# US 12,759,012 B2 · Plungers for sealant dispensing cartridges with collapsible sealant packaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,012 B2 - Document ID: US12759012B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/248,576 - Filed: 2021-10-07 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-13 - Assignees: PRC-DeSoto International, Inc. - Applicants: PRC-Desoto International, Inc. - Inventors: Paul Kuchinski; Oscar Santillan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759012B2 ## CPC - B05C 17/00576: {characterised by the construction of a piston as pressure exerting means, or of the co-operating container} - B05C 17/00583: {the container for the material to be dispensed being deformable} - B05C 17/015: with pneumatically {or hydraulically} actuated piston or the like {(B05C17/00543 takes precedence)} - B65D 83/7713: {the contents of a flexible bag being expelled by a piston, or a movable bottom or partition provided in the container or the package} - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract Plungers (50) for use in sealant dispensing cartridges with collapsible sealant packaging (40) are disclosed. The plungers include anti-bypass retainers (60) to reduce or prevent unwanted passage of the flexible sealant packaging around the edges of the plungers during sealant dispensing operations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plunger assembly for use in a sealant dispensing cartridge comprising: a plunger comprising a cylindrical body and front end; and an anti-bypass retainer contacting the plunger comprising a front portion and an anti-bypass rim structured and arranged to expand radially outward when force is applied to the front portion, wherein the anti-bypass rim has an outer diameter less than or equal to an outer diameter of the plunger prior to the application of the force to the front portion, and has another outer diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the plunger after the application of the force to the front portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plunger assembly of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the plunger is dome shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plunger assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plunger comprises slots extending therethrough forming separated segments around a circumference of the plunger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The plunger assembly of claim 3, wherein the slots extend through a sidewall of the front portion of the plunger and through the anti-bypass rim. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plunger assembly of claim 1, wherein the anti-bypass rim of the retainer comprises an angled annular anti-bypass lip extending radially outward. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plunger assembly of claim 1, wherein the anti-bypass retainer is structured and arranged to allow airflow between a front surface of the anti-bypass retainer and a rear surface of the anti-bypass retainer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The plunger assembly of claim 6, wherein openings are provided in the front portion or the anti-bypass rim of the anti-bypass retainer to allow the airflow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The plunger assembly of claim 1, wherein the anti-bypass retainer is secured to the plunger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The plunger assembly of claim 8, wherein the anti-bypass retainer is secured to the plunger by a retainer attachment post comprising a rear flange attached to a front end of the plunger and a cylindrical body extending axially forward from the flange in contact with the anti-bypass retainer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The plunger assembly of claim 9, wherein the anti-bypass retainer comprises a central axial hole slidingly receiving a portion of the cylindrical body of the retainer attachment post. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The plunger assembly of claim 10, wherein the retainer attachment post comprises a retention lip at a front end thereof structured and arranged to retain the anti-bypass retainer on the cylindrical body of the retainer attachment post. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An assembly for use in the sealant dispensing cartridge of claim 1 comprising: a sleeve; and the plunger assembly of disposed in the sleeve. ### Claim 13 A sealant dispensing system comprising: collapsible sealant packaging comprising a rigid front end including a front opening and a flexible sidewall extending rearwardly from the rigid front end; an inner sleeve structured and arranged to receive the flexible sidewall; and a plunger with an anti-bypass retainer inserted in the inner sleeve structured and arranged to slide forwardly along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve and press against a rear end of the flexible sidewall when air pressure is applied against a rear surface of the plunger, wherein the anti-bypass rim has an outer diameter less than or equal to an outer diameter of the plunger prior to the application of the force to the front portion, and has another outer diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the plunger after the application of the force to the front portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sealant dispensing system of claim 13, further comprising a front-loading outer retaining sleeve containing the inner sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sealant dispensing system of claim 14, wherein the inner sleeve comprises at least one front vent notch in a front end of the inner sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The sealant dispensing system of claim 13, further comprising a rear-loading outer retaining sleeve containing the inner sleeve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sealant dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the inner sleeve comprises at least one front vent notch in a front end of the inner sleeve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sealant dispensing system of claim 17, wherein the rear-loading outer retaining sleeve comprises at least one front vent hole adjacent a front end of the outer retaining sleeve in air flow communication with the at least one vent notch of the inner sleeve to allow trapped air in the inner sleeve to escape through the at least one front vent notch and through the at least one front vent hole. ### Claim 19 A plunger assembly for use in a sealant dispensing cartridge comprising: a plunger comprising a cylindrical body and front end; and an anti-bypass retainer contacting the plunger comprising a front portion and an anti-bypass rim structured and arranged to expand radially outward when force is applied to the front portion, wherein the anti-bypass retainer is secured to the plunger by a retainer attachment post comprising a rear flange attached to a front end of the plunger and a cylindrical body extending axially forward from the flange in contact with the anti-bypass retainer. ### Claim 20 A sealant dispensing system comprising: collapsible sealant packaging comprising a rigid front end including a front opening and a flexible sidewall extending rearwardly from the rigid front end; an inner sleeve structured and arranged to receive the flexible sidewall comprising at least one front vent notch in a front end of the inner sleeve; a plunger with an anti-bypass retainer inserted in the inner sleeve structured and arranged to slide forwardly along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve and press against a rear end of the flexible sidewall when air pressure is applied against a rear surface of the plunger; and a front-loading outer retaining sleeve containing the inner sleeve. ### Claim 21 A sealant dispensing system comprising: collapsible sealant packaging comprising a rigid front end including a front opening and a flexible sidewall extending rearwardly from the rigid front end; an inner sleeve structured and arranged to receive the flexible sidewall; a plunger with an anti-bypass retainer inserted in the inner sleeve structured and arranged to slide forwardly along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve and press against a rear end of the flexible sidewall when air pressure is applied against a rear surface of the plunger; and a rear-loading outer retaining sleeve containing the inner sleeve. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The sealant dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the inner sleeve comprises at least one front vent notch in a front end of the inner sleeve.