Caulking Gun

Abstract

A caulking gun incorporating a caulk tube receptacle having a dispensing end a handle end; a plunger rod having a dispensing end and having a handle end, the dispensing end of the plunger rod extending toward the caulk tube receptacle's dispensing end and the handle end of the plunger rod extending away from the caulk tube receptacle's handle end; a trigger actuator operatively supporting the plunger rod at the caulk tube receptacle's handle end; a hammerhead; and a mounting sleeve fixedly attaching the hammerhead to the handle end of the plunger rod, the caulking gun being alternatingly usable as a caulk applying tool and as a hammer for resetting protruding nail heads.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A caulking gun comprising: (a) a caulk tube receptacle having a dispensing end and a handle end; (b) a plunger rod having a dispensing end and a handle end, wherein the plunger rod's dispensing end extends toward the receptacle's dispensing end, and wherein the plunger rod's handle end extends away from the receptacle's handle end; (c) a trigger actuator operatively supporting the plunger rod at the caulk tube receptacle's handle end; (d) a hammerhead; (e) means for mounting the hammerhead, said means fixedly attaching the hammerhead to the plunger rod's handle end; (f) a pull handle having proximal and distal ends, wherein the pull handle comprises an “L” hook formed at the handle end of the plunger rod, the “L” hook having a diameter; and (g) a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, and a diameter wherein the sleeve's proximal end comprises a curved finger pull surface, wherein the sleeve's proximal end nestingly receives the “L” hook, wherein the hammerhead is fixedly attached to the sleeve's distal end, and wherein the diameter of the sleeve is at least twice the diameter of the “L” hook.

7. The caulking gun of claim 6 wherein the “L” hook has a radius of curvature, wherein the sleeve has a radius of curvature, and wherein the “L” hook's radius of curvature is substantially less than that of the sleeve.

8. The caulking gun of claim 7 further comprising a set screw helically threadedly mounted upon the sleeve, the set screw being adapted for releasably holding the sleeve and the hammerhead upon the “L” hook.

9. A nail driving adapter for attachment to a caulk gun's pull handle, the nail driving adapter comprising: (a) a hammerhead; (b) a sleeve having a wall, a hollow bore, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end of the sleeve being fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the hammerhead; (c) a first pull handle passage slot, said slot opening proximally at a proximal end of the sleeve's wall; and (d) a second pull handle passage slot positioned oppositely from the first pull handle passage slot, the second pull handle slot opening proximally at the proximal end of the sleeve's wall.

10. The nail driving adapter of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of set screws, each screw among the plurality of set screws extending through the sleeve's wall.

11. The nail driving adapter of claim 10 wherein one of the set screws is positioned between the first and second pull handle passage slots.

12. The nail driving adapter of claim 11 wherein another of the set screws is positioned oppositely from the one of the set screws.

13. The nail driving adapter of claim 12 wherein a second other set screw is positioned distally from the first and second pull handle passage slots.

14. The nail driving adapter of claim 13 wherein each pull handle passage slot comprises a “U” slot.

15. The nail driving adapter of claim 14 further comprising a pull handle passage “U” channel, said channel extending between the first and second pull handle passage slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of the instant inventive caulking gun, the view including a cut away section exposing internal structures.

[0018] FIG. 2 redepicts the structure of FIG. 1, the view of FIG. 2 showing a hammerhead and mounting sleeve component in an exploded view.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional view, as indicated in FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 4 presents an alternative configuration of the structure depicted in FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 5 presents an alternate configuration of structures presented in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0022] FIG. 6 presents an alternate configuration of structures presented in FIG. 5.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a sectional view as indicated in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Drawing FIG. 1, a suitable embodiment of the instant inventive caulking gun is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 20. The caulking gun 20 includes a frame or receptacle member 32 which is closely fitted and adapted for receiving a conventional piston type caulk dispensing tube 40, such tube having a forward or longitudinal caulk dispensing nipple 42. A forward bracket 34 captures and retains the dispensing end of the tube 40. Referring to FIG. 5, a plunger rod 28 has a dispensing end piston driving plate 29 which, upon longitudinal extension within the hollow bore 43 of tube 40, may engage and longitudinally drive the tube's internal piston 41. Longitudinal driving of the piston 41 ejects caulk 60 forwardly through nipple 42.

[0025] A plunger rod driving mechanism, preferably including at least a first shaft binding slip plate (not depicted within views) within handle housing 22, may be actuated via finger pressure imposed reciprocating movements of a trigger portion 26 of the caulk gun's rear handle 24. Manual rearward squeezing of trigger 26 toward handle 24 actuates the at least first slip plate to progressively drive the plunger rod 28, longitudinally driving plunger disk 29 against piston 41, and forwardly dispensing the caulk 60 out of nipple 42. While the caulk is under pressure from such trigger actuated driving action, and while the at least first slip plate is being retracted for a next successive longitudinal piston driving stroke, a second shaft binding slip plate 36 advantageously resists any oppositely longitudinal motion of the piston 41, the plate 29, and the plunger rod 28.

