US3409180A - Pressurized cartridge for aerosol dispenser - Google Patents

Description

R. s. SCHENK 3,409,180

PRESSURIZED CARTRIDGE FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER Nov. 5, 1968 Filed May 29, 1967 lNl/EA/TOA? A? 544 TH 5CHEA/K United States Patent 3,409,180 PRESSURIZED CARTRIDGE FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER Rudolph S. Schenk, Tall Oaks, Andover, N.J., assignor to Rexall Drug and Chemical Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 29, 1967, Ser. No. 642,079 1 Claim. (Cl. 222193) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A valve controlled, pressurized fluid-containing cartridge for drawing a commodity from a container and for dispensing the commodity through a valve. The cartridge includes internal and external tubular projections which permit the separate airtight connection of inner and outer tubes thereto for directing the commodity from the container and through the cartridge without leakage of fluid from the cartridge into the container.

The present invention relates to aerosol dispensers and, more particularly, to an improved pressurized, fluid-containing cartridge for dispensing a commodity from a container preferably as a spray.

Commercially available aerosol dispensers commonly comprise a container having a fluid or powdered commodity therein under pressure, a valve for dispensing the commodity from the container, and a nozzle for directing the dispensing of the commodity on or at predetermined articles or portions of the body. To maintain the commodity under pressure, it is necessary that the aerosol container be sturdy and airtight. For this reason, aerosol containers presently take the form of rigid metal cylinders. Great care is exercised during manufacture of the metal cylinders to insure that they are truly airtight and that the pressurized commodity will not leak around the valves contained therein. Because of the care required in manufacture and the use of relatively rigid materials, conventional aerosol dispensers are rather expensive packages.

Recent improvements have reduced the production costs of aerosol dispensers. These improvements include a rela tively small, pressurized fluid-propellant-containing cartridge which eliminates the need for sturdy, airtight construction of aerosol containers. The pressurized cartridge includes a metal cylinder filled with a fluid propellant under pressure, such as Freon. A valve having a dispensing nozzle thereon is stationed at a top of the cylinder and a. tube extends from the valve through the cylinder. The cylinder is designed for mounting in a container storing a liquid or powdered commodity for dispensing the commodity upon operation of the valve. In particular, operation of the valve releases pressurized fluid propellant (Freon gas) from the cylinder over the end of the tube to draw the commodity from the container through the nozzle.

Such operation of the pressurized cartridge does not require that the container be of an airtight construction. Therefore, the pressurized cartridge allows aerosol containers to be formed of nonrigid and permeable materials and permits elimination of the expensive airtight sealforming steps from their manufacture.

Although the pressurized cartridge represents a substantial improvement in aerosol spray dispensers, leakage 3,409,180 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 of the pressurized fluid from such cartridges and into their associated aerosol containers has proved to be a serious problem. In particular, great difliculty has been encountered in developing an effective, inexpensive and long lasting seal between the tube and the cylinder of the cartridge at the point where the tube extends through the cylinder. Various forms of such sealing arrangements have been proposed to solve the leakage problem but without success.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pressurized fluid-containing cartridge for drawing a commodity from a container into the cartridge and for dispensing the commodity therefrom without leakage of fluid from the cartridge into the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pressurized cartridg of the foregoing character including a simple, inexpensive and eflective sealing arrangement between the cartridge and the entrance for the commodity into the cartridge which prevents leakage of the high pressure fluid from the cartridge into the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pressurized cartridge of the foregoing character wherein the sealing arrangement comprises internal and external tubular projections which permit the separate airtight connection of inner and outer tubes thereto for directing the commodity from the container and through the cartridge without leakage of high pressure fluid from the cartridge into the container.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved aerosol dispenser including a pressurized cartridge of the foregoing character.

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention, may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the drawing, which, by way of example only, illustrates one form of pressurized fluid-containing cartridge and aerosol dispenser including the features of the present invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a cylinder main body portion of the pressurized cartridge;

FIG. 2 is a sectional top view taken along the line 2-2 at FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the pressurized cartridge with the fluid propellant contained therein;

FIG. 4 is a sectional top view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of an aerosol dispenser including the pressurized cartridge of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 in FIG. 5, illustrating the inner construction of the valve included in the pressurized cartridge.

