GB2436537A

GB2436537A - Variable aperture size outer nozzle, made of flexible material

Info

Publication number: GB2436537A
Application number: GB0606145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keir Alexander Hoffmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-28
Filing date: 2006-03-28
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-28
Also published as: GB2436537B; GB0606145D0

Abstract

An arrangement features an inner and outer nozzle, the outer nozzle moveable relative to the inner nozzle, so as to vary a region of contact between the nozzles, causing the size of the outlet to vary in a user controllable manner. The outer nozzle may be formed of a flexible sheath or cone, with the flexibility of the cone material permitting the controllable change in aperture size, as the outer nozzle is moved back and forth, over the rigid inner nozzle. The outer nozzle may slide directly, or be moved in a similar manner, up and down a related screw thread. Also disclosed are a further related apparatus and method in which it is further specified that the nozzle is attached to a fluid container.

Description

S 2436537

I

Nozzle Arrangements and Devices for DislDensjng a Flowable Material This invention relates to nozzle arrangements for dispensing a flowable material, and to devices and methods for dispensing a flowable material.

There are a great many applications in which it is common practice to use an applicator device to dispense a flowable material such as flowable solid, a relatively viscous liquid or a suspension, such as an emulsion. Typical application areas include the application of mastics, sealants, glues, medicinal and therapeutic ointments and gels, foodstuffs, and hair and cosmetic ointments and gels.

The present inventor has recognised that in many applications it is desirable to vary the width of the applied flowable material in accordance with the needs of the application or the desires of a user. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an applicator that can dispense a flowable material of a controlled width. The present invention, in at least some of its embodiments, addresses these desires.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a nozzle arrangement for dispensing a flowable material including: an inner nozzle having an inlet and an outlet; an outer nozzle having an outlet and disposed over the inner nozzle; in which at least one of the inner and outer nozzles is moveable with respect to the other nozzle by user control so as to vary a region of contact between the inner and outer nozzles, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner.

Preferably, the outer nozzle is moveable with respect to the inner nozzle.

Most preferably, the inner nozzle is fixed and the outer nozzle is moveable with respect to the inner nozzle.

In one embodiment, the outer nozzle is slidable over the inner nozzle.

The inner and outer nozzles may each comprise stop members which are mutually engageable so as to limit the extent to which the nozzles are moveable with respect to one another. The stop members may comprise a rim portion disposed on the inside of the outer nozzle and a rim portion disposed on the outside of the inner nozzle. The rim portions may be substantially circumferentially disposed.

The stop members may be disposed on collar portions of the inner and outer nozzles.

In another embodiment, the inner and outer nozzles are in threaded engagement, and the outer nozzle is moveable with respect to the inner nozzle by a screwing action.

Preferably, the inner nozzle has an outlet defining region at one end thereof which defines the outlet of the inner nozzle; said outlet defining region is in contact with the outer nozzle; and at least one of the inner and outer nozzles is moveable with respect to the other nozzle by user control so as to vary a region of contact of the outer nozzle with said outlet defining region, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner. In these embodiments the inner nozzle may include a substantially cylindrical portion, one end of which constitutes the outlet-defining region.

Advantageously, the one end of the substantially cylindrical portion which constitutes the outlet defining region is chamfered. This enhances the ability of the nozzles to move with respect to each other without having the outer nozzle snag against the inner nozzle. At least a portion of the outer nozzle may be substantial conical or frusto-conical. It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that the outer nozzle may be substantial conical when its outlet is substantially closed, and substantially frusto-conical when its outlet is open.

Preferably, the inner nozzle is formed from a rigid material, most preferably a plastic or a metal.

Preferably, the outer nozzle is formed from a flexible, resilient material, most preferably an elastomeric material.

The inner and outer nozzles may include mutually cooperating collar portions. The collar portions may be substantially cylindrical.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a device for dispensing a flowable material including: an inner nozzle having an inlet and an outlet; an outer nozzle having an outlet and disposed over the inner nozzle; and a reservoir of flowable material in flowable material conducting connection with the inner nozzle; in which at least one of the inner and outer nozzles is moveable with respect to the other nozzle by user control so as to vary a region of contact between the inner and outer nozzles, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner.

The device may include any nozzle arrangement of the first aspect of the invention.

The reservoir may be squeezable so as to conduct flowable material from the reservoir to the inner nozzle.

Alternatively, the device may further include means for causing flowable material to be conducted from the reservoir to the inner nozzle, preferably pump-action means or syringe means.

