Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FACETED NASAL SEAL
[0002]
(0003]
FIELD
[0004] This disclosure relates to fittings used to deposit sinus rinse
solutions into a nasal
cavity.
BACKGROUND
[0005] The benefits of rinsing one's sinus cavities have been well
established, and
include improving resistance to sinus infections, clogged sinuses, allergies,
and general
health. Oftentimes, however, the articles which one uses to rinse one's nasal
passages
make the process unnecessarily difficult and uncomfortable. One of the issues
is related to
the inability to obtain an effective seal between the nozzle of one of these
articles and the
user's nasal passage. If the seal is not adequate, during use the fluid can
leak from between
the nozzle and the nasal passage, thereby making the rinsing process messy.
[0006] In addition, the control of the flow from the vessel into the sinus
cavity has not
been adequate in the past, and users have found it difficult to regulate the
volume of flow so
as to make the rinsing process comfortable. In one existing product, as shown
in U.S.
Patent App. No. 2008/0294124, an aperture is formed in the lid of the vessel
which can be
used to restrict the flow of the fltild in the vessel through the nozzle
during the rinsing step.
However, because the aperture is positioned in the lid, the user uses one hand
to hold the
vessel and another hand to control the flow by covering and uncovering the
aperture. This
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proves to be a relatively difficult process when the user is already in an
awkward position,
such as being positioned over a sink during the rinsing process.
[0007] The information included in this Background section of the
specification, including =
any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is
included for
technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by
which the
scope of invention is to be bound.
SUMMARY
[0008] In one implementation, a nozzle for a nasal rinse device
includes a collar that
forms a conduit. The collar is configured to attach the nozzle to the nasal
rinse device. An
outlet aperture defined by the collar is on a top portion of the nozzle. The
nozzle also
includes a skirt extending outwards and downwards from the collar, and an
outer surface of
the skirt is partially faceted.
[0009] In another implementation, a nasal rinse device has a body
including a neck
extending from a top portion of the body, and the body defines a cavity. The
cavity holds a
nasal rinse fluid. The nasal rinse device also includes an attachment collar
configured to be
secured to the neck. A nozzle is secured to the attachment collar. The nozzle
includes a
skirt having a faceted outer surface and an inner collar conduit defining an
outlet aperture at
an apex of the skirt. The inner collar conduit may be secured to the
attachment collar. The
inner collar extends downward from the skirt and is substantially surrounded
by the skirt.
[0010] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form
that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is
not intended
to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended
to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other features,
details, utilities,
and advantages of the invention as claimed herein will be apparent from the
following more
particular written description of various embodiments of the invention as
further illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a nozzle secured to a bottle for
sinus rinse.
[0012] Fig. 2 is a cross-section view of the nozzle secured to the
bottle viewed along
line 2-2 in Fig. 1.
[0013] Fig. 3A is a top isometric of the nozzle illustrated in Fig. 1
removed from the
bottle.
[0014] Fig. 3B is a top plan view of the nozzle.
[0015] Fig. 3C is a side elevation view of the nozzle.
[0016] Fig. 3D is a bottom plan view of the nozzle.
[0017] Fig. 3E is a bottom isometric view of the nozzle.
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[0018] Fig. 4 is a cross is a cross-section view of the nozzle removed
from the bottle,
viewed along line 4-4 in Fig. 3C.
[0019] Fig. 5A an isometric view of another embodiment of a nozzle.
[0020] Fig. 5B is a side elevation view of the nozzle illustrated in
Fig. 5A.
[0021] Fig. 5C is a top plan view of the nozzle illustrated in Fig. 5A.
[0022] Fig. 5D is a bottom plan view of the nozzle illustrated in Fig.
5A.
[0023] Fig. 5E is a bottom isometric view of the nozzle illustrated in
Fig. 5A.
[0024] Fig. 6 is a cross-section view of the nozzle illustrated in Fig.
5A, viewed along
line 6-6 in Fig. 5B.
[0025] Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the nozzle illustrated in Fig. 6
secured to a squeeze
bottle.
[0026] Fig. 8 is a cross-section view of the nozzle secured to the
squeeze bottle viewed
along line 8-8 in Fig. 7.
[0027] Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a valve housing, attachment collar
and delivery tube
connected to the squeeze bottle illustrated in Fig. 7.