In the drawin the aerosol dispenser is represented by the numeral 10 and includes a container 12 having a liquid or powdered commodity 14 stored therein. A metal, pressurized fluid-propel]ant-containing cartridge 16 extends downwardly through a neck portion 18 of the container 12 and into the commodity 14.

Generally speaking, the cartridge 16 includes a pressurized fluid-filled chamber 20 defined by a hollow cylinder 22 having a funnel-shaped bottom 24 and a closed top 26 supporting a valve assembly 28. Tubular integral means 30 project upwardly from the inside of the chamber 20 around a side port 32 in the funnel-shaped bottom 24 and connect to the valve assembly 28.

In operation, the valve assembly 28 functions to selectively pass pressurized fluid 33, such as Freon from the cylinder 22 over the upper end of the tubular means 30. As this occurs, a suction is created in the tubular means 30 which draws a portion of the commodity 14 from the container 12 upwardly through the tubular means and valve assembly where it combines with the pressurized fluid and exits from the dispenser as a stream, foam, or spray.

More particularly, in the illustrated form of the pressurized cartridge 16 (FIGS. 1-5), the neck portion of the funnel-shaped bottom 24 defines an external tubular projection 34 from the cylinder 22 around the side port 32. The projection 34 is designed to fit tightly within the upper end of a flexible plastic tube 36 which in turn is adapted to extend into a bottom portion of the container 12 when the cartridge 16 is seated in the neck 18 (see FIG. Thus, during operation of the cartridge 16, the commodity is drawn by the tube 36 from the bottom of the container upwardly into the tubular means 30 and hence through the valve assembly 28.

In the preferred form of the cartridge 16, the tubular means 30 comprises a flexible radially compressible tube 38 and an internal tubular projection 40 from the top surface of the funnel-shaped bottom 24 around the side port 32. The internal projection 40 is adapted to fit snuggly into an open lower end of the tube 38. Thus positoned, the high pressure fluid 33 acts on the tube 38 to press the tube tightly against the projection 40, thereby creating an airtight seal which prevents leakage of the high pressure fluid from the bottom of the cylinder 22 and into the container 16.

A similar airtight seal is developed between the upper end of the tube 38 and the valve assembly 28 to prevent undesired leakage of the fluid 33 through the valve assembly to atmosphere. In this regard, the valve assembly 28 comprises a slidable valve body 42, a valve body support sleeve 44, a resilient disc 46, and a nozzle 48. The support sleeve 44 is fixedly seated within a collar 50 formed in the top 26 of the cylinder 22 and bears upwardly against an outer annular portion of the lower surface of the disc 46. The disc 46, in turn, is captured between the top of the sleeve 44 and the top of the collar 50 and includes a central opening 52 for tightly receiving the valve body 42. The valve body 42 is supported for sliding movement by the sleeve 44 with a lower end portion 43 of reduced radial dimension extending downwardly therefrom and into the upper open end of the tube 38. The pressure of the fluid 33 in the chamber 20 causes the tube 38 to press tightly around the lower end portion 43, thereby creating an airtight seal between the tube and the valve assembly 28 which prevents leakage of the fluid into and through a commodity inlet port 54 to atmosphere.

As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 6, the commodity inlet port 54 extends upwardly through the valve body 42 and into the horizontal leg 56a of an inverted L-shaped outlet port 56 in the nozzle 48, the nozzle being seated on the top of the valve body. The outlet port 56 is open to atmosphere at its outer end and in addition to the leg 56a includes a vertical leg 56b which connects to a high pressure fluid inlet port 58 upstream of the connection to inlet port 54 to horizontal leg 56a.

