AU2010100648A4 - Nozzle Fittings - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION ORIGINALL) Name of Applicant: Andrew Bryant Actual Inventor: Andrew Bryant Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Nicholson, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. Invention Title: "Nozzle Fittings" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: 2009905579 filed 16 November 2009. The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: C \NRPortbl\DCC\IL\3024145 1.DOC - 2216/10 C -\RPortbnDCCIL"024087 1.DOC NOZZLE FITTINGS The present invention relates to nozzle fittings for use with containers of sealant, filler, adhesive, and other material in extrudable form. 5 Silicone and other sealants, fillers, adhesives and other viscous materials for use in building and construction are conventionally supplied in tubular cartridges for fitting into a hand-operated gun (often referred to as a caulking gun) for dispensing the product. 10 The interior of the cartridge is fitted with a piston which is displaced by actuation of the gun to extrude the product through a nozzle fitted at the front end of the cartridge for application. Conventionally the cartridge has an externally threaded outlet fitting to which the nozzle is coupled. The nozzle is tapered and is designed to be cut to produce an extruded bead of required diameter. Although this type of dispensing system has been in 15 use for many years and is quite satisfactory for many situations, a difficulty can arise when it is necessary to apply the product to a worksite having restricted access in which an operator has difficulty in orientating the gun to appropriately position the outlet of the nozzle at the worksite. This mostly arises when applying a silicone or other sealant although it may also arise when applying other products traditionally dispensed from 20 cartridges of this type. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tubular adapter for coupling to an outlet fitting of a container for sealant or other viscous material, the adapter having at one end portion a fitting for engagement with the outlet fitting and at the other 25 end portion a fitting for engagement with a nozzle, the adapter being so shaped to position the nozzle with its axis inclined to that of the outlet fitting. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tubular adapter for coupling to the outlet fitting of a container for sealant or other viscous material, the 30 adapter having at one end a fitting for engagement with the outlet fitting and at the other end portion a fitting for engagement with a nozzle, wherein the adapter is of flexible form to enable it to be bent between its end portions.

C :NRtnblDCC\L.1024087 I DOC -2 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fitting at said other end portion is of substantially the same configuration as the outlet fitting. In the case of this embodiment, the nozzle may be one which otherwise ordinarily be coupled directly to said outlet fitting. 5 Preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to a range of nozzle fittings to facilitate access of the nozzle outlet to worksites in situations where access is restricted. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly comprising a container for sealant or other viscous material, a tubular adapter according to 10 the first or second aspect, and a nozzle, wherein the fitting at said one end is in engagement with an outlet fitting of the container and the fitting at said other end portion is in engagement with the nozzle. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly 15 comprising a container for sealant or other viscous material, a tubular adapter according to the first aspect and a tubular adapter according to the second aspect, wherein the adapters are coupled together via engagement of respective said fittings thereof, the fitting at one end of the coupled adaptors is in engagement with an outlet fitting of the container and the fitting at the other end of the coupled adaptors is in engagement with the nozzle. 20 According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adapter for coupling to an open outlet end of an apparatus for dispensing sealant or other viscous material from a flexible, sausage-type package, the adapter comprising at one end portion a fitting for engagement with the outlet end and at the other end portion a fitting for 25 engagement with a nozzle, the adapter further comprising a passage between the end portions which permits the viscous material to flow from the package to the nozzle. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fitting at said other end portion is configured for releasable engagement with the nozzle. 30 Preferably, the fitting at said other end portion is formed with a thread for threaded engagement with the nozzle.