[0028] Fig. 10A is an enlarged, left-side, exploded isometric view of
the valve housing
illustrated in Fig. 9.
[0029] Fig. 10B is an enlarged, right-side, exploded isometric view of
the valve housing
illustrated in Fig. 9.
[0030] Fig. 11A is an isometric view of the valve housing removed from the
squeeze
bottle.
[0031] Fig. 11B is a cross-section view of the valve housing viewed
along line 11B-11B
in Fig. 11A.
[0032] Fig. 12 is a cross-section view of the nozzle inserted into a
user's nostril and
connected to the squeeze bottle, viewed along line 12-12 in Fig. 7.
[0033] Fig. 13 is a cross-section view of the nozzle inserted into a
user's nostril and
dispensing fluid therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Several implementations of nozzles or fittings to be used with
nasal rinse devices
are disclosed herein. The nozzles may be attached to a variety of different
nasal rinse
apparatuses and create a seal between their outer surface and the user's
nostril walls. The
skirt or outer wall of the nozzles may be faceted or stepped. The faceted
surface allows the
nozzles to create a seal within the nasal cavity better than an oval or purely
round nozzle.
The skirt is generally rounded and includes an aperture located at its apex or
tip. The
aperture dispenses nasal rinse solution, e.g., a saline mixture, into the
user's nostril.
[0035] In one embodiment, a tubular conduit or inner collar extends
downwards from the
aperture. The inner collar attaches to a corresponding conduit on the nasal
rinse apparatus,
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creating a fluid passageway between the apparatus and the nozzle. The inner
collar in
some embodiments terminates before reaching the distal end of the nozzle. In
these
embodiments a portion of the nozzle may cover a portion of the nasal rinse
apparatus, or
cover a portion of the conduit fluidly connecting the nozzle and the nasal
rinse device.
[0036] In some embodiments, the skirt terminates in an annular recessed
groove formed
around the circumference of the nozzle. In one embodiment, the recessed groove
terminates and the nozzle expands into a shoulder or flange forming the bottom
portion of
the nozzle. In other embodiments, the body of the nozzle terminates at the end
of the
faceted skirt surface. However, in either embodiment the bottom area of the
nozzle is open
and covers a top area of the nasal rinse device.
[0037] When the nozzle is inserted into the user's nasal passage, the
skirt or nozzle wall
may compress radially inwards, conforming to the shape of the user's nasal
passage. The
terminal end of the skirt may engage a portion of the nasal rinse device,
keeping that portion
of the skirt from deflecting further inwardly, thus providing some structural
rigidity to the
flexion of the portion of the skirt extending between the tip and the terminal
end of the
nozzle. This provides some resistance to flexure to create a firm, but
comfortable, fit of the
nozzle within the user's nasal passage, and also facilitates the rebound of
the skirt back to
its original shape after being removed from the user's nasal passage.
[0038] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a nasal rinse device 18 having a
nozzle 10 attached
to a reservoir body 44 of the nasal rinse device 18. FIG. 2 is a cross-section
view of the
nozzle 10 attached to the body 44. The nozzle 10 is attached to the body 44
via an
attachment collar 14. The nasal rinse device 18 includes the reservoir body
44, which may
be a squeeze bottle or a pour bottle and a vent 16, the nasal rinse device 18
is used to
dispense nasal rinse solutions, for example, saline solution or solutions with
other chemicals,
into a user's nostril. In operation, the nozzle 10 is placed within the user's
nostril and then
the nasal solution stored within the reservoir body 44 may be poured or
squeezed into the
nostril. The vent 16 helps to prevent the fluid from pouring unevenly or
bubbling out of the
nozzle 10. The nozzle 10 creates a seal within the nostril to ensure the
maximum amount of
nasal solution is dispensed into the nostril without leaking around the sides
of the nozzle 10.
[0039] FIG. 3A is a top isometric view of the nozzle 10. FIG. 3B is a top
plan view of the
nozzle 10. FIG. 3C is a side elevation view of the nozzle 10. FIG. 3D is a
bottom plan view
of the nozzle 10. FIG. 3E is a bottom isometric view of the nozzle 10. and
FIG. 4 is a cross-
section view of the nozzle 10, as indicated by line 4-4 in FIG. 3C. Referring
to FIGS. 3A-4,
the nozzle 10 is self-sealing and may be made of a soft elastomeric material,
for example,
food grade silicone rubber. The nozzle 10 includes a tip 50 or apex which is
the first portion
of the nozzle 10 to enter the user's nostril when attached to the reservoir
body 44. At a
center portion of the tip 50 is an outlet aperture 12.
