Abstract:
A nozzle having a valve that uses the movement and viscosity of a dispensing substance to move to closure and having no means for retracting the valve results in a single-use nozzle comprising an attachable collar with a curvilinearly extending spout for easy application of dental compounds to one&#39;s teeth either directly or by means of applying to a brush from a general container such as a toothpaste tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to nozzles and, more specifically, to a hygienic single use nozzle providing a throughbore to serve as a conduit formed in a curvilinear shape for easy application of dental compounds to one&#39;s teeth either directly or by means of applying to a brush from a general container such as a toothpaste tube. 
     Additionally the present invention features a plurality of forms whereby within the device&#39;s throughbore an element acts as a single use valve rendering the nozzle inoperative after a single use. 
     Means for forming a single use valve may include movable valves and pivotal valves whereby viscosity acting upon the nozzle valve forces it into closure after a predetermined amount of material has passed through. 
     The purpose of the single-use nozzle in addition to the cross contamination concerns includes oral application of a substance to a user&#39;s teeth at a precise location. Such applications include an applicator for applying a substance to sensitive teeth at the gum line, applying paste between orthodontic appliances, applying a dental substance under and around bridgework, placing whitening toothpaste specifically on certain areas of tooth, applying toothpaste on hard to reach areas (toothpaste generally falls off brush before reaching all teeth) and for applying and leaving toothpaste on teeth for a short time period for absorption process, e.g. such as the time period specified by some brands of toothpastes made for sensitive teeth for absorption into dental tubules to seal teeth and prevent sensitivity. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other nozzles designed for single use application. While these single use applicator tips may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle for precise applications of dental substances. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a single-use nozzle that can be mounted to a dispenser whereby the dispenser contents can be applied along the gum line for sensitive teeth. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a single-use nozzle wherein a dispenser&#39;s contents can be applied as needed between orthodontic appliances and hard to reach areas. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a single-use nozzle wherein a dispenser&#39;s contents can be applied as desired by the user to specific locations, such as when applying a whitening agent. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle comprising a collar as means for attachment to a dispenser with a curvilinearly extending nozzle terminating with an egress port. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a single-use nozzle having a nozzle valve that closes after dispensing a predetermined amount of dental substance. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle wherein said curvilinearly extending nozzle that may have a diametrically decreasing bore. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle wherein said valve uses the viscosity and movement of the dispensing material to move the valve to closure. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle having a pivotal valve that pivots to closure as the dispensed content moves past the valve. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle having a bore movable valve that moves to closure as the dispensed contents moves through the valve. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle having a displaceable valve that moves to closure as the dispensed contents moves past the valve. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable single use nozzle wherein the collar rotatably fastens to a dispensed. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a nozzle having a valve that uses the movement and viscosity of a dispensing substance to move to closure and having no means for retracting the valve results in a single-use nozzle comprising an attachable collar with a curvilinearly extending spout for easy application of dental compounds to one&#39;s teeth either directly or by means of applying to a brush from a general container such as a toothpaste tube. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the periodontal/oral cross contamination prevention system of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the periodontal/oral cross contamination prevention system of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of the periodontal/oral cross contamination prevention system of the present invention during installation to a tube opening. 
         FIG. 5  is a stepwise view of the single-use nozzle having a shutter-like valve. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  shown is an illustration of the single-use nozzle with an advancing shutter valve and a sectional view through said valve. 
         FIG. 6  is a stepwise view of the single-use nozzle having a displaceable valve. 
         FIG. 6A  is an enlarge view of the displaceable nozzle valve. 
         FIG. 7  is a stepwise view of the single-use nozzle having a ball valve. 
         FIG. 7A  is an illustration of the single-use nozzle with an advancing ball valve. 
         FIG. 8  is a stepwise view of the single-use nozzle having a pivotal valve. 
