U.S. patent application number 14/848487 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-09 for adhesive dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to GLS Products, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is GLS Products, LLC. Invention is credited to Gordon Lee STEGALL.
Application Number | 20170066004 14/848487 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58189217 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170066004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STEGALL; Gordon Lee |
March 9, 2017 |
ADHESIVE DISPENSER
Abstract
An adhesive dispenser includes: a vessel has an open top and a
closed bottom, and defines an interior cavity; a handle is affixed
on one side of the vessel; a lid with an adhesive charge port
closes the open top; a pour spout opens through the lid and is
positioned on a side of the cavity opposite the handle, the pour
spout includes a channel formed in the cavity and the channel
extends from the pour spout to adjacent the bottom of the cavity;
and a heater including a heating element for melting adhesive
placed in the cavity, and a fin extending axially from the bottom
of the cavity. The method for dispensing includes pouring a liquid
adhesive from the dispenser.
Inventors: |
STEGALL; Gordon Lee;
(Charlotte, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GLS Products, LLC |
Charlotte |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GLS Products, LLC
|
Family ID: |
58189217 |
Appl. No.: |
14/848487 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05C 5/001 20130101;
B05C 17/001 20130101; B05B 9/002 20130101; B29C 33/00 20130101;
B05B 1/22 20130101; B29B 13/022 20130101; B05C 11/1042
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B05C 5/00 20060101
B05C005/00 |
Claims
1. A method of dispensing an adhesive comprises the steps of:
pouring a liquid adhesive from a dispenser, the dispenser
including: a vessel has an open top and a closed bottom, and
defines an interior cavity; a handle is affixed on one side of the
vessel; a lid with an adhesive charge port closes the open top; a
pour spout opens through the lid and is positioned on a side of the
cavity opposite the handle, the pour spout includes a channel
formed in the cavity and the channel extends from the pour shout to
adjacent the bottom of the cavity; and a heater including a heating
element for melting adhesive placed in the cavity, and a fin
extending axially from the bottom of the cavity.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel has a generally
rectangular cross-section.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel is tapered from the
top of the vessel to the bottom of the vessel.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel has a larger
cross-section at the top of the vessel than at the bottom of the
vessel.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the handle extends above the top
of the vessel.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the handle is curved over the top
of the vessel.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fin minimizes a heat gradient
from the top of the vessel to the bottom of the vessel.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fin has two or more radially
extending blades.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the fin a cross-shaped
cross-section.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the fin tapers from the bottom of
the vessel to the top of the vessel.
11. An adhesive dispenser comprises: a vessel has an open top and a
closed bottom, and defines an interior cavity; a handle is affixed
on one side of the vessel; a lid with an adhesive charge port
closes the open top; a pour spout opens through the lid and is
positioned on a side of the cavity opposite the handle, the pour
spout includes a channel formed in the cavity and the channel
extends from the pour spout to adjacent the bottom of the cavity;
and a heater including a heating element for melting adhesive
placed in the cavity, and a fin extending axially from the bottom
of the cavity.
12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the channel has a generally
rectangular cross-section.
13. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the channel is tapered from
the top of the vessel to the bottom of the vessel.
14. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the channel has a larger
cross-section at the top of the vessel than at the bottom of the
vessel.
15. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the handle extends above the
top of the vessel.
16. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the handle is curved over the
top of the vessel.
17. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the fin minimizes a heat
gradient from the top of the vessel to the bottom of the
vessel.
18. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the fin has two or more
radially extending blades.
19. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the fin has a cross-shaped
cross-section.
20. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the fin tapers from the
bottom of the vessel to the top of the vessel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The instant invention is directed to an adhesive dispenser
and a method of using the adhesive dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Adhesives are used in many applications. For example, hot
melt adhesives may be used in the fabrication of molds. The molten
adhesive may be used to adhere mold pieces to a mold surface. The
adhesive is dispensed onto the surface of the mold or to the mold
piece, and then the piece is affixed to the mold surface. To
facilitate the fabrication of larger molds, it may be necessary for
many mold pieces to be adhered to the mold surfaces. This may
require large amounts of the adhesive.
[0003] The adhesive dispensers used to date are bulky, difficult to
handle (e.g., pour), and can be hot (due to the molten adhesive).
There is a need for a better adhesive dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An adhesive dispenser includes: a vessel has an open top and
a closed bottom, and defines an interior cavity; a handle is
affixed on one side of the vessel; a lid with an adhesive charge
port closes the open top; a pour spout opens through the lid and is
positioned on a side of the cavity opposite the handle, the pour
spout includes a channel formed in the cavity and the channel
extends from the pour spout to adjacent the bottom of the cavity;
and a heater including a heating element for melting adhesive
placed in the cavity, and a fin extending axially from the bottom
of the cavity. The method for dispensing includes pouring a liquid
adhesive from the dispenser.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being
understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the
precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0006] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a sectional view (side elevation) of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1
with the lid removed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Referring to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like
elements, there is shown, in FIG. 1, an adhesive dispenser 10 made
according to the instant invention. Dispenser 10 may be used with
any adhesive. The adhesive must be in a liquid (or flowable) form
for dispensing (or pouring) from the dispenser. In one embodiment,
the adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive (HMA) or hot glue. Hot-melt
adhesive, as used herein, refers a thermoplastic adhesive that is
sold as a solid, but is melted for use. Hot-melt adhesive may refer
to any hot-melt adhesive.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, dispenser 10 generally includes: a
vessel 12 with an open top 14 and a closed bottom 16 that defines
an interior cavity 36 (cavity--best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5); a
handle 22 affixed to one side of the vessel 12; a lid 18 with an
adhesive charge port 20, the lid closes the open top 14 of the
vessel 12; a pour spout 24 located on the side opposite of the
vessel 12 from the handle 22, the spout 24 includes a channel 34
(channel--best seen in FIGS. 3-5); and a heater 39 including a
heating element (not shown) and a fin 40.
[0013] Vessel 12 may have any cross-section shape. In the
embodiment shown, the vessel is cylindrical. The vessel 12 has an
open top 14 and closed bottom 16. The vessel may include a
plurality of legs 26 located at the bottom of the vessel 12. The
vessel 12 may have a double walled configuration with an exterior
wall 13 and internal wall 38. The internal wall (or cavity wall)
38, see FIGS. 4 and 5, defines the interior cavity 36. The space 46
between walls 13 and 38 may be filled with insulation.
[0014] Handle 22 is affixed to one side of the vessel 12. Handle 22
may be tubular. Handle 22 may extend from the bottom of vessel 12,
see FIG. 4. Handle 12 may extend above the top of vessel 12. Handle
12 may be curved over the top of vessel 12 to facilitate handling
and pouring. Handle 22 may be insulated so that is does not
transfer heat from the cavity 36. Handle 22 may include a grip (not
shown). The grip may be for protection against heat transfer and to
facilitate hold and/or pouring.
[0015] Lid 18 closes the open top 14 of the vessel 12. Lid 18 may
be removable. Lid 18 may be securely fastened to the vessel 12 when
the vessel is in use (to prevent the inadvertent spilling of the
molten content of the cavity). Lid 18 may include a charge port 20.
Charge port 20 provides ingress to cavity 36, so that solid
adhesive may be charged into the vessel for liquification. Charge
port 20 may include a cap (not shown).
[0016] Pour spout 24 is an opening through the lid 18 and is in
fluid communication with the cavity 36. Pour spout 24 enables the
liquid adhesive to be poured (or discharged) from the cavity 36.
Pour spout 24 is located on a side of the vessel 12 opposite the
handle 22. Pour spout 24 may have any shape. In one embodiment, the
pour spout is generally rectangular.
[0017] Channel 34 is included with pour spout 24. Channel 34 is
positioned on the side opposite handle 22. Channel 34, best seen in
FIGS. 4 and 5, may have any cross-sectional configuration. In one
embodiment, channel 34 may have a generally rectangular
cross-section. Channel 34 is formed in the vessel 12, specifically,
channel 34 is formed in the cavity wall 38. Channel 34 has a larger
cross-sectional area adjacent the top 14 of the vessel 12 than
adjacent the bottom 16 of the vessel 12. Channel 34 is tapered from
the top 14 of the vessel to the bottom 16 of the vessel. Channel 34
may extend from the bottom 16 of the vessel to the pour spout
24.
[0018] Heater 39 may form a part of the dispenser 10. Heater 39
generally includes a heating element (not shown) for melting
adhesive placed in cavity 36, and a fin 40 extending axially from
the bottom 16 of the cavity. The heater 39 is configured to
minimize the heat gradient from the top of the cavity to the bottom
of the cavity (i.e., the temperature of the molten adhesive within
the cavity is generally uniform throughout--it does not have a
significant heat gradient from the top to bottom of the cavity).
The heating elements may be any conventional heating elements. The
heating elements may be placed adjacent to or within the cavity
wall 38. The heating elements, in one embodiment, may be
electric.
[0019] Fin 40 extends axially up from the bottom of the cavity 36.
There may be one of more fins 40 within cavity 36. Fins 40 may be
placed within the cavity 36, so as not to interfere with the
charging of adhesive through charge port 20 (see FIG. 3). Fins 40
may be offset from charge port 20. Fin 40 may have any
cross-sectional configuration. In one embodiment, see FIG. 5, fins
40 may have a cross-section with two or more radially extending
blades. In another embodiment, see FIG. 5, fins 40 may have a
cross-shaped cross-section. Fins 40 may be tapered, i.e., narrower
at the top of the fin than at the base of the fin.
[0020] Controller 28 is located on the exterior surface of the
dispenser 10, see FIGS. 1 and 2. Controller 28 is operatively
connected with the heater 39. Controller 39 may include a socket 30
and a temperature control 32. Socket 30 may be a male electrical
connector, so that an electrical cord may connect the dispenser
with a source of electricity. Temperature control 32 may be used to
adjust the temperature with the cavity 36 as required by adhesive
or for proper flowability.
[0021] In use, solid adhesive is charged into cavity 36 via port
20. An electrical cord is used to couple the dispenser 10 to the
source of electricity and the temperature control 32 is adjusted.
The solid adhesive is given sufficient time to melt (i.e., become
flowable). Then, the dispenser 10 may be disengaged from the
electrical cord. In one embodiment, the electrical cord is
disengaged from the dispenser 10. The dispenser 10 is manipulated
via handle 22, and may be poured, as and where desired, by tilting
of the handle so that the liquid adhesive is discharged via spout
24. The liquid adhesive flows from the cavity 36 into channel 34
and out via spout 24.
[0022] The present invention may be embodied in other forms without
departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof,
and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims,
rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope
of the invention.
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