US3451593A - Pressurized dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1969 A. DILLARSTONE PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE Sheet Filed June 24, 1966 June 1969 A. DILLARSTONE I 3,451,593

PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1966 Sheet 2 of 4 A04 N O/ZZAPJTOA/f A TTOIPIVE) i z 7/ I Z5 4 5/ m. 6 27 5 i 7; J7 J7 63 5/ f4 5/ I I 55 I 56 I 3 /7 I 52*Q .L F IG .7

INVENTOR.

June 24, 1969 Filed June 24, 1966 A DILLARSTONE PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE A from/FY June 24, 1969 A. DILLARSTONE 3,451,

' PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1966 Sheet 4 of 4 FIG.I3

INVENTOR. AZA/V mmmsro/vz ATTORNEY 3,451,593 PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE Alan Dillarstone, Highland Park, N.J., assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 24, 1966, Ser. No. 560,299 Int. Cl. B67d 5/64; B05]: 7/32; B65d 81/32 US. Cl. 222-130 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pressurized dispensing device for discharging a selfheating cosmetic preparation formed from at least two chemical entities adapted to react exothermically on contact and maintained in separate pressurized containers. A warming chamber in combination with the respective discharge valves of the containers. The containers and the warming chamber are at least partially enclosed by a housing having an aperture therein for the discharge of material from the warming chamber and means are provided to operate simultaneously the discharge valves of the containers so as to release simultaneously the contents of each container into the warming chamber where the chemical entities are commingled and interacted exothermically prior to issuance from said discharge spout as a heated product ready for use. In a preferred embodiment the warming chamber is adapted to provide turbulence therein.

This invention relates to a pressurized dispensing device for discharging a preparation formed from a plurality of ingredients maintained in at least two pressurized containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for discharging a self-heating composition formed from a plurality of ingredients maintained in at least two pressurized containers which may be opened by manual operation of the device and, prior to use, the ingredients of each container are released simultaneously, under pressure, to be turbulently combined in a reaction or warming chamber before issuing from the device as a heated product ready for use.

A device has now been discovered whereby it is possible to provide heated cosmetic products at the time of use without the necessity of any separate heating device. This device utilizes at least two chemical entities particularly adapted to provide heat by an exothermic reaction when the entities are combined and characterized in that the heat of the exothermic reaction enables the product to become progressively warmer so that the heat is generated and sustained over a period of time. This device is uniquely adaptable as a pressurized dispensing device for at least two chemical entities to allow the selected ingredients to react exothermically in the presence of a cosmetic base in a reaction chamber to provide a self-heated cosmetic preparation.

Broadly stated, the pressurized dispensing device of this invention is provided with at least two pressurized containers having discharge valves and discharge valve stems and a common chamber defined by walls which are also adapted to engage and simultaneously operate the valves of the containers, the chamber having formations adapted to mate with the valve stems of the containers and including passageways in communication with the respective formations, the passageways converging into a discharge spout or outlet for the chamber. Each pressurized container contains a different charge or load with at least one of the containers having a cosmetic base therein. These charges or loads of the respective containers are adapted to heat the cosmetic base within the dispensing device and to discharge a heated cosmetic product therefrom. Thus, the preparation is heated as United States Patent O Patented June 24, 1969 the respective charges are commingled in a zone of turbulence so that they interact exothermically.

The invention encompasses a dispensing device having a reaction or warming chamber to provide a zone of turbulence for use in commingling the reactants which provide heat through an exothermic reaction. This zone of turbulence provides a turbulent eifect through a baflle arrangement or a loop arrangement as hereinafter described. Additionally, the reaction or warming chamber may be formed so that turbulence is not provided if one of the selected chemical entities is not released simultaneously along with at least one other chemical entity into the chamber.

The pressurized dispensing device of the present invention is useful for dispensing a wide variety of preparations wherein the preparation dispensed is formed from a plurality of entities having two or more ingredients which cannot be mixed prior to use because such mixing prior thereto could cause undesirable properties such as deterioration of the product through premature reactivity of ingredients. This pressurized dispensing device is particularly advantageous for use in dispensing a selfheating cosmetic preparation utilizing exothermic reaction systems.

In the interest of simplicity for illustrating the use of the presently contemplated pressurized dispensing device, reference is made to cosmetic preparations in the form of shaving cream base which is heated by the exothermic reaction of a hydride with a reducible material. The hydrides employed are reducing agents for the reducible material also employed, the hydride and the reducible material being selected such that their reaction products are non-toxic, especially for the skin. On reaction with the reducible material, the instant hydrides also are non-explosive, non-flammable and evolve heat. Typical suitable hydrides are alkali metal and alkaline earth metal borohydrides, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal aluminum hydrides, ammonium borohydrides and quaternary ammonium borohydrides. The hydride may be in powder form or in a liquid carrier.