         FIG. 8A  is an illustration of the single-use nozzle with a pivotal valve. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Hygienic, Single Use Dentifrice Applicator and Periodontal Cross-Contamination Prevention System of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Hygienic, Single Use Dentifrice Applicator and Periodontal Cross-Contamination Prevention System of the present invention     12  single use applicator     14  attachment collar     16  curvilinear nozzle     17  conduit of  16       18  valve member     22  user     24  contaminated toothpaste     26  toothbrush     28  dentifrice     30  mouth of  22       32  tooth of  22       34  cap of  20       36  threads of  14       38  threads of  20       40  shutter valve     42  shutter ring     44  shutter plate sections     46  split edge of  42       48  displaceable valve     50  pressure disc     52  stationary plate     54  snap-on nub     56  passage means cut-out     58  ball valve assembly     60  helical channel     62  ball valve     64  point of egress of  17       66  throughbore of  62       68  pivotal valve assembly     70  tube valve     72  valve plunger     74  applicator valve     76  valve stop       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the prior art  20 . Shown is an example of prior art comprising a deformable tube of toothpaste  20  that when utilized by multiple individuals can make the transmission of bacteria or disease from toothpaste  24  to toothbrush  26  a health risk to the user  22  which can be eliminated through use of disposable single use nozzles. The present invention provides a single-use nozzle having a collar with an outwardly extending tubular spout that decreases in diameter to a dispensing port. The nozzle has a curvilinear shape whereby any mateable container of a substance requiring oral cavity application can use the curvilinear nozzle to deliver said substance to a desired location in the desired predetermined amount. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the periodontal/oral cross contamination prevention system  10  of the present invention in use. Shown is the single use applicator  12  attached to a toothpaste tube  20  via a threaded attachment collar  14  to provide for a single use application of a dental substance either to a desired location within an oral cavity or to prevent direct contact between the toothpaste dispenser nozzle  16  and the user&#39;s toothbrush. The nozzle  16  includes a central throughbore forming a conduit  17  having a nozzle valve  18  disposed therein that as the dental substance, in this case illustrated as toothpaste, is dispensed by pressure applied to the pliable tube  20  acts upon the valve  18  to block the throughbore  17  after a predetermined amount of dental substance has been dispensed. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the periodontal/oral cross contamination prevention system of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the single use applicator  12  in use with a toothpaste tube  20 . The curvilinear form of the nozzle  16  allows for direct oral application of a dental dentifrice  28  to precise locations in one&#39;s mouth  30  such as exact location of gum line for sensitive teeth  32  or for placement of dentifrice  28  between or under orthodontic appliance. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of the periodontal/oral cross contamination prevention system of the present invention  10  during installation. Shown is the single-use applicator  12  being installed to a typical dispensing end of a dental substance tube  20  much like a cap  34 . The nozzle collar  14  has threads  36  that screw onto mating threads  38  on the tube  20  which normally accommodate the cap  34 . Additionally the present invention  10  provides a curved and extended nozzle  16  with a central conduit  17  to aid the user in more precise application of a substance. Furthermore, the conduit  17  projects into the collar  14  thereby penetrating into the tube  20  upon threading to assure the introduction of fresh dentifrice therein. 
