Field of the disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a caulk tube heater, a method for heating a caulk tube using the caulk tube heater, the use of the caulk tube heater and an adapter therefore.

The caulk tube heater comprises a heating element configured to generate heat for warming the caulk tube and for being arranged around the caulk tube, a thermo casing and a temperature sensor configured to be arranged between the thermo casing and the caulk tube.

The caulk tube heater furthermore comprises a regulator unit for adjusting the output of the heating element in response to a pre-set temperature input.

The caulk tube heater is adapted for being driven by at least one battery.

Background of the disclosure

A wide range of sealants and caulk are used in the construction industry today. Sealants and caulk are typically applied using caulking guns or sealants applicators where the caulk is squeezed from a soft or rigid tube arranged in a housing of the gun or applicator by triggering a plunger rod with a plunger. The adhesive character of many widely used caulk materials and sealants degrades at low working temperatures and may be severely reduced at or near freezing temperatures. The adhesive character is typically not regained when reheating the caulk or sealant.

Typically, in cold weather, construction workers use fan heaters or other external and stationary heating sources when storing the tubes with caulk or sealant at the construction site until use. In use, the tubes are used without any additional heating source and therefore the caulk or sealant must be applied and used immediately before the heat dissipates from the caulk or sealant. Furthermore, all the caulk or sealant loaded in the gun should preferably be used once it is taken from the heated storage.

If the tube is not fully used before it reaches a specific low temperature, the remaining caulk or sealant will typically not be useable with a resulting waste of the remaining material. Heated caulking guns are known from prior art such as US 2010/0230440 Al, describing a caulking gun with a heating element axially coupled along the caulking cartridge chamber. Elongated piano hinges couples the heating element to an insulated wrap covering the outside of the cartridge chamber thus wrapping around the heating element. The heating element can be switched on/off, and the temperature can be manually regulated. .

Different types of heated tools are known to include a temperature sensor, for instance, CN 109482437 A describes a heated polystyrene foam gun with a sensor for measuring the temperature of the foam extruded from the polystyrene foam gun in real time. The measured real time temperature appears on a display arranged on the polystyrene foam gun enabling the user to manually switch the temperature on/off or change the temperature of a first and/or second heat device based on the displayed temperature. A major drawback of this disclosure is that in the heated polystyrene foam gun, the foam cartridge is under pressure and the foam expands when leaving the cartridge, causing the temperature to change, which makes it difficult to manually regulate the temperature of the pressurized material based on temperature of the expanded material.

Object of the disclosure

One objective of the present disclosure is to achieve a mobile heating unit to be used with or implemented in handheld caulking guns. One further objective is to achieve a heating unit for use with existing caulking guns including both manual and electrical caulking guns.

A further objective of the disclosure is to achieve a regulated electric heating unit.

Description of the disclosure

One object of the disclosure is achieved by a caulk tube heater for a caulking gun.

The caulking gun comprises a handle, a trigger, a caulk nozzle, a caulk tube housing configured for holding a caulk tube, and a plunger rod arranged in the caulk tube housing and configured for exerting pressure on the caulk tube.

The caulk tube heater comprises a heating element configured for generating heat for wanning the caulk tube and for being arranged at least partly around the caulk tube. In one aspect, the heating element may be arranged inside the caulk tube housing.

The caulk tube heater may comprise a thermo casing adapted to be arranged to enclose the heating element.

The thermo casing may comprise an insulating material configured for limiting heat transfer through the thermo casing of heat generated by the heating element. I.e. the thermo casing may limit transfer of heat, generated by the heating element, from inside of the thermo casing to outside of the thermo casing.

The caulk tube heater furthermore comprises a temperature sensor configured to be arranged between the thermo casing and the caulk tube and configured for measuring the temperature inside the thermo casing and outputting a sensor signal comprising information of the measured temperature.

The caulk tube heater furthermore comprises a regulator unit adapted for receiving the sensor signal and regulating the output of the heating element in response to the received sensor signal and a preset temperature input.

The caulk tube heater is adapted for being connected to and powered by at least one battery.

In this application, battery may cover any mobile power unit for the caulk tube heater to be used off grid. Batteries may include any type including Lithium-ion batteries, alkaline batteries, replaceable batteries, rechargeable batteries, etc.

In one aspect, the battery may be an integrated part of the caulk tube heater.

In one aspect, the battery may be an external battery where a suitable connection should be provided between the caulk tube heater and the battery' e.g. a plug and socket connection.

