GB2125266A - Nozzles for dispensing fluids such as icing - Google Patents

Abstract

Die-cast nozzles for dispensing fluid icing sugar have at least one integral projection which is formed internally of the nozzle. The projections are to prevent intimate nesting of identically shaped nozzles during subsequent plating, and may also perform a fluid-directing function. Alternatively nesting-preventing projections may be formed internally in addition to fluid-directing projections.

Description

SPECIFICATION Nozzles and method of manufacture thereof This invention relates to nozzles, and in particular nozzles suitable for dispensing fluid icing sugar on to cakes for the purpose of decoration. The invention may however comprehend nozzles suitable for a variety of applications.

Nozzles for dispensing fluid icing sugar are typically conically shaped with the larger open end adapted to fit into an icing sugar dispensing bag or onto a cylindrical dispenser using a retention ring, with the smaller or apex end of the nozzles being shaped so as to provide some particular flow configuration in the fluid icing sugar, which results in differing shapes being produced on the surface of a cake.

Conventionally, icing sugar nozzles have been manufactured from tinned steel or stainless steel sheet which is cut into a particular shape and subsequently folded and spot welded to provide a particular nozzle. This method of fabrication, whilst relatively cheap to perform, can result in the apex of the nozzle being rather crudely shaped, and the consistency of the nozzle shapes is difficult to maintain in such a forming operation. Variations in ductility and thickness of material may have significant effects upon the consistency of shape and the pattern forming nozzle. It is a subject of the invention to produce an improved nozzle.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a nozzle suitable for dispensing fluid icing sugar on to cakes and the like, said nozzle comprising a single piece cast metal structure, generally conical on its exterior, with openings at the apex and the base of the cone, the nozzle having one or more integrally formed internal projections adapted to prevent identically shaped nozzles from nesting intimately one within the other. The nozzle may have one or more internally projecting flow-directing integrally formed projections extending from the apex opening of the nozzle.

Where a nozzle has one or more flow-directing projections, this or these may be so shaped as to substantially prevent intimate nesting of identically shaped nozzles. Alternatively, the flowdirecting projections may be separate from the projections which are adapted to prevent intimate nesting. In this case both projections may be formed in a single casting operation, and projections which solely perform an intimate nesting prevention function may be spaced from the apex end of the nozzle.

The nozzles are suitably made of zinc in a die casting operation and they may be plated subsequent to casting. Suitable platings include nickel, and the plating may be carried out in a conventional barrel plating operation.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a method of manufacturing a nozzle suitable for dispensing dispensing fluid icing sugar on to cakes or the like, said method comprising die-casting in a single piece a nozzle having a generally conical exterior with openings at the apex and base of the cone, the nozzle having one or more integrally formed internal projections adapted to prevent identically shaped nozzles from nesting one within the other, and subsequently plating the nozzles.

Three separate embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a first icing sugar nozzle, Figure 2 is a plan view of the nozzle of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a diametral section of the nozzle of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an elevation of a second icing sugar nozzle; Figure 5 is a plan view of the nozzle of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a diametral section of the nozzle of Figure 4; Figure 7 is an elevation of a third icing sugar nozzle, Figure 8 is a plan view of the nozzle of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a diametral section of the nozzle of Figure 7.

Each of the embodiments is cast as a singlepiece die casting and subsequently nickel-plated (with copper and then nickel) in a barrel plating machine.

A first icing sugar nozzle 10, shown in Figures 1 to 3, produces a star-shaped extrusion with eight points. Nozzle 10 when seen in elevation (Figure 1) has a generally conical exterior being truncated at its apex end 11 to provide an opening through which fluid icing sugar can pass. The wall thickness of the nozzle 10 increases.towards the apex end 11. Eight integrally cast identical flutings 12 extend within the nozzle 10 from about half way up the nozzle to the apex end 11 , the crosssection of each fluting being triangular, each dimension of the triangle continuously increasing towards the apex end 11. Flutings 1 2 terminate at apex end 11 in a plane surface with spaces 13 between each fluting 12 through which fluid icing sugar can pass to provide a star-shaped extrusion.

