CA2058892C - Valved nozzle for re-usable reservoir of a flowable product - Google Patents
Valved nozzle for re-usable reservoir of a flowable productInfo
- Publication number
- CA2058892C CA2058892C CA 2058892 CA2058892A CA2058892C CA 2058892 C CA2058892 C CA 2058892C CA 2058892 CA2058892 CA 2058892 CA 2058892 A CA2058892 A CA 2058892A CA 2058892 C CA2058892 C CA 2058892C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- nozzle
- float
- container
- dispensing
- valve seat
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/80—Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging
Landscapes
- Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
Abstract
A re-usable nozzle for dispensing a flowable product from a resilient container has a removable one-way valve which facilitates cleaning and sterilisation of the nozzle. When the nozzle is used for dispensing a flowable pharmaceutical, the nozzle controls the amount of suck hack of pharmaceutical into the nozzle on completion of dispensing. With a stand off of the valve float from the valve seat during dispensing of about one eighth of an inch (1) the suck back is sufficient to draw any drop of contaminated pharmaceutical at the tip of nozzle on completion of dispensing into the nozzle so as to reduce the risk of contamination of the environment and (2) the suck back is sufficiently small to minimize the risk of damage to any tissue with which the nozzle is intimately associated. Furthermore, with the distance from the valve seat to the nozzle tip being at least about three times the stand off, no contaminated pharmaceutical may enter the container so that the container may be re-used. The nozzle cavity supports an O-ring which acts as a valve seat and has an integral annular abutment which acts as a stop for the valve float. The float has a hemispherical end directed toward the valve seat and a plurality of legs directed toward the float stop. Flutes formed between legs provide fluid communication through the nozzle when the ends of the legs abut the float stop. The O-ring, and then the float, may be removed.
Description
2!~$~2 _ VALVED NOZZLE FOR RE-USABL:E: RESERVOIR
OF A FLOWABLE PRODUCT
This invention relates to a nozzle having a control valve for use with a re-usable reservoir of a ~10wable product.
A flowable pharmaceutical, for example a pharmaceutical jelly may be stored in a capped collapsible container, typically a capped aluminium tube. When it is desired to dispense some of the pharmaceutical, the cap is removed and typically replaced by a nozzle which provides anl-ni ~.cded passageway between the tube and the dispensing end of the nozzle. The nozzle is then directed to the position where the pharmaceutical is to be dispensed, such as in a body orifice, and the container squeezed until the desired amount of pharmaceutical is dispensed. Aftsr use, the noz~le is removed, cleaned and then sterilised and the container recapped whereupon the nozzle and containe~ are ready for re-use. A problem with this approach is that the flowable pharmaceutical may degrade the metals used in the collapsible tube thereby limiting the storage life of the pharmaceutical containing tube. In order to overcome this drawback, it is known to use a resilient plastic tube containing the pharmaceutical which may receive a nozzle incorporating a one-way valve. The known valved nozzle is described in greater detail hereinafter.
Briefly, this nozzle incorporates a valve float, a float stop and a valve seat. The float stop occasionally unseats thereby impeding normal operation. Also, because the rloat and float stop are typically made in moulds, flashing may occur which can impede proper operation; flashing has been found to be a problem w.ith the Ploat stop. The nozzle could be disassembled for 2 ~ 2 90193~2 RDF
_.
cleaning, however, the small size of the nozzle components made disassembly and re-ass~mbly difficult. This known nozzle is described in greater detail hereinafter.
This invention seeks to overcon~e drawbacks of known nozzles.
According to this invention, there is provided a nozzle for attachment to the discharge port of a dispensing container containing a flowable pharmaceutical, said container of the type providing a positive pressure to dispense pharmaceutical through said nozzle and a negative pressure on termination of dispensing, said nozzle comprising: an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
means for attaohing the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispensing container; a valve seat within said nozzle cavity; a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said ~loat stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity; a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stopl said float having ~i) a v~lve seating end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a float stop abutting end directed toward said float stop and configuxed so as to be capable of abutting therewith, ~iii) fluted sides extending to said float stop abutting end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said valve seating end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said float stop abutting end abuts said float, said flutes provide fluid c~- nication through said nozzle and said float is at a 90193-~ RDF
predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back gen rated on termination of dispensing draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzLe into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without allowing contaminated pharmaceutical to enter said container and without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing pharmaceutical, the positive pxessure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift ofF said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said no~zle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end o~ said co~tainer into said nozzle and said ~loat into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the predetermined standoff of said float from said valve seat ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters ~aid container and i ni ; zing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated~
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a nozzle for attachment to the discharge port of a dispensing container containing a flowable product, said container of the type for providing a positive pressure to dispense product through said nozzle and a negative pressure on termination of dispensing, said nozzle comprising: an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end _ and said dispensing end, said cavity comprising an annular receptor opening to said antry end; means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispen~ing container; a valve seat within said nozzle cavity comprising a resilient O-ring received by said annular receptor and removable from said cavity through said entry end thereof, a float stop within sa d nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity; a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having ti) a valve seating end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a float stop abutting end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, ~iii) fluted sides extending to said float stop abutting end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said float abuts said float stop such that said nozzle is opened and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on termination of dispensing reseats said float in said valve seat, said float being removable from said nozzle cavity once said O-ring has been removed~ whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing product, the positive pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable product in said container may be discharged through the -- 4 ~
- 2 ~ 2 discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle and whereby when said O-ring and said float are removed from said nozzle, cleaning is thereby facilitated so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse.
In the figures which disclose example embodiments of the invention, figure 1 is a side sectional view of a prior art nozzle attached to a container, ~igure 2 is a series of views of a portion of figure 1, figure 3 is a side sectional view of a no~zle made in accordance with this invention attached to a container, figure 4 is a side sectional view of the nozzle and container of figure 3 showing the nozzle in an open position, and figure 5 is a side and end view of a portion of figures 3 and 4.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the above mentioned known valved nozzle. With reference to figure 1, nozzle 110 comprises housing 111 and an interior cavity 112 running between an entry end 114 and a dispensing end 116. The interior cavity has a threaded portion 118 running from the entry end; this threaded portion serves as a means for attachment to the threaded discharge port 120 of a resilient dispensing container 122 ~illustrated in phantom) containing a flowable pharmaceutical148 such as a pharmaceutical jelly. The interior cavity also comprises an enlarged medial portion 124, a reduced diameter portion 126 running from the dispensing end 116 and a tapered portion 125 running between the enlarged medial portion 124 and the reduced diameter portion 126. An annular receptor 128 between the threaded portion 118 and the enlarged medial portion 124 o~ the in~erior cavity 112 receives a resilient O-ring 130.
