Foam generating dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9120108-B2
Application number	US-201213540640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2012
Priority date	Jul 3, 2012
Publication date	Sep 1, 2015
Grant date	Sep 1, 2015

Abstract

A device for dispensing liquids in the form of foam. The device including a container and a foam engine having a gas inlet, a liquid inlet and a foam discharge. The device also including a vent comprising a switchable valve between the environment and the interior of the device container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for dispensing liquids in the form of foam, the device comprising a container and a foam engine operably connected to the container,
the container comprising:
an interior, the interior adapted to concurrently comprise a liquid reservoir and a gas reservoir;
a finish adapted to receive the foam engine, the finish having an axis of orientation substantially aligned with a centerline of the finish;
the foam engine having an axis of foam discharge, the orientation of the axis of foam discharge being substantially different from the orientation of the axis of the container finish, the foam engine comprising:
a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber comprising: a first inlet in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, a second inlet in fluid communication with the gas reservoir, and an outlet downstream from the mixing chamber along the axis of foam discharge;
a check valve disposed along the second inlet, the check valve configured to allow fluid flow from the reservoir into the mixing chamber and to prevent the flow of fluid from the mixing chamber into the reservoir;
a diffuser disposed downstream along the axis of foam discharge from the outlet of the mixing chamber;
a vent comprising a valve switchable between open and closed states disposed between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the foaming engine further comprises a mesh element disposed downstream from the diffuser along the axis of foam discharge.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the mixing chamber comprises a conical cross section.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a hinged cap at an outlet of the foam engine.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a container pressurizing element.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the diffuser comprises a diverging mixing chamber.

7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a dip tube disposed between the first inlet and the liquid reservoir.

8. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a check valve disposed between the first inlet and the liquid reservoir.

9. The device according to claim 1 , the liquid reservoir comprising a liquid filled collapsible pouch.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a ball check valve.

11. A device for dispensing liquids in the form of foam, the device comprising a container and a foam engine operably connected to the container,
the container comprising:
an interior, the interior adapted to concurrently comprise a liquid reservoir and a gas reservoir;
a finish adapted to receive the foam engine, the finish having an axis of orientation substantially aligned with a centerline of the finish;
the foam engine having an axis of foam discharge, the orientation of the axis of foam discharge being substantially different from the orientation of the axis of the container finish,
the foam engine comprising: an engine body comprising a cylindrical barrel, a valve switchable between open and closed states disposed between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container, an engine insert disposed within the barrel; and a diffuser disposed within the engine insert:
the barrel comprising: a first inlet in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, a second inlet in fluid communication with the gas reservoir, and a vent comprising the switchable valve;
a check valve disposed along the second inlet, the check valve configured to allow fluid flow from the reservoir into the mixing chamber and to prevent the flow of fluid from the mixing chamber into the reservoir;
the insert comprising a mixing chamber having a first mixing chamber inlet aligned with the first barrel inlet, a second mixing chamber inlet aligned with the second barrel inlet;
wherein the diffuser is disposed downstream along the axis of foam discharge from the mixing chamber.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the insert is movably disposed within the barrel and may be rotated between a first position and a second position; wherein at least one of the mixing chamber inlets is unaligned with the corresponding barrel inlet in the second position.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the insert may be rotated between the first and second positions.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein the insert may be moved laterally along the axis of foam discharge between the first and second positions.

15. The device according to claim 11 wherein the foaming engine further comprises a mesh element disposed downstream from the diffuser along the axis of foam discharge.

16. The device according to claim 11 wherein the device comprises a hinged cap at an outlet of the foam engine.

17. The device according to claim 11 wherein the device comprises a container pressurizing element.

18. The device according to claim 11 , further comprising a dip tube disposed between the first inlet and the liquid reservoir.

19. The device according to claim 11 further comprising a check valve disposed between the first inlet and the liquid reservoir.

20. The device according to claim 11 , the liquid reservoir comprising a liquid filled collapsible pouch.

Assignees

• Höfte Paulus Antonius Augustinus
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Höfte Paulus Antonius Augustinus

Classifications

• B05B11/04

  Deformable containers producing the flow, e.g. squeeze bottles · CPC title

• B05B11/0059

  allowing operation in any orientation, e.g. for discharge in inverted position · CPC title

• B05B11/046

  the gas or vapour flow coming from a source where the gas or vapour is not in contact with the liquid or other fluent material to be sprayed, e.g. from a compressive bulb, an air pump or an enclosure surrounding the container · CPC title

• B05B11/0027

  Means for neutralising the actuation of the sprayer (pump locking means B05B11/1059); Means for preventing access to the sprayer actuation means · CPC title

• B05B7/0037 Primary

  including sieves, porous members or the like · CPC title