Aerosol dispenser, product package, and method of dispensing

Abstract

An aerosol dispenser (104) includes an outer container (106) including a closed bottom end and an open neck longitudinally opposite to the closed bottom end (108). The aerosol dispenser further includes a valve (112) sealed to the open neck in a fluid-tight manner. The aerosol dispenser further includes a product container (114) disposed within the outer container and containing a product therein. The product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner. The valve (112) is configured to selectively dispense the product from the product container. The outer container (116) defines therein a container volume that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container (114). The container volume contains a pressurized gas therein, such that the pressurized gas pressurizes the product within the product container to a pressure greater than an ambient pressure for selectively dispensing the product through the valve (112). The product is an adhesive.

Description

[0001] AEROSOL DISPENSER, PRODUCT PACKAGE, AND METHOD OF DISPENSING

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to an aerosol dispenser, a product package, and a method of dispensing a product.

[0004] Background

[0005] Aerosol dispensers are well known in the art. Aerosol dispensers are commonly used to dispense personal, household, industrial, and medical products. Typically, aerosol dispensers include a container which holds a product to be dispensed. A propellant is used to discharge the product from the container. The propellant is pressurized inside the container and provides a force to expel the product from the container when a user actuates the aerosol dispenser by pressing an actuator or a trigger. Traditional aerosol dispensers utilize organic propellants that are high in volatile organic compounds or VOCs. This makes use of such aerosol dispensers subject to various VOC regulations.

[0006] Summary

[0007] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol dispenser. The aerosol dispenser includes an outer container including a closed bottom end and an open neck longitudinally opposite to the closed bottom end. The aerosol dispenser further includes a valve sealed to the open neck in a fluid-tight manner. The aerosol dispenser further includes a product container disposed within the outer container and containing a product therein. The product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner. The valve is configured to selectively dispense the product from the product container. The outer container defines therein a container volume that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container. The container volume contains a pressurized gas therein, such that the pressurized gas pressurizes the product within the product container to a pressure greater than an ambient pressure for selectively dispensing the product through the valve. The product is an adhesive.

[0008] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a product package including an aerosol dispenser. The aerosol dispenser includes an outer container including a closed bottom end and an open neck longitudinally opposite to the closed bottom end. The aerosol dispenser further includes a valve sealed to the open neck in a fluid-tight manner. The aerosol dispenser further includes a product container disposed within the outer container. The product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner. The outer container defines therein a container volume that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container. The product package further includes a product received in the product container. The product is an adhesive. The product package further includes a pressurized gas received within the container volume. The valve is configured to selectively dispense the product from the product container. The pressurized gas pressurizes the product within the product container to a pressure greater than an ambient pressure for selectively dispensing the product through the valve.

[0009] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of dispensing a product. The method includes providing an aerosol dispenser including an outer container, a valve sealed to an open neck of the outer container in a fluid-tight manner, and a product container disposed within the outer container and containing the product therein. The product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner. The product is an adhesive. The method further includes actuating an actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The actuator includes a delivery orifice that is in fluid communication with the valve. The method further includes dispensing the product through the delivery orifice upon actuation of the actuator.

[0010] The details of one or more examples of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0011] Brief Description of Drawings

[0012] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the following figures. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a product package, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the product package with some components removed, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the product package, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0016] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of dispensing a product, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Detailed Description

[0018] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures that form a part thereof and in which various embodiments are shown by way of illustration. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0019] In the following disclosure, the following definitions are adopted.

[0020] As used herein, the term “aerosol dispenser” generally refers to a pressure vessel having a higher pressure inside than outside the pressure vessel, and from which a fluid (e.g., a gas, a liquid, an emulsion, a gas / liquid mixture, and other materials having fluid like properties, such as, powders, and mixtures thereof) may be dispensed via a selective release valve, typically actuated by finger manipulation.

[0021] As used herein, the term “valve” generally refers to a combination of a movable valve element and a sealing grommet. As used herein, the term “valve element” generally refers to an element around which the sealing grommet is mounted and which is depressed in an actuating direction relative to the sealing grommet to provide an open state, and when released, moves relative to the sealing grommet in a direction opposite to the actuating direction to provide a closed state.

