Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AEROSOL POWER SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a novel bladder-
type aerosol power system which can be used in a stand-
ard aerosol spray container. More particularly, this
invention pertains to an aerosol powering system which
utilizes a rubber-type bladder to generate the expulsion
power for the aerosol. This system circumvents the need
to use volatile propellants which have been demonstrated
to be harmful to the protective ozone layer of the
earth.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, there has been alarming evi-
dence that the protective ozone layer of the earth is
shrinking in thickness. The ozone layer is critical to
the health of living organisms inhabiting the earth
because the ozone layer filters out deadly ultra-violent
rays, and other rays, emitted by the sun. Considerable
evidence has been gathered to demonstrate that the
damage that is occurring to the ozone layer is caused by
a number of mankind generated free radicals and Freeon-
type propellents which have been used in aerosol con-
tainer spray systems for many years. These propellents
are lighter than the atmosphere and rise to the eleva-
tion of the ozone layer. Chemical reactions then takeplace between the radicals and the ozone in the ozone
layer thereby forming other compounds and complexes and
diminishing the free ozone in the ozone layer. There
has even been recent evidence to indicate that deadly
holes have appeared in certain portions of the ozone
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layer, for example, over Antarctica. If this trend con-
tinues, then the health of mankind will be jeopardized.
Recently, industrialized nations of the world
5 have agreed to an international molatorium on the use
of substances which have been demonstrated to have a
destructive effect on the ozone layer of the earth. In
1987, the United Stated enacted some sunset-type legis-
lation which will force companies who are manufacturing
substances which are demonstrated to have a destructive
effect on the ozone layer, to phase out production of
such harmful substances over a specified number of
years. One of the most ozone layer destructive family
of substances being manufactured are fluorocarbons
(Freons), which are widely used as coolants in refriger-
ation systems, and as propellents in aerosol spray con-
tainers holding products such as hair spray, cleaning
compounds, and the like.
Because of the mounting evidence that fluorocar-
bon propellents, and similar type propellents, in aero-
sol contained spray system, have accumulative damaging
effect on the ozone layer, it is critical to the long
term health of living beings on the ear~h to develop
alternative aerosol generating containers which do not
rely upon ozone destroying propellents. As an alterna-
tive, many aerosol-type consumer products recently
introduced on the market use a pump type aerosol spray
generating system, rather than the volatile propellent
contained in an aerosol container. However, such
manually operated aerosol pump systems are not entirely
satisfactory because they are incapable of generating a
fine consistent spray similar to the type that is gener-
ated by an aerosol container employing a fluorocarbon
propellent.
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A number of patents have been granted in recent
years for aerosol generating pump systems, and the like.
These are useful as alternatives to volatile propellent
aerosol generating systems. U.S. Patent No. 3,993,069,
for example, illustrates a pumping system which utilizes
a natural rubber bladder which is inflated and thereby
generates pumping action from the force created by the
bladder in seeking to return to its original size and
shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have invented an aerosol spray generating
system which utilizes a special rubber tube to generate
the power required to create the aerosol spray, when the
liquid contents in the aerosol can are forced into a
spray nozzle.
A power system for an aerosol spray generatlng
nozzle comprising: (a) nozzle means adapted to generate
an aerosol vapour spray; and (b) a hollow resilient
means connected to the nozzle means, the resilient means
being adapted to contain the liquid used to generate the
aerosol spray, and generate a pressure on the liquid
when filled with the liquid.
In the apparatus as defined, the resilient means
may have a liner which separates the resilient means
from the liquid. The resilient means may be formed of
natural rubber. In the apparatus, the liner is separate
from the resilient means. The liner may be formed of a
material selected from the group of materials consisting
of food grade silicone rubber, natural latex, and
Neoprene.
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In the apparatus as defined, the resilient means
can be capable of expanding at least about 600%. The
liner can be capable of expanding at least about 800%.
The resilient means can be constructed in the form of a
elongated tube which is closed at one end, is open at
the other end, and has a collar around the open end.
In the apparatus as defined, the liner tube can
be adapted to fit into the interior of the resilient
tube means. The apparatus can include a connector means
which connects the collars of the liner tube and the
resilient tube means with the nozzle means.
In the apparatus as defined, the resilient tube
means and the liner tube can be housed in a container,
and the nozzle means can be located at the top of the
container and attached to the container and the pair of
tubes.
