Abstract:
The technical field is that of simultaneous dispensing of viscous materials. Many compositions comprise viscous components which must be kept separate until they are used. Known methods of application of separate components do not guarantee proper ratios. This invention solves this problem by presenting a single aerosol container ( 4 ) having a multi-valve body ( 8 ) wherein the valves ( 10, 12 ) are activated by a single actuator ( 26 ) and the viscous materials are kept separate until used. The system ( 2 ) may use multiple collapsible bags ( 16 ), a barrier liner ( 42 ), a dip tube ( 46 ), and a spray-any-direction valve ( 50 ) having an omnidirectional attachment ( 60 ) which contains a check valve container ( 122 ) made up of a constricted lower end ( 132 ), a top surface ( 134 ), a lateral opening ( 136 ), and a check ball ( 138 ) for opening and closing passageways.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 10/168,121, filed Jun. 17, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,288. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   (Not applicable) 
   REFERENCE TO SEQUENTIAL LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   (Not applicable) 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1) Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to systems for dispensing more than one viscous material from a pressurized aerosol container. The viscous materials are kept separate from each other during storage inside the container. Each viscous material is dispensed through a separate valve. In use, a single actuator activates each of the valves allowing the separate viscous materials to pass out of the container and to be mixed together in a mixing tube. 
   2) Description of the Related Art 
   Many viscous products are made up of two or more viscous components which must be mixed, in given proportions, only at the time of application. Mixing of the components prior to the time of application will render many such products useless. 
   The prior art is aware of dispensing single viscous materials such as resins, sealing compounds, dental compositions, adhesives, paints, and the like from single aerosol containers. Also commonly known are methods of dispensing two viscous materials simultaneously from two separate tubes, cartridges, or aerosol containers. In these systems, two separate containers are necessary. 
   The prior art is also aware of dispensing two viscous materials contained in two separate aerosol containers shrink-wrapped together and equipped with a common valve actuator that is large enough to span both containers and dispense the two materials simultaneously into a common mixing tube. While this permits the administration of the desired ratios of viscous materials, the container is cumbersome and expensive. 
   Miczka, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,951, discloses a system for dispensing viscous materials from a pressurized container. The system comprises a container which is closed at the bottom by a dome-shaped bulkhead and at the top by a funnel, through which dispensing ports are fitted. Inner containers are pressed to dispense their viscous contents by the internal pressure of the loaded propellant. A venting valve through the funnel controls the dispensing rate. The funnel is made from a thin outer skin, secured to the container by a crimped edge, with inner reinforcing walls to take up the pressure distortion. This device contains two separate dispensing valves with no mention of a mixing tube. The funnel is unique to the container of the above patented device, and is not standard equipment readily available in the art. The valves of this system are separated from each other. Thus, the use of a single actuator would be difficult. No actuator is mentioned by the patent. 
   As can be seen, a need exists for improvement in simultaneous pressurized dispensing of multiple viscous materials from a single container. The object of the present invention is to provide improvements in this area. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The storage and dispensing system of the present invention fits the presently standard one-inch (2.54 cm) opening in the top of common aerosol containers or it may fit into containers in which the top covers up to the entire top surface of the container. The multi-valve dispensing system of the present invention allows different viscous materials to be simultaneously dispensed in predetermined proportions. As the separate materials are ejected from the multi-valve container, they enter a standard mixing tube for blending so that the final product is a mixed combination of the separate materials contained in the container. For the purposes of the description and claiming of this invention, “viscous” will refer to that property which demonstrates 1–1,000,000 centipoises (cp), preferably 1–500,000 cp. 
   A key feature of the present invention is a multi-valve. Each multi-valve contains one or more inlet stems which permit the attachment of different devices for storage of different viscous materials. In one arrangement of the present system, one of the inlet stems permits dispensing of the material without the attachment of any devices. Another arrangement allows the viscous material to pass to the valve through a dip tube. In a further arrangement, the viscous material is contained in a collapsible bag having an outlet which is attached directly to the valve inlet. 
   The multi-valve components are incorporated into a single valve body. In the valve body are two or more standard spring-loaded valve plungers that, when depressed, open valve ports through which the pressurized viscous materials can flow from the container. The size of the valve ports are varied to obtain the desired rate of flow of the dispensed product. The spring-loaded plungers are depressed by manual pressure applied through the valve actuator that fits on top of the valve. The valve plungers can be of the standard “male”, “female”, or “tilt” type commonly used by the industry. Additionally, the present invention describes a novel omnidirectional check valve which permits the flow of the viscous materials to the multi-valve regardless of the position of the container. 
   A wide variety of storage and delivery methods is possible in carrying out the present invention. Four possible combinations for storage and delivery of multiple pressurized viscous materials are described in detail in combination with the multi-valve of the present invention. These are:
     1. A system using two or more collapsible bags;   2. A system using a barrier liner and one or more collapsible bags;   3. A system using a dip tube and one or more collapsible bags; and   4. A system using a dip tube in combination with one or more collapsible bags with an omnidirectional valve.   

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a pressurized aerosol container using the multi-valve dispensing system of this invention in combination with a two-bag storage arrangement. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a pressurized aerosol container using the multi-valve dispensing system of this invention in combination with a single bag and barrier liner storage arrangement. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an upright pressurized aerosol container using the multi-valve dispensing system of this invention in combination with a single bag and dip tube arrangement. The dip tube reclaims material from the bottom of the container. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an inverted pressurized aerosol container using the multi-valve dispensing system of this invention with a single bag and dip tube arrangement in combination with a spray-any-direction (SA) check valve. 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the multi-valve dispenser utilizing two valves. 
       FIG. 6  is a front cross-sectional view of the multi-valve dispenser utilizing two valves. 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view of a bag used for storage of materials in this invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a top cross-sectional view, partially exploded, of the actuator for the multi-valve showing the cap for sealing the actuator outlets after use. 
       FIG. 9  is a side cross-sectional view, partially exploded, of the multi-valve and actuator to which the mixing tube is attached. 
       FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view of the omnidirectional valve of the present invention attached to the multi-valve and to a dip tube. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional plan view taken through the steel ball retainer of the omnidirectional valve of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a front cross-sectional view of the multi-valve body of the present invention seated in a cup. 
       FIG. 13  is a plan view of a valve body containing two valves. 
       FIG. 14  is a plan view of a valve body containing three valves. 
       FIG. 15  is a plan view of a valve body containing four valves. 
       FIG. 16  is a plan view of a valve body containing five valves. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the above drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description. 
   The storage and dispensing system  2  of this invention is useful for the storing and dispensing of viscous materials which should be kept separate until the time of application. The term “viscous” is intended to be defined as that range of viscosity having 1–1,000,000 cp, preferably 1–500,000 cp throughout the description and claims. Examples of such materials are resins, sealing compounds, dental compositions, adhesives, paints, certain cosmetic hair coloring, and other chemical components that need mixing just prior to application. 
   The entire system  2  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1–9 . 
   The storage and dispensing system  2  of the first preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS.  1  and  5 – 9 . This system  2  is made up of a conventional aerosol container  4  with a conventional one-inch (2.54 cm) diameter top opening  6 . The multi-valve body  8  made up of a first valve  10  and a second valve  12  is secured to a sheet metal cup  14  by crimping and collapsible bags  16  for containing viscous materials are attached to the valve stems  18  of each valve  10 ,  12 . In order for the bags  16  to pass through the top opening  6 , they are folded, coiled, or otherwise collapsed to a small diameter. The entire assembly of cup  14 , multi-valve body  8 , and bags  16  is inserted into the container  4  through the top opening  6 . The resulting assembly is then sealed and secured to the container  4  by crimping around the perimeter of the cup  14 . 