The 3-ring, when received within the receptor, acts as a valve seat 140 as will become apparent hereinafter. It should be noted that the receptor 128 opens to the entry end 114 of the nozzle which permits removal of the O-ring 130. It may also be noted that the threaded disGharge port of the dispensing container i5 normally screwed into the threaded portion of the nozzle 110 until the end 115 of the discharge port contacts the O-ring 130.
A float stop 142 is press fit into the tapered section 125 of the interior cavity of the nozzle. The float stop is illustrated in greater detail in figure 2. With raference to figure 2 it is seen that the float stop is cruciate shaped in cross section and is tapered. The float stop includes four divergent fingers 150 about its circumference which form a float receiving area 152. Returning to figure 1, it will be apparent that, due to the cruciate shape of the float stop, four ch~nn~ls are formed between the noz2le housing 111 and the float stop when the float stop is press fit into the tapered section of the -interior cavity of the nozzle.
A float 134, comprising a spherical ball, is received within the interior cavity between the valve seat 140 and the float stop 142. The float may be moved between a position whereat it seats on the valve seat, as shown in phantom in figure 1 and a position whereat it is received between fingers 150 of the float stop and abuts the float stop, as is illustrated in figure 1. When the float is seated in the valve seat 140, the interior cavity 112 of the nozzle is closed off, thus closing the nozzle. When the float abuts the float stop, there is fluid communication between the entry end and dispensing end of the nozzle since fluid may pass around the float and along the channels formed between the float stop and the nozzle housing into the reduced diameter portion 126 of the nozzle. When the float abuts the float stop 142, the float is at a fixed stand-off 144 from the valve seat 140, thus, the stand-off is a measure o~ the distance the float would need to move to seat on the valve seat. This stand-off is typically chosen to be approximately one-eighth of an inch which ensures no significant damage is done to any tissue with which the nozzle is in intimate contact, as will become more apparent hereinafter. Furthermore, the length o~ the portion 126 of the cavity 112, is about three times the standoff, ~or reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.
In operation of the prior art nozzle, a resilient container 122 may be capped. When it is desired to dispense the flowable pharmaceutical 148 contained therein, the cap may be removed and the threaded dispensing port screwed into the threaded portion 118 of nozzle 110 until the end oi the dispensing port snugs up against the O-ring 130 of the nozzle.
The nozzle may then be directed to the area requiring an application of the pharmaceutical. This may be a body orifice or the portion of a probe intended to be inserted into a body orifice. Once the nozzle has been directed appropriately, the resilient container may be squeezed. This creates a positive pressure (i.e., a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure) in the nozzle which pushes the float 134 into abutment with the float stop 142. With the float abutting the ~loat stop, pharmaceutical is free to be expelled from the container and through the interior cavity 112 of the nozzle 110 to the dispensing end thereof. Dispensing is terminated by releasing the squeezing pressure from the container whereupon, due to its resilience, the container attempts to return to its original shape. This results in a negative pressure (i.e., a pressure less than atmospheric~ in the nozzle 110 which sucks the float 134 toward the container 12~ and into seating relationship with the valve seat 140. Once the float seats in the valve seat, the nozzle is closed off. Furthermore, the container will not have returned to its original shape when the nozzle is closed off (since the volume increase of the container during suck back will always be less than the decrease in volume in the container when pharmaceutical has been pushed past the float and expelled from the nozzle), consequently the container will apply a static negative pressure to the float which will retain it in seating relation with the valve seat.
Where the nozzle is intimately associated with delicate tissue inside a body ori~ice, suck back in the nozzle risks damage to the tissue. This requires that the suck back be limited and this is accomplished by limiting the stand off. On the other hand, sucking back into the nozzle pharmacautical at the dispensing end of the nozzle on termination of dispensing draws any drip of pharmaceutical formed at the dispensing end back into the nozzle if the float stand off is sufficiently large. Hence, a sufficiently large suck back assists in the prevention of the dripping of contaminated pharmaceutical from '' , ' ~.
-2 ~
the nozzle. To balance these competing factors, the stand off is about one-eighth of an inch~ With the length of portion 126 of the cavity chosen as about three times t:he standoff 144, none of the contaminated pharmaceutical which is sucked back into the nozzle can re~enter the container. This allows the container to be re-used.
After use of the nozzle-container assembly, the nozzle may be removed from the container and the container re-capped.
The nozzle may then be readied for cleaning and sterilisation by pulling the O-ring 130 off the ~nnul ~r retainer 128 ancl out of the nozzle housing through the threaded section 118 of the interior cavity of the nozzle housing and subsequently removing the float and pulling the float stop 142 from end 114 of the nozzle housing. Thereafter the nozzle housing and the separated float, O-ring and~float stop may be cleaned and the nozzle re-assembled by press fitting the float stop into the tapered section of the nozzle's interior cavity and reinserting the float then reseating the O-ring. The re-assembled nozzle may then be sterilised for reuse.
Since the end user must disassemble and re-assemble the nozzle, the interference fit of the ~loat stop in the nozzle cannot be too great. A consequence of this limitation is that the float stop can work itself out of the tapered portion 125 of the interior cavity of the nozzle. If this occurs, the a~ml1m stand off of the float 134 from the valve seat will be reduced thereby making dispensing of viscous jelly from the nozzle difficult. Furthermore, float 134 could be precluded from lifting off the o-ring 130 altogether, rendering the nozzle _ g _ - ' 2 ~ 2 inoperative~
The nozzle of figure 1 has three parts which must be removed from its interior cavity to permit cleaning and one of these parts is removed with some difficulty due to the fact that it is press fit in place. These factors complicate cleaning and sterilisation of the nozzLe.
; Additionally, the valve float and float stop are typically formed with moulding techniques. The cruciate shape o~ the float stQp makes it susceptible to ft~shing at both ends, this flashing may partially obstruct the interior cavity of the nozzle making dispensing more difficult.
Turning to ~igure 3 which illustrates an embodiment of the subject invention, a nozzle 10 has a housing 11 and an interior cavity 12 running between an entry end 14 and a dispensing end 16. The interior cavity has a threaded portion 18 running from the entry end; this threaded portion sarves as a means for attachment to the threaded discharge port 20 of a dispensing container 22, sho~n in phantom in figure 1. The interior cavity also comprises an enlarged medial portion 24 and a reduced diameter portion 26 running between the enlarged medial portion 24 and the dispensing end 16 of the nozzle. An annular receptor 28 between the threaded portion 18 and the enlarged medial portion 24 of the interior cavity 12 receives a resilient O-ring 30. The O-ring, when received within the receptor, acts as a valve seat 40. The receptor 28 opens to the threaded portion side of the nozzle which permits removal of the O-ring 30. The threaded discharge port of the dispensing container is normally screwed into the threaded portion of the nozzle 10 until -- 10 _ 2 Q ~
the end 15 of the discharge port contacts the 0-ring 30.
The juncture between the enlarged medial portion 24 of the interior cavity 12 and the reduced diameter portion 26 comprises an annular abutment 32 which acts as a float stop 42, as will become apparent hereinafter. It is noted that the float stop 42 is an integral part of the nozzle housing 11.
A float 34 is received within the interior cavity between the valve seat 40 and the float stop 42. With reference to figure 5 as well as ~igure 3, the float comprises a hemispherical end 36, with the hemispherical face directed toward the valve seat and a plurality of legs 38 arranged about a core 37 and depending from the hemispherical end and directed toward the float stop. Flutes 3g are formed between adjacent legs. The legs 38 project beyond the end 35 of the core 37.
~' The float may be moved between a position whereat the hemispherical end 36 seats on the valve seat, as shown in figure 3 and a position whereat the ends of the legs of the float abut the float stop 42, as illustrated in figure 4. When the float is seated in the valve seat 40, the interior cavity 12 of the nozzle is closed o~f, thus closlng the nozzle. When the float abuts the float stop, there is fluid communication between the entry end and dispensing end of the nozzle since ~1uid may pass around the hemispherical end of the float and along the flutes 39 between the legs 38 of the float into the reduced diameter portion 26 of the no~zle. The medial portion 24 of the interior cavity 12 tapers towards the float stop which ensures the float is centred when it moves toward the float stop so that the legs 38 of the float contact the annular ~loat stop.
2 ~ 2 When the float abuts the float stop 42, the float is at a fixed stand-of~ 44 from the valve seat 40, thus, as before, the stand-off is a measure of the distance the float would need to move to seat on the valve seat. This stand-off is chosen to '~ be approximately one-eighth of an inch which ensures no significant damage is done to any tissue with which the nozzle is in intimate contact. The length of the portion 26 of cavity 12, which is the distance 46 between the float stop and the dispensing end 16 of the nozzle should be at least about three times the standoff 44 to ensure contaminated pharmaceutical does not enter the container 22, as will become more apparent hereinafter.
The dispensing container 22 contains a flowable pharmaceutical 48, such as a pharmaceutical jelly. The container is made of a resilient material, such as a resilient plastic.
; The operation of the nozzle is similar to the operation of the nozzle 110 and is as follows. The threaded dispensing port of container 22 may be screwed into the threaded portion 18 of nozzle 10 until the end of the dispensing port snugs up against the O-ring 30 of the nozzle. The nozzle may then be .
directed to the area requiring an application of the ; pharmaceutical. This may be a body orifice or the portion of a probe intended to be inserted into a body orifice. Once the nozzle has been directed appropriately, the resilient container may be squeezed. This creates a positive pressure in the nozzle which pushes the float 34 into abutment with the float stop 42.
With the float abutting the float stop, pharmaceutical is free ~ to be expelled from the container and through the interior cavity 2~$~2 90193-~ RDF
12 of the nazzle 10 ko the dispensing end thereof. Dispensing is terminated by releasing the squeezing pressure from the container 22 whereupon, due to its resilience, the container attempts to return to its original shape. ~his results in a negative pressure in the nozzle 10 which sucks the float 34 toward the container 22 and into seating relationship with the valve seat 40. Once the float seats in the valve seat, the nozzle is closed off. Furthermore, the container will not have returned to its original shape when the nozzle is closed off (since the volume increase of the container 22 during suck back will always be less than the decrease in volume in the container when pharmaceutical has been pushed past the float and expelled from the nozzle), consequently the container will apply a static negative pressure to the float which will retain it in seating relation with the valve seat~
The negative pressure in the nozzle prior to the seating of the float on the valve seat draws pharmaceutical back into the nozzle through the dispensing end 16 thereof. Where the nozzle has been inserted in a body orifice, this returned pharmaceutical is contaminated. Xowever, it is intended that the container 22 be re-used ~if a significant quantity of pharmaceNtical remains therein), consequently, this contaminated pharmaceutical must not re-enter the container. With the distance 46 between the dispensing end of the nozzle and the float stop chosen as at least three times the stand off ~, no contaminated pharmaceutical can reach the container even where the float is significantly denser than the flowable pharmaceutical.
. .
::
Where the nozzle is intimately associated with delicate tissue inside a body ori~ice, suck back in the nozzle risks damage to the tissue. It has been determined that limiting the stand off to about one eighth of an inch or less will m~nl~ize the risk of tissue damage (independent of the cross-sectional area of the nozzle opening at the dispensing end of the nozzle).
Since pharmaceutical at the dispensing end of the nozzle is sucked back into the nozzle on termination of dispensing, any drip of pharmaceutical formed at the dispensing end will be drawn back into the nozzle if the float stand off is sufficielltly large. It has been found that a stand off of about one eighth of an inch is sufficient to draw a drip of pharmaceutical into the nozzle for pharmaceuticals of typical viscosities. Hence, the suck back will assist in the prevention of the dripping of contaminated pharmaceutical from the nozzle.
In the result, a stand off of about one eighth of an inch will be sufficient to draw a drip at the end of the nozzle into the nozzle while m; nir;zing the risk of tissue damage.
~; After use o~ the nozzle-container assembly, the nozzle may be removed from the container and the container re-capped.
. ~
The nozzle may then be readied for cleaning and sterilisation by pulling the O-ring 30 off the annular retainer 28 and out of the nozzle hou~ing through the threaded section 18 of the interior cavity of the nozzle housing and subsequently removing the float from end 14 of the nozzle housing. Thereafter, the nozzle housing and the separated float and O-ring may be cleaned and the nozzle re-assembled and sterilised. The sterilised nozzle and the re-capped container are then ready for re-use.
.
It will be noted that nozzle 10 has only two removable parts in its interior cavity rather than the three parts of the known nozzLe 110. Furthermoret since neither part is pres~ fit into the nozzle their removal i5 facilitated. Thus, the nozzle 10 may be more readily disassembled ~or cleaning and re-assembled to permit sterilisation than the previously known nozzle 110.
