US3490651A

US3490651A - Dispenser system for simultaneous dispensing of separately stored fluids

Info

Publication number: US3490651A
Application number: US696338A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Henry Abplanalp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-01-08
Filing date: 1968-01-08
Publication date: 1970-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-20
Also published as: NL6818850A; DE1817260A1; GB1203359A; SE347882B; CH498657A; BR6805254D0; FR1597370A

Description

Jan. 20, 1970 R. H. ABPLANALP 3,490,651

DISPENSER SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUS DISPENSING oF SEPARATELY sToRED FLUIDS Filed Jan. 8, 1968 20 Robe/ff Henry Abp/Una/p Alfomeys United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 222-94 3 `Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser system for simultaneous dispensing of separately stored fluids which includes an outer container having a head structure including a top closure, discharge valve and discharge outlet, and a product tube, commonly referred to as a dip tube; an inner container constituting a collapsible tube closed at the bottom about the dip tube and closed at the top about the valve housing; and fluid-communicating means between the inner container and the upstream side of the discharge valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dispenser system for the simultaneous discharge of separately stored fluids. More particularly, the invention relates to a system capable of storing two fluids separately in a container and of dispensing both iluids at once with initial commingling thereof before discharge.

The invention has its most immediate application in the relatively recent development of the hot lather or hot shave aerosols. In such a system, an aerosol can consists of two compartments-one containing an oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide, and the other containing a reductant usually in combination with the lather and propellant. It is of course necessary to maintain the compartments separate until the lather is discharged, whereupon the commingling of the oxidant and reductant results in an exothermic reaction and heats the evolved shave cream. See for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,341,418.

The development of such systems has resulted in a need for aerosol dispensers capable at once of maintaining two compositions separate and of commingling and dispensing the compositions mixed. Aerosol dispensers constituting separate compartments have been used for some time, for example, to maintain a product and propellant separate (see for example, U.S. Patents Nos. 2,- 671,578; 2,689,065; and 2,689,768) or to discharge only a measured quantity of product (see, for example, U.S. Patents Nos. 3,092,107 and 3,235,135). Some of the principles embodied in such devices have been adopted or revised in more recent developments of dispensing systems, capable, to various degrees of efficiency, of discharging a mixture of separately stored products, such as those used in the hot shave aesosols (see, for example, U.S. Patents Nos. 2,973,885; 3,045,925; 3,325,056; and 3,326,416). My earlier patent, No. 3,217,936, is another example of a dispensing system capable of mixing and dispensing separately stored products.

One of the drawbacks of most, if not all, of the present dispensing systems of the type described is their generally complex and cumbersome nature, due usually to an involved system of valves, conduits and compartments. Often in order to minimize leakage between compartments-and premature chemical reaction in the case of hot shaves-simplicity of design and component compatibility with other containers are sacrificed. Indeed, even with some of the complex dispensing systems, leakage and other shortcomings are not altogether eliminated.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a dispensing system of the type described that is at once simple and ellicient. Another object is to provide a system that employs a minimum of special components and is, therefore, readily compatible with other types of aerosol dispensers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present dispensing system comprises 1) an entirely conventional main or outer container having a head structure including a discharge valve, a discharge outlet, a top closure to which is mounted the valve, commonly called a mounting cup, and a dip tube; (2) a secondary or inner container, as further described below, constituting a collapsible tube closed at the bottom about the dip tube and closed at the top about the valve and (3) tluid communicating means between the secondary container and the upstream side of the discharge valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view, in central vertical section, of a dispenser embodying the present invention, with the parts shown in non-dispensing position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a secondary container element of the present invention, closed at one end about a dip tube.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental, cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIGURE l, showing in greater detail the elements of the discharge valve, of the Huid communicating means between the secondary chamber and the discharge valve, and of the means of sealing the top end of the secondary chamber to the mounting cup.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental cross-sectional view of a dispenser having a secondary valve as a component of an alternative means of fluid communication between the secondary chamber and the discharge valve, with the parts shown in non-dispensing position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmental, cross-sectional View of the dispenser of FIGURE 4, with the parts shown in dispensing position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmental, cross-sectional View of the dispenser system with the secondary container sealed on the mounting cup in an alternative manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As described brielly above the present dispensing system comprises separate storage compartments and permits commingling of the separated iluids immediately before discharge from the container.

The main container-storing, for example, soap, propellant and a reductant, in the case of a shot shave aerosol-consists of an outer container or can, closed at the bottom in a conventional way and closed at the top with a head structure which includes a mounting cup of conventional design, a discharge valve mounted in the cup; and a dip tube extending downwardly from the upstream side of the discharge valve to the container bottom. The secondary, or inner, container-storing, for example, an oxidant, in the case of a hot shave aerosol-consists of a collapsible tube closed at the bottom about the dip tube and closed at the top about the bottom of the mounting cup. Fluid communicating means, which may be a valve or, in some cases, merely an orice, connect the inner container and the upstream side of the discharge valve. The discharge valve essentially opens both containers to the atmosphere when in the dispensing position.

