Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1058580
Recent trends in the merchandising of consumer goods
have indicated the need for dispensing devices capable of dis-
pensing cleaning and waxing products, cosmetics and toiletries
and food stuffs. Many of these consumer products adapt them-
selves 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 CQSt9 of such dispensing devices. In additionr~
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 foaming devices using
flexible or plastic containers, relying on manual pressure, were
developed. Unfortunately most, i~ not all of the more efficient
devices, would work in only one position, generally upright.
Consequently, there is a great need for a foaming device which
can be used in any position and which is operated or pressurized
manually. However, some foaming devices using flexible con-
tainers were developed which could operate in an inverted posi-
t~n such as the foam dispenser which is shown and described in
U.S. Patent No. 3,422,993 to G~ L. Boehm. In Boehm, both fluids
are discharged axially through the porous member, with the re-
sult that the two fluids are not efficiently mixed and this
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reduces the efficiency with which the foam can be generated.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a
foam dispensing device comprises a flexible container for hold-
ing a foamable liquid and an air supply, said container having
a discharge port, a porous member separating the area adjacent
said discharge port and the inside portion of said container, a
conduit means communicating between the inside portion 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 while the other of said fluids is being directed
into the porous member from inside the container by a different
path during pressurization of the container, said fl~w directing
means diverting said one fluid from the general axial flow path
in ~e conduit means and transversely into the flow path of the
said other fluid in the porous member.
According to a further aspect of the present invention,
a foam dispensing device comprises a flexible container for
holding a foamable-~ liquid and an air supply, said container
having a discharge port, a porous member separating the area ad-
jacent said discharge port and the inside portion of said con-
tainer, a conduit means communicating between the inside portion
of said container and the porous member, the conduit means ex-
tending at least partly through the p~rous member and includes an
aIr re-entry, and a flow directing means associated with the con-
duit means for directing one of said fluids from inside the con-
tainer through the conduit means into the porous member while the
other of said fluids is being directed into the porous member
from inside the container by a different path during pressurization
of the container, the flow directing means including movable valve
means actuated during depressurization of the con~ainer to
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substantially open the air xe-entry to admit air, and actuated
during pressurization o the container to substantially close the
air re-entry and direct fluid into the porous mernber.
The invention will be more clearly understood with refer-
ence to the following detailed specification read in conjunction
With the drawings wherein
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the px~erred
foam dispensing device constructed in accordance with the
present invention;
Fig. 2 is the container of Fig. 1 ater being squeezed
while upright;
Fig. 3 is the container of Fig. 1 after being squeezed
while in an inve~ted position;
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified
foam dispensing device constructed in accordance with the
present invention; and
Fig. 5 is the container of Fig. 4 after being squeezed
while in an inverted position.
Referring to the drawings and more particularly Fig. 1,
there is schematically shown a foaming device 10 compr~sing a
flexible container 12, a porous member 14, 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 o~ assembly but a singularly con-
structed conduit would perform equally well,
The portion of the conduit 16~extending through the por-
ous 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 and the valve system 24,
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in this instance a ballcheck 32, and a supporting shelf com-
prising 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 foaming device 10 can best be illus-
trated by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 the foaming
device is shown in the upright position. Pressurizing
container 10 by manually squeezing the container forces the
10 foamable liquid up through conduit 16 which in turn forces ball-
check 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
20 through the aperture 28, which constitutes an air re-entry open-
ing, around the ballcheck and projections resulting in a rather
rapid resboring of the original shape of the container.
Fig. 3 illustrates the foaming device 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 al~ove the
solution. The porous member 14 which was formerly in contact
29 with the air space above the foamable solution 18 is now
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directly in contac~ with the foamable solution~ In operation,
manually squeezing container 10 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 to produce a uniform
~oam 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 container
position thereby directing the fluid in the conduit, whether
foamable solution or air, through the aperture in the porous
member. In addition the valve system must operate to provide
a rap d 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 pressnt invention. The ballcheck has the
added advantage of activating when the container is merely
inverted.
The porous member can be any material having innumerable
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
29 rigid material is generally preferred for optimum uniformity
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o~ foam due to reduced compression of the porous channels
within the porous material. Noncompressible porous materials
may be made ~rom foraminous volcanic glass material, sintered
glass of the type used in filters, or noncompressible plastics
such as porous polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, rayon, etc.
For optimum operation of the foam dispenser the porosity
and/or rigidity of the porous memb~r 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 time of pressurization. Consequently the
porosity should be such to pass either air or liquid through
the porous member at a uniform and optimum rate for mixing with
little or no leakage of foamable solution when the container is
upended prior to pressurization. The rigid porous materials
operate more effectively because they are not subject to signif-
icant 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 container position) with the porous member may
be composed of any suitable material which is compatible with
the foamable solution and may be of any cross-sectional shape
such as round, square and the like. It is generally preferred
29 that the conduit extend through the porous member but it is
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also obvious that the device will still operate in the manner
described even though the conduit does not e~tend completely
through the porous member as long as the distance b~twéen the
conduit opening leading to the discharge area and the upper
surface of the porous member is not so great to substantially
inhibit the movement of air returning to the unit.
The container proper may be constructed of any material
capable of containing the foamable material and air. Generally
the pressure used to force the air and foamable solution
together as described will result from manually s~ueezing 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 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 schematicalIy shown a foam dispenser c~pr~n~-afi -
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 posi-
tioned within conduit 114 and serving as a shelf for ballcheck
124 which provide a valve system.
The operation of the foam dispenser of Fig. 4 can be
-morerreadily appreciated by reference to Fig. 5 illustrating
container 110 substantially inverted and manually pressurized.
29 As a result of the inversion and~or pressure, ballcheck 124
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has moved towards and is now in sealing engagement with
aperture 120 causing air 126 coming ~rom 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 dis-
charge 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 rather rapidly around the ballcheck and pro-
jections and through conduit 114 into the bag member 116. I~
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 member. 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
29 invention.
LOS858()
The ba~ member serves to isolate the air from the foamable
solution. ~s a result fouling of the conduit by foaming taking
place within the body of the container does not occur~ Con-
sequently 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 ~oam within the
bottle generally results in sporadic and low quality foam.
For ef~ective operation, the ba~ must be flexible to permit
deflation and in~lation. Any material fulilling this require-
ment and compatible with the foamable solution will suffice~
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 specif-
ically such liquid would tend to collect around the outer
portion of the conduit as the bag deflates.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled
in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the invention in its broader aspects~
For example, 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~
