Front-loading adhesive and sealant retaining and dispensing systems

Abstract

Loading systems for adhesives and sealants are disclosed in which flexible sealant/adhesive-containing cartridges may be loaded through the front end of a retainer into a sleeve for dispensing, and then removed from the front end of the retainer when the cartridges are spent.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An adhesive and sealant retaining and dispensing system comprising:
 a generally cylindrical outer retainer;   a front cap removably attached to a front end of the retainer; and   a generally cylindrical inner sleeve inserted in the retainer structured and arranged to receive a cartridge therein containing the adhesive or sealant.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the front cap comprises a front opening structured and arranged to receive a front tip of the cartridge therethrough, and a rear rim structured and arranged for the removable attachment of the front cap to the front end of the retainer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a collar attached to and surrounding the front end of the retainer, wherein the front cap is removably attached to the collar. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the front cap is threadingly attached to the collar. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the collar is permanently attached to the retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the collar is removably attached to the retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the collar comprises at least one retaining slot, the retainer comprises at least one front retaining pin, and the collar is removably attached to the retainer by engagement of the at least one front retaining pin in the at least one retaining slot. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the front cap is integrally formed with a rear collar structured and arranged for the removable attachment of the front cap to the front end of the retainer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , where in the collar comprises at least one retaining slot, the retainer comprises at least one front retaining pin, and the collar and integral front cap are removably attached to the retainer by engagement of the at least one front retaining pin in the at least one retaining slot. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one retaining slot comprises a detent structured and arranged to bias the at least one front retaining pin into a fastened position against an abutment surface of the at least one retaining slot. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the detent comprises a detent projection extending inwardly on one side of the at least one retaining slot, and a resilient spring finger located on an opposite side of the at least one retaining slot, wherein when the at least one front retaining pin travels through the at least one retaining slot toward the abutment surface it contacts the detent projection and elastically deforms the resilient spring finger. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an abutment wall extending radially outward from the collar adjacent to the abutment surface of the at least one retaining slot structured and arranged to contact the at least one front retaining pin when the at least one front retaining pin is in the fastened position. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising two of the retaining slots and two of the front retaining pins. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a rear retaining flange releasingly engageable with a rear end of the retainer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a front end structured and arranged to releasingly engage the cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge comprises a rigid front end that contacts the front end of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the rigid front end of the cartridge comprises a domed front end and a rear rim that contacts the front end of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the rigid front end of the cartridge has an outer diameter at its rear rim, the inner sleeve has an outer diameter, and the outer diameters of the rigid front end and inner sleeve are substantially the same. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the cartridge comprises a flexible sidewall extending rearwardly from the rigid front end into an interior volume of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plunger inserted in the inner sleeve structured and arranged to slide inwardly along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve when air pressure is applied against a rear surface of the plunger. 
     
     
         21 . An adhesive and sealant retaining and dispensing system comprising:
 a generally cylindrical outer retainer;   a front cap removably attached to a front end of the retainer;   a generally cylindrical inner sleeve inserted in the retainer; and   a cartridge containing an adhesive or sealant located inside the inner sleeve and outer retainer, wherein the cartridge comprises a flexible sidewall and a rigid front end having a rear rim that contacts a front end of the inner sleep and has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the retainer.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the outer diameter of the rear rim of the rigid front end of the cartridge is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising filling the adhesive and sealant retaining system of  claim 1  with a cartridge containing an adhesive or sealant by removing the front cap from the retainer, inserting a flexible sidewall of the cartridge into the inner sleeve, and attaching the front cap to the front end of the retainer. 
     
     
         24 . A cartridge structured and arranged for use in the adhesive and sealant retaining and dispensing system of  claim 1 , the cartridge comprising:
 a rigid front end comprising a front opening and a rear rim structured and arranged to contact a front end of the inner sleeve; and   a flexible sidewall extending rearwardly from the rear rim of the rigid front end structured and arranged for insertion into the inner sleeve.