Cleaning tool for foam guns

The invention concerns a cleaning tool and a basket for foam guns.

Foam guns are used for dispensing foam, e.g. polyurethane foam. After use of the foam gun, it must be cleaned to prevent the foam from clogging the inside of the foam gun. In order to clean the applicators once the foamable material has been applied therethrough, it is necessary to apply through the dispensing channel a cleaning agent which is typically a solvent solution which acts as a foam digester. This solvent solution allows any foamable material remaining in the applicators to be removed and hence leave the applicators clean for subsequent use. Typically, but not exclusively, the solvent solution contains any or any combination of acetone, dichloromethane, as solvents, and butane, propane, CO2 as propellants to propel the solvent solution through the applicator dispensing channels and typically the solvent solution is provided in an aerosol container for that purpose.

EP 2 195 117 B1 describes a plural component spray gun having a mix chamber and a purge air passage, comprising: a source of solvent; and a solvent piston having a front and a rear and movable between a first non-spraying position and a second spraying position such that: in said first position, high pressure air is applied to said rear to close a solvent bore around said solvent piston to prevent passage of solvent into said mix chamber, and in said second position, high pressure air is applied to said front on detriggering said gun, causing said solvent piston to retract, uncovering said solvent bore, closing off a solvent inlet connected to said solvent source, and allowing a slug of solvent to mix in said purge air passage and pass from a solvent outlet into said mix chamber.

GB 2 316460 B describes an adapter for a valve cap of an aerosol container containing a cleaning material, said adapter being provided with a location and connection means to allow the fitment thereto to a foamable material applicator to allow the dispensation of the cleaning material into the applicator when the same is connected onto the adapter and wherein the adapter is provided of a form to allow at least two different applicator types to be selectively fitted and connected thereto. The objective of the present invention is to provide a means for cleaning foam guns after having dispensed water-based foam.

This objective is achieved in that the cleaning tool and basket comprises a male standard water hose quick release coupling adapter for coupling to a water supply at its one end, a mounting thread for mounting the cleaning tool onto the basket of the foam gun and an internal fit entering sealingly into the opening of the basket of the foam gun on its other end.

The standard water hose quick release coupling adapters can be a Gardena-coupling.

The use of the cleaning tool is very simple: the cleaning tool is screwed onto the basket of the foam gun and connected with the standard water hose quick release coupling adapter to a water supply. When the water supply is opened, water runs through the standard water hose quick release coupling adapter into the opening of the basket of the foam gun and then through the foam gun taking the rests of the foam away.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning tool comprises a grip area between the standard water hose quick release coupling adapter and the mounting thread.

This grip area is preferably provided with elements increasing the friction between the grip area and the user’s hand, such as grooves or ribs.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning tool is provided with mechanical blocking means for limiting the entry into the basket.

These mechanical blocking means can be in form of a lateral projection situated above the mounting thread that comes to rest on the basket at the end of the screwing-in phase.

In a further preferred embodiment, an o-ring is provided on the internal fit entering sealingly into the opening of the basket of the foam gun.

Preferably, this o-ring is manufactured by means of injection moulding.

In order to injection mould the o-ring-groove , a lateral opening is provided in the mounting thread and/or the grip area. The lateral opening can be provided in the mounting thread, in the grip area or in both of them.

In the following, a specific embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein figure 1 shows a side view of the cleaning tool, figure 2 shows a section along the lines B-B of figure 1 , figure 3 shwos a top perspective view of the cleaning tool, figure 4 shows a bottom perspective view of the cleaning tool, figure 5 shows the cleaning tool connected to a basket of a foam gun, figure 6 shows a section along the lines A-A of figure 5, figure 7 shows a top perspective view of the cleaning tool connected to a foam gun, figure 8 shows a bottom perspective view of the foam gun.

As represented in figures 1 to 4, the cleaning tool 1 comprises a male standard water hose quick release coupling adapter 2 at its one end, a mounting thread 3 for mounting the cleaning tool 1 onto a basket of the foam gun and an internal fit 4 entering sealingly into the opening of the basket of the foam gun on its other end.

The cleaning tool 1 comprises a grip area 5 between the standard water hose quick release coupling adapter and the mounting thread. In the present example, this grip area 5 is provided with alternating vertical ribs and grooves increasing the friction between the grip area 5 and the user’s hand.

Furthermore, the cleaning tool is provided with mechanical blocking means 6 for limiting the entry into the basket of the foam gun. These blocking means 6 are in the example in form of a lateral projection situated above the mounting thread 3 that comes to rest on the basket at the end of the screwing-in phase.

It can be seen in figures 2 and 4 that an o-ring 7 is provided on the internal fit 4 entering sealingly into the opening of the basket of the foam gun. A lateral opening 9 is provided in the mounting thread 3 and the grip area 5 for manufacturing this o-ring-groove by means of injection moulding side core.

Figures 5 to 8 show the cleaning tool 1 screwed on a basket 8 of a foam gun. The cleaning tool 1 is screwed by means of the mounting thread 3 onto the basket 8 of the foam gun until the blocking means 6 come to rest on the basket 8. At the same time, the internal fit 4 enters into the opening of the basket 8 of the foam gun and the o-ring provides sealing thereof.

The cleaning tool can then be connected via the standard water hose quick release coupling adapter to a water supply. Water will run through the cleaning tool 1 and over the basket 8 into the foam gun to clean away any remaining rests of foam.