GB1582556A

GB1582556A - Arrangement in liquid sprayer containers

Info

Publication number: GB1582556A
Application number: GB18581/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Malte Sandgren AB
Current assignee: Malte Sandgren AB
Priority date: 1976-05-13
Filing date: 1977-05-03
Publication date: 1981-01-14
Also published as: NO771679L; AU2489677A; MX144585A; IT1071326B; FI60143B; NL7705241A; NO145611C; DE2721128A1; AT355980B; FR2351336B1; DE2721128C2; CH615642A5; BR7703117A; JPS5441729B2; ES228522U; DK146556C; NL179348C; CA1048456A; FR2351336A1; ATA318677A

Abstract

The nebuliser has a hand-operable valve mechanism (11, 12), consisting of a seal (11) which is placed against a membrane (12) in the neutral position, as well as a hood (17). The pressure occurring when the hood is fitted onto the nebuliser head (8) is passed through the spray nozzle (9) and a duct (14) up to the seal (11), raises the latter and thus passes into the interior of the container (1), whereupon the seal (11) immediately closes again. It is only raised again when the nozzle (9) is pressed down after removal of the hood (17) and, in doing so, pushes the tubular section (10) connected to the seal (11) downwards. The pressure in the container (1) can then propel the liquid (2) into a tube (7) and through the latter to the spray nozzle (9) where it is nebulised. In this way, with only one pumping movement a nebulisation is obtained which is maintained until the pressure in the container (1) is reduced. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) AN ARRANGEMENT IN LIQUID SPRAYER CONTAINERS (71) We, AB MALTE SANDGREN, of Box 73, S-510 40 Sandared, Sweden, a company organized under the laws of Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to an improved spray arrangement in liquid sprayer containers, such as glass bottles or metal cans in which a liquid is contained under excess pressure and which are equipped with a mechanism for discharging the liquid in an atomized form, that is to say in the form of a spray.

The most common of said spray containers are the so called aerosol cans in which the liquid is kept under pressure with the aid of a propulsion or dispersion gas. Although their function is satisfactory these aerosol cans still suffer from several drawbacks. Such drawbacks are i. the aerosol cans are pressure vessels and they constitute, under certain circumstances, a safety risk.

ii. when the container is being used a gas known under the Registered Trade Mark FREON is expelled together with the liquid being discharged, and iii. this gas has proved to have a pollutive effect on the atmosphere.

These drawbacks are removed according to the invention by the provision of an improved spray arrangement in liquid containers, such as bottles, comprising a head piece, a manually operable valve mechanism on said head piece, and a nozzle with a passage therein in communication with said valve mechanism and arranged, upon opening of said valve mechanism, to discharge said liquid contained in said container under excess pressure in the form of a spray, the improvement comprising a cap mounted so as to enclose said head piece, said cap arranged, when forced downwards about said head, to compress the air in the space enclosed by said cap, said valve mechanism arranged, upon formed tion of an excess pressure in said space, to open a passage through said head and allow said excess pressure to propagate down into said container and, upon elimination in said space of all said excess pressure or the major portion thereof, to again close said passage.

The advantage of an improved spray arrangement of the invention is the possibility to use an ordinary, conventional bottle which thus need not be a pressure vessel. However, with none of the known constructions has it hitherto been possible to achieve that the liquid being discharged remains in a satisfactorily atomized form during the entire pumping movement.

The duration of dispersion during each pumping movement, furthermore is so short that as a rule it is rather complicated to carry out a continuous working operation when several successive pumping movements are required. In several known spray arrangements the problem is not solved, with the result that the pump mechanisms may stick and the valves leak.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part section and side elevation of a bottle equipped with a spray arrangement of the invention in a first embodiment.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the spray arrangement of the invention in three different stages of use, Figure 5 shows in a vertical sectional view a third embodiment of the invention, Figures 6 and 7 show on an enlarged scale central parts of the head of the third embodiment of the invention, and Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through a spray arrangement including a further development for a liquid container already on the market.

In Figure 1 a bottle shown generally at 1 is partly filled with a liquid 2. The bottle 1 has a neck 3 in which is mounted an inset piece 4 in a position somewhat countersunk inside the neck 3 and provided at its lower portion with a pipe stub 5 to which is connected a pipe 7 extending towards bottom 6 of the bottle 1.