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[0040] A skirt 22 or body is formed by a wall extending downwardly and
away from the
tip 50, as can be see from FIG. 3A. The skirt 22 is faceted or stepped
circumferentially, or
otherwise made up of regions having flat extensions or mixed flat and curved
extensions, as
the skirt 22 extends downwards. In some implementations the skirt 22 may have
a wall
thickness of approximately 0.040 inches.
[0041] The skirt 22 of the nozzle 10 acts to form a seal with the
user's nostril when the
nozzle 10 is attached to the reservoir body 44. The skirt 22 includes steps
46a-46e, which
create ridges the outer surface of the skirt 22. In some implementations the
steps 46a-46e
may be approximately the same height; however each step 46a-46e may have a
different
average or center diameter. In these implementations, each step 46a-46e
increases the
overall outer diameter of the skirt 22 and the nozzle 10 maintains a generally
rounded
shape. For example, the first step 46a has a smaller average diameter than the
second
step 46b, and so on. In other implementations the steps 46a-46e may have
different widths,
such that the first step 46a may cover a greater portion of the outer surface
of the skirt 22
than the second step 46b.
[0042] For example, as can been seen in FIG. 3A, the steps 46a-46e may
be a series of
stacked frustums having different outer wall angles. Each step 46a-46e is
sloped at a
predetermined angled and the outer wall has a larger diameter at the bottom
edge of the
steps 46a-46e than at the top edge of each step 46a-46e. In these
implementations, each
step 46a-46e decreases in diameter from the bottom edge to the top edge.
Additionally,
each step 46a-46e may have a different average diameter than the preceding
step 46a-46e.
This is because each step 46a-46e may have a different outer wall angle than
the previous
step 46a-46e. In some embodiments, the configuration of stacked frustum
sections on top of
one another may include ridges between each of the steps 46a-46e at the point
of transition,
from one step 46a-46e to the next, this gives the skirt 22 a faceted
appearance and feel.
[0043] The tip 50 may be inserted into a user's nostril and one of the
steps 46a-46e
creates a seal between the nozzle 10 and the nostril walls (see Fig. 12). The
particular
step 46a-46e that engages the user's nostril depends upon the size of the
user's nostril. For
example, the larger the user's nostril the lower the step 46a-46e may be that
engages the
nostril wall. The steps 46a-46e create a better seal than a purely rounded
nozzle, as the
steps 46a-46e better conform to the nostril wall¨the nostril wall is not
purely oval-shaped or
conical-shaped¨and the steps 46a-46e better mimic the inner surface of the
nostril wall. It
should be noted that although five steps 46a-46e have been illustrated, any
number of
steps 46a-46e may be included. The number of steps 46a-46e may be altered to
create a
smoother or rougher skirt 22. For example, depending on the desired sealing
level the
number of steps 46a-46e may be increased or decreased.
[0044] The skirt 22 terminates at a terminal edge 24. In some
embodiments the terminal
edge 24 may be a continuation of the steps 46a-46e and in other embodiments
the terminal
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edge 24 may extend past the steps 46a-46e creating a shoulder, flange, or
similar structure
(see, e.g., the embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5E). In these embodiments, the nozzle
10 may be
substantially free-standing along the skirt 22, i.e., the skirt 22 and/or
other outer surfaces of
the nozzle 10 may be substantially unrestricted. As can be seen from FIG. 2,
the terminal =
=
edge 24 is unrestricted by the attachment collar 14.
[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the nozzle 10 has an inner collar
28 creating a
conduit or passageway within the inner surface of the nozzle 10. The inner
collar 28 may be
formed integrally with the skirt 22. The inner collar 28 may be substantially
hollow and
terminate at the tip 50 creating the outlet aperture 12. The distal end of the
inner collar 28
terminates inside the skirt 22. In some implementations the inner collar 28
may extend as
far as the terminal edge 24 of the skirt 22 and in other implementations (such
as the
implementation illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4) the inner collar 28 may have a
terminal edge 54
that is beveled and terminates at a point above the terminal edge 24 of the
skirt 22. The wall
thickness of the inner collar 28 in some embodiments may be approximately
0.060 inches.
