Caulking gun and method

Abstract

A caulking gun includes a cartridge-holding component, a trigger assembly, a telescoping extension assembly, and a telescoping actuator rod assembly. The telescoping extension assembly includes an outer tube, an inner tube extending telescopingly within the outer tube, and a compression fitting on the outer tube that is adapted to function as means for securing the inner tube in a desired position relative to the outer tube. The telescoping actuator rod assembly includes a tubular member, a rod extending telescopingly within the tubular member, and a plurality of locking components at spaced apart locations on the tubular member that are adapted to be screwed into engagement of the rod for purposes of securing the rod in a desired position relative to the tube. The outer and inner tubes of the telescoping extension assembly define a plurality of openings at spaced apart locations on the outer and inner tubes that enable access by a user to the plurality of locking components for length-adjustment purposes. One embodiment includes a brush component that is adapted to be mounted on the nozzle of the cartridge. The brush component defines a passageway such that user operation of the trigger assembly causes the compound to flow out of the nozzle, through the passageway, and between the bristles of the brush in order to enable application and finishing of the compound with the same tool.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A caulking gun, comprising: 
 a cartridge-holding component, a trigger assembly, a telescoping extension assembly having a distal end portion connected to the cartridge-holding component and a proximal end portion connected to the trigger assembly, and a telescoping actuator rod assembly extending within the telescoping extension assembly from the trigger assembly to the cartridge-holding component;    the telescoping extension assembly including an outer tube, an inner tube extending telescopingly within the outer tube, and a compression fitting on the outer tube that is adapted to function as means for securing the inner tube in a desired position relative to the outer tube;    the telescoping actuator rod assembly including a tubular member, a rod extending telescopingly within the tubular member, and a plurality of locking components at spaced apart locations on the tubular member that are adapted to be screwed into engagement of the rod for purposes of securing the rod in a desired position relative to the tube; and    the outer and inner tubes of the telescoping extension assembly defining a plurality of openings at spaced apart locations on the outer and inner tubes that enable access by a user to the plurality of locking components on the tubular member of the telescoping actuator rod assembly for length-adjustment purposes.    
     
     
         2 . A caulking gun as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a brush component having a bristle-holding component that is adapted to be mounted on the nozzle of the cartridge and a plurality of bristles mounted on the bristle-holding component, which bristle-holding component defines a passageway such that user operation of the trigger assembly causes the compound to flow out of the nozzle, through the passageway, and between the bristles of the brush in order to enable simultaneous application and finishing of the compound.  
     
     
         3 . A brush component for finishing a caulking compound, comprising: 
 a bristle-holding component that is adapted to be mounted on the nozzle of a cartridge containing the caulking compound; and    a plurality of bristles mounted on the bristle-holding component;    the bristle-holding component defining a passageway such that when the caulking compound flows out of the nozzle, the caulking compound flows through the passageway and between the bristles of the brush in order to enable simultaneous application and finishing of the compound.    
     
     
         4 . A method of finishing a caulking compound, comprising: 
 providing a brush component having a bristle-holding component that is adapted to be mounted on the nozzle of a cartridge containing the caulking compound and a plurality of bristles mounted on the bristle-holding component, which bristle-holding component defines a passageway such that compound flowing out of the nozzle flows through the passageway and between the bristles of the brush;    mounting the brush component on the nozzle of the cartridge;    dispensing the caulking compound out of the cartridge through the nozzle of the cartridge, through the passageway in the bristle-holding component, and between the bristles of the brush; and    finishing the caulking compound by wiping it with the bristles of the brush.