U.S. patent number 3,709,437 [Application Number 05/072,130] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-09 for method and device for producing foam.
Invention is credited to Hershel Earl Wright.
United States Patent |
3,709,437 |
Wright |
January 9, 1973 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING FOAM
Abstract
A device for producing and dispensing foam including a
deformable reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of foamable
liquid and air, a discharge cap releasably secured to the reservoir
and defining a discharge orifice in communicating relation with the
interior of the reservoir, foam producing means supported within
the reservoir in communicating relation with the foamable liquid,
and a foam homogenizing overlay disposed for controlling the foam
discharged. Selective air passage means are provided in a wall
portion of the foam producing means defining a mixing chamber such
that compression of the reservoir effects the introduction of
foamable liquid and air into the mixing chamber wherein they are
intermixed to produce foam which is thereafter discharged through
the discharge orifice. Selected embodiments employ a ball check
valve between the reservoir and the discharge orifice to maintain
the liquid upwardly within the foam producing means, and air valve
means to assist air return into the reservoir.
Inventors: |
Wright; Hershel Earl (Decatur,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
40433971 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/072,130 |
Filed: |
September 14, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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761688 |
Sep 23, 1968 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
239/343; 222/190;
239/304; 239/328; 239/303; 239/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
11/06 (20130101); B05B 11/043 (20130101); B65D
83/68 (20130101); B05B 7/0037 (20130101); B05B
11/0078 (20130101); B65D 83/0055 (20130101); B65D
83/62 (20130101); B05B 11/046 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
11/06 (20060101); B05B 11/00 (20060101); B05B
11/04 (20060101); B05B 7/00 (20060101); B65D
83/00 (20060101); B65D 83/14 (20060101); B05b
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/302,303,304,311,323,327,328,343,369,370,556
;222/94,95,189,190,193,195,206,207,215 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,418,581 |
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Oct 1965 |
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FR |
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554,133 |
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Jan 1957 |
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BE |
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508,288 |
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Jul 1920 |
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FR |
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650,120 |
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Sep 1928 |
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FR |
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1,180,376 |
|
Feb 1970 |
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GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr.; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Mar; Michael
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 761,688, filed Sept.
23, 1968, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A foam dispensing device for use with foamable liquids and the
like, comprising a deformable reservoir adapted to contain a
quantity of foamable liquid and air, said reservoir having an
opening therein in communicating relation with the interior
thereof, cap means supported by said reservoir and defining a
discharge orifice in communicating relation with said reservoir
opening, and foam producing means supported within said reservoir,
said foam producing means including depending non-porous hollow
element means axially open at its lower end to provide fluid entry
means for the entry of the foamable liquid, said foam producing
means further including air passage means formed in said hollow
element in an area of said reservoir above the foamable liquid,
said air passage means comprising at least one restricted opening
which simultaneously permits at least one discrete air stream to be
introduced into said hollow element and liquid to be conveyed
upwardly through said hollow element after entry through the
axially open lower end by differential air pressure to establish a
mixing chamber within said hollow element means above the foamable
liquid such that an increase in air pressure within said reservoir
by collapse of said reservoir effects intermixing of the foamable
liquid and air within said mixing chamber to produce foam and
discharge the foam through said discharge orifice, the
cross-sectional area of said axial opening being substantially
greater than that of any of the said restricted openings.
2. A foam dispensing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said
hollow element means includes an upper end portion supported within
said reservoir opening and a lower tubular portion depending
generally longitudinally within said reservoir in communicating
relation with the foamable liquid in said reservoir to define a
liquid flow path between said foamable liquid and said mixing
chamber.
3. A dispensing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said air
passage opening is provided in the wall of said lower tubular
portion of said hollow element means, said air passage opening
being disposed intermediate the foamable liquid within said
reservoir and said upper end portion of said hollow element
means.
4. A dispensing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said upper end
portion of said hollow element means includes a wall portion
defining said mixing chamber, and wherein said restricted opening
is disposed in said wall portion and establishes communication
between the interior of said reservoir and said mixing chamber such
that compression of said deformable reservoir effects upward flow
of foamable liquid within said lower tubular portion and air flow
through said restricted opening in a manner to effect intermixing
of the air and foamable liquid within said mixing chamber to
produce foam.
5. A dispensing device as defined in claim 4 including valve means
disposed within said upper portion of said hollow element means,
said valve means being adapted to allow upward flow of foamable
liquid within said lower tubular portion of said hollow element
means upon compression of said reservoir and prevent downward flow
of foamable liquid therein upon release of said reservoir.
6. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 including a foam
homogenizing element supported by said foam producing means and
adapted to homogenize the foam passed from said mixing chamber
through said discharge orifice.
7. A dispensing device as defined in claim 4 including a foam
homogenizing element supported by said upper end portion of said
hollow element means between said mixing chamber and said discharge
orifice, said homogenizing element being adapted to homogenize the
foam passed from said mixing chamber to said discharge orifice.
8. A dispensing device as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve
means comprises a ball check valve adapted to prevent communication
between said mixing chamber and said lower tubular portion of said
hollow element means when said reservoir is in a normal
non-compressed state, said check valve being adapted for movement
to a position allowing communication between said mixing chamber
and said lower tubular portion of hollow element means upon
compression of said reservoir.
9. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 including a control
nozzle supported by said cap means adjacent said discharge orifice
therein.
10. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 including a generally
closed deformable bag sealingly connected to said depending hollow
element means within said reservoir such that the interior of said
bag is in communicating relation with said mixing chamber, said
deformable bag being adapted to contain a quantity of foamable
liquid and effect flow of the foamable liquid upwardly through said
hollow element means upon compression of said reservoir whereby to
effect intermixing of the foamable liquid with air within said
mixing chamber.
11. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said
depending hollow element means includes a plurality of depending
tubular members, and including generally closed deformable bag
means sealingly connected to each of said depending tubular members
such that the interior of each bag means is in communicating
relation with said mixing chamber, each of said bag means being
adapted to contain a foamable liquid and effect upward flow thereof
through the corresponding tubular member upon compression of said
reservoir whereby to effect intermixing of the foamable liquids
with air within said mixing chamber.
12. A dispensing device as defined in claim 11 wherein said
dispenser device includes two depending tubular members, each of
said tubular members having a separable bag sealingly secured
thereto and adapted to retain a foamable liquid therein.
13. A dispensing device as defined in claim 11 wherein said foam
producing means includes a support element supported by said
reservoir within said reservoir opening, said support element
including a wall portion defining said mixing chamber and being
adapted to support said depending tubular members with the inner
flow passages therein in communicating relation with said mixing
chamber, and wherein said restricted opening is disposed in said
wall portion and provides communication between the interior of
said reservoir and said mixing chamber such that compression of
said deformable reservoir effects air flow through said restricted
opening simultaneously with the flow of foamable liquid into said
mixing chamber.
14. A dispensing device as defined in claim 13 including valve
means operatively associated with said support member and adapted
to preclude flow of foamable liquid downwardly within said
depending tubular members upon release of compression forces from
said reservoir.
15. A dispensing device as defined in claim 13 including a foam
homogenizing element supported by said support element and adapted
to homogenize foam passed from said mixing chamber to said
discharge orifice.
16. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said cap
means comprises a cap member having a discharge orifice therein,
said cap member being releasably secured to said reservoir and
movable between first and second positions, and wherein said foam
producing means includes means adapted for cooperation with said
cap member to prevent discharge of foam from said discharge orifice
when said cap member is in said first position but allowing
discharge of foam from said discharge orifice when said cap is in
said second position.
17. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 including manually
operable air supply means operatively associated with said
reservoir to provide selective introduction of air into said
reservoir whereby to increase the air pressure therein.
18. A foam dispensing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said
foam producing means is supported within said reservoir for
longitudinal movement therein, said foam producing means including
air return valve means allowing entry of air into the reservoir
when the compressive forces are removed from the deformable
reservoir.
19. A dispensing device as defined in claim 18 wherein said foam
producing means includes a homogenizing element operatively
associated therewith, such homogenizing element being movable with
said foam producing means and serving to homogenize foam produced
within said mixing chamber prior to discharge of the film through
said discharge orifice.
20. A foam dispensing device as defined in claim 19 wherein said
air return valve means comprises an annular flange on the upper
portion of said foam producing means, and wherein said reservoir
includes a plurality of stop members adapted to selectively engage
said annular flange and limit downward movement of said foam
producing means within the reservoir.
21. A foam dispensing device as defined in claim 20 including a
sealing member operatively associated with said reservoir and said
cap means, said annular flange being movable between a first
position abutting the sealing member and a second position abutting
said stop members, and including spring means urging said annular
flange to said first position.
22. A dispensing device as defined in claim 21 including a ball
check valve disposed within said mixing chamber of said foam
producing means and adapted to prevent air flow downwardly within
said foam producing means upon release of the compression forces
from the deformable reservoir.
23. A dispensing device as defined in claim 1 including air return
means to allow entry of air into the reservoir when the compressive
forces are removed from the deformable reservoir.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to dispensing devices, and
more particularly to a dispensing device adapted to effect the
formation and discharge of foam from a foamable liquid through a
single compression of a deformable reservoir.
Applicator and dispenser devices utilizing liquid reservoirs having
compressible or deformable bodies to facilitate the discharge of
liquids therefrom are generally old. Such devices are commonly
known for cleaning purposes, applying glue, and for applying
lathers to the skin through a sponge or wick element disposed
within a discharge opening in the reservoir. More recent dispensing
devices employ an element disposed within a reservoir in contact
with a foamable liquid therein, which element is adapted to effect
discharge of foam upon compression of the reservoir and the
element. The last mentioned foam dispensing devices, however,
exhibit the drawback that repeated compression of the deformable
reservoir and element is required to effect discharge of foam from
the device. More particularly, the known dispensing devices of the
latter described type require continual physical compression of a
generally porous element to intermix the foamable liquid with air
within the element to produce a foam which is discharged from the
device.
Recent dispensing devices have also utilized pressurized containers
to effect foaming of a foamable liquid within the container and
force the foam from the container. Such pressurized dispensing
devices have the disadvantage that the gas used in effecting the
formation of foam and discharge thereof does not replenish itself,
thus limiting the useful life of the dispensing device. In
addition, such pressurized dispensing devices require containers
capable of withstanding substantial internal pressures during
assembly of the devices, thereby substantially increasing the cost
of the devices to the consumer.
The production of foam having optimum characteristics, that is,
foam having the desired spreading, stability and wetting
properties, is dependent upon the nature of the foamable liquid
used as well as the structural design of the dispenser device.
Recent developments in foamable liquid compositions have provided
foamable liquids which, when used with a dispensing device in
accordance with the present invention, produce such optimum
foams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a
foam dispensing device which overcomes the disadvantages in the
prior art dispensing devices through providing a deformable
reservoir having foam producing means disposed therein adapted to
effect the formation of foam from a foamable liquid and dispense
the foam upon a single compressing of the deformable reservoir.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foam
dispensing device as described wherein the foam producing means
comprises a depending hollow element having a wall portion defining
a mixing chamber with selective air flow passages in the wall
portion such that compression of the reservoir effects fluid flow
upwardly within the hollow element into the chamber and air flow
through the air passages to intermix with the foamable liquid and
produce foam which is thereafter discharged through the discharge
orifice of a cap member.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a foam
dispensing device as described including a foam homogenizing
element disposed between the mixing chamber and the discharge
orifice to control the consistency of foam discharged through the
discharge orifice.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foam
dispensing device as described including check valve means disposed
within the hollow element and adapted to allow upward flow of
foamable liquid therein during compression of the reservoir while
preventing downward flow of the foamable liquid within the element
after release of the reservoir thereby substantially reducing the
time required to effect foaming on subsequent compression of the
reservoir.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foam
dispensing device including a deformable reservoir having one or
more generally closed collapsible bags disposed therein, each bag
being sealingly secured to an associated depending hollow element
for communication between the interior of the bag and a mixing
chamber such that compression of the reservoir effects the flow of
foamable liquid from the bags into the mixing chamber
simultaneously with the entry of air therein whereby to intermix
the foamable liquid and air to produce foam within the mixing
chamber and discharge the same from a discharge orifice.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foam
dispensing device as described having a discharge cap releasably
secured to the reservoir and adapted for seating engagement
therewith to selectively prevent discharge of foamable liquid from
the reservoir.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a foam
dispensing device as described wherein the foam producing means is
supported within the deformable reservoir in a manner such that it
serves as an air return valve when the compression forces are
removed from the deformable reservoir thereby assisting in
replenishing air to the reservoir preparatory to further formation
and discharge of foam.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
method of producing foam using a foam dispensing device as above
described, which method includes introducing a foamable liquid
having a viscosity of between around 0.5 - 300 centipoises and a
surface tension of between around 15 - 70 dynes per centimeter into
the mixing chamber defined by a wall portion of the foam producing
means, and thereafter introducing air into the chamber through air
flow passages in the wall portion.
In furtherance of the above objects of the present invention, a
dispenser device in accordance with the present invention includes
a deformable reservoir having an opening therein, cap means
defining a discharge orifice releasably supported by the reservoir
adjacent the opening therein, and foam producing means disposed
within the reservoir and adapted to establish foam upon a
compression of the reservoir. The foam dispensing means comprises a
depending hollow element having an upper portion releasably
supported by the reservoir and having a wall portion defining a
mixing chamber. Air passages of selected size are provided in the
wall defining the mixing chamber such that upon compression of the
deformable reservoir, foamable liquid is forced upwardly through
the hollow element simultaneously with the passage of air through
the air passages whereby to intermix the foamable liquid and air to
produce foam within the mixing chamber and discharge the foam
through the discharge orifice of the cap. A foam homogenizing
element is supported between the mixing chamber and the discharge
orifice to control the consistency of the foam discharged. Check
valve means are preferably within the hollow element generally
adjacent the mixing chamber to allow flow of foamable liquid
upwardly within the hollow element upon compression of the
reservoir but prevent downward flow therein upon release of the
deformable reservoir.