[0046] The inner collar 28 extends downward from the outlet aperture 12 and
may mate
and fluidly connect with the end portion 42 of the outer collar 14 along the
outlet conduit 30,
attaching the nozzle 10 to the reservoir body 44. The inner collar 28 may
include an annular
recess 52 along its inner walls to receive an o-ring or other sealing
mechanism. The tip 50
of the nozzle 10 above the annular recess 52 extends down to a cylindrical
wall 20 that
defines the outlet aperture 12, and the tip 50 may be thicker than the wall of
the inner
collar 28, the inner collar 28 thus may have a larger inner diameter than the
cylindrical
wall 20 forming the outlet aperture 12. A shoulder 26 formed in the tip 50 of
the nozzle 10
may be formed around the aperture 12 and engage with the end of the outlet
conduit 30.
[0047] As can be seen from Fig. 2, the inner collar 28 connects with the
outlet conduit 30
of the outer collar 14. The outlet conduit 30 extends from an end portion 42
of the collar 14.
The outer collar 14 is secured to the reservoir body 44 of the nasal rinse
device 18 via collar
threading 48 and complementary bottle threading 34. The nozzle 10 may be
attached to the
outer collar 14 before or after the outer collar 14 is attached to the
reservoir body 44. The
nozzle 10 is placed above the outlet conduit 30 and the outlet conduit 30 may
be inserted
partially into the inner collar 28. In some implementations the outlet conduit
30 may extend
only partially into the inner collar 28. Furthermore, an 0-ring 27 may be
secured within the
annular recess 52 to create a fluid-tight seal between the inner collar 28 and
the outlet
conduit 30.
[0048] The skirt 22 extends away from the outlet aperture 12 and thus
extends away
from the outlet conduit 30 creating a void 40 or open space between a diameter
reduction
neck 38 of the end portion 42 of the outer collar 14 and the skirt 22. The
void 40 or annular
spacing is formed between the skirt 22 and the inner collar 28, and the wall
forming the
skirt 22 extends further from the tip 50 than does the wall forming the inner
collar 28 such
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that the terminal edge 24 of the skirt 22 is positioned around a shoulder 32
of the end
portion 42 of the outer collar 14. The void space 40 may be annular and may be
continuous
or discontinuous within the skirt wall.
[0049] The terminal edge 24 of the skirt 22, as well as the adjacent
wall structure of the
skirt 22, may closely fit with outer collar 14, but not necessarily engage the
outer collar 14.
Also, a small gap 36 may be formed between the shoulder 32 and the terminal
edge 24 of
the skirt 22. As discussed above, the terminal edge 24 of the skirt 22 may not
attach to or
otherwise be affixed to the outer collar 14 and may move relative thereto. In
other
implementations the skirt 22 may rest along the outer collar 14 or otherwise
contact the outer
collar 14.
[0050] In these implementations, the user inserts the tip 50 into a
user's nostril and then
tips the reservoir body 44, allowing the nasal solution to travel from the
reservoir body 44 to
the outlet conduit 30. However, in some instances, the reservoir body 44 may
be flexible or
squeezable, and the user may squeeze the reservoir body 44 to force solution
to travel from
the reservoir body 44 to the outlet conduit 30. Once the nasal solution enters
the outlet
conduit 30, the solution enters the inner collar 28 and exits into the nasal
cavity via the outlet
aperture 12. As the nozzle 10 creates a seal between the nostril wall and the
skirt 22 via the
facets or steps 46a-46e, the nasal solution is deposited into the nasal cavity
without
substantially leaking around the nozzle 10 and the user's nostril.
[0051] The skirt 22, when positioned in the user's nasal passage, flexes
inwardly into the
void 40 formed as the skirt 22 extends away from the connection between the
nozzle 10 and
the outlet conduit 30. As the skirt 22 flexes when sealing with the user's
nostril, it may do so
radially and/or irregularly around its circumference in order to closely match
the shape of the
user's nostril. This helps create an adequate seal between the user's nostril
and the
nozzle 10 structure. When the nozzle 10 is removed from the user's nostril,
the elastomeric
material of the skirt 22 springs back into its original shape. Additionally,
the gently curving,
cone-like shape of the nozzle 10 from the tip 50 down to the terminal edge 24
of the skirt 22
allows for a close fit with a variety of sizes of nasal passages.
