US3540623A - Multi-product dispenser with co-dispensing valving means - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent 2,746,796 5/1956 St. Germain inventors John M. Wittke Westlleld;

Joseph F. Simmons, Mlddlesex; Joseph Pereira, Livingston, New Jersey 708,313

Feb. 26, 1968 Nov. 17, 1970 By mesne assignments to Aerosol Devices and Systems, Inc.,

a corporation of New Jersey Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSER WITH C0- DISPENSING VALVING MEANS 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 222/94 Int. Cl 865d 35/22, v

' 865d 35/28 Field of Search 222/ l 36, 95, 94, 402.1, 402.16, 402.18, 206, 145, 193

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ZZZ/402.16

3,191,816 6/1965 Fead et a1. 222/402.18X 3,217,936. 11/1965 Abplanalp 222/136 3,223,289 12/1965 Bouet 222/95X 3,241,722 3/1966 Nissen..... 222/136 3,272,389 9/1966 Frangos... 222/402.18X 3,341,082 9/1967 Meshberg... 222/402.18X 3,356,265- 12/1967 Wiggins 222/402.1X

FOREIGN PATENTS 452,582 11/1948 Canada 222/95 Primary ExqminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren Att0rney-Low & Matthews ABSTRACT: A multi-product dispenser for the simultaneous pressure dispensing and thorough blending of two separately contained fluid products of diverse viscosities wherein a flexi= ble inner product container is associated with a blending valve assembly which provides unique ease of fabrication as well as consumer convenience in achieving upright as well as inverted dispensing of chemically reactive products such as those which produce hot shaving lather.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet 2: 0f 2 k A J 4 5 8 6 532 2 2 INVENTORS John M. wmke Joseph F 55771770178 Joseph Pare/r0 W {WWW ATTORNEYS 1 MULTI-PRODUCT DISPENSER WITH (IO-DISPENSING- VALVING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is increasing interest in the pressure dispensing of two or more normally separated products from an outer rigid container, wherein the products to be codispensed inust be thoroughly blendedor mixed before emerging from the container nozzle for use. One such product, for example, which has received particular attention in this regard is chemically heated shaving lather. Others may interaction at the time of dispensing and use.

Recent patents have'been directed toward attempting the proper codispensing of two such fluid products as may be enplurality of fluids, which, in the illustrative embodiment, com

include medicinal, cosmetic, paint and other useful compositions'having desired countered in dispensing heated lather, as evidenced by U.S.

Pats. to Friedenberg No.,3,240,396, Nissen No. 3,241,722, Hayes No. 3,326,416 andLewis No. 3,325,056.

It will beappreciated that the codispensing of chemically reactive, normally separated fluid components from a single hand-held container presents particular problems of suitable valving and component mixing, prevention of unduly toxic single product only dispensing, etc.

The present invention is directed to a codispensing valve assembly and associatedcomponents which uniquely cooperate to provide ease of container and product assembly, accurate valving, thorough mixing of the'chemicals, and which may be manufactured and assembled-foreitherinverted or upright dispensing. in contrast to comparable codispensing valve assemblies presently available.

BRIEFSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a dispenser and .a codispensing valve assembly-which is compatible with existing technology in containerv manufacture, filling machinery, and valved pressure dispensers generally.

Features of the present invention include modification of the usual valve body for reception of an adjunct valve member Referring more-particularly to the drawings, there is shown at 10 a dispenser-incorporating the present invention as particularly adapted for the simultaneous admixed dispensing of a prise fluid components for generating a chemically heated lather. v

The rigid outer container 12 contains a conventional fluid propellant interspersed with a first product, indicated generally atA, while the secondary or inner container 14 is filled with a liquid product as at B. By way of example, in the instance of a shaving lather dispenser, the fluid product within the outer container may be a selected foamable latherlike composition, while product B may constitute a chemical such as hydrogen peroxide which will partake of an exothermic constitutes the primary valve controlling the dispensing port associated therewith.-Further, the inner product container is of a character to permit not only ready assembly thereof, but

also proper retention of the containerv in relatively fixed position within an outer rigid container duringnormal handling. Equally important, the instant "valve assembly provides thorough blending of the chemical components which, in the instance ofchemically heated shave foam, is essential to avoid hot spots or,cold spots on the user's face. Further, the im stant valve assembly insures more uniform and thorough blending of the components throughout the useful life of the container.