Selected embodiments of the present invention employ one or more
generally closed deformable foamable liquid-containing bags within
the reservoir sealingly secured to associated depending hollow
elements with the interiors of the bags being in communication with
the mixing chamber such that compression of the reservoir effects
flow of foamable liquid from the deformable bags into the mixing
chamber for intermixing with air to effect the formation of foam
and discharge thereof from the discharge orifice.
A further embodiment utilizes an exterior air supply operatively
associated with the discharge cap for selectively introducing of
air into the reservoir and mixing chamber whereby to effect the
production of foam and discharge thereof from the discharge
orifice. Still another embodiment has air valve means operative to
allow ready entry of air into the reservoir upon release of the
reservoir.
Further objects and advantages of my invention, together with the
organization and manner of operation thereof may best be understood
by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments
of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements
throughout the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a foam
dispensing device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dispensing device illustrated in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the dispensing
device illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the depending hollow form
producing element having air flow passages communicating with the
mixing chamber, and a ball check valve within the hollow
element;
FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the
lines 4--4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view, similar to FIG. 3,
illustrating another embodiment of a dispensing device in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a foreshortened longitudinal sectional view of a further
embodiment of a foam dispensing device in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 7 is a foreshortened longitudinal sectional view of another
embodiment of a foam dispensing device in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a further
embodiment of a dispensing device in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view illustrating the discharge cap
having a separable foam controlling nozzle on the outer end
thereof;
FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional view illustrating an
alternative manner of supporting the homogenizing overlay element
such that it serves as an air valve during operation of the
dispensing device;
FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the
lines 11--11 of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows with
the overlay element removed; and
FIG. 12 is a foreshortened longitudinal sectional view of another
embodiment of a dispensing device in accordance with the present
invention showing the foam producing means supported to serve as an
air return valve .
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, a
preferred embodiment of a foam dispensing device constructed in
accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at
reference numeral 10. The foam dispensing device 10 finds ready
application in dispensing cleaning and waxing products, cosmetics
and toiletries, and food stuffs. To this end, the foam dispensing
device 10 includes a deformable reservoir body 12 adapted to
contain a quantity of foamable liquid 14 and air. The reservoir 12
has a generally cylindrical shape having a closed bottom end
surface 16 and is preferably composed of a relatively deformable
material, such as polyethylene, to allow inward deformation or
compression of substantially the full longitudinal length of the
annular wall defining the inner chamber which receives the foamable
liquid and air. As will become apparent hereinbelow, it is
desirable that at least a small volume of air or other suitable gas
be present within the reservoir body at all times above the
foamable liquid 14.
The deformable reservoir 12 has an opening 18 (FIG. 3) therein
generally adjacent the upper end portion thereof, which opening is
in communicating relation with the interior of the reservoir. The
opening 18 is defined by an upstanding annular wall portion 20
having a threaded outer peripheral surface to releasably receive
and support cap means 22.
The cap means 22 comprises a cap member made of rigid plastic or
other suitable material and has a generally outwardly extending
portion 24 defining a discharge orifice or opening 26 therein. The
discharge orifice 26 communicates with a central cavity portion 28
within the cap member which provides communication between the
discharge orifice and the opening 18 in the reservoir 12.
Noting FIG. 3, the foam dispensing device 10 includes foam
producing means, indicated generally at 30, supported within the
interior of the reservoir 12 and adapted to effect the formation of
foam from the foamable liquid 14 upon inward deformation of the
annular side wall of the reservoir. The foam producing means 30
includes depending hollow element means, indicated generally at 32,
adapted for communicating relation with the foamable liquid 14
within the reservoir and with the opening 18 therein, and air
passage means, indicated generally at 34, operatively associated
with the depending hollow element means such that compression of
the reservoir causes upward flow of the foamable liquid through the
depending hollow element means and flow of air through the air
passage means to effect the formation of foam as will be more fully
described hereinbelow. The depending hollow element means 32
includes an upper end portion 36 and a lower depending tubular
member 38 extending downwardly generally centrally within the
reservoir 12 such that the lower end of the tubular member extends
substantially to the bottom of the reservoir in communicating
relation with the foamable liquid therein. The lower depending
tubular member 38 of the hollow element means 32 preferably
comprises a cylindrical tubular member made from a nonporous
polyethylene or other suitable nonporous material. It has been
found that a tube having an inner flow passage diameter of between
1/32 to 1/2 inch, and preferably an inner diameter of between 1/16
to 1/4 inch, provides the desired flow capacity for upward flow of
the foamable liquid 14 within the depending tubular member 38
during formation of foam as described more fully below. The upper
end of the tubular member 38 of the depending hollow element means
32 is received within and suitably secured to the upper portion 36
of the hollow element means to provide support for the tubular
member 38. If desired, the tubular member 38 of the depending
hollow element means 32 may be formed integral with the upper
portion 36.
The upper portion 36 of the hollow depending element means 32
includes a nonporous annular wall portion 40 spaced radially
inwardly from the annular wall 20 of the reservoir 12. The annular
wall portion 40 defines a mixing chamber 42 in the foam producing
means 30, which chamber is in communication with the cavity 28 in
the cap member 22 and with the central flow passage of the lower
tubular member 38 of the hollow element means 32 through a flow
passage 44 having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the
flow area of the lower tubular member 38. The upper portion 36 of
the depending hollow element means 32 includes an annular planar
flange 46 having an outer annular depending portion 48 adapted to
be releasibly received over an upwardly extending annular portion
50 of the annular wall 20 of reservoir 12. Preferably, a radially
inwardly directed lip is provided on the lowermost edge of the
depending portion 48 of the annular flange 46, which lip is
received over and cooperates with a mating radially outwardly
directed lip on the annular wall portion 50 of the reservoir such
that the foam producing means 30 may be releasably secured to and
supported by the reservoir 12 within the opening 18 therein.
An upwardly extending annular wall 52 is formed integral with the
annular flange 46 of the upper portion 36 of the depending hollow
element means 32 and has a beveled upper end surface 54 adapted for
sealing cooperation with a mating annular beveled surface 56 formed
in the cap member 22. The beveled surfaces 54 and 56 are such that
when the cap means 22 is threadedly received over the upper
threaded portion of the reservoir 12 and rotated downwardly thereon
to a position as shown in FIG. 3, the beveled surfaces 54 and 56
cooperate to prevent flow between the cavity 28 and the discharge
orifice 26. When the cap means 22 is rotated relative to the
reservoir 12 in a direction to partially remove the cap from the
reservoir, the beveled surfaces 54 and 56 disengage to establish a
flow path between the cavity 28 in the cap member and the discharge
orifice 26.
As noted, the foam producing means 30 includes air passage means 34
operatively associated with the depending hollow element means 32.
The air passage means 34 comprises at least one and preferably a
plurality of selected air passages 58 provided in the annular wall
portion 40. Noting FIG. 4, four equidistantly circumferentially
spaced air passages 58 are provided in the wall portion 40 of the
depending hollow element means 32. The air passages 58 are
generally angularly disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of
the depending element means 32 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The air
passages 58 provide for the introduction of air into the mixing
chamber 42 upon compression or inward deformation of the deformable
reservoir 12. The circular cross-sectional areas of air passages 58
are such that the air passages restrict free air flow therethrough
upon compression of the reservoir 12 thereby causing the air
pressure acting upon the upper surface of the foamable liquid to
force foamable liquid upwardly through the tubular portion 38 of
the foam producing means 30 and into the mixing chamber 42.
