BI-MATERIAL NOZZLE FOR NASAL WASHES
A nozzle ( 10 ) for a container for the intranasal administration of a liquid formulation comprises a nozzle body ( 12 ) with an upper end ( 18 ) and a lower end ( 16 ), a channel ( 40 ) traversing the nozzle body ( 12 ) and ending with an orifice ( 17 ) in the upper end ( 18 ), and a nozzle cover ( 14 ) covering an area of the outer surface of the nozzle body ( 12 ) which is designed to be introduced into a user's nostril, wherein the nozzle body ( 12 ) is made out of a first material and the nozzle cover ( 14 ) is made out of a second material, said first material being a rigid plastic material, and said second material being an elastic plastic material, and wherein the nozzle cover ( 14 ) is not in contact with the orifice ( 17 ). A packaging for a liquid formulation for intranasal administration comprises a container and such nozzle ( 10 ). A product comprises such a packaging and a liquid formulation in said packaging.
1 . A nozzle ( 10 ) for a container for intranasal administration of a liquid formulation, comprising a nozzle body ( 12 ) with an upper ( 18 ) end and a lower end ( 16 ), a channel ( 40 ) traversing the nozzle body ( 12 ) and ending with an orifice ( 17 ) in the upper end ( 18 ), and a nozzle cover ( 14 ) covering an area of the outer surface of the nozzle body ( 12 ) which is designed to be introduced into a user's nostril, wherein the nozzle body ( 12 ) is made out of a first material, and the nozzle cover ( 14 ) is made out of a second material, said first material being a rigid plastic material, and said second material being an elastic plastic material, and wherein the nozzle cover ( 14 ) is not in contact with the orifice ( 17 ).
2 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle ( 10 ) is produced by bi-injection moulding.
3 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 claim 1 or 2 wherein the first material is a thermoplastic material.
4 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the first material is a polyolefin.
5 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 claims wherein the first material is a low-density polyethylene.
6 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the first material has a Shore A hardness of 80 - 100 .
7 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the second material is an elastomer, a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoplastic rubber.
8 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 7 wherein the second material is a thermoplastic elastomer.
9 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the second material has a Shore A hardness of 20 - 40 .
10 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the nozzle body ( 12 ) and the nozzle cover ( 14 ) have an approximately semi-spherical shape.
11 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle ( 10 ), when introduced into a nostril, seals the nostril.
12 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 any of the preceding claims wherein the nozzle cover ( 14 ) has an orifice ( 19 ) which flushes with the upper end ( 18 ) of the nozzle body ( 12 ).
13 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle cover ( 14 ) has a flat rim ( 48 ) surrounding an orifice of the nozzle cover ( 19 ) and the flat rim ( 48 ) flushes with the upper end ( 18 ) of the nozzle body ( 12 ).
14 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein a flow channel for the liquid formulation is formed in the nozzle, and wherein the flow channel is lined by the first material only.
15 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein an orifice of the nozzle cover ( 19 ) is aligned with the orifice of the nozzle body ( 17 ), and wherein the orifice of the nozzle cover ( 19 ) has a larger diameter than the orifice of the nozzle body ( 17 ).
16 . A nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle is designed such that the liquid formulation is not in contact with the second material when dispensed from the nozzle ( 10 ).
17 . A packaging for a liquid formulation for intranasal administration comprising a container and a nozzle ( 10 ) according to claim 1 .
18 . A packaging according to claim 17 wherein the container is a squeeze bottle ( 20 ).
19 . A product comprising a packaging according to claim 17 and a liquid formulation in said packaging.
20 . A product according to claim 19 wherein the liquid formulation is a nasal wash formulation.
21 . A product according to claim 19 wherein the liquid formulation is a nasal spray formulation.