Water soluble package for delivery of additives for powdered compositions

Abstract

A joint compound system is provided including a main container of base joint compound; and an additive container isolated from the base joint compound and housing at least one and preferably multiple water soluble additive packages constructed and arranged so that the additive packages are protected from exposure to moisture prior to their ultimate mixing with the base joint compound.

Claims

1. A joint compound system, comprising: a main container containing base joint compound; and a lid removably connected to said main container; and an additive container fixed to and extending from an underside of said lid and isolated from said base joint compound, said additive container including a cavity housing multiple, individually sealed, water soluble additive packages constructed and arranged to be removable from the additive container and configured so that the additive packages are protected from exposure to moisture prior to their ultimate mixing with said base joint compound.

2. The joint compound system of claim 1, in which said base joint compound is either powder or ready mix.

3. The joint compound system of claim 1, in which said additive container is provided with a frangible wall.

4. The joint compound system of claim 1, wherein said additive packages are enclosed in water soluble polyvinyl alcohol.

5. The joint compound system of claim 1, in which said additive is taken from the group consisting of retarders, accelerators, activators, pigments, adhesion promoters and dust reducers.

6. The joint compound system of claim 5, wherein, each of said packages contain one of the same or different additives as the other said packages in said plurality.

7. The joint compound system of claim 1, in which said additive packages contain additive in the range of 5 to 20 grams.

8. The joint compound system of claim 7, wherein said additive packages contain 10 grams of additive.

9. The joint compound system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said additive packages contains a complete joint compound.

10. A joint compound system, comprising: a main container containing base joint compound; a lid removably connected to said main container; and a separate container fixed to and depending from an underside of said lid that is distinct from said main container and includes an opening, said separate container housing multiple, individually sealed, water soluble additive packages being removable through said opening and constructed and arranged so that the additive packages are protected from exposure to moisture prior to their ultimate mixing with said base joint compound.

11. The joint compound system of claim 10, wherein said additive packages are enclosed in water soluble polyvinyl alcohol.

12. The joint compound system of claim 10, in which said additive is taken from the group consisting of retarders, accelerators, activators, pigments, adhesion promoters, and dust reducers.

13. The joint compound system of claim 12, wherein each of said packages contains one of the same or different additives as the other said packages in said plurality.

14. The joint compound system of claim 10, in which said additive packages contain additive in the range of 5 to 20 grams.

15. The joint compound system of claim 14, wherein said additive packages contain 10 grams of additive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section of the present additive system;

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded vertical cross-section of the present system, showing additive packages being added to a main joint compound container;

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded vertical cross-section of the present system, showing the additive packages being mixed into the joint compound;

(4) FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section of an alternate embodiment of the present additive system using a separate container for the additive packages; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 4 showing the additive packages being mixed into the main joint compound container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the present water soluble additive system is shown, generally designated 10 and includes separately packaged additives for use with a base joint compound or other powder or settable composition in a main container, so that the user can adjust the properties of the joint compound or desired composition during mixing. More specifically, a main container 12 is typically a plastic bucket or tub of the type used to package ready mix wallboard joint compound, and includes a bottom 14, an annular sidewall 16 and an upper lip 18, all integrally formed, as by being made of molded plastic, and combining to define an internal chamber 20. Other materials are contemplated for the container 12, including but not limited to metal and cardboard. A supply of ready mix joint compound 22 substantially fills the internal chamber 20. While in the preferred embodiment, the base joint compound 22 is the ready mix type, it is also contemplated that powder or setting type joint compound is suitable.

(7) The internal chamber 20 is covered by a removable container lid 24 that engages the upper lip 18 and latches closed upon the main container 12 using plastic clips or connectors (not shown) on the exterior of the container as are well known in the art. A feature of the present system 10 is that an underside 26 of the container lid 24 is provided with a compartment or additive container 28 constructed and arranged to retain at least one and preferably a plurality of individual additive packages 30. The additive container 28 is preferably made of the same material as the lid 24 and is configured so that prior to use, the additive packages 30 are isolated from the base joint compound 22, as well as from the internal chamber 20, and are protected from exposure to moisture prior to the ultimate mixing of the additive packages with the joint compound 22.

