Rotary aerosol product

Details Rotary aerosol product Rotary aerosol product

2002-06-17

2004-05-04

Bennett, Henry (Department: 3743)

Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing

Distributor continuously moves relative to support during...

C239S237000, C239S263000, C239S380000, C239S141000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06729559

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotatable aerosol product, more specifically, relates to a rotatable aerosol product having an excellent dispersion performance, such as that sprayed particles are widely dispersed in space or contact a floor surface in a wide range.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, aerosol products or cans, such as for insecticide and fragrance, have been used for treating a space such as a room and inside of an automobile, and a floor surface such as tatami and carpet. As these aerosol products target spraying in a wide range or area, the sprayed particles should be dispersed widely. Therefore, an aerosol product of a so-called total amount spray type is used, where the product is set on a floor surface, instead of handing it, to spray the total amount of aerosol while a user takes shelter. In order to further extend a range of spray, aerosol products to be rotated by counteraction of spray to spray in a wide range have been proposed. In Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication 1981-11962, Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication 1993-3241, Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication 1993-5973, Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication 1993-34779.
The conventional rotatable aerosol product automatically rotates in a body by counteraction of spray, so that the particles spread in the 360-degree range around the product. Therefore, it has the advantage of spraying in a wide range, in comparison with an aerosol product of a fixed position type to spray simply upward or obliquely upward. However, the smooth rotation of such rotatable aerosol product may be interrupted, and occasionally, despite any remaining content, stops spraying before the entire amount is sprayed. In addition, the inventor found that even in a state of smooth rotation, the sprayed aerosol does not reach as far as in the case of spray without rotation. In other words, with a rotatable aerosol product, dispersion concentration is high near the aerosol product, but a farther distance away from the aerosol product is, the concentration abruptly becomes lower.
The inventor intended to solve the problems of an inappropriate rotation and interruption of spray, as seen in such rotatable aerosol product, and to improve a bearing mechanism to support an aerosol product. As a result, the inventors developed an aerosol product to rotate more smoothly. When the amount of the remaining contents becomes less, however, problems such as unsmooth rotations and interrupted spray, were still not solved but got worse. On the other hand, the inventor found a tendency that the sprayed aerosol reached a shorter distance when rotations became smoother.
In consideration of the above problems, the first technological object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol product to keep rotation smooth and to spray the total amount of the content as much as possible. Further, the second technological object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable aerosol product to make a reaching distance of the sprayed aerosol longer in order to spray in a wider range.
Through experiment and study on the reason why a rotatable aerosol product is interrupted from its smooth rotation and spray, the inventor found that in a rotatable aerosol product as shown in
FIG. 17
, an aerosol composition
102
contained in a container
101
moves to the outer-side of the container
101
by centrifugal force F and thereby a central part of a liquid face P lowers. In addition, when the amount of the aerosol composition contained in the container decreases, depending on positions of a sucking hole
105
of a dip tube
104
connected to an aerosol valve
103
, only the propellant is sprayed earlier to leave the concentrate. The inventor considered this as the reason for the above.
The reason why a spray-reaching distance becomes shortened has not been proven. It is conceivable, however, that in a case of spray with a retreating spray hole, as an aerosol product rotated by counteraction of spray, speed in air becomes relatively lower to make a spray-reaching distance shorter, even if the speed of spray from the spray hole is constant. On the other hand, when remaining in the atmosphere for a long time, an effective ingredient in the aerosol composition hazardous to living bodies, such as an insecticide may be inhaled by a human. Therefore, a size of a sprayed particle is regulated to a predetermined average or larger in order to fall on a floor and attach to a wall and the like within a certain time. Accordingly, it is presumable that when the speed is relatively low, the particles fall on a floor before reaching a far distance. On the other hand, it is also presumable that a direction of the spray hole changes continuously along with rotation, and hence, a flow of air caused by spray does not reach a far distance.
The inventor carried out, on the basis of the above hypothesis, experiments of spraying by intentionally lowering the rotation speed. As a result, the inventor found facts that, when rotation is carried out at a certain rotation frequency or less, the centrifugal force is suppressed to allow the total amount of the concentrate to be smoothly sucked and also the sprayed particles to reach a far distance. The inventor completed the present invention with these findings.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The aerosol product according to the present invention (claim
1
) is characterized in that a part or a large part of a container including a spray hole rotates around a central axis in a vertical direction and spraying is maintained during rotation, and wherein the rotation is carried out at 35 frequencies per minute or fewer. The rotation is preferably 30 frequencies per minute or lower. In the aerosol product, the direction of the spray hole preferably ranges from −10 to 70 degrees upward to a horizontal plane (claim
2
). In case of spraying in a space, the direction preferably ranges from 30 to 70 degrees upward to a horizontal plane, while in case of spray on a floor surface, preferably from −10 to 30 degrees upward to a horizontal plane. The spray amount preferably ranges from 7 to 30 g/10 seconds (claim
3
).
A proportion of the propellant contained in the aerosol composition preferably ranges from 25 to 90 wt % (claim
4
), more preferably from 30 to 85 wt %. The above rotating aerosol product is realized by using counteraction of spray (claim
5
). However, other rotation-driving sources such as a motor can be used. In addition, a preferable product is one to rotate from 45 to 720 degrees for a period from the start of spray until the total amount is sprayed (claim
6
), and also for a special usage, preferably to rotate from 45 to 90 degrees. Spray or rotation is preferably started after a predetermined time passes following the operation (claim
7
). In another case, a product wherein 5 or more seconds are required from the start of the operation until rotation reaches 90 degrees is preferable (claim
8
). In such aerosol product, a product having rotation resistance means whose resistance reduces after the start of rotation, is preferable (claim
9
).
A preferable product is one to spray only gas immediately after the operation and after a predetermined time passes, to start to spray a concentrate (claim
10
). Such aerosol product can be realized by means of communicating a valve with a gas phase part of the container immediately after the operation to make rotation by applying the counteraction of the sprayed gas, and when rotation speed increases communicating the valve with a liquid phase part of the container (claim
11
). In addition, it can be realized by employing a closing member installed movably between a first position which closes a bottom hole communicating with a dip tube and a second position which closes a vapor tap, in which a radius of the second position from center of rotation is larger than the first position (claim
12
).
The aerosol product, to rotate by counteraction of spray, may be constituted to have a first spray hole to rotate a part or a l

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