# US 2021/0078031 A1 · Methods and systems for applying sealant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0078031 A1 - Document ID: US20210078031A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/024,989 - Filed: 2020-09-18 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-18 - Assignees: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - Applicants: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - Inventors: Kevin Michael Wilkens; Michael Dale Bullard; John Jeffrey Carter; Terry Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210078031A1 ## CPC - B05C 5/0212: {only at particular parts of the articles (at particular part of web, band, strip, belt or ribbon B05C5/025)} - B05B 12/26: for masking cavities - B05C 5/0216: {by relative movement of article and outlet according to a predetermined path} - B05C 17/00503: {Details of the outlet element (B05C17/00523 takes precedence; nozzles for deformable tubular containers B65D35/38)} - B05C 17/00516: {Shape or geometry of the outlet orifice or the outlet element} - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract A nozzle applies a sealant to a target area that includes a coupling member and an elongated seam. The nozzle includes a primary portion positionable in line with the coupling member in the target area, a first secondary portion on a first side of the primary portion, and a second secondary portion on a second side of the primary portion. The primary portion is in fluid communication with one or more material sources. The first secondary portion extends from the primary portion such that the first secondary portion is configured to extend over at least a segment of the elongated seam in the target area when the primary portion is positioned in line with the coupling member in the target area. The first secondary portion has a first height, and the second secondary portion has a second height less than the first height. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nozzle for applying a sealant to a target area that includes a coupling member and an elongated seam, the nozzle comprising: a primary portion positionable in line with the coupling member in the target area, the primary portion in fluid communication with one or more material sources; a first secondary portion on a first side of the primary portion, the first secondary portion extending from the primary portion such that the first secondary portion is configured to extend over at least a segment of the elongated seam in the target area when the primary portion is positioned in line with the coupling member in the target area, the first secondary portion having a first height; and a second secondary portion on a second side of the primary portion, the second secondary portion having a second height less than the first height. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first secondary portion is configured to engage a first surface in the target area at a first elevation and the second secondary portion is configured to engage a second surface in the target area at a second elevation higher than the first elevation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the primary portion is configured to be spaced from a surface in the target area when the first secondary portion engages a first surface in the target area and the second secondary portion engages a second surface in the target area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first secondary portion extends a first width from the primary portion, and the second secondary portion extends a second width from the primary portion less than the first width. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first secondary portion and the second secondary portion define a cavity including an upper portion having a first width and a lower portion having a second width larger than the first width. ### Claim 6 A dispenser system for applying sealant, the dispenser system comprising: a nozzle adaptor; and a nozzle coupleable to the nozzle adaptor, the nozzle including a primary portion, a first secondary portion on a first side of the primary portion, and a second secondary portion on a second side of the primary portion, wherein the first secondary portion is configured to extend over at least a segment of an elongated seam in a target area when the primary portion is positioned in line with a coupling member in the target area, and wherein the first secondary portion has a first height and the second secondary portion has a second height less than the first height. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, wherein the first secondary portion is configured to engage a first surface in the target area at a first elevation and the second secondary portion is configured to engage a second surface in the target area at a second elevation higher than the first elevation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, wherein the primary portion is configured to be spaced from a surface in the target area when the first secondary portion engages a first surface in the target area and the second secondary portion engages a second surface in the target area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, wherein the first secondary portion extends a first width from the primary portion, and the second secondary portion extends a second width from the primary portion less than the first width. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, wherein the first secondary portion and the second secondary portion define a cavity including an upper portion having a first width and a lower portion having a second width larger than the first width. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, wherein the nozzle has a first longitudinal axis and the nozzle adaptor has a second longitudinal axis parallel or substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, wherein the nozzle has a first longitudinal axis and the nozzle adaptor has a second longitudinal axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, further comprising one or more control mechanisms configured to control a flow of one or more sealant materials dispensable from the nozzle for sealing at least the segment of the elongated seam at the target area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, further comprising one or more control mechanisms configured to control one or more of a position or movement of the nozzle for sealing at least the segment of the elongated seam at the target area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The dispenser system of claim 6, wherein the nozzle adaptor includes a biasing element that mitigates a force applied by the nozzle. ### Claim 16 A method for applying sealant, the method comprising: identifying a target area that includes a coupling member and an elongated seam; moving a nozzle toward the identified target area, the nozzle including a primary portion, a first secondary portion on a first side of the primary portion, and a second secondary portion on a second side of the primary portion, wherein the first secondary portion has a first height and the second secondary portion has a second height less than the first height; aligning the nozzle with the identified target area such that the primary portion is aligned with the coupling member and the first secondary portion extends over at least a segment of the elongated seam in the target area; and dispensing one or more sealant materials from the nozzle to form a sealant layer at the identified target area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein aligning the nozzle further comprises moving the nozzle toward the identified target area such that the first secondary portion engages a first portion of the target area and the second secondary portion engages a second portion of the target area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein dispensing the one or more sealant materials comprises controlling a flow of the one or more sealant materials using one or more flow controllers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein dispensing the one or more sealant materials comprises controlling one or more of a position or movement of the nozzle using one or more position controllers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein dispensing the one or more sealant materials comprises performing a single pass to form the sealant layer at the identified target area.