       FIG. 5  is a stepwise view of the single-use nozzle  12  having a shutter-like valve  40 . Depicted is the single use applicator  12  of the present invention  10  that provides a collar  14  for engaging a pliable toothpaste tube  20 . The first step of usage requires screwing the applicator  12  onto the tube  20 . The applicator  12  has a nozzle  16  with a conduit  17  curvilinearly extending in a diametrically decreasing fashion with an interiorly movable valve member  18  whereby the applicator  12  is single use as a result it advancing down the conduit  17  allowing toothpaste  24  to be dispensed until the valve  18  moves to its blocking position whereby no further toothpaste  28  can be dispensed. Having no means to retract the valve  18  results in a single use applicator  12 . As illustrated, the movable valve  18  is a shutter valve  40  comprising a resilient shutter-like cylindrical ring  42  with a split edge  46  on the side and internal plate sections  44  that are spaced apart when the split edges  46  of the shutter ring  42  are separated and abut one another when the split edges  42  meet thereby effectively forming a barrier restricting any further dispensing of the toothpaste  28 . The shutter valve  40  advances down the conduit  17  along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the curvilinear nozzle as generally depicted by the arrows in step  4  of  FIG. 5  under pressure from the toothpaste  28  allowing toothpaste  28  to pass therethrough. The shutter valve  40  closes incrementally as it travels down the conduit  17  due to the decreasing diameter of the conduit  17  until the shutter valve  40  closes whereby no further toothpaste  28  will be dispensed and with no means for retracting the valve creates the single-use valve. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  shown is an illustration of the single-use nozzle with an advancing shutter valve and a sectional view through said valve. Depicted is the single use applicator  12  of the present invention  10  that provides a collar  14  for engaging a pliable toothpaste tube  20 . The first step of usage requires screwing the applicator  12  onto the tube  20 . The applicator  12  has a nozzle  16  with a conduit  17  curvilinearly extending in a diametrically decreasing fashion with an interiorly movable valve member  18  whereby the applicator  12  is single use as a result it advancing down the conduit  17  allowing toothpaste  24  to be dispensed until the valve  18  moves to its blocking position whereby no further toothpaste can be dispensed. Having no means to retract the valve  18  results in a single use applicator  12 . As illustrated, the movable valve  18  is a shutter valve  40  comprising a resilient shutter-like cylindrical ring  42  with a split edge  46  on the side and internal plate sections  44  that are spaced apart when the split edges  46  of the shutter ring  42  are separated and abut one another when the split edges  42  meet thereby effectively forming a barrier restricting any further dispensing of the toothpaste. The shutter valve  40  advances down the conduit  17  under pressure from the toothpaste  28  once the tube  20  is squeezed by the user thus allowing toothpaste  28  to pass therethrough. The shutter valve  40  closes incrementally as it travels down the conduit  17  due to the decreasing diameter of the conduit  17  until the shutter valve  40  closes whereby no further toothpaste will be dispensed and with no means for retracting the valve creates the single-use applicator  12 . 
       FIG. 6  is a stepwise view of the single-use applicator  12  of the present invention  10  having a displaceable valve  48 . The single use applicator  10  provides a collar  14  for engaging a pliable tube  20  of toothpaste  28  with a nozzle  16  curvilinearly projecting therefrom. A conduit  17  is disposed within said nozzle  16  to provide passage of toothpaste  28  from the tube  20  to the desired point of delivery. Shown is the displaceable valve  48  comprising a movable pressure disc  50  disposed within the collar  14  proximal to the point of egress of the dispensing tube  20  and a spaced apart stationary plate  52  disposed within said collar  14  proximal the conduit  17 . The pressure disc  50  and the stationary plate  52  are offset to encourage passage of toothpaste  28  therethrough while they are in a spaced apart relation. The introduction of toothpaste  28  therethrough applies a bias to the pressure disc  50  thereby urging it towards the stationary plate  52  as the toothpaste  28  is being delivered through the conduit  17 . Engagement of the pressure disc  50  with the stationary plate  52  prohibits further egress of the toothpaste  28 . 
       FIG. 6A  is an enlarged view of the displaceable valve  48  of the present invention  10 . Depicted is the pressure disc  50  moving to engage the stationary plate  52  under pressure from the toothpaste allowing toothpaste to pass the valve  48  through cut-out passage means  56  in the disc  50  and the plate  52  and proceed through the conduit  17  of the nozzle  16  until the pressure disc  50  engages the stationary plate  52  whereby no further toothpaste will be dispensed and with no means for retracting, the displaceable valve  48  creates the single-use applicator  12 . The attachment collar  14  further includes a snap-on nub  54  to enable the user to simply snap the applicator  12  on and of the dispensing tube  20  without threading. 
