Abstract: A concentrated reduced dosage spray pump delivery system for dispensing fluids containing actives and volatile organic compounds with reduced emissions of the volatile organic compounds is disclosed. The system includes a housing storing a concentrated fluid containing volatile organic compounds and an effective component, wherein the effective component is concentrated within the fluid. The system also includes a spray pump in fluid communication with the concentrated fluid containing the volatile organic compounds such that the spray pump dispenses the concentrated fluid at a reduced dosage per pump stroke. The combination of the concentrated fluid containing volatile organic compounds and the reduced dosage per pump stroke reduces the emission of volatile organic compounds, while the quantity of actives applied per square area of application surface substantially remains the same.

Abstract: A high pressure manually-actuated spray pump for dispensing a fluid. The spray pump comprises a nozzle through which the fluid is dispensed and a pumping engine. The pumping engine comprises a reservoir, a closure, and a plunger. The reservoir has an open top and a closed bottom and an interior surface. The plunger has an outer surface and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough. The plunger further having an outlet valve mounted therein and an upper end and a lower end. The lower end being slidably disposed within the open top of the reservoir forming an interior chamber within the reservoir. The interior chamber has an annular chamber and a main chamber. The annular chamber being in fluid communication with the main chamber. The annular chamber is formed by the outer surface of the plunger being spaced away from the interior surface of the reservoir such that there is no frictional contact between the outer surface and the interior surface.

Abstract: A high pressure manually-actuated spray pump for dispensing a fluid. The spray pump comprises a nozzle through which the fluid is dispensed and a pumping engine. The pumping engine comprises a reservoir, a closure, and a plunger. The reservoir has an open top and a closed bottom and an interior surface. The plunger has an outer surface and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough. The plunger further having an outlet valve mounted therein and an upper end and a lower end. The lower end being slidably disposed within the open top of the reservoir forming an interior chamber within the reservoir. The interior chamber has an annular chamber and a main chamber. The annular chamber being in fluid communication with the main chamber. The annular chamber is formed by the outer surface of the plunger being spaced away from the interior surface of the reservoir such that there is no frictional contact between the outer surface and the interior surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spray package having a container body, an actuator, and a shroud between the container body and the actuator. The actuator has a nozzle, and is adjustable between a locked position and an unlocked position by rotation of the nozzle about the actuator's longitudinal axis. The unlocked position allows vertical movement of the actuator for dispensing product from the package, and the locked position prevents vertical movement of the actuator to prohibit dispensing of product from the package. The locked position simultaneously provides cooperation between the nozzle and an anti-clog member, connected to and extending above the shroud. The anti-clog member has a nozzle seal on its inside surface which inhibits clogging of product within and about the nozzle when the seal is in contact with the nozzle.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle having a plurality of vanes, a swift chamber, and a discharge orifice is provided for dispensing a liquid spray. The plurality of vanes extend outwardly from the swirl chamber and are in fluid communication therewith. The discharge orifice is generally concentric and in fluid communication with the swift chamber. The atomizing nozzle provides a fine atomized spray when used in manually-actuated pump type dispensers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved atomization system for dispensing and atomizing a fluid product having film-forming characteristics. The atomization system includes a nozzle for atomizing the fluid product which has been formed of a reduced wettability composition including a base material and a wettability-reducing component for reducing the wettability of the base material with the fluid product. The reduced-wettability attribute ensures that the product will tend to "bead up" on the surfaces of the nozzle assembly rather than wetting or coating the surfaces. The surfaces will thus tend to repel the product, once the supply pressure driving the fluid toward the nozzle is relieved, leaving the critical nozzle surfaces substantially free of a film of product which would tend to dry and form a residue on the critical nozzle surfaces when exposed to atmospheric air.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manually operated dispensing system for dispensing a liquid product in atomized or foam form. More particularly, the present invention provides an improved manually operated pump to for use in such dispensing systems which incorporates at least one collapsible bellows as a pump chamber. The use of a bellows as the air chamber in an air/liquid pump mechanism allows the pressure/volume profile of the air supply to be tailored to supply the desired air/liquid ratio throughout the travel of the pump mechanism. The shape of the air bellows is preferably selected to provide an is initially large volume reduction in the air chamber as the bellows collapses to provide a rapid rise in air pressure available for dispensing. In a preferred embodiment, dual bellows are utilized (one for liquid, one for air) in a concentric arrangement to allow the pressure/volume profile for each to be tailored to achieve the desired spray or foam characteristics.

Abstract: A foam dispensing system for a foamable liquid has a means for producing a spray of droplets in which the spray of droplets has key parameters of: the number averaged mean diameter and the mean axial droplet velocity. The foam dispensing system also has a foaming nozzle connected to the means for producing a spray of droplets that is placed in fluid communication with the spray of droplets. The foaming nozzle has a screen which has a plurality of screen openings having a mesh range from 30 to 60 openings per linear inch. Key parameters of the screen are: the percent open area is from about 35% to 60% and the screen openings are larger than the number average mean diameter of the spray of droplets. When the mean axial droplet velocity is at least 8 m/s, the spray of droplets is transformed into a foamed spray as the droplets pass through the plurality of screen openings.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to improved atomization systems for comparatively higher viscosity liquid products. More particularly, the present invention provides an improved product delivery system which combines a pre-compression type pump mechanism with a nozzle having two or more orifices configured to discharge corresponding jets or streams of the product which impinge upon one another to provide a finely dispersed spray. The pre-compression pump mechanism ensures that the product will only be delivered when sufficient pressure is available for atomization. Regardless of the speed or authority with which the pump mechanism is actuated, pressure within the pump will accumulate without product discharge until a lower pressure threshold is reached, at which time a valve opens to permit product discharge with sufficient pressure for atomization. When the fluid streams impinge upon one another, the fluid is broken up into a finely dispersed mist which may then be directed toward the surface to be coated.

Abstract: A consumer product passage incorporating a mixing chamber for mixing air and liquid. Consumer packages of the present invention are capable of providing excellent spray qualities at typical consumer product flow rates (e.g., less than about 1.0 cubic centimeters per second) while simultaneously maintaining relatively low air to liquid ratios (e.g., less than about 0.06:1 on a mass basis) and relatively low pressures (e.g., less than about 50 psi). The package of the present invention also offers significant environmental and safety advantages. For example, it does not depend upon dissolved propellants; and it permits the use of water in place of volatile solvents as thinning agents since high surface tension fluids are actually sprayed better. Several packages of the present invention are illustrated, including a standard aerosol version, pump and spray versions, and a finger pump version.