The flowable material may be an adhesive, mastic, sealant, lubricant, foodstuff, dental product, personal hygiene product, cosmetic product, or medicinal product. Examples of adhesives include glues and components of hardening formulations. Examples of lubricants include greases, oils and other compounds used in engineering and motor mechanics. Examples of foodstuffs include pates, purees, icing and other confectioneries, pastry and pastes.

Examples of dental products include toothpastes. Examples of personal hygiene products include hair and cosmetic products. The personal hygiene product may be in the form of an ointment or gel. Examples of medicinal products include medicinal, therapeutic, drug and/or anti-microbial products.

The medicinal product may be in the form of an ointment or gel, and may be intended for topical application. Squeezable reservoirs or devices having means for causing flowable material to be conducted from the reservoir to the inner nozzle may be utilised as appropriate to the application envisaged.

The reservoir may be a tube, bottle or canister.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling the width of a flowable material dispensed from a device including the steps of: providing a device for dispensing a flowable material which includes: an inner nozzle having an inlet and an outlet; an outer nozzle having an outlet and disposed over the inner nozzle; and a reservoir of flowable material in flowable material conducting connection with the inner nozzle; moving at least one of the inner and outer nozzles with respect to the other nozzle under user control as to vary a region of contact between the inner and outer nozzles, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner, the nozzle or nozzles being moved until the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle corresponds to the desired width of the flowable material; and causing the flowable material to be conducted from the reservoir through the inner nozzle to be dispensed from the device through the outlet of the outer nozzle.

Nozzle arrangements, devices and methods in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a nozzle arrangement in which (a) is a view with the outer nozzle removed (b) is a view of a closed nozzle arrangement (c) is a view of a partially opened nozzle arrangement and (d) is a view of a fully opened nozzle arrangement; and Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a nozzle arrangement in which (a) is a view with the outer nozzle removed (b) is a view of a closed nozzle arrangement (c) is a view of a partially opened nozzle arrangement and (d) is a view of a fully opened nozzle arrangement.

Figure 1 depicts a first embodiment of a nozzle arrangement of the invention, shown generally at 10, which comprises an outer nozzle 12 and an inner nozzle 14. The nozzle arrangement is connected to a reservoir 16 containing a flowable material, these items together forming a device for dispensing a flowable material. The reservoir 16 is connected to the inner nozzle 14 so that the flowable material can be conducted therebetween, and the device is further provided with suitable means for enabling the flowable material to be conducted in this way. The outer nozzle 12 comprises a cylindrical collar 12a and a conical portion 12b which terminates in an outlet 12c. The inner nozzle 14 comprises a cylindrical collar 14a, a frusto-conjcal section 14b in connection with the collar 14a, and a cylindrical upper portion 14c. The base of the collar 14a forms an inlet to the inner nozzle. One end of the cylindrical section 14c forms an outlet 14d of the inner nozzle 14, and this end of the cylindrical section 14c comprises a chamfered tip section 14e. The collar 14a of the inner nozzle 14 has a lip or rim 14f formed thereon. A corresponding rim or lip 12d is provided on the inner surface of the collar 12a of the outer nozzle 12.

The outer nozzle 12 is formed from a strong, resilient but flexible material, such as an elastomer. A relatively hard latex material or a silicone material may be suitable, It is possible to use a reinforced or composite material in order to achieve the desired characteristics of resilience and flexibility. The inner nozzle 14 is formed from a rigid material such as a rigid plastic or a metal.

The operation of the nozzle arrangement 10 in order to set the width of the dispensed flowable material will now be described. The outer nozzle 12 is slidable over the inner nozzle 14, and so when the outer nozzle 12 is pushed down manually by a user, the outer nozzle 12 slides over the inner nozzle 14.

The chamfered tip 14e of the inner nozzle 14 is in contact with the inner surface of the substantially conical portion 12b of the outer nozzle 12. As the outer nozzle 12 slides downwards over the inner nozzle 14, the region of contact of the inner surface of the conical section 12b with the chamfered tip 14e approaches the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12. In other words, the radius of the region of the conical section which is in contact with the chamfered tip 14e progressively decreases. Contact with the chamfered tip 14e causes the flexible outer nozzle 12 to stretch, thereby dilating the outlet 12c. The further the outer nozzle 12 is slid downwardly, towards the inner nozzle 14, the greater the degree of dilation and the wider the effective diameter of the outlet 12c. This process can be seen to greatest effect in Figures Ib, c, d. The maximum dilation of the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12 occurs at the end of the outer nozzle's travel, shown in Figure id, where the chamfered tip 14e of the inner nozzle 14 and outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12 are level. To reduce the width of the flowable material dispensed by the device, the reverse process is employed, i.e. the outer nozzle 12 is pushed upwards (away from the inner nozzle 14).

