REFILLABLE BAG-ON-VALVE SYSTEM
One embodiment relates to a system including a first bag-on-valve aerosol container including a first valve comprising a first valve stem, and a body having an aperture extending therethrough from a first end of the body to a second end of the body. The aperture is sized to accept the first valve stem at the first end of the body. The aperture is also sized to accept a second valve stem at the second end of the body; the body sized to accept the first valve stem and a second valve stem at the same time. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
For certain types of products, an aerosol can is used to deliver the product. Aerosol containers may include a variety of configurations, including, for example, piston-in-can and bag-in-can designs. One example of a bag-in-can design includes a flexible bag within a can, wherein the flexible bag has an open end sealingly connected to an aerosol valve. Such a configuration is commonly referred to as a bag-on-valve (BOV) design. The product is typically filled into the flexible bag and a propellant (for example, liquid or compressed gas) is positioned in the can outside of the bag between the bag outer wall and the inner wall of the can. When the valve is actuated, the force applied to the bag from the propellant causes the product to be transmitted through the valve to the environment outside the can. The can is configured so that the propellant remains in the can after the product has been transmitted through the valve and out of the can.
Certain embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawing which, for illustrative purposes, are schematic and not necessarily drawn to scale.
Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to devices, systems, and methods used for transmitting a product from one aerosol container to another container. The aerosol container may in certain embodiments be a bag-on-valve container, in which a pressurized gas in a can applies a pressure to a bag positioned in the can, to force the product out of the can when a valve is actuated. Such products may include, but are not limited to, health and cosmetic formulations, for example, hair care products, shaving products, sun protection factor (SPF) products, and skin care products.
A propellant 22 is positioned in the can 12, to apply a pressure to the bag 14. The propellant 22 may be any suitable propellant, including, but not limited to, compressed gases and/or liquefied hydrocarbons.
The aperture 32 extending through the body 30 as illustrated in the embodiment of
In addition, the second container 110 may include a propellant that applies a different pressure to the bag 114 than the pressure applied to the bag 14 by the propellant in the first container 10. By having a different pressure in each of the containers 10, 110, when each is coupled to the body 30 and actuated, the bag having a higher pressure applied to it will deliver product to the bag in the other can. When a compressed gas propellant (for example, nitrogen or air) is used, the bag in the can being filled will either be filled to its capacity or be filled until the pressure in each can is equalized. If a liquified hydrocarbon propellant (for example, isopentane, isobutene, or dimethyl ether) is used, a constant pressure is applied to the bag regardless of the quantity of product in the can. As a result, when a liquefied hydrocarbon is used, the bag being filled (the bag with the lower pressure) will either be filled to its capacity or filled until the supply can is empty of product. This is because the hydrocarbon propellant is present in an equilibrium state of liquid and vapor in the can. In certain embodiments, the propellant in one of the containers 10, 110 has a pressure that is about 15 percent to about 150 percent greater than the pressure in the other of the containers 10, 110.
It should be appreciated that the actual pressure applied to the bag in the container will vary as the product is delivered into or out of the can when a compressed gas (e.g. nitrogen, air, etc.) is used as the propellant. This is because as the bag is emptied of product, the bag will fold up, thus increasing the volume between the bag and the can. As this increased volume is filled with the compressed gas, the pressure on the bag decreases. When a liquid hydrocarbon propellant is used, the pressure to the bag in the container remains generally constant as the product is delivered into or out of the can, because the liquid hydrocarbon propellant is present in the can in an amount to ensure equilibrium state of liquid and vapor. As a result, as the bag is emptied of product and begins to fold up, the increased volume between the bag and the can will be filled with additional vapor from the volatile hydrocarbon liquid, thus keeping the pressure constant.
As the product is used up, the volume inside the can between the bag and the interior walls of the can changes as the bag collapses due to the decreased amount of product therein. As illustrated in
The body through which the product is transmitted from one container to another container may have a variety of configurations in addition to the configuration of the body 30 illustrated in
Embodiments may include systems or kits including a body for transferring a product from one bag-on-valve container to another bag-on-valve container, and a bag-on-valve container. Such a system may include, for example, a relatively small container. The user may then separately obtain another container, such as a larger volume container containing the product, and then refill the smaller container when needed. Alternatively, systems or kits may include both a small container and a large container, together with the body for transferring the product between containers. Embodiments may also include the body alone. As noted above, the body may have a variety of configurations, depending on the specific features of the valves and cans used.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following advantages. First, embodiments permit a container to be reused instead of being discarded after one use. Second, embodiments provide for improved convenience because a user can, for example, carry a small container with them during the day and then refill it from a large container (which is kept at home) when necessary. Third, once the user has the small container and the body for transferring product, then the user can purchase large containers used for refill. Purchasing large containers is likely to be more economical for the user. Fourth, certain embodiments may utilize a compressed gas that is non-volatile, such as nitrogen or air. The use of such gases in an aerosol container is environmentally safe. In one specific use, a small container including a non-volatile compressed gas may be suitable for use in an airplane, whereas a container including a liquefied hydrocarbon may not be suitable. Other advantages may also be present in various embodiments.
The exact form of embodiments may change depending on factors such as the size and type of valve used, and the shape of the valve stem and the bottle. For example, while the apertures in certain embodiments are circular in cross section, other shapes are possible depending on, for example, the shape of the valve stem used. The sizes and angles of the surfaces of the body defining the aperture may also be varied from those illustrated. In addition, while the bodies in the various configurations are illustrated as rectangular in cross section, other shapes are possible. Furthermore, the shape and size of the various components (can, valve, body) may be different from those illustrated. Since there may be many modifications without departing from the scope of the invention, the examples set forth herein are not intended to limit the invention but to illustrate certain aspects of the invention more clearly.
It will, of course, be understood that modifications of embodiments of the present invention, in its various aspects, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above. In addition, the terms “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereof mean “including, but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. A listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. An ordering of operations does not necessarily mean that the operations must be carried out in the listed order. The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a first bag-on-valve aerosol container including a first valve comprising a first valve stem; and
- a body including an aperture extending therethrough from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the aperture sized to accept the first valve stem at the first end of the body, the aperture also sized to accept a second valve stem at the second end of the body; the body sized to accept the first valve stem and a second valve stem at the same time.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second bag-on-valve aerosol container including a second valve comprising a second valve stem.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first aerosol container and the second aerosol container are different sizes.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture at the first end of the body includes a first width, and the aperture at the second end of the body includes a second width, and the first width equals the second width.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture at the first end of the body includes a first width, and the aperture at the second end of the body includes a second width, and the first width is different than the second width.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture includes a first width at the first end of the body, a second width at the second end of the body, and a third width at a central portion of the body, wherein the third width is smaller than the first width and the second width.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture includes a larger width at the first end of the body than at a central portion of the body, and wherein the aperture includes a larger width at the second end of the body than at the central portion of the body.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture includes a frusto-conical shaped portion extending from the first end of the body to an interior region of the body spaced away from the first end, and wherein the aperture includes a frusto-conical shaped portion extending from the second end of the body to an interior region of the body spaced away from the second end.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a cylindrical shape.
10. The system of claim 2, wherein the first aerosol container and the second aerosol container each contain a product therein, the product selected from the group consisting of a shaving gel, a shaving cream, a hair gel, a hair spray, a shampoo, an sun protection product, and a cleansing product.
11. A method for filling a first bag-on-valve aerosol container from a second bag-on-valve aerosol container, comprising:
- providing a first container comprising a bag-on-valve aerosol container, the first container including a first valve stem;
- providing a second container comprising a bag-on-valve aerosol container, the second container including a second valve stem;
- providing a body including an aperture extending therethrough from a first end of the body to a second end of the body;
- positioning the body and the first container so that the valve stem of the first container is accepted into the aperture at the first end of the body;
- positioning the body and the second container so that the valve stem of the second container is accepted into the aperture at the second end of the body; and
- actuating the valve on the first container and actuating the valve on the second container so that a product is transferred from one of the first container and the second container to the other of the first container and the second container through the body.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the actuating the valve on the first container and actuating the valve on the second container is carried out for a time sufficient so that one of (i) equalizing a pressure between the first container and the second container, and (ii) filling one of the first container and the second container with the product, occurs.
13. A body adapted to fit first and second bag-on-valve aerosol spray containers at the same time, comprising:
- a body including an aperture extending therethrough from a first end of the body to a second end of the body,
- the aperture sized to accept a first valve stem from a first bag-on-valve aerosol spray container at the first end of the body;
- the aperture also sized to accept a second valve stem from a second bag-on-valve aerosol spray container at the second end of the body; and
- wherein the body is sized to accept the first valve stem from the first bag-on-valve aerosol spray container and the second valve stem from the second bag-on-valve aerosol container at the same time.
14. The body of claim 13, wherein the aperture at the first end of the body includes a first width, and the aperture at the second end of the body includes a second width, and the first width equals the second width.
15. The body of claim 13, wherein the aperture at the first end of the body includes a first width, and the aperture at the second end of the body includes a second width, and the first width is different than the second width.
16. The body of claim 13, wherein the body comprises a cylindrical shape.
17. The body of claim 13, wherein the aperture includes a first width at the first end of the body, a second width at the second end of the body, and a third width at a central portion of the body, wherein the third width is smaller than the first width and the second width.
18. The body of claim 13, wherein the aperture includes a larger width at the first end of the body than at a central portion of the body, and wherein the aperture includes a larger width at the second end of the body than at the central portion of the body.
19. The body of claim 13, wherein the aperture includes a frusto-conical shaped portion extending from the first end of the body to an interior region of the body spaced away from the first end, and wherein the aperture includes a frusto-conical shaped portion extending from the second end of the body to an interior region of the body spaced away from the second end.
20. The body of claim 19, wherein the aperture further includes a cylindrical shaped portion positioned between the frusto-conical shaped portions
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 27, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 2, 2010
Inventor: Yoram FISHMAN (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 12/395,559
International Classification: B65B 1/04 (20060101); B65D 35/56 (20060101); B65B 31/00 (20060101);