DRAWINGS
In the drawings, which represent specific
embodiments of the invention, but which should not be
regarded as restricting the spirit or scope of the
invention in any way:
Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation partial
section view of a liner-power tube combination in
inflated condition inside an aerosol can;
Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation view of a
liner tube;
Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation view of a
power tube;
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Figure 4 illustrates a side elevation view of a
liner tube inserted into a power tube;
Figure 5 illustrates a side elevation partial
section view of a liner-power tube-aerosol valve
arrangement;
Figure 6 illustrates a graph of pressure against
air volume behaviour for an inflated and re-inflated
power tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, Figure l illustrates
a side elevation partial section view of the components
that make up the bladder powered aerosol can 2. As seen
in Figure 1, a conventional aerosol can 2 has at the top
thereo~ a stamped metal can top 4. Inserted into the
interior of the can 2 through can top ~, is a rubber
power tube 10, which embraces an inner liner tube 8. A
conventional aerosol spray nozzle-cap 6 is positioned
above the liner tube 8 and the power tube 10. A connec-
tor 16 and a collar 14 combination is used to enabie the
various components to be assembled together.
Figure l illustrates a side partial-section view
of the manner in which the liner tube 8 and the power
tube 10 inflate within the interior of aerosol can 2,
when the liner tube 8 is pumped fall of an appropriate
consumer product. AS seen in Figure 1, which can be
interpreted somewhat as a stylized representation in
order to illustrate the function of the invention, the
outside of liner tube 8 remains juxtapositioned against
the inside of power tube 10. When the spray top 6 is
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manually activated, the energy stored in the expanded
power tube lO forces a small portion of the contents of
liner tube 8 out to the nozzle of the spray top 6. The
size of the power tube lO and the liner tube 8 gradually
decrease as the contents of the liner tubes are gradu-
ally expelled through repeated activations of nozzle 6.
Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation view of
the liner tube 8. This liner tube 8 may be constructed
of a number of suitable liquid impermeable resilient
materials, depending upon the nature of the contents
that are to be packaged in the interior of the liner
tube 8. The liner tube 8 has a flange 9 around the top
thereof. If food items are to be contained in the liner
tube, then a food grade quality silicone can be used for
constructing the liner tube 8. For non-food contents,
the liner tube can be manufactured of natural latex, or
a synthetic rubber such as Neoprene, manufactured by
Thiokol.
Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation view of
the power tube lO, with top flange 11. The power tube
10 is critical to the successful operation and perform-
ance of the aerosol generating power system. The power
tube 10 is preferably constructed of a natural formu-
lated rubber obtained from Malaysia. The natural rubber
from which the power tube lO is formed, should be capa-
ble of expanding at least 600%. Proportionately, the
liner 8 should be constructed of a resilient material
which can expand in the order of 800 to 1,000%. This is
necessary in order to permit the liner tube 8 to remain
abutted against the interior of the power tube 10 when
inflation or deflation occurs. In other words, the
liner tube 8 must be able to expand proportionately
greater than the power tube 10, in order that the two
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items can remain closely juxtapositioned when the power
tube 10 and the liner tube 8 are inflated with the
contents that are to be held in the aerosol container.
Figure 4 illustrates side elevation view the
manner in which the liner tube 8 is positioned in the
interior of the power tube 10. The orientation illus-
trated in Figure 4 is in the "at-rest" position.
Figure 5 illustrates in side elevation partial-
section view a valve connecting arrangement that can be
utilized for the liner tube 8-power tube 10 combination.
The liner tube 8 and power tube 10 are held in place by
a collar 14. This collar 14 can be molded of a suitable
polymer material. The liner 8-power tube 10-collar 14
combination are fitted into a connector 16, which is
secured to the underside of the can top 4 of the aerosol
container. Connector 16 has a fill-hole formed therein,
which can be utilized for top-filling the liner 8 with
the product that i8 to be packaged in the aerosol con-
tainer. A one way valve is secured to the bottom part
of the fill-hole 18 in order to prevent the contents of
the aerosol container from exiting through the fill-hole
18 once the aerosol container has been filled.
Figure 6 illustrates a graphical depiction of
the relationship between pressure and air volume as the
bladder-like means (power tube 10) is inflated with air.
The solid line depicts the pressure behaviour of the
tube 10 upon first inflation up to 100 millimeters of
air. The dotted line depicts the pressure behaviour of
the tube 10 upon reinflation up to 100 millimeters of
air after the power tube 10 has been deflated following
the first inflation. As can be seen in Figure 6, the
pressure rises in a linear manner until a threshold
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"set" peak is reached. At that point, the pressure
drops to a certain extent while the power tube is being
inflated with additional air. Once the threshold peak
has been passed, and a consistent pressure has been
reached, a generally horizontal relationship between air
volume and pressure is realized, up to the full infla-
tion volume of 100 millimeters of air. Interestinyly,
upon re-inflation, the same relationship is noted except
that the pressure-air volume gradient follows a lower
path.