With reference to FIGURE 1, there is shown a container 10 having cylindrical sides 11, a bottom 12, shoulders 13, and a mounting cup 14. Mounted in the cup are the discharge valve components, including actuator button 15, valve body 16, valve stem 16a, valve housing 17 and biasing spring 18. Extending downward from the bottom of the valve housing 17 towards the bottom of container 10 is dip tube 19. Located within container 10 is sec- 3 ondary container 20, consisting of collapsible tube 21, closed at the bottom by seal 22 about, and sealed onto, dip tube 19, and sealed at the top 23 about the valve housing onto the outer wall of mounting cup 14.

FIGURE 2 by perspective view better illustrates a preferred embodiment of the secondary container 20. The secondary container is formed from a generally cylindrical, flexible tube 21, sealed at one end about and onto dip tube 19 by the generally diametral, linear seal 22. Thus the general shape of the secondary container resembles that of the lower part of the familiar toothpaste tube.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the discharge valve, and mount- )ng cup-secondary container sealing means of FIGURE l in greater detail. The actuator button 15 contains a discharge orifice 24, a passage 25 and an inner chamber 26. Valve stem 16a contains an axial passage 27 and a side port 28, and has an annular recess 29 defined by top and bottom

abutting edges

30 and 31, with top edge 30 being tapered. While the valve is in a non-dispensing position, annular gasket 32 is held at a position adjacent side port 28, between the bottom abutting edge 31 and the inside edge 33 of the top 34 of the mounting cup 14. Between the valve body 16 and the valve stern 17 is the valve chamber 35, consisting of an upper annular chamber 36 and a lower, roughly cylindrical, chamber 37. In the valve housing 17 is one or more side ports 38, in communication between the secondary container 20 and the valve chamber 35. At the bottom of the valve housing 17 is an axial port 39 in communication between the lower valve chamber 37 and the axial chamber 40 of the dip tube 19.

The upper circumferential edge 41 of secondary container 20, as shown in FIGURE 3, is sealed by any suitable means including compression between the top circumferential edge 42 of shoulders 13 and the top rim 43 of the bottom of mounting cup 14. A suitable sealing medium 44, such as a bonding resin, may be employed if desired in place of, or in supplement to, the compression sealing means shown in FIGURE 3, to achieve sealing between the top edge 41 of the secondary container 20 and the Outer wall of mounting cup 14.

FIGURE 4 illustrates in detail an alternative valve system whereby the communicating means between the secondary container and the upstream side of the discharge valve is provided with a valve. Like numbers will be used to represent equivalent elements where possible. As in the embodiment described above, the discharge valve includes valve body 16, valve stem 16a, valve housing 17, biasing spring 18, valve chamber 35 comprising annular chamber 36 and roughly cylindrical chamber 37, side ports 38 and axial port 39. In this embodiment, however, slide valve 45 having packing 46, which may be in the form of an O-ring, is located in annular chamber 36 between the inner ends 47 of side ports 38 and valve chamber 35. Slide valve 45 abuts, at the top, a lower edge 48 of valve body 16 and, at the bottom, the top edge 49 of biasing spring 18. Thus, when the discharge valve is in the non-dispensing position, the slide valve 45 closes the communicating ports 38 between secondary container 20 and valve chamber 35. One or more generally vertical channels 50 connect the lower chamber 37 and the upper chamber 36 of valve chamber 35.

FIGURE illustrates in detail the discharge valve in the embodiment of FIGURE 4, with the components in the dispensing position. Upon dispensing, the actuator button is depressed to force the valve body 16 downwardly eventually against the force of biasing spring 18, such that tapered shoulder 30 of the valve stem 16a is forced against the inner part of annular gasket 32 to open a passage 51 between annular valve chamber 36 and side port 28, open to the atmosphere via the various passages of valve stem 16a and actuator button 15. At the same time the lower edge 48 of valve body 16 is forced against the top of slide valve 45 to open the inner ends 47 of side ports 38 to the annular chamber 36 of valve chamber 35. Thus, upon depression of actuator button 15, both the main container 10 and the secondary container 20 are opened to the atmosphere. With the systems shown in FIGURES l and 3, of course, depression of the discharge valve also opens both containers to the atmosphere.

Suitable materials for the collapsible tube of the secondary container include flexible synthetic films, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyamides or the like. The essential requirements of the tubing used for the outer wall of the secondary container are that it be c01- lapsible, and substantially impermeable and inert to the components of the system. Also, the container should not be so elastic as to provide substantial resistance to compression. Preferably, also, the secondary containers and the dip tube are made of the same material, to facilitate formation of the bond between the two.