   The collapsible bags  16  are filled with viscous materials by injecting the materials from the top through the corresponding first  10  and second  12  valves. The pressurizing gas is either injected through a port hole  22  in the cup  14  perimeter or in the bottom  24  of the container  4  or by the “undercup” method. In the “undercup” method a pressurized sleeve fits over the top of the container  4  to force pressurized gas into the container  4  prior to the final sealing around the perimeter of the cup  14 . Lastly, the actuator  26  is inserted onto the top of the multi-valve body  8 . 
   A mixing tube  28  is attached by the user to the actuator  26  prior to using the delivery system  2 . The length and design of the mixing tube  28  is selected from industry standards to provide adequate mixing of the viscous materials. The mixing tube  28  is discarded after each use. A cap  169  is provided to seal the outlets  32  of the actuator  26  after the mixing tube  28  has been discarded. 
   The multi-valve outlet openings  30  deliver the separate viscous materials simultaneously from the collapsible bags  16  to the actuator outlet  32 . Openings  34  in the spring-loaded valve plungers  36  are sized to deliver, when the actuator  26  is depressed, the proper amounts of each material to the valve outlet openings  30 . The viscous materials in the bags  16  are driven out by pressure from the pressurizing gas which surrounds the bags  16 . The flow of materials is cut off when the actuator  26  and the plungers  36  are released. Unmixed materials above the cut-off seal  146  at the plungers  36  remain in the actuator  26  but are prevented from mixing with each other or from being affected by contact with the atmosphere by the installation of the cap  169 . 
   The collapsible bags  16  are preferably constructed of foil-reinforced polyethylene, Nylon, aluminum, or other suitable material that will effectively contain the viscous materials but which is still pliable enough to collapse under pressure, like a toothpaste tube, when the corresponding valve  10 ,  12  is opened. 
   The storage and dispensing system  2  of this embodiment is adaptable to be used with more than two viscous materials by simply adding additional storage bags  16  to the container  4  and extra valve plungers  36  to the unitary valve body  8  as shown in  FIGS. 13–16 . 
   The system  2  of this embodiment is most appropriate for products where the viscous material components are equal, or nearly equal, in quantity. 
   The storage and dispensing system  40  of the second preferred embodiment of this invention shown in  FIG. 2  is made up of a standard aerosol container  4  with a standard one-inch (2.54 cm) diameter top opening  6  and a pre-installed industry-standard barrier liner  42 . The multi-valve body  8  is secured to a cup  14  by crimping and a bag  16  is attached to the valve stem  18 . In order for the bag  16  to pass through the top opening  6 , it is folded, coiled, or otherwise collapsed to a small diameter. The entire assembly of cup  14 , multi-valve body  8 , and bag  16  is inserted into the container  4  which contains a pre-installed barrier liner  42  through the top opening  6  of the container  4 . The assembly is then sealed and secured to the container  4  by crimping around the inside perimeter of the cup  14 . 
   After the cup  14  is installed and sealed by crimping, the barrier liner  42 , in effect, forms a larger bag which completely encloses the smaller collapsible bag  16 . The collapsible bag  16  and the barrier liner  42  are both filled by injecting the viscous materials from the top through the corresponding first  10  and second  12  valves. The pressurizing gas is injected through a port hole  22  in the bottom  24  of the container  4  or by the “undercup” method. Finally, the actuator  26  is inserted onto the top of the multi-valve body  8 . 
   As described with reference to the first preferred embodiment, a mixing tube  28  is attached by the user to the actuator  26  prior to using the delivery system  2 . A cap  169  is provided to seal the outlets  32  of the actuator  26  after the mixing tube  28  is discarded. 
   The multi-valve body  8  of the second preferred embodiment delivers two or more viscous materials simultaneously from the collapsible bag  16  and from within the barrier liner  42 . The multi-valve inlet openings  34  in the valve body  8  are sized to deliver, when the actuator  26  is depressed, the proper proportions of each material to the valve plungers  36 . The viscous materials in the bag  16  and within the barrier liner  42  are driven out of the container  4  by pressure from the pressurizing gas which surrounds them. The flow of viscous materials is stopped when the plungers  36  are released. Unmixed materials above the cut-off seal  146  of the plungers  36  remain in the actuator  26 , but are prevented from mixing with each other or from being affected by contact with the atmosphere by the installation of the cap  169 . 
   The collapsible bag  16  is preferably constructed of foil-reinforced polyethylene, Nylon, aluminum, or other suitable material that will effectively contain the viscous material but which is still pliable enough to collapse under pressure, like a toothpaste tube, when the valve  10  is opened. 
   The storage and dispensing system  40  of the second preferred embodiment is adaptable to be used with more than two viscous materials by simply adding additional collapsible bags  16  inside the barrier liner  42  and additional valve plungers  36  to the multi-valve body  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 14–16 . 
   The storage and dispensing system  40  of the second preferred embodiment is appropriate for products where two or more viscous material components, such as epoxy resin and its catalyst(s), are mixed in significantly unequal proportions. The smaller amount of the viscous material is stored in the interior collapsible bag(s)  16 . The larger amount of viscous material is stored in the space bounded by the barrier liner  42 . 
   The storage and dispensing system  44  of the third preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in  FIG. 3  is made up of a standard aerosol container  4  having a standard one-inch (2.54 cm) diameter top opening  6 . The multi-valve body  8  is secured to a cup  14  by crimping, and a collapsible bag  16  and an industry-standard dip tube  46  are attached to the first  10  and second  12  valve inlets  18 . In order for the collapsible bag  16  to pass through the top opening  6 , it is folded, coiled or otherwise collapsed to a small diameter. The entire assembly of cup  14 , multi-valve body  8 , collapsible bag  16 , and dip tube  46  is inserted into the container  4  through the top opening  6 . The assembly is then sealed and secured to the container  4  by crimping around the perimeter of the cup  14 . 
   The collapsible bag  16  and the space surrounding the dip tube  46  are then filled by injecting the viscous materials through the corresponding valves  10 ,  12  in the multi-valve body  8 . The pressurizing gas is injected through the port hole  22  in the perimeter of the cup  14  or in the bottom  24  of the container  4  or by the “undercup” method. Lastly, the actuator  26  is inserted onto the top of the multi-valve body  8 . 
   A mixing tube  28  is attached by the user to the actuator  26  prior to using the delivery system  44 . The length and design of the mixing tube  28  is selected from industry standards to provide adequate mixing of the viscous materials. The mixing tube  28  is discarded after each use. A cap  169  is provided to seal the outlet passageway  32  of the actuator  26  after the mixing tube  28  has been discarded. 
   The multi-valve inlet openings  34  deliver two or more viscous materials simultaneously from the collapsible bag  16  and dip tube  46  which reaches from the bottom  24  of the container  4  to the multi-valve inlet  18 . 
   The multi-valve inlet openings  34  in the valve bodies  8  are sized to deliver, when the actuator  26  is depressed, the proper proportions of each material to valve plungers  36 . The viscous materials in the bag  16  and at the bottom  24  of the container  4  are driven out of the container  4  by pressure from the pressurizing gas which acts upon them. The flow of viscous materials is stopped when the plungers  36  are released. Unmixed materials above the cut-off  146  of the plungers  36  remain in the actuator  26 , but are prevented from mixing with each other or from being affected by contact with the atmosphere by the installation of the cap  169 . 
   The collapsible bag  16  is preferably constructed of foil-reinforced polyethylene, Nylon, aluminum, or other suitable material that will effectively contain the viscous materials but which is still pliable enough to collapse under pressure, like a toothpaste tube, when the associated valve  10  is opened. 
   The storage and dispensing system  44  of this embodiment, which is adaptable to be used with more than two viscous materials by simply adding additional storage bags  16  to the container  4  and extra valve plungers  36  to the multi-valve body  8 , is shown in  FIGS. 14–16 . 
   The system  44  of this embodiment is most appropriate for products like sputter paint where a thinner viscous material needs to be mixed with one or more thicker, but smaller quantity, viscous material as it is delivered. In such a case, the length of the mixing tube  28  is selected to allow the mixed product to be delivered as a spray. 