These aspects of the present invention are all in sharp contrast to presently available valve assemblies. for these or similar purposes as will be, evident. upon reference to the patents above-mentioned, and after study of the following detailed description.

Numerous otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of amultiproduct dispenser embodying featuresof the present invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a fragmentarysectional sideview similar to FIG. 1 but showing the valving position for dispensing;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional side view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the valving position for filling;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofan empty and unsealed secondary inner container of'the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the valve body taken on the lines 5-5 ofFIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentaryside sectional view ofthe lower portion of the dispenser shown in inverted position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the secondary valving member of the invention.

defined by central downturned flange 24 of end closure 18. Valve body 20 may conveniently be formed from a relatively hard plasticv material such as acetyl resin, so as to assure controlled fluid flow and valving tolerances at inlet port 28.

Inasmuch as the rim of primary valve 22 is securely gripped between the closure 18' and the top of valve body 20, it will be seen that the central valve button is tensioned in normally .sealing relation to flange 24. As thus far described, the overall valve assembly is conventional in the art as evidenced, for example, by that shown in Monahon U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,695.

According to the-present invention, valve body 20 is formed with a pair of spaced product inlet ports 25, 28 at the lower end thereof. lnlet'port 28 is substantially coaxially of body 20, while. that at 25 is eccentric with respect thereto as clearly seen in FIG. SJDip tube 26 is secured to valve body at port 25 as by a leakpr'foof. press fit, and extends downwardly into proxirriity to the lower end of outer primary container 12. It will be seen that the pressurised propellant and product A cannot escape from the container, inasmuch as valve 22 is normally in sealed relation to downturned flange 24, thereby blocking egress through the dispensing port.

Valve body 20 further includes a central nipple 27 depending frominlet port 28 to which is secured as by leakproof press fitting thereto, the secondary fluid container 14. Alternatively. nipple 27 may have threads formed thereon to receive a complementarily threaded second container. The container 14 is flexibleor collapsible, and preferably formed from low-density linearpolyethyl'ene, blow molded to the configuration illus trated .so as to include generally conically shaped ends terminating in end nipples32, 34, as well as an upper lateral body groove 36, as clearly shown in FIG. 4. Optionally, container 14 may be performed with a fully closed lower end, in lieu ofa sealable'necleo'r nipple.

As-seenin'FlG. 1, body groove 36 facilitates the positioning and retention :of tub'ej26 in association with inlet port 25 as well as assuring that the tube-26 will not be unduly bent within the container at this point'of connection with thervalve body to thereby impede flow. Further, the body groove 36 aids in maintaining dip tube 26 in its extended relationship with the primary container 12 when the same may be inverted.

Lower nipple 34 remote from groove 36 as illustrated is of flattened tubular configuration as seen in FIG. 4 to facilitate transverse sealing thereof after filling therethrough, as by heat and pressure,- to form a seal 40, FIG. 1. The nipple may be cylindrical and similarly sealed, however, if desired. The width or diameter of nipple 34, both before and after scaling, is less than the diameter of container 14. I

Disposed concentrically of the upper secondary container neck 32 and carried by the depending valve body nipple 27 is capillary tube 42 which extends to a point near the bottom of the secondary container. The secondary container, which as noted is sufficiently flexible so as to be readily squeezed or vention, and facilitates the use of the dispenser without ad-.

verse or injurious effects, as will be noted more fully hereinafter.

