Aerosol containers for foaming and delivering aerosols and process

• US 3,970,219 A
• Filed: 03/03/1975
• Issued: 07/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dorothea C. Marra, Joseph George Spitzer, Lloyd I. Osipow, Marvin Small
• Original Assignee: Dorothea C. Marra, Joseph George Spitzer, Lloyd I. Osipow, Marvin Small
• Inventors: Marra, Dorothea C., Osipow, Lloyd I., Small, Marvin, Spitzer, Joseph George
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Application Number:
  US05/554,388
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/129, 222/136, 222/187, 222/189, 222/190, 222/192, 222/195, 222/402.1, 222/402.21, 222/402.22, 222/402.23, 222/402.24, 239/304, 239/308, 239/326, 239/343, 239/370
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/14 for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/62 by membrane, bag, or the like containers in which the content is delivered by the contracting forces inherent in the bag B65D83/0061
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/66 first separated, but finally mixed , e.g. in a dispensing head

Abstract

An aerosol container is provided for foaming a liquid aerosol composition therein prior to expulsion from the container and then expelling the resulting foamed aerosol composition comprising, in combination, a pressurizable container having a valve movable between open and closed positions, with a valve stem and a foam-conveying passage therethrough in flow connection with a delivery port; at least two separate compartments in the container, of which a first compartment is in direct flow connection with the valve passage, and a second compartment is in flow connection with the valve passage only via the first compartment; and a porous bubbler having through pores interposed between the first and second compartments with the through pores communicating the two compartments, the pores being of sufficiently small dimensions to restrict flow of propellant gas from the second compartment therethrough and form bubbles of such gas in liquid aerosol composition across the line of flow from the porous bubbler to the valve, thereby to foam the aerosol composition upon opening of the valve to atmospheric pressure, and to expel foamed aerosol composition through the open valve. A process is also provided for foaming liquid aerosol compositions with a propellant gas prior to expulsion from an aerosol container.

Claims

1. An aerosol container for foaming an aerosol composition therein prior to expulsion from the container, and then expelling the resulting foam, comprising, in combination, a pressurizable container having a valve movable between open and closed positions, with a valve stem, a foam-conveying passage therethrough and a delivery port in flow connection therewith;

bias means for holding the valve in a closed position; and

means for manipulating the valve against the bias means to an open position, for expulsion of aerosol foamed composition within the container via the valve passage and delivery port;

means defining at least two separate compartments in the container, of which a first foam compartment is in direct flow connection with the valve passage, and a second propellant gas compartment is in flow connection with the valve passage only via the first foam compartment; and

porous bubbler means interposed between and providing the only flow communication between the first and second compartments, and having a plurality of through pores communicating the compartments, the pores being of sufficiently small dimensions to restrict flow of propellant gas from the second compartment therethrough and form bubbles of such gas in liquid aerosol composition in the first foam compartment across the line of flow from the bubbler to the valve, thereby to foam the aerosol composition in the first foam compartment upon opening of the valve to atmospheric pressure, and to expel foamed aerosol composition through the open valve.

2. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler has pores of an average diameter within the range from about 0.1μ

to 3 mm.

3. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler has an open area within the range from about 0.005 to about 10 mm².

4. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler is a perforated sheet.

5. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler is a wire screen.

6. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler is a microporous membrane.

7. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of nonwoven fibrous material.

8. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of sintered particulate material.

9. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the porous bubbler is a filter sheet material.

10. An aerosol container according to claim 1, in which the container is cylindrical, with the valve at one end, and the means defining the first compartment comprises a concentric inner cylinder spaced from the walls of the container surrounding and extending from the valve, and the porous bubbler closes off the other end of the inner cylinder, the remainder of the interior of the aerosol container outside the walls and bottom of the inner cylinder comprising the second annular compartment.

11. An aerosol container according to claim 10, in which the porous bubbler is a perforated plate.

12. An aerosol container according to claim 10, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of nonwoven fibrous material.

13. An aerosol container according to claim 1, comprising a wick extending into the second compartment from the porous bubbler.

14. An aerosol container according to claim 1, comprising two porous bubblers, one interposed at one end of the first compartment and one interposed in the first compartment adjacent the valve, both being across the line of flow through the first compartment to the valve.

