Abstract:
A method and apparatus of preventing the curing of an air curable material within an opened cartridge or tube by using a liquid within a container and introducing the spout into the liquid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     Adhesives and sealants such as caulking and other air curable materials are typically provided in a cartridge or squeezable tube. This invention relates to solving the problem of preventing air from curing the materials in a partially used cartridge or tube by using a liquid as a seal.  
         [0003]     A conventional cartridge or tube generally has a tubular body with a forward moving expulsion/sealing disk at the rear end and an elongated dispensing spout protruding outwardly from the front end. A squeezable tube also has a tubular body member with a squeezable or foldable rear end and a dispensing spout in oppositely disposed front end. For use, the dispensing spout is cut open, unsealing the cartridge or tube. Often there is an additional inner seal which requires piercing with a nail or rod. When the contents of the cartridge or tube are not entirely dispensed, preventing exposure to the atmosphere is needed to prevent curing of the remaining material. Many times, the cartridge is retained in a caulking gun.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0005]     In use, most users of adhesives and sealants such as caulking compounds or other air curable materials, usually insert a nail or screw into the spout, or wrapped the spout with plastic film or tape in an effort to prevent the atmosphere from curing the remaining material.  
         [0006]     Prior art patents have disclosed a number of other sealing devices, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,486,503, 3,930,599, 4,284,213, 5,104,013, 5,301,843 and 6,824,026.  
         [0007]     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,503 a screw based cap having an insert is used.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,599 discloses a cap for caulking cartridge wherein a cap is engaged over the entire end of the tube.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,213 claims a cap that can be inverted and introduced into the spout.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,013 claims a series of engageable cap elements.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,843 discloses a combination caulking tube cap and application device.  
         [0012]     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,026 discloses an elongated cap resiliently conforming to the surface of the nozzle thus making an elongated annular seal.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     A liquid is utilized to reseal the opening of the cartridge or tube thereby providing a true air excluding environment. Using a liquid as a seal solves the problem by preventing the atmosphere from curing caulk and other air curing materials. Excluding the atmosphere from the spout of a cartridge or tube is accomplished by immersing the spout into a liquid filled portable vessel that remains affixed to the spout until further use of the cartridge. This portable vessel can be utilized when the cartridge is retained within the caulking gun. The method and apparatus are effective regardless of the spout angle.  
         [0014]     The instant invention provides for a method of using a liquid as a seal. This method includes a portable vessel containing a liquid and into which the spout of an opened cartridge or tube is inserted, thus providing a seal, thereby preventing curing of the material contained within the cartridge or tube. The method concept allows for the vessel to be portable and affixable to the spout, even if retained in a caulking gun.  
         [0015]     The instant invention provides for an apparatus utilizing a liquid as a seal. The apparatus is portable and affixable to the spout, even if retained in a caulking gun.  
         [0016]     Further, the instant invention provides for a method and apparatus of converting a pliable body such a ball into a portable vessel containing a liquid and into which the spout of an opened cartridge or tube is inserted, thus providing a seal, thereby preventing curing of the material contained within the cartridge or tube.  
         [0017]     The basic embodiment of the instant invention is a rubber body, such as a ball, having a small hole through which a liquid, e.g. water, is introduced; the spout of the caulking cartridge or tube is then introduced through the hole such that the liquid makes an air excluding environment to the spout. The elasticity of the rubber affixing to the spout provides for a liquid retaining means. The liquid retaining means may be a separate apparatus introduced into and through the pliable exterior wall of the body wherein this liquid retaining means may also have a spout accepting means. The rubber body is a vessel to contain the liquid; obviously, the vessel can be made of other pliable materials and the shape of the vessel could be elongated to follow the general shape of the spout. The liquid or semi-liquid or gel may be water-based or petroleum-based or other substance, compound or mixture which is known in the art to prevent curing of material.  
         [0018]     Another variation to the instant invention is a thick balloon in which the mouthpiece is turned inward into the body of the balloon producing an inward facing duck-billed valve. A liquid is introduced into the balloon through the inverted mouthpiece; spillage is prevented by the valve function of the inverted mouth piece. The spout is wiped off and introduced into and through the rear of the duck-billed valve. The inverted mouth piece stretches to conform to the spout. The spout of the cartridge or tube introduced becomes encompassed by the liquid.  
         [0019]     Another variation to the instant invention is to provide a means for converting the ubiquitous rubber or other pliable material ball into the basic invention for a liquid to provide an air excluding environment. This is accomplished with a hollow structural assembly having a piercing means, with which the wall of a rubber ball is pierced. This piercing means, may or may not be unitary with a means for fastening the assembly to the ball&#39;s wall, a means for inserting the liquid into the ball, a means for retaining the liquid, a means for preventing liquid spillage, and a means for introducing the spout into cavity of the ball. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is view of a partial cross-sectional view of the instant invention wherein a rubber ball having a hole is filled with a liquid to provide an air excluding environment of a spout of a dispensing cartridge or tube.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a view of a balloon shaped apparatus in which the mouthpiece in inverted forming a duck-billed valve.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2A  is a view of a spout inserted through the rear of the duck-billed valve and into liquid.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a view of a piercing means for converting a rubber ball into the instant invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are views of a piercing means positioned within a ball, a liquid introduced into cavity of the ball, and a spout introduced into the liquid.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a view of a piercing means shaped as a hollow screw.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a view of a piercing means in which the fastening means is toggle-bolt like.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a view of a fastening means having at flexible, laterally extendable wing member unitary with and on the exterior of the structural assembly. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, an air curable material cartridge or tube  10  can be seen having a spout  12  in which a portion of the tip  14  has been cut away for use as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. The instant invention as seen in  FIG. 1  wherein a rubber ball  20  having a liquid  22  contained within is utilized to provide an air excluding environment to spout  12  thereby protecting contents (not shown) within spout  12  and cartridge  20 . The cartridge or tube spout  12  is introduced through rubber ball hole  24 , which provides sufficient elasticity to surround and retain spout  12  and prevent spillage of the liquid  22 .  
         [0029]     A variation of the instant invention is seen in  FIG. 2  as a balloon  30  with an inverted mouthpiece  34 . As is seen in  FIG. 2A  a liquid  22  is within balloon  30  making an air excluding environment with spout  12 . In operation, a liquid is introduced through mouthpiece  34  and thereafter spout  12  is introduced through mouthpiece  34  which provides sufficient elasticity to surround and retain spout  12  and prevent spillage of the liquid  22 . The inverted mouthpiece  34  acts as a duck-billed valve thereby preventing liquid spillage when no spout is present. Whereas,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A  show for clarity a single duck-billed valve, a valve consisting of multiple duck-billed formations in series may be used.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 3 a  hollow structural assembly means  50  comprises a piercing means  52  on one end and a spout accepting means  54  on the other end; interposed on the outer surface of assembly  50  is fastening means  58  shown fastening assembly to wall of a ball  20 ; liquid retaining means  56  may be a membrane-like covering the spout accepting means  54 . In operation, the assembly means  50  is pushed through wall  20  such that fastening means  58  fastens assembly to wall. Once assembly  50  is positioned, a liquid is introduced into the cavity within ball. As is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  the spout  12  of opened cartridge or tube I  0  is inserted such that the spout becomes surrounded by the liquid  22  thereby preventing air for reaching the spout thereby preventing curing. Liquid retaining means  56  (as is seen in  FIG. 3 ) is stretched surrounding spout  12  thereby preventing liquid spillage.  
         [0031]     As is seen in  FIG. 4 a  hollow structural assembly means  50  comprising a screw-like  59  means may be used for screwing the assembly into position.  
         [0032]     As is seen in  FIG. 5 a  hollow structural assembly means  50  comprising a toggle-bolt like  62  means may be used for placing and fastening the assembly into position.  
         [0033]     As is seen in  FIG. 6 a  hollow structural assembly means  50  comprising at least one flexible, laterally extendable wing member  64  unitary with and on the exterior of the structural assembly may be utilized for placing and fastening the assembly into position.  
         [0034]     It will thus be seen that a new and novel means for excluding the atmosphere from an opened cartridge or tube has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.