Overmolded swivel with angular interlock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016228667-A1
Application number	US-201514933276-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An angular interlock for a swivel feature formed using injection molding techniques is described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the swivel feature is used for a conduit for delivering breathing therapy to a patient, and includes an outer swivel component and an inner swivel component formed using a two-shot molding technique. The outer swivel component is formed first out of a material, such as polycarbonate, having a low shrink rate, whereas the inner swivel component is formed of a material, such as polypropylene, having a high shrink rate. The material for the inner swivel component is injected into the formed outer swivel component and allowed to cool, creating a clearance. The outer swivel component includes an angular interlock protrusion that allows the inner swivel component to be formed without creating an interface about the angular interlock protrusion, which typically occurs with standard rectangular interlocks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A swivel feature for a conduit between a pressure generating device delivering breathing therapy to a patient and a patient interface device donned by the patient, the swivel feature comprising:
an outer swivel component that is substantially annular comprising an angular interlock protrusion extending radially inward from an inner surface of the outer swivel component; and an inner swivel component that is substantially annular comprising an angular interlock receiving portion which allows the angular interlock protrusion to extend therein, the swivel feature further comprising:
a clearance distance along a radial axis between an outer surface of the inner swivel component and the inner surface of the outer swivel component; and
a clearance distance along a longitudinal axis between both sides of the angular interlock protrusion and the angular interlock receiving portion.

2 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the angular interlock receiving portion is formed after an inner swivel component material is injected into the outer swivel component and allowed to cool for a period of time.

3 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the outer swivel component comprises polycarbonate, and the inner swivel component comprises polypropylene.

4 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the outer swivel component is made out of a material having a first shrink rate, wherein the inner swivel component is made out of a material having a second shrink rate, and wherein the second shrink rate is greater than the first shrink rate.

5 . The swivel feature of claim 4 , wherein the first shrink rate is less than 0.010 inches per inch, and wherein the second shrink rate is greater than 0.012 inches per inch.

6 . The swivel feature of claim 6 , wherein the material having the first shrink rate is a first plastic, wherein the material having the second shrink rate is a second plastic, wherein the first plastic has a melt temperature that is greater than the second plastic, and wherein the second plastic has a shrink rate that is greater than 0.010 inches per inch.

7 . The swivel feature of claim 4 , wherein the second shrink rate of the inner swivel component is the same along the radial axis of the inner swivel component and the longitudinal axis of the inner swivel component.

8 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the outer swivel component is made of one of: an amorphous material and a first semi-crystalline material, wherein the inner swivel component is made of a second semi-crystalline material, and wherein the one of amorphous material and the first semi-crystalline material has a higher melt temperature than the second semi-crystalline material.

9 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the clearance distance along the radial axis is substantially constant along the longitudinal axis of the swivel about either side of the angular interlock protrusion.

10 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the angular interlock protrusion of the outer swivel component has a first angle between the first side the angular interlock protrusion and the normal of the inner surface of outer swivel component and a second angle between the second side of the angular interlock protrusion and the normal of the inner surface of the outer swivel component.

11 . The swivel feature of claim 10 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are one of: the same; and different.

12 . The swivel feature of claim 10 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are at least 10-degrees.

13 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the inner swivel component is formed by injecting an inner swivel component material into a cavity formed by the inner surface of the outer swivel component.

14 . The swivel feature of claim 13 , wherein, when injected, the inner swivel component material initially has a temperature between 100 and 400-degrees Fahrenheit.

15 . The swivel feature of claim 13 , wherein, after a period of time, the inner swivel component material shrinks by the clearance distance along the radial axis and the clearance distance along the longitudinal axis to form the inner swivel component.

16 . The swivel feature of claim 15 , wherein the period of time is between 10 seconds and 2 minutes.

17 . The swivel feature of claim 15 , wherein after the period of time, the inner swivel component is formed and has a width along the radial axis.

18 . The swivel feature of claim 1 , wherein the outer swivel component is molded first and then an inner swivel component material is injected into the outer swivel component to create the inner swivel component.

19 . A gas delivery system for delivering a breathing gas to a patient comprising the swivel feature, the pressure generating device, and the patient interface device of claim 1 wherein the swivel feature is fluidly coupled to the pressure generating device and the patient interface device.

20 . A patient circuit for delivering a breathing gas to a patient comprising the swivel feature and the patient interface device of claim 1 , wherein the swivel feature is fluidly coupled to the patient interface device.

21 . A method for making a swivel feature for a breathing gas delivery system, the method comprising:
providing an outer swivel component for the swivel feature, the outer swivel component being substantially annular and comprising an angular interlock protrusion extending radially inward from an inner surface of the outer swivel component injecting an inner swivel component material into a cavity of the outer swivel component to form an inner swivel component that is substantially annular; and allowing the injected inner swivel component material to cool for a period of time to create the inner swivel component, wherein a clearance distance is created along a radial axis between an outer surface of the inner swivel component and the inner surface of the outer swivel component, and wherein a clearance distance is created along a longitudinal axis between both sides of the angular interlock protrusion and an angular interlock receiving portion of the inner swivel component.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Haibach Richard Thomas

Classifications

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title

• A61M16/0666

  Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02) · CPC title

• A61M16/0816 Primary

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/0875

  Connecting tubes · CPC title

• B29C45/0017

  moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges · CPC title