Owing to the resilience and flexibility of the outer nozzle 12, the conical section 12b attempts to restore its relaxed, closed position shown in Figure lb. As the outer nozzle is pulled upwards, the region of contact between the conical section 12b and chamfered tip 14e occurs further and further away from the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12, and the dilating effect of the chamfered tip 14e is reduced.

Under these circumstances, the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12 progressively decreases in diameter. When the outer nozzle has been pulled upwards a predetermined extent, the rim or lip 12d of the outer nozzle 12 abuts the rim or lip 14f of the inner nozzle 14 preventing further relative motion of the nozzles in that direction. In the embodiments shown in Figure 1, the extent of the movement of the outer nozzle 12 in the downward direction is limited by the position of the reservoir 16, since the outer nozzle 12 abuts the reservoir 16 at its extreme downward position. Alternatively, a further rim or lip may be provided in the collar region 12a of the outer nozzle 12 in order to prevent downward motion. A further although less desirable possibility would be to allow the outer nozzle to be fully slidable over the inner nozzle so that the chamfered tip of the inner nozzle is exposed when the outer nozzle is in its extreme downward position.

In this way, the contents of the reservoir 16 can be extruded through the nozzle arrangement at a desired nozzle diameter. This allows for a user controlled adjustment between a maximum and minimum bead size of the flowable material.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a nozzle arrangement, shown generally at 20, having a screw action rather than a sliding action. The second embodiment shares many of the features of the first embodiment, and identical numerals are used to denote such shared features. The principal difference between the first and second embodiments is that the outer nozzle 12 and inner nozzle 14 of the second embodiment are both equipped with matching screw threads, 12e, 14g, respectively. The screw-thread 12e of the outer nozzle 12 is disposed on the outside of the collar portion 12a, and the screw-thread 14g of the inner nozzle 14 is disposed on the outside of the collar portion 14a. In use, the outer nozzle 12 is wound down manually onto the inner nozzle 14 in a screw action. As this process proceeds, the chamfered tip 14e of the inner nozzle 14 C,, approaches the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12, thereby stretching the conical section 12b of the outer nozzle 12 and causing the outlet 12c to dilate. The greater the extent to which the outer nozzle 12 is screwed downwards onto the nozzle 14, the greater the degree of dilation and the wider the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12 opens. Maximum dilation of the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12 occurs when the chamfered tip 14e of the nozzle 14 is level with the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12. This process is shown in Figures 2a, b, c.

Conversely, when the outer nozzle 12 is screwed in the reverse direction so as to raise the position of the outer nozzle with respect to the inner nozzle, the resilience of the outer nozzle 12 causes the diameter of the outlet 12c of the outer nozzle 12 to progressively decrease as described above in respect of the first embodiment. The screw threads might be provided with stops in order to limit the extent of the motion of the outer nozzle with respect to the inner nozzle.

Thus, by screwing the outer nozzle in and out with respect to the inner nozzle, a user can set the diameter of the outlet of the outer nozzle between a maximum and minimum size, and thereby control the bead size of the dispensed flowable material between predetermined maximum and minimum valves. It will be appreciated that the undilated outer nozzle position shown in Figures lb and 2b does not have to correspond to a fully closed position. A stopper may be provided to plug the outlet of the outer nozzle.

The flowable material can be of any suitable composition, such a flowable solid, paste, slurry, semi-liquid substance, liquid (especially relatively viscous liquids) or dispersion, such as an emulsion. The flowable material can be dispensed using any suitable mechanism. For example, the reservoir containing the flowable material may be flexible so that a user can dispense the flowable material by squeezing the reservoir. Alternatively, a pump action or syringe action might be utilised. The reservoir can be in any desired form, such as tube, bottle or canister. Non-limiting examples of the present invention include syringe action tubes for dispensing mastics and sealants, pump action tubes for dispensing mastics and sealants, squeezable tubes for dispensing mastics and sealants, squeezable tubes for dispensing medicinal and therapeutic ointments and gels, syringe action tubes for dispensing medicinal and therapeutic ointments and gels, squeezable bottles for dispensing medicinal and therapeutic ointments and gels, squeezable tubes for dispensing glues, greases and compounds used in engineering and motor mechanics, syringe action tubes for dispensing glues, greases and compounds used in engineering and motor mechanics, containers and devices for dispensing icing, pastry and confectionary pastes, containers and devices for dispensing food pates and purees, squeezable tubes for dispensing hair and cosmetic ointments and gels, squeezable bottles for dispensing hair and cosmetic ointments and gels, and squeezable tubes for dispensing toothpaste.

Many variations to the embodiments discussed above would readily suggest themselves to the skilled reader. For example, it is not necessary that the portion of the outer nozzle leading to its outlet is conical, or that the region of the inner nozzle that causes the outer nozzle to dilate is cylindrical. For example, this portion of the inner nozzle might comprise a cylindrical or frusto-conical portion which tapers to a lesser extent than a corresponding portion of the outer nozzle. A further possibility is that motion of the outer nozzle towards or away from the inner nozzle might be augmented or replaced by a motion of the inner nozzle towards or away from the outer nozzle. The inner nozzle may be separate to the reservoir and connected thereto by suitable means such as a screw thread. Alternatively, the inner nozzle and the reservoir may be formed as one piece.

Claims

Claims 1. A nozzle arrangement for dispensing a flowable material

including: an inner nozzle having an inlet and an outlet; an outer nozzle having an outlet and disposed over the inner nozzle; in which at least one of the inner and outer nozzles is moveable with respect to the other nozzle by user control so as to vary a region of contact between the inner and outer nozzles, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner.

2. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 1 in which the outer nozzle is moveable with respect to the inner nozzle.

3. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 2 in which the outer nozzle is slidable over the inner nozzle.

4. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 2in which the inner and outer nozzles are in threaded engagement, and the outer nozzle is moveable with respect to the inner nozzle by a screwing action.

5. A nozzle arrangement according to any previous claim in which: the inner nozzle has an outlet defining region at one end thereof which defines the outlet of the inner nozzle; said outlet defining region is in contact with the outer nozzle; and at least one of the inner and outer nozzles is moveable with respect to the other nozzle by user control so as to vary a region of contact of the outer nozzle with said outlet defining region, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner.

6. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 5 in which the inner nozzle includes a substantially cylindrical portion, one end of which constitutes the outlet defining region.

7. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 6 in which the one end of the substantially cylindrical portion which constitutes the outlet defining region is chamfered.

8. A nozzle arrangement according to any previous claim in which at least a portion of the outer nozzle is substantial conical or frusto-conical.

9. A nozzle arrangement according to any previous claim in which the inner nozzle is formed from a rigid material, preferably a plastic or a metal.

10. A nozzle arrangement according to any previous claim in which the outer nozzle is formed from a flexible, resilient material, preferably an elastomeric material.

11. A nozzle arrangement according to any previous claim in which the inner and outer nozzles include mutually cooperating collar portions.

12. A device for dispensing a flowable material including: an inner nozzle having an inlet and an outlet; an outer nozzle having an outlet and disposed over the inner nozzle; and a reservoir of flowable material in flowable material conducting connection with the inner nozzle; in which at least one of the inner and outer nozzles is moveable with respect to the other nozzle by user control so as to vary a region of contact between the inner and outer nozzles, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner.

13. A device according to claim 12 in which the reservoir is squeezable so as to conduct flowable material from the reservoir to the inner nozzle.

14. A device according to claim 12 further including means for causing flowable material to be conducted from the reservoir to the inner nozzle, preferably pump-action means or syringe means.

15. A device according to any one of claims 12 to 14 in which the flowable material is an adhesive, mastic, sealant, lubricant, foodstuff, dental product, personal hygiene product, cosmetic product, or medicinal product.

16. A method of controlling the width of a flowable material dispensed from a device including the steps of: providing a device for dispensing a flowable material which includes: an inner nozzle having an inlet and an outlet; an outer nozzle having an outlet and disposed over the inner nozzle; and a reservoir of flowable material in flowable material conducting connection with the inner nozzle; moving at least one of the inner and outer nozzles with respect to the other nozzle under user control as to vary a region of contact between the inner and outer nozzles, thereby causing the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle to vary in a user controllable manner, the nozzle or nozzles being moved until the size of the outlet of the outer nozzle corresponds to the desired width of the flowable material; and causing the flowable material to be conducted from the reservoir through the inner nozzle to be dispensed from the device through the outlet of the outer nozzle.

17. A nozzle arrangement, device or method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.