# Patent

## Title
Particulate materials for acoustic texture material

## Abstract

An aerosol texturing system for forming a textured surface on drywall material. The aerosol texturing system comprises an aerosol assembly defining a product chamber and acoustic texture material and propellant material disposed within the product chamber. The aerosol assembly is selectively operable in a first mode in which the product chamber is sealed and in a second mode in which fluid is allowed to flow out of the product chamber along a dispensing passageway. The acoustic texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion. The particulate portion comprises at least one particulate material selected from the group consisting of urethane foam and melamine foam. At least a portion of the propellant material exists in a gaseous state such that, when the aerosol assembly is in the second mode, the propellant material forces the acoustic texture material out of the aerosol assembly along the dispensing passageway.

## Background
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/617,236 filed Oct. 8, 2004.


TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to particulate materials for use in acoustic texture material and, more particularly, to particulate materials that may be used in acoustic texture material formulated to be dispensed from aerosol dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Interior walls are formed by sheets of drywall material that are secured to the framing of a building. The seams between adjacent sheets of drywall material are taped, mudded, and sanded to obtain a substantially flat, smooth drywall surface. The drywall surface is coated with primer and paint to obtain a finished surface.
In some situations, a separate texture layer is applied to the drywall surface prior to painting. The texture layer is formed by spraying texture material onto the drywall surface. Texture material is a coating material that, when sprayed, does not form a smooth, thin coating. Instead, texture material is applied in discrete drops or globs that dry to form a bumpy, irregular textured surface.
Texture materials can be applied using any one of a number of application systems. During new construction, texture materials are commonly applied in a stream of compressed air using commercial hopper gun systems. For touch up or repair, texture material is commonly applied using hand operated pneumatic pumps or aerosol dispensing systems. Varying the parameters of the application system varies the size and spacing of the bumps to vary the look of the textured surface.
One specific form of texture material is commonly referred to as “acoustic” or “popcorn” texture material. In addition to a coating material, acoustic texture material further comprises an aggregate material. When the acoustic texture material is applied using commercial hopper guns, the aggregate material is conventionally formed by polystyrene chips. However, as will be described in detail below, chips made of polystyrene foam are dissolved by hydrocarbon aerosol propellant materials.
Accordingly, aerosol dispensing systems for dispensing small amounts of acoustic texture material for repair or touch-up purposes use one of two approaches. The first approach is to mix a liquid hydrocarbon aerosol propellant material with chips made from materials other than polystyrene. However, when chips made of materials other than polystyrene foam are used, the appearance and function of the texture surface may be different from that of the surrounding surface.
The second approach is to combine polystyrene chips with a propellant material formed by a pressurized inert gas such as nitrogen or air. This second approach allows the use of a conventional acoustic texture material including polystyrene chips. However, the use of a pressurized inert gas causes the acoustic texture material to be dispensed very quickly. The use of pressurized inert gas as a propellant can make it difficult for a non-professional to control the application of the acoustic texture material.
The need thus exists for improved systems and methods for dispensing small quantities of acoustic texture material for the purpose of touch-up or repair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention may be embodied as an aerosol texturing system for forming a textured surface on drywall material. The aerosol texturing system comprises an aerosol assembly defining a product chamber and acoustic texture material and propellant material disposed within the product chamber. The aerosol assembly is selectively operable in a first mode in which the product chamber is sealed and in a second mode in which fluid is allowed to flow out of the product chamber along a dispensing passageway. The acoustic texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion. The particulate portion comprises at least one particulate material selected from the group consisting of urethane foam and melamine foam. At least a portion of the propellant material exists in a gaseous state such that, when the aerosol assembly is in the second mode, the propellant material forces the acoustic texture material out of the aerosol assembly along the dispensing passageway.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a section view of a first embodiment of an aerosol dispensing system containing acoustic texture material incorporating particulate material of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a section view of a second embodiment of an aerosol dispensing system containing acoustic texture material incorporating particulate material of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevation view depicting the use of one or both of the first and second aerosol dispensing systems of FIGS. 1 and 2 being used to deposit acoustic texture material to a surface;