[0052] FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate another embodiment of a nozzle. In this
embodiment the
nozzle 60 may include a flange 68 at the terminal edge 24 of the skirt 61.
Additionally, the
skirt 61 in this embodiment defines a recessed groove 64, which then expands
outward
forming the flange 68. FIG. 5B illustrates a side elevation view of the nozzle
60 and FIG. 5C
is a top plan view of the nozzle 60. Referring to FIGS. 5A-6, the nozzle 60
includes an outlet
aperture 62 located at the apex of the tip 70. Extending outward and downward
from the
outlet aperture 62 is a skirt 61. The skirt 61, similar to the skirt 22
illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3E,
includes steps 66a-66e or facets along its outer surface. The steps 66a-66e
also act to
provide a seal against a nostril wall when the nozzle 60 is inserted into a
user's nasal cavity.
In this implementation, the skirt 61 may include a larger diameter at its open
bottom as
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compared with the nozzle 10 illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3E. However, in other
embodiments the
nozzles 10, 60 may include similar sized diameters.
[0053] The skirt 61 illustrated in Figs. 5A-6 terminates at the
recessed groove 64, which
has a smaller diameter than the fifth step 66e, such that the diameter of the
nozzle 60
decreases after the fifth step 66e. The recessed groove 64 then expands into
the flange 68,
which has a larger diameter than the fifth step 66e. In this implementation,
the groove 64
reduces the diameter of the nozzle 60 at the end of the skirt 61. The groove
64 may be used
to better attach the nozzle 60 to a nasal rinse reservoir by providing a
connection location.
In other embodiments the groove 64 may be used to reduce the material used to
create the
nozzle 60. As can be seen from FIG. 5C, the flange 68 may form the largest
diameter of the
nozzle 60 and may be larger than any of the steps 66a-66e. The recessed groove
64 and
the flange 68 may be used to secure the nozzle 60 to a nasal rinse squeeze
bottle, which will
be discussed in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8. An annular
bead 63 may
be formed on the inner diameter of the lower end of the skirt wall 61 for
receipt in an annular
groove in a vessel to which the nozzle 60 is attached.
[0054] The nozzle 60 includes an inner collar 74 or conduit extending
downwards from
the tip 70, creating the outlet aperture 62. The inner collar 74 may be
similar to the inner
collar 28 illustrated in Fig. 4. However, in this implementation the inner
collar 74 may extend
to the tip 70 and be substantially the same diameter throughout its entire
length. The inner
collar 74 extends downward and is surrounded by the skirt 61. The distal end
76 of the inner
collar 74 terminates before extending as far as the outer groove 64 or the
flange 68.
However, in other embodiments the inner collar 74 may extend the entire length
of the
nozzle 60. In some implementations, the inner collar 74 may have a wall
thickness of
approximately 0.060 inches.
[0055] As can be seen in Figs. 5A-6, the inner wall 79 of the skirt 61
surrounds the inner
collar 74 and the inner collar 74 is separated from the inner wall 79, such
that the inner
collar 74 and the inner wall 79 may not contact each other. In this
implementation, the
separation between the inner collar 74 and the inner wall 79 of the skirt 61
creates a void 78
or empty area when the nozzle 60 is connected to a vessel.
[0056] Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the second nozzle 60 embodiment attached to
a nasal
rinse squeeze bottle 80. The squeeze bottle 80 includes a main body 85 that
may be made
of low density polyethylene (LDPE). The main body 85 defines a reservoir (see
FIGS 12-13)
in a lower portion 81 in which a solution is placed for use in rinsing a
user's nasal cavity. A
top portion 83 of the main body 85 includes an opening upon which the nozzle
60 may be
secured. The nozzle 60 is secured to the main body 85 by an attachment collar
82.
[0057] The attachment collar 82 is similar to the attachment collar 14
illustrated in Fig. 1.