[0022] Aerosol dispensers are commonly used to dispense personal, household, industrial, and medical products. Typically, aerosol dispensers include a container which holds a product to be dispensed. A propellant is used to discharge the product from the container. The propellant is pressurized inside the container and provides a force to expel the product from the container when a user actuates the aerosol dispenser by pressing an actuator or a trigger. Traditional aerosol dispensers utilize organic propellants that are high in volatile organic compounds or VOCs. This makes use of such aerosol dispensers subject to various VOC regulations.

[0023] The present disclosure provides an aerosol dispenser. The aerosol dispenser includes an outer container including a closed bottom end and an open neck longitudinally opposite to the closed bottom end. The aerosol dispenser further includes a valve sealed to the open neck in a fluid-tight manner. The aerosol dispenser further includes a product container disposed within the outer container and containing a product therein. The product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner. The valve is configured to selectively dispense the product from the product container. The outer container defines therein a container volume that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container. The container volume contains a pressurized gas therein, such that the pressurized gas pressurizes the product within the product container to a pressure greater than an ambient pressure for selectively dispensing the product through the valve. The product is an adhesive.

[0024] The aerosol dispenser of the present disclosure includes the product container disposed within the outer container and containing the product therein. The outer container defines therein the container volume that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container. The container volume contains the pressurized gas (e.g., compressed air or nitrogen gas) that pressurizes the product within the product container, thereby allowing the product to be selectively dispensed through the valve. Thus, the aerosol dispenser of the present disclosure allows dispensing of the product without using any propellant. This may eliminate any use of propellants containing volatile organic compounds or VOCs.

[0025] Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a product package 100 including an aerosol dispenser 104. The aerosol dispenser 104 is used to dispense a product 116 stored within the aerosol dispenser 104. The aerosol dispenser 104 includes an outer container 106 including a closed bottom end 108. The closed bottom end 108 of the outer container 106 is sealed in a fluid tight manner.

[0026] In some embodiments, the outer container 106 may be made up of a strong material, such as, a metal, a plastic, a composite material, etc. The plastic may be polymeric and may include, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer container 106 includes a cylindrical shape. However, it should be noted that the outer container 106 may include any other shape (e.g., spherical, elliptical, irregular, prismatic, etc.) based on application requirements. Furthermore, a cross-section of the outer container 106 may be generally constant (as shown) or may be variable. In case of a variable cross-section, the outer container 106 may be barrel-shaped, hourglass-shaped, or monotonically tapered. In some embodiments, the outer container 106 may be axisymmetric (as shown) or may be eccentric.

[0027] In some embodiments, the product 116 is an adhesive (e.g., a solvent based adhesive). Other examples of the product 116 may include any personal, household, industrial, and / or medical item, e.g., shave cream, shave foam, body sprays, body washes, perfumes, cleansers (e.g., an adhesive cleanser, or other types), air fresheners, astringents, foods, paints, etc.

[0028] In some embodiments, the product package 100 or the aerosol dispenser 104 further includes an actuator 124 that allows a user of the product package 100 to dispense a desired quantity of the product 116 on demand. In some embodiments, the actuator 124 includes a delivery orifice 126. Specifically, the actuator 124 is configured to dispense the product 116 through the delivery orifice 126. In some embodiments, the delivery orifice 126 has an orifice diameter 128 of about 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.

[0029] In some embodiments, the product 116 is dispensed by the actuator 124 from the delivery orifice 126 in the form of a fan spray pattern 130 or a cone spray pattern 130. In some embodiments, the actuator 124 is further configured to spray the product 116 in the fan spray pattern 130 or the cone spray pattern 130 with a spray angle 132 of about 40 degrees (°) to 60°. In some cases, the spray angle 132 may be an acute angle or an obtuse angle. In some cases, the spray angle 132 may be 90 degrees.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the product package 100 with some components not shown. Specifically, the actuator 124 is not shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer container 106 of the aerosol dispenser 104 further includes an open neck 110 longitudinally opposite to the closed bottom end 108.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a top of the aerosol dispenser 104 or the outer container 106 is referred to herein as an uppermost part when the aerosol dispenser 104 or the outer container 106 is vertically oriented in a normal usage or a storage position. Further, a bottom of the aerosol dispenser 104 or the outer container 106 is referred to herein as a lowermost part when the aerosol dispenser 104 or the outer container 106 is vertically oriented in the normal usage or the storage position. The uppermost part and the lowermost part are longitudinally opposed, with the uppermost part typically being open at the open neck 110 and the lowermost part typically being the closed bottom end 108. In some embodiments, the aerosol dispenser 104 and / or the outer container 106 may be longitudinally elongate.

