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EP-4420791-B1 - APPLICATORS AND ACCESSORIES FOR DISPENSING GLUE AND OTHER MATERIALS

EP4420791B1EP 4420791 B1EP4420791 B1EP 4420791B1EP-4420791-B1

Inventors

  • Garza, Iliana
  • JONES, RICHARD

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230627

Claims (15)

  1. A method of dispensing a substance from a squeeze container (10), the method comprising: a) providing an applicator (12) comprising: i) an applicator front end (14); ii) an applicator rear end (16); iii) an applicator length (18) extending from the applicator front end (14) to the applicator rear end (16); iv) an applicator top (20); v) an applicator bottom (22); vi) an applicator height (24) extending from the applicator top (20) to the applicator bottom (22) and generally perpendicular to the applicator length (18); vii) a chamber (26), the chamber (26) comprising a chamber front end (28) comprising a front opening (30), a chamber rear end (32), and a chamber length (34) extending from the chamber front end (28) to the chamber rear end (32), the chamber configured to house the squeeze container (10); viii) at least one wall (36) comprising an exterior surface (38) and an interior surface (40), the at least one wall (36) at least partially surrounding the chamber (26), the at least one wall (36) further comprising a plurality of ribs (42) spaced about a perimeter of the interior surface (40) and protruding into the chamber (26), the plurality of ribs (42) configured to compress the squeeze container (10); ix) a handle (44) extending generally downwardly from the at least one wall (36), the handle (44) comprising a handle bottom (46); x) a trigger (50); and xi) at least one arm (52) coupled to the trigger (50) and configured to protrude into the chamber (26) and compress the squeeze container (10) located in the chamber (26); b) placing the squeeze container (10) comprising a substance into the chamber (26) so that at least a portion of the squeeze container (10) extends through the forward opening (30) and the plurality of ribs (42) at least partially compress the squeeze container (10); and c) actuating the trigger (50) to cause the arm (52) to move toward and compress the squeeze container (10) and dispense the substance from the squeeze container (10), characterized in that the chamber (26) comprises a chamber bottom (58) comprising a hole (152) receiving the arm (52), and the at least one arm (52) is the upper part of the trigger (50) and is designed to move upward into the chamber (26) to compress the squeeze container (10) when the trigger (50) is actuated.
  2. The method of claim 1 wherein the chamber (26) comprises a partially open top (54).
  3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the chamber rear end (32) comprises a rear opening (56).
  4. The method of any preceding claim wherein the plurality of ribs (42) are located not more than 1.27cm (0.5 inches) from the front opening (30).
  5. The method of any preceding claim wherein the plurality of ribs (42) are located at approximately the same distance along the chamber length (34).
  6. The method of any preceding claim wherein the plurality of ribs (42) comprise three ribs spaced substantially equally apart.
  7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the chamber (26) comprises a chamber left side (60), a chamber right side (62), and a chamber length (34) extending from the chamber left side (60) to the chamber right side (62) and generally perpendicular to the applicator height (24) and length (18), wherein the plurality of ribs (42), comprise a middle rib located adjacent to the chamber bottom (58), a right rib located adjacent to the chamber right side (62), and a left rib located adjacent to the chamber left side (60).
  8. The method of any preceding claim wherein the front opening is semi-circular in shape.
  9. The method of any preceding claim wherein the handle bottom (46) is free.
  10. The method of any preceding claim wherein the trigger (50) is located in front of the handle (44).
  11. The method of any preceding claim wherein the squeeze container (10) comprises a liquid; optionally wherein: the squeeze container (10) comprises icing; or the squeeze container (10) comprises cold glue.
  12. The method of claim 11 wherein the squeeze container (10) comprises a nozzle (154) comprising a nozzle tip (64), and further wherein the nozzle tip (64) is located in front of the front opening in step c); optionally wherein the nozzle (154) is in the form of a hollow needle.
  13. The method of any preceding claim wherein: the step of c) actuating the trigger (50) to cause the arm (52) to compress the squeeze container (10) and dispense the substance from the squeeze container (10) comprises moving the trigger (50) toward the handle (44).
  14. The method of any preceding claim wherein the trigger (50) comprises a rear (66) facing the handle (44), a front (68) opposite the rear (66), a left side (70), a right side (72), a width (74) extending from the left side (70) to the right side (72), a top (76), and a bottom (78), and further wherein the trigger front side (68) comprises a ridge (80) extending across the width of the trigger front side (68); optionally wherein: the ridge is arc-shaped (80); and/or the trigger (50) is pivotably attached to the handle (44) via a pivot pin (82) extending across the trigger (50) and the handle (44), and further wherein the pivot pin (82) is located adjacent to the trigger top (76) and the ridge (80); and/or the handle (44) comprises an open front (84), a closed rear (86) and a cavity (88) located in front of the closed rear (86) and facing the trigger rear (66), wherein the handle (44) further comprises a plurality of ribs (42) extending from the left side to the right side across the cavity (88); and/or the applicator (12) further comprising a spring (90) at least partially surrounding the pivot pin (82) and having a spring first end (92) attached to the handle (44) and a spring second end (94) attached to the trigger (50), the spring (90) configured to bias the trigger (50) away from the handle (44).
  15. The method of any preceding claim wherein the chamber rear end (32) further comprises a semi-cylindrical rear lip (150) extending partially around the squeeze container (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to applicators for dispensing glue and other materials, and stands for such applicators. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Glue guns are known and typically include a handle, a trigger and a chamber for receiving glue. While glue guns typically dispense heated glue, glue guns that dispense cold glue are described in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 9,643,200. Precision cold glue bottles are known and typically include a squeezable bottle with a hollow needle for dispensing glue, and a removable cap with a pin that mates with the needle to seal the needle. Examples of such glue bottles include the NUVO Deluxe Adhesive sold by Tonic Studios, Ltd. (Pyle, Wales, United Kingdom). Unfortunately, the difficulty with such bottles is that it can be difficult to mate the pin to the needle to seal the needle, and, if unsealed, the glue can dry out or clog. Stands for glue applicators are also known. For example, glue bottle holders are designed to hold squeeze containers upright on a flat surface with the hollow needle/applicator facing downwardly toward the flat surface. US 5 993 720 A discloses a container for a cartridge container for a discharge gun. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure provides applicators and stands for such applicators. According to a first aspect, the invention provides a method of dispensing a substance from a squeeze container according to claim 1. Optionally, the chamber comprises a partially open top. Optionally, the chamber rear end comprises a rear opening to allow a user to load the squeeze container from the rear. Optionally, the plurality of ribs are located not more than 1.27cm (0.5 inches) from the front opening. Optionally, the plurality of ribs are located at approximately the same distance along the chamber length. Optionally, the plurality of ribs comprise three ribs spaced substantially equally apart. Optionally, the chamber comprises a chamber left side, a chamber right side, and a chamber length extending from the chamber left side to the chamber right side and generally perpendicular to the applicator height and length. Optionally, the plurality of ribs comprise a middle rib located adjacent to the chamber bottom, a right rib located adjacent to the chamber right side, and a left rib located adjacent to the chamber left side. Optionally, the front opening is semi-circular in shape. Optionally, the handle bottom is free. Optionally, the trigger is located in front of the handle. Optionally, the squeeze container comprises a liquid such as cold glue or icing for example. Optionally, the squeeze container comprises a nozzle comprising a nozzle tip, and optionally the nozzle tip is located in front of the front opening in step c). Optionally, the nozzle is in the form of a hollow needle. Optionally, step c) comprises dispensing the substance at room temperature. Optionally, the step of c) actuating the trigger to cause the arm to compress the squeeze container and dispense the substance from the squeeze container comprises moving the trigger toward the handle. Optionally, the trigger comprises a rear facing the handle, a front opposite the rear, a left side, a right side, a width extending from the left side to the right side, a top, and a bottom. Optionally, the trigger front side comprises a ridge extending across the width of the trigger front side. Optionally, the ridge is arc-shaped. Optionally, the trigger is pivotably attached to the handle via a pivot pin extending across the trigger and the handle. Optionally, the pivot pin is located adjacent to the trigger top and the ridge. Optionally, the handle comprises an open front, a closed rear and a cavity located in front of the closed rear and facing the trigger rear. Optionally, the handle further comprises a plurality of ribs extending from the left side to the right side across the cavity. Optionally, the applicator further comprises a spring at least partially surrounding the pivot pin that has a spring first end attached to the handle and a spring second end attached to the trigger. Optionally, the spring is configured to bias the trigger away from the handle. Optionally, the chamber rear end further comprises a semi-cylindrical rear lip extending partially around the squeeze container. In still further embodiments, the method comprises a method of reducing cloggage and/or dryness in a squeeze container that may include a liquid that includes one or more of the steps of: a) providing a squeeze container that may comprise a front end comprising a nozzle that may comprise a nozzle tip, and a rear end; b) providing a stand that may comprise a receptacle configured to receive the nozzle and may include an open top, and a bottom that may include a compressible seal that may be located below the open top and comprised of an elastomeric material and having a top surface; and c) placing the nozzle tip through the open top and onto the top surface of the compressible seal (to seal