Returning to the valve body assembly defined by body 20 and closure 18, in addition to aforementioned primary valve 22, there is disposed therewithin an umbrella-shaped secondary valving member 48 for controlling flow through axial inlet port 28 from the flexible container 14. As seen in the enlarged view of FIG. 7, secondary valve 48 includes an enlarged head 50 havingia peripheral flange 54. To prevent any likelihood of binding, and to aid upward blending flow of contents products A and B admitted to a mixing chamber area 55 within valve body 20 between valve head 50 and the body inlet ports 25, 28, flange 54 has a loose fit within said valve body 20, as

clearly seen in FIG. 5. Further, flange 54 is radially notched at 56 at a point substantially opposite to groove 31 in body 20, Groove 31 is generally aligned with inlet port 25, and with flange notch 56 provides two principal paths for upward fluid flow from mixing chamber 55 toward the dispensing port.

Extending downwardly from head 50 is a cylindrical shank provided with a reduced portion 72 which is bounded at its opposite ends by a first lower shoulder sealing surface 47 of tapered lower shank end 46 and a second upper valving shoulder sealing surface 70. Thus, as evident from FIG. 1, when valve member 48 is in its normal upper position as urged by a stainless steel spring 52, surface 47 is seated against a first seating surface bounding the under side of port 28 and blocking upflow therethrough from secondary container 14 under external fluid pressure from the propellant therearound. When valve 48 is moved downwardly a slight distance, surface 47 unseats and fluid may flow through port 28 past reduced shank portion 72. When, however, valve 48 is fully depressed as seen in FIG. 3, surface 70 seats upon a second seating surface bounding the upper side of port 28 to block inlet port flow thereat. In this connection, enlarged head 50 is disposed closely adjacent the central button of primary valve 22, and indeed is preferably formed with a depression or concavity as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7 to minimize space requirements as well as to insure prompt movement of secondary valve 48 upon initial downward movement of valve 22.

The dispenser includes a valve actuator which may be of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,323,695 to Monahon, or of other types in the art used in connection with OEL valves, wherein an exemplary actuator body 60 is provided with a depending actuator stem 62 which at one end is peripherally notched at 64, and at the other terminates in a suitable discharge nozzle 66.

Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, with the actuator 60 in tiltable engagement with end closure 18, tilting motion thereof under digital pressure serves to move the actuator stem 62 laterally downwardly against valve button 22, thereby displacing the same slightly from sealing engagement with downturned flange 24 and permitting pressure egress of the blended product through the valve aperture and thence upwardly and outwardly through actuator stem 62 and nozzle 66.

As noted, downward movement of the valve button causes the umbrella valve 48 to move downwardly against the force of spring 52, thereby to unseat the tapered head 46 from the nipple port 28 and define an annular passage therethrough.

4 i rate, passing through the inlet port 28 and into the mixing chamber. Thereat, products A and B thoroughly intermingle beneath the umbrella flange 54, aided by the irregular chambercontour imparted thereto by spring 52. The

thoroughly blended and mixed final product thereafter passes upwardly toward the actuator'through the body notch or groove 31 on one side and the flange notch 56 on the other. Additionally, the foamy product passes upwardly around the umbrella flange periphery, thereby further enhancing the thorough and complete blending and mixing thereof.

From the enlarged head 50 of umbrella valve 48, the product continues to pass under pressure through the flow apertures 23 in valve 22, thence laterally beneath closure flange 24 and lateral port 64 of the actuator stem, upwardly therethrough and is discharged into the palm of the user through nozzle 66 of actuator 60.

It will be seen therefore that the thorough mixing and blending imparted to the contained products A and B as they are mixed and dispensed prevents any discernible quantity of either product to emerge without substantial intermingling with the other. In this manner, and as is most important with chemically reactive products, no portion of the discharged final product is objectionable by virtue of insufficient mixing. Thus, in the case of shaving lather, there will be no cold spots" or hot spots" caused by either insufficient or excessive hydrogen peroxide as admixed with any portion of the foamy lather. In like manner, neither chemical nor product A or B might be individually dispensed, and in the case of shaving lather, no hydrogen peroxide would be singly dispensed to irritate the skin of the user, all hydrogen peroxide being fully blended with'the foam vehicle.

The dispenser 10 as thus described possesses significant economic and handling advantages in assembly and fabrication. Thus, initially, the secondary umbrella valving member 28 is associated with the surrounding coil spring 52, which latter is retained thereon in conventional manner as by a bead or lug, whereby the same may be handled as a single unit. Then the umbrella valve and spring are assembled with the valve body 20 by snapping the tapered lower end 46 of the umbrella valve through the inlet port 28 of the valve body, inasmuch as the umbrella valve is conveniently formed from yieldable plastic material, such as polyethylene. With the end 46 thus snapped through the inlet port, the member 48 is retained in-unit-handled relation with the valve body 20 in the FIG. 1 position thereof. The valve body 20, primary valve 22, and end closure cup 18 may thereafter be assembled and crimp secured in the manner conventional in the art. The partial assembly is thereafter completed as central dip tube 42 is press fitted in leakproof relation within nipple 27 after which the collapsible secondary container 14 is likewise secured externally to the nipple 27 as by press fitting or threading. Properly oriented, the container groove 36 is aligned with inlet port 25,'at which time the remaining tube 26 may be secured to the inlet port and placed within groove 36, being conveniently retained therein by the resilience of the tube material. The resultant assembly may now be easily handled for storing, shipping or further operations, including product filling of secondary container 14. Filling is effected through open end 34 in the illustrated embodiment to a predetermined product level B as aforesaid, after which the container nipple 34 is transversely heat sealed at 40.

The entirecodispensing valve assembly, including secondary container 14, is now ready for insertion into an open ended can 12, after which the closure 18 is secured by crimping or other conventional means to the open can end at 19. At the time the codispensing valve assembly is crimp sealed to the rigid container 12, it will be seen that the same passes readily through the necked-in mouth at the upper end of container 12, inasmuchas the secondary container 14 is of no greater diameter than the mouth opening in the rigid container 12. Further, and as mentioned hereinabove, the provision of a reduced nipple 34 on the lower end of secondary container 14 likewise permits this end to pass easily through the opening despite the spreading or flattening resulting from transverse sealing thereof at- 40. Were the inside flexible container of a conventional collapsible tube type which is fully transversely sealed at itslower end, the container would increase significantly in width as the shape thereof was changed from circular to a two-dimensional line seal, as is evident. As such, passage of the same through the mouth opening is restricted, and it is evident that a materially smaller secondary container of such conventional form must be employed.

With the instant invention, however, container 14 passe readily through the rigid container mouth prior to crimp sealing, and the sealed tail end thereof at 40 abuts and flexes into bent relation against the bottom of the container 16, thereby frictionally positioning the secondary container substantially fixedly within the outer container.

During handling and usage, any movement of bag 14 is materially retarded by. the frictional engagement of the'bent and flexed tail 40 with the bottom end of the container, and inasmuch as bag movement is thus inhibited, the likelihood of leakage or loosening of the bag nipple 32 from the valve body nipple 27 is similarly reduced. As noted, the presence of dip tube 26 prevents any rotational movement. of the inner container, thereby further enhancing the stabilized and antileak characteristics thereof.

It remains only to charge the rigid container 12 with the mixture of propellant and product A in the manner shown in FIG. 3. A notched filling tube 80 is inserted through the dispensing port at 24, and depresses valve 22 thereby establishing communication between rigid container 12 and filling tube 80. While upon initial movement. of valve 22, umbrella valving member 48 moves downwardly to present the reduced shank portion 72 in flow relation to inlet port 28, no flow then occurs from the filled bag or container 14 inasmuch as there is as yet no internal pressure within rigid container 12 to effect expulsion of the bag contents. Further downward movement of valve 22 and member 48 to the extent seen in FIG. 3 seats the downwardly facing sealing surface 70 upon the inlet port at 28, thereby blocking flow to or from the secondary container 14. At this time the mixture of propellant and product A, such as suitable shaving lather, isadmitted through line 80, passing the valve 22 through valve body 20,

into groove31, and downwardly through dip tube 26 to charge and fill the container to the extent desired. Upon removal of the filling tube 80, the codispensing valve assembly assumes the condition of FIG. 1, charged with propellant, products A and B, and with the valves in sealed relation as illustrated. Thereafter, an. actuator such as that at 60 is snapfitted to the end of the container, and the dispenser is ready for use or sale.