Simultaneously, passage of air through the air passages 58 into the
mixing chamber 42 is effected to establish intermixing of the
foamable liquid and air within the mixing chamber to produce foam.
While any desired member of air passages 58 may be provided in the
annular wall portion 40, the total cross-sectional area of the air
passages 58 preferably should not exceed 0.010 square inch nor be
less than 0.001 square inch. It has been found that the use of a
depending tubular member 38 having an inner flow passage diameter
of 0.15 inch and four air passages 58 each having a diameter of
0.040 inch provides effective foam formation during operation of
the dispensing device. The annular wall 40 and air passages 58 of
the upper portion 36 of the hollow depending element means 32 may
comprise a noncollapsible material having any number of air
passages therethrough such that the ratio of open flow area through
the wall defining the mixing chamber to the cross sectional area of
the flow passage of tubular member 38 is approximately the same as
the ratio of the flow area of passages 58 to flow passage 38 as
above described.
Valve means are disposed within the depending element means 32
adjacent the mixing chamber 42, which valve means are adapted to
allow upward flow of foamable liquid within the tubular member 38
into the mixing chamber upon compression of the deformable
reservoir, and prevent downward flow of the foamable liquid within
the tubular member 38 upon release of the reservoir. With such an
arrangement the foamable liquid is maintained upwardly within
substantially the full length of the depending member 38 when the
dispenser device is in an upright position, thereby reducing the
time required to force the foamable fluid into the mixing chamber
42 upon compression of the reservoir during use of the dispensing
device. Noting FIG. 3, the valve means illustrated comprises a
spherical ball check valve 60 adapted to be supported by and
sealingly seated on a conical surface 62 formed in the upper
portion 36 of the foam producing means 30 adjacent the mixing
chamber 42. The flow passage 44 is positioned at the vertex of the
conical surface 62 in communicating relation with the flow passage
of hollow depending member 38. The ball check valve 60 sealingly
seats against the conical surface 62 by gravity in a conventional
manner. With the ball check valve 60 being so disposed within the
upper portion 36 of the foam producing means 30, it can be seen
that the ball may be unseated from the conical surface 62 to allow
liquid flow into the mixing chamber 42 during compression of the
reservoir 12 through impingement of the foamable liquid against the
undersurface of the ball, but that the ball will reseat against the
conical surface upon release of the reservoir to thereby effect a
reduced pressure within the upper portion of the depending member
38 and maintain the foamable liquid upwardly in the depending
member in a known manner.
For optimum foaming, the dispensing device 10 is provided with a
foam homogenizing overlay element 64 disposed between the mixing
chamber 42 and the discharge orifice 26 to homogenize and control
the density of foam discharged from the discharge orifice. The
homogenizing overlay 64 is a flat circularly shaped element made of
a porous material having an open area, when considered in a planar
cross section, ranging between 20 to 80 percent. The porosity of
the homogenizing overlay 64 is depending upon the desired richness
of foam to be discharged and upon the thickness of the element.
Preferably, the homogenizing element has a thickness of between
0.0005 to 0.5 inch, but may have a thickness of up to 1.5 inches.
It has been found that a homogenizing overlay made from a fibrous
material having a thickness less than 0.005 inch and having the
desired porosity serves to effectively homogenize the foam produced
within the mixing chamber 42 during passage of the foam to and
through the discharge orifice 26. The homogenizing overlay 64 is
supported by the upper portion 36 of the foam producing means 30
such as by seating the homogenizing overlay on a shoulder 66 on the
upper edge of the annular wall 40. An annular retainer ring 68 is
suitably secured to the inner peripheral surface of the annular
wall 52 to retain the homogenizing element 64 against the shoulder
66.
The total cross-sectional area of the air passages 58 required to
effect efficient operation of the dispenser device bears a critical
relation to the cross-sectional area of the interior flow passage
of the depending tubular member 38 and the viscosity of the
foamable liquid within the reservoir 12. The foamable liquids used
in the present invention have viscosities between 0.5 to 300
centipoises, and more preferably between 0.5 to 50 centipoises. For
viscosities within these ranges the ratio of the cross sectional
area of the inner flow passage of tubular member 38 to the total
cross sectional area of the air passages 58 is optimally between
around 0.75 to 5.0. The desirable surface tension of the foamable
liquid utilized may vary between 15 dynes per centimeter to 70
dynes per centimeter and is preferably within the range of 20 to 50
dynes per centimeter. Foamable liquids having surface tensions in
the lower portion of the surface tension range provide greater
spreading and better wetting characteristics within porous
materials thereby increasing the foaming characteristics of such
liquids. Foamable liquids having higher surface tensions usually
provide more stable foams when foamed.
The foamable liquids used in the present invention include those
composed of about 70 to 99.98 percent by weight of a solvent
component and 0.02 to 30 percent by weight of a surfactant
component wherein the surfactant has an HLB within the range of
about 7 to 40 with the solvent component comprising about 70 to 100
percent by weight water and about 0 to 30 percent by weight of a
co-solvent component. The co-solvent component will generally be
selected from the class consisting of monohydric alcohols having
two to five carbon atoms, glycol ethers and mixtures of the same.
The surfactant component may be selected from organic anionic,
nonionic, cationic and ampholytic materials and mixtures thereof
having an HLB within the range of 7 to 40. The HLB number is a
semi-empirical designation that has been applied to many classes of
surfactants to characterize the ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic
properties. See "CLUES TO SURFACTANT SELECTION OFFERED BY THE HLB
SYSTEM" by W.C. Griffin, appearing in the June, 1956 issue of the
OFFICIAL DIGEST OF THE FEDERATION OF PAINT AND VARNISH PRODUCTION
CLUBS. Thus the term surfactant includes, for example, such
individual organic materials as the triethanolamine, sodium and/or
potassium salts of coconut fatty acids, oleyl fatty acids, etc.;
metal and amine salts of alkyl sulphonic acids in which the alkyl
group contains seven to 18 carbon atoms; metal and amine salts of
long chain alkyl-aryl sulfonates such as sodium dodecylbenzene
sulfonate and potassium tetradecylbenzene sulfonate; alkyl
sulfates, such as those that are manufactured by sulfating
aliphatic alcohols having from six to 20 carbon atoms in either
their branched or unbranched alkyl chains, including, typically,
sodium and potassium lauryl sulfate, sodium and potassium hexadecyl
sulfate, sodium and potassium octadecyl sulfate, etc.; as well as
metal and amine salts of long chain alkyl sulfosuccinate esters
such as octadecyl disodium sulfosuccinate; as well as alkali metal
salts of sulfated ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide
condensation products manufactured by ethoxylating and/or
propoxylating (and subsequently sulfating) various organic
hydrophobic compounds containing active hydrogen such as alcohols,
mercaptans, phenols, and amines; sodium and potassium alkyl
glyceryl ethers such as those derived from tallow and coconut oil,
including for example, sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride
sulfate, etc.; fatty alkanolamides such as N-dodecyl
monoethanolamide, N-octadecyl diethanolamide and the like;
alcohol-alkylene oxide condensates (i.e., alcohols having from six
to 20 carbon atoms, in either straight or branched chain
configuration having from about 4 to about 30 mols of ethylene
oxide and/or propylene oxide per mol of alcohol in their
molecules), alkylphenol-alkylene oxide condensates (i.e., those
made of condensing alkylphenol having an alkyl group that contains
from about six to about 20 carbon atoms in the chain with from
about 4 to about 30 or more mols of ethylene oxide and/or propylene
oxide per mol of alkylphenol); and the like.
