Squeeze Foamer

• US 20080277426A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rexam Airspray Incorporated (Ball Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rexam Airspray Incorporated (Ball Corporation)
• Inventors: van der Heijden, Edgar Ivo Maria
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/14 Foam or lather making devices for shaving A45D27/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0032 Manually actuated means located downstream the discharge nozzle for closing or covering it, e.g. shutters automatically removed during actuation of a spray pump B05B11/1053
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/043 designed for spraying a liquid B05B11/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0025 with a compressed gas supply

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a foam, comprising a manually compressible container (2) for storing a liquid and air, which container comprises an opening (3), a rigid housing (4, 5) to be fitted in or on the opening, the housing comprising an air passage (11, 12) and a liquid passage (9), which are in communication with a dispensing passage (14) which ends in a dispensing opening (8), and a valve body (6) which, in a rest position, covers a mouth of the liquid passage and a mouth of the air passage (10) in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage, and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage. The invention is characterized by the fact that the mouth of the air passage and the mouth of the liquid passage are—substantially annular and are arranged substantially concentrically with respect to one another.

Claims

1. A dispensing, device for dispensing a foam, comprising:

a manually compressible container for storing a liquid and air, and

a foam-forming assembly to be attached in or on an opening in the container for forming a foam, the foam-forming assembly comprising;

a housing having an air passage and a liquid passage, each of which ending in a mouth and being in communication with a dispensing passage which ends in a dispensing opening, and

a valve body which, in a rest position, covers the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage, and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage,

wherein the mouth of the air passage and the mouth of the liquid passage are substantially annular and are arranged substantially concentrically with respect to one another.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the annular mouth of the liquid passage is greater than the diameter of the annular mouth of the air passage.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing passage is arranged concentrically with respect to the annular mouth of the liquid passage and the air passage.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the valve body is substantially conical.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein in the valve body comprises a through-opening which forms a part of the dispensing passage.

6. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein in the valve body is elastic.

7. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing device is substantially circular-symmetrical about a center axis of symmetry and the liquid to be dispensed, during dispensing, moves in a direction relative to the direction of the center axis of symmetry.

8. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the valve body is made from a silicone material.

9. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the annular mouth of the liquid passage and/or the air passage comprises an opening.

10. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein in which the annular mouth of the liquid passage and/or the air passage comprises several openings each, in the rest position, being covering by the valve body.

11. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing device comprises a sealing cap, which can be moved between an open position, in which a foam can be dispensed by squeezing the container, and a closed position, in which the dispensing opening is sealed.

12. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the valve body comprises an edge which extends freely on all sides and which serves as a valve for an aeration opening in the housing for aerating the container.

13. The dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the elastic valve body comprises an arcuate section, which arcuate section extends in the mouth of the liquid passage or the mouth of the air passage in such a way that, initially, when the pressure in the container increases, the arcuate section improves the sealing of the mouth of the liquid passage and air passage, respectively.

14. A foam-forming assembly for forming a foam, comprising:

a housing having an air passage and a liquid passage, each of which ending in a mouth and being in communication with a dispensing passage which ends in a dispensing opening, and

a valve body which, in a rest position, covers the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage, and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage,

wherein the mouth of the air passage and the mouth of the liquid passage are substantially annular and are arranged substantially concentrically with respect to one another.

16. A squeeze foamer for dispensing a foam, comprising a manually compressible container for storing a liquid and air, and foam-forming assembly according to claim 14, mountable on or in an opening of said container, the air passage and liquid passage being in fluid communication with the container.

17. A dispensing device for dispensing a foam comprising a foam-forming assembly according to claim 14, in which the liquid passage and air passage are connected with a liquid source comprising a liquid under pressure and a gas source comprising a gas under pressure, respectively.

18. A dispensing device for dispensing a foam comprising a foam-forming assembly according to claim 14, in which the liquid passage and the air passage are in fluid communication with a container comprising a foamable liquid and a gas, in particular air, wherein the foamable liquid and gas are pressurized or can be pressurized.

15. A foam-foaming assembly for forming a foam, comprising:

a housing having an air passage and a liquid passage, each of which ending in a mouth and being in communication with a dispensing passage which ends in a dispensing opening, and

a valve body which, in a rest position, covers the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage, and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage,

wherein a constriction is arranged in the dispensing passage, preferably upstream of a porous element or sieve element arranged in the dispensing passage.

19. A squeeze foamer for dispensing a foam, comprising a manually compressible container for storing a liquid and air, and foam-forming assembly according to claim 15, mountable on or in an opening of said container, the air passage and liquid passage being in fluid communication with the container.

20. A dispensing device for dispensing a foam comprising a foam-forming assembly according to claim 15, in which the liquid passage and air passage are connected with a liquid source comprising a liquid under pressure and a gas source comprising a gas under pressure, respectively.

21. A dispensing device for dispensing a foam comprising a foam-forming assembly according to claim 15, in which the liquid passage and the air passage are in fluid communication with a container comprising a foamable liquid and a gas, in particular air, wherein the foamable liquid and gas are pressurized or can be pressurized.