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 useable as a caulk applying tool and as a hammer for resetting protruding nail heads.

Claims

1. 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; and (e) means for mounting the hammerhead, said means fixedly attaching the hammerhead to the plunger rod's handle end.

2. The caulking gun of claim 1 wherein the handle end of the plunger rod forms a hook.

3. The caulking gun of claim 2 wherein the means for mounting the hammerhead comprise a joint selected from the group consisting of pin and socket joints, welded joints, helically threaded joints, pressure fitted joints, adhesive joints, clamp joints, and wholly formed joints.

4. The caulking gun of claim 2 wherein the means for mounting the hammerhead comprise a sleeve having a distal end and having a hollow bore, the sleeve's distal end being fixedly attached to the hammerhead and the sleeve's hollow bore being fitted for nestingly receiving the hook.

5. The caulking gun of claim 4 further comprising a set screw, the set screw being helically threadedly mounted upon the sleeve, and the set screw being adapted for releasably holding the sleeve and the hammerhead upon the hook.

6. The caulking gun of claim 1 further comprising first and second pull handles, wherein the first pull handle comprises a hook formed at the handle end of the plunger rod, wherein the second pull handle comprises a sleeve having a distal end, wherein sleeve nestingly receives the hook, and wherein the hammerhead is fixedly attached to the sleeve's distal end.

7. The caulking gun of claim 6 wherein each handle among the first and second pull handles has a radius of curvature, and wherein the first handle's radius of curvature is substantially less than that of the second handle.

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 hook.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of the instant inventive caulking gun, the view including a cut away exposing internal structures.

[0016] FIG. 2 redepicts the structure of FIG. 1, the view of FIG. 2 showing a hammerhead and mounting sleeve component in an exploded view.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view, as indicated in FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 4 presents an alternative configuration of the structure depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Drawing FIG. 1, a preferred 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. 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. Driving of piston 40 ejects caulk 60 forwardly through nipple 42.

[0020] 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 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. Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3, a hammerhead assembly 1 is preferably 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.

[0021] In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal aspect or face 31 of the hook 30 has a radius of curvature R.sub.1, and the sleeve 6 has a substantially larger radius of curvature R.sub.2. In a preferred embodiment, curvature R.sub.2 is at least twice as great as the curvature R.sub.1, such differential in curvatures ergonomically enhancing finger contact during use of the hook as a pull handle.

[0022] 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 mounting the hammerhead 2 (or 45 as the case may be), such as helically and threaded joints, pressure fitted joints, wholly formed joints, clamp joints, and adhesively bonded joints.

[0023] 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 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 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] Referring simultaneously to all figures, each structure appearing in FIG. 4 and having a suffix A, is configured substantially identically with similarly numbered structures appearing in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The alternative caulking gun 44 of FIG. 4 includes a hammerhead mounting means which directly welds hammerhead 45 to the distal end of hook 6A.

[0026] 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.