The diameter of the enlarged medial portion 24 of the interior cavity of the nozzle and of the float 34 are chosen so that the float is constrained to predomin~ntly axial movement in the cavity (that is, any pivoting of the float within the cavity is limited). This ensures the legs 38 of the float will abut the ~loat stop 42 (which is an integral part of the nozzle housing) when the float is pushed against the float stop. This nozzle arrangement avoids the need Eor an integral nozzle housing of complicated construction while also avoiding the need for a press fitted float stop. Avoiding the need for a float stop that must be press fit into the nozzle cavity ensures that the selected stand-of~ for the nozzle is maintained at all times.
The hemispherical end 36 of the float 34 is not sub~ect to flashing; thus, fl~shlng is possible only at the legged end of the float. Accordingly, flashing on the moulded part of the nozzle 10 is less than the flashing on the moulded parts of the nozzle 110. Hence the chances of restricted flow through the nozzle 10 due to flashing are reduced.
Resilient container 22 may be replaced with any other container of the type providing a positive pressure to dispense its contents and a suck back pressure on termination of dispensing. Thus, for example, the container could comprise a 8 g 2 _ syringe.
The no~zle of this invention may be used with ~lowable products other than pharmaceuticals. For example, the nozzle may be used in dispensing an air drying glue. In such an application, the maximum stand off is not critical, however the suck back on te~in~tion o~ dispensing closes the nozzle valve which ensures glue r~ ~ining in the container is not exposed to air and hence does not dry whilP in the container~ Furthermore~
the ability to disassemble the nozzle allows it to be cleaned for reuse.
Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, accordingly, the invention is defined in the claim~.
..
- 16 _
OF A FLOWABLE PRODUCT
This invention relates to a nozzle having a control valve for use with a re-usable reservoir of a ~10wable product.
A flowable pharmaceutical, for example a pharmaceutical jelly may be stored in a capped collapsible container, typically a capped aluminium tube. When it is desired to dispense some of the pharmaceutical, the cap is removed and typically replaced by a nozzle which provides anl-ni ~.cded passageway between the tube and the dispensing end of the nozzle. The nozzle is then directed to the position where the pharmaceutical is to be dispensed, such as in a body orifice, and the container squeezed until the desired amount of pharmaceutical is dispensed. Aftsr use, the noz~le is removed, cleaned and then sterilised and the container recapped whereupon the nozzle and containe~ are ready for re-use. A problem with this approach is that the flowable pharmaceutical may degrade the metals used in the collapsible tube thereby limiting the storage life of the pharmaceutical containing tube. In order to overcome this drawback, it is known to use a resilient plastic tube containing the pharmaceutical which may receive a nozzle incorporating a one-way valve. The known valved nozzle is described in greater detail hereinafter.
Briefly, this nozzle incorporates a valve float, a float stop and a valve seat. The float stop occasionally unseats thereby impeding normal operation. Also, because the rloat and float stop are typically made in moulds, flashing may occur which can impede proper operation; flashing has been found to be a problem w.ith the Ploat stop. The nozzle could be disassembled for 2 ~ 2 90193~2 RDF
_.
cleaning, however, the small size of the nozzle components made disassembly and re-ass~mbly difficult. This known nozzle is described in greater detail hereinafter.
This invention seeks to overcon~e drawbacks of known nozzles.
According to this invention, there is provided a nozzle for attachment to the discharge port of a dispensing container containing a flowable pharmaceutical, said container of the type providing a positive pressure to dispense pharmaceutical through said nozzle and a negative pressure on termination of dispensing, said nozzle comprising: an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
means for attaohing the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispensing container; a valve seat within said nozzle cavity; a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said ~loat stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity; a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stopl said float having ~i) a v~lve seating end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a float stop abutting end directed toward said float stop and configuxed so as to be capable of abutting therewith, ~iii) fluted sides extending to said float stop abutting end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said valve seating end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said float stop abutting end abuts said float, said flutes provide fluid c~- nication through said nozzle and said float is at a 90193-~ RDF
predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back gen rated on termination of dispensing draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzLe into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without allowing contaminated pharmaceutical to enter said container and without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing pharmaceutical, the positive pxessure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift ofF said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said no~zle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end o~ said co~tainer into said nozzle and said ~loat into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the predetermined standoff of said float from said valve seat ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters ~aid container and i ni ; zing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated~
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a nozzle for attachment to the discharge port of a dispensing container containing a flowable product, said container of the type for providing a positive pressure to dispense product through said nozzle and a negative pressure on termination of dispensing, said nozzle comprising: an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end _ and said dispensing end, said cavity comprising an annular receptor opening to said antry end; means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispen~ing container; a valve seat within said nozzle cavity comprising a resilient O-ring received by said annular receptor and removable from said cavity through said entry end thereof, a float stop within sa d nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity; a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having ti) a valve seating end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a float stop abutting end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, ~iii) fluted sides extending to said float stop abutting end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said float abuts said float stop such that said nozzle is opened and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on termination of dispensing reseats said float in said valve seat, said float being removable from said nozzle cavity once said O-ring has been removed~ whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing product, the positive pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable product in said container may be discharged through the -- 4 ~
- 2 ~ 2 discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle and whereby when said O-ring and said float are removed from said nozzle, cleaning is thereby facilitated so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse.
In the figures which disclose example embodiments of the invention, figure 1 is a side sectional view of a prior art nozzle attached to a container, ~igure 2 is a series of views of a portion of figure 1, figure 3 is a side sectional view of a no~zle made in accordance with this invention attached to a container, figure 4 is a side sectional view of the nozzle and container of figure 3 showing the nozzle in an open position, and figure 5 is a side and end view of a portion of figures 3 and 4.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the above mentioned known valved nozzle. With reference to figure 1, nozzle 110 comprises housing 111 and an interior cavity 112 running between an entry end 114 and a dispensing end 116. The interior cavity has a threaded portion 118 running from the entry end; this threaded portion serves as a means for attachment to the threaded discharge port 120 of a resilient dispensing container 122 ~illustrated in phantom) containing a flowable pharmaceutical148 such as a pharmaceutical jelly. The interior cavity also comprises an enlarged medial portion 124, a reduced diameter portion 126 running from the dispensing end 116 and a tapered portion 125 running between the enlarged medial portion 124 and the reduced diameter portion 126. An annular receptor 128 between the threaded portion 118 and the enlarged medial portion 124 o~ the in~erior cavity 112 receives a resilient O-ring 130.