A head piece 8 is threaded onto the neck 3 so as sealingly to secure the inset piece 4 be tween the head piece 8 and the bottle 1. A nozzle 9 is mounted for reciprocating movement at the upper face of the head piece 8. A pipe section 10 communicates the nozzle 9 with a valve mechanism that comprises a dishshaped seal 11 that in its neutral or unbiassed position sealingly abuts against a diaphragm 12.

The diaphragm 12 is sealingly secured to the head piece 8 and to an annular flange 13 formed on the pipe section 10. A passageway 14 through the pipe section 10 communicates a passageway 15 which extends through the nozzle 9 with an area 16a enclosed by the seal 11 and forming part of valve chamber 16, the remaining area 1 6b of which communicates with the interior of the bottle 1. A cap 17 is arranged to be mounted on the head piece 8 so as to enclose it. The cap 17 is arranged, when pressed downwards about the head piece 8, to compress the air in the space 18 then enclosed by the cap 17. Preferably, the head piece 8 is provided with a peripheral annular seal 19 serving to prevent leakage of air between the inner face of the cap 17 and the exterior of the head piece 8 during the building up of an excess pressure in the space 18.

In Figures 2, 3 and 4 parts similar to those shown in Figure 1 carry the same reference number with a suffix 1.

The modus operandi is as follows: In Figure 2 the cap 17, has been pressed somewhat onto the head piece 81, whereby an excess pressure is formed in space l8i. Upon further depression of the cap 17, this excess pressure which propagates through passageway 15i of nozzle 9, and communicating passageway 14 down to seal 11 will force the said seal away from its sealingly abutting position against diaphragm 121. As a result, air will flow down into the lower section 1gob, of the valve chamber 16 and farther through pipe 7, into the interior of bottle 11 where an excess pressure builds up. Preferably, the cap 17, is provided at its top with an aperture 201 which the operator, while depressing the cap 171, closes with one finger. When the cap 171 has reached its lowermost position, the finger is moved away, exposing the aperture 20,, whereby the excess pressure in the space 18, disappears. The excess pressure now existing in the interior of the bottle 11 urges the seal 111 to abut against its seat, i.e. the diaphragm 121 , and thus maintain the excess pressure inside the bottle 11 (Figure 3).

When the bottle is to be used as a spray bottle or atomizer bottle, the cap 17, is lifted off. Upon depression of the nozzle 91 the valve 111 121 opens and liquid flows up through the PiPe7" the valve chamber 16, the communication passageway 14, and is discharged through the nozzle 9, as shown in Figure 4. As soon as the pressure on the nozzle 9, is relieved, the diaphragm 12 springs back and as a result, the engagement between the seal 11, and the diaphragm 12 is restored quickly.

The spray as described possesses considerably and important advantages over known arrangements. During storage of the bottle 11 there is no need for an excess pressure inside it. When it is to be used, one lifts the cap 171 somewhat and then again depresses it about the head piece 8j to build up an excess pressure inside the bottle 11 , then lifts off the cap 17, from the bottle 11, which is now ready to be used as an atomizer or spray bottle upon mere depression of the nozzle 91. Repeated short pumping movements during the spraying operation proper thus need not be effected. Instead the spray operation may be carried out with the same simplicity as with an aerosol can. On account of the simple structure of the valve mechanism there is hardly any wear on the component parts. As a result, the sealing is maintained at a satisfactory level over a long time. This means that the bottle may be set aside having a (moderate and harmless) excess pressure and then be again taken out to be used directly as a spray bottle without any risk that the excess pressure will have leaked out in the meantime.

Owing to the provisions in accordance with Figures 2, 3 and 4 with the nozzle 91 positioned wholly on the exterior of and above the head piece 81 and with the cap 171 given a shape in conformity therewith, a volume remains about the nozzle 91 after maximum depression of the cap 171. This ensures that the pressure inside the space 18, cannot rise to a so called overcritical level, which would have been the case, had it been possible to depress the cap 17, fully into abutment against the upper face of the head piece 8,.

Under certain circumstances it may be disadvantageous to bring air into direct contact with the liquid inside the container. This is particularly true when the liquid is of a kind that is affected by air.

For the purpose of eliminating this problem the embodiment of Figures 5, 6 and 7 has been devised and parts similar to those of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive have the same reference numbers with a suffix 2. In Figure 5, a head piece consists of an inner section 21 and an outer section 22. The inner section 21 through which extends the communicating passageway 142 is provided at its bottom with a wider portion 23 which may be inserted e.g. into a sheet metal can 24. The valve mechanism and the nozzle 92 are provided on the outer section 22, at the top there of, and the unit thus formed may be threaded onto the inner section 21.

Two through-passage channels, each one divided into three sections 25a, 25b and 25c, respectively, extend through the two main sections 21, 22. The communication between the sections 25a and 25b is closed off by diaphragm 122 which is securely clamped between the two main sections 21, 22 screwed together and which in its normal position has its outer marginal portion 26 abutting sealingly against the outer main section 22. In this posi tion the valve likewise sealingly abuts against the diaphragm 122 with a force of engagement somewhat exceeding that of the marginal portion 26 of the diaphragm 122.

About the wider portion 23 of the main section 21 is arranged in accordance with the teachings of the invention an inflatable liquidtight bladder 27 which is intended to be inserted into the can 24 after the latter has been filled with the liquid 28 which is sensitive to air.

When the outer main section 22 is screwed onto the inner section, the portion 23 of the latter will be urged upwards into contact with the mouth of the can and the wall of the bladder 27 will be sealingly clamped between the bladder wall and portion 23.

The spray arrangement of the embodiment is used in a manner similar to those described with regard to the embodiments above. When the cap 172 is pressed downward about the head section 21, 22 (with aperture 20 closed), and the air is compressed in the chamber 182, the valve 112 will not open but instead the marginal portion 26 of the diaphragm 12 will be turned downwards, as indicated in dash-anddot lines in Figure 6, allowing air to flow through the passageway sections 25a, 25b and 25c down into the bladder 27, wherein the air pressure thus increases. As soon as the air pressure in chamber 182 sinks below the pressure in the bladder 27, the marginal portion 26 of the diaphragm 122 will close the throughpassages 25a, 25b, 25c.

When the nozzle 92 is depressed, the valve 112 opens and liquid is expelled from the passageway 152 of nozzle 92 in spray form, see Figure 7. While the liquid is sprayed out, the bladder 27 expands (see Figure 5), and at the same time the pressure therein sinks to a level below the atmospheric pressure. As a consequence, the bladder 27 will fill out the can 24 gradually at the pace of consumption of the liquid 28. Air and liquid thus never get into contact with one another inside the can 24.

In Figure 8 similar parts to those described above carry the same reference number with a suffix 3. On the inner face of cap 173 is provided an elongate tube 29 which may be inserted into a channel 31 formed in liquid container 32 and enclosing valve head 30. A chamber 183 is formed between the head 30, the tube 29 and the cap 173. At its free end, the tube 29 is provided with a flange 34 arranged in sealing engagement with walls 33 of the channel 31.

When the tube 29 is inserted into the channel 31, enclosing the valve head 30 (and aperture 203 formed in the cap 173 is blocked), the air pressure will increase inside the chamber 183 to such an extent that the diaphragm 123, like in the embodiment just described, will open up the communication with the liquid container 32. In this case, air will penetrate straight into the container, just as is the case in the first embodiment of the invention and an excess pressure is generated inside the container. The spray is operated in a manner agreeing with that described with relation to the other embodiments of the invention.

On account of the particular design of the liquid container 21 and the cap 173 there is gained the advantage that the container itself may be produced exactly like the spray caps of aerosol type already existing on the market and used in a variety of fields. Consequently, there is no need to develop new machines in order to manufacture cans that are adjusted to the spray of the invention but the detailed components incorporated in the spray of the invention may be applied directly on a can of known design.

Clearly the seal 113 as well as the nozzle 93 may be different. If the fit between the cap 173 and the head piece 83 is good it is possible to dispense with the sealing ring 191 192 of Figures 2 and 5 respectively without significant reduction of the pumping effect.

Adjacent the aperture 203 on the inner face of the cap 173 a lip-type seal of known construction may be arranged. Upon depressing of the cap 173 on the head piece 30, this seal would serve to close the aperture 203 and upon raising of the cap let in air this way. This would obviate the need of keeping one finger on the aperture during the pumping, as described above.

Alternatively, it is possible to use a completely tight cap 173, as in Figure 1 where the sealing ring 19 should be designed in such a way that upon depression of the cap 173 (compression) an efficient blockage against air passage is formed between the cap 173 and the head piece 30 but upon removal of the cap 173 air is let through into the gradually expanding chamber 183 for pressure levelling therein.

The annular seal 19, may be mounted on the inner face of the cap 173 instead of about the head piece 30.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An improved spray arrangement in liquid containers, such as bottles, comprising a head piece, a manually operable valve mechanism on said head piece, and a nozzle with a passage therein in communication with said valve mechanism and arranged, upon opening of said valve mechanism, to discharge said liquid contained in said container under excess pressure in the form of a spray, the improvement comprising a cap mounted so as to enclose said head piece, said cap arranged, when forced downwards about said head, to compress the air in the space enclosed by said cap, said valve mechanism arranged, upon information of an excess pressure in said space, to open a passage through said head and allow said excess pressure to propagate down into said container and, upon elimination in said space of all said excess pressure or the major portion thereof, to again close said passage.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tion the valve likewise sealingly abuts against the diaphragm 122 with a force of engagement somewhat exceeding that of the marginal portion 26 of the diaphragm 122. About the wider portion 23 of the main section 21 is arranged in accordance with the teachings of the invention an inflatable liquidtight bladder 27 which is intended to be inserted into the can 24 after the latter has been filled with the liquid 28 which is sensitive to air. When the outer main section 22 is screwed onto the inner section, the portion 23 of the latter will be urged upwards into contact with the mouth of the can and the wall of the bladder 27 will be sealingly clamped between the bladder wall and portion 23. The spray arrangement of the embodiment is used in a manner similar to those described with regard to the embodiments above. When the cap 172 is pressed downward about the head section 21, 22 (with aperture 20 closed), and the air is compressed in the chamber 182, the valve 112 will not open but instead the marginal portion 26 of the diaphragm 12 will be turned downwards, as indicated in dash-anddot lines in Figure 6, allowing air to flow through the passageway sections 25a, 25b and 25c down into the bladder 27, wherein the air pressure thus increases. As soon as the air pressure in chamber 182 sinks below the pressure in the bladder 27, the marginal portion 26 of the diaphragm 122 will close the throughpassages 25a, 25b, 25c. When the nozzle 92 is depressed, the valve 112 opens and liquid is expelled from the passageway 152 of nozzle 92 in spray form, see Figure 7. While the liquid is sprayed out, the bladder 27 expands (see Figure 5), and at the same time the pressure therein sinks to a level below the atmospheric pressure. As a consequence, the bladder 27 will fill out the can 24 gradually at the pace of consumption of the liquid 28. Air and liquid thus never get into contact with one another inside the can 24. In Figure 8 similar parts to those described above carry the same reference number with a suffix 3. On the inner face of cap 173 is provided an elongate tube 29 which may be inserted into a channel 31 formed in liquid container 32 and enclosing valve head 30. A chamber 183 is formed between the head 30, the tube 29 and the cap 173. At its free end, the tube 29 is provided with a flange 34 arranged in sealing engagement with walls 33 of the channel 31. When the tube 29 is inserted into the channel 31, enclosing the valve head 30 (and aperture 203 formed in the cap 173 is blocked), the air pressure will increase inside the chamber 183 to such an extent that the diaphragm 123, like in the embodiment just described, will open up the communication with the liquid container 32. In this case, air will penetrate straight into the container, just as is the case in the first embodiment of the invention and an excess pressure is generated inside the container. The spray is operated in a manner agreeing with that described with relation to the other embodiments of the invention. On account of the particular design of the liquid container 21 and the cap 173 there is gained the advantage that the container itself may be produced exactly like the spray caps of aerosol type already existing on the market and used in a variety of fields. Consequently, there is no need to develop new machines in order to manufacture cans that are adjusted to the spray of the invention but the detailed components incorporated in the spray of the invention may be applied directly on a can of known design. Clearly the seal 113 as well as the nozzle 93 may be different. If the fit between the cap 173 and the head piece 83 is good it is possible to dispense with the sealing ring 191 192 of Figures 2 and 5 respectively without significant reduction of the pumping effect. Adjacent the aperture 203 on the inner face of the cap 173 a lip-type seal of known construction may be arranged. Upon depressing of the cap 173 on the head piece 30, this seal would serve to close the aperture 203 and upon raising of the cap let in air this way. This would obviate the need of keeping one finger on the aperture during the pumping, as described above. Alternatively, it is possible to use a completely tight cap 173, as in Figure 1 where the sealing ring 19 should be designed in such a way that upon depression of the cap 173 (compression) an efficient blockage against air passage is formed between the cap 173 and the head piece 30 but upon removal of the cap 173 air is let through into the gradually expanding chamber 183 for pressure levelling therein. The annular seal 19, may be mounted on the inner face of the cap 173 instead of about the head piece 30. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An improved spray arrangement in liquid containers, such as bottles, comprising a head piece, a manually operable valve mechanism on said head piece, and a nozzle with a passage therein in communication with said valve mechanism and arranged, upon opening of said valve mechanism, to discharge said liquid contained in said container under excess pressure in the form of a spray, the improvement comprising a cap mounted so as to enclose said head piece, said cap arranged, when forced downwards about said head, to compress the air in the space enclosed by said cap, said valve mechanism arranged, upon information of an excess pressure in said space, to open a passage through said head and allow said excess pressure to propagate down into said container and, upon elimination in said space of all said excess pressure or the major portion thereof, to again close said passage.

2. The improved spray arrangement accord

ing to claim 1, comprising an annular seal secured to said head piece to block off said space enclosed by said cap from communication with the outside air upon depression of said cap about said head piece.

3. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 2, comprising said annular seal secured to the internal face of said cap rather than to the head piece.

4. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said valve mechanism comprises a seal securely connected to said nozzle and arranged to close said passage extending through said head thus closing communication between said passage through said nozzle and the interior of said container, and arranged to opens said communication passage both Ul)O1i displacement of said nozzle away from an umbiassed position thereof for discharge of liquid, and also upon formation of air excess pressure in said space enclosed by said cap.

5. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 4, comprising a diaphragm sealingly secured to said head piece, said nozzle supported in sealing engagement against said diaphragm, said nozzle passageway extending through said diaphragm.

6. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said diaphragm serves as a spring means arranged upon release of the nozzle following displacement of the latter from the unbiassed position thereof, to return said nozzle to said unbiassed position and to close said valve mechanism.

7. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said diaphragm forms the seat of engagement of said seal of said valve mechanism.

8. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said diaphragm serves as a spring means arranged, upon release of the nozzle following displacement of the latter from the unbiassed position thereof, to return said nozzle to said unbiassed position and to close said valve mechanism.

9. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said diaphragm forms the seat of engagement of said seal of said valve mechanisrr'.

10. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 1, comprising air passage means extending exteriorly of said valve mechanism, and an inflatable, liquid-tight bladder arranged in said liquid container and closed off from the liquid therein, said air passage means communicating the space enclosed by said cap and said bladder, a valve positioned in said air passage means and arranged, upon the occurrence of an excess pressure in said space in relation to said bladder, to open said air passage means and, upon occurrence of an excess pressure inside said bladder in relation to said space, to close said air passage means.

11. The improved spray arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein a valve positioned in said air passage means is a section of a diaphragm.

12. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 1, comprising an elongate tube formed on the inner face of said cap, a channel formed in said liquid container so as to enclose said head piece, said tube arranged, when inserted into said container, to force air trapped in said tube down into said liquid container via said valve mechanism.

13. The improved spray arrangement according to claim 12, comprising a flange formed at the free end of said tube so as to form a seal against the walls of said channel.

14. An improved spray arrangement substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

15. An improved spray arrangement substantially as herein described and as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. An improved spray arrangement nrb- stantially as herein described and as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying draw prigs.

17. An improved spray arrangcincn t substantially as herein described and as shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.