Dispensing – Inspection devices – Graduated transparent container or trap
Reexamination Certificate
2003-10-08
2004-10-05
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Inspection devices
Graduated transparent container or trap
C222S402130, C222S402150, C222S402200, C222S402240, C222S389000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06799701
ABSTRACT:
The subject of the invention relates to a packaging system in which “liquids” or “cream-like materials” may be pushed out of a cartridge that is connected to a dispensing head, as a result of the pressurised gas in the cartridge.
The dispensing head contains a valve-opening lever, and the cartridge contains a valve mechanism on its connection side, and, inside it, a product chamber and an elastic piston and pressurised gas chamber. The dispensing head and the cartridges have the same connection elements, which make it possible to quickly interchange the cartridges containing the liquid and cream-like material. The product that remains in the disconnected cartridge is stored there until it is next used.
Numerous solutions are known for the packaging and dispensing of small amounts of materials manufactured by the chemical industry. The most widely used solution for the packaging and atomisation of liquids is the conventional AEROSOL solution. At the beginning of the 1980s in the scope of the “UN Environmental Protection Program” the leading body of UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) ordered—for the protection of the ozone layer that protects the atmosphere of our planet—the prohibition of FREON gas products. Taking into consideration that in that time AEROSOL products used FREON gas, the industry had to find another solution. Henceforward the similar propane butane (PB) gas was used. PB gas, as FREON gas before it—is used in carrier gas atomisation systems. The essence of this is that both the liquid to be sprayed out and the liquid PB gas—in other words the carrier gas—are filled into the metal container at the same time. In the container a proportion of the PB gas falls under the critical pressure and due to this it goes into the gas state and so exerts pressure on the top of the liquid and aids atomisation. While at the same time the rest of the liquid PB gas in a liquid state forms a mixture with the liquid, and on leaving the atomisation opening—as a result of the reduction in pressure—it significantly increases the quality of the atomisation. This system commonly known as an AEROSOL system, in other words: carrier gas system results in fine liquid atomisation. An advantage of this system is that the pressure in the container—and due to this the quality of the atomisation—is continuous, because the change of state of the PB gas takes place at the permanent critical pressure. Its disadvantage is that PB gas also flows out of the nozzle, which may involve a danger of explosion in the immediate vicinity and it is unhealthy if it comes into contact with the human body. It is also important to mention that the container cannot be operated in an upside down position.
The most commonly used method of dispensing creams is the so-called “pump system”. The essence of this is that the liquid cream gets into the “antechamber” of a push-button valve, and when the button is pushed down the ball valve at the bottom part of the antechamber closes and so the small amount of cream in the “antechamber” flows out, then when the push-button is released the next portion is sucked up into the “antechamber”. This “pump” solution is also used with liquids, on the atomisation of small amounts of liquids, with a very good degree of efficiency (e.g. in the cosmetics industry). Its advantage is the repeated dispensing of small amounts. Its disadvantage is that only creams with a very low degree of thickness may be pumped out of it and that it may not be operated whilst upside down.
In the following patent descriptions are presented that related to the solution that forms the subject of the application:
Pat. No. DE 2912670 contains a spray-bottle solution, in which inside a container that forms a closed unit the liquid to be sprayed out is contained in a film pipe closed at the bottom and the upper edge of the pipe is fixed to the upper edge of the container and also to the upper closing cover, which cover also contains the atomising valve. The filling of the pressurised gas takes place at the bottom part of the container. The solution is a “pressurised gas” system, in which the pressurised gas exerts an indirect effect on the liquid and when the valve is opened the liquid is atomised. An advantage is that it may also be used when upside down. As the film pipe shrinks a situation may occur when the path of the liquid is blocked. Patent CH 672476 can be viewed as being the same as the invention analysed above as regards its structural form with the difference that the film sack contains cream. The operation of the device according to the patent is also similar to the previous one. On opening the valve the cream or paste-like material flow out freely. In this case the blockage due to the shrinkage of the film sack may occur more frequently.
U.S. Pat. description No. 5,065,900 contains a closed system, metal spray container which is of the “pressurised gas” type and the material dispensed is a liquid. Between the material to be atomised and the pressurised gas there is a piston. The pressurised gas exerts a force on the liquid indirectly through the piston and when the valve is opened the liquid inside the metal container is atomised. The advantage of the solution is that it may also be used when upside down.
Patent No. HU 182 917 contains a container solution. The liquid to be atomised is stored in a closed pipe and the pressurised gas necessary for the atomisation is contained in a cartridge connected to this. The liquid-pipe and the gas cartridge form a packaging unit, and this is placed in a “container”, or, hi other words, an accepting device. After being placed inside the contained forms a closed unit. At the bottom of the container there is a piercing pin and by pressing it in the gas in the cartridge flows out and with the piercing of the pipe the path of the liquid becomes free. On pressing the atomisation valve the liquid is atomised due to the effect of the pressurised gas. After the liquid has been emptied only the pipe and cartridge unit needs to be replaced. The complete unit may also be operated when upside down. A disadvantage of it is that the pipe and cartridge unit may only be replaced by carrying out several movements.
Pat. description No. DE 39 13 851 contains a “pump” solution which is also presented at the beginning of this description with the difference that the presented patent is suitable for the dispensing of a larger amount of cream and is of a container construction. The cream or paste-like material in the film sack that is closed at the bottom is placed in the lower sheath part of the container. The upper part containing the pump assembly is screwed onto the lower part containing the film sack. By depressing the push button on the upper structural unit the piston in the upper structural unit gets into its lower position and by releasing the push button the piston sucks up the cream-like material into the antechamber. Following this, by depressing the push button again the cream flows out of the dispensing opening. From this point on the process is repeated. When the cream has run out only the film sack filled with cream needs to be replaced. It is also suitable for the spraying of liquids, in this case the whole upper part needs to be replaced, the structural part of which now has an atomisation assembly. The packaging device may also be operated while upside down. Its disadvantage is that it is structurally made up of numerous components and so its manufacture is costly.
From the analysis of the above inventions it maybe determined that the dispensing openings of the containers are constructed in accordance with the character of the given material (liquid or cream), in other words it is not possible to dispense both liquid and cream-like material from devices of the same construction. Even with the last German patent it is only possible to spray out or dispense liquid and cream if significant structural changes are made.
Due to the disadvantages of the solutions presented the task presents itself to create a packaging system from which both “liquids” and “cream-li
Bomberg Kenneth
Young & Thompson
LandOfFree
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