However, in this implementation the attachment collar 82 extends over a
portion of the
nozzle 60, to better secure the nozzle 60 to the squeeze bottle 80. The outer
diameter of the
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nozzle 60 at the flange 68 may be less than the outer diameter of the
attachment collar 82
holding the nozzle 60 to the squeeze bottle 80. The attachment collar 82 may
have a sloped
outer surface angling from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter in the
direction from top to
bottom to form an annular frustum. An inner wall of the attachment collar 82
may define
threads 89 for engagement with the squeeze bottle 80. A bottom portion of the
attachment
collar 82 may have a vertical sidewall.
[0058] A top shelf or shoulder 87 of the attachment collar 82 sits on
top of the flange 68
and rests on the upper surface 72 of the flange 68. The shoulder 87 of the
attachment
collar 82 may have a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the
flange 68 of the
nozzle 60. Additionally, the shoulder 87 extends at least partially into the
recessed groove 64
on the nozzle 60. The shoulder 87 may have an inner diameter similar to the
outer diameter
of the recessed groove 64. The attachment collar 82 helps anchor the nozzle 60
as well as
create an airtight seal when the nozzle 60 is held in place against the
squeeze bottle 80.
[0059] The outlet aperture 62 allows the solution inside the main body
reservoir 99 to
exit the squeeze bottle 80 as desired by the user. The lower portion 81 of the
main body 85
is relatively bulbous and fits well in a user's hand. The top portion 83
narrows down
significantly from the bottom portion 81 to a generally circular dimension
having an outer
maximum dimension approximately the same as the maximum dimension of the
attachment
collar 82.
[0060] The nozzle 60 may be held to the top of the squeeze bottle 80 by the
attachment
collar 82. Additionally the flange 68 is retained against a collar of a check
valve 86 (further
described below), which in turn is retained against a top rim 91 of the main
body 85 of the
squeeze bottle 80. Each of these components is retained in position by the
shoulder 87 of
the attachment collar 82 which, once positioned over the nozzle 60 and
threadedly engaged
with the threads 88 on the outer perimeter of the top portion 83 of the main
body 85, clamps
the flange 68 of the nozzle 60 and the check valve 86 to the top of the
squeeze bottle 80.
[0061] The nozzle 60 is also attached to the check valve 86 by the inner
collar 74. The
check valve assembly 86 includes an upwardly extending rim 112 that connects
with the
inner collar 74, fluidly connecting the inside of the squeeze bottle 80 with
the outlet
aperture 62 of the nozzle 60. In this implementation the inner collar 74 may
be received
partially within the extending rim 112. However, in other embodiments, the
extending
rim 112 may be received within the inner collar 74, similar to the connection
between the
outlet conduit 30 and the inner collar 28 illustrated in Fig. 2. Additionally,
an 0-ring or other
sealing structure may be inserted within the rim 112 to fit around the inner
collar 74 in order
to better seal the connection between the extending rim 112 and the inner
collar 74.
[0062] Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-section view of the nozzle secured to
the squeeze
bottle 80 and Fig. 9 illustrates an exploded view of the attachment collar 82
and the check
valve 86. Fig. 10A is an enlarged, left-side, exploded isometric view of the
valve housing
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illustrated in Fig. 9. Fig. 10B is an enlarged, right-side, exploded isometric
view of the valve
housing illustrated in Fig. 9. Fig. 11A is an isometric view of the valve
housing removed from
the squeeze bottle. Fig. 11B is a cross-section view of the valve housing
viewed along
line 11B-11B in Fig. 11A. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the check valve 86 is
positioned in fluid
communication between the outlet aperture 62 in the nozzle 60 and a delivery
tube 90
extending from the bottom of the check valve 86 into the reservoir formed in
the squeeze
bottle 80. The check valve 86 has an upper portion 104 and a lower portion 92,
as shown in
FIG. 9, and defines a contained space forming a cavity 95.
[0063] Referring to Figs. 9-11B, the upper portion 104 and the
lower portion 92 of the
check valve 86 may be secured together via attachment pegs 108 extending from
a bottom
surface of the upper portion 104. The attachment pegs 108 are received within
receiving
apertures 98 on the lower portion 92 of the housing. The attachment pegs 108
may also
attach to a reed valve 102 through securing apertures 107 disposed on the reed
valve 102.