In one aspect, the battery' may me an integral part of the caulking gun or may comprise mounting means associated with the caulking gun. I.e. the battery may be one particularly adapted for the particular caulking gun with which the caulk tube heater is to be used. In this disclosure, caulk is used as a general term for sealants and caulk. Caulking gun is also used as a general term covering both manual and electrical or automatic handheld caulking guns and comparable sealant applicators.

In this application electrical or automatic caulking or sealant gun refers to a gun where the plunger rod is power-driven.

The caulk tube heater enables caulking in cold weather at low temperatures that would otherwise cause the caulk to lose its adhesiveness. By heating the caulk tube while it is loaded in the caulk gun, a suitable caulk temperature may be achieved, ensuring the best conditions for the adhesiveness and longevity of the caulk.

Heating the caulk may furthermore prevent a significant densifying of the caulk due to low temperature and thus ease the extrusion of the caulk material.

When using a handheld caulking gun, one hand is typically placed on the handle with a finger on the trigger activating the extension of the plunger rod, while the other hand is often utilized to support the caulk tube housing for optimal control of the extruded caulk. The thermo casing may be formed to allow a hand to support the caulk tube housing or the thermo casing placed over the caulk tube housing.

In one aspect, the thermo casing material may be a flexible material for being wrapped around the caulk tube housing, the heating element or both.

In one aspect, the thermo casing material may be a rigid material in a shape enabling a close fit between the thermo casing and the caulk tube housing.

The heating element may be a flat flexible heating element, such as a silicone heater mat, a Polyimide/Kapton etched foil heater, a polyester foil heater, a screen-printed heater or comparable heating elements.

The heating element may be bendable to a shape substantially complementary to the shape of the caulk tube housing, the caul tube and/or the thermo casing. The heating element may comprise a self-adhesive foil for mounting onto the thermo casing, the caulk tube or the caulk tube housing.

In one aspect, the heating element may form an integral part of the therm o casing.

In one embodiment of the caulk tube heater, the heating element may comprise one or more heating resistors.

In one aspect, the heating resistor may comprise a resistive metal such as a wire, an etched foil, or printed ink. The heating resistor can be sandwiched between a polymeric film or on a substrate with an overlay, thus creating a flat flexible heating element such as a silicone heater mat, a Polyimide/Kapton etched foil heater, a polyester foil heater, or a screen-printed heater on a flexible substrate.

In another aspect, the heating resistor may be implemented integral in the housing as one or more circuits with connected ohmic heating elements.

In one embodiment of the caulk tube heater, the thermo casing may be adapted for at least partly enclosing an outer periphery of the caulk tube housing.

The inside of the thermo casing may have a shape substantially complementary to the outer periphery of the caulk tube or the caulk tube housing.

In one aspect, the thermo casing may be flexible with the ability to conform into a shape complementary to the outer periphery of the caulk tube or the caulk tube housing.

To utilize the heat created by the heating element, the heating element may be configured to be in direct or indirect contact with at least the caulk tube while it, at least partly, encloses the caulk tube housing.

In one embodiment of the caulk tube heater, the thermo casing is substantially cylindrical shaped and configured to be mounted around the caulk tube housing and/or the caulk tube by means of clicking the thermo casing on to the caulk tube housing and/or the caulk tube, so that it encloses at least a part of the caulk tube. This may be achieved by a slit in the thermo casing extending along the length of the casing.

The thermo casing may comprise one or more apertures creating access to the handle, the plunger rod, and the caulk nozzle.

Furthermore, click or snap-fitting means may be used for securing the thermo casing to the caulk tube housing, thus ensuring that the thermo casing stays in place while allowing a hand to support the caulk tube housing during the process of caulking.

In one embodiment, the caulk tube heater may be adapted for an electrical caulking gun with a replaceable battery adapted to be mechanically mounted on the handle of the caulking gun and in electrical communication with the caulking gun. The caulk tube heater for the electrical caulking gun comprises an adapter, adapted for mechanically and electrically connecting the replaceable battery with the caulking gun.

The adapter is furthermore configured for establishing an electric connection between the replaceable battery and the heating element, and between the replaceable battery and the caulking gun.

The replaceable battery may be a rechargeable battery.

The replaceable battery may form part of a product platform configured for a series of tools. The adapter may be configured for establishing electrical and mechanical connection between two parts of such a product family. The adapter may have means for electronic connections complementary/ to that of the replaceable battery' and the handle.