C.WRonbrDCCdLt30240S7 1 DOC -3 Preferably, the adapter is configured for abutting receipt of a forward end of the package thereagainst. Preferably, the adapter is formed with a cavity into which the forward end of the package 5 is received. Preferably, the fitting at said one end portion comprises a spigot configured to seat against an annular retaining element at the outlet end, whereby said one end portion is retained behind the annular retaining element. 10 Preferably, the fitting at said other end portion is engageable with the fitting at said one end portion of an adapter according to the first or second aspect, whereby the latter adapter can be coupled to the outlet end via the former adapter. 15 According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly comprising an adapter according to the fifth aspect, a said apparatus, and a nozzle, wherein said one end portion is in engagement with the outlet end and the fitting at said other end portion is in engagement with the nozzle. 20 According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of coupling a nozzle with an outlet fitting of a container for sealant or other viscous material, the method comprising engaging a fitting at a first end portion of an adapter with the outlet fitting and engaging a fitting at a second end portion of the adapter with the nozzle, the adapter being so shaped to position the nozzle with its axis inclined to that of the outlet. 25 According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of coupling a nozzle with an outlet of a container for sealant or other viscous material, the method comprising engaging a fitting at a first end of an adapter with the outlet and engaging a fitting at a second end of the adapter with the nozzle, the adapter being of 30 flexible form to enable it to be bent between its end portions. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of C :WRPorbrlDCCULU0240&7_L.DOC -4 coupling a nozzle with an open outlet end of an apparatus for dispensing sealant or other viscous material from a flexible, sausage-type package, the method comprising engaging a fitting at one end portion of an adapter with the outlet end and engaging a fitting at the other end portion of the adapter with the nozzle, the adapter comprising a passage between 5 the end portions which permits the viscous material to flow from the package to the nozzle. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising a plurality of adapters according to the first aspect, the adapters being so shaped to position the nozzle with its axis inclined to that of the outlet fitting of the container to varying 10 degrees. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the kit further comprises at least one adapter according to the second aspect wherein the fitting at said one end portion is engageable with the fitting at said other end portion of each adapter according to the first aspect in the 15 kit, whereby the or each adapter according to the second aspect in the kit can be coupled to each adapter according to the first aspect in the kit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the kit further comprises at least one adapter according to the second aspect wherein: 20 the fitting at said other end portion is engageable with the fitting at said one end portion of each adapter according to the first aspect in the kit; and/or the fitting at said one end portion is engageable with the fitting at said other end portion of each adapter according to the first aspect in the kit, whereby the or each adapter according to the second aspect in the kit can be 25 coupled to each adapter according to the first aspect in the kit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the kit further comprises at least one adapter according to the fifth aspect wherein the fitting at said other end portion is engageable with the fitting at said one end portion of each adapter according to the first aspect, whereby the 30 or each adapter according to the fifth aspect in the kit can be coupled to each adapter according to the first aspect in the kit.

