Claims for Patent: 9,027,967

Summary for Patent: 9,027,967

Title:	Device for clamping a fluidic component
Abstract:	A fluidic component is arranged in an elastomeric shaped part the contour of which is matched to the outer contour of the component and to the inner contour of a holder. The elastomeric shaped part is chamfered towards the fluidic component on its pressure side. When the holder is assembled the elastomeric shaped part is deformed by a projection provided on a mating part and is put under uniformly distributed internal tension, after which the elastomeric shaped part surrounds the fluidic component to its full height.
Inventor(s):	Geser; Johannes (Ingelheim, DE), Hausmann; Matthias (Dortmund, DE)
Assignee:	Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Ingelheim am Rhein, DE)
Application Number:	12/641,424
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 9,027,967
Patent Claims:	1. An apparatus, comprising: an annular elastomeric part including: (i) an internal passage extending along a central axis from a first end surface thereof to an opposite, second end surface; (ii) a chamfer surface within the internal passage and extending from the first end surface radially inwardly toward the central axis and toward the second end surface thereof, thereby defining an annular rim at a periphery of the first end surface of the annular elastomeric part; a nozzle including an outer contour and an internal, narrowing nozzle bore extending from a first end to a nozzle aperture at a second end for permitting an aerosol to exit, the nozzle being disposed within the internal passage of the annular elastomeric part such that the first end of the nozzle is adjacent to the chamfer surface of the internal passage; and a mating element including: (i) a bore for delivering pressurized fluid to the first end of the nozzle, and (ii) an annular projection that engages the annular rim of the annular elastomeric part and deforms the annular elastomeric part at the first end of the nozzle when the annular projection is pressed against the annular rim. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the chamfer surface is at a constant or varying angle of inclination at each point along the chamfer surface; and a line of intersection of the chamfer surface with the internal passage in the annular elastomeric part extends at a constant level or is curved. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deformation of the annular elastomeric part includes a deformation of the chamfer surface of the annular elastomeric part. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a holder, within which the nozzle and annular elastomeric part are arranged, the holder comprising: (i) an inner surface in contact with the second end of the nozzle, (ii) an inner contour that at least one of mates and aligns with an outer contour of the annular elastomeric part, and (iii) an annular end secured to the mating element with at least one of: screwing, gluing, welding, crimping, casting, press-fitting, snap-fitting, and employing a union-nut. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the annular elastomeric part surrounds the outer contour of the nozzle. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the projection on the mating element has a width and a height that are independently constant or varying. 7. A method for making a fluidic component clamping assembly, comprising: inserting a nozzle of the fluidic component into an internal passage of an annular elastomeric part, where: the annular elastomeric part includes: (i) an internal passage extending along a central axis from a first end surface thereof to an opposite, second end surface; (ii) a chamfer surface within the internal passage and extending from the first end surface radially inwardly toward the central axis and toward the second end surface thereof, thereby defining an annular rim at a periphery of the first end surface of the annular elastomeric part, and the nozzle includes an outer contour and an internal, narrowing nozzle bore extending from a first end to a nozzle aperture at a second end for permitting an aerosol to exit, the nozzle being disposed within the internal passage of the annular elastomeric part such that the first end of the nozzle is adjacent to the chamfer surface of the internal passage, engaging a mating element against the annular elastomeric part, where the mating element includes: (i) a bore for delivering pressurized fluid to the first end of the nozzle, and (ii) an annular projection that engages the annular rim of the annular elastomeric part and deforms the annular elastomeric part at the first end of the nozzle when the annular projection is pressed against the annular rim. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: arranging the nozzle and the annular elastomeric part inside an internal volume of a holder; and bearing a union member against the holder and engaging a housing such that: (i) the mating element is pressed toward the holder, and (ii) the annular projection of the mating element deforms the annular elastomeric part at the first end of the nozzle as the annular projection is pressed against the annular rim. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the annular elastomeric part surrounds the outer contour of the nozzle such that: (i) the first end of the nozzle is in fluid communication with, and receives the pressurized fluid from, the bore of the mating element, and (ii) both the first end of the nozzle and the adjacent first end surface of the annular elastomeric part are spaced away from the bore of the mating element, thereby defining an unoccupied volume within the internal volume of the holder, and exposing the first end surface of the annular elastomeric part to the pressurized fluid. 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising deforming the chamfer surface of the annular elastomeric part as the annular projection is pressed against the annular rim. 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising internally tensioning the annular elastomeric part via the annular projection of the mating element such that the internal tension is substantially uniformly distributed.