The reducible material adapted to react exothermically on contact with the hydride is characterized in that it is readily reduced by the selected hydride and the reduction of the material by the hydride in situ is rapid and extremely exothermic so that the temperature of the cosmetic preparation is not raised prior to their combination but rather on mixing just before usage of the product. Typical suitable reducible materials are aldehydes such as glyceraldehyde; ketones such as acetone; peroxides such as acetyl peroxide; acid chlorides such as crotonyl chloride; and sulfoxides such as dimethyl sulfoxide.

It is to be understood that the foregoing materials are mentioned for illustrative purposes only. Cosmetic bases, other than the shaving cream base, that can be used are waterless skin cleansers, hand lotions, body lotions and the like. Other exothermic reaction systems suitable for heating cosmetic preparations include such exothermic categories as the liberation of heat by the use of catalytic agents to start an oxidation-reduction reaction, the evolution of heat by the oxidation of a metal with an oxidizing agent such as chlorate in the presence of a selected aqueous medium, and the production of heat by the reaction of an oxidizing agent such as a permanganate and an exothermic reagent such as glycerine. Of course, any of the materials utilized should be stable and non-reactive with the other ingredients in the system, i.e. until the desired time of use where applicable.

Any propellant material generally employed in pressurized dispensing containers is suitable in the practice of the present invention, although the liquefied gases are preferable. Among those gases are the poly-halogenated lower hydrocarbons such as chlorinated and fluorinated methanes, ethanes and higher homologues, e.g. monochlorodifluoromethane, monochlorodifiuoroethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorodifluoroethane, trichloromonofiuoromethane and dichlorotetrafiuoroethane; and the lower hydrocarbons such as propane, butane and isobutane. Compressed gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide may also find use. In some instances it may be desirable to use a combination of two or more of the liquefied normally gaseous materials as a propellant in order to achieve a suitable pressure within the container and impart the desired properties of stability, propellancy, ease of delivery, etc. to the cosmetic preparations.

The complete structure, functions and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from reference to the following detailed description of typical embodiments of the invention, as now contemplated, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut away elevation of a pressurized dispensing device having a reaction or warming chamber and other elements embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section of another suitable reaction or warming chamber;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pressurized dispensing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal plan view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partially cut away elevation of the pressurized dispensing device taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5 showing the reaction or warming chamber and integral actuator of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in fragmentary vertical section of the actuator reaction or warming chamber of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partially cut away elevation of a pressurized dispensing apparatus having a reaction or warming chamber of a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan of the discharge means of FIG. 9 when contents are being discharged;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are enlarged views of vertical section of another suitable discharge means;

FIG. 13 is a view in elevation of a still further embodiment of a pressurized dispensing apparatus having a reaction or warming chamber;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view along the line 1414 of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is a horizontal plan view along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

Referring now to the typical embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the two aerosol-type dispensers or containers are affixed to a common reaction or warming chamber. Thus, as indicated in FIGS. 1, 6, 8 and 14 the pressurized dispensing device comprises the containers 1 and 2 and the reaction or warming chambers as hereinafter described. In the description of the invention by reference to the drawings, like reference characters are used to designate like elements throughout for the containers 1 and 2. The container 1 comprises a cylindrical Wall 10, a domed bottom 11 crimped to the lower edge thereof and a shaped, necked-in top wall 12 terminating in a circular head to which a valve assembly 13 is secured. The valve assembly 13 comprises a valve or mounting cup 14 having a rim 15 crimped, or adapted to be crimped, to the bead surrounding the opening in the top wall 12 of the container 1. The valve assembly 13 is provided with a discharge valve 16 and a discharge valve stem 17. This structure is well known to those skilled in the art and forms no part of the present invention except as one of the many possible types of 4 containers which may be aifixed to reaction or warming chambers to fabricate a finished package, i.e. a pressurized dispensing device.

The container 2, which is similar in construction to the container 1, comprises a cylindrical wall 20, a domed bottom 21 crimped to the lower edge thereof and a shaped, necked-in top wall 22 terminating in a circular bead to which a valve assembly 23 is secured. The valve assembly 23 of the container 2 also comprises a valve or mounting cup 24 having a rim 25 crimped, or adapted to be crimped, to the bead surrounding the opening in the top wall 22. The valve assembly 23 is provided with a discharge valve 26 and a discharge valve stem 27.

