Abstract:
The invention relates to a fluid dispensing device incorporating a push-button actuator normally biased in the closed position, a housing for receiving the aerosol canisters and a carrying case for the entire assembly. Activation is achieved by longitudinal axial compression followed by snapping engagement of the housing fitted about the aerosol valves which depresses the aerosol valves.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a pressurized chemical dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a hand-held apparatus particularly suitable for use in dispensing two-component systems, more particularly urethane foams, wherein the apparatus includes a push button dispensing assembly interconnected to the canister supplies. Optionally the apparatus is contained within a kit which permits one-handed operation. 
     The use of urethane and similar expandable foams has increased over the years for numerous applications. Urethane foams are well known as having desirable characteristics useful for many applications, such as insulation. Urethane foams are also well known for their compatibility with low cost blowing agents which allow such foams to be applied by way of pressurized containers as well as their natural adhesive qualities which allow such foams to bond excellently to any number of substrates. Typically, urethane foams are the reaction product of two individual components, one being an isocyanate and the other being a resin. These two individual components when reacted together under pressure, give the resultant foam various chemical compositions, each such composition having significant utility in a particular application. Thus, urethane foams may be specially formulated to provide a final foam which is rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. 
     Closed cell urethane foams have particular utility in building and structural insulation while open cell urethane foams have particular utility in packaging or non-insulating purposes. Regardless of cell structure, two-component urethane foams are typically formed by mixing the two or more individual foam components together when the foam components exit respective supply containers. Individual material supply tubes leading from each foam component container convey the foam components to a foam dispensing apparatus, such as a nozzle. 
     There are numerous applications in which polyurethane foam is used at a site for any number of applications in addition to its traditional use in the building trades as a source of insulation. Recently polyurethane foam has become used with increasing frequency as a sealant in the building trades for sealing spaces between window and door frames and the like and as an adhesive for glueing flooring and roof tiles and the like. The polyurethane foam for such in-situ applications is typically supplied as a one-component froth foam or a two-component froth foam. A one-component foam means that both the resin and isocyanate for the foam is supplied in a single pressurized container and dispensed from the container through a valve or gun attached to the container. A two-component “froth” foam means that one component is supplied in one pressurized container, typically the “A” container (i.e., polymeric isocyanate, fluorocarbons etc) while the resin is supplied in a second pressurized container, typically the “B” container (i.e., polyols, catalyst, flame retardants etc.). Typically two-component kits use pressurized cylinders which are connected by hoses to a dispensing gun. There are advantages and disadvantages to one-component and two-component foams. One of the advantages of the two-component system is its relatively long shelf life resulting from the fact that the chemicals are not mixed until they encounter one-another in the dispensing gun. 
     One application for a hand-held, portable two-component polyurethane froth foam kit exists in the mining industry. In the event of a fire in a shaft being tunneled, standard procedure is to extinguish the fire by sealing the shaft with a fire “door” and then pumping out from the shaft sealed by the door, the air in the shaft to extinguish the fire. It has been found that polyurethane foam is excellent for sealing the bulkhead or door to the tunnel. As already noted, the polyurethane foam has an adhesive characteristic and the foam can be formulated to provide a relatively quick tack free time with little permeability for gas escape. Surprisingly, the fire door is not adjacent an open flame, and whatever temperature the gases exhausted from the shaft are, they are not sufficiently high in temperature to disintegrate the foam. Because of its long shelf life, a two-component foam is ideal for this application. Standard procedure is to simply provide two-component kits at the shaft being tunneled to seal and secure the fire door or bulkhead to the shaft in the event of a fire. 
     Different packaging arrangements are used by different manufacturers. Many two-component kit packages use some form of tray with knock-out holes through which the hoses extend after the box is opened and the hoses attached to the cylinder&#39;s valved fitting. However, there is at least one two-component polyurethane froth foam box which utilizes cylinders equipped with “dip tubes” which extend through the outlet valve from the inside bottom of the cylinder. This allows the cylinders to be placed upright in the box instead of upside down. This carton does not use a tray and has the hoses extend out the side of the box through knock-out plugs. The carton is carried by a strap affixed to the top cover. The top cover is a flap which has to be opened and closed to gain access to the cylinder&#39;s valve after the hoses are connected to the cylinders. 
     What has been missing from the Prior Art however, is a foam dispensing device which couples both fail-safe operation by a two-stage activation procedure, coupled with a dispensing mechanism whereby the dispensing means is biased into a closed position. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to an easily assembled foam dispensing apparatus in which two foam component supply containers are held in place by an carrier assembly which includes a push-button dispensing assembly which is separate from the carrier assembly. 
     In one principal aspect of the present invention, the entire dispensing apparatus and carrier unit is contained in a carrying case. The carrying case contains two foam component supply canisters and an actuating assembly in the form of two foam component supply tubes, each having a predefined length which is sufficient to permit a dispensing assembly attached to the supply tubes to be operated remotely from the carrying case while interconnected thereto. The material supply tubes, dispensing assembly and one or more detachable dispensing nozzles are positioned within a designated area within the carrying case so that the apparatus may be sold as a single unit or kit. The case not only functions as a carrier assembly for the dispensing apparatus, but may also function as a shipping container therefor or as a display case. 
     In another principal aspect of the present invention, the dispensing apparatus includes a carrier which holds two foam component supply canisters in place and incorporates an actuating assembly to ensure simultaneous release of the two foam components from their respective supply canisters through foam component supply tubes. The tubes extend to a foam dispenser which includes a dispensing nozzle. The carrier is capable of holding the supply canisters in place in either an upright or inverted orientation depending on whether the canisters have a dip tube contained therein. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved foam dispensing apparatus having a foam dispensing member interconnected to two foam component supply canisters by a pair of supply tubes, the supply tubes conveying foam components to the foam dispensing member and permitting the dispensing nozzle member to operate detached from the apparatus and operated remotely from the foam supply canisters adjacent a work area. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple foam dispensing apparatus which can be easily operated by an ordinary consumer in which the apparatus includes a carrier member containing two upright foam component supply containers the carrier member including an actuating assembly having means for aligning a pair of material supply tubes with the foam component supply containers and actuating the same to convey foam components from the supply container to a push-button dispensing member biased in the closed position which upon activation through depression, dispenses the fluid contained within the canisters. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate the parts and appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an assembly view of the two component system showing two aerosol cans positioned within a two part top housing plate and a bottom canister positioning plate; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the canister positioning plate; 
     FIG. 3 is an assembly view of a valve depressor for one aerosol dispensing valve; 
     FIG. 4 is an assembly view of the shut-off valve housing within the dispensing nozzle; 
     FIG. 5 is an assembly view of a push button dispensing nozzle; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view in partial cross-section showing the push button dispensing nozzle in the closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view in partial cross-section showing the push button dispensing nozzle in a closed position with supplemental outwardly biased spring; 
     FIG. 8 is a reduced top plan view of a carrying case for the aerosol system; 
     FIG. 9 is a reduced side elevations view of the carrying case of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is an assembly view of the two component system illustrated in FIG. 1 as positioned within the carrying case of FIGS. 8-9; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of FIG. 10 showing the two component system positioned within one portion of the kit and a flap partially closed; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of FIG. 11 showing the partially closed flap of FIG. 11 in a completely closed position on the two component system; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of FIG. 12 illustrating the bottom segment flap closing about one side flap; and 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of FIG. 13 illustrating the bottom segment flap in its completely closed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, the Figures show a two-component portable polyurethane foam apparatus, optionally for inclusion in kit form. It is to be understood that the words “container” or “box” or case or kit are, for purposes of this description, identical and are used interchangeably throughout the specification in describing the combination of the two-component polyurethane foam dispensing system plus carrying case. 
     The portable two-component polyurethane foam kit includes two cylinders, typically an “A” cylinder, which contains a polymeric isocyanate and a “B” cylinder, which contains a polyol amine or resin. Formulations within each cylinder can vary significantly depending on the application. For example, adhesive applications produce a polyurethane foam which has very little, if any, “foam” while insulation applications use a formulation which produces a significant rise in the foam. Usually, portable, hand carried two-component polyurethane foam kits dispense the chemicals from the dispensing apparatus as a “froth” having a consistency or texture similar to that dispensed from an aerosol can of shaving cream. All such variations in the formulations of polyurethane and whether the chemicals are dispensed as a spray or froth are included within the scope of the present invention so long as the formulations are supplied in a portable, hand-carry form. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, a two component fluid (e.g., polyurethane foam) dispensing holder assembly  10  is shown illustrating an A aerosol component and a B aerosol component. The dispensing holder assembly  10  has an elongated oval canister positioning plate  12  having a top  14  and a bottom  18  side as well as an elongated oval two component top housing assembly  4  having an upper housing  6  and a lower housing  8 . Canister positioning plate  12  has a pair of raised circular ridges  16  on the top side  14  of the canister positioning plate which are dimensioned for frictional engagement with either of the circular aerosol can bottoms  24 . Optionally, the raised circular ridges will have an inwardly facing notch (not shown) at a bottom thereof for mating engagement with the peripherally extending canister lip when fully inserted into canister positioning plate  12 . Optionally a pair of supporting ribs  22  connect each raised circular ridge at a peripheral point thereupon. For ease of use in a multilingual environment, bottom side  18  of canister positioning plate  12  has a pair of hands  20  imprinted or molded thereunto to illustrate the location of an end-user&#39;s hands to effect longitudinal axial actuating movement of the valves positioned upon aerosol canisters A and B for the aerosol components which make up the two component polyurethane foam. Upon longitudinal axial compression, the aerosol system is transformed from its inactive state into an active state ready-for-use due to corresponding longitudinal axial compressive movement of the valves positioned at the top of each aerosol can. 
     Bottom housing  8  of the two component top housing assembly  4  will have a pair of openings  39  for insertion of the top (valve side) of canisters A and B through bottom side  30  of lower housing  8  with securing frictional engagement with a circular ridge on each dome-shaped circular top  26  of aerosol cans A and B as well as two pairs of resilient flexible upwardly-directioned clips  40  (inner),  50  (outer). Outer clips  50  have a detent  43  for engagement with inwardly facing hook member  45  of downwardly facing latch member  44  which when engaged with detent  43 , secure the top  6  and bottom  8  housings of two component top housing assembly  4  together at a predefined spaced apart distance when the dispensing system is in its inactivated state. When transitioning from the inactive to the active state, hook  45  of latch member  44  is disengaged from detent  43  by inward compressive movement of outer clips  50  coupled with further longitudinal axial compression. Complete aerosol activation via aerosol valve depression is achieved when mating engagement is effected between protruding lips  41  on inner clips  40  with lowered top surface  38  after penetration through a pair of receiving apertures  49  disposed on opposed ends of lowered surface  38  and inwardly disposed oval ridge  32  of bottom housing  8  moves via sliding engagement toward the top of raised portion  34 . A pair of indentations  2  are disposed within oval ridge  32  and positioned in proximity to ribbed exit port  53  positioned at the top of each outlet for each aerosol can for egress of a flexible plastic tube  52 ,  54  affixed to each aerosol dispensing valve  46  positioned on top of each valve stem of each aerosol cylinder. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, each aerosol dispensing valve  46  has an apertured bottom dimensioned for frictional engagement with an outer periphery of a valve stem of the aerosol can and a ribbed exit port  53  for affixing a plastic hose  52 ,  54  thereto via securing rings  51  for transporting the contents of either aerosol can A or B to a dispensing nozzle as illustrated in FIGS. 4-5, by egress of said tubing through indentations  2  of oval ridge  32  and cut-out portions  47  of raised portion  34  of upper housing  6 . Each tube enters an upper  92  and lower  94  finned rear end  72  of the dispenser  100  through a pair of ribbed inlet ports  64  and secured by a pair of securing rings  63  for ingress of fluid into chamber  56  having a vertically oriented axial bore  55  disposed therethrough (see FIG.  4 ), a pair of ribbed inlet ports  64  and one outlet bore  67  as illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. Each aerosol dispensing valve  46  is securedly fastened to raised portion  34  by retaining clips (not shown) extending downwardly from the raised portion and which engage a peripheral edge of the dispensing valve. 
     Dispenser  100  is comprised of a finned rear segment  72 , a chamber  56 , a centrally apertured  88  front nozzle  70  having an exit bore  90 , an upper retaining assembly  62  and a push-bottom  58  actuator. Front nozzle  70  sealed within the dispenser by frictional or rotational screw-like engagement of rearwardly protruding centrally apertured nozzle inlet  66  with chamber exit bore  67  within chamber  56 . In its fully inserted position, laterally and peripherally extending shelf  68  of nozzle  70  abuts front shelf  74  of finned rear segment  72  and front shelf  80  of upper retaining assembly  62 . Disposed within a forward compartment of rear segment  72  is chamber  56  held in place via insertion of at least one laterally extending projection into a mating recess in the forward compartment. Push-button  58  actuator is positioned and retained within the foam dispenser by laterally extending shelves or wings  78  which abut the apertures overlapping top surface of upper retaining assembly  62  and retaining clips  104 . Push-button valve  58  is biased in its closed position, i.e., laterally extending apertures  84  within circular projections  82  are not in fluid alignment with either the centrally disposed inlet bores  102  within ribbed inlet tubes  64  or chamber exit bore  67 . Resilient upward biasing is effected by the incorporation of extension piece  96  in contact with a bottom split wall  98  of the dispensing nozzle defining movable resiliently flexible flap  76  of rear segment  72 . Only upon positive downward engagement by a user of the nozzle will the horizontal laterally extending apertures  84  with raised lips about a periphery at both ends of the apertures, move into essentially leak-proof fluid alignment with inlet bores  102  and chamber exit bore  67  and nozzle entrance bore  88  egressing through nozzle tip  90 . In an optional embodiment the nozzle will further incorporate a secondary biasing means, e.g., a spring  99  for insuring that push button  58  remains in a closed position unless purposefully depressed and activated by an end user. 
     As an additional safety feature preventing against accidental or premature activation of the canisters through depression of the valves, a safety insert  48  may be incorporated into the assembly. This insert has a pair of legs  42  with extensions  59  which are insertable into receiving apertures  49  positioned within lowered surface  38 . With the safety inserted, it is not possible for the inner pair of clips  40  to penetrate through apertures  49  for locking engagement with lowered surface  38 . 
     Dispensing holder assembly  10  is often shipped within packaging or shipping container  150 . This foldable container has a pair of sides  152 ,  154  having a pair of recesses  174 ,  178  for securing of aerosol canisters A and B as well as top  156  having a movable tab  168  for affixing onto a display hanger and bottom segment  158 . Each pair of recesses has a bottom  162  and a top  164 ,  166  for receiving the canister positioning plate  12  and upper housing  6  and lower housing  8  component of top housing assembly  4  respectively. Recess  170  is available for storage of dispensing nozzle  100 . 
     When dispensing holder assembly  10  with canisters A and B is positioned within container  150 , and dispenser  100  is positioned within recess  170 , the end user can operate the entire assembly with one hand after activation of the unit by depressing push-button valve  58  which is exposed through opening  180 . It should be recognized that when the assembly is used in kit form, the aerosol canisters must be in their inverted position, unless the canisters are equipped with a dip tube. This means that in operation, top segment  156  is at the bottom, whereas bottom segment  158  is positioned at the top so as to enable the end-user to effect fluid transfer when depressing push-button valve  58 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the positioning of the two-component system discussed previously into full expanded kit or shipping container  150 . Each of canisters A and B are positioned within recesses  174  and  178  respectively. Upper and lower housings  6  and  8  are respectively positioned within top recess  164  with recessed dome portion  166  for accommodating raised portion  34  of upper housing  6 . Cannister positioning plate  12  is positioned within bottom recess  162  while dispenser  100  with front nozzle  70  is positioned within recess  170  with push-button actuator  58  protruding through opening  180 . The various designations of “top” and “bottom” were chosen with reference to how the product would hang on a display through movable tab  168 , thereby having recesses  164 ,  166  positioned at the top of the display and recess  162  at the bottom. It is understood that in operation, the kit would be turned upside-down and the designations of “top” and “bottom” would be inverted. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates FIG. 10 in which side flap  154  is positioned at approximately 90° to side flap  152  by moving side flap  154  in the direction designated by arrow “A” from its initial horizontal position. Continued clockwise movement along the direction designated by arrow “A” will form a container by mating engagement of side projections  176  and folding of segment  156  to form the “top” as the kit would be hung on a display or a “bottom” as the container would be used in operation. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the continued folding of shipping container  150  by counter-clockwise rotational movement in the direction designated by arrow “B” of segment  158  about top edge  186  of side flap  154  into opening  184  of said flap. Continued counter-clockwise rotational movement in the direction designated by arrow “C” effects mating engagement of raised male projections  182  on one side of segment  158  with mating female receptacles  188  for securing engagement illustrated in FIG.  14 . 
     While the dispensing holder assembly  10  is preferably used to dispense polyurethane foams, any pressurized fluid (gas, liquid, semi-solid or combinations thereof) is capable of being dispensed. Additionally, the invention is not limited to any one foam or polymer and additionally, is not limited to two canister two-component A and B systems. When the foam to be dispensed is a one-component system, the dispensing apparatus will operate with two canisters, each containing the same or different one-component compositions, and each canister positioned in the locations identified for the A and B components previously. In an alternative embodiment, the assembly will function with only one canister, said canister positioned in either of the two locations indicated previously, or positioned more centrally between those locations. 
     This invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, including the respective best modes for carrying out each embodiment. It shall be understood that these illustrations are by way of example and not by way of limitation.