Aerosol-foam dispenser head

Details Aerosol-foam dispenser head Aerosol-foam dispenser head

1996-02-02

1998-03-10

Weldon, Kevin

Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing

Including supply holder for material

Fluid pressure discharge means

2394285, 239432, B05B 730

Patent

active

057251550

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND

1.0. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dispensing head for a foam aerosol.
2.0. Discussion of Related Art
Foam aerosols are used, for example, in the home for cleaning carpets, baths or the like or even in cosmetics for hair and body care. It is known that the active substances for such aerosol foams can be driven out by hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons. Fluorocarbons are being increasingly rejected for environmental reasons. Hydrocarbons are inflammable and are therefore unsafe.
Safe propellants include compressible gases, such as nitrogen or compressed air. Whereas hydrocarbons dissolve in liquid active substances, this is not the case with nitrogen or compressed air. Accordingly, it is difficult with such propellants to keep the pressure sufficiently high to obtain effective spraying as the active substances are consumed. Moreover, it is difficult with such propellants to obtain useful aerosol foams from conventional valve/dispensing head combinations.
It is known from DE 36 44 237 that shaving foams or the like can be produced by a design in which the discharge channel opens into a collecting chamber for the foam behind the valve which closes the pack. The flow of foam is deflected by a deflector before emerging outwards through a wire which forms the end wall of the collecting chamber. The mesh width of the wire is 1 mm or slightly narrower. A dispensing head such as this is also incapable of producing a foam in the required manner with the aid of an insoluble gaseous propellent.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a dispensing head for a foam aerosol which, even with liquid-insoluble propellent gases, effectively produces aerosol foams and maintains an adequate spraying pressure, even towards the end of dispensing of the active substance.
In the dispensing head according to the invention, the conventional valve for the aerosol pack is followed in the direction of flow by a flow restriction opening of relatively small cross-section. Its cross-section may have a diameter of, for example, 0.2 to 1.5 mm and preferably of the order of 0.6 mm. These diameters depend to a large extent on the properties of the substance. The liquid active substance thus flows through the flow restriction opening at relatively high speed and, from the lateral opening in the wall of the flow passage, entrains outside air which contributes towards the generation of turbulence in and foaming of the active substance. At the end of the passage, the turbulent, air-enriched jet impinges on a fine-mesh wire or sieve so that a compact foam or a flat foam emerges according to the distance to the surface to be sprayed.
In one embodiment of the invention, the axis of the opening is directed obliquely upwards to produce an ejector effect. Several openings or slots are preferably formed at equal peripheral intervals in the wall of the passage. In another embodiment of the invention, these opening(s) is/are preferably positioned immediately after the flow restriction opening. In this zone, the flow rate of the jet of active substance is still at its highest.
At its upper end, the dispenser is normally tubular in shape to form the flow passage repeatedly mentioned in the foregoing. If the openings are situated in the tubular section, foreign particles can also enter the passage through the openings and could adversely affect the function of the dispensing head. In another embodiment of the invention, therefore, a section of the passage comprising the flow restriction opening is connected by several webs peripherally arranged at intervals to the interior of the hat- or cap-like part in which the flow passage is formed. The cap-like section surrounds the valve of the pack on which the dispensing head is mounted and, in addition, is generally at a sufficient distance from the upper side of the pack so that the dispensing head can be pressed down against the pack to actuate the valve. Accordingly, air also has sufficient access to the interior of the cap-like part. T

REFERENCES:
patent: 1457895 (1923-06-01), Campanello
patent: 2585092 (1952-02-01), Conto
patent: 2624622 (1953-01-01), Holte
patent: 2783091 (1957-02-01), Haldy
patent: 3428985 (1969-02-01), Boyd
patent: 3709437 (1973-01-01), Wright
patent: 3946947 (1976-03-01), Schneider
patent: 3985271 (1976-10-01), Gardner
patent: 4219159 (1980-08-01), Wesner
patent: 4324365 (1982-04-01), Howarth
patent: 4646973 (1987-03-01), Focaracci
patent: 4925106 (1990-05-01), Maas et al.
patent: 5033654 (1991-07-01), Bennet
patent: 5054688 (1991-10-01), Grindley
patent: 5085371 (1992-02-01), Paige
patent: 5156307 (1992-10-01), Callahan et al.
patent: 5340031 (1994-08-01), Neuhaus et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Aerosol-foam dispenser head does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Aerosol-foam dispenser head, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Aerosol-foam dispenser head will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-132609