The 3-ring, when received within the receptor, acts as a valve seat 140 as will become apparent hereinafter. It should be noted that the receptor 128 opens to the entry end 114 of the nozzle which permits removal of the O-ring 130. It may also be noted that the threaded disGharge port of the dispensing container i5 normally screwed into the threaded portion of the nozzle 110 until the end 115 of the discharge port contacts the O-ring 130.
A float stop 142 is press fit into the tapered section 125 of the interior cavity of the nozzle. The float stop is illustrated in greater detail in figure 2. With raference to figure 2 it is seen that the float stop is cruciate shaped in cross section and is tapered. The float stop includes four divergent fingers 150 about its circumference which form a float receiving area 152. Returning to figure 1, it will be apparent that, due to the cruciate shape of the float stop, four ch~nn~ls are formed between the noz2le housing 111 and the float stop when the float stop is press fit into the tapered section of the -interior cavity of the nozzle.
A float 134, comprising a spherical ball, is received within the interior cavity between the valve seat 140 and the float stop 142. The float may be moved between a position whereat it seats on the valve seat, as shown in phantom in figure 1 and a position whereat it is received between fingers 150 of the float stop and abuts the float stop, as is illustrated in figure 1. When the float is seated in the valve seat 140, the interior cavity 112 of the nozzle is closed off, thus closing the nozzle. When the float abuts the float stop, there is fluid communication between the entry end and dispensing end of the nozzle since fluid may pass around the float and along the channels formed between the float stop and the nozzle housing into the reduced diameter portion 126 of the nozzle. When the float abuts the float stop 142, the float is at a fixed stand-off 144 from the valve seat 140, thus, the stand-off is a measure o~ the distance the float would need to move to seat on the valve seat. This stand-off is typically chosen to be approximately one-eighth of an inch which ensures no significant damage is done to any tissue with which the nozzle is in intimate contact, as will become more apparent hereinafter. Furthermore, the length o~ the portion 126 of the cavity 112, is about three times the standoff, ~or reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.
In operation of the prior art nozzle, a resilient container 122 may be capped. When it is desired to dispense the flowable pharmaceutical 148 contained therein, the cap may be removed and the threaded dispensing port screwed into the threaded portion 118 of nozzle 110 until the end oi the dispensing port snugs up against the O-ring 130 of the nozzle.
The nozzle may then be directed to the area requiring an application of the pharmaceutical. This may be a body orifice or the portion of a probe intended to be inserted into a body orifice. Once the nozzle has been directed appropriately, the resilient container may be squeezed. This creates a positive pressure (i.e., a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure) in the nozzle which pushes the float 134 into abutment with the float stop 142. With the float abutting the ~loat stop, pharmaceutical is free to be expelled from the container and through the interior cavity 112 of the nozzle 110 to the dispensing end thereof. Dispensing is terminated by releasing the squeezing pressure from the container whereupon, due to its resilience, the container attempts to return to its original shape. This results in a negative pressure (i.e., a pressure less than atmospheric~ in the nozzle 110 which sucks the float 134 toward the container 12~ and into seating relationship with the valve seat 140. Once the float seats in the valve seat, the nozzle is closed off. Furthermore, the container will not have returned to its original shape when the nozzle is closed off (since the volume increase of the container during suck back will always be less than the decrease in volume in the container when pharmaceutical has been pushed past the float and expelled from the nozzle), consequently the container will apply a static negative pressure to the float which will retain it in seating relation with the valve seat.
Where the nozzle is intimately associated with delicate tissue inside a body ori~ice, suck back in the nozzle risks damage to the tissue. This requires that the suck back be limited and this is accomplished by limiting the stand off. On the other hand, sucking back into the nozzle pharmacautical at the dispensing end of the nozzle on termination of dispensing draws any drip of pharmaceutical formed at the dispensing end back into the nozzle if the float stand off is sufficiently large. Hence, a sufficiently large suck back assists in the prevention of the dripping of contaminated pharmaceutical from '' , ' ~.
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the nozzle. To balance these competing factors, the stand off is about one-eighth of an inch~ With the length of portion 126 of the cavity chosen as about three times t:he standoff 144, none of the contaminated pharmaceutical which is sucked back into the nozzle can re~enter the container. This allows the container to be re-used.
After use of the nozzle-container assembly, the nozzle may be removed from the container and the container re-capped.
The nozzle may then be readied for cleaning and sterilisation by pulling the O-ring 130 off the ~nnul ~r retainer 128 ancl out of the nozzle housing through the threaded section 118 of the interior cavity of the nozzle housing and subsequently removing the float and pulling the float stop 142 from end 114 of the nozzle housing. Thereafter the nozzle housing and the separated float, O-ring and~float stop may be cleaned and the nozzle re-assembled by press fitting the float stop into the tapered section of the nozzle's interior cavity and reinserting the float then reseating the O-ring. The re-assembled nozzle may then be sterilised for reuse.
Since the end user must disassemble and re-assemble the nozzle, the interference fit of the ~loat stop in the nozzle cannot be too great. A consequence of this limitation is that the float stop can work itself out of the tapered portion 125 of the interior cavity of the nozzle. If this occurs, the a~ml1m stand off of the float 134 from the valve seat will be reduced thereby making dispensing of viscous jelly from the nozzle difficult. Furthermore, float 134 could be precluded from lifting off the o-ring 130 altogether, rendering the nozzle _ g _ - ' 2 ~ 2 inoperative~
The nozzle of figure 1 has three parts which must be removed from its interior cavity to permit cleaning and one of these parts is removed with some difficulty due to the fact that it is press fit in place. These factors complicate cleaning and sterilisation of the nozzLe.
; Additionally, the valve float and float stop are typically formed with moulding techniques. The cruciate shape o~ the float stQp makes it susceptible to ft~shing at both ends, this flashing may partially obstruct the interior cavity of the nozzle making dispensing more difficult.
Turning to ~igure 3 which illustrates an embodiment of the subject invention, a nozzle 10 has a housing 11 and an interior cavity 12 running between an entry end 14 and a dispensing end 16. The interior cavity has a threaded portion 18 running from the entry end; this threaded portion sarves as a means for attachment to the threaded discharge port 20 of a dispensing container 22, sho~n in phantom in figure 1. The interior cavity also comprises an enlarged medial portion 24 and a reduced diameter portion 26 running between the enlarged medial portion 24 and the dispensing end 16 of the nozzle. An annular receptor 28 between the threaded portion 18 and the enlarged medial portion 24 of the interior cavity 12 receives a resilient O-ring 30. The O-ring, when received within the receptor, acts as a valve seat 40. The receptor 28 opens to the threaded portion side of the nozzle which permits removal of the O-ring 30. The threaded discharge port of the dispensing container is normally screwed into the threaded portion of the nozzle 10 until -- 10 _ 2 Q ~
the end 15 of the discharge port contacts the 0-ring 30.