The contents of the containers are under pressure and leave through their discharge valve when it is opened and pass outwardly through their discharge valve stem. As indicated in FIGS. 1, 6, 8 and 14, the pressure-tight container 2 typically contains a hydride or a hydride-liquid medium 4 which is pressurized by a liquefied, normally gaseous propellant material 5. The pressure of the propellant material is adapted to push the hydride or hydride containing-liquid medium through the valve 26 and the valve stem 27 into a warming chamber 30. The pressure-tight container 1 contains a reducible material, which is incorporated in a cosmetic base, 6 and a propellant material 7. The pressure of the propellant is adapted to drive the contents of this container through the dip tube 1 8 and the discharge valve 16 and the discharge valve stem 17 into the warming chamber 30.

It will be noted that the pressure-tight container 1 employs dip tube 18 which extends to the bottom of the container and near the side wall thereof and is secured at its upper end to the discharge valve 16. With the use of a dip tube, the contents can be discharged from the pressure-tight container 1 in its normal vertical position. However, since the pressure-tight container 2, as shown in the drawings for FIGS. 1, 6 and 8, is designated to be held in an inverted position, a dip tube is not required, i.e. a valve assembly 23 without a dip tube may be used satisfactorily. Of course, it is to be understood that acceptable pressurized compositions can be designed and produced for each of the pressure-tight containers with a variety of valve assemblies having discharge orifices with varying discharge areas and with various dimensions of the dip tubes, when employed.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the containers 1 and 2 are connected to a common reaction or warming chamber 30 and held in a cooperative axial disposition by a casing or housing 40. The warming chamber 30 consists of the passageways 31, 32 and the dispensing or discharge spout 33 having the passageway 34. The passageway 31 is provided with a wide mouth outlet 35 at one end for connectively engaging the discharge valve stem 27 of the container 2 and with a projecting end portion 36 at its lower end. The passageway 32 is provided with an annular protuberance 37 which cooperates with the valve stem 17 of the container 1 to provide a stopping ,means for said valve when it is positioned within the passageway 32. The dispensing spout, which may be of any suitable length and shape, is formed with protuberances 38 strategically located in its passageway 34. With the extended end portion 36 of the passageway 31 and the protuberances 38 of the spouts passageway 34 as shown in FIG. 2, a bafiie arrangement is provided whereby the commingling of the ingredients will be enhanced. It is to be noted also that the passageway 32 is greater in diameter than the passageway 31. Accordingly, the size and arrangements of the passageways communicating with the valve stems of their respective containers may be varied as desired depending upon the interrelated factors of formulations employed in the containers, the vapor pressure of propellants, the viscosity of materials, the size of the valve stem orifices and the like.

In assembling, the container 2 is loaded with a propellant and a liquid charge, such as a hydride-containing composition, and container 1 is loaded with a propellant and a liquid charge, such as a lather shaving soap composition having incorporated therein a reducible material adapted to react exothermically with the hydride on contact therewith. Next, the warming chamber 30 is mounted on the container 1 by its passageway 32 receiving the valve stem 17 in a close fit. The annular protuberance 37 of the passageway 32 provides a stop means for this valve stem. The container 2 is inverted and affixed to the warming chamber 30 through the close fit of its valve stem 27 into the -wide mouth outlet 35 of the passageway 31. The containers 1 and 2, in opposed axial disposition (to which the common warming chamber 30 has been aflixed), are held in this position by the casing or housing 40. The casing 40 is generally circular in configuration with a wall 41 having an opening 42, a lower edge 45 and .a top 43 having an opening 44. The casing 40 is telescopically mounted over the container 2 and the lower edge 45 secured to the upper portion of the wall of the container 1. The casing 40 can be fabricated from a wide variety of materials such as metals, plastics, ceramic materials and the like. The lower edge 45 is secured to the wall 10 by soldering, brazing, Welding, fusing or otherwise connecting the casing to the container .1. The top 43 of the casing 40 is provided with an actuator button 46 which communicates with the bottom 21 of the container 2.

As indicated above, the containers and their valve assemblies are well known in the art and may be constructed of any suitable material such as metal, glass, plastic or the like. The warming chamber may be constructed of glass, plastic or other suitable materials which are capable of construction for the purpose intended.

In normal operation, delivery of a heated product ready for use is accomplished by the user depressing the actuator button 46. The button 46 communicates with the bottom 21 of the container 2 so as to move the con tainer 2 downwardly whereby the valve 26 of the container 2 and the valve 16 of the container 1 are opened simultaneously and the contents of the containers 2 and 1 are discharged under pressure through the valve stems 27 and 17. The compositions thus released flow into the passageways 31 and 32 of the warming chamber 30 and out the discharge spout 33. During such passage of the compositions through the passageways, the ingredients are commingled and interact, the shaving soap is heated by the exothermic reaction of the hydride reducing the reducible material and a heated shaving product ready for use issues. The protuberances 38 in the spout 33 enhance the commingling interacting and provide a zone of turbulence. By zone of turbulence it is meant that the flow of combined ingredients is deflected, regulated and agitated.