The provision of dip tubes 26 and 42 depending into closely adjacent but spaced relation to the bottom of their respective containers permits the dispenser 10 to be utilized in the convenient and often preferred upright position by the user. Any tendency of the product A to relatively settle by gravity toward the lower or bottom portion of the outer can 12, in the event the same is not shaken prior to use, is by no means disadvantageous inasmuch as the dip tube extends theretoward to receive the soapy charge upon dispensing.

While the inside diameter ofthe dip tubes are here shown as rather great for purposes of clarity of illustration, it will be appreciated that in actual use the inside dimensions are critical, and are a function of the particular fluid components, the resultant product desired, the viscosities of the components, etc., regardless of whether a heated or a cold mixture is dispensed. In theproper blending of reactive chemicals, the proportioning thereof is of the essence, as in the present instance of hot shave lather, to achieve a predetermined desired temperature, for example. Thus, the ratio of foam A to peroxide B is usually between 2 to l and 5 to l, and the exact ratio required by temperature desired, component viscosity, or particular chemical used is varied by inserting dip tubes as at 26, 42 having selected internal diameters for precisely regulating the proportional flow therebetween. Further, by using dip tubes in both the inner and outer containers, the product remains therein up to their upper ends and does not drop back down at the termination of the dispensing operation. As' a result, upon succeeding actuations of the valve, immediate dispensing is achieved. For the same reason, there is only negligible likelihood that one product will be initially dispensed to the exclusion of the other, which is particularly undesirable in the instance of a reactive chemical.

lnone instance of a hot shave dispenser of the character disclosed, the tube 42 for the chemical B has an internal diameter on the order of .030 inches, while that at 26 to admit the lather vehicle for admixture therewith and heating thereby is proportioned to admit three to four times as much fluid.

As aforementioned, the secondary flexible container 14 is not fully filled, but is only partially filled to the level L, as indicated. This 'not only achieves accurate measuring of .the amount of chemical B, but more importantly in the instance of somewhat toxic chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, provides a significant benefit should thecontainer be accidently inverted when first used. As seen in FIG. 6, initial inversion of the container causes the dip tube 42 to extend into the resulting effective head space of the container 14 and not be immersedin the hydrogen peroxide B. Should the actuator then be operated to open the valves, it will be seen that liquid B will not immediately be expelled from the tube and actuator noz- 'zle. This is particularly important inasmuch as with an outer product A having a tendency to gravitationally settle as schematically indicated in the drawings, when the dispenser is inverted without shaking, the density of product A will be materially less in the head space area then therebeneath whereby only the propellant gas will be principally initially dispensed through line 26. Thus, no undiluted peroxide will be delivered through the nozzle to the surprise and inconvenience of the user. Were, however, inner container 14 fully filled and the aforesaid operation occurred, the substantially undiluted peroxide would immediately be expelled, but there would accordingly initially be insufficient foam to absorb the reactive chemical therewith. Accordingly, in the present invention, the deliberate head space provision in secondary container 14 prevents reaction chemicals from emerging singly, after evacuation and blending of residual quantities of products A and B from the dip tubes.

While in the disclosed form of the invention, the dispenser 10 is adapted for convenient upright operation by the user, it will be seen that with little change the dispenser may be utilized for inverted dispensing, in the manner of several commercially available shaving cream dispensers. Such modification would essentially entail removal of dip tubes 26, 42, but it will be appreciated that no change in the instant valve structure orvantages, the dispenserassembly hereinbefore described being an exemplary or preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A codispensing valve assembly for a multiproduct pressure dispenser comprising:

a valve body. having a pair of inlet ports and an outlet port spaced therefrom;

a resilient primary valve ,mounted within said body and disposed in yieldable normally sealed relation to said outlet port;

a secondary valving member movably mounted within said body having first and second sealing surfaces;

one said inlet port having spaced first and second valve seating surfaces thereon;

said respective first and second sealing and first and second seating surfaces beingcooperatively associated for selective respective abutting engagement obstructing further valving member movement;

means yieldably biasing said secondary valving member normally to close said one inlet port with said first sealing surface in abutting engagement with said first seating surface; and V said yieldable biasing means permitting movement of said secondary valving member to cause said second sealing surface thereof to seat upon said second seating surface to again seal said one inlet port subsequent to unseating of said first sealing surface from said first seating surface.

2. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said secondary valving member is disposed in the path of movement of said primary valve, whereby valve-opening movement of said primary valve effects valve-opening movement of said secondary valving member.

3. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 2 wherein said secondary valving member comprises an enlarged head adjacent said primary valve, and a narrow shank extending therefrom toward said one inlet port and having said sealing surfaces thereon.

4. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 3 wherein said sealing surfaces comprise shoulders disposed in spaced confronting relation on said secondary valving member, said secondary valving member extending through said inlet port to dispose said shoulders on opposite sides thereof for respective abutting and sealing engagement with said first and second sealing surfaces in response to secondary valving member movement. I

5. The codispensing valve of claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring extending between said enlarged head and said valve body.

6. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 3 wherein said valve body between said enlarged head and said inlet ports defines a mixing chamber for the respective fluid products, and wherein said inlet ports are each disposed below said enlarged head when said one inlet port is open.

7. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 3 wherein said enlarged head is disposed in closely spaced relation to the surrounding wall of said body assembly to permit substantially annular blending flow therebetween of the products in passing from said mixing chamber towards said primary valve.

8. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 1 further in-- cluding a flexible product container cooperatively associated with said one inlet port for controlled flow therethrough, whereby when said valve assembly is disposed within a pressure dispenser, separate products may be carried in said pressure dispenser and flexible containers respectively for admixed and separately controlled codispensing by said primary valve and secondary valving members.

9. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 3 wherein said valve body is provided with an internally longitudinally ex-- tending groove in substantial alignment with said other inlet port and extending past said enlarged head of said secondary valving member to permit mixed fluid flow therepast.

10. The codispensing valve assembly of claim 9 wherein said enlarged head includes a radially notched flange at a point spaced circumferentially from said groove to facilitate blending and flow of products from said inlet ports past said head.

11. A multifluid dispenser for two separately contained fluids blended at time of dispensing, comprising:

a rigid outer container'including a bottom closure and an open upper end;

a closure secured to said upper end and having a dispensing port therethrough;

a valve body carried by said closure and having a pair of inlet ports therein at one end thereof and-an outlet port adjacent said closure dispensing port;

a resilient primary valve mounted within said body and disposed in yieldable normally sealed relation to said outlet port;

a secondary valving member movably mounted within said body having first and second sealing surfaces;

one said inlet port having first and second valve seating surfaces thereon' said respective first and second sealing and seating surfaces being cooperatively associated for selective respective abutting engagement v means yieldably biasing said secondary valving member normally to close said one inlet port with said first sealing surface in abutting engagement with said first seating surface; said yieldable biasing means permitting movement of said .secondary valving member to cause said second sealing surface thereof to seat upon said second seating surface to again seal said one inlet port subsequent to unseating of said first sealing surface from said first seating surface;

and a flexible walled container secured in communicating relation to said one inlet port and within said outer container. 12. The multifluid dispenser of claim 11 wherein a dip tube is associated witheach said inlet port and each extends to a point near the bottom of said rigid container and said flexible container, respectively. t

l3. The'multifluid dispenser of claim 12 wherein said dip tubes are of preselected internal diameters to provide exact proportioning of fluids dispensed from said containers.

14. The multifluid dispenser of claim 12 wherein a liquid 'product within said flexible container possesses undesirable toxicity when not blended with a rigid container product, said product occupying on initial fill of said flexible container less than the full volume thereof sufficient to permit said dip tube to be exposed and removed from immersion therein upon inversion of said dispenser.

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