The juncture between the enlarged medial portion 24 of the interior cavity 12 and the reduced diameter portion 26 comprises an annular abutment 32 which acts as a float stop 42, as will become apparent hereinafter. It is noted that the float stop 42 is an integral part of the nozzle housing 11.
A float 34 is received within the interior cavity between the valve seat 40 and the float stop 42. With reference to figure 5 as well as ~igure 3, the float comprises a hemispherical end 36, with the hemispherical face directed toward the valve seat and a plurality of legs 38 arranged about a core 37 and depending from the hemispherical end and directed toward the float stop. Flutes 3g are formed between adjacent legs. The legs 38 project beyond the end 35 of the core 37.
~' The float may be moved between a position whereat the hemispherical end 36 seats on the valve seat, as shown in figure 3 and a position whereat the ends of the legs of the float abut the float stop 42, as illustrated in figure 4. When the float is seated in the valve seat 40, the interior cavity 12 of the nozzle is closed o~f, thus closlng the nozzle. When the float abuts the float stop, there is fluid communication between the entry end and dispensing end of the nozzle since ~1uid may pass around the hemispherical end of the float and along the flutes 39 between the legs 38 of the float into the reduced diameter portion 26 of the no~zle. The medial portion 24 of the interior cavity 12 tapers towards the float stop which ensures the float is centred when it moves toward the float stop so that the legs 38 of the float contact the annular ~loat stop.
2 ~ 2 When the float abuts the float stop 42, the float is at a fixed stand-of~ 44 from the valve seat 40, thus, as before, the stand-off is a measure of the distance the float would need to move to seat on the valve seat. This stand-off is chosen to '~ be approximately one-eighth of an inch which ensures no significant damage is done to any tissue with which the nozzle is in intimate contact. The length of the portion 26 of cavity 12, which is the distance 46 between the float stop and the dispensing end 16 of the nozzle should be at least about three times the standoff 44 to ensure contaminated pharmaceutical does not enter the container 22, as will become more apparent hereinafter.
The dispensing container 22 contains a flowable pharmaceutical 48, such as a pharmaceutical jelly. The container is made of a resilient material, such as a resilient plastic.
; The operation of the nozzle is similar to the operation of the nozzle 110 and is as follows. The threaded dispensing port of container 22 may be screwed into the threaded portion 18 of nozzle 10 until the end of the dispensing port snugs up against the O-ring 30 of the nozzle. The nozzle may then be .
directed to the area requiring an application of the ; pharmaceutical. This may be a body orifice or the portion of a probe intended to be inserted into a body orifice. Once the nozzle has been directed appropriately, the resilient container may be squeezed. This creates a positive pressure in the nozzle which pushes the float 34 into abutment with the float stop 42.
With the float abutting the float stop, pharmaceutical is free ~ to be expelled from the container and through the interior cavity 2~$~2 90193-~ RDF
12 of the nazzle 10 ko the dispensing end thereof. Dispensing is terminated by releasing the squeezing pressure from the container 22 whereupon, due to its resilience, the container attempts to return to its original shape. ~his results in a negative pressure in the nozzle 10 which sucks the float 34 toward the container 22 and into seating relationship with the valve seat 40. Once the float seats in the valve seat, the nozzle is closed off. Furthermore, the container will not have returned to its original shape when the nozzle is closed off (since the volume increase of the container 22 during suck back will always be less than the decrease in volume in the container when pharmaceutical has been pushed past the float and expelled from the nozzle), consequently the container will apply a static negative pressure to the float which will retain it in seating relation with the valve seat~
The negative pressure in the nozzle prior to the seating of the float on the valve seat draws pharmaceutical back into the nozzle through the dispensing end 16 thereof. Where the nozzle has been inserted in a body orifice, this returned pharmaceutical is contaminated. Xowever, it is intended that the container 22 be re-used ~if a significant quantity of pharmaceNtical remains therein), consequently, this contaminated pharmaceutical must not re-enter the container. With the distance 46 between the dispensing end of the nozzle and the float stop chosen as at least three times the stand off ~, no contaminated pharmaceutical can reach the container even where the float is significantly denser than the flowable pharmaceutical.
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Where the nozzle is intimately associated with delicate tissue inside a body ori~ice, suck back in the nozzle risks damage to the tissue. It has been determined that limiting the stand off to about one eighth of an inch or less will m~nl~ize the risk of tissue damage (independent of the cross-sectional area of the nozzle opening at the dispensing end of the nozzle).
Since pharmaceutical at the dispensing end of the nozzle is sucked back into the nozzle on termination of dispensing, any drip of pharmaceutical formed at the dispensing end will be drawn back into the nozzle if the float stand off is sufficielltly large. It has been found that a stand off of about one eighth of an inch is sufficient to draw a drip of pharmaceutical into the nozzle for pharmaceuticals of typical viscosities. Hence, the suck back will assist in the prevention of the dripping of contaminated pharmaceutical from the nozzle.
In the result, a stand off of about one eighth of an inch will be sufficient to draw a drip at the end of the nozzle into the nozzle while m; nir;zing the risk of tissue damage.
~; After use o~ the nozzle-container assembly, the nozzle may be removed from the container and the container re-capped.
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The nozzle may then be readied for cleaning and sterilisation by pulling the O-ring 30 off the annular retainer 28 and out of the nozzle hou~ing through the threaded section 18 of the interior cavity of the nozzle housing and subsequently removing the float from end 14 of the nozzle housing. Thereafter, the nozzle housing and the separated float and O-ring may be cleaned and the nozzle re-assembled and sterilised. The sterilised nozzle and the re-capped container are then ready for re-use.
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It will be noted that nozzle 10 has only two removable parts in its interior cavity rather than the three parts of the known nozzLe 110. Furthermoret since neither part is pres~ fit into the nozzle their removal i5 facilitated. Thus, the nozzle 10 may be more readily disassembled ~or cleaning and re-assembled to permit sterilisation than the previously known nozzle 110.
