Squeeze Foamer

• US 20090001100A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• 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 8,042,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/122 using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/14 Foam or lather making devices for shaving A45D27/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3026 the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/3006, B05B1/326 take precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/043 designed for spraying a liquid B05B11/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0025 with a compressed gas supply
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0037 including sieves, porous members or the like

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 to be fitted in or on the opening, the housing comprising an air passage (11) and a liquid passage (9) and a valve body (6) which, in a rest position, covers a mouth of the liquid passage and a mouth of the air passage in a sealing manner (4a, 4c) 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 (13). The invention is characterized in that the housing comprises a first housing part (4) and a second housing part (20), the first and the second housing parts being mountable in several position with respect to each other, the ratio between the amounts of liquid and air to be dispensed upon compressing the container being dependent on the position in which the first and second housing parts are mounted with respect to each other

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 housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, the first and the second housing parts being mountable in several positions with respect to each other, the ratio between the amounts of liquid and air to be dispensed upon compressing the container being dependent on the position in which the first and second housing parts are mounted with respect to each other.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first housing part comprises a plurality of openings, the openings being a part of the liquid passage, and wherein the second housing part, dependent on its position with respect to the first housing part blocks one or more of the plurality of openings.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing parts are substantially disc-shaped, and are mountable with respect to each other in a number of rotational positions.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first housing part comprises a plurality of openings arranged substantially equidistantly on a circle, and wherein the second housing part comprises one or more openings and one or more blockages, the one or more openings and one or more blockages after assembly being aligned with the plurality of openings of the first housing part.

5. The dispensing device of claim 4, wherein after assembly the plurality of openings of the first housing part are sealingly fitted in the one or more openings and blockages of the second housing part, respectively.

6. The dispensing device of claim 2, wherein the first housing part comprises a number of tube-shaped portions in each of which one of the plurality of openings is arranged, the tube shaped portions being fitted during assembly on tube-shaped portions of the second housing part.

7. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first housing part comprises plurality of openings, of which at least two have a different size.

8. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first housing part comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein after assembly, dependent on the position of the first housing part with respect to the second housing part, one or more of the plurality of openings are blocked.

9. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein after assembly there is a space between the first housing part and the second housing part, the space being in communication with an air inlet for aeration of the container and with the air passage.

10. The dispensing device of claim 1, 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.

11. The dispensing device of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the annular mouth of the liquid passage is greater than the diameter of the annular mouth of the air passage.

12. The dispensing device of claim 10, wherein the dispensing passage is arranged concentrically with respect to the annular mouth of the liquid passage and the air passage.

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

14. A method for providing a squeeze foamer for forming a foam, the squeeze foamer comprising a first housing part and a second housing part being mountable in several positions with respect to each other, the method comprising the step of determining a position in which the second housing part has to be mounted with respect to the first housing part dependent on the ratio air/liquid which has to be obtained upon actuation of the squeeze foamer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method comprises determining the position on the basis of the type of foamable liquid which is used in a container of the squeeze foamer.

16. 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 housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, the first and the second housing parts being mountable in several position with respect to each other, the ratio between the amounts of liquid and air to be dispensed upon compressing the container being dependent on the position in which the first and second housing parts are mounted with respect to each other.

17. A dispensing device for dispensing a foam comprising a foam-forming assembly according to claim 16, wherein 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 16, wherein 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.