       FIG. 7  is a stepwise view of the single-use applicator  12  of the present invention  10  having a ball valve assembly  58 . Depicted is the single use applicator  12  that provides collar  14  for engaging a pliable toothpaste tube  20  with a nozzle  16  curvilinearly projecting therefrom. A diametrically decreasing conduit  17  extends through the nozzle  16  with a helical charmel  60  therein. A ball valve  62  is positioned within the conduit  17  proximal the collar  14  when in the open static position. The ball valve  62  has a central throughbore  66  passing therethrough The introduction of toothpaste  28  into the conduit  17  urges the ball valve  64  forward along the helical channel  60  while the throughbore  66  permits toothpaste  28  to flow therethrough for delivery at the point of egress  64  of said conduit  17 . The flow of toothpaste  28  is terminated upon the ball valve  62  reaching the distal end of said helical channel  60  wherein the throughbore  66  is in transverse relation to the point of egress  64 . The diameter of the point of egress  64  is less than that of the ball valve  62  thereby prohibiting further travel thereof. 
       FIG. 7A  is an illustration of the single-use applicator  12  of the present invention  10  with an advancing ball valve  62 . As illustrated, the single use applicator  12  has a nozzle  16  that extends curvilinearly from the nozzle mounting collar  14 . The nozzle  16  has an integral conduit  17  with and interiorly movable ball valve  62  whereby the applicator  12  is single use as a result of the ball valve  62  advancing down the helical channel  60  of the conduit  17  allowing toothpaste to be dispensed until the ball valve  62  moves to its blocking position whereby no further toothpaste can be dispensed. Depicted is the ball valve  62  having a throughbore  66  that advances down the helical channel  60  under pressure from the toothpaste allowing toothpaste to therethrough until the throughbore  66  rotates transversely out of alignment with the point of egress  64 . 
       FIG. 8  is a stepwise view of the single-use applicator  12  of the present invention  10  having a pivotal valve assembly  68 . Depicted is the single use applicator  12  having an additional element wherein the pliable toothpaste tube  20  has an integral tube valve  70  so that no toothpaste will be dispensed without employing the single-use applicator  12  with the pliable tube  20 . The applicator  12  provides a collar  14  for engaging a pliable tube of toothpaste  20  and a nozzle  16  projects curvilinearly therefrom. A conduit  17  extends longitudinally through the nozzle  16  for delivering a pre-determined amount of toothpaste  28  to the distal end thereof. The proximal end of the conduit  17  projects beyond the edge of the collar  14  for entry into the dispensing tube  20  when engaged therewith thereby forming a valve plunger  72 . A pivotal tube valve  70  is employed within the tube  20  and refuses egress of any toothpaste  28  until the valve plunger  72  drives it back to allow entrance into the conduit. A pivoting applicator valve  74  is disposed within the collar  14  and is driven towards the conduit  17  entrance as the toothpaste  28  travels through the conduit  17 . Once the applicator valve  74  engages a valve stop  76  disposed at the conduit  17  entrance the flow of any further of toothpaste  28  therethrough is prohibited. The tube valve  70  within the dispensing tube  20  assures that no toothpaste  28  will be dispensed therefrom bypassing the usage of a new sanitized single use applicator. 
       FIG. 8A  is an illustration of the single-use applicator  12  with a pivotal valve assembly  68 . As illustrated, the valve plunger  72  extends from the nozzle mounting collar  14  into a tube  20  spout having an interior pivoting tube valve  70 . The curvilinear spout is single use as a result of the pivot valve assembly  68  that allows toothpaste to be dispensed until the applicator pivot valve  74  pivots to its blocking position at the valve stop  76  whereby no further toothpaste can be dispensed. Depicted is the applicator valve  74  pivoting under pressure from the toothpaste allowing toothpaste to move past the valve as it pivots to closure so that no further toothpaste will be dispensed until replaced with a new, sanitized applicator  12 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention