Fluid Application Device and Method

Abstract

A fluid application device includes a clamp portion including two clamp arms, at least one of the clamp arms including a sponge. The fluid application device includes a reservoir to store a fluid and a grip portion including a trigger to move the clamp arms towards each other when pressed a first distance and to pump fluid from the reservoir to the sponge when pressed a second distance greater than the first distance. The fluid application device includes a shaft extending between the clamp portion and the handle portion and a first tube extending along the shaft to transmit the fluid from the reservoir to the sponge based on activation of the trigger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid application device, including:
 a clamp portion including two clamp arms, at least one of the clamp arms including a sponge;   a reservoir to store a fluid;   a grip portion including a trigger to move the clamp arms towards each other when pressed a first distance and to pump fluid from the reservoir to the sponge when pressed a second distance greater than the first distance;   a shaft extending between the clamp portion and the handle portion; and   a first tube extending along the shaft to transmit the fluid from the reservoir to the sponge based on activation of the trigger.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid application device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the clamp arms includes a sponge, and
 the sponges contact each other when the trigger is pressed the first distance.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid application device of  claim 2 , further comprising second and third tubes connected to the first tube to supply fluid to the respective sponges of the clamp arms. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid application device of  claim 3 , further comprising a pump to pump fluid from the reservoir to the first tube,
 wherein the trigger activates the pump when pressed the second distance.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid application device of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger does not activate the pump when pressed the first distance. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid application device of  claim 1 , wherein each sponge is mounted to a base plate, and
 each base plate is mounted to a respective clamp arm.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid application device of  claim 6 , wherein each sponge includes a first portion to cover an inside surface of a respective base plate facing an opposing base plate, and
 a second portion to cover a side surface of the base plate.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid application device of  claim 7 , wherein the side surface of the base plate includes a bottom surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid application device of  claim 8 , wherein the side surface of the base plate further includes at least a portion of a front surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid application device of  claim 6 , wherein each sponge is mounted to an inside surface of a respective base plate facing an opposing base plate, and
 each sponge extends past a bottom edge of the respective base plate.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid application device of  claim 10 , wherein each sponge does not cover a side surface of the respective base plate other than the inside surface of the respective base plate. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid application device of  claim 6 , wherein each base plate includes a nozzle to supply the fluid to the sponges, and
 each sponge includes an opening surrounding the nozzle.   
     
     
         13 . A method of supplying fluid in a fluid supplying device including two clamping arms, at least one of the clamping arms having a sponge mounted thereon, a grip portion including a trigger to move the clamp arms and to supply a fluid to the sponge, a shaft extending between the grip portion and the clamping arms, and a tube extending along the shaft to supply the fluid to the sponge, the method comprising:
 moving the trigger a first distance to activate the clamp arms;   moving the trigger a second distance to activate a pump; and   transmitting the fluid through the tube to the sponge based on activation of the pump.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein moving the trigger the first distance does not activate the pump. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting the fluid from the tube to first and second branch tubes connected between the tube and first and second sponges based on activation of the pump. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising spraying the fluid into an opening in the sponge.