An important advantage of an aerosol powering
system according to the invention is that it can be used
in any position. It is not necessary to hold the
aerosol can upright. Moreover, it operates efficiently
at pressures lower than those typically used for propel-
lent powered aerosol container system. Thus, with an
aerosol power system according to the inventionl it is
not necessary to mark the containers as explosive or
inflammable. Another important advantage of the aerosol
power system of the invention is that no solvent dilu-
tion of the consumer product that is contained in the
inner liner takes place because there is no propellant
or solvent.
Example 1
Prototypes of the invention have been construct-
ed utilizing a natural rubber obtained and formulated in
Malaysia, and a liner tube 8 formed of natural latex.
Normally, aerosol containers are pressurized to about 60
psi in order to obtain the desired aerosol spray effect.
This high pressure can be somewhat dangerous, particu-
larly if the aerosol can is heated, eg. thrown into a
fire. In distinction, the prototype, it has been dis-
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covered need only pressurize the contents of the innerliner 8, and power tube 10 to about 22 psi. Moreover,
it has been found that the pressure-size gradient for
the power tube, as it is inflated and then deflated,
once it passes a threshold peak, is nearly horizontal.
There is a rise in pressure as the power tube 10 is
initially inflated or returns to its original uninflated
condition. The virtually horizontal pressure gradient,
throughout most of the inflation-deflation cycle of the
power tube 10 is advantageous because it provides con-
sistent pressure and enables a consistent fine aerosol
spray to be obtained from the time the liner 8 and power
tube 10 are fully inflated with the consumer product and
then subsequently deflated in stages, by actuating the
aerosol cap 6, until the point is reached where the con-
tents of the liner tube 8 are almost fully evacuated.
Example 2
For~demonstration purposes, and to evaluate the
viability of the power system of the invention, a liner
tube-power tube combination was repeatedly inflated with
100 millimeters of air. (See Figure 6 for an example.)
Various combinations of new power tube and new liner
tubes, together with used power tubes and used liner
tubes were used. The objective of these tests was to
determine and record the different elongation and per-
formance properties which the various brands of latex
rubber that were used to produce the power tubes and the
liner tubes. It was observed that after the third or
fourth inflation, there was essentially no significant
change in the pressure-volume relationship from further
repeated inflations and deflations. TO provide consis-
tency in the test results, all inflations were maintain-
ed for thirty minutes with fifteen minute intervals
V
between inflations. The results of these tests are summarizedin Table 1 below. The heading "Laminated" means power tube and
liner tube in combination. "Set" means the threshold state of
the power tube before expanding under increased pressure. Table
1 demonstrates how an elastic latex rubber outer tube and an
elastic latex rubber inner tube cooperate together to increase
total delivery pressure by the sum of the pressure in the outer
tube and the pressure in the inner tube.
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TABLE 1
PRESSURE REQUIRED (DELIVERY)
TO OVERCOME "SET" "STATIC" PRESSURE CAPACITY
Tubinq #l Standard outer
First Inflation (Dark Orange Inner
Liner)
Outer Tube #1 37 psi 26 psi
Inner Tube #1 20 psi 10 psi 100 ml
Laminated #1 57 psi 36 psi
Tubinq #l
Second Inflation
Outer Tube lA 35 psi 25 psi
Inner Tube lA 18 psi 9 psi 100 ml
Laminated lA 53 psi 34 psi
Tubinq #2 Standard Outer
First Inflation (Light Orange Inner
Liner)
Outer Tube #2 37 psi 26 psi
Inner Tube #2 23 psi 12 psi 100 ml
Laminated #2 60 psi 38 psi
Tubinq #2
Second Inflation
Outer Tube 2A 35 psi 24 psi
Inner Tube 2A 21 psi 11 psi 100 ml
Laminated 2A 56 psi 35 psi
Tubinq #3 Standard Outer
First Inflation (Red Inner Liner)
outer Tube #3 37 psi 26 psi
Inner Tube #3 26 psi 14 psi 100 ml
Laminated #3 63 psi 40 psi
Tubinq #3
Second Inflation
Outer Tube 3A 35 psi 25 psi
Inner Tube 3A 24 psi 13 psi 100 ml
Laminated 3A 59 psi 38 psi
~ote: 1 Observed that third and fourth inflation bring no
signifi~ant change to results from inflation #2 for all
samples
2 All inflations were maintained for 30 minutes with 15
minute interval between inflations 1 and 2
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AS will be apparent to those skilled in the art
in light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations
and modifications are possible in the practice of this
invention without departing from the spirit or scope
thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to
be construed in accordance with the substance defined by
the following claims.
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