Fluent material container and dispenser

• US RE37,911 E1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Damian L. Lang
• Original Assignee: Damian L. Lang
• Inventors: Lang, Damian L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Thach H
• Application Number:
  US09/973,143
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 222/412, 222/413, 222/533, 222/94, 222/188, 222/529, 222/608, 222/160, 222/167, 222/168, 198/672, 198/550.01, 241/260.1
• US Class Current: 222/412
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/025 Buckets specially adapted for use with concrete
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/20 for applying mortar
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/005 comprising a screw conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85938 Non-valved flow dividers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

A fluent material containing and dispensing apparatus including a hopper having four sidewalls. A tube mounts to one of the sidewalls, and an auger extends from one end of the tube to the opposite end of the hopper, driving material in the hopper through the tube when the auger is rotated. A flexible hose is mounted to the underside of the tube and material in the tube pours into the hose, which can be kinked to slow or stop flow of material. A gap is formed between the outer surfaces of the auger and the tube wall. A radially inwardly extending flange can be mounted to the tube wall to slow the flow of material through the gap. Alternatively, a compressible sleeve can be mounted in the gap between the outer surfaces of the auger and the tube wall extending a substantial length of the tube.

Claims

1. A fluent material containing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a hopper having a first sidewall including a tube aperture, a second sidewall, and two other sidewalls all of substantially equal length joined at four intersecting corners defining a material-containing chamber with an open top end for receiving fluent material;

(b) an elongated tube having a hopper end of the tube rigidly connected to the first sidewall, said tube having an opposite, hose end of the tube spaced from the hopper end of the tube, said tube having a cylindrical tube wall including an interior surface defining a tube passage aligned with the tube aperture on the first hopper sidewall and extending from the hose end of the tube through the tube aperture to the material-containing chamber of the hopper;

(c) an elongated auger mounted within the tube passage and extending substantially coaxially with the tube from a first bearing mounted near the hose end of the tube, through the tube aperture to a second bearing mounted near the second sidewall of the hopper, said auger forming a circumferential, annular gap between radially extreme peripheral edges of the auger and the interior surface of the tube wall, said gap extending the entire length of the tube wall for permitting the passage of fluent material through the gap between the auger'"'"'s radially extreme peripheral edges and the interior surface of the tube wall, and

(d) a hose having hand-flexible sidewalls to enable a human to pinch closed the hose, an interior surface defining a hose passage and openings at opposite first and second ends, the first hose end mounted to a hose mount formed on the tube near the tube'"'"'s hose end, and wherein the hose passage communicates with the tube passage.

2. A fluent material containing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a hopper having a first sidewall including a tube aperture, a second sidewall, and two other sidewalls all of substantially equal length joined at four intersecting corners defining a material-containing chamber with an open top end for receiving fluent material;

(b) an elongated tube rigidly connected at a hopper end of the the tube to the first sidewall, said tube extending to an opposite, hose end of the tube spaced from the hopper end of the tube, said tube having a cylindrical tube wall including an interior surface defining a tube passage aligned with the tube aperture and extending from the hose end of the tube through the tube aperture to the material-containing chamber of the hopper;

(c) an elongated auger mounted within the tube passage and extending substantially coaxially with the tube from a first bearing mounted near the hose end of the tube, through the tube aperture to a second bearing mounted near the second sidewall of the hopper, said auger forming a radial gap between a radially extreme outer surface of the auger and the interior surface of the tube wall;

(d) a hose having hand-flexible sidewalls, an interior surface defining a hose passage and openings at opposite first and second ends, the first hose end mounted to a hose mount formed on the tube near the tube'"'"'s hose end, and wherein the hose passage communicates with the tube passage; and

(e) a flow barrier flange mounted to the interior surface of the tube wall between the hose mount and the hopper end of the tube, the flange extending radially inwardly from the tube wall toward the auger for limiting the flow of fluent material through the tube from the chamber to the hose mount.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the tube comprises:

(a) a first tube section extending from the hopper end of the tube to a first extremity on a first side of the flange; and

(b) a second tube section extending from the hose end of the tube to rigid connection to a second extremity on the second, opposite side of the flange, wherein the flange is clampingly interposed between the first extremity of the first tube section and the connected second extremity of the second tube section.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the flange extends radially inwardly toward the outer surface of the auger, contacting the auger'"'"'s outer surface.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the flange extends radially inwardly toward the outer surface of the auger, forming a gap between an inner surface of the flange and the outer surface of the auger.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the flange is made of rubber.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the hose mount is formed on the underside of the hose end of the tube, and a removable cap is mounted on the hose end of the tube.

8. A fluent material containing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a hopper having a first sidewall including a tube aperture, a second sidewall, and two other sidewalls all of substantially equal length joined at four intersecting corners defining a material-containing chamber with an open top end for receiving fluent material;

(b) an elongated tube rigidly connected at a hopper end of the tube to the first sidewall, said tube extending to an opposite, hose end of the tube spaced from the hopper end of the tube, said tube having a cylindrical tube wall including an interior surface defining a tube passage aligned with the tuber aperture and extending from the hose end of the tube through the tube aperture to the material-containing chamber of the hopper, said tube further comprising;

(i) a first tube section extending from the hopper end of the tube to a first extremity on a first side of the flange; and

(ii) a second tube section extending from the hose end of the tube to rigid connection to a second extremity on the second, opposite side of the flange, wherein the flange is clampingly interposed between the first extremity of the first tube section and the connected second extremity of the second tube section;

(c) an elongated auger mounted within the tube passage and extending substantially coaxially with the tube from a first bearing mounted near the hose end of the tube, through the tube aperture to a second bearing mounted near the second sidewall of the hopper, said auger forming a radial gap between a radially extreme outer surface of the auger and the interior surface of the tube wall;

(d) a hose having hand-flexible sidewalls, an interior surface defining a hose passage and openings at opposite first and second ends, the first hose end mounted to a hose mounted formed on the underside of the hose end of the tube near the tube'"'"'s hose end, and wherein the hose passage communicates with the tube passage;

(e) a flow barrier flange mounted to a portion of the interior surface of the tube wall between the hose mount and the hopper end of the tube, the flange extending radially inwardly from the tube wall toward the auger for limiting the flow of fluent material through the tube from the hopper to the hose mount, wherein the flange extends to near the auger, forming a gap between an inner surface of the flange and the outer surface of the auger; and

(f) a removable cap mounted on the hose end of the tube.

9. A fluent material containing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a hopper having a first sidewall including a tube aperture, a second sidewall, and two other sidewalls all of substantially equal length joined at four intersecting corners defining a material-containing chamber with an open top end for receiving fluent material;

(b) an elongated tube rigidly connected at a hopper end of the tube to the first sidewall, said tube extending to an opposite, hose end of the tube spaced from the hopper end of the tube, said tube having a cylindrical tube wall including an interior surface defining a tube passage aligned with the tube aperture and extending from the hose end of the tube through the tube aperture to the material-containing chamber of the hopper;

(c) a compressible sleeve mounted within the tube, said sleeve having an interior surface defining a sleeve passage and an outer surface that abuts the interior surface of the tube;

(d) an elongated auger mounted within the sleeve passage and extending substantially coaxially with the tube from a first bearing mounted near the hose end of the tube, through the tube aperture to a second bearing mounted near the second sidewall of the hopper, said auger having lands abutting the interior surface of the sleeve; and

(e) a hose having hand-flexible sidewalls, an interior surface defining a hose passage and openings at opposite first and second ends, the first hose end mounted to a hose mount formed on the tube near the tube'"'"'s hose end, and wherein the hose passage communicates with the sleeve passage.