Abstract:
A carrier for storing a plurality of caulk tubes in a manner that they are easily identifiable and, if open, so that the contents do not dry out. The carrier has a frame within which the caulk tubes are resiliently biased between a socket for receipt of a nozzle of the caulk tube and a holder attached to an end of the caulk tube opposite the nozzle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a carrier for storing a plurality of caulk tubes such that they are easily identifiable and, if opened, so that the contents do not dry out. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     Caulks, adhesives and other compounds (hereinafter referred to collectively as “caulk”) are widely used in the construction and painting professions. Caulk is typically sold in disposable cartridges or tubes with a nozzle at one end and a piston at the opposite end. The contents of the tube are extruded through the nozzle with a caulking gun that forcibly drives the piston into the tube with a plunger. 
     There are many different kinds of caulk, each designed for a specific application. For example, there are silicone, butyl rubber and acrylic sealants, provided in different colors, adhesives of many types and so forth. For this reason, it is not uncommon for a workman, whether professional or amateur, to have a number of different tubes of caulk on hand for use as needed. 
     Most caulks solidify in the presence of air. To preserve the contents of a caulk tube prior to use, manufacturers place a metal foil seal at the base of the nozzle, which seal is punctured prior to use. Once the nozzle is cut and the foil broken, air is in contact with the material at the nozzle opening. If left open, the material will solidify in the nozzle and clog the opening. Because the manufacturer provides no means for re-closing the tip, most users put a nail or screw in the tip as a stopgap plug. Because the nail or screw is usually the wrong diameter, caulk tends to ooze around the plug until a solid mass of dried caulk is formed in the gap between the nail or screw and the nozzle orifice. This mass of material must be dug out when the nail or screw is removed so that the still-viscous material in the tube can flow smoothly out the nozzle. Removal of the solid material in the tip is very difficult or impossible due to the small size of the nozzle opening. 
     Caulk tubes are cylindrical in shape with the contents of the tube identified with a label on the side of the tube. After they are opened, they are preferably stored nozzle end up to prevent the contents from flowing out of the nozzle. Caulk tubes are easily knocked over and have a tendency to roll on a horizontal surface. When the caulk tubes are stored in a box or a bucket, it is difficult to determine the contents of a particular tube without withdrawing it from the container and examining the label. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier for conveniently storing new or opened caulk tubes so that they are displayed for ease of selection among several tubes containing different materials. It is another object to provide a carrier with means for quickly and easily plugging the nozzle of an open tube as the tube is inserted into the carrier. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     In accordance with the invention, a carrier is provided for holding at least one caulk tube of the kind found in an ordinary hardware store. Such tubes have a cylindrical hollow body for containing a viscous material, a piston slidably disposed within a bore of the hollow body adapted to seal the viscous material within the body. A cavity is provided between the piston and a first end of the body for receipt of a plunger of a caulking gun. A cap is provided at a second end of the hollow body with a tapered nozzle extending from the cap through which the viscous material is extruded when the piston is forced into the bore by the plunger. 
     The carrier includes a frame with a base, a top and first and second sides for interconnecting the base and the top. A first holder is provided for attaching to a first end of a caulk tube and a second holder is attached to the base of the frame. A resilient biasing member interconnects the first and second holders and a socket is attached to the top of the frame. The socket is adapted to grip a nozzle of a caulk tube and form a seal. The socket and the second holder are spaced apart in opposition. In use, the resilient biasing member biases a caulk tube held in said carrier between the socket and said first holder. 
     The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated, corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a caulk tube carrier in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the carrier; 
     FIG. 3 is a section taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2, partially broken away to show details of a first and second holder; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of caulk tube carriers illustrating a means for linking them together; 
     FIG. 5 is a detail taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4 showing a latching finger; and, 
     FIG. 6 is a detail taken along line  6 — 6  in FIG. 4 showing a receiving slot for a latching finger. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference number, reference numeral  10  refers to a caulk tube carrier in accordance with the present invention. Carrier  10  is adapted for use in organizing caulk tubes  12  and in sealing open ones thereof. 
