US3637114A

US3637114A - Device for codispensing two materials

Info

Publication number: US3637114A
Application number: US69314A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip Meshberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-09-03
Filing date: 1970-09-03
Publication date: 1972-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-25
Also published as: FR2101458A5; GB1345547A; DE2127123A1

Abstract

A device for codispensing two materials including a selfcontained inner container having a valve means provided with a reciprocating valve stem and an outer container having a valve means including a reciprocating valve stem, said valve stems being disposed in alignment by a novel connector connected to both containers and also said stems having discharge and dispensing ports thereon for controlling the discharge of material from each container and the dispensing of the two materials from the device in response to inward movement of the valve stem on the outer container cooperating with the valve stem on the inner container. The two containers can be filled with material and/or subsequently charged with a propellent simultaneously through the valve stem. Also, safety means are provided to prevent bursting of the outer container should the material become inadvertently mixed.

Description

limit Meshber [4 1 Jan. 25, 1972 Philip Meshberg, l5 Stoneleigh Road, Fairfield, Conn. 06430 [22] Filed: Sept. 3, I970 [21] Appl.No.: 69,314

[72] Inventor:

Prussin et a1 ..222/94 Prussin et a1 ..222/135 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon, Jr. Att0rney-Johnson & Kline [57] ABSTRACT A device for codispensing two materials including a self-contained inner container having a valve means provided with a reciprocating valve stem and an outer container having a valve means including a reciprocating valve stem, said valve stems being disposed in alignment by a novel connector connected to both containers and also said stems having discharge and dispensing ports thereon for controlling the discharge of material from each container and the dispensing of the two materials from the device in response to inward movement of the valve stem on the outer container cooperating with the valve stem on the inner container. The two containers can be filled with material and/or subsequently charged with a propellent simultaneously through the valve stem. Also, safety means are provided to prevent bursting of the outer container should the material become inadvertently mixed.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DEVICE FUR CUDISPENSING TWO MATEWALS Heretofore, as shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,489 a single valve device was used to control the discharge of the material from a plurality of compartments of codispense said materials. While this operated well, it presented problems at times of controlling the discharge from each of the compartments or containers and in the ease of assembly.

The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a pair of separate valve devices adapted to be mounted one on each container, with the valve devices adapted to be connected in tandem by a unique connector. Each valve device has a reciprocating valve stem which are in alignment and said stems have a discharge port for each container and a dispensing port, the size and location of said ports on said stems effectively controlling the codispensed material.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the inner container can be filled and/or charged with a propellent and the valve sealed thereto so as to form a self-contained unit which can be tested and if satisfactory, can be stored until required for assembly into a codispensing unit.

Another feature of the invention resides in the presence of a novel safety means in the outer container to automatically vent the container and prevent bursting thereof under excess pressure.

A still further feature of the invention is the novel construction which simplifies the assembly and method of filling the dual containers as required.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a view, partly in section, of a codispensing package.

FIG. 2 is a detail sectional view showing the separate valve means in nondispensing position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the valve means in dispensing position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4l of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 for codispensing metered charges.

FIG. 6 shows the valves of FIG. 5 in discharge position.

FIG. 7 shows the valves of FIG. 5 is filling position.

As shown in the drawings, the device of the present invention includes an inner container 10 which is disposed within an outer or master container Ill. Both containers contain material under pressure to be codispensed through a novel valving combination connected by a unique connector.

The inner container 10 is a self-contained unit which can be prefilled with a quantity of material M and sealed by a valve means 12 which controls the discharge of the material from the container. The unit can be prepared and pretested for leakage and the like and can be stored before it is assembled into the codispensing device. This is a substantial advantage in the preparation of such a codispensing device.

The valve means I2 is secured by a mounting cup 12a crimped to the neck 10a of the container and has a reciprocating stem 13 passing through a sealing washer M and having an end 15 of the stem projecting from the end of the container. The projecting end portion 15 of the stem has a longitudinal passage 16 communicating with a discharge port 17 for the material M of the inner container, which port is normally sealed by the washer M as shown in FIG. 2. The stem 13 is yieldably held in projected position by a spring 18.

