U.S. patent application number 09/740331 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-31 for fluent product dispenser with temperature indicating means.
Invention is credited to Dean, Michael.
Application Number | 20010002027 09/740331 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23176307 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010002027 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dean, Michael |
May 31, 2001 |
Fluent product dispenser with temperature indicating means
Abstract
An improved fluent product dispensing apparatus is disclosed and
includes a temperature indicator so that the user may view the
temperature of the fluent product components prior to and during
dispensing. The apparatus includes one or more supply containers of
a reactive component, a dispenser and a conduit for conveying the
reactive components to the dispenser. One or more of the supply
containers has a temperature indicator mounted to its exterior that
is viewable through a package, or carton, that encloses the supply
containers. This indicator displays the temperature of the contents
of the supply container so that a user can ensure proper dispensing
of the reactive components.
Inventors: |
Dean, Michael; (Alpharetta,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANGELO J. BUFALINO
VEDDER, PRICE, KAUFMAN & KAMMHOLZ
222 N. LASALLE STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60601
US
|
Family ID: |
23176307 |
Appl. No.: |
09/740331 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09740331 |
Dec 18, 2000 |
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09304387 |
May 4, 1999 |
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6161725 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/23 ;
222/146.3; 222/183; 222/25; 374/E1.018 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01K 1/14 20130101; B29B
7/726 20130101; B29B 7/7447 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/23 ;
222/146.3; 222/183; 222/25 |
International
Class: |
B67D 005/06 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a multi-component foam
from two separate, foam component supply containers, the apparatus
comprising: first and second supply containers, each respectively
containing a supply of first and second reactive foam components,
which when reacted with each other form a foam; a carrier assembly
for holding said first and second supply containers in an
orientation that facilitates handling of said supply containers by
a user of said apparatus; a mechanism for releasing foam components
of said supply containers for dispensing thereof; a dispenser for
dispensing a foam reacted from said supply container foam
components; means interconnecting said supply containers with said
dispenser for conveying foam components released from said supply
containers to said dispenser; and, at least one temperature
indicator for indicating the temperature of said foam component
contained within said first supply container, the temperature
indicator including visual indicia for indicating a minimum
predetermined application temperature of at said foam component
contained within said first supply container, said visual indicia
being readable from exterior of said carrier assembly.
2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said temperature
indicator includes a liquid crystal display (LCD).
3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further including a second
temperature indicator for indicating the temperature of said foam
component contained within said second supply container.
4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second
temperature indicator also includes a liquid crystal display
(LCD).
5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said temperature
indicator includes visual indicia disposed thereon that display a
range of temperatures to said user.
6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein said temperature
indicator visual indicia includes a line of demarcation dividing
said range of temperatures into two portions, one of said portions
including at least one numeral representing a temperature that is
below said minimum predetermined application temperature and the
other of said portions including at least one numeral representing
a temperature that is not less than said minimum predetermined
application temperature.
7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier
assembly includes a carton member.
8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7, wherein said carton member
has at least one sidewall at least partially covering said supply
containers, and wherein said temperature indicator is fixed to an
exterior surface of said first supply container, said carton
sidewall having an opening in registration with said temperature
indicator such that said temperature indicator may be viewed by a
user from exterior of said carton.
9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier
assembly includes a package enclosing said supply containers, the
package including a window formed therein through which said
temperature indicator is visible to a user.
10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrier
assembly includes a base plate that engages said first and second
supply containers and a handle for holding said carrier assembly
with one hand.
11. A unit for dispensing a multi-component foam from two
pressurized containers, each of the containers containing at least
one component of the multi-component foam, the unit comprising: a
carrier holding said two containers in a preselected orientation
for foam dispensing, a foam dispensing member interconnected to
said two containers by a pair of elongated supply tubes, and a foam
component temperature indicator disposed on an exterior surface of
at least one of said two containers, the temperature indicator
including visual indicia that selectively indicates the temperature
of the foam component within said one container, said visual indica
being readable from exterior of said carrier.
