The invention relates to cartridges having an inner chamber and a passage from a chamber into a nozzle. The invention provides improved cartridges having a passage from a chamber a widened nozzle. The nozzle is wider than the passage from the chamber.
The invention is now described with more particular reference to
With more particular reference to
Nozzle 64 is molded integrally with and extends from end wall 54 at an obtuse angle to the central axis of cylindrical body wall 48. Nozzle 64 is adapted to direct the discharge of viscous dental material M from cartridge 2 to a tooth in the interior of the oral cavity of a patient. Nozzle 64 has an inner channel wall 65 enclosing nozzle channel 66. Inner channel wall 65 is effectively uniformly cylindrical. Inner channel wall 65 has channel wall exit orifice rim 67. Nozzle 64 has nozzle entrance passage 71, through the end wall 54 to inner channel wall 65. Inner channel wall 65 has an effectively uniform diameter. Nozzle entrance passage 71 extends from chamber wall exit port rim 59 to nozzle entrance passage rim 60. Chamber wall exit port rim 59 has a chamber wall exit port rim diameter D1. Nozzle entrance passage rim 60 has a nozzle entrance passage rim diameter D2. Nozzle entrance passage rim 60, and inner channel wall 65 effectively have the same diameter: D2 Nozzle entrance passage rim diameter D2 is substantially greater than chamber wall exit port rim diameter D1.
Piston 68 has cylindrical outer side wall 72, which is closely complementary to inner chamber wall 50 and inserted into the open end of cartridge 2 to form a combination closure and ejector. Viscous dental material M enclosed by cylindrical inner cartridge body wall 50 is forced by piston 68 into the opening of chamber wall exit port rim 59 through nozzle entrance passage 71, through the opening of entrance passage rim 60 then into nozzle channel 66 enclosed by inner channel wall 65 and then out channel wall exit orifice rim 67. Preferably, channel wall exit orifice rim 67 is positioned adjacent to a natural dental tooth while viscous dental material M is being forced therefrom.
In use dental material M is extruded from the nozzle of capsule-like cartridge 2. The nozzle has an inner channel wall 65, and a channel wall exit orifice rim 67. Inner chamber wall 50 opens through chamber wall exit port rim 59, into nozzle channel 66, which is enclosed by inner channel wall 65. Chamber wall exit port rim 59 has a chamber wall exit port rim effective diameter D1. Inner channel wall 65 has an inner channel wall effective diameter D2. Inner channel wall effective diameter D2 is effectively substantially greater than the chamber wall exit port rim effective diameter D1.
Preferably, the cylindrical chamber wall has a cylindrical chamber wall effective diameter D3. Preferably, the cylindrical chamber wall effective diameter D3 is greater than the inner channel wall effective diameter D2.
Preferably, the diameter of chamber wall exit port rim 59 of nozzle entrance passage 71 is at least 3 percent less than, the diameter of inner channel wall 65 (and the diameter of entrance passage rim 60 of nozzle entrance passage 71). More preferably, the diameter of chamber wall exit port rim 59 of nozzle entrance passage 71 is at least 5 percent less than, the diameter of inner channel wall 65 (and the diameter of entrance passage rim 60 of nozzle entrance passage 71). Most preferably, the diameter of chamber wall exit port rim 59 of nozzle entrance passage 71 is at least 10 percent less than, the diameter of inner channel wall 65 (and the diameter of entrance passage rim 60 of nozzle entrance passage 71). Preferably, the length of entrance passage 71 is less than 20 percent of the diameter of chamber wall exit port rim 59.
Preferably, the length of entrance passage 71 is more than 1 percent of the diameter of chamber wall exit port rim 59. More preferably, the length of entrance passage 71 is more than 3 percent of the diameter of chamber wall exit port rim 59. The length EPL of entrance passage 71 is about one half the change in diameter of the passageway while going from elongated body 46 to nozzle 64. For nozzle entrance passage in accordance with the invention, it is preferred that the length of entrance passage is from about one half to about equal to the change in diameter of the passageway while going from elongated body to nozzle.
With more particular reference to
With more particular reference to
With more particular reference to
With more particular reference to
Cartridge 2 is preferably formed by molding rigid synthetic resin or plastic material. Cartridge 2 is filled with a dental material, such as dental filling material, cement. Cartridge 2 includes a piston 68, which is very closely complementary in diameter to the interior of the cartridge 2, and the inner end 69 thereof also is hemispherical and complementary to the interior of the closed end 62 of the cartridge.
Also, the body of cartridge 2, cap 70 and piston 68 may all be molded from similar plastic material. They are preferably opaque to the transmission of ambient light, when light curable dental material is enclosed in cartridge 2.
A compule cartridge in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention has a 0.080 inch diameter exit port wall from the body into a nozzle with a 0.100 inch diameter nozzle inner wall has an extrusion force decrease of 20-30 percent compared to the same cartridge except with a 0.100 inch diameter exit port wall from the body into a nozzle. i.e. having no constriction in the feed passage into the 0.100 inch diameter nozzle.
With more particular reference to
The foregoing description illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention. However, concepts employed may, based upon such description, be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly, as well as in the specific forms shown herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/431,961 filed Dec. 9, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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60431961 | Dec 2002 | US |