In this implementation, the upper housing 104, the reed valve 102, and the
lower housing 92
are secured together to form the check valve 86 as illustrated in Fig. 11A.
[0064] The delivery tube 90 is attached to an annular extension
94 extending from the
bottom of the check valve 86. The delivery tube 90 fluidly connects liquid
within the
reservoir 99 of the squeeze bottle 80 to the check valve 86. The bottom end of
the inner
collar of the nozzle 60 is fluidly connected to the extending rim 112 formed
from the top of
the check valve 86. A nipple extension 94 extends from the bottom of the lower
portion 92 of
the check valve 86 for receiving the top end of the liquid delivery tube 90 in
a friction fit
engagement. The end of the nipple extension 94 may be chamfered to help guide
the liquid
delivery tube 90 onto the nipple extension 94.
[0065] Referring to Figs. 8, 10A, and 11B, a cavity 95 is formed
within the lower
portion 92, and a valve seat 116 is formed near the bottom of the cavity 95 by
a circular
= conical wall. A retention structure 113 is formed within the upper
portion 104 to cap the top
of the cavity 95. The retention structure 113 allows fluid through but does
not allow a ball
member 84 through. The retention structure 113 is disposed between the
extending rim 112
and the cavity 95 in the lower portion 92 of the check valve 86 when the upper
portion 104
and the lower portion 92 are connected together. The extending rim 112 is
fluidly connected
to the outlet aperture 62 when the nozzle 60 is connected to the squeeze
bottle 80. The
cavity 95 acts as a fluid conduit, connecting the delivery tube 90 and the
extending rim 112.
Additionally, the sidewalls of the cavity 95 are generally cylindrical and
taper at their bottom
ends to form the valve seat 116.
[0066] The ball 84 may move freely within the cavity 95. However, the
retention
structure 113 is at the top of the cavity 95. The retention structure 113,
which may be in the
shape of a cross extending across the fluid passageway formed through the
center of the
check valve 86, prevents the ball 84 from moving out of the cavity 95 into the
upper
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portion 104 of the check valve 86. The cavity 95 and the retention structure
113 are in fluid
communication with the inner collar 74 above and the liquid delivery tube 90
extending
below into the squeeze bottle 80. When the ball 84 is on the valve seat 116,
the fluid in the
cavity 95 above the ball 84 is largely restricted from flowing back down into
the liquid
delivery tube 90, and thus may not go back into the squeeze bottle 80. In this
way, any
liquid coming back into the nozzle 60 is unlikely to contaminate the liquid in
the squeeze
bottle 80.
[0067] As shown in Fig. 11B, the check valve 86 also defines a
passageway 118
creating communication for air or liquid from the reservoir 99 of the squeeze
bottle 80
through the passageway 118 and into the void space 78 between the nozzle 60
and the
check valve 86. The passageway 118 has a lower opening into the squeeze bottle
80 and
an upper opening into the void space 78.
[0068] As shown in Figs. 11A, 11B, and 12, the inlet port 106 is formed
in the check
valve 86 that communicates between the reservoir 99 of the squeeze bottle 80
and the
atmosphere. The threading 89 of the attachment collar 82 and the threading 88
of the
squeeze bottle 80 are designed to create a void 93 to allow an air gap between
adjacent
threads. Thus, air can travel in a spiral path between the threads 88, 89 to
enter the inlet
port 106 and fill the reservoir in the squeeze bottle 80 after fluid has been
dispensed, thus
preventing the check valve 86 from creating a vacuum.
[0069] Referring to Figs. 11A, 11B, 12 and 13 the reed valve 102 is
disposed between
the upper portion 104 and the lower portion 92 of the check valve 86. The reed
valve 102
covers the air inflation port 110 to selectively connect the inlet port 106 to
the reservoir 99 of
the squeeze bottle 80. The inlet port 106 is the internal opening of the air
inflation port 110.
The reed valve 102 may be a flat, flexible, semi-circular plate structure
which is attached on
the pegs 108 between the upper portion 104 and the lower portion 92 at its
ends in a
cantilever fashion. This reed valve 102 is typically in a closed position and
opens under the
negative pressure of the squeeze bottle 80 when moving from a squeezed to the
un-
squeezed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the reed valve 102 material may
be FDA
grade silicone rubber and may be approximately 0.015 inches thick. A guard
plate 96
extends radially outwardly from the outer surface of the lower portion 92 of
the check
valve 86 in order to protect the reed valve 102 from interference by
particulates and also to
keep the reed valve 102 from opening too far. A small gap 103 is formed
between the end
of the guard plate 96 and the inner wall of the top portion 104 of the main
body 85 to allow
air or liquid to flow therethrough towards the reed valve 102 and the
inflation port 110.
