IE43082B1

IE43082B1 - Foam dispenser

Info

Publication number: IE43082B1
Application number: IE491/76A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Hershel Earl Wright
Original assignee: Hershel Earl Wright
Priority date: 1975-04-03
Filing date: 1976-03-09
Publication date: 1980-12-17
Also published as: NL162876B; IE43082L; CH617632A5; JPS51125581A; GB1478607A; NL162876C; JPS59271B2; IL49228A; FR2306141B1; DD124871A5; DK139340C; BE839564A; GR59893B; FI58300B; IN144933B; SE410268B; ATA186076A; SE7603177L; DK139340B; ES219796U

Abstract

1478607 Generating foam H E WRIGHT 11 March 1976 [3 April 1975 (2)] 09737/76 Heading B1C [Also in Divisions B8 and Fl] A device for making and dispensing foam comprises a flexible container 12 having a riser tube 16 with apertures 26 leading into a porous body 14, and an air inlet valve 24. If the container be squeezed in the position shown, the valve member 32 closes, and foamforming liquid is expelled through the apertures 26 to form, with air forced into the porous body 14, foam which is discharged at 30. If the bottle is used in the inverted position, Fig. 2 (not shown) air is forced through the tube 16 while liquid is forced directly into the porous body. In another embodiment for use only in the inverted position (Figs. 4 and 5, not shown) a flexible air-containing bag (116) surrounds the tube to separate the liquid and air.

Description

The present invention relates to foam dispensers and more specifically to manually operable foam dispensers.

Recent trends in the merchandising of consumer goods have indicated the need for dispensing devices capable of dispensing cleaning and waxing products, cosmetics and toiletries and foodstuffs. Many of these consumer products adapt themselves to application in the form of a foam through a convenient hand dispensing device. Such dispensing devices must be economical to manufacture and efficient in operation to provide an advantage to the consumer over previous packaging techniques. The advent of self-contained pressurized dispensing devices has reduced the time required to produce foam but has introduced the requirement for a container strong enough to withstand the rather high internal pressures, thereby adding substantially to the manufacturing costs of such dispensing devices. In addition, such pressurized dispensing devices have the disadvantage that the gas used in effecting the formation of foam and discharge thereof does not replenish itself, thus limiting the useful life of the dispensing device.

As a result of the problems associated with pressurized dispensing devices, several types of foamdispensing devices using flexible or plastic containers, relying on manual pressure, were developed. Unfortunately most, if not all of the more efficient devices, would work in only one position, generally upright. Consequently, there is a great need for a foam-dispensing device which can be used in any position and which is operated or pressurized manually. However, some foam-dispensing devices using flexible containers were developed which could operate in an inverted position such as the foam dispenser which is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 3,422,993 to G.L. Boehm. Although some of these systems appear to create a good foam, a serious limitation was inherent if the bottle was shaken prior to use or merely by repeated use. More specifically the shaking of the foam dispenser or repetitive use tends to create a foam within the bottle particularly within the area of air withdrawal from the bottle itself causing disruption of the foaming process and inadequate foam. Consequently there is a great need for a foaming device which can be used in the inverted position and which will operate effectively to produce a quality foam irrespective of shaking or the rjumber of repetitive uses.

According to the invention there is provided a foam dispenser comprising a flexible container for holding a foamable liquid and an air supply, said container having a discharge port, a porous member separating said discharge port and the inside of said container, a conduit means connecting the inside of said container and the porous member, and a flow directing means associated with the conduit means for directing one of said fluids from inside the container through the conduit means into the porous member during pressurization of the container such that the flow paths of said fluids meet within the pores of said porous member.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred foam dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 after the container has been squeezed while upright; )82 Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig 1. after the container has been squeezed while in an inverted position; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified foam dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 5.is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 after the container has been squeezed while in an inverted position.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly Fig. 1, there is schematically shown a foam dispenser 10 comprising a flexible container 12, a porous member 14, and a conduit 16, one end of which extends into a foamable solution 18. The opposite end of the conduit 16 extends through the porous member 14. In the embodiment shown the conduit is constructed in two sections 20 and 22 for convenience of assembly but a conduit constructed in one piece would perform equally well.

The portion of the conduit 16 extending through the porous member 14 is provided with at least one aperture 26 opening into the porous member 14, a second aperture 28 opening into the discharge area 30 of the container 12, a valve system 24, in this instance a ballcheck 32, and a supporting shelf comprising.a series of projections 34 extending around the inside of conduit 16 designed to control the flow of fluid (whether air or foamable solution) through either aperture 26 or aperture 28.

