US-12617602-B2 - Aerosol dispenser and nozzle with reduced drip

Abstract

A spray dispenser includes a container, a valve body, a valve stem, a supply channel, an actuator, and a nozzle. The container valve stem, supply channel and nozzle are in fluid communication. The valve stem is movable from a closed position to a fully open position, wherein in the closed position the valve stem channel is not in fluid communication with the interior of the container, wherein in the fully open position the valve stem channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the container. The actuator is in operative communication with the valve stem, wherein the actuator is movable from resting position to a fully actuated position, wherein in the resting position the valve stem is in the closed position, and wherein in the fully actuated position the valve stem is in the fully open position. The supply channel defines a supply channel length L SC measured along a central axis fluid flow through the supply channel, wherein the supply channel length L SC is greater than 23 mm. A minimum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem is fully open defines a fully open minimum Dv90 particle size, and wherein a maximum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem is fully open defines a fully open maximum Dv90 particle size, wherein a fully open Dv90 particle size range is the difference between the fully open maximum Dv90 particle size and the fully open minimum Dv90 particle size, wherein the fully open Dv90 particle size range may be less than 10 microns.

Inventors

• Kumaresh Govindan Radhakrishnan

Assignees

• THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231117

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A spray dispenser comprising: a container comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the container defining an interior for containing a composition and a compressed gas propellant, wherein the first end portion comprises a neck defining an opening; a valve body disposed at least partially within the opening of the container, the valve body comprising an inner passageway in fluid communication with the container; a valve stem extending through the inner passageway, the valve stem having a valve stem channel, the valve stem being movable from a closed position to a fully open position, wherein in the closed position the valve stem channel is not in fluid communication with the interior of the container, and wherein in the fully open position the valve stem channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the container; a supply channel in fluid communication with the valve stem, wherein the supply channel defines a supply channel length L SC measured along a central axis fluid flow through the supply channel, wherein the supply channel length L SC is greater than 23 mm; an actuator in operative communication with the valve stem, wherein the actuator is movable from resting position to a fully actuated position, wherein in the resting position the valve stem is in the closed position, and wherein in the fully actuated position the valve stem is in the fully open position; and a nozzle in fluid communication with the supply channel, wherein the nozzle comprises a swirl chamber in fluid communication with a discharge orifice, wherein a minimum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem is either in the fully open position or when the valve stem is displacing from the fully open position to the closed position defines a minimum Dv90 particle size, and wherein a maximum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem displaces from the fully open position to the closed position defines a closing maximum Dv90 particle size, wherein a ratio of the closing maximum Dv90 particle size to the minimum Dv90 particle size is less than 3.5, measured according to the Dv90 Particle Size Test Method described herein.
2. 2 . The spray dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a composition and a compressed gas propellant.
3. 3 . The spray dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the composition is an air or fabric freshening composition.
4. 4 . The spray dispenser of claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the composition discharged from the nozzle is in the range of 1.3 g/s to 1.9 g/s.
5. 5 . The spray dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the minimum Dv90 particle size is in the range of 60 microns to 90 microns.
6. 6 . The spray dispenser of claim 1 , wherein an initial pressure in the container is less than 1100 kPa at 21° C.
7. 7 . The spray dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the swirl chamber has a chamber diameter CD of 800 mm or less and a chamber depth CH of less than 500 microns.
8. 8 . The spray dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a push-button or trigger.
9. 9 . The spray dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the container, the valve body, the valve stem, the nozzle, and the actuator comprise plastic.
10. 10 . A spray dispenser, the dispenser comprising: a container comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the container defining an interior for containing a composition and a compressed gas propellant, wherein the first end portion comprises a neck defining an opening; a valve body disposed at least partially within the opening of the container, the valve body comprising an inner passageway in fluid communication with the container, a valve stem extending through the inner passageway, wherein the valve stem having a valve stem channel, the valve stem is movable from a closed position to a fully open position, wherein in the closed position the valve stem channel is not in fluid communication with the interior of the container, wherein in the fully open position the valve stem channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the container; a supply channel in fluid communication with the valve stem, wherein the supply channel defines a supply channel length L SC measured along a central axis fluid flow through the supply channel, wherein the supply channel length L SC is greater than 23 mm; an actuator in operative communication with the valve stem, wherein the actuator is movable from resting position to a fully actuated position, wherein in the resting position the valve stem is in the closed position, and wherein in the fully actuated position the valve stem is in the fully open position; a nozzle in fluid communication with the fluid channel, wherein the nozzle comprises a swirl chamber in fluid communication with a discharge orifice, wherein a minimum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem is fully open defines a fully open minimum Dv90 particle size, and wherein a maximum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem is fully open defines a fully open maximum Dv90 particle size, wherein a fully open Dv90 particle size range is a difference between the fully open maximum Dv90 particle size and the fully open minimum Dv90 particle size, wherein the fully open Dv90 particle size range is less than 10 microns, according to the Dv90 Particle Size Test Method described herein.
11. 11 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the container comprises a composition and a compressed gas propellant.
12. 12 . The spray dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the composition is an air or fabric freshening composition.
13. 13 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein a minimum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem is either in the fully open position or when the valve stem is displacing from the fully open position to the closed position defines an overall minimum Dv90 particle size, and wherein a maximum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem displaces from the fully open position to the closed position defines a closing maximum Dv90 particle size, wherein a ratio of the closing maximum Dv90 particle size to the overall minimum Dv90 particle size is less than 3.5, measured according to the Dv90 Particle Size Test Method described herein.
14. 14 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein a flow rate of the composition discharged from the nozzle is in the range of 1.3 g/s to 1.9 g/s.
15. 15 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the minimum Dv90 particle size is in the range of 60 microns to 90 microns.
16. 16 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein an initial pressure in the container is less than 1100 kPa at 21° C.
17. 17 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the container contains the composition, and the composition comprises a perfume mixture.
18. 18 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a push-button or trigger.
19. 19 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the container, the valve body, the valve stem, the nozzle, and the actuator comprise plastic.
20. 20 . The spray dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the swirl chamber has a chamber diameter of 800 mm or less.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure is directed to a nozzle for a spray dispenser, and, more particularly, to a nozzle and spray dispenser for use with compressed gas propellants. BACKGROUND Pressurized spray dispensers for dispensing compositions, such as liquid compositions, are known in the art. Some spray dispensers are pressurized with compressed gas, such as nitrogen or air. As a composition is dispensed from a spray dispenser that utilizes compressed gas as the propellant, the pressure in the container reduces, which, in turn, can impact the particle size and flow rate of the dispensed composition. The particle size and flow rate of the dispensed composition may also be influenced by the structure of the dispensing system and/or the nozzle of the spray dispenser. A spray dispenser may include a container for containing the composition and a compressed gas propellant, a valve assembly in fluid communication with the container, a supply channel in fluid communication with the valve assembly, a nozzle in fluid communication with the supply channel, and an actuator in operative communication with the valve assembly. Various aspects of the valve assembly, supply channel, and/or nozzle may influence the particle size and flow rate. For example, a relatively long supply channel allows for a greater accumulation of composition. When the valve assembly adjusts from a fully open position where the composition is being dispensed to a closed position where the composition is no longer being fed from the container to the valve assembly, the composition in the supply channel and nozzle will continue to dispense from the nozzle until the pressure in the supply channel is too low to force the composition out of the nozzle. The change in pressure in the supply channel as the last remaining composition from the supply channel is dispensed through the nozzle may result in larger particles that may appear to a user as drips or larger droplets that more easily fall to the floor. This phenomenon may be undesirable for a user. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a nozzle and spray dispenser that is capable of maintaining a uniform and relatively small particle size during a single spray duration with a compressed gas as the propellant. SUMMARY “Combinations:” A. A spray dispenser, the dispenser comprising: a container comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the container defining an interior for containing a composition and a compressed gas propellant, wherein the first end portion comprises a neck defining an opening;a valve body disposed at least partially within the opening of the container, the valve body comprising an inner passageway in fluid communication with the container,a valve stem extending through the inner passageway, wherein the valve stem having a valve stem channel, the valve stem is movable from a closed position to a fully open position, wherein in the closed position the valve stem channel is not in fluid communication with the interior of the container, wherein in the fully open position the valve stem channel is in fluid communication with the interior of the container;a supply channel in fluid communication with the valve stem, wherein the supply channel defines a supply channel length LSC measured along a central axis fluid flow through the supply channel, wherein the supply channel length LSC is greater than 23 mm;an actuator in operative communication with the valve stem, wherein the actuator is movable from resting position to a fully actuated position, wherein in the resting position the valve stem is in the closed position, and wherein in the fully actuated position the valve stem is in the fully open position;a nozzle in fluid communication with the supply channel, wherein the nozzle comprises a swirl chamber in fluid communication with a discharge orifice,wherein a minimum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem is either in the fully open position or when the valve stem is displacing from the fully open position to the closed position defines a minimum Dv90 particle size, and wherein a maximum Dv90 particle size exiting the discharge orifice when the valve stem displaces from the fully open position to the closed position defines a closing maximum Dv90 particle size, wherein a ratio of the closing maximum Dv90 particle to the minimum Dv90 particle size is less than 3.5, measured according to the Dv90 Particle Size Test Method described herein. B. The spray dispenser of Paragraph A, wherein the container comprises a composition and a compressed gas propellant.C. The spray dispenser of Paragraph B, wherein the composition is an air or fabric freshening composition.D. The spray dispenser of any of Paragraphs A through C, wherein a flow rate of the composition discharged from the nozzle is in the range of about 1.3 g/s to about 1.9 g/s.E. The spray dispenser