C \NRPeblDCCUL\302487_L DOC -5 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, kit comprises one or more said tubular adapters to provide a straight extension between the outlet fitting of the product container and the nozzle or one of the angled adapters. The kit may comprise two such extensions of different lengths. 5 Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures IA to 3C are perspective views of a range of angled adapters in accordance with the invention; 10 Figures 4A to 5C are perspective views of a range of straight adapters in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a flexible adapter in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 shows a cleaning plunger for use with the flexible adapter; and 15 Figures 8A to 8C are views of an adapter for an apparatus for dispensing sealant or other viscous material from a flexible, sausage-type package, in accordance with the invention. Figures 1 to 3 show a range of adapters for application to the threaded outlet of a rigid cartridge of the type described and to which a standard nozzle can be fitted so that the axis 20 of the nozzle is inclined to the axis of the threaded outlet rather than in line with that axis as currently occurs. Each adapter is of tubular form having at one end portion (its inlet end portion) an internal thread 2 for engagement over the threaded outlet of the cartridge and at the other end portion (its outlet end portion) an external thread 4 for engagement into the internal thread of a standard nozzle. In Figures IA to IC, the outlet end portion of the 25 adapter to which the nozzle is attached is inclined at 45* to the inlet end portion which is fitted to the cartridge so as to incline the nozzle at 450 to the axis of the cartridge. In Figures 2A to 2C, the adapter provides an inclination of 15*, whereas in Figures 3A to 3C, the adapter provides an inclination of 900. These angles are illustrative of a range of angular offsets which can be provided and in practice adapters covering a range of angular 30 offsets, including for example 200 and 300, up to about 1100 will be available for use in a variety of situations where access is difficult. The adapters can also be used by threadedly coupling in end-to-end relation to provide a greater range of angular offsets than that C:\NRPtnb\DCCLt\3024087_ IDOC -6 provided by individual adapters. Figures 4A to 4C and 5A to 5C show respective adapters in the form of straight tubular extensions of different length having at opposite end portions internal and external threads 5 2, 4 corresponding to those of the angled adapters. These tubular extensions, which can have any of a range of tube/thread diameters, can be used either singularly or together, directly between the threaded outlet of the cartridge and a standard nozzle, or in conjunction with an angled adapter such as shown in Figures I A to 3C. 10 Figure 6 shows a tubular adapter having an external thread 2 at one end portion (and extending from that end portion to the other end portion) and an internal thread at the other end portion corresponding to those previously described for attachment to the threaded outlet fitting of the cartridge and a standard nozzle. In this case however the adapter is of flexible construction so that it can be bent to provide access to worksites otherwise 15 difficult to access. The adapters are preferably fabricated from polypropylene or other plastics which will provide ease of cleaning by removal of set silicone after use. Preferably, cleaning of the flexible adapter which is of uniform cross-section throughout its length (save for its 20 threaded portions) is aided by the provision of a cleaning plunger 5 shown in Figure 7 for pushing the silicone from the flexible adapter prior to setting. The adapters particularly described thus far are suitable both for use with a tubular cartridge of the type described but also are suitable for use with a flexible package of 25 sausage-like form from which the product is extruded, the outlet in such package being internally threaded and receiving a nozzle which is externally threaded, and the adapters described are used with the package by engagement of the externally threaded end into the outlet and the internally threaded end with the nozzle. 30 Shown in Figures 8A to 8C is an adapter 10 according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention. The adapter 10 is configured to be coupled to the open outlet end of an apparatus for dispensing sealant or other viscous material from a flexible, sausage-type C:\NRPonb\DCCL'U3024087 IDOC -7 package, commonly referred to as a "bulk sausage gun". The adapter 10 comprises an open first end portion 12, an open second end portion 14 and a passage 16 extending between the end portions 12 and 14. 5 The first end portion 12 is configured to be received in the open front end of the tubular casing of the bulk sausage gun, behind an annular retaining ring which screws onto that end, the end portion 12 being formed with a forwardly facing annular spigot 13 which abuts against a rearwardly facing surface of the retaining ring, whereby the adapter 10 is retained in engagement with the casing. 10 The adapter 10 is formed with a forwardly convergent cavity 17 into which the forward end of the sausage-like package is received after a hole is formed in the packaging wall at that end (generally by cutting off a crimp fitting which pinches the packaging wall at that end to form a closure). The convex forward end of the packaging abuts the tapered wall 18 15 of the cavity whereby the contents of the packaging are extruded when the packaging is compressed at its rear end by operation of the gun. Abutment between the packaging forward end and the wall 18 retains the adapter 10 against the retaining ring. The adapter 10 is further configured with locators in the form of circumferentially arranged spaced apart locating tabs 19 which project forwardly from the spigot 13 and radially 20 outwardly from the exterior of the cavity wall 18 to engage a radially inward facing circumferential surface of the retaining ring, thereby locating the adapter 10 in a transverse plane, concentric with the retaining ring. The second end portion 14 is formed with an external thread 15 which is engageable with a 25 corresponding internal thread of a nozzle, such that the nozzle can be coupled to the outlet end of the bulk sausage gun to dispense the package contents therefrom. Advantageously, the thread 15 may be able to be coupled to the thread at the end portion 2 of any of the adapters previously described, whereby it may be used to couple that adapter to the outlet end of the gun, the nozzle then being connected to the threaded adapter end 4. 30 It is envisaged that the range of adapters shown in Figures 1A to 6, and optionally also 8A to 8C, together with the cleaning plunger shown in Figure 7 will be supplied in a single C :NRtbl\DCClLU02407 I DOC -8 kit to provide a user with versatility in selecting whichever adapter or combination of adapters is best suited for use in a particular situation. The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are 5 possible within the scope of the invention. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps 10 but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived 15 from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (25)

1. A tubular adapter for coupling to an outlet fitting of a container for sealant or other viscous material, the adapter having at one end portion a fitting for engagement with the 5 outlet fitting and at the other end portion a fitting for engagement with a nozzle, the adapter being so shaped to position the nozzle with its axis inclined to that of the outlet fitting.

2. A tubular adapter for coupling to the outlet fitting of a container for sealant or other 10 viscous material, the adapter having at one end a fitting for engagement with the outlet fitting and at the other end portion a fitting for engagement with a nozzle, wherein the adapter is of flexible form to enable it to be bent between its end portions.

3. A tubular adapter according to claim I or 2, wherein the fitting at said other end 15 portion is of substantially the same configuration as the outlet fitting.

4. A tubular adapter according to claim 2, wherein the fitting at said one end portion is engageable with the fitting at said other end portion of an adapter according to claim 1, whereby the former and latter adapters can be coupled together. 20

5. A tubular adapter according to claim 2, wherein the fitting at said other end portion is engageable with the fitting at said one end portion of an adapter according to claim 1, whereby the former and latter adapters can be coupled together. 25

6. An adapter for coupling to an open outlet end of an apparatus for dispensing sealant or other viscous material from a flexible, sausage-type package, the adapter comprising at one end portion a fitting for engagement with the outlet end and at the other end portion a fitting for engagement with a nozzle, the adapter further comprising a passage between the end portions which permits the viscous material to flow from the package to the nozzle. 30

7. An adapter according to claim 6, wherein the fitting at said other end portion is configured for releasable engagement with the nozzle. C:\NRPonbl\DCCULUI)24087IDOC - 10

8. A adapter according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the fitting at said other end portion is formed with a thread for threaded engagement with the nozzle. 5

9. An adapter according to any one of claims 6 to 8, the adapter being configured for abutting receipt of a forward end of the package thereagainst.

10. An adapter according to claim 9, the adapter being formed with a cavity into which the forward end of the package is received. 10

11. An adapter according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the fitting at said one end portion comprises a spigot configured to seat against an annular retaining element at the outlet end, whereby said one end portion is retained behind the annular retaining element. 15

12. An adapter according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the fitting at said other end portion is engageable with the fitting at said one end portion of an adapter according to claim 1, whereby the latter adapter can be coupled to the outlet end via the former adapter. 20

13. An adapter according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the fitting at said other end portion is engageable with the fitting at said one end portion of an adapter according to claim 2, whereby the latter adapter can be coupled to the outlet end via the former adapter.

14. A method of coupling a nozzle with an outlet fitting of a container for sealant or 25 other viscous material, the method comprising engaging a fitting at a first end portion of an adapter with the outlet fitting and engaging a fitting at a second end portion of the adapter with the nozzle, the adapter being so shaped to position the nozzle with its axis inclined to that of the outlet. 30

15. A method of coupling a nozzle with an outlet of a container for sealant or other viscous material, the method comprising engaging a fitting at a first end of an adapter with the outlet and engaging a fitting at a second end of the adapter with the nozzle, the adapter C NRPontDCC\3024011. DOC - 11 being of flexible form to enable it to be bent between its end portions.

16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the fitting at said second end is of substantially the same configuration as the outlet. 5

17 A method of coupling a nozzle with an open outlet end of an apparatus for dispensing sealant or other viscous material from a flexible, sausage-type package, the method comprising engaging a fitting at one end portion of an adapter with the outlet end and engaging a fitting at the other end portion of the adapter with the nozzle, the adapter 10 comprising a passage between the end portions which permits the viscous material to flow from the package to the nozzle.

18. A kit comprising a plurality of adapters according to claim 1, wherein the adapters are so shaped to position the nozzle with its axis inclined to that of the outlet fitting of the 15 container to varying degrees.

19. A kit according to claim 18, further comprising at least one adapter according to claim 4 and/or claim 5.

20 20. A kit according to claim 18 or 19, further comprising at least one adapter according to claim 12.

21. A kit according to claim 19, further comprising at least one adapter according to claim 13. 25

22. An assembly comprising a container for sealant or other viscous material, a tubular adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and a nozzle, wherein the fitting at said one end is in engagement with an outlet fitting of the container and the fitting at said other end portion is in engagement with the nozzle. 30

23. An assembly comprising a container for sealant or other viscous material, a tubular adapter according to claim 1 and a tubular adapter according to claim 4 or 5 and a nozzle, C \NRPonbl\DCC\dL\3024087 L DOC - 12 wherein the adapters are coupled together via engagement of respective said fittings thereof, the fitting at one end of the coupled adaptors is in engagement with an outlet fitting of the container and the fitting at the other end of the coupled adaptors is in engagement with the nozzle. 5

24. An assembly comprising a container for sealant or other viscous material, a tubular adapter according to any one of claims I to 3, and a nozzle, wherein the fitting at said one end is in engagement with an outlet fitting of the container and the fitting at said other end portion is in engagement with the nozzle. 10

25. An assembly comprising an adapter according to any one of claims 6 to 11, a said apparatus, and a nozzle, wherein said one end portion is in engagement with the outlet end and the fitting at said other end portion is in engagement with the nozzle. 15