In assembling the codispensing device, the inner unit it) which may be prepared and pretested, is readily inserted into the outer container through the top opening 119 of the outer container 11 which is closed by a separate dispensing valve 20 having a housing 211 and a mounting cup 22 crimped to the edge of the opening as shown at 23.

The inner container is secured in place by a unique molded thermoplastic connector 24 having its inner end 25 shaped to be connected to and sealingly grip the upper end of the inner container. The outer end 26 of the connector has a central bore 27 to receive and sealingly engage the housing 21 of the dispensing valve 20 to be secured thereto. The valve housing has a dispensing chamber 28 and a reciprocating stem 29 therein normally urged to projecting, position, as shown in FIG. 2, by a spring 30.

The connector 241 has a sealing washer 31 adjacent the inner end of the housing having a central aperture 31a to receive the projecting end of the valve stem lflito maintain it in alignment with the valve stem 29. The connector has a chamber 32 to receive material M under pressure from the outer container through a dip tube 33 and a passage 34. The chamber communicates with a discharge passage 35 normally sealed off by the valve stem 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The valve stem 13 has a second discharge port 36 communicating with the longitudinal passage 116 with the port normally sealed off by the washer 31, as shown in FIG. 2, and which port connects the chamber 32 to the longitudinal passage 16 in the valve stem 13 when the stem is moved to the dispensing position of FIG. 3.

The valve stem 29 on its inner end has passages 37 commu nicating with the passage 16 in the valve stem ES and extending to the dispensing chamber 28 in the housing 21. The stem 29 has at its upper end a longitudinally extending passage 38 communicating with the

usual dispensing passages

39, 40 in the dispensing button 41 secured to the projecting end of the valve stem 29. The stem 29 has a dispensing port 42 communicating with the longitudinally extending passage 38, which port is normally sealed by a washer 43 at the end of the dispensing chamber 28 as shown in FIG 2. The stem moves inwardly and the port is moved into the dispensing chamber.

When pressure is applied to the button 41 in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1, the two stems will be moved inwardly against the action of the

springs

18 and 30 to the position of FIG. 3 in which the two

discharge ports

17 and 36 are in communication with the material M, M of the two containers and the dispensing port 42 is in communication with the dispensing chamber 28 to dispense material fed thereto through the discharge ports.

By the use of two separate valve means, the accurate control of the codispensing of the two materials can be achieved through the spacing between the

ports

17, 36 and 42 along the stems. Preferably, the inward movement of the stem 29 causes the dispensing port 42 to be moved into the dispensing chamber to connect the chamber 28 to atmosphere through the

passages

39, 40 in the button. Continued movement of the stem 29 will move the stems inwardly and cause the

discharge ports

17, 36 to become operative to discharge material from the two containers through the passage 16 to the passage 37 to the dispensing chamber and dispensing passages. By selecting the size and location of the

ports

17 and 36, the discharge of the materials from the two ports can be accurately controlled with as to quantity and time to insure a. proper mixture of the two materials being dispensed. For example, the material in the outer container can be a dye or a resin and material in the inner container can be a developer for the dye or an accelerator or a setting agent for the resin. If desired, the port 17 can be made to open slightly in advance of the port 36 to insure that the accelerator will be in the mixture as dispensed. Also, port 17 will close slightly later than pont 36 to purge any resin from the dispensing chamber and passages.

If desired, a safety device can be provided on the outer container to relieve any excess pressure therein should the material in the inner container inadvertently pass into the outer container and react with the material therein as might generate a relatively high bursting pressure in the outer container. As shown in FIG. 2, the safety device comprises an upwardly facing socket 50 on the connector 24 carrying a plug 51 pressed by a spring 52 into a relief aperture 53 in the mounting cup 22. The bottom of the plug is connected to a flexible diaphragm 54 which overlies the socket in such a way that excess pressure in the can will act on the diaphragm to overcome the spring and withdraw the plug from the aperture to vent the container of said excess pressure.

Under some circumstances it may be desired to codispense metered quantities of two materials. In "this case the structure of FIG. 5 would be used. This Figure shows the device in nondispensing position and includes an inner container 110 having one material M therein which is closed by a metered valve 112 of the type disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,427 to which reference is made. This valve has a valve stem 113 which slides in a measuring chamber and functions to isolate a predetermined quantity of the material of the inner container and to discharge the material in response to the inward movement of the valve stem. The stem has a projecting portion 115 having a port 117.