12. The unit of claim 11, further including a second foam component
temperature indicator disposed on the exterior surface of the other
of said two containers, the second temperature indicator also
including visual indicia that selectively indicates the temperature
of the foam component within said other container, said visual
indica also being readable from exterior of said carrier.
13. The unit of claim 11, wherein said carrier encloses said two
containers and includes a window through which said temperature
indicator is visible.
14. The unit of claim 12, wherein said carrier encloses said two
containers and includes a window through which said temperature
indicator and said second temperature indicator is visible.
15. The unit of claim 11, wherein said temperature indicator
includes a temperature-sensitive liquid crystal display that
changes color in response to increasing temperature.
16. The unit of claim 15, wherein said temperature is adhesively
attached to said one container.
17. The unit of claim 11, wherein said temperature indicator visual
indicia includes a plurality of distinct temperatures that
cooperatively define a range of temperatures.
18. The unit of claim 17, wherein said visual indicia includes a
line of demarcation separating one part of said temperature range
from another part thereof, said line of demarcation coinciding with
a predetermined minimum application temperature of said foam
components.
19. The unit of claim 17, wherein said visual indicia includes text
materials identifying to a user of a series of temperatures which
equal or exceed a minimum application temperature of said foam
components.
20. The unit of claim 13, wherein said window is slightly larger
than said temperature indicator.
21. An apparatus for dispensing a fluent product formed by a
reaction between first and second distinct, reactive components
respectively stored in two storage containers, the apparatus
comprising: first and second storage containers containing
respective amounts of the first and second reactive components, a
carrier for holding said first and second containers in a
preselected orientation for dispensing the fluent product, a
dispensing member interconnected to said first and second storage
containers by a pair of elongated supply tubes, and at least one
temperature indicator for indicating the internal temperature of at
least one of said first and second reactive components, the
indicator being disposed on an exterior surface on one of said
first and second containers, the temperature indicator including
visual indicia that selectively indicates the internal temperature
of said one of said first and second reactive components and being
readable from exterior of said carrier, to thereby permit a user of
said apparatus to determine the temperature of said one of said
first and second reactive components prior to reacting said first
and second reactive components together and dispensing said reacted
fluent product.
22. A storage container for storing a supply of a first reactive
foam component that may be mixed and reacted with a second reactive
foam component to form a multi-component foam, said container
including a temperature-activated liquid crystal display device
affixed to an exterior surface thereof, said liquid crystal display
device having at least one visual indicia disposed thereon that
becomes visible in response to the temperature of said first foam
component stored in said storage container, said visual indicia
indicating at least a minimum reccommended application temperature
for mixing and reacting said first foam component with said second
foam component for forming said multicomponent foam.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to fluent product
dispensers, and more particularly to fluent product dispensers
having temperature-indicating means for indicating the temperature
of the products.
[0002] There exist many fluent product dispensers in the
marketplace. Some dispensers are well known and are used to
dispense amounts of expandable one-component urethane foams, such
as GREAT STUFF, manufactured and sold by Flexible Products Company
of Joliet, Ill., the assignee of the present invention. Other
fluent product dispensers are used to first mix, and then dispense
two foam components that are reacted with each other within the
dispenser. Once mixed together, the two components combine and
expand to form an expansive foam. This reacted foam may be used in
adhesive applications, in caulking applications, in sealing
applications or the like.
[0003] The use of such two reactive components is often temperature
dependent. There is an optimum temperature for operation of the two
foam components. Below this optimum temperature (of one or both of
the two foam reactive components), the quality of the reacted foam
suffers, such as a much lower foam yield occurring from the
reaction. In the actual field use of these foam components, the
product packaging or literature that accompanies the dispenser may
typically indicate that the foam should be dispensed when the
temperature of one or more of the foam reactive components is above
a certain temperature, such as 75.degree. F. Some instructions
recommend that the containers be placed in a warm environment for
48 hours or more so that the contents will rise to 75.degree. or
above. Despite these cautionary instructions, conventional two foam
component fluent dispensers have no means to determine the
temperature of the contents of foam component containers.