The diameter of the enlarged medial portion 24 of the interior cavity of the nozzle and of the float 34 are chosen so that the float is constrained to predomin~ntly axial movement in the cavity (that is, any pivoting of the float within the cavity is limited). This ensures the legs 38 of the float will abut the ~loat stop 42 (which is an integral part of the nozzle housing) when the float is pushed against the float stop. This nozzle arrangement avoids the need Eor an integral nozzle housing of complicated construction while also avoiding the need for a press fitted float stop. Avoiding the need for a float stop that must be press fit into the nozzle cavity ensures that the selected stand-of~ for the nozzle is maintained at all times.
The hemispherical end 36 of the float 34 is not sub~ect to flashing; thus, fl~shlng is possible only at the legged end of the float. Accordingly, flashing on the moulded part of the nozzle 10 is less than the flashing on the moulded parts of the nozzle 110. Hence the chances of restricted flow through the nozzle 10 due to flashing are reduced.
Resilient container 22 may be replaced with any other container of the type providing a positive pressure to dispense its contents and a suck back pressure on termination of dispensing. Thus, for example, the container could comprise a 8 g 2 _ syringe.
The no~zle of this invention may be used with ~lowable products other than pharmaceuticals. For example, the nozzle may be used in dispensing an air drying glue. In such an application, the maximum stand off is not critical, however the suck back on te~in~tion o~ dispensing closes the nozzle valve which ensures glue r~ ~ining in the container is not exposed to air and hence does not dry whilP in the container~ Furthermore~
the ability to disassemble the nozzle allows it to be cleaned for reuse.
Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, accordingly, the invention is defined in the claim~.
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Claims (16)
1. A nozzle for attachment to the discharge port of a dispensing container containing a flowable pharmaceutical, said container of the type providing a positive pressure to dispense pharmaceutical through said nozzle and a negative pressure on termination of dispensing, said nozzle comprising:
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
- means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispensing container;
- a valve seat within said nozzle cavity;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity;
- a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having (i) a first end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a second end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, (iii) fluted sides extending to said second end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said first end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said second end abuts said float stop, said flutes provide fluid communication through said nozzle and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on termination of dispensing draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzle into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without allowing contaminated pharmaceutical to enter said container and without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing pharmaceutical, the positive pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said container into said nozzle and said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the predetermined standoff of said float from said valve seat ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters said container and minimizing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated.
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
- means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispensing container;
- a valve seat within said nozzle cavity;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity;
- a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having (i) a first end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a second end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, (iii) fluted sides extending to said second end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said first end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said second end abuts said float stop, said flutes provide fluid communication through said nozzle and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on termination of dispensing draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzle into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without allowing contaminated pharmaceutical to enter said container and without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing pharmaceutical, the positive pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said container into said nozzle and said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the predetermined standoff of said float from said valve seat ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters said container and minimizing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated.
2. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein said valve seat comprises a resilient O-ring and wherein said nozzle comprises an annular receptor for receiving said O-ring such that said O-ring is removable from said nozzle cavity and wherein said float is removable from said nozzle cavity once said O-ring has been removed thereby facilitating cleaning of the nozzle so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse.
3. The nozzle of claim 2 wherein said float comprises a hemispherical portion, with the hemispherical face comprising the first end of said float and a plurality of legs depending from said hemispherical portion, the end of said legs forming said second end of said float and said flutes being formed between adjacent ones of said legs.
4. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein said predetermined standoff is approximately one-eighth of an inch.
5. The nozzle of claim 2 wherein said predetermined standoff is approximately one-eighth of an inch.
6. The nozzle of claim 3 wherein said predetermined standoff is approximately one-eighth of an inch and wherein the distance between said annular abutment and the dispensing end of the nozzle is at least about three times said pre-determined standoff.
7. A nozzle for attachment to the discharge port of a resilient container containing a flowable pharmaceutical dispensed by squeezing the container, said nozzle comprising:
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
- means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a resilient container;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity;
- a valve seat within said nozzle cavity;
- a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having (i) a first end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a second end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, (iii) fluted sides extending to said second end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said first end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said second end abuts said float stop, said flutes provide fluid communication through said nozzle and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on release of said container after dispensing of flowable pharmaceutical therefrom draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzle into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without allowing contaminated pharmaceutical to enter said container and without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a resilient container and said container is squeezed, the pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, when said resilient container is released, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said container into said nozzle and said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the predetermined standoff of said float from said valve seat ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters said container and minimizing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated.
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
- means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a resilient container;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity;
- a valve seat within said nozzle cavity;
- a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having (i) a first end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a second end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, (iii) fluted sides extending to said second end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said first end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said second end abuts said float stop, said flutes provide fluid communication through said nozzle and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on release of said container after dispensing of flowable pharmaceutical therefrom draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzle into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without allowing contaminated pharmaceutical to enter said container and without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a resilient container and said container is squeezed, the pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, when said resilient container is released, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said container into said nozzle and said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the predetermined standoff of said float from said valve seat ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters said container and minimizing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated.
8. The nozzle of claim 7 wherein said valve seat comprises a resilient O-ring and wherein said nozzle comprises an annular receptor for receiving said O-ring such that said O-ring is removable from said nozzle cavity and wherein said float is removable from said nozzle cavity once said O-ring has been removed thereby facilitating cleaning of the nozzle so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse.
9. The nozzle of claim 8 wherein said float comprises a hemispherical portion, with the hemispherical face comprising the first end of said float and a plurality of legs depending from said hemispherical portion, the end of said legs forming said second end of said float and said flutes being formed between adjacent ones of said legs.
10. The nozzle of claim 7 wherein said predetermined standoff is approximately one-eighth of an inch.
11. The nozzle of claim 8 wherein said predetermined standoff is approximately one-eighth of an inch.
12. The nozzle of claim 9 wherein said predetermined standoff is approximately one-eighth of an inch and wherein the distance between the dispensing end of the nozzle and the end of said float stop proximate said dispensing end is at least about three times said pre-determined standoff.
13. A nozzle for attachment to the discharge port of a dispensing container containing a flowable product, said container of the type for providing a positive pressure to dispense product through said nozzle and a negative pressure on termination of dispensing, said nozzle comprising:
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end, said cavity comprising an annular receptor opening to said entry end;
- means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispensing container;
- a valve seat within said nozzle cavity comprising a resilient O-ring received by said annular receptor and removable from said cavity through said entry end thereof;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity;
- a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having (i) a first end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a second end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, (iii) fluted sides extending to said second end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said float abuts said float stop such that said nozzle is opened and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on termination of dispensing reseats said float in said valve seat, said float being removable from said nozzle cavity once said O-ring has been removed, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing product, the positive pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable product in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle and whereby when said O-ring and said float are removed from said nozzle, cleaning is thereby facilitated so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse.