[0070] Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, in operation, with fluid pressure from
below when
the squeeze bottle 80 is squeezed, the fluid travels via the delivery tube 90
and pushes the
ball 84 out of the valve seat 116 up against the retention structure 113.
Liquid then flows
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around the ball 84 and the retention structure 113 and out the outlet aperture
62 of the
nozzle 60.
[0071] The passageway 118 formed through the check valve 86 allows air
or liquid
pressure to be applied to the skirt 61 walls when the squeeze bottle 80 is
squeezed. The
liquid cannot escape through the inflation port 110 because the reed valve 102
is closed.
[0072] When the nozzle 60 is inserted into the user's nostril opening,
the skirt 61 may
deform based on contact with the edges of the nostril. When the squeeze bottle
80 is
squeezed, the pressure increases from liquid or air pressure inside the void
space 78 in the
nozzle 60, thus creating an outward pressure on the skirt 61 walls of the
nozzle 60 and
enhancing the fit of the nozzle 60 within the nostril of the user. When the
squeeze bottle 80
is not being squeezed, the squeeze bottle 80 is resilient and returns to its
original shape
relieving the pressure of the fluid or nasal solution on the ball 84, allowing
the ball 84 to
return and seat on the valve seat 116, and thus preventing fluid from flowing
back into the
reservoir 99. This is beneficial as it prevents fluid that may return into the
outlet aperture 62
from the user's nostrils or sinus from draining into the reservoir in the
squeeze bottle 80.
[0073] Furthermore, the combination of the inlet port 106 with the reed
valve 102
substantially prevents a vacuum from occurring within the squeeze bottle 80
after squeezing.
After squeezing, the squeeze bottle 80 reservoir 99 may be under negative
pressure and the
reed valve 102 opens based on this pressure. When the reed valve 102 opens,
the inlet
port 106 connects to the reservoir 99 as the inflation port 110 becomes
unblocked, allowing
air to enter into the reservoir 99 of the squeeze bottle 80 to re-inflate the
squeeze bottle 80.
After the squeeze bottle 80 has returned to its original shape and pressure
within the
reservoir 99 has been equalized, the reed valve 102 returns to the closed
position. This
helps to prevent the squeeze bottle 80 from remaining in a compressed shape
after the user
has stopped squeezing the bottle 80.
[0074] A variety of embodiments and variations of structures and methods
are disclosed
herein. Where appropriate, common reference numbers were used for common
structural
and method features. However, unique reference numbers were sometimes used for
similar
or the same structural or method elements for descriptive purposes. As such,
the use of
common or different reference numbers for similar or the same structural or
method
elements is not intended to imply a similarity or difference beyond that
described herein.
[0075] While the methods disclosed herein have been described and shown
with
reference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it will be
understood that these
steps may be combined, subdivided, or re ordered to form an equivalent method
without
departing from the teachings of the invention as claimed below. Accordingly,
unless
specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of the steps are not
generally intended
to be limitations.
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=
[0076] The references herein to "up" or "top", "bottom" or "down",
"lateral" or "side", and
"horizontal" and "vertical", as well as any other relative position descriptor
are given by way =
of example for the particular embodiment described and not as a requirement or
limitation of
the vessel or the apparatus and method for assembling the vessel. Reference
herein to "is",
"are", "should", "would", or other words implying a directive or positive
requirement are
intended to be inclusive of the permissive use, such as "may", "might",
"could" unless
specifically indicated otherwise.
[0077] The preceding specification, examples, and data provide a
complete description
of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined
in the claims.
Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described
above with a
certain degree of particularity, or with reference to oments, those skilled in
the art could
make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from
the spirit or
scope of the claimed invention. Other embodiments are therefore contemplated.
It is
intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the
accompanying
drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of particular embodiments
and not limiting.
Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the basic
elements of the
invention as defined in the following claims.
13