15. A process for foaming a liquid aerosol composition within an aerosol container prior to expulsion from the container, with the result that a foamed aerosol composition is expelled from the container, comprising bubbling a propellant gas into liquid aerosol composition in the container at a sufficient pressure and in a sufficient amount to foam the liquid aerosol composition while under confinement within the container, and then expelling the resulting foamed aerosol composition under propellant gas pressure within the container.

16. A process according to claim 15, which comprises passing the propellant gas through a porous bubbler into the aerosol composition to be foamed and then expelled from the container.

17. A process according to claim 16, in which the porous bubbler has pores of an average diameter within the range from about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm.

18. A process according to claim 16, in which the porous bubbler has an open area within the range from about 0.005 to about 10 mm².

19. A process according to claim 15 in which the propellant gas is stored under pressure in liquefied form in the container, but when the valve orifice is opened and pressure reduced a proportion of liquefied propellant is volatilized to gas form and bubbled into liquid aerosol composition to form a foam.

20. A process according to claim 15, in which the propellant gas is stored under pressure in gaseous form in the container, but when the valve orifice is opened and pressure reduced a proportion of propellant is bubbled into liquid aerosol composition to form a foam.

21. A process according to claim 15, in which the valve orifice is sufficiently large that a proportion of the foamed aerosol composition dispensed therethrough is in the form of a foam.

22. A process according to claim 15, in which the valve orifice is sufficiently large that a proportion of the foamed aerosol composition dispensed therethrough is in the form of mixed foam and liquid droplets.

23. A process according to claim 15, in which the foamed aerosol composition is dispensed in the form of a liquid spray comprising liquid droplets.

24. A process according to claim 15, in which the aerosol composition is an aqueous composition.

25. A process according to claim 24, in which the aqueous composition comprises a foam stabilizing agent.

26. A process according to claim 24, in which the aqueous composition comprises a defoamer.

27. An aerosol container for foaming an aerosol composition therein prior to expulsion from the container, and then expelling the resulting foam, comprising, in combination, a pressurizable container having a valve movable between open and closed positions, with a valve stem, a foam conveying passage therethrough and a delivery port in flow connection therewith;

bias means for holding the valve in a closed position; and

means for manipulating the valve against the bias means to an open position, for expulsion of aerosol foamed composition within the container via the valve passage and delivery port;

means defining at least two separate compartments in the container of which a first compartment is in direct flow connection with the valve passage, and a second compartment is in flow connection with the valve passage only via the first compartment; and

porous bubbler means having through pores interposed between the first and second compartments with the through pores communicating the compartments, the pores being of sufficiently small dimensions to restrict flow of propellant gas from the second compartment therethrough and form bubbles of such gas in liquid aerosol composition across the line of flow from the bubbler to the valve, thereby to foam the aerosol composition upon opening of the valve to atmospheric pressure, and to expel foamed aerosol composition through the open valve, and a wick extending into the second compartment from the porous bubbler.

28. An aerosol container according to claim 27, in which the container is cylindrical, with the valve at one end, and the means defining the first compartment comprises a concentric inner cylinder spaced from the walls of the container surrounding and extending from the valve, and the porous bubbler closes off the other end of the inner cylinder, the remainder of the interior of the aerosol container outside the walls and bottom of the inner cylinder comprising the second annular compartment.

29. An aerosol container according to claim 27, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of nonwoven fibrous material.

30. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler has pores of an average diameter within the range from about 0.1μ

to about 3 mm.

31. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler has an open area within the range from about 0.005 to about 10 mm².

32. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a perforated sheet.

33. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a wire screen.

34. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a microporous membrane.

35. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a sheeet of nonwoven fibrous material.

36. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of sintered particulate material.

37. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a filter sheet material.

38. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the container is cylindrical, with the valve at one end, and the means defining the first compartment comprises a concentric inner cylinder spaced from the walls of the container surrounding and extending from the valve, and the porous bubbler closes off the other end of the inner cylinder, the remainder of the interior of the aerosol container outside the walls and bottom of the inner cylinder comprising the second annular compartment.

39. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a perforated plate.

40. An aerosol container according to claim 29, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of nonwoven fibrous material.

41. An aerosol container for foaming an aerosol composition therein prior to expulsion from the container, and then expelling the resulting foam, comprising, in combination, a pressurizable container having a valve movable between open and closed positions, with a valve stem, a foam-conveying passage therethrough and a delivery port in flow connection therewith;

bias means for holding the valve in a closed position; and

means for manipulating the valve against the bias means to an open position, for expulsion of aerosol foamed composition within the container via the valve passage and delivery port;

means defining at least two separate compartments in the container, of which a first compartment is in direct flow connection with the valve passage, and a second compartment is in flow connection with the valve passage only via the first compartment;

two porous bubbler means, one interposed at one end of the first foam compartment and one interposed in the first foam compartment adjacen the valve, both being across the line of flow through the first foam compartment to the valve;

each porous bubbler means having through pores, the first mentioned porous bubbler means being interposed between the first and second compartments with the through pores communicating the compartments, the pores being of sufficiently small dimensions to restrict flow of propellant gas from the second compartment therethrough and form bubbles of such gas in liquid aerosol composition across the line of flow from the bubbler to the valve, thereby to foam the aerosol composition upon opening of the valve to atmospheric pressure, and to expel foamed aerosol composition through the open valve.

42. An aerosom container according to claim 41, in which the container is cylindrical, with the valve at one end, and the means defining the first compartment comprises a concentric inner cylinder spaced from the walls of the container surrounding and extending from the valve, and the porous bubbler closes off the other end of the inner cylinder, the remainder of the interior of the aerosol container outside the walls and bottom of the inner cylinder comprising the second annular compartment.

43. An aerosol container for foaming an aerosol composition therein prior to expulsion from the container, and then expelling the resulting foam, comprising, in combination, a pressurizable container having a valve movable between open and closed positions, with a valve stem, a foam-conveying passage therethrough and a delivery port in flow connection therewith;

bias means for holding the valve in a closed position, for expulsion of aerosol foamed composition within the container via the valve passage and delivery port;

means defining at least two separate compartments in the container of which a first foam compartment containing liquid aerosol composition to be foamed and expelled is in direct flow connection with the valve passage, and a second propellant compartment containing propellant and outside the first compartment is in flow connection with the valve passge only via the first compartment;

substantially all of the liquid aerosol composition to be foamed being retained in the first compartment, and substantially all of the propellant being retained in the second compartment; and

porous bubbler means having through pores interposed between the first and second compartments with the through pores communicating the compartments, the pores being of sufficiently small dimensions to restrict flow of propellant from the second compartment therethrough and form bubbles of propellant gas in liquid aerosol composition across the line of flow from the bubbler to the valve, thereby to foam the aerosol composition in the first compartment upon opening of the valve to atmospheric pressure, and to expel foamed aerosol composition through the open valve.

44. An aerosol container for foaming an aerosol composition therein prior to expulsion from the container, and then expelling the resulting foam, comprising, in combination, a pressurizable container having a valve movable between open and closed positions, with a valve stem, a foam-conveying passage therethrough and a delivery port in flow connection therewith;

bias means for holding the valve in a closed position; and

means for manipulating the valve against the bias means to an open position, for expulsion of aerosol foamed composition within the container via the valve passage and delivery port;

means defining at least two separate compartments in the container, of which a first foam compartment is in direct flow connection with the valve passage, and a second compartment is in flow connection with the valve passage only via the first compartment; and

porous bubbler means having through pores interposed between the first foam compartment to the valve with the through pores communicating the compartments;

the porous bubbler retaining within its pores liquid aerosol composition to be foamed and expelled; and

the pores being of sufficiently small dimensions to restrict flow of propellant gas from the second compartment therethrough and form bubbles of such gas in liquid aerosol composition, thereby to foam the aerosol composition upon opening of the valve to atmospheric pressure, and to expel foamed aerosol composition through the open valve.

45. An aerosol container according to claim 44, in which liquid aerosol composition and propellant are retained in the second compartment.

46. An aerosol container according to claim 44, in which the porous bubbler has pores of an average diameter within the range from about 0.1μ

to about 3 mm.

47. An aerosol container according to claim 44, in which the porous bubbler has an open area within the range from about 0.005 to about 10 mm².

48. An aerosol container according to claim 44, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of nonwoven fibrous material.

49. An aerosol container according to claim 44, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of sintered particulate material.

50. An aerosol container according to claim 44, in which the container is cylindrical, with the valve at one end, and the means defining the first compartment comprises a concentric inner cylinder spaced from the walls of the container surrounding and extending from the valve, and the porous bubbler closes off the other end of the inner cylinder, the remainder of the interior of the aerosol container outside the walls and bottom of the inner cylinder comprising the second annular compartment.

51. An aerosol container according to claim 44, in which the porous bubbler is a sheet of nonwoven fibrous material.