In one aspect, the casing of the adapter may be made of a rigid plastic material e.g. reused plastic.

In one embodiment the caulk tube heater comprises a nozzle heater for heating the caulk in the nozzle of the caulking gun.

The nozzle heater may comprise an individual heating element. The benefits of using the nozzle heater are the same as those disclosed in the previous embodiments of the caulk tube heater. In one embodiment the caulk tube heater, the regulator unit may be configured with a wireless receiver configured for receiving the pre-set temperature input from an external unit.

The external unit may be an app and/or a unit comprising a display and butons. The temperature setting may be manually adjusted by activating buttons on the adapter or through an app capable of adjusting and/or displaying the temperature.

The adapter may comprise the regulator unit and/or a display displaying the pre-set temperature input.

One object of the disclosure is achieved by a method of heating a caulk tube loaded in a caulk gun, wherein the method of heating the caulk tube comprises an act of providing a caulking gun, a caulk tube, and the caulk tube heater as previously described. The caulk tube heater may be connected to the at least one battery. The method furthermore comprises acts of loading the caulk tube in the caulk tube housing of the caulking gun and mounting the caulk tube heater around the caulk tube and/or the caulk tube housing.

The act of mounting the caulk tube heater around the caulk tube and/or the caulk tube housing may include arranging the heating element to enclose a periphery of the loaded caulk tube and/or the caulk tube housing. The act of mounting the caulk tube heater around the caulk tube and/or the caulk tube housing may furthermore include to arrange the temperature sensor in a suitable place in close vicinity of the loaded caulk tube and with a connection of high heat conductivity.

The act of providing a caulking gun may include both manual and electric options. The caulk tube provided may be a size and shape recommended for use with the chosen type of caulking gun and the act of loading may be carried out according to the guidelines defined by the caulk gun manufacturer.

The mounting of the caulk tube heater around the caulk tube housing may be performed while allowing access and/or free passage to the essential interaction surfaces such as the handle, the trigger, the nozzle, and the plunger rod.

The act of mounting the caul tube heater may furthermore include securing the caulk tube heater to the caulk tube housing. The caulk tube heater may be integrally connected to the at least one battery. Alternatively, the caulk tube heater may be connected by a suitable plug-and-socket connection to a batter.' e g. a replaceable battery of an electrical caulking gun. In yet another alternative, the caulk tube heater may be connected via an adapter as previously disclosed to a replaceable battesy of an electrical caulking gun.

One object of the disclosure is achieved by use of the caulk tube heater as previously described, to heat the caulk tube loaded in the caulking gun.

The use of a caulk tube heater will enable caulking in temperatures below the recommend threshold for optimal caulking conditions.

One object of the disclosure is achieved by the adapter as previously described herein. The adapter is adapted for an electrically driven device with a replaceable battery.

The adapter comprises a first interface adapted for mechanical and electrical connection with the electrically driven device, and a second interface adapted for mechanical and electrical connection with the replaceable battery . The adapter is configured for establishing an electric connection between the replaceable battery' and the electrically driven device, and between the replaceable battery' and a third element connected to the adapter, such as a heating element.

One effect of the adapter is that additional features may be added to existing electrically driven tools by applying the adapter to the tool with a third element connected to the adapter providing such additional features. The adapter thus provides for additional electrically driven functions to be implemented or retrofitted in existing product platforms. A further befit of the adapter may be that a single adapter with the third element connected may be used in shift by multiple users and for multiple tools if the tools comprise corresponding interfaces.

In one aspect, the casing of the adapter may be made of a rigid plastic material e g. reused plastic.

For this disclosure in general, the term arranged on includes indirectly or directly arranged on. Likewise, connected to includes indirectly or directly connected to. Description of the drawings

The disclosure will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates two embodiments of the caulk tube heater.

Fig. 2 illustrates one embodiment of use of the caulk tube heater with an electric caulking gun.

Fig. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a manual caulking gun.

Fig. 4 illustrates one embodiments of the caulk tube heater with an adapter connected to an external battery.

Fig. 5 illustrates one embodiments of the adapter connected to an external battery.

Detailed description of the disclosure

In the different figures identical or corresponding elements will be denoted with the same reference numeral. Accordingly, each item will not necessarily be described in connection with each figure.

Fig. 1 illustrates two embodiments of the caulk tube heater. One embodiment with a battery directly connected to the heating element 40 and the temperature sensor 70 in figure B and one embodiment of the caulk tube heater in figure A comprising an adapter 90 to be connected to an electric caulking gun 20 and an external battery 60.

Both embodiments comprise a resistive heating element 40 configured for generating heat for warming the caulk tube. In this embodiment the heating element is illustrated as a single flexible sheet comprising resistive heating elements. Alternative embodiments may comprise multiple sheets. The heating element is adapted for being arranged around the caulking tube. The heating element may be arranged either inside or outside the caulk tube housing 24.

The heating element is electrically connected to the at least one battery 60.

The illustrated caulk tube heater 10 furthermore comprises a thermo casing 50. The thermo casing may comprise an insulating material for limiting heat transfer from inside the thermo casing to the outer surrounding outside the thermo casing.

The thermo casing is illustrated as having a hollow substantial cylindrical form with a slit extending all the way along the length of the casing. This provides for the casing to be easy mounted over the caulk tube housing or the caulk tube depending on the specific design of the caulking gun to be used. The thermo casing is illustrated in a very simple form but may comprise additional apertures for improved fit with the caulking gun. The thermo casing may furthermore comprise snap-fit or clickfittings for a more steady or permanent mounting of the thermo casing to the caulking gun.

The illustrated caulk tube heater 10 furthermore comprises a temperature sensor 70. The temperature sensor is applied for measuring the temperature at a suitable place comprised within the thermo casing. The thermo sensor 70 may be arranged between the thermo casing 50 and the caulk tube 30 for measuring the temperature inside the thermo casing. The temperature sensor outputs a sensor signal 71 comprising information of the measured temperature to the regulator unit 80. The regulator unit 80 is adapted for receiving the sensor signal 71 and adjusting the output of the heating element in response to the received sensor signal and a pre-set temperature input 81.

The caulk tubes, in particular for electrical caulking guns, may be made of aluminum foil and hence be heat conductive. Thus, the temperature sensor may beneficially be applied on the outer side of the caulk tube without being in direct contact with the caulk and thus no cleaning of the temperature sensor 70 may be necessary for reusing the caulk tube heater 10.

In this embodiment, the temperature sensor is serial-connected with the heating element and the sensor signal 71 is given by a voltage difference measured across the temperature sensor. However, other embodiments of the temperature sensor may be applied e.g. with the sensor element being separately connected to the battery or connected in parallel to the heating element amongst others.

Fig. 2 illustrates one embodiment of use of the caulk tube heater with an exemplary electric caulking gun. The illustrated caulking gun 20 comprises a handle 21, a trigger 22 (not shown), a caulk nozzle 23, a caulk tube housing 24 and a plunger rod (25).

A caulk tube 30 is arranged in the caulk tube housing 24 between the nozzle and the plunger rod 25. The plunger rod 25 is moved in direction of the nozzle by activating the trigger 22 to exert pressure on the caulk tube 30.

The illustrated electric caulking gun 20 comprises a replaceable battery 60.

The illustrated use includes a caulk tube heater with an adapter 90 to be arranged between the handle and the replaceable battery'. Alternatively, the adapter may itself include the battery and hence, the adapter may be used such that it replaces the illustrated battery' 60.

The caulk tube heater is not illustrated in full but only illustrated by the arrow illustrating the intended arrangement of the adapter 90 relative to the caulking gun and/or the replaceable battery. The intended use is that the adapter is mechanically and electrically connected to the caulking gun via the handle 21. The adapter may furthermore be mechanically and electrically connected to the replaceable battery' in case the adapter does not comprise an integral battery configured for driving both the heater and the caulking gun. The adapter may preferably be configured without a battery but simply feed on the replaceable battery.

Fig. 3 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a manual caulking gun. The illustrated caulking gun 20 comprises a handle 21, a manual trigger 22, a caulk nozzle 23, a caulk tube housing 24 and a plunger rod 25.

A caulk tube 30 is arranged in the caulk tube housing 24 between the nozzle and the plunger rod 25.

The plunger rod 25 is moved in direction of the nozzle by activating the trigger 22 to exert pressure on the caulk tube 30.

Fig. 4 illustrate one embodiments of the heating element 40 and the temperature sensor 70 electrically connected to the adapter 90. The adapter is mechanically mounted on an external battery 60. Fig. 5 shows a close-up of the adapter 90 and the external battery 60 of fig.4