A second icing sugar nozzle 1 5, shown in Figures 4 to 6, produces a star-shaped extrusion with a substantial central portion and ten equally spaced projections on its surface. Nozzle 1 5 when seen in elevation (Figure 4) has a generally conical exterior being truncated at its apex end 1 6 to provide an opening through which fluid icing sugar can pass. The wall thickness of nozzle 1 5 is substantially constant.

Ten integrally cast identical flutings 17 extend within nozzle 1 5 from about half way up the nozzle to the apex end 1 6. Each fluting 1 7 is triangular in cross-section, the dimensions of the triangle increasing continuously towards the apex end 16, where they terminate in a plane surface with spaces 1 8 between each fluting 1 7 through which icing sugar can pass to provide a starshaped extrusion.

Three integrally formed projections 19, equally spaced around the internal circumference of nozzle 15, are positioned just above half way up the interior of nozzle 1 5. Projections 1 9 are tetrahedral, their longer dimensions extending towards the apex end 16 of nozzle 1 5.

A third icing sugar nozzle 21, shown in Figures 7 to 9, produces a substantially crescent-shaped extrusion with rounded ends. Nozzle 21 when seen in elevation (Figure 7) has a generally conical exterior formed of two truncated conical portions 22 and 23 with portion 23 at its apex end 24. The exterior of portion 23 is part of a cone of smaller apex angle than portion 22. Two planar areas 25 of portion 23, extend on opposite exterior sides of portion 23 towards apex end 24. A single curved projection 26 extends internally of portion 23, being cast integrally as part of the nozzle 21. This projection 26 is on a part of portion 23 corresponding to one of the planar areas 25, and increases in cross-section towards the apex end 24, such that it guides fluid icing sugar to a crescent shaped exit 27 which lies in a plane extending at an acute angle to the common axis of the conical portions 22 and 23.

In each embodiment, the projections internally of the nozzle serve in at least one of their functions to prevent nozzles of the same type from intimately nesting one within the other. This enables subsequent plating, particularly barrelplating, to be carried out satisfactorily. The projections described in the examples could be shaped other than tetrahedral, e.g. they could be semi-circular in cross-section.

Claims (11)

1. A nozzle suitable for dispensing fluid icing sugar on to cakes and the like, said nozzle comprising a single piece cast metal structure, generally conical on its exterior, with openings at the apex and the base of the cone, the nozzle having one or more integrally formed internal projections adapted to prevent identically shaped nozzles from nesting intimately one within the other.

2. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 1 having one or more internally projecting flow-directing integrally formed projections extending from the apex opening of the nozzle.

3. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 2, said flowdirecting projection or projections being so shaped as to substantially prevent intimate nesting of identically shaped nozzles one on the other.

4. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 2 in which the flow-directing projections are separated from the projections which are adapted to prevent intimate nesting.

5. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 4 wherein both flow-directing projections and nesting-preventing projections are formed in a single casting operation.

6. A nozzle as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the nesting-preventing projections are spaced from the apex end of the nozzle.

7. A nozzle as claimed in any preceding claim made of zinc in a die casting operation and plated subsequent to casting.

8. A method of manufacturing a nozzle suitable for dispensing fluid icing sugar on to cakes and the like, said method comprising die casting in a single piece a nozzle having a generally conical exterior for openings on the apex and the base of the cone, said nozzle having one or more integrally formed internal projections adapted to prevent identically shaped nozzles from nesting intimately one within the other.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the nozzle is formed with internally projecting/flowdirected integrally formed projections extending from the apex opening of the nozzle.

10. A method of manufacturing a nozzle suitable for dispensing fluid icing sugar on to cakes and the like, as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A nozzle suitable for dispensing fluid icing sugar on to cakes and the like, as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1-3, Figures 4-6 or Figures 7-9.