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end, said cavity comprising an annular receptor opening to said entry end;
- means for attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of a dispensing container;
- a valve seat within said nozzle cavity comprising a resilient O-ring received by said annular receptor and removable from said cavity through said entry end thereof;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle, said float stop comprising an annular abutment in said interior cavity;
- a float within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said float stop, said float having (i) a first end directed toward said valve seat and configured so as to be seatable therein, (ii) a second end directed toward said float stop and configured so as to be capable of abutting therewith, (iii) fluted sides extending to said second end, said float moveable between a first position whereat said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat said float abuts said float stop such that said nozzle is opened and said float is at a predetermined standoff from said valve seat, said standoff chosen so that the suck back generated on termination of dispensing reseats said float in said valve seat, said float being removable from said nozzle cavity once said O-ring has been removed, whereby when said nozzle is attached to the discharge port of a dispensing container and said container supplies a positive pressure for dispensing product, the positive pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable product in said container may be discharged through the discharge end of said nozzle and whereby, on termination of dispensing, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle and whereby when said O-ring and said float are removed from said nozzle, cleaning is thereby facilitated so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse.
14. A dispensing system for dispensing a flowable pharmaceutical comprising the following:
- a resilient container containing a flowable pharmaceutical, said container having a discharge port and providing a positive pressure on being squeezed to dispense pharmaceutical through said discharge port and a negative, suck back, pressure when said container is released;
- a nozzle attached to said container comprising:
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
- said nozzle tapering to a reduced diameter proximate said dispensing end;
- means for releasably attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of said resilient container;
- a valve seat comprising a resilient O-ring received within an annular receptor in said nozzle cavity such that said O-ring is removable from said nozzle cavity when detached from said container;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle having a first distance between the float stop and the nozzle dispensing end;
- a float positioned between said valve seat and said float stop and moveable between a first position whereat a first end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat a second end of said float abuts said float stop such that said float is located at a standoff distance from said valve seat, said float having fluted sides extending to said second end of said float, said fluted sides providing fluid communication through said nozzle when said second end of said float abuts said float stop, said standoff distance being about one-eighth inch so that the suck back generated on release of said container after dispensing of flowable pharmaceutical therefrom draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzle into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, said first distance being at least about three times said stand-off distance and co-operating such that on release of said container no contaminated pharmaceutical enters said container, said float sized such that if said resilient O-ring is removed from said nozzle cavity, said float is removable from said nozzle cavity thereby facilitating cleaning of the nozzle so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse, whereby when said container is squeezed, the pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the dispensing end of said nozzle and whereby, when said resilient container is released, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said container into said nozzle and said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the standoff distance of said float from said valve seat and said first distance ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters said container while reducing dripping from said nozzle and minimizing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated.
- a resilient container containing a flowable pharmaceutical, said container having a discharge port and providing a positive pressure on being squeezed to dispense pharmaceutical through said discharge port and a negative, suck back, pressure when said container is released;
- a nozzle attached to said container comprising:
- an entry end and a dispensing end and a cavity running between said entry end and said dispensing end;
- said nozzle tapering to a reduced diameter proximate said dispensing end;
- means for releasably attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of said resilient container;
- a valve seat comprising a resilient O-ring received within an annular receptor in said nozzle cavity such that said O-ring is removable from said nozzle cavity when detached from said container;
- a float stop within said nozzle cavity positioned between said valve seat and said dispensing end of said nozzle having a first distance between the float stop and the nozzle dispensing end;
- a float positioned between said valve seat and said float stop and moveable between a first position whereat a first end of said float seats on said valve seat and closes said nozzle and a second position whereat a second end of said float abuts said float stop such that said float is located at a standoff distance from said valve seat, said float having fluted sides extending to said second end of said float, said fluted sides providing fluid communication through said nozzle when said second end of said float abuts said float stop, said standoff distance being about one-eighth inch so that the suck back generated on release of said container after dispensing of flowable pharmaceutical therefrom draws flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said nozzle into said nozzle to reduce dripping and reseats said float in said valve seat without significant damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated, said first distance being at least about three times said stand-off distance and co-operating such that on release of said container no contaminated pharmaceutical enters said container, said float sized such that if said resilient O-ring is removed from said nozzle cavity, said float is removable from said nozzle cavity thereby facilitating cleaning of the nozzle so that the nozzle, once cleaned, may be reassembled and sterilised for reuse, whereby when said container is squeezed, the pressure generated in said nozzle causes said float to lift off said valve seat and abut said float stop so that flowable pharmaceutical in said container may be discharged through the dispensing end of said nozzle and whereby, when said resilient container is released, the negative pressure in said nozzle sucks flowable pharmaceutical at said dispensing end of said container into said nozzle and said float into seating relation with said valve seat to close said nozzle, the standoff distance of said float from said valve seat and said first distance ensuring no contaminated pharmaceutical re-enters said container while reducing dripping from said nozzle and minimizing damage to any tissue with which said nozzle may be associated.
15. The dispensing system of claim 14 wherein said float stop is an annular abutment and wherein said float comprises a hemispherical portion, with the hemispherical face comprising the first end of said float and a plurality of legs depending from said hemispherical portion, the end of said legs forming said second end of said float and said flutes being formed between adjacent ones of said legs.
16. The dispensing system of claim 15 wherein said means for releasably attaching the entry end of said nozzle to the discharge port of said resilient container comprises threads within said nozzle.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2058892 CA2058892C (en) | 1992-01-07 | 1992-01-07 | Valved nozzle for re-usable reservoir of a flowable product |
| AU30364/92A AU654604B2 (en) | 1992-01-07 | 1992-12-23 | Valved nozzle for re-usable reservoir of a flowable product |
| MX9300027A MX9300027A (en) | 1992-01-07 | 1993-01-06 | VALVE NOZZLE FOR REUSABLE DEPOSIT OF A FLOWING PRODUCT. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2058892 CA2058892C (en) | 1992-01-07 | 1992-01-07 | Valved nozzle for re-usable reservoir of a flowable product |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2058892A1 CA2058892A1 (en) | 1993-07-08 |
| CA2058892C true CA2058892C (en) | 1999-06-01 |
Family
ID=4149042
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2058892 Expired - Fee Related CA2058892C (en) | 1992-01-07 | 1992-01-07 | Valved nozzle for re-usable reservoir of a flowable product |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2058892C (en) |
-
1992
- 1992-01-07 CA CA 2058892 patent/CA2058892C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2058892A1 (en) | 1993-07-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |