GB2490365A

GB2490365A - Adjustable nozzle for mastic or sealant

Info

Publication number: GB2490365A
Application number: GB1107279.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Francis Venton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-28
Filing date: 2011-04-28
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Also published as: GB201107279D0

Abstract

A nozzle or connector is provided for a container of extrudible product, such as mastic or sealant of the type used for example in bathrooms. The nozzle or connector has adjustment means such as a ball 21 and socket 13 joint with a conduit therethrough. This allows the position of the outlet 22 in relation to the inlet 11 to be adjusted in terms of pitch and yaw can. Locking means, such as a threaded cap 30 which when screwed on to the joint clamps the socket part against the ball part, is also provided. This allows the adjustment means to be locked in a plurality of different configurations of pitch and yaw. Because the configuration of the adjustment means can be fixed it will not be knocked out of position when a little pressure is applied against the tip of the nozzle by the surface receiving the extrudible material. There may also be a bellows portion 23 for additional adjustability.

Description

I

Nozzle The present invention relates to a nozzle, in particular to a nozzle for a container of extrudible product, such as mastic or sealant of the type used for example in bathrooms.

An acknowledged problem with such nozzles as are usually provided as standard with such containers of extrudible products is that because they are rigid it is difficult or impossible to apply the product in confined spaces or around corners.

Accordingly, nozzles incorporating flexible portions have been proposed, such as in GB2296672 where a bellows portion is provided either as a tubular extension piece between the container and a standard nozzle or as part of a replacement nozzle.

W02006/119544 also suggests using a bellows portion in a nozzle and as alternatives proposes a ball joint with continuous passage therethrough from inlet to outlet, and a relatively complicated arrangement of two bosses in combination with a spacer ring and a hollow connector tube which can be interposed between the spigot of the container and the nozzle. The connector tube is provided with a knob.

The arrangement of bosses and the connector tube appear to be intended to allow the nozzle to be set at a particular chosen angle relative to the axis of the container. However, owing to the way the arrangement is manufactured, with a radial aperture on the hollow connector to cooperate with the outlet of the container and a thread at the opposite end, it seems that when the aperture in the correct position for gel to flow into the hollow connector, and the thread is screwed up tightly to fix the position, only one angular position would be possible. Rotating the boss associated with the nozzle relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow container would loosen the connection with the thread on the container thereby unfixing the angle and allowing the nozzle to rotate freely. An attempt to overcome this by rotating the boss in tandem with the hollow connector would change the position of the aperture in the connector, thereby closing off the conduit between the container and the nozzle. It is possible that this second action, rotating both the boss and hollow connector in tandem, could provide a degree of adjustability, but it would involve adjustment in only one plane and across a very small angle before the aperture in the connector was closed to such an extent that flow of extrudible material is excessively hampered or totally stopped.

The invention aims to mitigate at least some of the problems associated with the prior art mentioned above.

Accordingly, there is provided a nozzle according to claim I and a connector according to claim 2.

This invention has numerous improvements over the prior art discussed above, for example, unlike the bellows/ball joint type the configuration of the adjustment means can be fixed and will not be knocked out of position when a little pressure is applied against the tip of the nozzle by the surface receiving the extrudible material. Compared to the more complicated arrangement, the invention offers much greater adjustability, having multiple degrees of freedom -pitch and yaw -and not hampering the flow of extrudible material when the position is adjusted.

Preferably the adjustment means comprises a ball and socket joint with a conduit therethrough. Ball and socket joints provide a convenient way of providing at least two degrees of freedom and can be made in just two parts; one part including the inlet and one of the ball or socket and the other including the other of the ball and socket and the outlet.

Preferably the first part is provided with the outlet and the ball and the second part is provided with the inlet and the socket. Since the inlet will normally have a larger bore than the outlet (the outlet normally either at the tip of the nozzle or sized to fit within the inlet of a standard nozzle), this arrangement allows the first part to be inserted into the second part, through the inlet, and for the ball to snap into position in the socket.