[0032] The aerosol dispenser 104 further includes a valve 112 sealed to the open neck 110 in a fluid-tight manner. In some embodiments, the valve 112 may allow the product 116 to be selectively dispensed from the aerosol dispenser 104. In some embodiments, the actuator 124 is operatively coupled to the valve 112. Specifically, the delivery orifice 126 is in fluid communication with the valve 112. Thus, the user may dispense the product 116 by actuating the actuator 124, which may subsequently actuate the valve 112 for dispensing the product 116 through the delivery orifice 126. In some embodiments, the valve 112 may be a check valve. In some embodiments, a flow rate 134 of the product 116 through the valve 112 is about 60 gram per minute (g / min) to 120 g / min.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the product package 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the aerosol dispenser 104 further includes a product container 114 disposed within the outer container 106 and containing the product 116 therein. Specifically, the product package 100 further includes the product 116 received in the product container 114. The product container 114 is fluidly coupled to the valve 112 in a fluid-tight manner. The valve 112 is configured to selectively dispense the product 116 from the product container 114.

[0034] In some embodiments, the product container 114 is a flexible bag. For example, the product container 114 includes a mylar bag. However, other types of flexible bags may also be utilized. The product 116 is an adhesive. Specifically, the adhesive is a water-based adhesive or any solvent based adhesive. In some embodiments, the adhesive includes an emulsion.

[0035] The outer container 106 defines therein a container volume 118 that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container 114. The product package 100 further includes a pressurized gas 120 received within the container volume 118. Specifically, the container volume 118 contains the pressurized gas 120 therein, such that the pressurized gas 120 pressurizes the product 116 within the product container 114 to a pressure Pl (shown in FIG. 3) greater than an ambient pressure P2 (shown in FIG. 3) for selectively dispensing the product 116 through the valve 112. Specifically, the pressurized gas 120 physically squeezes the product container 114 to pressurize the product 116 within the product container 114 to the pressure Pl greater than the ambient pressure P2, thereby forcing the product 116 within the product container 114 to be expelled through the valve 112 disposed at the uppermost part of the aerosol dispenser 104 when the user actuates the actuator 124.

[0036] In some embodiments, the pressurized gas 120 is compressed air or nitrogen gas or an inert gas. In some other embodiments, the pressurized gas 120 may be any other gas or a mixture of gases. Thus, the product package 100 or the aerosol dispenser 104 does not utilize propellants containing harmful volatile organic compounds or VOCs for dispending the product 116. The only VOCs present in the product package 100 or the aerosol dispenser 104 are contained within the product 116 itself (i.e., the adhesive).

[0037] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 200 of dispensing the product 116 (shown in

[0038] FIGS. I and 3). The method 200 may be implemented using the product package 100 or the aerosol dispenser 104 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Referring to FIGS 1-4, at step 202, the method 200 includes providing the aerosol dispenser 104 including the outer container 106, the valve 112 sealed to the open neck 110 of the outer container 106 in a fluid tight manner, and the product container 114 disposed within the outer container 106 and containing the product 116 therein. The product container 114 is fluidly coupled to the valve 112 in a fluid-tight manner. The product 116 is an adhesive.

[0039] In some embodiment, the product container 114 is a flexible bag. In some embodiments, the adhesive is a water-based adhesive. In some embodiments, the adhesive includes an emulsion.

[0040] At step 204, the method 200 further includes actuating the actuator 124 operatively coupled to the valve 112. The actuator 124 includes the delivery orifice 126 that in fluid communication with the valve 112. In some embodiments, the delivery orifice 126 has the orifice diameter 128 of about 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.

[0041] At step 206, the method 200 further includes dispensing the product 116 through the delivery orifice 126 upon actuation of the actuator 124. In some embodiments, the flow rate 134 of the product 116 through the valve 112 is about 60 g / min to 120 g / min. In some embodiments, dispensing the product 116 through the delivery orifice 126 further includes spraying the product 116 in the fan spray pattern 130 or the cone spray pattern 130 with the spray angle 132 of about 40° to 60°.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the aerosol dispenser 104 of the present disclosure includes the product container 114 disposed within the outer container 106 and containing the product 116 therein. The outer container 106 defines therein the container volume 118 that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container 114. The container volume 118 contains the pressurized gas 120 (e.g., compressed air or nitrogen gas) that pressurizes the product 116 within the product container 114, thereby allowing the product 116 to be selectively dispensed through the valve 112. Thus, the aerosol dispenser 104 of the present disclosure allows dispensing of the product 116 without using any propellant. This may eliminate any use of propellants containing volatile organic compounds or VOCs.

[0043] In the present detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The illustrated embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive of all embodiments according to the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0044] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein.

[0045] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and / or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0046] Spatially related terms, including but not limited to, “proximate,” “distal,” “lower,” “upper,” “beneath,” “below,” “above,” and “on top,” if used herein, are utilized for ease of description to describe spatial relationships of an element(s) to another. Such spatially related terms encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the particular orientations depicted in the figures and described herein. For example, if an object depicted in the figures is turned over or flipped over, portions previously described as below or beneath other elements would then be above or on top of those other elements.

[0047] Various examples have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An aerosol dispenser comprising: an outer container comprising a closed bottom end and an open neck longitudinally opposite to the closed bottom end; a valve sealed to the open neck in a fluid-tight manner; and a product container disposed within the outer container and containing a product therein, wherein the product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner, and wherein the valve is configured to selectively dispense the product from the product container; wherein the outer container defines therein a container volume that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container, the container volume containing a pressurized gas therein, such that the pressurized gas pressurizes the product within the product container to a pressure greater than an ambient pressure for selectively dispensing the product through the valve; and wherein the product is an adhesive.

2. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1, wherein the product container is a flexible bag.

3. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a water-based adhesive.

4. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises an emulsion.

5. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1, wherein a flow rate of the product through the valve is about 60 g / min to 120 g / min.

6. The aerosol dispenser of claim 1, wherein the aerosol dispenser further comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the valve, the actuator comprising a delivery orifice that in fluid communication with the valve, wherein the actuator is configured to dispense the product through the delivery orifice.

7. The aerosol dispenser of claim 6, wherein the delivery orifice has an orifice diameter of about 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.

8. The aerosol dispenser of claim 6, wherein the actuator is configured to spray the product in a fan spray pattern or a cone spray pattern with a spray angle of about 40° to 60°.

9. A product package comprising: an aerosol dispenser comprising: an outer container comprising a closed bottom end and an open neck longitudinally opposite to the closed bottom end; a valve sealed to the open neck in a fluid-tight manner; and a product container disposed within the outer container, wherein the product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner; wherein the outer container defines therein a container volume that is outside of and at least partially surrounding the product container; a product received in the product container, wherein the product is an adhesive; and a pressurized gas received within the container volume; wherein the valve is configured to selectively dispense the product from the product container, and wherein the pressurized gas pressurizes the product within the product container to a pressure greater than an ambient pressure for selectively dispensing the product through the valve.

10. The product package of claim 9, wherein the product container is a flexible bag.

11. The product package of claim 9, wherein the adhesive is a water-based adhesive.

12. The product package of claim 9, wherein the adhesive comprises an emulsion.

13. The product package of claim 9, wherein a flow rate of the product through the valve is about 60 g / min to 120 g / min.

14. The product package of claim 9, wherein the product package further comprises an actuator operatively coupled to the valve, the actuator comprising a delivery orifice that is in fluid communication with the valve, wherein the actuator is configured to dispense the product through the delivery orifice.

15. The product package of claim 14, wherein the delivery orifice has an orifice diameter of about 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.

16. The product package of claim 14, wherein the actuator is configured to spray the product in a fan spray pattern or a cone spray pattern with a spray angle of about 40° to 60°.

17. A method of dispensing a product, the method comprising: providing an aerosol dispenser comprising an outer container, a valve sealed to an open neck of the outer container in a fluid-tight manner, and a product container disposed within the outer container and containing the product therein, wherein the product container is fluidly coupled to the valve in a fluid-tight manner, and wherein the product is an adhesive; actuating an actuator operatively coupled to the valve, wherein the actuator comprises a delivery orifice that in fluid communication with the valve; and dispensing the product through the delivery orifice upon actuation of the actuator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the product container is a flexible bag.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the adhesive is a water-based adhesive.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the adhesive comprises an emulsion.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein a flow rate of the product through the valve is about 60 g / min to 120 g / min.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the delivery orifice has an orifice diameter of about 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein dispensing the product through the delivery orifice further comprises spraying the product in a fan spray pattern or a cone spray pattern with a spray angle of about 40° to 60°.

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