The reaction or warming chamber 330 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a modified form of the warming chamber 30 illustrated in FIG. 1. This warming chamber consists of the passage- ways 331, 332 and the dispensing or discharge spout 333 having the tortuous passageway 334. The passageway 331 is provided with a Wide mouth outlet 335 as its upper end for receiving the valve stem of the container 2. Similarly, the passageway 332 is provided with the wide mouth outlet 336 for the valve stem of the container 1. These passageways may be of various sizes for the reasons explained above. With the passageway 334 shaped in a tortuous zigzag-fashion, a loop arrangement is provided for the ingredients as they pass therethrough so as to enhance their commingling, interacting and provide a zone of turbulence.

FIG. 4 depicts the pressurized dispensing device ready for use and shows that the opening 42 in the casing wall 41 not only provides an outlet for the dispensing spout 33 of the warming chamber 30 but the opening is of a size suflicient to enable vertical displacement of the spout 33.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGS.

5, 6 and 7, the containers 2 and 1 are connected to a common warming chamber 50 and held in a cooperative, opposed axial disposition by a casing 70. The casing 70 consists of an upper cover 71, a lower cover 72 and a band 73. Each of the covers and the band have aligned openings for housing the discharge spout 53 and the actuator 60. The warming chamber 50 is generally circular in configuration with an upper flange 51 and a lower flange 52. The flange 51 engages the rim 25 of the valve cup 24 of the container 2 and the flange 52 engages the rim 15 of the valve cup 14 of the container 1. Preferably, the interior surface of the flange is slightly undercut so as to grip under the rim and thereby assure the holding of the warming chamber 50 in tight relationship to the respective containers. The warming chamber 50 is provided with a dispensing spout 53 of any suitable length and shape. The spout 53, through its passageway 54 (having protuberances 59 therein), communicates with the delivery passageways 55 and 56 of the valve-releasing arms 57 and 58 which tightly engage the valve stems 27 and 17 of containers 2 and 1.

An actuator rod 60 having a tapering head 61 is slidably mounted for horizontal movement in a closed-in cavity 62 formed by the valve releasing arms 57 and 58. Thus, the valve-releasing arms 57 and 58 form guide projections 57' and 58' within the warming chamber for the actuator rod 60. The closed end of the cavity 62 is provided with a resilient means 63 to engage the tapered head 61 of the actuator rod 60. In order to prevent the ejection of the actuator rod 60, it is provided with a collar 64 of such height that it engages the inner surface of the casin 70.

In the operation of the dispensing apparatus of this embodiment, lateral pressure is exerted on the actuator rod 60 until it moves inwardly and its tapered head 61 forces apart the valve releasing arms 57 and 58 so as to actuate simultaneously the discharge valve 26 of the container 2 and the discharge valve 16 of the container 1 by slight vertical upward and downward movement of the valve stems 27 and 17. After the actuator rod 60 moves the valve releasing arms 57 and 58 apart, the valves 26 and 16 are opened and the contents of the containers 2 and 1 are released simultaneously through their respective valve stems 27 and 17 into the passageways 55 and 56. The compositions thus released flow through the passageways 55 and 56 into and out the passageway 54 of the dispensing spout 53. During such passage through the spout 53, the compositions commingle, interact and issue as a heated product ready for use. The protuberances 59 in the passageway 54 of the spout 53 provide a turbulent effect to enhance the commingling of the compositions.

It is to be understood that although the pressurized dispensing device of FIGS. 5-7 utilizes containers having discharge valves of the type utilizing vertically reciprocating valve stems, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that this device can easily be modified to actuate valves utilizing tilting valve stems. The actuation would thus take place by movement of the respective tilting valve stems through a small angle in the vertical plane.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8-15, the containers 2 and 1 are connected to a modified reaction or warming chamber which provides a feature whereby the release of the separate entities is controlled. This modification controls the release of the chemical entities so that commingling only occurs when one of the selected chemical entities is released from its container simultaneously with the release of the chemical entity from the second container.