Preferably the locking means comprises a threaded cap which when screwed on to the joint clamps the socket part against the ball part. Although other locking means, such as clamps could be used, a threaded cap which screws onto a corresponding thread on the outside of the ball and socket joint is an elegant solution resulting in a highly adjustable nozzle/connector that can be manufactured from only three pieces.

Preferably the outer surface of the threaded cap is provided with a grip to aid screwing. The grip may comprise ribbing, dimpling or the like.

Preferably the socket includes at least one longitudinal slit such that it is easily compressed onto the ball to clamp it thereto. Alternatively, for example the socket could be made from a compressible material.

Preferably the ball is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slits to ease insertion into the socket and obviate inhibition of flow through the nozzle/connector.

While both based on the same concept and having the same characterising portions, a nozzle as claimed has the advantage that little assembly is required by the user (it is easier for a user to just screw on the complete adjustable nozzle than to screw an adjustable connector to the container and then also screw a normal nozzle onto the connector) and the manufacturer can choose the position of the adjustment means along the length of the nozzle i.e. closer to the inlet or to the outlet. On the other hand, the connector according the invention has the advantage that it can be smaller and cheaper to manufacture than a whole nozzle and can be used with a standard nozzle supplied with a container of extrudible product thereby reducing weight. A connector could also be cleaned out relatively simply after use and then reused, whereas the tapering shape of a nozzle makes this more difficult.

Further aspects and advantages of the invention may become clear from the following non-limiting description of an embodiment of the invention in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a nozzle; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a first part of the nozzle shown in figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of part of the first part of the nozzle depicted in figure 2; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the nozzle shown in figure 1 showing the nozzle in two different configuartions; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the second part of the nozzle shown in figures 1 and 4 and the locking cap.

Referring to the drawings, in particular figures 1 and 4, a nozzle 1 is made of three integrally formed pieces: a container connection piece 10, a product dispensing piece 20 and a locking piece 30 for locking the container connection piece 10 and the product dispensing piece 20 together. The three pieces can all be made from plastics material, for example by injection moulding.

As shown in figures 1 and 5, the container connection piece 10 includes an inlet 11 for receiving extrudible product from a container (not shown). Such containers are generally cylindrical and have a tubular outlet at one end. The outlets are relatively well standardised and normally comprise a tube of approximately 15mm in length and 15mm in diameter extending axially from the cylinder. This tube is normally provided with an external thread for connection to a corresponding internal thread in a nozzle. Accordingly, the inlet Ii of the container connector piece 10 of the nozzle I is generally tubular and suitably adapted to correspond with the tubular outlet. In this embodiment, the inlet has an internal diameter of about 15mm and an internal thread 12 to match the external thread of the tube.

The container connection piece 10 extends axially beyond the end of internal thread 12 away from the inlet ii culminating in a socket 13. The socket 13 has a spherical internal surface 14 for receiving the ball 21 of the product dispensing piece 20. Considered anatomically, a conduit through the container connection part 10 starts at the inlet 11 where it is defined by the internal surface of the inlet 11, and extends axially to the socket 13 where it is defined by the spherical internal surface 14; the distal end of the spherical internal surface 14 having an opening 15 constituting the end of the conduit through the container connection piece 10.

The spherical internal surface 14, of the socket 13 may be considered as the waist portion of a hollow sphere (with the top and bottom cut off) such that an extrudible product can flow through it. The spherical internal surface 14 is shaped to sufficiently retain the ball 21 of the product dispensing part 20, but should be sufficiently open as to allow swivelling of the ball part and allow extrudible product to flow through it.

The outer surface of the socket 13 is provided with an external thread 16 to mate with a corresponding internal thread 35 of the locking piece 30. The socket 13 is also provided with longitudinal slits 17, in this case three slits 17, best seen in figure 5. The slits 17 are spaced equidistantly around the circumference of the distal end of the socket 13 and extend towards the proximal end of the socket 13. In this embodiment the slits 17 extend at least halfway along the spherical internal surface 14, splitting the socket into three fingers 18 which can be squeezed towards each other by radial compression of the external surface of the socket 13.

The product dispensing piece 20 best shown in figure 2 has a ball 21 shown enlarged in figure 3 at its proximal end and tapers away to an outlet 22 at the distal end. In common with prior art nozzles, the outlet 22 may be closed at the point of sale, only being opened by the user cutting through the product dispensing piece at a position chosen based on the desired width of the opening of the outlet 22. In this embodiment the product dispensing piece is provided with a bellows section 23 approximately half way along its length to provide for the possibility of additional adjustability.

The ball 21, may be considered as the waist portion of a hollow sphere (with the top and bottom cut off) such that an extrudible product can flow through it. The ball 21 has a spherical external surface 24 which is shaped to rotate within, but be sufficiently retained by the internal spherical surface 14 of the socket 13, but should be sufficiently open at the proximal end as to allow extrudible product to flow through it.

When the product dispensing piece 20 and the container connection piece are joined by the ball 21 and socket 13 joint, the conduit referred to above rather than ending at the opening 15 of the socket 13, continues, from the opening 25 at the proximal end of the product dispensing piece 20 where it is defined by the internal surface of the ball 21, and extends axially through the tapering part of the product dispensing piece, via the bellows section 23 to the outlet 22 at the distal end of the product dispensing piece 20. Thus a conduit is provided inline with the inlet 11 for connection to the container via the adjustable ball 21 and socket 13 joint to the outlet 22.

A special feature of the ball 21 and socket 13 joint of the present invention is the provision at the proximal end of the ball 21 of several longitudinal slits 28 extending distally up to halfway into the ball so as to provide fingers 26, 27 with relatively wide gaps between them. In this embodiment some fingers 26 are longer than other fingers 27. The slits 28 serve one purpose in allowing the ball 21 to contract slightly to ease insertion into the socket 13. As they are relatively wide, the slits 28 also serve a second purpose; where without the slits the proximal end of the ball 21 would obstruct flow of extrudible product when the joint is adjusted to a large degree, the slits 28 allow the extrudible product to flow through the gaps reducing the amount of obstruction caused to the conduit when the joint is adjusted to angle the outlet 22 relative to the inlet 11. The provision of fingers 26, 27 of different length also assists in reducing obstruction because the shorter fingers 27 will obstruct less than the longer ones 26-if all the fingers were to be of equal shorter length the level of retention of the ball within the socket would be reduced.

The locking piece 30 in this embodiment consists of a frustoconical cap with a wider open end 31 and a narrower open end 32. The frustoconical inner surface 33 of the cap is provided with a thread 35 which engages with the thread 16 on the outer surface of the socket 13. Owing to its frustoconical shape, when the locking piece 30 is screwed onto the outer surface of the socket 13 it forces the fingers 18 of the socket 13 radially inwardly so that they grip the outer spherical surface 24 of the ball 21 and when tightened enough, lock it in position.

In this embodiment the cap is generally frustoconical. However only the inside surface 33 needs to be frustoconical to achieve the desired effect providing the radial force required. Accordingly other shapes of the outer surface may be chosen, the shape of the external surface of the socket 13 could be altered to allow a cap to be used without a frustoconical shape and other options are possible. In this embodiment the cap is provided with longitudinal ribs 36 on its outer surface 37 to aid the user in turning the cap, but dimpling or use of a high-grip material, such as rubber, could be used to achieve the same effect.

The pieces of the nozzle 1 have been described separately, but they could be supplied ready assembled, or as a kit. In either case, the assembly process simply requires the ball 21 to be snapped into place in the socket 13 before the locking piece 30 is applied. This can be easily carried out by inserting the product dispensing piece 20 head first into the inlet 11 in the container connection piece 10, and pulling it (by the distal end) until the ball slots into the socket. With the locking piece 30 not attached at this point, the fingers 18 of the socket 13 will easily open to aid the ball 21 in snapping in. The outlet-end of the product dispensing piece 10 should then be inserted through the locking piece 30 via the larger opening 31 before the locking piece 30 is screwed onto the outer surface of the socket 13.