In the embodiment illustrated above, the secondary container is shown sealed at the top, about the valve housing, between the rim of the cup and the rim of the container shoulders. If desired, the top of the secondary containers may be mounted elsewhere about the valve housing, for example, below the juncture of the rims, or even |between valve housing 17 and the inner wall Of the mounting cup 14. In the latter case, as shown in FIGURE 6 the secondary container is substantially smaller in diameter, due of course to the smaller diameter of the valve housing 17 relative to that of the outer wall of the mounting cup. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the side port 38 in the valve housing 17 must be lowered, as shown in FIGURE 6, to provide tiuid communication means from the secondary container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the secondary container is sealed onto the dip tube, as shown for example, in FIGURE 2. Alternatively, one or more secondary containers, such as an annular chamber, may be sealed at the bottom about but not onto the dip tube, and sealed at the top about at least a portion of the valve housing.

If the fluids to be separately stored are readily diffusable, it is preferred to have a secondary valve in the uid communicating means between the secondary container and the upstream side of the discharge valves, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. It is possible, however, with a uid or gel of sufficiently high viscosity in one container to do without such a secondary valve. In this case, it is important that the side port 38 be small enough to prevent substantial diffusion when the discharge valve is closed but large enough to permit discharge of the secondary container at the desired rate, when the discharge valve is opened.

In packaging the aerosol product of the present system, the secondary container is ordinarily filled first, before it is sealed to the bottom of the mounting cup. The secondary container, during filling, is sealed at the bottom about the dip tube and is fitted loosely at the top about the mounting cup. A fiuid may then be added from the top or through the dip tube and side port. In either case, the air in the container will be displaced upwardly between the fitting tubing and mounting cup. Thereafter, the secondary container may be sealed, as above described, and inserted into the main container either before or after addition of a fiuid to the main container.

In the packaging of a hot-shave aerosol, preferably an oxidant is added as above to the secondary container; a suitable soap solution, including a. reducing agent, is added to the main container; the mounting cup is placed on the container, thereby sealing the top of the secondary container; and finally a propellant is added to the closed system downwardly through the discharge valve and into the main container.

In operation, actuating the discharge valve will open both containers to the atmosphere, and, at virtually the same instant, the higher pressure of the propellant outside the secondary container will force the fluid from the secondary container into the valve to be mixed with the uid from the main container coming up the dip tube.

lOne of the advantages of the form of the present System having the secondary container 21 sealed onto the dip tube 19 is the anchoring effect the dip tube has on the secondary container. This provision, far simpler than similar arrangements of other devices, gives stability to the collapsible container and reduces its lateral and vertical movement, thereby reducing the possibility of discharge of the fluid in the secondary containers and premature mixing of the fluids.

The present system may be useful in separately storing many fluids in addition to the hot-shave lather mentioned above. Thus, the present system finds utility in dispensing starch, stored separately from water, or other multi-component compositions, such as shampoos, hair dyes and -bleaches, hair rinses or the like. In each case, two iluids may be stored separately and intermixed immediately before dispensing.

The relative dimensions of the main and secondary containers will, of course, depend upon the aerosol compositions to be used. Preferably, the diameter of the secondary container is approximately that of the mounting cup, and the volume of the container is varied as desired, by changing the length of the container. It is possible, however, to alter the secondary containers volume by changing its shape or diameter or both, as well.

Iclaim:

t1. A pressurized dispenser for dispensing separately stored fluids comprising an outer container for one of the uids and the pressurizing propellant, said outer container being closed by a head structure including a discharge outlet and a discharge valve, and an inner container for the other of the fluids constituted by a collapsible tube sealed at its upper end in relation to the outer container and closed at its lower end, said inner container surrounding a dip tube extending from the discharge valve through the said inner container into the outer container, said inner container lower end closure being bonded in sealing relationship with the dip tube, said outer container being in communication with the discharge outlet through the dip tube and the discharge valve, said inner container being in communication with the discharge valve through a secondary valve operated simultaneously with the discharge valve, said secondary valve being interposed in a passage between said discharge valve and said inner container.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the discharge valve comprises a valve housing in communication with the dip tube, a vertically movable valve body having a hollow valve stem with a transverse valve orice, and a resilient Vsealing member for sealing said transverse orice to close the discharge valve, and wherein the valve housing includes a passage in communication with said inner container, said secondary valve serving to close said passage.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the secondary valve includes an inner container passage blocking means associated with the movable valve body of the discharge valve such that the passage blocking means is moved out of blocking relationship with the passage when the discharge valve body is moved to open the transverse orifice of the discharge valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,092,107 6/1963 Froot Z22-386.5 X 3,295,727 1/1967 Kates et al. 222-145 X 3,300,102 1/1967 Budzich 222-386.5 3,378,169 4/1968 Clark 222--94 X 3,131,834 5/1964 Meshberg 222-399 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 222-