Patent ID: 7018197

Claim:
A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus, comprising: a nozzle body, said nozzle body defining a nozzle body melt passage, said nozzle body melt passage having an inlet downstream from and in fluid communication with a melt source; a heater coupled to said nozzle body; a tip, said tip defining a tip melt passage downstream from and in communication with said nozzle body melt passage, said tip melt passage having an outlet upstream from a gate in a mold component, said tip including a tip gap seal surface; and a tip retainer, wherein said tip is retained in position with respect to the nozzle body via said tip retainer and wherein said tip retainer includes a first tip retainer gap seal surface, wherein said first tip retainer gap seal surface and said tip gap seal surface are separated by a first gap and said first gap is sized to inhibit the flow of melt therein.