[0004] Many users do not fully acclimate the containers, perhaps
out of a mistaken belief that the containers warm more quickly than
they actually do. Users also become impatient with the time needed
for complete acclimation and operate the dispensers when the
components are colder than they should be. Resulting foam yields
will be small leading to inefficiency and the foam components may
not completely react with each other, affecting the quality of the
foam produced.
[0005] A need therefore exists for means to readily indicate to the
user the temperature of the contents of the foam components so as
to ensure the proper dispensing of the foam components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention
to provide a means for readily indicating the temperature of the
foam components from the exterior of the supply containers for the
reactive foam components.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
fluent product dispensing apparatus having a dispenser, supply
containers of reactive foam components, a conduit for conveying the
foam components to the dispenser and a means for indicating the
temperature of the foam components that is fixed to at least one of
the supply containers, which can be easily and readily read by a
user.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
foam dispensing assembly having a manually operated foam dispenser,
a pair of foam component supply containers, each container having a
predetermined amount of foam component therein, a pair of supply
tubes for connecting the supply containers and the dispenser
together, a temperature indicator operatively associated with at
least one of the supply containers having a display indicating a
range of temperatures of the foam components held in the supply
containers, the display being easily readable by a user so as to
determine when the foam components may be properly dispensed in
accordance with the foam application instructions.
[0009] In one principal aspect of the present invention, the entire
dispensing apparatus is contained in a carton as a unit. The carton
contains two foam component supply canisters and an actuating
assembly in the form of two foam component supply tubes, each
having a preselected length which is sufficient to permit a
dispensing assembly attached to the supply tubes to be operated
remotely from the carton while interconnected thereto. The material
supply tubes, dispensing assembly and one or more detachable
dispensing nozzles are positioned within a predesignated area
within the carton so that the apparatus may be sold as a single
unit. The carton not only may function as a carrier assembly for
the dispensing apparatus, but also may function as a shipping
container therefor.
[0010] In another principal aspect of the present invention, the
dispensing apparatus includes a carrier which holds two foam
component supply canisters in place and incorporates an
actuating/handle assembly to ensure simultaneous release of the two
foam components from their respective supply canisters through foam
component supply tubes. The tubes extend to a foam dispenser which
includes a dispensing nozzle. The dispenser detachably engages the
carrier so that it may be detached and remotely operated away from
the supply canisters adjacent a workplace such that it is easily
operated with one or two hands. The carrier is capable of holding
the supply canisters in place in either an upright or inverted
orientation.
[0011] Still a further object of the present invention is to
provide such a foam dispensing assembly wherein the temperature
indicator is mounted to the supply container and the supply
containers being enclosed within a carton, the carton having an
opening in registration with the temperature indicator so that the
temperature indicator may be read from exterior of the carton, the
temperature indicator being affixed to the supply container and
including a liquid crystal display.
[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
foam component supply container having a predetermined amount of
foam component contained therein with an associated temperature
indicator, the temperature indicator being mounted on the exterior
of the supply container and having a heat-activated portion that
indicate the general temperature of the contents of the supply
container.
[0013] Yet still another object of the present invention is to
provide a temperature indicator for use with a pressurized reactive
foam component supply container that is affixed to the exterior of
the supply container in a location to indicate the temperature of
the reactive foam component other than the pressurizing medium, the
temperature indicator having at least a line of temperature
demarcation that indicates both acceptable and unacceptable
application temperature for the reactive foam component.
[0014] The present invention accomplishes these objects by
providing, in one principal aspect of the invention, a
thermosensitive temperature indicator, preferably in the form of a
flat, layered indicator that incorporates a layer of a liquid
crystal display substance that changes color in response to
temperature changes. The liquid crystal display indicator has, in
one embodiment thereof, a pressure-sensitive backing so that it may
be applied directly to one of the two supply containers.
[0015] In another principal aspect of the present invention, the
temperature indicator, in one embodiment thereof, includes visual
indicia formed thereon in the form of a range of temperatures
arranged in ascending order so as to facilitate the reading thereof
by the user of the apparatus. In another embodiment, the
temperature indicator may include a line of demarcation that
divides the temperature range into two portions, one portion having
a temperature responsiveness to temperature below the recommended
minimum application temperature of the foam components and the
other portion having a temperature responsiveness to temperatures
equal to or above the recommended minimum application temperature
of the foam components.
[0016] In another principal aspect of the present invention, the
foam dispensing apparatus includes two foam component supply
containers, an actuating assembly, two foam component supply tubes
of a preselected length which is sufficient to permit a dispensing
assembly attached to the supply tubes to be operated remotely from
the supply containers and a manually operable foam dispenser. One
or both of the foam components supply containers may include a
temperature indicator as described above affixed to its exterior
surface. The foam component supply containers and the actuating
assembly are contained within a carrier assembly that permits the
supply containers to be held by a user with one hand, while the
user may hold and actuate the foam dispenser with the other
hand.
[0017] In yet another principal aspect of the present invention and
as exemplified by one embodiment thereof, the carrier assembly
includes a carton that substantially encloses the two supply
containers and actuating assembly. The carton may have a window
formed in one of its sidewalls in registration with the temperature
indicator so that the temperature indicator may be read from the
outside without the need for opening the carton and removing the
supply containers. The window may be slightly larger than the
temperature indicator or it may be a larger size window to permit
viewing of the other components of the apparatus.
[0018] The carrier assembly in an alternate embodiment, includes a
carrier member that holds two foam component supply containers and
incorporates a handle into an actuating assembly formed as part of
the carrier assembly. No window is required in this embodiment
because it has no carton that serves as both a package and a
carrier. The temperature indicator is fixed to one or both of the
supply containers and is easily read by the user.
[0019] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be clearly understood through consideration
of the following detailing descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known fluent product
dispensing apparatus;
[0021] FIG. 2A is an elevational view of one style of a temperature
indicator for use with a fluent product dispenser in accordance
with the principles of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2B is a similar view of another style of temperature
indicator for use with a fluent product dispenser in accordance
with the principles of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2C is a similar view of another style of temperature
indicator for use with a fluent product dispenser in accordance
with the principles of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fluent product dispensing
assembly in the form of a kit and constructed in accordance with
the principles of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 3,
illustrating the components associated therewith;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative fluent
product assembly utilizing a temperature-indicating means according
to the invention; and,
[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another alternative fluent
product assembly according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1, a known fluent product dispensing
apparatus is illustrated generally at 10. The apparatus 10 is
particularly suitable for the two-handed dispensing of a fluent
product, such as an expandable foam that is formed by the reaction
between two different reactive components.
[0029] The fluent products dispensed by the apparatus 10 are
typically urethane and other expandable foams. Urethane foams in
particular, are known for their compatibility with low-cost blowing
agents that permit such foams to be applied by way of pressurized
containers. The natural adhesive qualities of these foams also
allow them to bond excellently to any number of substrates.
Typically, such urethane foams are the reaction product of two
different and individual components, one typically being a foaming
agent and the other typically being a resin.
[0030] When reacted together, these components give the resultant
foam various chemical compositions, with each such composition
having significant utility in a particular application. These
foams, and particularly urethane foams may be specially formulated
to provide a final foam which is rigid, flexible, semi-rigid or the
like. The foams produced may also be either open cell or closed
cell in structure, with the former having particular utility in
packaging and non-insulating applications and with the latter
having particular utility in building and structural insulation
applications. The reactive components for urethane foams typically
include a foaming agent and a resin, each such component being
separately contained within a respective foam component supply
container 12, 14.
[0031] A dispenser is provided to dispense the foam and it is
connected to the foam component supply containers by way of tubes
or other conduits, such as the hoses 16 illustrated. The hoses 16
serve to convey each from component to dispenser 18 where they are
mixed together, preferably in a disposable nozzle body portion 20
of the dispenser 18, prior to exiting the dispenser 18 under
pressure through a nozzle opening 22.
[0032] The supply containers 12, 14 and the other components may be
enclosed within a carton 24 that may have a handle 26 or the like
formed thereon that facilitates the handling of the overall
apparatus 10. The hoses 16 exit the carton 24 through an opening
(not shown) and connect to the dispenser 18. As mentioned above,
problems arise with the use of such dispensing apparatus in that
the foam components have a range of optimum temperatures for
application. Although the carton 24 or the containers 12, 14
themselves may contain directions as to the proper application
temperature for the components, many users have no idea when the
components are at their proper application temperature. Users may
grow impatient with a need to acclimatize the components.
[0033] The present invention provides a solution to this problem,
by providing a unique temperature indicating means. Such indicating
means are shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C. FIG. 2A illustrates one
such indicating means 50 that comprises a flat strip having a front
face 51 and an opposing rear face 52 that preferably supports a
layer of adhesive (not shown). The front face 51 of the indicator
50 has a series of temperature markings in the form of numerals 53
disposed thereon in ascending order, and each such numeral
corresponds to a particular temperature.
[0034] These temperature numerals 53 may be separated, as shown, at
a chosen point by a line of demarcation 54 that divides the
temperature range into two portions 55, 56. The first of these two
portions 55 may include temperatures that are equal to or are above
the minimum application temperature for the foam components and
thus indicate to the user that the foam components may be properly
reacted and dispensed as a foam. The second of these two portions
56 may include temperatures that are below the minimum application
temperature for the foam components and thus indicate to the user
that the foam components, if reacted, shall not dispense a foam
with expected quality and yields. It will be understood that at
such temperatures, foam application may still occur, but at lower
yields and quality. Additional markings 57, 58 may be included as
part of the visual indicia that indicate, in the form of text, such
as by "SPRAY ZONE" 57 and "TOO COLD" 58, the proper and improper
dispensing temperatures.
[0035] FIG. 2B illustrates another style of temperature indicator
60 that is also easily affixed, by way of an adhesive backing (not
shown) to a foam component supply container. In this style
indicator 60, the visual indicia 61 is arranged at the line of
demarcation 62 and indicates the temperature range in numerals 63
in both the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales 64, 65. The
range of proper foam components dispensing temperatures may be
bracketed by markings, shown as bars 66, of a contrasting
color.
[0036] FIG. 2C illustrates yet another style of temperature
indicator 70, also with an adhesive backing (not shown) that may be
fixed to a foam component supply container. This style indicator
has only minimum visual indicia, that indicate only the threshold
application temperature 71 and line of demarcation 72 on that front
face 73 of the indicator 70.
[0037] In all of the aforementioned indicators, 50, 60, 70, a layer
having a liquid crystal display (LCD) is incorporated into the
indicator. As is known in the art, this LCD type material is a
compound that produces a visible color change in response to a
temperature activation. When activated, the temperature sensitive
substance emits or reflects visible light radiation to indicate
temperature. The color sequence of normal temperature activation
may be structured to present tan, red, green, blue and ultraviolet.
The colors may be filtered to obtain a desired color sequence.
Alternatively, a thermochromic strip may also be employed that is
tailored to respond by color change along its length in a
predetermined fashion in response to temperature changes.
[0038] The LCD material on the temperature indicator that is in
contact with the exterior surface of the supply containers 81, 82
may possess the ability to change from among many different
preselected colors to indicate the temperature of the material in
contact with it, i.e., the contents of the supply containers 81,
82. For example, it may adopt a green color where the temperature
of the component is exactly the temperature shown by the number on
the indicator, and it may also adopt, for example, a tan color
where the temperature range of the supply component is above the
actual temperature.
[0039] It will be understood that such temperature indicators of
the invention may not utilize the line of demarcation and may only
utilize a single temperature marking such as the proper application
temperature, a text marking such as "GOOD" or the like.
[0040] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, one embodiment of an
improved foam dispensing apparatus 80 constructed in accordance
with the principles of the present invention is shown. The
apparatus 80 is particularly suitable for the two-handed dispensing
of multi-component fluent materials, such as polyurethane foams and
the like. The apparatus 80 includes a pair of distinct, vertically
arranged foam supply canisters 81, 82 which contain the foam supply
components which, when mixed and reacted together form a foam.
These separate containers 81, 81 store the liquid foam components
of the foam, preferably in a pressurized state, one of the two
components typically being an isocyanate component and the other
component typically being a liquid resin solution.
[0041] In this embodiment, the foam component supply containers 81,
82 are held by a carrier, in the form of a carton 100 in an
inverted orientation, and each supply container 81, 82 may include
a valve 83, 84 operatively associated therewith for releasing the
reactive components out of the supply containers 81, 82 under
pressure. The supply containers 81, 82 may be interconnected
together near their valves 83, 84 by a yoke 85 that maintains the
position of the supply containers 81, 82 in the carton 100. Two
supply hoses, or tubes 86, 87 attach to the supply container valves
83, 84 and exit from the carton 80 through an opening (not shown)
to mate with a dispenser 90.
[0042] The dispenser 90 shown takes the form of a gun-style
dispenser having a handle 91 with an actuatable trigger 92 that
opens two ports to permit the reactive components to pass into a
barrel portion 93 that includes a hollow mixing chamber (not
shown). The dispenser 90 also typically includes either a fixed or
replaceable dispensing nozzle 94 with a dispensing tip 95.
[0043] The temperature indicators 50 may be adhesively affixed to
the exterior surfaces 101 of one or both of the supply containers
81, 82. In order to facilitate the reading of the visual indicia of
the temperature indicator 50, the carton 100 may be provided with
one or more windows 102 formed in a sidewall 103 thereof. The
carton 100 may also include a handle assembly 110 that protrudes
through the top of the carton 100 so that carton may be held by a
user with one hand, while the dispenser 90 may be held with the
other hand. Each window 102 is preferably slightly larger in size
than the indicator(s) 50 so that a user may easily read all of the
visual indicia on the temperature indicator 50. The window may also
be of a larger size than shown to permit viewing from the exterior
of the carton 100 of the supply containers 81, 82, their valves 83,
84 and other components of the apparatus 80.
[0044] Whereas the supply containers 81, 82 of the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 are shown in an inverted orientation,
they may also be held in an upright orientation, as illustrated by
the second embodiment of an apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 5. In
this embodiment, the apparatus 200 includes a carrier 220 that
includes a yoke member 201 that holds the two supply containers
202, 203 together in an upright orientation and a handle assembly
221 that is connected to the yoke member 201. Two supply tubes 204
lead from valves 206, 207 of the containers to a detachable
dispenser 208, having a replaceable dispensing nozzle 210 and a cam
actuator 211 that may be manipulated by a user's finger. More
details on the construction of this type structure may be found in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,051, owned by the assignee of the present
invention, and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference. One or more of the supply containers 202, 203
may have a temperature indicator 50 applied to their exterior
surface.
[0045] A third embodiment of a dispensing apparatus 300 constructed
in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6.
In this apparatus 300, the two supply containers 301, 302 are held
in an upright position by means of a carrier 303 having a handle
portion 320, and the dispenser 305 takes the form of a hand-held
gun dispenser, similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Two supply
tubes 309, 310 lead from the supply containers 301, 302 to the
dispenser 305. The carrier 303 that holds the supply containers
301, 302 in place may have a shoulder strap 310 that permits a user
to sling the dispenser over his shoulder during use. Temperature
indicators are located on the exterior surface of the supply
containers 301, 302.
[0046] Although described above in terms of two container
assemblies, it will be understood that the present invention also
finds application in association with a single reactive foam
component supply container, regardless of the size of the
container. In this instance, the indicator is also affixed to the
exterior of the supply container as shown in any of the Figures and
will indicate to a user whether or not the foam component, when
used, shall meet the user's expectations. Such a single supply
container may be incorporated with a carrier assembly for a
dispensing apparatus as shown, or the supply container may be one
that can be used later with such a dispensing apparatus.
[0047] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that the embodiments are merely illustrative of some of
applications of the principles of the present invention and that
changes and modifications may be made therein without departing
from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *