amounts of sealer to flow onto applicator wheel  55 , depending upon the size of applicator wheel  55  and the desired thickness of sealer on the grout. To this end, the restricted opening at the lower end of hollow cylindrical body  31  can be formed so as to be adjustable, or different valves  15  can be easily used with various applicator wheels  55 . 
     In one embodiment, a roller alignment fin  60  is provided, e.g. by extending the size of one or more axially extending ribs  23 . As can be seen in FIG. 5, fin  60  mates with a projection  61  formed in lower end  16  of tubular body  13 . Fin  60  is optionally included to position or align wheel  55  with handle  11  so that applicator  10  can be disassembled for filling and/or cleaning and can be quickly and easily reassembled for use without the necessity of considering the alignment of wheel  55  with handle  11 . 
     Thus, a new and improved applicator for a liquid grout sealer has been disclosed, which is easy and efficient to use and which provides a uniform and clean application of grout sealer. The new and improved applicator for liquid grout sealer includes a built in reservoir of sealer which is easy to use and which can be distributed uniformly. Further, the new and improved applicator for liquid grout sealer can quickly and easily be adapted to seal various widths of grout and to provide various uniform thickness of sealer on the grout. The new and improved applicator for liquid grout sealer provides adequate channeling of the sealer from a reservoir without dripping and puddling and can be easily disassembled for filling and/or cleaning. 
     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 that is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.