FIG. 8 shows a pressurized dispensing apparatus having two containers, a warming chamber and a casing 440 assembled in a manner similar to the assembly for FIG. 1. The casing 440 holds the containers 1 and 2 (with the warming chamber 80 affixed) in opposed axial disposition. The casing 440 is generally circular in configuration with a wall 441 having an opening 442 provided for the discharge spout 84 and a lower edge 443 to be secured to the container 1. The Warming chamber 80 comprises a cavity 81, a discharge spout 82 with its passageway 83, and is provided with a pair of bosses 84 and 85 (axially positioned on its top and bottom) to form a seating for the valve stem 27 of the container 2 and for the valve stem 17 of the container 1. The cavity 81 is provided with a piston 87 which is preferably circular in crosssection and of generally diminishing diameter in the lower portion, i.e. from a point located below the discharge spout 82 to the bottom 88 of the piston 87. Thus, the piston 87 is provided with a circumferential channel 90 adapted to be in alignment with the passageway 83 of the spout 82 when the piston 87 is displaced upwardly. The piston 87 is provided with an axially located frusto conical opening 91 and passageways 92 which communicate the frusturn 91 with the channel 90. The large diameter portion of the frusto conical opening 91 is located in the upper portion of the piston 87 and terminates at its top 89 in alignment with the boss 84. The smaller diameter of the frusto conical opening 91 terminates with the passageways 92 to communicate with the channel 90. The diameter of the upper portion of the piston 87, i.e. the portion located above the channel 90, is sufficient to form a snug fit With the inside of the cavity 81. In order to enable vertical movement or displacement of the piston 87, a resilient restrainer 95 is supported by the top 89 of the piston and it contacts the top inner Wall of the chamber 81. The resilient restrainer 95 may be in the form of a deformable foam rubber ring, a spring or any suitable restraining mechanism having resiliency.

In the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment, vertical pressure is applied to the bottom 21 of the container 2 so as to move the container 2 downwardly as described in the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 so that the contents of the containers 2 and 1 are discharged under pressure through the valve stems 2'7 and 17. The release of the material under pressure from the container 1 is utilized in such a way as to allow the material from the container 2 to be co-dispensed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, when the containers discharge valves are simultaneously actuated, the release of the contents, under pressure, from the container 1 displaces the piston 87 upwardly until its channel 90 is in alignment with the passageway 83 of the spout 82. Also the top 89 of the piston 87 is substantially adjacent to the boss 84 with the large diameter opening of the frusto conical opening 91 being in alignment with the valve stem 27 of the container 2. Accordingly, as the contents of the container 2 are released through valve stem 27, they flow through the frusto conical opening 91 and passageways 92 into the channel 90 while the contents of the dispenser 1 flow into the channel 90. Thereafter, the mixture flows from the channel 90 of the cavity 81 into and out of the spout 82. During such passage the ingredients are commingled and interact to issue as a heated shaving product ready for use. Preferably, protuberances are present in the passageway 83 of the spout 82 to provide an added or continuous turbulence effect. The channel 90 of the cavity 81 provides an initial turbulent effect and the protuberances will continue this effect to facilitate the commingling and interaction of the compositions.

In the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment, if valve 16 malfunctions and no pressurized material is released through the valve stem 17, the piston 87 is not displaced and the ingredients of neither container are dispensed since the channel 90 will not be in alignment with the passageway 83 of the spout 82. This feature is advantageous where the unreacted composition of the container 2 may not be beneficial when it is dispensed without first commingling with the contents of the container 1. (For example, if the shave cream composition is not dispensed from the container 1.) Additionally, where the ingredients of the separate containers interact on contact therewith, it may not be desirable to dispense the unreacted content of only one container since it might be unpleasant to the skin. Furthermore, uneven exhaustion of separate materials is avoided since any failure during the pressure release of the contents of the container 1 will permit the piston 87 to return to its original position and close off the supply of material from container 2.

The reaction or warming chamber 96 shown in FIG. 11 (with piston in normal position) and FIG. 12 (with piston in activated position) is a modified form of the chamber illustrated in FIGS. *8-10. This Warming chamber 96 consists of the cavity 97, housing the piston and the resilient member 115, and the discharge spout 98 having a passageway 99. The bosses and 121 of the warming chamber 96 are situated on adjacent walls so as to position the containers at right angles. So as to provide a device of the type in which downward pressure will release the contents of the container, one of the containers (i.e. container 2) will utilize a tilting valve stem 27;; for ease of simultaneous actuation of the container valves. Thus, the boss 120 seats the valve stem 27a of the container 2 and the boss 121 seats the valve stem 17 of the container 1. The piston 110 with its channel 111 has a configuration similar to the piston 87. However, the piston 110 does not have any internal passageways since when the materials released from the containers 2 and 1 reach the entrance- bosses 120 and 121 of the warming chamber 96, the release of the material (under pressure) from the container 1 will displace the piston 110, align the channel 111 of the piston 110 with the boss 120, allow the contents from the container 2 to mix with the contents of the container 1 and permit the comrningled mixture to issue from the discharge spout 98. Although the release of the material under pressure from container 1 will displace readily the piston 110, an air port 116 in the top of the warming chamber 96 will enhance displacement of the piston 110.

Another modified form of the chamber 80 shown in FIG. 8 is illustrated in FIG. 14, which, with FIGS. 13-15, also shows an embodiment where the containers 1 and 2 are dispensed in a side-by-side relationship. The containers are aiiixed to a common reaction or warming chamber having a cavity 141, a spout 142 having a passageway 143 with the protuberances 144 and the chamber is provided with bosses 145 and 146 which form a seating for the valve stem 127 of the container 2 and for the valve stem 117 for the container 1. The cavity 141 is provided with an internal piston 147 which has a rectangular portion 148 at the top and a wedge-shaped portion 149 at the bottom. The wedge portion 149 is positioned just below the passageway 143 of the spout 142 and the rectangular portion 148 is provided with an oblique passageway 151. A resilient restrainer 152 is supported by the top of the piston 147 and positioned to provide a means for returning the piston 147 to its at-rest position.

For assembling, the chamber 140 is provided with a sleeve 155, concentric with the boss 145, and a sleeve 156, concentric with the boss 146, so as to position the container 1 beside the container 2. The containers 1 and 2 are afiixed to the warming chamber 140 through their insertion into sleeves 155 and 156 until the valve stem 117 of the container 1 is sea-ted within boss 146 and the valve stem 127 of the container 2 is seated within the boss 145. Thereafter, a clip 157 with an integral spacing block 158 is fitted to the ends of the containers 1 and 2 so as to hold the containers in a side-by-side relationship. Additionally, the clip 157 holds the containers in cooperation at all times.

The operation of the pressurized dispensing device of FIGS. 13-15 is similar to that of FIGS. 8l0. However, the instant device is preferably of a compact type in which pressure is exerted on the face of the warming chamber 140 having the spout 142 disposed therefrom for the contents of the containers 1 and 2 to be released simultaneously through their respective valves. By compact it is meant that the containers will be miniature in size, e.g. the travel size pressurized containers having a diameter of about 1.5 inches and about 3 to 5 inches in length, so that the entire package may be conveniently operated in one hand. Thus, during operation, as the contents are released from the containers the pressure of the contents being released "from the container 1 will displace the piston 147 toward resilient restrainer 152 until the oblique passageway 151 is in alignment with the valve stem 127 seated in the boss 145 and the passageway 143 of the spout 142. The ingredients of the containers will commingle and interact prior to issuance from the spout 142. The protuberances 144 in the passageway 143 of the spout 142 enhance the commingling and interaction of the compositions as they flow through the spout since they provide a turbulent effect. As in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10, the instant warming chamber houses a displaceable piston capable of preventing any issuance of product prior to the release of pressurized contents from both containers since there must be a pressure build-up from the discharged contents of container 1 in order for the piston 140 to be displaced so that the oblique passageway 151 will align its communicating parts between the container 2 to the spout for the ingredient to mix and issue.

While the pressurized dispensing device of the present invention has been described in foregoing embodiments with respect to pressurized containers in general, it is to be understood that these containers may be of any desired size. For example, the containers may be equal in size or one may be larger than the other. Thus, the size may be varied as desired depending upon the formulations (including propellants) to be employed in the containers, the shape and structure of the common reaction or warming chamber, and other related factors such as container position, mounting and the like.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated by reference to certain specific embodiments of the invention representing the present modes contemplated for carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate the modifications and variations in structure and materials of construction may be made without departing from the principles and true scope of the invention as defined in the claims hereof. Furthermore, while the present invention has been illustrated with reference to the heating of shaving cream by the exothermic reaction of a hydride reducing a reducible material, it is by no means limited thereto but may be used with any combination of suitable cosmetic preparations such as hand cleaners, hand lotions, body lotions, shampoos and the like. Additionally, the invention may be applicable for the combination of ingredients which are not compatible in storage but provide an advantageous effect when reacted or combined prior to the issuance of a product.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressurized dispensing device for discharging a self-heating cosmetic preparation formed from at least two chemical entities adapted to react exothermically on contact and maintained in two spatially co-ordinative pressurized containers comprising a first pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, a second pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, an upwardly extending warming chamber having a top and a bottom mounting means for association with the discharge valves of the pressurized containers, a first passageway and a second passageway within said warming chamber, a discharge spout extending laterally from said warming chamber, said passageways being in communication with said valve stems and being formed so that they communicate with a discharge passage which extends through said discharge spout, means associated with said discharge passage so as to provide a zone of turbulence therein, a housing being opened at its bottom and having a top wall portion with a central aperture therein, said housing forming an enclosure about one of said containers and about said warming chamber with the bottom of said housing being secured to the second container, there being an aperture in said housing enabling the discharge spout of said warming chamber to extend therethrough, an actuator element slidably mounted Within the central aperture of the top wall of said housing and adapted to be co-operatively associated with said containers and said chamber so as to operate the discharge valves of said containers to release simultaneously the contents of each container into the warming chamber wherein the chemical entities are commingled in the zone of turbulence and interacted exothermically prior to issuance from said discharge spout as a heated product ready for use.

2. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the zone of turbulence is provided by a series of protuberances within the discharge passage.

3. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein the discharge spout has a tortuous passageway to provide a zone of turbulence.

4. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 3 wherein the warming chamber has a hollow cavity with a top wall portion formed with a central upstanding hollow portion telescoped with the valve stem of one container, a bottom wall portion formed with a central depending hollow portion telescoped with the valve stem of the second container, a substantially cylindrical side wall portion having an upper edge integral with said top wall portion and a lower edge integral with said bottom Wall portion and the discharge spout extends laterally from said side wall portion, a movable piston slidably mounted within said hollow cavity, said piston being substantially circular in cross-section and or generally diminishing diameter in the lower ortion and being formed with a circumferential channel that is positioned horizontally below the discharge spout of said warming chamber when said piston is at rest on the bottom wall portion of said cavity, means providing a passage through said piston from said upstanding hollow portion to said circumferential channel, and resilient means supported by said piston and between said piston and the top wall portion of said cavity for controlling movement of said piston whereby said piston is capable of selectively sliding upwardly so as to move its circumferential channel into alignment with the discharge spout of said warming chamber whenever contents of the container positioned beneath the warming chamber are released into the cavity of the chamber.

5. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 4 wherein the piston is formed with a vertical frusto conical passage and laterally directed passageways, said frusto conical passage being in alignment wtih the hollow portion of the top wall of the warming chamber and being in communication with said laterally directed passageways which extend into the circumferential channel of said piston.

6. A pressurized dispensing device for discharging a self-heating cosmetic preparation formed from at least two chemical entities adapted to react exothermically on contact and maintained in two spatially co-ordinative pressurized containers comprising a first pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, a second pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, a substantially cylindrical warming chamber having open ends and a wall with upper and lower edges formed for attachment to said containers, said wall having an aperture therein and a discharge spout extending laterally from a portion of said wall opposite said aperture, a pair of arms integral with and extending inwardly from the wall of said chamber, said arms being eccentric and spaced from each other, one of said arms having an upstanding hollow portion telescoped with the valve stem of one container and the other arm having a depending hollow portion telescoped with the valve stem of the other container, said arms being formed with passageways that communicate through said hollow portions and extend convergingly so that they communicate with a discharge passage which extends through said discharge spout, means associated with said discharge passage so as to provide a zone of turbulence therein, an actuator member in the form of a transverse rigid member mounted for free reciprocation in the space between said pair of arms, said rigid member being formed so that a portion thereof extends through the aperture of the wall of said warming chamber resting in contact with said arms, a housing, means mounting said containers and said warming chamber within said housing, there being apertures in said housing enabling portions of said discharge spout and said actuator member to extend therethrough, an enlargement on said actuator member internally adjacent to said housing to limit outward movement of the actuator member, and resilient means being laterally inwardly directed from the wall of said chamber and engaging said actuator member so as to control movement of said actuator member in the space between said arms whereby inward movement of said actuator arm by external pressure is only sufiicient to move the arms apart a distance sufiicent to actuate simultaneously the discharge valves of said containers to release the contents of each container into the passageways of said arms and said discharge pas sage wherein the chemical entities are commingled in the Zone of turbulence and interacted exothermically prior to issuance from the discharge spout as a heated product ready for use.

7. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 6 wherein one of the pair of arms terminates with a depending guide projection and the other arm terminates with an upstanding guide projection, the actuator arm is formed with a taper at one end adapted to be aligned with and extended between said guide projections.

8. A pressurized dispensing device for discharging a self-heating cosmetic preparation formed from at least two chemical entities adapted to react exothermically on contact and maintained in two spatially co-ordinative pressurized containers comprising a first pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, a second pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, a warming chamber having a hollow body adapted to receive the discharge valves of said containers through co-operative engagement therewith and providing a zone of turbulence, a discharge spout having a discharge passage therein and extending laterally from said warming chamber, said warming chamber having hollow portions connected with the valve stems of said containers, a movable piston slidably mounted within the hollow body of said warming chamber, said piston being formed with a passageway communicable with said hollow portions and said discharge passage, resilient means supported by said piston for controlling upward movement of said piston, and a means for actuating the discharge valves of said containers to release simultaneously the contents of each container into the warming chamber whereby the chemical entities are commingled in the zone of turbulence and interacted exothermically prior to issuance from the discharge spout as a heated product ready for use.

9. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 8 wherein the warming chamber is substantially cylindrical with a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion formed with a central depending hollow portion telescoped with the valve stem of one container, a side wall portion having an upper edge integral with said top wall portion and a bottom edge integral with said bottom wall portion, said side wall having an outwardly extending hollow portion telescoped with the valve stem of the second container and the discharge spout extending laterally from a portion of said wall opposite said outwardly extending hollow portion, the piston is substantially circular in crosssection with a generally diminishing diameter in the lower portion and formed with a circumferential channel that is positioned horizontally below said outwardly extending hollow portion and said discharge spout, and the resilient means supported by said piston is positioned between said piston and the top wall portion of said chamber for controlling movement of said piston whereby said piston is capable of selectively sliding upwardly so as to move its circumferential channel into alignment with said outwardly extending hollow portion and said discharge spout upon release of contents of the container positioned adjacent the bottom wall of said chamber.

10. A pressurized dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the two containers and warming chamber are positioned so as to situate said containers at right angles and are held in co-operative spatial disposition by a housing.

11. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 8 wherein the warming chamber has a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion, end walls, a front wall portion formed with a discharge spout extending laterally therefrom, a rear wall portion formed with a pair of outwardly extending hollow portions spaced from each other a distance sufiicient to position the two containers in a parallel horizontal relation when the valve stem of said containers are seated in said hollow portions, the wall portions of said chamber defining a hollow cavity, a movable piston formed with an upper rectangular portion and a bottom portion formed with inwardly tapering walls, said upper rectangular portion provided with an oblique passageway communicating .from the rear face to the front face of said upper rectangular portion, and resilient means supported by said piston and between said piston and the top wall portion of said warming chamber for controlling vertical movement of said piston from an at-rest position on the bottom wall portion of said warming chamber, the hollow portions of the rear of said warming chamber and the discharge spout are spaced so that only the lowest hollow portion is positioned horizontally below the lower tapering portion of said piston whereby said piston is capable of selectively sliding upward so as to position the oblique passageway into alignment with the upper hollow portion and the discharge spout of said warming chamber whenever contents of the container have its valve stem seated in the lowest hollow portion are released into the cavity of said warming chamber.

12. A pressurized dispensing device according to claim 11 wherein the rear wall portion of said chamber is provided with a pair of sleeves, each of said sleeves being concentric with a hollow portion and extending outwardly from said rear wall portion and of sufficient size to house a container, said containers being co-operatively retained by a clip having an integral spacing element whereby said containers are capable of simultaneous actuation.

13. A pressurized dispensing device for discharging a self-heating cosmetic preparation formed from at least two chemical entities adapted to react exothermically on contact and maintained in tWo spatially co-ordinative pressurized containers comprising a first pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, a second pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, an upwardly extending warming chamber having top and bottom means for association with the discharge valves of the pressurized containers, a first passageway and a second passageway within said warming chamber, a discharge spout extending laterally from said warming chamber, said passageways being in communication with said valve stems and being formed so that they communicate with a discharge passage which extends through said discharge spout, a housing at least partially enclosing said containers and said warming chamber, said housing maintaining said containers in axially reciprocable relation relative to each other, an aperture in said housing enabling the discharge of material from said warming chamber therethrough, means to operate the discharge valves of said containers to release simultaneously the contents of each container into the warming chamber wherein the chemical entities are com-mingled and interacted exothermically prior to issuance from said discharge spout as a heated product ready for use.

14. A pressurized dispensing device for discharging a self-heating cosmetic preparation formed from at least two chemical entities adapted to react exothermically on contact and maintained in two spatially co-ordinative pressurized containers comprising a first pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, a second pressurized container having a discharge valve and a discharge valve stem at one end thereof, an upwardly extending warming chamher having a top and a bottom mounting means for association with the discharge valves of the pressurized containers, a first passageway and a second passageway within said warming chamber, a discharge spout extending laterally from said warming chamber, said passageways being in communication with said valve stems and being formed so that they communicate with a discharge passage which extends through said discharge spout, a housing being opened at its bottom, said housing forming an enclosure about one of said containers and about said warming chamber with the bottom of said housing being supported by the second container, there being an aperture in said housing enabling the discharge spout of said Warming chamber to extend therethrough, an actuator element mounted to extend through said housing and adapted to be co-operatively associated with said containers and said chamber so as to operate the discharge valves of said containers to release simultaneously the contents of each container into the warming chamber wherein the chemical entities are commingled and interacted exothermically prior to issuance from said discharge spout as a heated product ready for use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,096,001 7/1963 Boe et al. 222- 3,236,457 2/1966 Kennedy et al. 222-135 X 3,344,959 10/1967 Faso 222183 OTHER REFERENCES Gaylord, N. G.: Reduction with Complex Metal Hydrider, Interscience, 1956, p. 1020.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, JR., Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

Images