The operation of the foam dispenser 10 can best be illustrated by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. In Pig. 2 the foaming dispenser is shown in the upright position. Pressurizing container 10 by manually squeezing the container forces the foamable liquid up through conduit 16 which in turn forces ballcheck 32 upwardly closing aperture 28. As a result, the foamable solution 18 is directed through aperture 26 into the porous member 14. At the same time the pressure within the container forces air to flow from the upper portion of the container 36 into the porous member 14 mixing with the foamable solution 18 entering from aperture 26 producing a foam 38 which exits from the discharge area 30. Upon release of manual pressure, i.e. removing or relaxing the fingers, the ballcheck 32 returns to rest on projections 34 allowing air to re-enter the container through the aperture 28, which constitutes an air re-entry opening, and around the ballcheck 32 and projections 34 resulting in a rapid restoring of the original shape of the container.

Fig. 3 illustrates the foam dispenser 10 in an inverted position. A transition has occurred which changes the flow patterns. More specifically the end of the conduit 16 which formerly extended into the foamable solution 18 as described and shown in Fig. 2 now extends into the air space above the solution. The porous member 14 which was formerly in contact with the air space above the foamable solution 18 is now directly in contact with the foamable solution. In operation, manually squeezing container 12 now forces air along conduit 16. Ballcheck 32 drops to close aperture 28 resulting in the air being directed through aperture 26 mixing with foamable solution 18 being forced into the porous member 14 producing a foam 38 which discharges through discharge area 30. Thus, although the flow paths have changed by inverting the container 10, the net result is the same, that is the mixing of air and foam solution under pressure within the porous member 14 lo produce a uniform foam discharging from the container regardless of container position during operation.

The valve system required is one that will close the aperture of the conduit which leads to the container discharge when the container is pressurized regardless of the container position thereby directing the fluid in the conduit, whether foamable solution or air, through the aperture into the porous member. In addition the valve system must operate to provide a rapid air return to restore the shape of the container. The preferred system is a ballcheck operating in the manner shown and described but it is obvious that any valving means or system which will function in the manner described is within the scope of the present invention. The ballcheck has the added advantage Of operating when the container is merely inverted.

The porous member can be a wide variety of material having a large number of tortuous paths to allow for intimate mixing of the foamable solution and air. Although material making up the porous member can be fairly resilient, a more.or less noncompressible or rigid material is generally preferred for optimum uniformity of foam due to.reduced compression of the porous channels within the porous material. Noncompressible porous materials may be made from foraminous volcanic glass material, sintered glass of the type used in filters, or noncompressible plastics such as porous polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon or rayon.

For optimum operation of the foam dispenser the porosity and/or rigidity of the porous member is very important. More specifically the porous member will be receiving air or foamable solution directly from the container depending on the position of the container at the time of pressurization. Consequently the porosity should be such as to pass either air or liquid through the porous member at a uniform and optimum rule for mixing with little or no leakage of foamable solution when the ooni ,ii nor is upended prior to pressurization. The rigid pot our; materials operate more effectively because they are not subject to significant compressibility which tends to reduce fluid passage and particularly the passage of the foamable solution as opposed to air. In certain instances it may be desirable to design the porous member to optimize the foam production in a certain container position. For example, the porous member could be designed for optimum foam production when foamable solution is being forced through the porous member such as would be the case when the container is inverted.

The conduit connecting the foamable solution or air (depending on the container position) with the porous member may be composed of any suitable material which is compatible with the foamable solution and may be of a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes such as round, square and the like. It is generally preferred that the conduit extend through the porous member but it is also obvious that the device will still operate in the manner described even though the conduit does not extend completely through the porous member as long as the distance between the conduit opening leading to the discharge area and the upper surface of the porous member is not so great as to substantially inhibit the movement of air returning to the unit.

Generally the pressure used to force the air and foamable solution together as described will result from manually squeezing the container. In this instance the container material preferred would be that which is flexible and elastic such as many of the presently known plastics.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a foam dispenser which is - 7 3082 similar to that disclosed in Figs. 1-3 except that a bag member is used to isolate the foamable liquid from the air.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly Fig. 4, there is schematically shown a foam dispenser comprising a container 110, a porous member 112 and a conduit 114 extending longitudinally through the porous member 112 into the inside of container 110. Surrounding and integrally attached to conduit 114 is a bag member 116. At the upper end of conduit 114 are apertures 118, aperture 120 and projections 122 positioned within conduit 114 and serving as a shelf for ballcheck 124.

The operation of the foam dispenser of Fig. 4 can be more readily appreciated by reference to Fig. 5 illustrating container 110 substantially inverted and manually pressurized. As a result of the inversion and/or pressure, ballcheck 124 has moved towards and is now in sealing engagement with aperture 120 causing air 126 coming from within bag member 116 to be directed through apertures 118 into the porous member 112. As is shown in Fig. 5, the foamable solution 128 is in direct contact with the porous member 112 and the application of manual pressure to container 110 has not only resulted in a pressure on bag 116 forcing air into, the porous member 112 but also causes foamable solution to be forced directly into the porous member to intermix with the air entering from the conduit to produce a foam 132 which is forced outwardly through discharge opening 130.