Once assembled, the nozzle I can be attached to a container of extrudible product in the usual way (after inserting the container into a "sealant gun" or the like and cutting open the tubular outlet) screwing the inlet Ii onto the tubular outlet of the container. Then, the locking piece is loosened, and the position of the outlet 22 of the product dispensing piece adjusted in relation to the inlet by swiveffing the ball 21 in the socket 13. Once the desired configuration is obtained, the locking piece 30 is tightened to maintain the desired configuration during application.

The present invention allows the position of the outlet 22 in relation to the inlet 11 to be adjusted in multiple degrees of freedom, so considering the container being held horizontally with the nozzle pointing away from the user, there is one degree of freedom obtained by the ability to move the distal end of the nozzle left and right to change the yaw and a second degree of freedom obtained by the ability to move it up and down to change the pitch.

It will also be appreciated that the present embodiment, with its second adjustment means in the form of the bellows section allows further adjustment to take place. The bellows section allows further changed in pitch and yaw, and in addition, by extending and compressing allows surging, although that final movement is not likely to be useful since the same effect can be obtained by moving the entire container and assembly forwards and backwards slightly. However as noted above, bellows sections have a propensity to return to their initial position (straight) under the force of product being extruded through them, especially if knocked. Accordingly, if possible the adjustment would be carried out using the ball joint alone.

It is to be understood that the claims rather than the foregoing description define the scope of the invention and that various modifications to the embodiment can be made. For example, the invention could be worked by providing a connector with a lockable bail and a socket joint as described above having an inlet equivalent to inlet 11 connectable to a container, but rather than a product dispensing part 20 tapering to an outlet 22, the outlet could be formed to replicate the tubular outlet of a container, such that a standard non-adjustable nozzle can be screwed into the outlet and thus rendered adjustable. *

Claims

Claims 1. A nozzle comprising: an inlet for connection to a container of extrudible product; an outlet for dispensing said product; and adjustment means for adjusting the position of the outlet in relation to the inlet whereby the pitch and the yaw can be adjusted; and locking means for locking the adjustment means in a plurality of different configurations of pitch and yaw.
2. A connector comprising: an inlet for connection to a container of extrudible product; an outlet for connection to a nozzle for dispensing said product; and adjustment means for adjusting the position of the outlet in relation to the inlet whereby the pitch and the yaw can be adjusted; and locking means for locking the adjustment means in a plurality of different configurations of pitch and yaw.
3. The apparatus according to either of the preceding claims wherein the adjustment means comprises a ball and socket joint with a conduit therethrough.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 comprising an inlet part including the inlet and one of the ball or socket and an outlet part including the other of the ball and socket and the outlet.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first part is provided with the outlet and the ball and the second part is provided with the inlet and the socket.
6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3-5 wherein the locking means comprises a threaded cap which when screwed on to the joint clamps the socket part against the ball part.
7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3-6 wherein the socket includes at least one longitudinal slit such that it is easily compressed onto the ball to clamp it thereto.
8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3-7 wherein the ball is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slits to ease insertion into the socket.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the longitudinal slits in the ball defme fingers with gaps therebetween and at least one finger is longer than at least one other finger.
10. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising second adjustment means for further adjustment of the position of the outlet relative to the inlet.
ii. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the second adjustment means comprises a bellows section.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second adjustment means comprises a ball and socket joint with a conduit therethrough.
13. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the inlet is suitable for connection with a cylindrical container of builders sealant having a tubular outlet at one end.
14. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims formed from plastics material.
15. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims having a home position in which a conduit from the inlet to the outlet runs in an unobstructed straight line.
16. A nozzle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A connector substantially as described herein.