Patent Publication Number: US-6213349-B1

Title: Cap structure of a glue container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a cap of glue container, and particularly to an injection tube of the container cap, which can be used generally, or mounted with a dispensing tip to dispense glue. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the conventional glue, Alkyl-2-cyanoacrylat which is usually referred as instant glue or three-second glue, the cyanoacrylat can quickly be polymerized at room temperature without adding catalyst. Such quick polymerization is caused by a weak-base substance to make an anionic polymerization. Since such glue has a strong gluing force, it is subject to causing a preservation and storage problem in a container after each use. 
     The conventional container for a glue of cyanoacrylat is usually made of a high-density polyethylene; as shown in FIG. 1, the threaded cap  41  of the container has an injection tube  42  extended out of the cap; the injection tube  42  includes an elongate cylindrical surface  43  and a tapered cylindrical surface  45 . The elongate cylindrical surface enables the tapered cylindrical surface to extend out at a given length to facilitate dispensing glue. The outer end of the elongate cylindrical surface of the injection tube is furnished with several fastening rings to facilitate a protection cap  46  to mount thereon. The tail end of the injection tube  42  on the front end of the container  40  is sealed before use. When in real use, the center of the injection tube  42  must be stabbed through with a needle to provide a small hole so as to let the glue flow out. As soon as the injection tube  42  is stabbed to have a small hole, the small hole is subject to being closed as a result of the hardening effect of glue; then, the small hole will be unable to stab through with a needle; however, the injection tube  42  can be opened by cutting a portion of the tapered cylindrical surface  45  by means of a knife; in that case, the small hole in the tapered cylindrical surface  45  will be a larger hole; then, the moisture in the air will react with the glue, i.e., the glue in the container will soon become hardened and useless. 
     The injection tube  42  on the front end of the conventional container for cyanoacrylat glue is usually furnished with an elongate and tapered cylindrical surface; if the glue can be used up within a short time, the elongate and tapered cylindrical surface can directly be used as an injection tube  42 ; otherwise, the glue can not be conserved for a longer time aside from the tail end of the injection tube being closed and unable to use next time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The prime feature of the present invention is that the outer end of the injection tube on the container cap is furnished with an elongate and tapered cylindrical surface. The inner part thereof is furnished with a cylindrical surface for mounting a dispensing tip; between the two cylindrical surfaces, there is s guide shoulder. The elongate and tapered cylindrical surface on the front end of the injection tube can be stabbed through with a needle. The cylindrical surface on the inner part of the injection tube can be cut off with a knife from the guide shoulder, and then a dispensing tip having different diameter can be mounted on the cylindrical surface. 
     Another feature of the present invention is that the top center of the elongate and tapered cylindrical surface of the injection tube has a recess spot, which can easily be located and stabbed with a needle point to open the sealed end of the injection tube. 
     Still another feature of the present invention is that the injection tube of the container cap has two different cylindrical surfaces; when the container is filled with glue, a single container cap may be used to close the container. As soon as a user purchases the glue, the user can select an injection tube with a cylindrical surface to fit the usage desired. 
     A further feature of the present invention is that, after the sealed end of the tapered cylindrical surface of the injection tube is stabbed through for first use, the sealed end might be closed and unable to stab through next time; in that case, the elongate and tapered cylindrical surface can be cut off, and a dispensing tip may be mounted thereon for further use. 
     A still further feature of the present invention is that the inner part of the injection tube on the container cap is furnished with a cylindrical surface for mounting the dispensing tip; the cylindrical surface may be cut off with a knife from the guide shoulder; then, the cylindrical surface left can be mounted with a dispensing tip having different diameter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional glue container and the threaded cap thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the structure and shape of the container cap thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the inner structure of the container cap. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing glue being dispensed by using the tapered cylindrical surface thereof. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the slender and tapered cylindrical surface to be cut off by means of knife. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing the connection between the dispensing tip and injection tube of the container cap. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the dispensing tip to dispense glue. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 to  4 , the container cap  11  of a glue container comprises a bottle mouth of a container  12  to be connected together with the container cap  11  having a threaded portion  13 ; the center of the threaded portion  13  has an elongate injection tube  15  extended out. The injection tube  15  has an injection mouth  29 , of which the center has a recess spot  21  to be stabbed through with a needle  22  upon using the glue, and then the glue can flow out of the glue passage upon squeezing the container slightly. 
     The injection tube  15  of the container cap  11  includes a cylindrical surface  16  mounted with a dispensing tip and a slender cylindrical surface  17 . There is a given thickness between the two cylindrical surfaces  16  and  17  and the inner passage  30  thereof so as to facilitate the glue to flow to the injection mouth  29 . The tapered cylindrical surface  17  of the injection tube  15  has an injection mouth  29  with a recess spot  21  in the center thereof. The recess spot  21  has a sealed end  23  with a given thickness for sealing the inner passage  30 . The tapered cylindrical surface  17  on the front end of the injection tube  15  extends outwards from the cylindrical surface  16  to be mounted with a dispensing tip  24 ; from the injection mouth  29  to the threaded portion  13 , there is a suitable distance to facilitate glue-dispensing operation. 
     Before dispensing the glue, use a needle  22  to stab through the recess spot  21  of the tapered cylindrical surface  17  of the injection tube  15  so as to form into a fine through hole. When squeezing the container  12 , the glue therein will flow out through the inner passage  30  of the injection tube  15  so as to provide a gluing operation as required. After gluing operation, the point of the needle  22  should be plugged into the through hole of the recess point  22  to prevent moisture from entering the container  12  so as to conserve the glue therein for a short period of time. 
     After the glue around the needle  22  becomes hardened, the needle  22  in the injection mouth  29  will be unable to pull out; if a user is trying to pull the needle  22  out by swinging the needle, the hole stabbed will become larger; in that case, a higher volume of glue will flow out on next time dispensing; then, the through hole will be unable to close with the needle  22 , and a great amount of moisture will enter the container  12  to shorten the conservation time of the glue; since the through hole of the injection mouth becomes larger the larger, the glue left will eventually become stale and useless. The glue left may be used later only by cutting a part of the tapered cylindrical surface  17  and being sealed with a dispensing tip  24 . 
     Since the tapered cylindrical surface  17  on the injection tube  15  of the container cap  11  is designed to provide a greater amount of glue to flow, the glue therein can be used up within a short time without requiring a user to control the flow of glue. 
     The injection mouth  29  on the tapered cylindrical surface  17  of the injection tube  15  is designed to be used widely; the lower part of the injection tube  15  has a cylindrical surface  16  for mounting the dispensing tip; the tapered cylindrical surface  17  may be cut off with a knife so as to facilitate the dispensing tip  24  to mount and connect directly; the dispensing tip is used for controlling the flow of glue easily as mentioned in applicant&#39;s previous application, “Dispensing Syringe for a Fluid Glue” (U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,064, Issue Jan. 2, 1996), which enables the glue in the container  12  to be conserved for a longer time. 
     The cylindrical surface  16  of the injection tube  15  is designed to fit the tapered degree of the mounting cylinder  26  of the dispensing tip  24 ; after the aforesaid parts are connected and pressed together, they can be disassembled from each other by un-screwing so as to facilitate later replacement. 
     The two cylindrical surfaces  16  and  17  of the injection tube  15  on the container cap  15  are molded integrally into one piece. The cylindrical surface  16  is set at the inner section of the injection tube  15 , while the tapered cylindrical surface  17  is set at the outer section of the injection tube  15 ; a guide shoulder  18  is furnished between the cylindrical surface  16  and the tapered cylindrical surface  17  so as to separate the two cylindrical surfaces  16  and  17  from each other. The guide shoulder  18  can also provide a guide function for a knife which is used to cut off the tapered cylindrical surface  17 ; then, a dispensing tip  24  can easily be mounted on the flat end of the cylindrical surface  16 . 
     If a larger amount of glue is required to dispense, the output amount of glue may not be controlled accurately. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the injection tube  15  can be opened by means of a needle  22  to stab through the recess spot  21  of the tapered cylindrical surface  17 , and to reach the front end of the passage  30 ; as soon as the needle  22  is pulled out, a through hole will be furnished. Squeeze the container  12  slightly to have the glue flowed out of the injection mouth  29  with a suitable amount. When not in use, plug the needle  22  back into the through hole of the tapered cylindrical surface  17  so as to prevent the glue from leaking out. 
     When using the glue, a correct dispensing tip  24  should be used; as shown in FIG. 3,  5  to  7 , use a knife  28  to cut a part nearing the guide shoulder  18  between the cylindrical surface  16  and the tapered cylindrical surface  17  in order to have the end of the cylindrical surface  16  cut into a flat surface; select a dispensing tip  24  having a needle pipe  27  with a suitable diameter, and mount the dispensing tip  24  to the injection tube  15  closely; then, the dispensing operation is ready to start. In case of the dispensing tip being damaged or un-serviceable, it should be removed by turning the needle base  25 , and replace it with a new one; the dispensing tip  24  may also be removed upon the glue in the container  12  being used up, and then it can be mounted on a new container cap  11  for further use. 
     According to the method and technique of the present invention, the injection tube  15  of the container cap  11  is furnished with a cylindrical surface  16  for mounting a dispensing tip, and a tapered cylindrical surface  17 . A guide shoulder  18  is furnished between the two cylindrical surfaces  16  and  17 . The container cap  11  has a function for mounting a general injection tube  15  to be opened by stabbing, and also has a cylindrical surface  16  to connect with a dispensing tip. To cut the tapered cylindrical surface  17 , the edge of a knife should be put on the guide shoulder  18  symmetrically in order to have the end of the cylindrical surface  16  cut into a flat surface to facilitate mounting the dispensing tip  24  in place. 
     According to the aforesaid description of the embodiments, the structure and features of the container cap  11  have been disclosed fully; it is deemed that the present invention has provided an improvement and novelty in the field to fulfil objects as expected, and such improvement and novelty are never anticipated and accomplished by any person in the field of the kind.