The inner container is connected by a connector 124 to the dispensing valve 120 which is mounted in the outer container 111 having material M therein. The valve has a valve stem 129 in line with a projecting valve stem 115 of the inner container in a manner substantially as disclosed in connection with FIG. 2 above with the connector being in tight friction fit to the neck 110a of the inner container and having a bore to receive the valve housing 121 of the dispensing valve. In this form of the invention, however, the connector has a chamber 132 connected to dip tube 133 and to passage 135 communicating with the interior of the outer container. The passage 135 is controlled by the valve stem 113 of the inner valve which controls the flow to the metering chamber formed by the passages 135a, l35b and the chamber 1350 in the dispensing valve in its normal position as shown in FIG. 5. The metering chamber of the inner valve is filled with the material M, of the inner container while the material of the outer container l 11 feeds through the passage 135 to the port 117 in the inner stem through the passage 116 in the inner stem to the passage 136 in the dispensing valve stem and into the chamber of the dispensing valve through port 136a so that a predetermined quantity of the material M will be in the passage and chamber of the connector.

When the dispensing button 141 is pressed inwardly in the direction of arrow A, it moves both stems inwardly causing the port 117 to seal off the passage 135 in the connector and at the same time the metering valve of the inner container closes off the supply of material as shown in FIG. 6. Continued movement inwardly of the stem causes the port 117 to enter the metering chamber of the inner container and cause the material therefrom to flow through port 117, longitudinal passage 116 to the upper stern and mix with the material in the chamber in the dispensing valve. Care should be taken that the pressures in the inner chamber and outer chamber are so related that there is a substantial mixture of the materials at this time. Continued movement of the stem inwardly moves port 142 into the chamber 1350 of the dispensing valve whereupon the mixture of the two materials is dispensed, thereby dispensing a predetermined quantity through said passages and the port 142 in the projecting stem and passages 139, 140 in the button 141.

When the valve is released, it returns to its normal position and the two metering chambers are again filled with material for the next operation.

The present invention provides a method of producing and/or filling a codispensing container. According to he present invention the inner container can be filled with material and/or propellent and sealed by a discharge valve for controlling the discharge of material therefrom. The sealed inner container can be tested for leakage or defective parts and those passing the tests can be stored for subsequent use. When it is desired to form a codispensing unit, the inner container is connected to a plastic connector and a separate dispensing valve is connected to the connector with the valve stem for the inner container and the dispensing valve in alignment and a passage in the connector communicating with the interior of the outer container and cooperating with a second discharge port on the valve stem.

The valves are moved to filling position as shown in FIG. 7 by a suitable filling nozzle (not shown) applied to the end of stem 129. In this position the bypasses B,, B and B on the stem bypass the seals S S and S and provide the filling path to the two containers. If the inner and outer containers have only material to be dispensed, both can be charged with propellent when in assembled relation. If, as preferred, the inner container has material to be dispensed and propellent under pressure, the outer container can be charged with propellent with the pressure in the inner container causing the propellent to be directed through the passages to the outer container. Under other circumstances the material can be inserted in both containers and they can be simultaneously filled with propellent. The construction of the presentinvention lends itself to a number of methods of filling the containers including the testing and storage of the inner container as may be desired.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

lclaim:

l. A dual dispensing device comprising an inner container having a first valve means provided with a reciprocating valve stem projecting therefrom and having means for discharging material under pressure from said inner container; an outer container having material under pressure therein and a second valve means including a valve housing having a second reciprocating stem projecting therefrom; and a connector mechanically connecting both said valve means with the stems in alignment, said connector being in communication with the outer container and said stems having passages communicating with a dispensing port in the second stem and a pair of discharge ports, one for the material in each container, said ports being so located with respect to the stems that upon inward movement of said stems from a normal nondispensing position by pressure applied to the stem of the second valve means the dispensing port and the two discharge ports are opened to connect the two containers to said passages and to the dispensing port to dispense material from both containers.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the connector has a skirt 'at one end to be snapped into sealing relation with the end of said inner container and has a bore to receive and hold said valve housing.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the spacing between said discharge ports in the direction of movement of said stems controls the timing of the discharge of each of said materials during a dispensing operation.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided to seal both of said discharge ports when said stems are in said projecting nondispensing position.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein there is a dip tube having one end extending into the outer container and the other end communicating with a chamber formed within said connector, said chamber having a passage to cooperate with one of said discharge ports.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the valve housing is secured by a mounting cup to said outer container, said mounting cup having a vent aperture closed by a plug normally spring urged outwardly to a sealing position, said plug having a diaphragm exposed to the interior of the outer container whereby excess pressure in said outer container acting on the diaphragm withdraws the plug and relieves the pressure and prevents bursting of said outer container.

7. A dual dispensing device for codispensing a mixture of metered charges of material comprising an inner container having a first metered valve means provided with a reciprocating valve stem projecting therefrom and having means for discharging a predetermined charge of material under pressure from said inner container; an outer container having material under pressure therein and a second valve means including a valve housing having a second reciprocating stem projecting therefrom; and a connector mechanically connecting both said valve means with the stems in alignment, said connector having metering means for said second material, said stems having passages communicating with a mixing chamber in said connector and dispensing port in the second stem, initial inward movement of said stems form a normal nondispensing position by pressure applied to the stem of the second valve means causing the metering means to be sealed having a mounting cup to mount the valve, connector and associated elements in the outer container and a valve stem aligned and cooperating with said valve stem on the inner container, and passages in the connector communicating with the material in said outer container and controlled by the actuation of said valve stems to dispense a predetermined quantity of material from each container.

UNETE STATES PATENT ()FFECE cERrrrioAr-E or icohmtriow Patent No. 37: Dated January 5, 97

Inventor(s) Philip Meshberg It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

olumn 1, line t "of" (last occurrence) should read --and--;

line M1 "is" should read --in--;

Column 2, line 51 "with" should read --both--;

Column 3, line 73 "stem should read --stems--;

Column linev 25 "the" should read --said-=;

line 73 "form" should read --from--.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A dual dispensing device comprising an inner container having a first valve means provided with a reciprocating valve stem projecting therefrom and having means for discharging material under pressure from said inner container; an outer container having material under pressure therein and a second valve means including a valve housing having a second reciprocating stem projecting therefrom; and a connector mechanically connecting both said valve means with the stems in alignment, said connector being in communication with the outer container and said stems having passages communicating with a dispensing port in the second stem and a pair of discharge ports, one for the material in each container, said ports being so located with respect to the stems that upon inward movement of said stems from a normal nondispensing position by pressure applied to the stem of the second valve means the dispensing port and the two discharge ports are opened to connect the two containers to said passages and to the dispensing port to dispense material from both containers.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the connector has a skirt at one end to be snapped into sealing relation with the end of said inner container and has a bore to receive and hold said valve housing.

7. A dual dispensing device for codispensing a mixture of metered charges of material comprising an inner container having a first metered valve means provided with a reciprocating valve stem projecting therefrom and having means for discharging a predetermined charge of material under pressure from said inner container; an outer container having material under pressure therein and a second valve means including a valve housing having a second reciprocating stem projecting therefrom; and a connector mechanically connecting both said valve means with the stems in alignment, said connector having metering means for said second material, said stems having passages communicating with a mixing chamber in said connector and dispensing port in the second stem, initial inward movement of said stems form a normal nondispensing position by pressure applied to the stem of the second valve means causing the metering means to be sealed from the containers and a mixing of the two materials, and further movement of the stems moving the dispensing port to dispense the mixed materials.

8. A connector for use in a codispensing aerosol package having an inner and outer container of material to be dispensed, comprising an elongate body having means at the inner end to grip the inner container and a bore to receive a valve stem on the inner container, said connector having a socket for receiving a dispensing valve, said dispensing valve having a mounting cup to mount the valve, connector and associated elements in the outer container and a valve stem aligned and cooperating with said valve stem on the inner container, and passages in the connector communicating with the material in said outer container and controlled by the actuation of said valve stems to dispense a predetermined quantity of material from each container.