Sealant applicator and method employing impulse clearing

A manually operable sealant applicator capable of dispensing a coagulable sealant, the applicator having:

• a) a variable volume reservoir for the sealant, the sealant being dischargeable from the reservoir by manually effected volume reductions;
• b) a dispensing pathway for dispensing the sealant, the dispensing pathway communicating with the reservoir to receive the sealant therefrom;
• c) a clearing valve communicating with the dispensing pathway and being movable between a dispensing position and a clearing position, the clearing valve providing access to the dispensing pathway in the clearing position;
• and
• d) a manually actuatable clearing member operable through the access provided by the clearing valve to move undesired materials along the dispensing pathway.

A manually operable sealant applicator capable of dispensing a coagulable sealant, the applicator having:

• a) a variable volume reservoir for the sealant, the sealant being dischargeable from the reservoir by manually effected volume reductions;
• b) a dispensing pathway for dispensing the sealant, the dispensing pathway communicating with the reservoir to receive the sealant therefrom;
• and
• c) a manually actuatable clearing member to move undesired materials along the dispensing pathway;
• wherein the clearing member comprises a piston movable in a cylinder to provide suction and is communicable with the dispensing pathway to apply the suction to the dispensing pathway to withdraw the undesired materials therefrom.

A method of dispensing a sealant comprising:

• a) mixing two or more sealant agents in an applicator;
• b) discharging the mixed agents from the applicator along a dispensing pathway;
• and
• c) applying an impulsive force to the dispensing pathway to clear the dispensing pathway of residual materials.