Upon release of the manual pressure by either removal or relaxation of the fingers, the ballcheck 124 disengages aperture 120 which provides an air re-entry opening permitting air to return rapidly around the ballcheck - 8 4 3083 and projections and through conduit 114 into the bag member 116. It is not necessary for the container to be upright for this air returning operation to occur.

The valve system required is one that will close the aperture of the conduit which leads to the container discharge when the container is either pressurized or inverted thereby directing the air within the bag member through the conduit and into the porous memher. In addition the valve system must operate to provide a rapid air return to restore the shape of the container and to inflate the bag. The preferred system is a ballcheck operating in the manner Shown and described but it is .obvious that any valve system which will perform the described function is within the scope of the present invention The bag member serves to isolate the air from the foamable solution. As a result fouling of the conduit by foaming taking place within the body of the container does not occur. Consequently if the bottle is shaken prior to use, the air supply through the conduit is not contaminated. Furthermore any contamination which might result from repetitive use is eliminated. Contamination of the air by foam within the bottle generally results in sporadic and low quality foam.

For effective operation, the bag must be flexible to permit deflation and inflation, and compatible with the foamable solution.

It is preferred that the conduit, extending from the porous member into the container, project to some extent into the bag. This will serve to minimize re-entry of any liquid that may condense within the bag member back into the conduit during a subsequent inverted foaming operation.

More specifically such liquid would tend to collect around the 3082 outside of the conduit as the bag deflates.

Although air and liquid are shown as the two fluids in the bag member and the container respectively, a high quality foam would still be produced if these were reversed. Further, the conduit could include a passage within the porous member.

Claims

1. CLAIMS:1. A foam dispenser comprising a flexible container for holding a foamable liquid and an air supply, said container having a discharge port, a porous member separating said discharge port and the inside of said container, a conduit means connecting the inside of said container and the porous member, and a flow directing means associated with the conduit means for directing one of said fluids from inside the container through the conduit means into the porous member during pressurization of the container such that the flow paths of said fluids meet within the pores of said porous member.

2. Λ foam dispenser according to claim 1 wherein bag means is disposed within the container for holding one of said fluids in isolated relation from the other of said fluids, and the conduit means communicates between the porous member and the bag means permitting fluid flow from the bag means into the porous member.

3. A foam dispenser according to claim 1 wherein an air bag means is disposed within the container ,for holding the air supply in isolated relation from the liquid, and the conduit means communicates between the porous member and the air bag means permitting an air flow into the air bag means.

4. A foam dispenser according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the porous member is substantially non- compr e s s ib le.

5. A foam dispenser according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the flow directing means includes means substantially precluding direct longitudinal fluid flow from the conduit means through the porous member. 11 43083

6. A foam dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the conduit means. extends at least partly through said porous member and communicates transversely with the porous member.

7. A foam dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the flow directing means includes movable valve means actuated during depressurization of the container to permit rapid air re-entry.

8. A foam dispenser according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the flow directing means includes movable valve means arranged to be actuated during pressurization to direct said one fluid from the conduit means into the porous member.

9. A foam dispenser according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the conduit means extends at least partly through said porous member and includes an air re-entry, and the flow directing means includes movable valve means arranged to. be actuated during depressurization of the container to substantially open the air re-entry to admit air.

10. A foam dispenser according to any of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the conduit means extends at. least partly through said porous member and includes an air re-entry, and the flow directing means includes movable valve means arranged to be actuated during pressurization of the container to substantially close the air re-entry and direct fluid into the porous member.

11. A foam dispenser according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the conduit means includes an elongate tubular member having one end extending into said porous member and the other end extending into the container for substantially the length of the container, and the flow directing means includes movable valve means mounted in the -

12. 430 8 3 conduit means arranged to be actuated in one direction : when the container is pressurized to direct fluid transversely into the porous member and to be actuated in the other direction when the container is depressurized. 5 12. A foam dispenser according to any of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the conduit means includes a first opening leading to the porous member and a second opening leading to said discharge port, and the flow directing means includes valve means associated with said second opening and 10 arranged to substantially close said second opening during said pressurization for directing fluid through the first Opening.

13. A foam dispenser according to claim 12 wherein the valve means includes a ballcheck and support 15 means, said support means being situated on said conduit means and arranged to permit air flow around said ballcheck when the ballcheck is operatively engaged with said support means during depressurization.

14. A foam dispenser substantially as 20 hereinbefore, described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

15. A foam dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.