(8) Contemplated additives 32 suitable for separate packaging in the present water soluble additive packages 30 include, but are not limited to retarders, accelerators, activators, dust reducers, pigments, adhesion promoters such as powdered adhesive, including polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate) and the like. The state of the packaged additive 32 is contemplated to be liquid, solid or powder.

(9) A lower wall 34 of the additive container 28 is frangible, as by scoring, perforations, having a thinner wall thickness, or the like. Thus, when the user of the joint compound 22 in the main container 12 is ready to apply the joint compound, the frangible wall 34 is easily breached by the user using a taping knife or similar tool, and once the wall is breached, the additive packages 30 drop into the joint compound 22 (FIG. 2).

(10) In the preferred embodiment, the additive packages 30 are water soluble, and the joint compound is the ready mix type, which means that it is a moist paste when the container 12 is opened. A preferred material for the package 30 is water soluble polyvinyl alcohol; however other water soluble plastics are contemplated, provided that they are completely soluble in water at room temperature. Once the packages 30 are dropped or placed into the joint compound 22 into the main container 12, the packages dissolve and become part of the mixture. As seen in FIG. 3, it is contemplated that a powered mixer 36 is used for completely mixing the contents

(11) Another feature of the present system 10 is that the additive packages 30 are provided in relatively small volume doses for users desiring small batches of joint compound for use in small wall repair jobs or the like. Preferably, the additive packages 30 contain additive 32 in the range of 5 to 20 grams. More preferably, the packages 30 contain additive in the range of 10 grams.

(12) In addition, it is contemplated that a complete formulated joint compound in powdered format is packaged within one of the packages 30. Such a container 30 is optionally provided in a variety of volumes, including, but not limited to 1 pound packages.

(13) Still another feature of the present system is that multiple, relatively small volume packages 30 of the same additive 32 are also contemplated. For example, in the case of an accelerator, for a given batch size of joint compound 22, the user adds multiple packages 30 of the accelerator for obtaining relatively faster setting of the completed, mixed joint compound 22.

(14) Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the present joint compound additive system 10 is generally designated 40. Components shared with the system 10 are designated with identical reference numbers. A main distinctive feature of the system 40 is that the additive packages 30 are secured within a designated additive container 42 which is separate and isolated from the main container 12. The additive packages 30 in the system 40 have the same characteristics as in the system 10.

(15) In the additive container 42, the packages 30 are prevented from being exposed to moisture, which would cause them to prematurely dissolve and release the additive 32. As is the case with the main container 12, the additive container 42 includes a bottom 44, an annular wall 46 and an upper lip 48, all preferably integrally joined, as by being made of molded plastic. A lid 50 covers the upper lip 48 and encloses an additive cavity 52 that encloses the additive packages 30 and retains the additive 32 in inactive status until it is needed for use.

(16) As seen in FIG. 5, once the operator needs to incorporate the additive 32 into the joint compound 22, the additive container 42 is opened and the at least one and preferably a plurality of additive packages 30 are deposited into the main container 12, where the packages 30 are dissolved and the additive 32 is mixed into the main joint compound 22. Preferably, the powered mixer 36 is used as needed.

(17) In use, including the system 10 or the system 40, the user places a water soluble additive package 30 into the main container 12, and adds sufficient water to dissolve the package in water to mix with the packaged powder or ready mixed joint compound 22 to achieve the desired joint compound. Several of such packages 30 or pods are contemplated as being provided in the sealed container 28 or 42, thus reducing the mess and dust generated while mixing conventional powder-based, setting type joint compounds.

(18) While a particular embodiment of the present water soluble package for delivery of additives for powdered compositions has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.