[0026] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3, a hammerhead assembly 1 is suitably provided, such assembly including a hammerhead 2 having a strike face 4, and having a cylindrical mounting sleeve 6. A hollow bore 16 component of the hammerhead assembly 1 has a proximal opening 18 which is fitted for nesting receipt of a hook 30 formed at the handle end of the plunger rod 28, such hook 30 commonly being configured as an “L”. The hammerhead 2 may suitably be fixedly attached to a distal end of the sleeve 6 by a heat fusion weld 10. A helically threaded set screw 8 extends through a side wall threaded aperture 12 for secure impingement against a side wall of the hook 30, such set screw 8 having a hexagonal Allen wrench receiving socket 14.

[0027] In a suitable embodiment, the longitudinal aspect or face 31 of the hook 30 has a radius of curvature R.sub.1. Correspondingly, the radially outwardly overlying sleeve 6 has a substantially larger radius of curvature R.sub.2. In a suitable embodiment, curvature R.sub.2 is at least twice as great as the curvature R.sub.1. Such differential in curvatures ergonomically enhances the area of finger contact during use of the hook as a pull handle. Where an operator pulls rearwardly upon handle 30, the relatively small diameter of such handle 30 may uncomfortably impinge sharply against the fingers of the operator's hand, and the provision of sleeve 6 operates to relieve such discomfort.

[0028] It may be noted that a common length or extension of the “L” hook 30 is 1½″-2½″. In order to prevent an operator's finger from passing beneath the proximal end of the sleeve 6 during pulling use, the sleeve 6 preferably has a matching length or extension between 1½″-2½″.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, each structure which is identified by a reference numeral having a suffix “A” is configured substantially identically with similarly numbered structures appearing in FIGS. 1-3. The sleeve 6 of Drawing FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, and the heat fusion weld 48 of FIG. 4 are intended as being representative of other means for pull handle mounting the hammerhead 2 (or 45 as the case may be). Helically and threaded joints, pressure fitted joints, wholly formed joints, clamp joints, and adhesively bonded joints are considered to fall within the scope of said means.

[0030] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 5-7 structure identified by numerals having a suffix “B” are structurally similar to similarly numbered structures in FIGS. 1-3. The alternatively configured sleeve mountable nail setting adapter of FIGS. 5-7 is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 70. In such adapter 70, a hammerhead 74, a strikeface 76, a sleeve wall 72, a hollow bore 73, and a set screw 78 are configured similarly with and function similarly with the hammerhead 2, strikeface 3, sleeve wall 6, hollow bore 16, and set screw 8 of the sleeve mountable adapter 1 depicted in FIGS. 1-3. In the alternative adapter 70 of FIGS. 5-7, a pair of “U” slots 80 are milled into and through the proximal end of the sleeve wall 72. Such slots 80 are preferably fitted to closely and nestingly receive the upper arm of the plunger rod's “C” hook 86. The “V” slots 80 together form a “U” channel which facilitates the longitudinal passage of the “C” hook's arm.

[0031] Upon the “U” slots' receipt of the upper arm of the “C” hook 86, set screws 82 and 84 positioned between the “U” slots may be tightened against such arm as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7. Alternatively, the “C” hook 86 may be preliminarily rotated to extend downwardly, and the “U” slots and set screws 82,84 may hold and clamp against the rearward end of the plunger rod 28B (such alternative configuration not being within views).

[0032] In use of the instant inventive caulking gun, and assuming an initial configuration as indicated in Drawing FIG. 1, an operator may grasp the receptacle 32 and the tube 40 with one hand while holding, for example, a ladder rung (not depicted within views) with the other hand. Thereafter, the operator may swing the caulking gun 20 in a manner of a hammer stroke, causing the strike face 4 of the hammerhead 2 to approach a raised nail head (not depicted within views) in need of resetting. Repeated striking of such strike face 4 against such nail head advantageously resets the nail without the requirement of awkwardly retrieving and utilizing a separate hammer tool.

[0033] Following utilization of the caulking gun 20 as a hammer, the operator may recommence use of the gun 20 for caulking. Upon emptying the tube 40, the operator may depress the lower end of retainer plate 36, and may utilize the fingers of his or her other hand to pull rearwardly upon sleeve 6. During such pulling action, the increased radius of curvature R.sub.2 of sleeve 6 in relation to the lesser radius of curvature R.sub.1 of the hook 30 advantageously provides ergonomic comfort which facilitates the rearward finger pull. Completion of such rearward pull advantageously retracts the driver plate 29 into the receptacle's rear shroud 27. Such sleeve assisted retraction allows the tube 40 to be withdrawn and disposed of, and allows a new caulk filled tube to be reinserted into receptacle 32.

[0034] FIGS. 5-7 show two alternative modes of mounting and use of the specialized hammerhead adapter 70. Where a caulk gun presents an “L” hook, as in FIG. 5, the adapter 70 may be attached in a manner substantially identical to the mode of mounting of the adapter 1 of FIGS. 1-3. Alternatively, where the hook is “C” configured, as in FIGS. 6 and 7, the adapter may be mounted to the “C” hook's upper arm or to plunger rod 28B in the manner depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7. In either mounting configuration of the adapter 70, nail head setting hammering use of the tool may proceed in the same manner described above with respect to the adapter 1 of FIGS. 1-3.

[0035] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.