Still referring to FIG. 6, the fluid inlet port 58 comprises a slot 60 in the valve body support sleeve 44 open to the inside of the chamber 20, the interior of the sleeve 44 within the collar 50, a small hole 62 in the valve body 42, and an annular passageway 64 connecting to the vertical leg 56b of outlet port 56 at the rear of a central tubular stem 66 defining an upper end of the inlet port 54. Accordingly, in the inlet port 58, high pressure fluid 33 passes through the slot 60 into the main body of the sleeve 44 and upwardly through the small hole 62 into the annular passageway 64 and hence to the outlet port 56. Upon entering the outlet port 56, the high pressure fluid travels over the top of the junction of the inlet port 54 and outlet port 56 and creates a suction which draws some of the commodity 14 upwardly through the tubes 36 and 38, and inlet port 54 into the outlet port 56. In the outlet port 56, the commodity mixes with the fluid 33 and is dispensed from the nozzle 48.

Normally, the resilient disc 46 covers the hole 62 and functions to force the valve body 42 to an upward posi tion within the support sleeve 44 (the slide valve body 42 being shown in a downward position with the inlet port 58 open in FIG. 6). Accordingly, the inlet port 58 is normally blocked and the commodity .14 is not dispensed from the container 12. Then, when it is desired to dispense a predetermined amount of the commodity, the end of the outlet port 56 is directed at the article or portion of the body to receive the commodity and a downward force is exerted on the nozzle 48. The downward force moves the valve body 42 downwardly within the support sleeve 44, causing the resilient disc 46 to bow downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 6. As this occurs, the small hole 62 is opened and high pressure fluid 33 escapes from the chamber 20 through the inlet port 58 and into the outlet port 56 to dispense the commodity 14 in the manner just described. Upon a release of nozzle 48, the disc 46 forces the valve body 42 upwardly to its normal position and again seals the opening 62 to block the inlet port 58 and terminate the dispensing of the commodity.

During operation of the dispenser 10, the high pressure fluid 33 within the chamber 20 continues to exert pressure on the tube 38 to maintain the airtight seals between the tube and the valve assembly 28 and internal projection 40. Accordingly, despite the release of the high pressure fluid from the chamber 20, the fluid is prevented from leaking into the container 12 or into the commodity inlet port 54.

From the foregoing, it is appreciated that the combination of the internal tubular projection 40 and radially-compressible tube 38 provides a simple, yet completely effective, seal which economically overcomes the leakage problems of prior pressurized cartridges designed for use in aerosol spray dispensers.

While the pressurized cartridge has been shown as being mounted in a container, it should be appreciated that the cartridge is useable for dispensing commodities from various types of receptacles by merely inserting the lower end of tube 36 into the commodity in the receptacle, an example being a can of paint for spray painting.

While a particular form of pressurized fluid-containing cartridge and aerosol dispenser has been described in some detail herein, changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the present invention be limited in scope only by the terms of the following claim.

I claim:

1. A pressurized fluid containing cartridge for mounting in a container and for dispensing a commodity therefrom, said cartridge comprising:

(a) a hollow body defining a pressurized fluid chamber, said body having side and bottom walls with an open top, a port in the bottom wall and opening into said container when said cartridge is mounted therein;

(b) a pressurized propellant in said chamber;

(c) a first tubular sleeve integral with and projecting inwardly from the bottom wall of said chamber and surrounding said port;

(d) a second tubular sleeve integral with and projecting outwardly from the outside of the bottom wall and surrounding said port;

(e) a valve assembly mounted on and closing the open top of said body and extending outwardly therefrom, said valve assembly including a first port means open to said chamber and second port means, and an outlet port means connecting said first and second port means and leading to the atmosphere;

(f) a first tube positioned inside said hollow body 5 6 and afiixed to and connecting said second tubular References Cited sleeve with said first valve port means; and UNITED STATES PATENTS (g) a second tube afiixed to said second tubular sleeve and extending downwardly from the hollow body 3,217,936 11/1965 Planalp 239 308 toward the bottom of the container in which the 5 3,326,469 6/1967 "Planalp 239-308 cartridge is mounted, and having a lower end dis- 3,356,262 12/1967 Planalp 239-308 posed within the commodity to be dispensed from the containel WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

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