Caulking gun

Abstract

A caulking gun for dispensing material includes a stock, a cartridge keep, a push rod longitudinally moveably mounted in the stock with one end having a plunger engaging a cartridge piston in the cartridge keep, a catch on the rod, a trigger coupled to the catch via an axle and pivoting about a pivot point, and a device for varying thrust output exerted on the rod when pressing the trigger for a given strength exerted on the trigger that allows axle displacement between at least first and second positions. The trigger has an upper part with a trigger bridge with two long holes. The thrust output varying device includes a ratio bridge element put over the trigger bridge and trigger and linked to the trigger bridge via the axle traversing the holes. By displacing the axle either between fixed values or continuously and the thrust output can be varied between fixed values or continuously.

Claims

1. A caulking gun for dispensing material comprising a stock (1), a cartridge keep (2), a push rod (3) longitudinally moveably mounted in the stock (1) provided at one end of the rod with a plunger (4) which engages a piston of a cartridge placed in the cartridge keep (2), a catch member placed on the push rod (3), a trigger (6) coupled to the catch member via an axle (15) and pivoting about a pivot point (7), means for varying a thrust output exerted on the push rod (3) when pressing the trigger (6) for a given strength exerted on the trigger (6), wherein the means for modifying the thrust output allow the displacement of the axle (15) between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the trigger (6) has an upper part with a trigger bridge (11) in which two long holes (9) are provided and the means for varying the thrust output comprise a ratio bridge element (8) which is put over the trigger bridge (11) and trigger (6) and which is linked to the trigger (6) via the axle (15) which traverses the two long holes (9) and that engages the catch member.

2. The caulking gun according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the strength exerted on the trigger (6) and the thrust output on the push rod (3) is adjustable within a range from 1:7 to 1:25.

3. The caulking gun according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the strength exerted on the trigger (6) and the thrust output exerted on the push rod (3) is freely adjustable at any intermediate value between 1:7 and 1:25.

4. The caulking gun according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the strength exerted on the trigger (6) and the thrust output exerted on the push rod (3) is adjustable at fix values.

5. The caulking gun according to claim 4, wherein the fix values are 1:7, 1:12, 1:18 and 1:25.

6. The caulking gun according to claim 1, wherein a turn button (18) is provided on the ratio bridge (8) element for adjusting the thrust output.

Description

(1) Hereafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the figures in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a caulking gun according to the invention in the low position,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of a caulking gun according to the invention in the low position,

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the components of the mechanism allowing to modify the thrust output,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the caulking gun at different thrust outputs.

(6) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the caulking gun according to the invention has a stock 1 in front of which is provided a cartridge keep 2 for receiving a cartridge of caulk material.

(7) A push rod 3 is longitudinally moveably mounted in the stock 1. This push rod 3 is provided at its front end with a plunger 4 which engages the piston of a cartridge placed in the cartridge keep 2. The rear end of the push rod 3 is curbed. It could also be otherwise terminated.

(8) Furthermore, a handle 10 is fixed to the stock 1. In front of the handle 10, a trigger 6 is provided for activating the caulking gun. When the trigger 6 is activated, the push rod 3 moves forward thereby advancing the piston and putting out the product contained in the cartridge. This trigger is pivoting about a fulcrum or pivot point 7.

(9) Means are provided for varying the thrust output exerted on the push rod 3 when pressing the trigger 6 for a given strength exerted on the trigger 6. These means for modifying the thrust output allow the displacement of the load 15 between at least a first position and a second position.

(10) FIG. 3 shows how the means for varying the thrust output exerted on the push rod 3 are configured. The trigger 6 has in its upper part (load arm) a U-formed end fitting, called trigger bridge 11, on the two legs 12 in which slots (long holes) 9 are provided. On the upper side of the trigger bridge 11, an inner thread 14 is provided in a cylindrical extension 13 for receiving a screw element 16.

(11) A ratio bridge element 8 which is also U-formed is put over this trigger bridge 11 and linked to the trigger 6 via an axle 15 which traverses the two long holes 9. The pivot point 7 of the trigger 6 is applied at the level of this axle 15. A cylindrical element 17 is provided on the top of the ratio bridge element 8. This cylindrical element 17 extends over the inner thread 14 when the ratio bridge element 8 is mounted on the trigger 6.

(12) By turning the screw element 16 via a turn button 18 which is on top of the cylindrical element 17, the axle 15 of the trigger 6 can be lowered or elevated, thereby varying the thrust output exerted on the push rod 3 when pressing the trigger 6 for a given strength on the trigger 6.

(13) When the means for varying the thrust output exerted on the push rod 3 are mounted, the axle 15 engages the catch member 5 which in its turn engages the push rod 3. This allows to transfer the movement of the trigger 6 to the push rod 3 on which the catch member 5 is arranged.

(14) According to this preferred embodiment of the invention, the ratio between the strength exerted on the trigger and the thrust output exerted on the push rod is freely adjustable at any intermediate value between 1:7 and 1:25. FIG. 1 shows the caulking gun in the low position, FIG. 2 in the high position and FIG. 4 shows the variation between both of them which is achieved by turning the turn button 18.

(15) By adding a discrete step spring and a discrete step ball between the screw element 16 and the ratio bridge element 8 or between the ratio bridge element 8 and the trigger bridge 11 or trigger 6, it is possible to add steps to an otherwise continuously variable thrust ratio.

(16) The ratio between the strength exerted on the trigger and the thrust output exerted on the push rod is in this case adjustable at fix values, e.g. 1:7, 1:12, 1:18 and 1:25 or any ratio desirable by the customer.