Injection molding nozzle with collar having locating and retaining lug protions

In an injection molding nozzle to be seated in an opening in a mold with an insulative air space extending between the nozzle and the mold, the opening in the mold having a rear portion with a generally cylindrical surface, the nozzle having a rear end, a front end, and a melt channel extending therethrough from the rear end to convey melt forwardly toward at least one gate extending through the mold to a cavity, the nozzle having an elongated central body and a two-segment outer collar, the outer collar extending around the central body adjacent the rear end of the nozzle and comprising two separate segments which are received around the elongated central body in a position interlocking with the elongated central body to prevent longitudinal movement of the elongated central body relative to the outer collar, the improvement wherein;

• the two segments of the outer collar of the nozzle have a plurality of locating and retaining lug portions spaced therearound, each locating and retaining lug portion to extend adjacent the rear end of the nozzle outwardly across the insulative air space into locating contact against the surrounding generally cylindrical surface of the rear portion of the opening in the mold, whereby the two segments of the outer collar fit in the opening in the mold and are retained in the interlocking position around the central body of the nozzle.