     Caulk tubes  12  for use with carrier  10  have a cylindrical hollow body  14  for containing a viscous material. A piston  16  is slidably disposed within a bore of hollow body  14  and a cavity  18  is formed between piston  16  and a first end  20  of hollow body  14 . Cavity  18  receives a plunger of a standard caulking gun (not shown). A cap  22  with a tapered nozzle  24  is a provided at a second end  26  of hollow body  14 . Nozzle  24  extends from cap  22  through which the viscous material is extruded when piston  16  is forced into the bore of hollow body  14  by the plunger of the caulking gun. 
     Ordinary caulk tubes  12  such as found in hardware stores are designed to be disposable and are about 2 inches in diameter and about 9 inches long not counting nozzle  24 . Cylindrical hollow body  14  is formed from cardboard, plastic or the like and can be dented by rough handling. Protection of caulk tubes  12  is important because if hollow body  14  dented or otherwise damaged, piston  16  may not slide down the bore rendering the caulk tube useless. 
     Nozzle  24  is formed of a semi-rigid plastic which can be cut with a saw or knife. Nozzle  24  is tapered and usually round in cross-section so that a user can pick the size and shape of the orifice desired by cutting the nozzle at an appropriate point and angle. Although, round, tapered nozzles are nearly universal, it will be understood that the present invention can be used with nozzles  24  of other shapes. 
     Carrier  10  includes a frame  28  with a base  30 , a top  32  and first and second sides  34 ,  36 , respectively, for interconnecting base  30  and top  32 . Carrier  10  is designed to hold at least one and preferably a plurality of caulk tubes  12  in frame  28 . To this end, a first holder  38  is provided for attachment to first end  20  of caulk tube  12  and a second holder  40  is attached to base  30  of frame  28 . A resilient biasing member  42  interconnects first and second holders  38 ,  40 . As shown in the drawings, first holder  38  is a cylindrical plug with first and second sidewalls  44 ,  46 , respectively of stepped diameter. Sidewalls  44  at a forward end of first holder have an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the bore of hollow body  14  such that they are received in cavity  18 . First sidewalls  44  are connected to second sidewalls  46  by an annulus forming an abutment shoulder  48  for use as described below. Second sidewalls  46  may have an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of cylindrical body  14 . While first holder  38  is illustrated as described above, it will be appreciated that other equivalent structures may serve as the first holder. For example, first holder  38  may be formed as a cap with first sidewalls  44  having an inside diameter slightly more than the outside diameter of cylindrical body  14  such that they are received over first end  20 . In this case second sidewalls  46  may have the same outside diameter as first sidewalls  44  and abutment shoulder  48  may be an annulus or a disk dividing sidewalls  44 ,  46  into upper and lower compartments. 
     With continuing reference to the drawings, second holder  40  is shown as a cylindrical boss  50  which is formed on base  30  and resilient biasing member  42  is a coil spring. The inside diameter of resilient biasing member  42  is slightly less than the outside diameter of cylindrical boss  50  such that it is not easily dislodged and the outside diameter of resilient biasing member  42  is slightly more than the inside diameter of second sidewall  46  of first holder  38  such that it is not easily dislodged from it either. While second holder  40  and resilient biasing member  42  are illustrated as described above, it will be readily apparent that other equivalent structures may serve. For example, second holder  40  may be a recess formed in base  30 . In this instance, the inside diameter of the recess should be slightly less than the outside diameter of resilient biasing member  42 . Resilient biasing member  42  can take other forms also, the sole limitation being that it must serve as a spring in compression. For example resilient biasing member  42  may be a resilient pad formed of a compressible natural or synthetic material, an accordion or leaf spring, etc. 
     A socket  52  is attached to top  32  of frame  28 . Socket  52  and first holder  38  oppose each other and are spaced apart a distance such that when the forward end of first holder  38  is attached to first end  20  of cylindrical body  14  of caulk tube  12  and nozzle  24  is received in socket  52 , resilient biasing member  42  spring biases nozzle  24  into socket  52  with a constant force or predetermined “spring load” that creates a seal between nozzle  24  and socket  52 . As shown in the drawings, socket  52  is a length of elastomeric tubing  54 . A barbed post  56  is provided on top  32  over which tubing  54  is interference fitted. Tubing  54  extends beyond a free end of post  56  forming socket  52 . For use in forming a seal, preferably an air-tight seal, tubing  54  has an inside diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of tapered nozzle  24 . When socket  52  is elastomeric tubing  54 , the constant force or “spring load” of resilient biasing member  42  causes elastomeric tubing  54  to swell tightly around nozzle  24  creating a substantially air tight seal no matter where the tip was cut open for usage. In other embodiments, a recess may be substituted for post  56  and tubing may be interference fitted into the recess. As with the other elements of carrier  10 , socket  52  may take other equivalent forms. For example, socket  52  may be molded as an integral part of top  32  and may include a conical recess for sealing fit with nozzle  24 . The post  56  and tubing  54  construction described above, however, is preferred because the tubing can be easily replaced if it becomes filled with dried caulk that oozed from an open caulk tube  12 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, carrier  10  is designed to hold a plurality of caulk tubes  12 . To this end, a plurality of assemblies including first and second holders  38 ,  40  and resilient biasing member  42  are provided on base  30 , individual assemblies of which are aligned with a matching number of sockets  52  on top  32 . As illustrated in the drawings, four caulk tubes  12  may be secured in carrier  10  at a time. Naturally, depending on the size of carrier  10 , more or less caulk tubes may be accommodated. 
     A handhold  58  may be formed in top  32  of frame  28  such that carrier  10  may be easily transported. Linking members  60  may be provided on frame  28  for connecting two holders together to increase the storage capacity for caulk tubes  12 . As shown in the drawings, linking members include a latching finger  60   a  and a receiving slot  60   b  which may be formed on a face  62  of the frame along first and second sides  34 ,  36 . Latching finger  60   a  and receiving slot  60   b  are positioned such that when similar carrier units are positioned face to face, the latching finger of each unit is received in the corresponding receiving slot of the other. When latching finger  60   a  extends above face  62 , as shown in the drawings, a plurality of leveling feet  64  may be provided on face  62  such that when only one carrier  10  is used, frame  28  will lie flat on a horizontal surface. Corresponding recesses  66  are provided in face  62  for receipt of leveling feet  64  of a second similar carrier  10  when two units are linked face to face. It will be appreciated that latching fingers  60   a  and receiving slots  60   b  may be provided on both sides of frame  28 , but for simplicity of molding the embodiment shown in the drawings represents the best mode presently known for practicing the invention. 
     As illustrated in the drawings, base  30 , top  32  and sides  34 ,  36  form a band having a width slightly greater than the diameter of caulk tubes  12 . This allows pairs of carriers  10  to be linked as described above and reduces the chance that caulk tubes  12  will be dented or otherwise damaged. 
     In use, carrier  10  may be used for storing a predetermined number of caulk tubes  12 . A selected caulk tube  12  is installed in carrier  10  by attaching first holder  38  to first end  20  of caulk tube  12 . With resilient biasing member  42  compressed slightly, the tapered end of nozzle  24  is fitted into socket  52 . Upon release, resilient biasing member  42  spring biases the caulk tube between socket  52  and first holder  38  with a constant force or “spring load” in a manner that the caulk tube is held in frame  28  and prevented from substantial lateral movement relative thereto. The constant force or “spring load” of resilient biasing member  42  causes the orifice of open caulk tubes  12  to be sealed by socket  52 . The labels on caulk tubes  12  are displayed so that a user may easily make a selection among several tubes which may contain different materials. When base  30 , top  32  and sides  34 ,  36  form a band having a width slightly greater than the diameter of caulk tubes  12 , caulk tubes  12  may be safely stored or transported from workplace to workplace without significant risk that the tubes will be dented or otherwise damaged and rendered useless. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.