FIG. 4 is a section view of the acoustic texture material after it has been deposited on the surface; and
FIGS. 5 and 6 are bottom plan views of the surface before and after the acoustic texture material has been deposited thereon.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawing, depicted at 20a therein is a first embodiment of an aerosol system for depositing on a surface 22 (FIGS. 3-6) acoustic texture material 24 incorporating particulate material 26 of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a target portion 28 of the surface 22 on which acoustic texture material 24 is to be deposited.
The example aerosol system 20a comprises a container assembly 30, a valve assembly 32, a collection assembly 34, and an outlet assembly 36. The container 30 defines a product chamber 40 in which the acoustic texture material 24 comprising the particulate material 26 is contained. A first portion 42 of the chamber 40 is occupied by the acoustic texture material 24, while a second portion 44 of the chamber 40 is occupied by a pressurized propellant material 46. The example container assembly 30 comprises a can member 50 and a cup member 52.
The valve assembly 32 is mounted in a cup opening 54 defined by the cup member 52 and operates in a closed configuration (shown) and an open configuration. In the open configuration, the valve assembly 32 defines a dispensing passageway that allows fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the container assembly 30.
The outlet assembly 36 comprises an actuator member 60 that causes acoustic texture material 24 to be dispensed by the system 20 in a fan shaped spray as will be described in further detail below. The actuator member 60 is mounted on the valve assembly 32 such that displacing the outlet member 60 towards the valve assembly 32 places the valve assembly in the open configuration.
The example valve assembly 32 comprises a valve seat 70, a valve stem 72, a valve housing 74, a dip tube 76, and a valve spring 78. The valve seat 70 defines a seat opening 70a and is supported by the cup member 52. The valve stem 72 defines a valve stem opening 72a and a valve surface 72b. The valve stem 72 is supported by the valve seat 70 such that the valve stem moves within the valve stem opening 72a between first and second positions, with the first position being shown in FIG. 1.
The valve housing 74 is supported by the valve seat 70 within the product chamber 40. The valve housing 74 further supports the dip tube 76 such that the acoustic texture material 24 within can flow into the valve housing 74 when the can is upright. The valve spring 78 is supported by the valve housing 74 such that the spring 78 biases the valve stem 72 into the first position. The valve stem 72 supports the outlet assembly 36 such that depressing the actuator member 60 towards the cup member 52 forces the valve stem 72 into the second position (not shown) against the force of the valve spring 78.
The valve assembly 32 thus operates in the closed configuration and the open configuration as follows. When no force is applied to the actuator member 60, the valve spring 78 forces the valve surface 72b against the valve seat 70 to prevent fluid from flowing through the valve stem opening 72a. When a force is applied to the actuator member 60, the valve surface 72b is forced away from the valve seat 70 such that fluid can flow from the interior of the valve housing 74 through the valve stem opening 72a and thus out of the product chamber 40.
Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, depicted at 20b therein is a first embodiment of an aerosol system that may also be used to deposit the acoustic texture material 24 incorporating particulate material 26 of the present invention on the target portion 28 of the surface 22.
The example aerosol system 20b comprises a container assembly 130, a valve assembly 132, a collection assembly 134, and an outlet assembly 136. The container 130 defines a product chamber 140 in which the acoustic texture material 24 comprising the particulate material 26 is contained. A first portion 142 of the chamber 140 is occupied by the acoustic texture material 24, while a second portion 144 of the chamber 140 is occupied by a pressurized propellant material 146. The example container assembly 130 comprises a can member 150 and a cup member 152.
The valve assembly 132 is mounted in a cup opening 134 define by the cup member 152 and operates in a closed configuration (shown) and an open configuration. In the open configuration, the valve assembly 132 defines a dispensing passageway that allows fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the container assembly 130.
The outlet assembly 136 comprises an actuator member 160 that causes acoustic texture material 24 to be dispensed by the system 20 in a fan shaped spray as will be described in further detail below. The actuator member 160 is mounted on the valve assembly 132 such that displacing the outlet member 160 towards the valve assembly 132 places the valve assembly in the open configuration.
The example valve assembly 132 comprises a valve seat 170, a valve stem 172, a valve housing 174, a dip tube 176, and a valve spring 178. The valve seat 170 defines a seat opening 170a and is supported by the cup member 152. The valve stem 172 defines a valve stem opening 172a and a valve surface 172b. The valve stem 172 is supported by the valve seat 170 such that the valve stem moves within the valve stem opening 172a between first and second positions, with the first position being shown in FIG. 1.
The valve housing 174 is supported by the valve seat 170 within the product chamber 140. The valve housing 174 further supports the dip tube 176 such that the acoustic texture material 24 within can flow into the valve housing 174 when the can is upright. The valve spring 178 is supported by the valve housing 174 such that the spring 178 biases the valve stem 172 into the first position. The valve stem 172 supports the outlet assembly 136 such that depressing the actuator member 160 towards the cup member 152 forces the valve stem 172 into the second position (not shown) against the force of the valve spring 178.
The valve assembly 132 thus operates in the closed configuration and the open configuration as follows. When no force is applied to the actuator member 160, the valve spring 178 forces the valve surface 172b against the valve seat 170 to prevent fluid from flowing through the valve stem opening 172a. When a force is applied to the actuator member 160, the valve surface 172b is forced away from the valve seat 170 such that fluid can flow from the interior of the valve housing 174 through the valve stem opening 172a and thus out of the product chamber 140.
Turning now to FIGS. 3-6, the use of the aerosol dispensing systems 20a and 20b will now be described in further detail. These dispensing systems 20a and 20b are used in the same manner and are both identified by reference character 20 in FIGS. 3-6.
As shown in FIG. 3, the dispensing system 20 deposits a fan-shaped spray of acoustic texture material 24 on the target portion 28 of the wall 22. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the acoustic texture material 24 covers the target portion 28 to match the pre-existing acoustic texture material on the surface 22 surrounding the target portion 28.
Referring for a moment back to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that, in addition to the particulate material 26, the acoustic texture material comprises a base portion 220 in the form of a flowable liquid. The base portion 220 of the particulate material conventionally comprises a carrier, a filler, and a binder.
In some aerosol systems, the propellant material 46,146 is simply an inert pressurized gas such as air or nitrogen. In other aerosol systems, the propellant material 46,146 is a material, referred to herein as bi-phase propellant material, that exists in both gaseous and liquid phases within the container assembly 30,130. The liquid phase of the propellant material 46,146 forms a part of the base portion 220, while the gaseous phase propellant material 46,146 occupies the pressurized portion 44, 144 of the container assembly 30,130.
As the acoustic texture material 24 is dispensed, the pressure within the pressurized portion 44,144 of the container assemblies 30,130 drops. Under these conditions, a portion of the bi-phase propellant material 46,146 in the liquid phase gasifies to re-pressurize the pressurized portion 44,144 of the container assembly 30,130. The pressure within the pressurized portion 44,144 is thus under most conditions sufficient to force the acoustic texture material 24 out of the container assembly 30,130 along the dispensing passageway when the valve assembly 32,132 is in the open configuration. The propellant material 46,146 may thus be a pressurized inert gas such as air or nitrogen.
However, the present invention is of particular significance when the propellant material is a bi-phase propellant material such as di-methyl ethylene (DME) or any one of a number of hydrocarbon propellants such as those available in the industry as A-40 and A-70. The advantage of using bi-phase propellant materials is that the pressure within the pressurized portion 44,144 of the container assembly 30,130 is kept at a relatively constant, relatively low level as the level of acoustic texture material 24 drops. This constant, low level pressure allows the texture material 24 to be dispensed in many small bursts instead of in a few large bursts, as is the case when pressurized inert gases are used as the propellant material 46,146.
Many particulate materials 26 suitable for use in acoustic texture materials are incompatible with bi-phase propellant materials. For example, as described above polystyrene chips are commonly used in acoustic texture materials dispensed using commercial hopper guns. However, polystyrene chips dissolve in the bi-phase propellant materials of which the Applicant is aware.
The Applicant has discovered that urethane foam materials and melamine foam materials may be used as the particulate material 26 with bi-phase propellant materials such as DME and hydrocarbon propellants such as A-40 and A-70. Melamine foam materials in particular are easily chopped up using conventional material processors (e.g., a food blender) into irregular shapes that match the appearance and function of polystyrene chips. Melamine foam materials are already commonly used in building applications and have desirable fire retardant, thermal, and acoustic properties.
To manufacture the acoustic texture material 24, the base portion 220 may be the same as a conventional base used in commercially available acoustic texture materials. Instead of polystyrene chips, however, urethane and/or melamine foam is chopped up into particles of an appropriate size and use as the particulate. In addition, a bi-phase propellant material is used to form part of the carrier portion of the base portion 220.
The Applicant has thus determined that a conventional base portion using melamine foam chips and DME as a propellant is commercially practical and obtains acceptable aesthetic and functional results. Appropriate adjustments in the liquids used as the carrier in a conventional acoustic texture material formulation may be required to obtain a desired consistency of the acoustic texture material 24 as it is deposited on the surface 22.

## Claims

1. An aerosol texturing system for forming a textured surface on drywall material, comprising:
an aerosol assembly defining a product chamber, where the aerosol assembly is selectively operable in a first mode in which the product chamber is sealed and in a second mode in which fluid is allowed to flow out of the product chamber along a dispensing passageway;
acoustic texture material disposed within the product chamber, where the acoustic texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion, where the particulate portion comprises at least one particulate material selected from the group consisting of urethane foam and melamine foam; and
propellant material disposed within the product chamber, where
the propellant material acts as a solvent for polystyrene, and
at least a portion of the propellant material exists in a gaseous state such that, when the aerosol assembly is in the second mode, the propellant material forces the acoustic texture material out of the aerosol assembly along the dispensing passageway.

2. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 1, in which the propellant material is a bi-phase material.

3. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 1, in which the propellant material also exists in a liquid state.

4. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 1, in which the propellant material is selected from the group of propellant materials comprising DME, A-40, and A-70.

5. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 1, in which the propellant material is a hydrocarbon propellant material.

6. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 1, in which an appearance of the particulate portion of the acoustic texture material substantially matches that of polystyrene chips used in conventional acoustic texture material.

7. A method of forming a textured surface on drywall material, comprising the steps of:
defining a product chamber;
providing acoustic texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion, where the particulate portion comprises at least one particulate material selected from the group consisting of urethane foam and melamine foam;
disposing the acoustic texture material within the product chamber;
providing propellant material, where
the propellant material acts as a solvent for polystyrene, and
at least a portion of the propellant material exists in a gaseous state; disposing the propellant material within the product chamber;

storing the acoustic texture material by sealing the product chamber; and
dispensing the acoustic texture material by allowing propellant material to force
the acoustic texture material out of the product chamber along a dispensing passageway.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, in which the propellant material is a bi-phase material.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, in which the propellant material also exists in a liquid state.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting the propellant material from the group of propellant materials comprising DME, A-40, and A-70.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, in which the propellant material is a hydrocarbon propellant material.

12. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of processing the particulate material such that an appearance of the particulate portion of the acoustic texture material substantially matches that of polystyrene chips used in conventional acoustic texture material.

13. An aerosol texturing system for forming a textured surface on drywall material, comprising:
an aerosol assembly comprising
a container assembly defining a product chamber, and
a valve assembly selectively operable in a first mode in which the product chamber is sealed and in a second mode in which fluid is allowed to flow out of the product chamber along a dispensing passageway;

acoustic texture material disposed within the product chamber, where the acoustic texture material comprises a base portion and a particulate portion, where the particulate portion comprises at least one particulate material selected from the group consisting of urethane foam and melamine foam; and
bi-phase propellant material disposed within the product chamber, where
the propellant material acts as a solvent for polystyrene,
a portion of the propellant material exists in a liquid state and is mixed with the acoustic texture material, and
a portion of the propellant material exists in a gaseous state such that, when the aerosol assembly is in the second mode, the propellant material forces the acoustic texture material out of the aerosol assembly along the dispensing passageway.

14. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 13, in which the propellant material is selected from the group of propellant materials comprising DME, A-40, and A-70.

15. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 13, in which the propellant material is a hydrocarbon propellant material.

16. An aerosol texturing system as recited in claim 13, in which an appearance of the particulate portion of the acoustic texture material substantially matches that of polystyrene chips used in conventional acoustic texture material.