Nonionic surfactants which may be used in the practice of this
invention include esters formed between 1 mol of a polyhydric
alcohol containing two to six hydroxyl groups and at least 1 mol of
a monobasic carboxylic acid containing seven to 18 carbon atoms in
its structures, e.g., ethylene glycol monolaurate, glyceryl
monolaurate, pentaerythritol monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate,
sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan distearate, etc.; ethylene oxide
condensates of the partial fatty acid esters of polyhydric alcohols
above described; seven to 18 carbon atom monohydric alcohols,
ethylene oxide condensates of reactive hydrogen compounds
containing seven or more carbon atoms in their structure, i.e., the
long chain fatty alcohols such as lauryl alcohol and stearyl
alcohol, the long chain fatty acids such as myristic acid and
stearic acid, the rosin acids, etc.
Examples of cationic surfactants that may be used in the practice
of this invention include quaternary ammonium salts containing a
long chain alkyl group such as cetyl pyridinium chloride, N-alkyl
trimethyl ammonium chloride and lauryl trimethyl ammonium bromide;
amines such as lauryl amine, stearylamine, rosin amine, N-dodecyl
ethanoldiamine and the like.
Of the above listed surfactants, those in the anionic class are
preferred while those anionic surfactants selected from the class
consisting of alkyl aryl sulfonates and sulfates having seven to 18
carbon atoms in their carbon chains are still further preferred for
use in the present invention.
In most of the applications of the present invention, it is
generally preferable to employ a foam stabilizer in the proportion
of 0.002 to 15 percent by weight of foam stabilizer to 99.98 to 85
percent of the combined solvent and surfactant ingredients. The
types which find particular utility in the present invention are
generally organic stabilizers such as a mono or diethanolamide of a
fatty acid for example, lauric isopropanolamide, sodium
carboxymethylcellulose; sodium hydroxyethyl cellulose,
polyvinyl-pyrollidone; hydrolyzed and partially hydrolyzed polymers
made by reacting a lower alkylene such as ethylene, propylene, and
methyl vinyl ether with maleic and/or fumaric anhydride, for
example, ethylenemaleic anhydride, propylenefumaric anhydride,
methyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydride; polyvinyl alcohol; and the
like. Of the above listed foam stabilizers, those stabilizers
having an HLB within the range of 1 to 12 are preferred.
It may sometimes be desirable to include ingredients to support the
surfactants such as certain inorganic salts which may be added up
to 30 percent by weight of the combined solvent and surfactant
ingredients, such as inorganic sulfate, phosphate carbonate, borate
and the like. The commonly employed inorganic salts are phosphate
salts, which are used in their commercially available anhydrous
form, obtained by the high temperature dehydration of the
orthophosphates; tripolyphosphates, from a mixture of disodium
orthophosphate and monosodium orthophosphate; tetrasodium
pyrophosphates, from disodium orthophosphate; and sodium
polyphosphate glasses, from orthophosphate. The various condensed
phosphates can be used singly or in admixture.
Generally good results are obtained when tripolyphosphate is
essentially the sole condensed phosphate, or is admixed with the
other condensed phosphates, for example, 80 percent
tripolyphosphate and 20 percent pyrophosphate.
The characteristics of the foam, i.e. density, wetness, uniformity,
etc. which will be produced employing the above-described foamable
liquids are dependent to a great extent by the ratio of liquid to
air employed and the degree of interfacial contact which results
from the particular mechanical mixing process employed. For
purposes of comparison the quality of foam is characterized by its
density, cell size, rate of collapse and its absorption character
against fine filter paper. The density is affected primarily by the
ratio of liquid to air employed and the mechanical mixing technique
as referred to above. In general, it has been found that the
quantity of air to the quantity of foamable liquid used in the
practice of this invention should vary between 15 to 100 cm..sup.3
air/gram liquid. To obtain useful foams for a hand cleaner, a
wetter foam is preferred such that the ratio of air to foamable
liquid will generally vary from 10 to 50 cm.sup.3 air/gram liquid.
On the other hand, a dryer foam is generally required for hard
surface applications wherein the ratio of air to foamable liquid
will generally vary between 40 to 80.
Assume for purposes of illustration that the foam dispensing device
10 is assembled as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, with the cap means
22 threadedly engaging the upper threaded wall portion 20 of the
reservoir in sealing relation, and with the reservoir containing a
quantity of foamable liquid and air. In operation, the operator
rotates the cap means 22 through the threaded connection to the
reservoir 12 to provide a flow passage between the inclined
surfaces 54 and 56 of the foam producing means 30 and cap means 22,
respectively. Thereafter, the reservoir 12 is compressed in the
operator's hand in a known manner. The air passages 58, being of a
size to resist free unrestricted air movement therethrough, cause
the air pressure within the reservoir to act downwardly on the
surface of the foamable liquid to effect upward flow of the liquid
through the depending hollow member 38 whereupon it unseats the
ball valve 60 and passes into the mixing chamber 42.
Simultaneously, a limited quantity of air is forced through the air
passages 58 into the mixing chamber where it is intermixed with the
fluid from the depending member 38 to effect the formation of foam
within the mixing chamber. Further inward compression of the
reservoir causes the foam produced within the mixing chamber 42 to
pass through the homogenizing overlay 64 and be discharged through
the discharge orifice 26. As the foam is forced through the
homogenizing overlaying element 64 it is homogenized to provide the
desired foam consistency from the discharge orifice 26.
When the inward compression forces are released from the reservoir
12, the ball check valve 60 will again seat against the conical
surface 62 to prevent air flow downwardly within the depending
tubular member 38. Such seating of the ball check valve 60
maintains the foamable liquid upwardly within the hollow depending
element 38 in a known manner. Simultaneously, air will move in a
reverse direction through the air passages 58 into the interior of
the deformable reservoir through the opening 18. The dispenser
device may thereafter be actuated through further compressing or
deforming of the reservoir 12 to effect additional formation of
foam and discharge thereof through the discharge orifice.
Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of a foam
dispensing device in accordance with the present invention is
illustrated. The dispensing device of FIG. 5 is generally similar
to the dispensing device illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and includes a
deformable reservoir 12 adapted to receive a quantity of foamable
liquid and air and having a configuration similar to the reservoir
12 illustrated in FIG. 1. The reservoir 12 of FIG. 5 threadedly and
releasably supports a cap means 22 and has foam producing means,
indicated generally at 70, supported within the interior of the
reservoir.
The foam producing means 70 comprises a depending hollow member 72
preferably made from a nonporous tubular material of sufficient
length to depend longitudinally within the reservoir such that its
lower end extends downwardly to substantially the bottom of the
reservoir. The upper end of the depending hollow member 72 is
suitably received within and supported by an upper support portion
74 of the foam producing means 70. The upper portion 74 of the foam
producing means 70 is releasably secured to and supported by the
annular wall portion 50 of the reservoir 12 in similar fashion to
the supporting of the upper portion 36 of the foam producing means
30 illustrated in FIG. 3. Similarly, the upper portion 74 of the
foam producing means 70 includes an upstanding annular wall 52'
having an upper surface 54' adapted to sealingly engage the
inclined surface 56 on the cap member 22 to provide selective
sealing for the cap member and prevent outward flow of foamable
liquid from the reservoir 12. The upper portion 74 of the foam
producing means 70 includes a downwardly extending annular wall 76
formed integral with the planar annular flange portion 46' which
defines an opening through the upper portion 74 to receive the
upper end of the depending tubular member 72.
The foam dispensing means 70 includes air passage means comprising
a plurality of air passages 78 provided in the lower depending
tubular member 72. The air passages 78 in the tubular member 72 are
positioned below the upper portion 74 of the foam dispensing means
and above the highest level which the foamable liquid attains when
the reservoir 12 is initially supplied with foamable liquid.
Preferably, a flat circular homogenizing overlay element 64 is
supported by a shoulder 66' on the upper portion 74 of the foam
producing means 70 and is retained thereon by a suitable annular
retainer ring 68.
The dispensing device illustrated in FIG. 5 has a mixing chamber 80
defined within the depending tubular member 72 of the foam
producing means 70 between the air passages 78 and the homogenizing
element 64. The air passages 78 communicate with the interior of
the reservoir through the opening 18 therein and provide a means
for introducing air into the mixing chamber 80 upon compression of
the reservoir.
The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is generally
similar to that of the dispensing device illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.
After rotating the cap means 22 to effect a flow passage between
beveled surfaces 54' and 56', compression of the reservoir 12
effects flow of the foamable liquid upwardly within the depending
tubular member 72 simultaneously with the passage of air through
the air passages 78. The air and foamable liquid are intermixed in
the mixing chamber 80 to form a foam which is forced through the
homogenizing element 64 and thereafter discharged through the
discharge orifice 26. Releasing the reservoir 12 allows air to
reenter the interior of the reservoir through the air passages 78
preparatory to subsequent compression of the reservoir to effect
further foam formation.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a dispenser device,
indicated generally at 86, constructed in accordance with the
present invention. The dispenser device 86 includes a deformable
reservoir 12 having an opening 18 therein defined by an annular
wall portion 20 which threadedly and releasably supports cap means
22 in similar fashion to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.
The dispensing device illustrated in FIG. 6 includes foam producing
means, indicated generally at 88, supported within the interior of
the deformable reservoir 12 through an upper support portion 90
having a configuration generally similar to the upper portion 36 of
the dispenser device illustrated in FIG. 3. A downwardly depending
tubular member 38 is secured to and supported by the upper portion
90 of the foam dispensing means 88 and has a central flow passage
therein communicating with a mixing chamber 42 through a flow
passage 44 in the upper support portion 90.
The dispensing device 86 includes a generally closed deformable bag
means 92 disposed within the reservoir 12. The deformable bag means
92 is sealingly connected to the foam producing means 88 with the
depending tubular member 38 extending downwardly within the
interior of the collapsible bag. An upper open end portion 94 of
the collapsible bag is suitably sealingly secured over a flange
portion 96 on the upper support portion 90 of the foam dispensing
means 88 so as to be selectively removable therefrom.
The use of a deformable bag 92 is desired where a foamable liquid
is utilized with the dispensing device which is not compatible with
air or other gas used to effect foaming. The deformable bag 92
serves to retain the foamable liquid and prevent contact between
the liquid and gas, thereby preventing contamination of the
foamable liquid or other deterioration thereof. Food stuffs and
perfume are examples of foamable liquids in which a deformable bag
or lining 92 is desirable.
When using a deformable bag or liner 92 to store the foamable
liquid as illustrated in FIG. 6, a ball check valve 60 should be
used in conjunction with the upper portion 90 of the foam producing
means 88 to prevent entry of air into the depending tubular member
38 when the cap means 22 is rotated to a position wherein the
discharge orifice 26 is in communicating relation with the mixing
chamber 42. The ball check valve 60 also serves to retain the
foamable liquid upwardly within the tubular member 38 upon release
of the reservoir as above described with respect to FIGS. 1-4.
The operation of the dispensing device 86 is generally similar to
the operation of the dispensing device illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.
Compression of the deformable reservoir 12 effects a corresponding
inward deformation of the collapsible bag 92 to force the foamable
liquid within the bag upwardly through the depending tubular member
38 and into the mixing chamber 42. Simultaneously, air is
introduced through the air passages 58 in the upper portion 90 of
the foam producing means and intermixed with the foamable liquid
therein to produce a foam. The foam so produced is thereafter
passed through a homogenizing overlay element 64 and outwardly
through the discharge orifice 26.
FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of a dispensing device,
indicated generally at 100, constructed in accordance with the
present invention. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 is
generally similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6 and includes a
deformable reservoir 12, cap means 22 releasably supported by the
reservoir for sealing relation therewith, and foam producing means,
indicated generally at 102. The foam producing means 102 is adapted
to support a plurality of depending tubular members 106. Each of
the depending tubular members 106 is made from a flexible nonporous
tubular material such as polyethylene and has its interior flow
passage in communicating relation with the mixing chamber 42 in an
upper portion 104 of the foam producing means through suitable flow
passages 108. The depending members 106 are suitably secured to and
supported by the upper portion 104 of the foam producing means and
depend downwardly within the reservoir 12 such that the lower ends
thereof extend substantially to the bottom of the reservoir.
A generally closed deformable bag 110, similar to the above
described bag 92, is suitably sealingly secured to each of the
depending tubular members 106 such that the tubular members depend
within the interiors of the collapsible bags 110 whereby to provide
communication between the bag interiors and the mixing chamber 42.
A ball check valve 60 is provided within the upper portion 104 of
the foam producing means 102 adjacent the mixing chamber 42 and is
adapted to sealingly close the upper ends of the flow passages 108
through engagement with the conical surface 62 on a circular line
contact above the intersection of passages 108 with the conical
surface. The ball check valve 60 is normally urged against the
conical surface 62 in sealing relation therewith by gravity when
the dispensing device 100 is in an upright position as illustrated
in FIG. 7.
The deformable bags 110 are adapted to hold and retain foamable
liquids in similar fashion to the deformable bag 92 of FIG. 6, and
are desirable where two or more foamable liquids are to be
intermixed to form a foam, but which foamable liquids are
incompatible or not otherwise desirably intermixed prior to the
formation of foam therefrom.
In operation, the reservoir 12 of the foam dispensing device 100 is
compressed an extent sufficient to compress the deformable bags 110
and effect flow of the foamable liquids therein upwardly within the
associated depending tubular members 106. The upwardly flowing
foamable liquid unseats the ball check valve 60 and passes into the
mixing chamber 42. Simultaneously, air from the interior of the
reservoir 12 is forced through the air passages 58 whereupon it is
intermixed with the foamable liquids to produce a foam which is
thereafter passed through the homogenizing overlay 64 and
discharged through the discharge orifice 26, it being understood
that the cap means 22 must be rotated to a position wherein a flow
passage is established between the discharge orifice therein and
the mixing chamber 42.
FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a foam dispensing device,
indicated generally at 112, constructed in accordance with the
present invention. The dispensing device 112 includes a deformable
reservoir 12; cap means, indicated generally at 114; and foam
producing means, indicated generally at 116. The dispensing device
112 further includes a manually operable exterior air supply means
comprising a deformable air bag 118 adapted to selectively supply
air to the cap means 114 and to the interior of the reservoir 12
upon manual compression thereof as more fully described below.
The cap means 114 is releasably threadedly supported by the
reservoir 12 in similar fashion to the above described cap means 22
and includes a depending annular wall portion 120. The annular wall
120 defines a cylindrical passage or opening 121 in the cap means
to receive and retain the upper end portion of the foam producing
means 116 which comprises a depending tubular member 122 similar to
the tubular member 72 above described with respect to FIG. 5. The
cap means 114 includes a discharge orifice 124 defined by a
generally annular wall 126 forming the upper portion of the cap
means 114. A foam homogenizing overlay element 128, made of a
material similar to the above described homogenizing element 64, is
suitably retained within the discharge orifice 124 by a retainer
ring 130. A circular plate 132 is retained within a cylindrical
chamber 134 in the cap means 114 axially rearwardly of the
homogenizing overlay 128. The plate 132 is retained within chamber
134 by a retainer ring 138 and has a central orifice 136
therethrough to control air flow from the air supply bag 118 into
the chamber 134 as more fully described below. A second air flow
orifice 140 is provided in the cap means 114 to establish air flow
communication between chamber 142 and the interior of the reservoir
12 such that air from the air supply bag 118 will be simultaneously
supplied to the interior of the reservoir and to chamber 134.
The deformable air supply bag 118 is of conventional design and has
a hollow interior in communicating relation with a chamber 142
disposed rearwardly of the plate 132 in the cap means 114 through a
suitable flow passage 144. The air bag 118 has a rearwardly
extending air intake passage 146 therein providing communication
between the interior of the bag and atmosphere. A conventional
closure valve 148 is suitably secured to the interior portion of
the bag 118 adjacent the air intake 146 in a manner to allow inward
flow of air into the bag while preventing outward flow through the
passage 146 upon compression of the air bag.
The depending tubular member 122 of the foam dispensing means 116
includes air passage means comprising a plurality of air passages
147 disposed below the cap means 114 and above the highest level
the foamable liquid attains when the reservoir is initially filled.
The air passages 147 preferably comprise four equidistantly
circumferentially spaced orifices having diameters of 0.040 inch
when employing a tubular member 122 having an inner flow passage
diameter of 0.15 inch, similar to the above described air passages
78 in tubular member 72 of FIG. 5. The air passages 147 establish a
primary mixing chamber 149 in the foam producing means 116 between
the air passages and the upper end of tubular member 122.
The dispensing device 112 of FIG. 8 operates in a manner generally
similar to the dispensing device illustrated in FIG. 5. Rather than
compressing the reservoir 12, the air supply bag 118 is compressed
to force air into the reservoir through orifice 140. The air
pressure thus established within the reservoir effects flow of the
foamable liquid upwardly within the tubular member 122.
Simultaneously, air is passed through air passages 147 into the
mixing chamber 149 where it is intermixed with the foamable liquid
from member 122 to produce foam. The foam so produced is forced
into the chamber 134 which serves as a secondary mixing chamber to
further intermix air from orifice 136 with the foam from the
primary mixing chamber 149. The foam from chamber 134 is thereafter
passed through the homogenizing overlay 128 and outwardly from the
discharge orifice 124.
Noting FIG. 9, a foam control nozzle, indicated generally at 150,
may be supported on the discharge end of the extending portion 24
of the above described cap means 22 to spread the discharged foam
in a selected pattern or direction. The foam control nozzle 150
includes a rearward wall portion 152 adapted to be received over
the outer end of the extending portion 24 of the cap means 22 and
suitably retained thereon such as by a retaining ring 154 formed on
the peripheral surface of the extending portion 24 received within
a corresponding recess in the adjacent wall portion 152 of the
control nozzle. A plurality of discharge passages 158 are
selectively positioned in the control nozzle 150 to provide
communication between an interior cavity or chamber 156 and
atmosphere. The flow areas of the flow passages 158 and their
respective positions within the control nozzle are selected to
provide the desired foam discharge pattern and may be positioned to
concentrate the foam or spread it outwardly from the control nozzle
150. If desirable, the control nozzle 150 may be formed integral
with the outwardly extending end portion 24 of the cap means 22
with the selected discharge passages 158 being formed therein.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative arrangement for
supporting a homogenizing overlay element, indicated at 64',
wherein the overlay element is supported for slidable movement and
serves as an air flow valve during operation of the dispensing
device. The homogenizing overlay element 64' is made of a material
similar to the above described homogenizing overlay element 64 and
has an outer peripheral circular edge surface of a diameter
slightly less than the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of
the annular wall 52 of the upper portion 36 of the depending hollow
element means 32. The overlay element 64' is generally flat with
the lower surface thereof being supported in spaced relation above
the shoulder surface 66 on the upper edge of the annular wall 40
through engagement with four equi-distantly circumferentially
spaced projections 67 formed on the shoulder surface 66 such that
the bottom surface of the overlay is supported on the projections
when the overlay is in its downward position as illustrated in FIG.
10. An inwardly directed annular ring 69 is formed integral with
the upstanding annular wall 52 and disposed above the projections
67 on the annular shoulder surface 66 a distance greater than the
thickness of the overlay element. The annular ring 69 is such that
the inner annular edge surface thereof has a diameter less than the
outer diameter of the overlay element thereby restricting movement
of the overlay element between the projections 67 and the annular
ring.
With the homogenizing overlay element 64' disposed between the
projections 67 on the shoulder surface 66 and the annular ring 69,
the overlay element will move upwardly such that its upper surface
abuts the annular ring 69 when the reservoir is compressed to
effect the formation and discharge of foam. With the overlay
element 64' in its upward position abutting the annular ring 69,
the foam produced within the chamber 42 will be forced through the
overlay element and outwardly of the discharge cap 22. When the
deformable reservoir body is released, the overlay element 64' will
move downwardly such that it rests upon the projections 67 thereby
allowing free air flow inwardly through the passage 26 in the
discharge cap and around the outer peripheral surface of the
overlap element into the body of the reservoir through the mixing
chamber 42. In this manner, the homogenizing overlay element 64'
serves to homogenize the foam produced within the mixing chamber 42
as it is forced outwardly through the discharge cap 22 and also
serves as an air flow valve allowing air flow into the reservoir
upon release of the compression forces from the deformable
reservoir 12. This alternative embodiment may be readily adapted to
the foam dispensing devices illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5-7.
FIG. 12 illustrates still another embodiment of a foam dispensing
device, indicated generally at 160, constructed in accordance with
the present invention. The foam dispenser 160 includes a deformable
reservoir 12 having discharge cap means 22 releasably secured
thereon in similar fashion to the discharge cap and reservoir above
described with respect to FIG. 3. The foam dispensing device 160 is
generally similar to the above described foam dispensing device 10
except that the foam producing means of dispenser 160 is movably
supported within the deformable reservoir 12 and is adapted to
serve as an air return valve during operation of the foam
dispensing device.
The foam dispensing device 160 includes a sealing member 162
releaseably secured to the upper end of the threaded portion 20 of
the reservoir and adapted for cooperation with the cap means 22 to
selectively seal the interior of the reservoir against leakage of
the foamable liquid therefrom. The sealing member 162 has a
generally planar portion adapted to engage the uppermost edge of
the reservoir and includes an upstanding annular wall 164 similar
to the above-described annular wall 52, which wall 164 has an upper
beveled edge surface 166 to sealingly engage the corresponding
annular beveled surface 56 in the cap means 22.
Foam producing means, indicated generally at 168, are supported
within the interior of the deformable reservoir 12 and are adapted
to effect the formation of foam from the foamable liquid 14 upon
compression of the reservoir in similar fashion to the foam
producing means 30 of foam dispensing device 10. The foam producing
means 168 includes depending hollow element means having an upper
portion 170 and a lower hollow tubular portion 172 fixedly secured
within a receiving bore in the upper portion 170. The upper portion
170 of the foam producing means 168 has a mixing chamber 42 defined
by a nonporous non-compressible wall 176 and includes air passage
means comprising four equidistantly circumferentially spaced air
passages 174 formed in the wall 176. The air passages 174 have a
total cross sectional area equal to the cross sectional area of the
above described air passage means 34.
An annular flange 178 is formed integral with the annular wall 176
adjacent the upper edge portion thereof such that the flange lies
in a plane parallel to the general plane of the sealing member 162
considered across the upper edge of the reservoir. The annular
flange 178 has an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the
inner peripheral surface of the annular wall 164 of the sealing
member 162 and has a flat homogenizing overlay element 180 suitably
secured to the uppermost surface thereof. The homogenizing overlay
element 180 is made of a material identical to the above-described
overlay element 64 illustrated in FIG. 3 and has an outer
peripheral surface of a diameter equal to the outer diameter of the
annular flange 178.
The deformable reservoir 12 of the foam dispensing device 160
includes a plurality of radially inwardly directed stops or
abutment members 182, preferably four in number, equidistantly
spaced about the inner peripheral surface of the upper neck of the
reservoir defined by the annular wall portion 50. The stops 182 are
spaced downwardly from the uppermost edge of the reservoir neck and
project radially inwardly and extent sufficient to underly the
annular flange 178 and engage the annular flange 178 upon downward
movement thereof and more fully described below. The stops 182 are
spaced below the upper end of the reservoir a distance greater than
the thickness of the annular flange 178 and the overlay element
180, considered along the longitudinal axis in FIG. 12, to allow
movement of the foam producing means 168 and overlay element 180
longitudinally within the reservoir between the under surface of
the sealing member 162 and the stop members 182.
Means are provided within the reservoir 12 to urge the upper
portion 170 of the foam producing means 168 upwardly within the
deformable reservoir to a position wherein the overlay element 180
abuts the under surface of the sealing member 162 as illustrated in
FIG. 12. Such means comprises a coil compression spring 184
disposed about an upstanding pin or guide projection 186 between
the bottom of the reservoir and the lower end of tubular member
172. The pin 186 is formed integral with or otherwise suitably
secured to the bottom surface 16 of the reservoir in normal
relation thereto and has a longitudinal length such that it is
received within the axial flow passage in the depending tubular
portion 172 of the foam producing means 168 at all times. Pin 186
has a cross sectional area small enough to preclude interference
with the free flow of foamable liquid upwardly within the axial
flow passage of the tubular member 172. The coil compression spring
184 has a coil diameter such that when disposed between the lower
end of the depending tubular member 172 and the bottom surface 16
of the reservoir, it engages the lower end of the tubular member
172 and urges it upwardly thereby urging the annular flange 178 of
the upper portion 170 of the foam producing means upwardly to a
position wherein the overlay element 180 engages the under surface
of the sealing member 162. The axial length of the coil spring 184
may be selected such that the spring will be fully compressed upon
selected downward movement of the foam producing means 168 and
thereby limit the extent of downward movement of the flange 178.
With the spring 184 selected to limit downward movement of flange
178, the stop members 182 could be eliminated.
In operation, the foam dispensing device 160 produces foam in a
manner generally similar to the foam producing device 10 above
described with respect to FIGS. 1-4. Compression of the deformable
reservoir 12 forces the foamable liquid 14 upwardly within the
depending tubular portion 172 of the foam producing means and into
the mixing chamber 42 in the upper portion 170, the foamable liquid
acting to unseat the ball check valve 60 as it passes upwardly
through the axial opening 44. Simultaneously, air within the
reservoir is forced through the air passages 174 and effects
intermixing of the air with the foamable liquid within the mixing
chamber 42. During compression of the reservoir 12, the pressure
within the reservoir acts against the under surface of the annular
flange 178 and assists the compression spring 184 in seating the
overlay element 180 against the under surface of the sealing member
162 whereby to prevent air passage or fluid flow between the
annular flange 178 and the sealing member 162.
With the cap means 22 released from the reservoir 12 such that a
flow passage is established between the discharge orifice 26 in the
cap and the interior of the reservoir, the foam produced within the
mixing chamber 42 will pass through the homogenizing overlay
element 180 and outwardly through the discharge orifice 26.
Releasing the inward compression forces from the deformable
reservoir 12 allows the ball check valve 60 to reseat against the
conical cavity within the mixing chamber 42 to prevent the flow of
air downwardly through the depending tubular member 172 and retains
the foamable liquid upwardly within the depending tubular member.
Releasing the compressive forces from the reservoir 12 reduces the
pressure therein to a point below the outside atmospheric pressure.
Such pressure differential acts downwardly against the upper
surface of homogenizing overlay 180 and moves the overlay and foam
producing means 168 downwardly to a position wherein the annular
flange 178 engages the stop members 182. With the foam producing
means 168 moved downwardly, air will flow inwardly through the
discharge orifice 26 and around the peripheral surface of the
overlay element and annular flange 178 into the interior of the
reservoir. It will be understood that the spring force of
compression spring 184 is selected such that it assists in urging
the foam producing means 168 upwardly to a position wherein the
overlay element 180 engages the under surface of the sealing member
168 upon compression of the reservoir, but does not prevent the
above described downward movement of the foam producing means upon
release of the compression forces from the reservoir. With the foam
producing means 168 and homogenizing overlay element 180 movably
supported within the deformable reservoir 12 of the foam dispensing
device 160, as described, it can be seen that the foam producing
means serves as an air valve allowing the entry of air into the
reservoir upon release of the compression forces from the
reservoir, thereby reducing the time required to replenish the air
supply within the reservoir preparatory to effecting further
formation and discharge of foam.
The foamable liquids used in conjunction with the foam dispensing
devices illustrated in FIGS. 5-12 are preferably selected from the
group of foamable liquids having characteristics in the ranges
above described.
While preferred embodiments of my invention have been shown and
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made therein without departing
from the invention in its broader aspects.
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