Caulking tube sealing cap

Abstract

The invention provides a caulking tube sealing cap which may be threaded onto a standard caulking tube nozzle after the tube has been opened. The cap generally includes a frusto-conically shaped internal threaded cavity. The internal cavity also includes an integrally formed sealing ring that compressively cooperates with the caulking tube tip to prevent air from entering the tube, thus extending the shelf-life of the unused caulk or other viscous material remaining in the tube.

1 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 27  wherein: 
 a body member, said body member including a solid top portion and a depending annular wall, said top portion and said annular wall having a common outer surface, said solid top portion and said annular wall forming an inner cavity, said inner cavity including said caulking tube tip engagement means, wherein said caulking tube tip engagement means includes at least one internal helical thread, said at least one helical internal thread constructed and arranged to form threads on an external surface of said caulking tube nozzle, wherein said at least one helical internal thread and said formed threads on said external surface of said caulking tube nozzle cooperate to interlock said sealing cap and said caulking tube tip in an axial relationship;    whereby compressive engagement between said at least one helical internal thread and said formed threads on said external surface of said caulking tube tip prevent air from entering said caulking tube.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said internal cavity is conjugate in shape with respect to said caulking tube tip.  
   
   
       7 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said outer surface includes a gripping means constructed and arranged to provide gripping for rotational engagement between said caulking tube tip and said sealing cap;  
   
   
       8 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said gripping means is selected from the group consisting of straight knurling, diagonal knurling and diamond knurling.  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said sealing cap includes at least one integrally formed sealing ring, wherein said integrally formed sealing ring is constructed and arranged to compressively engage an external surface of said caulking tube tip to prevent air from entering said caulking tube tip.  
   
   
       12 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said sealing ring comprises an elastomeric ring, wherein said elastomeric ring is integrally molded within said internal cavity.  
   
   
       13 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said sealing ring comprises a metal ring, wherein said metal ring is integrally molded within said internal cavity.  
   
   
       14 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said at least one sealing means includes an O-ring wherein said O-ring is located within an integrally formed o-ring groove within said inner cavity of said sealing cap, wherein said O-ring is constructed and arranged to compressively engage said outer surface of said caulking tube nozzle to prevent air from entering said caulking tube nozzle.  
   
   
       15 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said O-ring is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of Cork, Gasket Material, Leather, Rubber, Buna-N, Silicone, Neoprene, Tetraflouroethylene and Viton.  
   
   
       16 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said sealing cap is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric materials, polymeric materials or metals.  
   
   
       17 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 27  wherein: 
 a body member, said body member including a solid top portion and a depending annular wall, said top portion and said annular wall having a common outer surface, said solid top portion and said annular wall forming an inner cavity, said inner cavity including said caulking tube tip engagement means, wherein said caulking tube tip engagement means includes at least one segmented helical internal thread, said at least one segmented helical internal thread constructed and arranged to cut threads on an external surface of said caulking tube nozzle, wherein said at least one segmented helical internal thread and said cut threads on said external surface of said caulking tube nozzle cooperate to interlock said sealing cap and said caulking tube tip in an axial relationship;    whereby compressive engagement between said at least one helical internal thread and said cut threads on said external surface of said caulking tube tip prevent air from entering said caulking tube.    
   
   
       18 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said internal cavity is conjugate in shape with respect to said caulking tube tip.  
   
   
       19 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said outer surface includes a gripping means constructed and arranged to provide gripping for rotational engagement between said caulking tube tip and said sealing cap;  
   
   
       20 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said gripping means is selected from the group consisting of straight knurling, diagonal knurling and diamond knurling.  
   
   
       21 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said sealing cap includes at least one integrally formed sealing ring, wherein said integrally formed sealing ring is constructed and arranged to compressively engage said outer surface of said caulking tube nozzle to prevent air from entering said caulking tube nozzle.  
   
   
       22 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 21  wherein said sealing ring comprises an elastomeric ring, wherein said elastomeric ring is integrally molded within said internal cavity.  
   
   
       23 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 21  wherein said sealing ring comprises a metal ring, wherein said metal ring is integrally molded within said internal cavity.  
   
   
       24 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said sealing cap includes at least one O-ring located within an integrally formed o-ring groove within said inner cavity of said sealing cap, said O-ring constructed and arranged to compressively engage said outer surface of said caulking tube nozzle to prevent air from entering said caulking tube nozzle.  
   
   
       25 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said O-ring is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of Cork, Gasket Material, Leather, Rubber, Buna-N, Silicone, Neoprene, Tetraflouroethylene and Viton.  
   
   
       26 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said sealing cap is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric materials, polymeric materials or metals.  
   
   
       27 . A sealing cap for a caulking tube nozzle comprising: 
 a body member, said body member including a solid top portion and a depending annular wall, said top portion and said annular wall having a common outer surface, said solid top portion and said annular wall forming an inner cavity, said inner cavity including a caulking tube tip engagement means and at least one sealing means;    whereby said caulking tube tip is integrally formed with said caulking tube;    wherein said engagement means cooperates with said caulking tube tip to provide compressive engagement between said at least one sealing means and said caulking tube tip thereby preventing air from entering said caulking tube.    
   
   
       28 . The caulking tube sealing cap in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one internal helical thread is formed by cutting at least one helical thread on said external surface of said caulking tube tip.