JP2003520679A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (42)

A device for spraying the contents of a spray container,
A dispenser body which can be attached in a sealed state to a container containing fluid;
A fluid outlet formed in the dispenser body, and a variable element generally freely supported around the dispenser body,
The variable element has a first orientation when within the reference temperature range and reversely changes to a second orientation when outside the reference temperature range, wherein the variable element allows fluid to pass from the container. A device that acts to occlude and in the second orientation the variable element acts to allow fluid to pass from the container. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the variable element is generally circular. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the variable element is generally rectangular. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a container containing a fluid, wherein the dispenser body is sealingly attached to the container. In the second orientation, the fluid flows toward and contacts the variable element, where heat transfer occurs between the fluid and the variable element to bring the variable element into a reference temperature range, whereby the variable element The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus changes from the second orientation to the first orientation. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fluid contacts the variable element on a surface of the variable element facing the container. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fluid contacts the variable element on a surface of the variable element that does not face the container. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fluid contacts the variable element on a surface of the variable element facing the container and on a surface of the variable element not facing the container. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plunger arranged for sliding movement between a first position and a second position within the dispenser body. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plunger is attached to the variable element. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the variable element comprises a bimetallic element. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the variable element comprises a shape memory alloy element. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser body includes thermal insulation for thermally insulating the variable element from an external environment. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser body is formed with an expansion chamber, and the fluid flows into the expansion chamber and expands when the variable element is in the second orientation. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the expansion chamber is positioned on one side of the variable element. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the expansion chamber is positioned on two sides of the variable element. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a safety spray valve in fluid communication with the fluid outlet operative to substantially prevent fluid outflow from the fluid outlet. The safety spray valve includes a stopper slidably installed in a hole formed in the dispenser body, the hole allowing fluid to flow from a container to the fluid outlet, the stopper being an end of the hole. 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the device is configured to slide toward the part and to be held there substantially slidably by the force of the pressurized contents of the container. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the safety spray valve includes a one-way valve that substantially prevents material from flowing from the variable element back to the container. The one-way valve includes a ball installed in a hole formed in the dispenser body, and the ball does not interfere with the flow of fluid from the container toward the variable element, but fluid flows backward toward the container. 20. A device according to claim 19 which substantially prevents flow. A device for spraying the contents of a spray container,
A dispenser body which can be attached in a sealed state to a container containing fluid;
An expansion chamber formed in the dispenser body;
A fluid outlet formed in the dispenser body and a generally rectangular variable element installed in the expansion chamber;
The variable element has a first orientation when it is within a reference temperature range, and reversely changes to a second orientation when outside the reference temperature range, wherein the variable element passes fluid from the container. And in the second orientation, the variable element acts to allow passage of fluid from the container, and the fluid flows into the expansion chamber and expands there. The variable element is generally freely supported in the expansion chamber in the first orientation, and when the variable element snaps from the first orientation to the second orientation, both ends of the variable element move to expand the expansion. The both ends of the variable element are separated from the inner surface of the expansion chamber by a gap when they abut against the inner surface of the chamber and the variable element snaps to the second orientation, and are freely supported in the expansion chamber. Device according to 21. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the two ends of the variable element are clamped in the expansion chamber. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the variable element is clamped generally around its periphery in the expansion chamber. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the variable element comprises a bimetallic element. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the variable element comprises a shape memory alloy element. A device for spraying the contents of a spray container,
A dispenser body which can be attached in a sealed state to a container containing fluid;
A fluid outlet formed in the dispenser body;
A spray nozzle in fluid communication with the dispenser body that serves to spray fluid from the container, and a safety that substantially prevents fluid flow through the spray nozzle even if the spray nozzle is malfunctioning A device including a spray valve. The safety spray valve includes a stopper slidably installed in a hole formed in the dispenser body, the hole allowing fluid to flow from the container to the fluid outlet, the stopper being an end of the hole 28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the apparatus is configured to slide toward and to be held substantially sealed therein by the force of the pressurized contents of the container. 28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the safety spray valve includes a one-way valve that substantially prevents material from flowing in a direction from the variable element back to the container. The one-way valve includes a ball installed in a hole formed in the dispenser body, and the ball does not interfere with the flow of fluid from the container toward the variable element, but the fluid flows backward toward the container. 30. The device according to claim 29, substantially preventing this. A method of dispensing fluid from a container,
Prepare a container containing the fluid,
Attaching a spray valve to the container, and installing the container with the spray valve in an environment having a temperature outside a reference temperature range,
The spray valve is
A dispenser body which can be attached in a sealed state to a container containing fluid;
A fluid outlet formed in the dispenser body, and a variable element that is generally freely supported around the dispenser body;
The variable element has a first orientation when within a reference temperature range and reversely changes to a second orientation when out of the reference temperature range, wherein the variable element allows passage of fluid from the container. In the second orientation, the variable element acts to block and allows fluid to pass from the container, and after a predetermined time, heat transfer between the variable element and the environment is A method wherein a variable element is moved out of the reference temperature range so that the variable element changes to the second orientation and the fluid flows out of the container into the dispenser body and is dispensed from the fluid outlet. And further comprising transferring heat between the fluid and the variable element to bring the variable element into the reference temperature range when the variable element is in the second orientation, so that the variable element is in the second orientation. 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the method changes from orientation to the first orientation, thereby preventing the fluid from exiting the dispenser body. 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32 further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by selecting a desired dimension of the spray nozzle. 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32 further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by selecting a desired dimension of the fluid outlet. 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32 further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by configuring the variable element with a bimetallic material having selected thermal properties and physical dimensions. 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32, further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by directing fluid flow on the surface of the variable element facing the container when the variable element is in the second orientation. . 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32, further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by inducing a fluid flow on a surface of the variable element that does not face the container when the variable element is in the second orientation. . Controlling fluid dispensing by inducing fluid flow on the surface of the variable element facing the container and the surface of the variable element not facing the container when the variable element is in the second orientation; The method according to claim 31 or 32, further comprising: 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32, further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by selecting a desired physical property of the fluid. 433. The method according to claim 31 or 432, further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by selecting a desired thermal property of the fluid. 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32, further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by selecting a desired pressure of the fluid. 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32 further comprising controlling fluid dispensing by thermally isolating the dispenser body from an external environment.