U.S. patent application number 12/278435 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-29 for dental container with vapor-tight, sealable dropper insert.
This patent application is currently assigned to Heraeus Kulzer GmbH. Invention is credited to Christian Bressler, Marcus Hoffmann.
Application Number | 20090026228 12/278435 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37946252 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090026228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bressler; Christian ; et
al. |
January 29, 2009 |
DENTAL CONTAINER WITH VAPOR-TIGHT, SEALABLE DROPPER INSERT
Abstract
A drop system made of a liquid to be provided in drop form in
the field of dentistry is contained in a container with a
vapor-tight, sealable dropper insert made of light-impermeable
plastic and a hollow space running in the dropper insert provided
for the supply of a liquid. The hollow space has several tubular
sections and a funnel-shaped outlet. The tubular section connecting
to the funnel is formed as a tapering or restriction between the
funnel-shaped section and another tubular section, and the funnel
is arranged in a column-shaped dropper spout. A collection channel
is arranged on the outer side of the dropper between the outer wall
defining the hollow space and the part of the dropper insert
covering the neck of the bottle.
Inventors: |
Bressler; Christian;
(Frankfurt, DE) ; Hoffmann; Marcus; (Usingen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANITCH SCHWARZE BELISARIO & NADEL LLP
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE, 2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Heraeus Kulzer GmbH
Hanau
DE
|
Family ID: |
37946252 |
Appl. No.: |
12/278435 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
February 1, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/000870 |
371 Date: |
August 6, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/420 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 5/62 20170201; B65D
47/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/420 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/18 20060101
B65D047/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 6, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 005 608.6 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A dropper system for a liquid to be provided in drop form in
dental applications, the dropper system comprising a container
having a vapor-tight, sealable dropper insert made of
light-impermeable plastic and a passage running in the dropper
insert for providing a supply of a liquid, the passage being formed
in a column-shaped dropper spout comprising several tubular
sections and a funnel-shaped outlet, wherein one of the tubular
sections, which connects to the funnel-shaped outlet, has a passage
form of a tapering or restriction between the funnel-shaped outlet
and another tubular section, and a collection channel arranged on
an outside of the dropper between an outer wall limiting the
passage and a part of the dropper insert covering a container rim
at a container opening.
8. The drop system according to claim 7, wherein the outer wall 3
has an outer sharp edge for an annular face.
9. A liquid dropper comprising a vapor-tight, sealable dropper
insert made of light-impermeable plastic and having a passage
running in the insert for supply of a liquid to be used in drop
form for dental applications, wherein the passage is formed by
several tubular sections and a funnel-shaped outlet, wherein one of
the tubular sections, which connects to the funnel-shaped outlet,
has a passage form of a tapering or restriction between the
funnel-shaped outlet and another tubular section.
10. A dropper for use with a container filled with a liquid
designed for a dental use, the dropper comprising a vapor-tight,
sealable dropper insert made of light-impermeable plastic and
having a passage running in the insert for supply of the liquid,
and a collection channel arranged on an outer side of the dropper
between an outer wall defining the passage and a part of the
dropper insert covering a container rim at a container opening.
11. A method for producing a dental adhesive drop, the method
comprising conducting a dental adhesive through a column-shaped
dropper spout, such that the adhesive first runs through a tubular
region, then passes through a tapering or restriction, whereupon
the liquid passes from the tapering or restriction to a
funnel-shaped expansion in which a drop is formed.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the tubular region
has an inner diameter of 2 to 10 mm and the tapering or restriction
has an inner diameter of 0.2 to 2.0 mm.
13. A method for producing a dental adhesive drop, the method
comprising conducting a liquid dental adhesive through a
column-shaped dropper spout, such that the adhesive first runs
through a tubular region, then passes through a tapering or
restriction, whereupon the adhesive passes from the tapering or
restriction to a funnel-shaped expansion, and from the expansion a
drop is formed and conducted to an end face of the spout and from
the end face the drop is discharged.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the tubular region
has an inner diameter of 2 to 10 mm, and the tapering or
restriction has an inner diameter of 0.2 to 2.0 mm.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Section 371 of International
Application No. PCT/EP2007/000870, filed Feb. 1, 2007, which was
published in the German language on Aug. 16, 2007, under
International Publication No. WO 2007/090561 A1 and the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] German published patent application DE 197 13 951 A1
describes a dental adhesive-container-drop system comprising a
polymerizable dental adhesive, a bottle, and a dropper. The bottle
and dropper have a light-impermeable and vapor-tight
construction.
[0003] The use of dental adhesives, however, can easily lead to
blockage of the bottle, because adhesives also adhere to the
dropper and can remain on the dropper and run down its lateral
walls. Moreover, other liquids also tend to become contaminated
(smudged, dirtied) in drop-like application in the field of
dentistry.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The object of the present invention is to simplify drop-type
applications in the field of dentistry and to considerably reduce
the contamination, in particular the adhesion to the container
during its intended use.
[0005] To achieve this object, containers for liquids, which are
used in drop form in the field of dentistry, are equipped with a
dropper insert that has a funnel-shaped outlet. The dropper insert
has tubular sections and the tubular section connecting to the
funnel is formed as a tapering or restriction between the
funnel-shaped section and another tubular section.
[0006] In particular, the dropper spout has a column shape and is
surrounded by an outer collection channel at the column base. The
collection channel is thus arranged between the outer wall limiting
the passage and the part of the dropper insert covering the
container rim, in particular the neck of the bottle.
[0007] Preferably, the funnel is surrounded by a small end face of
the column, wherein the end face of the column forms a sharp edge
on the column rim. The curvature radius of this sharp edge is less
than 1 mm, particularly less than 0.5 mm, and preferably less than
0.2 mm. The end face of the column functions as the contact face
for the cover.
[0008] One embodiment of the invention lies in the use of a
vapor-tight, sealable dropper insert for dental products, whose
passage has several tubular sections and a funnel-shaped outlet,
wherein the tubular section connecting to the funnel is formed as a
tapering or restriction between the funnel-shaped section and
another tubular section.
[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is the use of a
vapor-tight, sealable dropper insert for the drop discharge of
dental products, a collection channel being arranged on the outer
side of this insert.
[0010] A further embodiment of the invention comprises a method for
producing a dental-adhesive drop from a dental adhesive, which is
conveyed through a column-shaped dropper spout, in such a way that
it first runs through a tubular region, in particular having a
diameter of 2 to 10 mm, then passes through a tapering or
restriction, which has, in particular, a diameter of 0.2 to 2.0 mm,
whereupon the adhesive proceeds from the tapering to a
funnel-shaped expansion, in which a drop is formed. A drop formed
in this way does not necessarily wet the remaining end wall of the
column, and the tendency for wetting the end face of the column and
also the edge limiting the end face of the column is minimized.
[0011] Alternatively, the drop is formed on the end wall and
discharged from this end wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the invention, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings
embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,
however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of one embodiment of
a dropper insert according to the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of an alternative
embodiment of a dropper insert according to the invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is another view of the dropper insert of FIG. 1,
showing the drop formation on the flattened cutting edge;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a partially broken-away longitudinal cross-section
view of the dropper insert of FIG. 1, showing a liquid discharge
over the edge; and
[0017] FIGS. 5 to 8 are broken-away longitudinal views of variously
designed cross sections of the outlet region of different
embodiments of the dropper inserts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a dropper insert 1 having an elongated dropper
channel 2 as a tapered part of a passage of the dropper insert,
which is guided through a tube wall 3 that is beveled at its outlet
opening 4. The opening region characterized by the beveled tube
wall is designated as the forward region 5. The forward region 5 is
suitable for forming a drop 6, which can be discharged vertically
downward by holding the dropper in an inverted position (See FIG.
3). With such an application contamination of the dropper can be
largely prevented. The drop material remaining after discharge of
the drop 6 in the forward region 5 can flow back into the dropper
and thus does not contaminate the outer walls of the dropper.
[0019] For forming the drop, the drop quantity to be applied first
arrives in the forward region 5 from the dropper channel 2 (with
tapering or a restriction 10). A drop-sized quantity is produced by
the funnel-shaped increase of the diameter in the forward region.
The funnel volume is adapted for setting the drop mass.
[0020] According to FIGS. 1 to 4, the dropper channel 2 is a
tapering 10 between the funnel-shaped outlet and the end of the
passage leading into the bottle. Alternatively, a restriction 10 is
arranged between the funnel-shaped outlet and the dropper channel
2.
[0021] The narrowing 10 or restriction 10 according to FIGS. 5 to 8
here has the function of regulating the quantity. Various
embodiments of the narrowing/restriction 10 are shown in FIGS. 5 to
8.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a dropper insert 1 held at an angle, so that a
defined quantity drips out for application. For a successful
application, the drop 6 will drip from the cutting edge flattened
to an end face 7.
[0023] In the prior art, in general, dropper outlets having a round
construction are used. There, it was found that the drop is
distributed on the rounding and drips off after reaching a certain
size, whereby the residue held adhesively on the rounding gradually
contaminates the outer side of the dropper. In the construction
according to the invention, an end face 7 for the straight runoff 3
is provided on the dropper opening as an end-face, flattened
cutting edge, around which a drop 6 cannot so easily flow. At the
sharp edge of the column toward the end face 7, a drop tends to
drip off, instead of, in the case of a rounding, lying around the
rounding, or flowing over the rounding and thereby being
spread.
[0024] If the dropper is held upright again before releasing the
drop, the drop 6 runs back into the forward region 5 and has the
possibility of flowing back into the container through the
tapering/restriction 10, depending on the rheology of the fluid,
and of being reused.
[0025] In the least favorable case, the drop 6 flows outward onto
the straight runoff downward into the collection channel. The drop
material is here reliably captured and cannot continue running or
contaminate the dropper.
[0026] The forward region 5 is defined by a beveled region 8 in the
dropper outlet region 4. The drop formation is thereby aided or
simplified. The forward region 5 has the further effect that drops
6 that have not dripped from the end face 7 are drawn back into the
forward region 5 and from this region into the dropper channel 2,
when the dropper is placed upright.
[0027] FIGS. 1 to 8 show a flattened cutting edge with an annular
end face 7 of the column-shaped dropper spout 3, between the bevel
8 forming the funnel 5 and the outer wall of the dropper spout
3.
[0028] The flattening of the cutting edge of the tube for the end
face 7 between the funnel and the tube outer wall 3 is kept so
narrow that a drop 6 can be held on the end face 7, like on the end
of a glass rod. The flattened cutting edge functions as an end
face, on one hand for simplifying the dripping and, on the other
hand, for forming a seal with the cover. It has proven effective to
form the end face 7 as a narrow annular surface. This increases the
service life of the seal with the cover. An end face 7 with a
flattened annular width of 0.2 to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 to 1 mm, has
proven effective. With these proven end faces 7, the drop 6 no
longer runs as on round dispensers and can be defined and
proportioned significantly smaller compared with round dispensers.
One particular possibility of use arises from the fact that the
drop 6 can be kept even smaller when it is applied directly to a
surface, which can hold the drop. Here, the low adhesion on the
flattened cutting edge, due to a reduced adhesion area relative to
a round construction, has proven to be an especially important
advantage for the discharge of very small, defined drop sizes.
[0029] Furthermore, it has been shown that a straight runoff of the
outer tube wall 3 becomes contaminated less quickly than curved
constructions. The straight runoff 3 allows the fastest possible
discharge for material running over the cutting edge. Adhesive
discharged at the straight runoff 3 reaches a generously
dimensioned overflow groove 9, in which the adhesive is captured
for preventing contamination of other components. In the overflow
groove 9, the adhesive dries without contaminating other dropper
parts. This is of considerable importance for use by dentists, so
that the hands of the dentist or the assistant are not contaminated
by a contaminated dropper during the treatment, as was the case up
until now, when the dropper became contaminated due to the
discharge of adhesive.
[0030] During the dropping operation, in the inclined position, a
drop 6 is guided toward the end face of the flattened cutting edge
7. According to the inclined holding position of the bottle, the
quantity to be applied can break away cleanly--depending on the
rheology of the liquid--and the application of a certain quantity
follows, or--depending on the property of the filler wetting the
surface--can run inwards back into the forward region, or can run
on the straight runoff into the overflow groove. Contamination is
effectively counteracted according to the invention.
[0031] Another advantage is the defined discharge of small
quantities in one application. Due to the geometries according to
the invention, the uncontrolled distribution of a liquid on the
dropper is stopped. The product appears cleaner for the duration of
the application (multiple use). Adhesion to the bottle with the
risk of wiping away data is eliminated.
[0032] Preferably, the surface of the dropper is treated in such a
way that the liquid drop breaks away well or runs back into the
dropper, but does not run down the outside of the dropper. For this
purpose, a low surface energy has proven effective, which is
generated by water repellant finishing.
[0033] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *