GB821793A - Foam producing and dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

821,793. Foam producing devices. STOSSEL, E. Nov. 26, 1957, No. 36875/57. Class 47 A foam producing device comprises a flexible container containing a porous elastic body capable of being compressed through the wall of the flexible container to produce foam which issues from a discharge outlet of the container. In Fig. 1, a flexible container 1 contains a spongelike body 3 separated :by a porous spacer 4 from an air space 5 adjacent a discharge orifice 6. The container 1 is. squeezed by hand and the orifice 6 is placed in foam forming liquid which is sucked into the container and absorbed in the body 3 when The container is released. A squeezing action is applied to the container causing the body 3 to repeatedly contract and expand to form foam which passes into the space 5 Where it becomes separated from excess liquid, and from which it can be ejected through the orifice 6 by squeezing the wall of the chamber 5. A powder or a solid block of soluble material may be located at the bottom of the container 1 to dissolve in liquid drawn into the container to form a foam forming solution. The outlet 6 may be provided with a perforated bulb-like outlet member, Fig. 2 (not shown). In another embodiment, Fig. 3. a flexible bellows 11 containing small pieces 22 of sponge like material between porous spacer layers 23 is fixed to a cap 18 which fits over the open end of a bottle 24 containing foam forming liquid. The bottle 24 communicates with the container 11 through a tube 16 chamber 15 and non return valve 14. An air tube 17 enters the chamber 15 An outlet 20 from the fellows 11 carries a discharge valve 21. When the top end of the bellows 11 is depressed foam is discharged through the outlet 20 and when released the bellows expand to suck in additional foam forming liquid and air through the calve 14. In a further embodiment a container 101 Fig. 4, for foam-forming liquid is received in the lower end of the flexible container 104 which contains a sponge-like body 105 disposed between modifier members of porous diffuser material. A relatively rigid rod 110 of hard rubber or plastic is located in an axial bore in the body 105. A porous spacer layer 106 is disposed bethe upper modifier 120 and a perforated part-spherical top wall 104<SP>1</SP>. A tubular portion 103 extends downwardly into the container 101 terminating adjacent the bottom 102. The lower portion of the container 101 may be removable for refilling the container 101. By repeated squeezing and releasing of the body 105 through the wall of the container 104 liquid sucked from the container 101 and air drawn in through the perforations in the top wall 104<SP>1</SP> are converted into foam which issues through the perforated wall 104<SP>1</SP>. The upper modifier 120 serves to reduce the size of foam bubbles passing therethrough. The lower modifier 120 per mits some foam to enter the tube 103 to prevent vacuum in the container 101 and then becomes soaked with foam and acts as a valve to prevent further passage of air or foam into the tube 103. In a further modification, Fig. 5 (not shown), generally similar to the embodiment of Fig. 4, the upper modifier 120 is dispensed with and the lower modifier 120 is replaced by a layer of the same material as the body 105, and an axially bored outlet nozzle is having threads to accommodate a cap. The flexible container may be made of polyethylene, rubberized fabric, vinylite latex or the like. The porous spacers may be made of haphazardly arranged shreds, filaments or the like of flexible material and the modifiers may be made of felt, diffuser plates or filter cloth. The invention may be used for dispensing foamed soap solution or shaving cream and is applicable to large size devices for producing foam for agricultural purposes having mechanical means for providing the compressive pressure and release of pressure.