   It has been determined that in the spraying of paint, adhesives, and undercoatings from pressurized aerosol containers, the use of a male valve is inappropriate as male valves demonstrate a tendency to clog or plug, thereby rendering the aerosol container inoperative. The use of female valves for polymers has, until now, been limited to containers which are held upright. Such valves are less than ideal for the task of connecting plastic pipe, for instance, as this task requires the aerosol container to be usable in the inverted position in tight quarters. Until now, an omnidirectional female valve has not been available to the art, and this has required physical gyrations by the user if anything other than surfaces easily sprayed by an upright container needed to be sprayed. 
   Part of the present invention is the description of an omnidirectional female valve  48  for use as one of the valves  10 ,  12  in a system  44  requiring a dip tube  46 , which system  44  will be inverted during use as in  FIG. 4 . This valve  48  may be more readily understood with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Reference is also made to  FIG. 1  for features of the container. For ready understandability,  FIG. 10  shows only the novel female omnidirectional valve  48  of the present invention and does not show the first  10 , conventional, valve of the multi-valve system  44 . 
   The novel valve  48  comprises a valve body  50 , a valve seal  52 , an actuator  54 , a valve plunger  56 , a compression spring  58 , and an omnidirectional attachment  60 . 
   The valve body  50  is constructed of suitable thermoplastic resins or Nylon and is generally cup-shaped. The valve body  50  has a thickened top rim  62  surrounded by castellations. The valve body  50  further contains a lower end  64  having a central intake opening  66 , an exterior surface  68 , an interior cup-shaped opening  70 , an internal passageway  72  extending from the lower end  64  to the cup-shaped opening  70 , an internal shoulder  74 , an external shoulder  76 , and an exterior ridge  78 . 
   The valve seal  52 , preferably made of rubber, fits across the top rim  62  of the valve body  50  and is held between the valve body  50  and the interior surface  80  of a modified cup  14  by crimping around the castellations of the valve body  50 . The valve seal  52  assures a permanent tight fit between the interior surface  80  of the cup  14  and the top rim  62  of the valve body  50 . The cup  14  is of such a size as to fit the standard one-inch (2.54 cm) hole in aerosol containers  4 . 
   The actuator  54  is located above the valve body  50  and mounts on the valve plunger  56 . The actuator  54  contains an outlet orifice  82  and a vertical stem  84  having inner  86  and outer  88  surfaces, an inlet orifice (not shown) commonly in the form of a slit between the inner  86  and outer  88  surfaces of the stem  84 , a lower end  90 , and a passageway  92  for the viscous material. 
   The valve plunger  56  contains an open cup  94  having an upper surface  96  for holding the lower end  90  of the actuator  54 , a closed bottom  98  which fits inside the compression spring  58 , and a lower shoulder  100  for abutting with the compression spring  58 . The valve plunger  56  is slidably held in the cup-shaped opening  70  of the valve body  50 . 
   The compression spring  58  has an upper end which abuts with the lower shoulder  100  of the valve plunger  56  and a lower end which abuts with the internal shoulder  74  of the valve body  50 . When there is no downward pressure on the actuator  54 , the spring  58  tends to force the valve plunger  56  upwardly against the valve seal  52 , thus preventing escape of the contents from the container  4 . When there is a downward pressure on the actuator  54 , the valve plunger  56  is forced downwardly and a space develops between the valve seal  52  and the upper surface  96  of the valve plunger cup  94 , and the contents of the container  4  are allowed to escape through the inlet orifice (not shown) into the stem  84  of the actuator  54 . 
   The omnidirectional attachment  60  contains a top  108  which abuts against the external shoulder  76  of the valve body  50 , side walls  110  having exterior  112  and interior  114  surfaces, the side walls  110  having a notch  116  on the interior surface  114 , a hollow lower stem  118  having a lower end  120 , and a check valve container  122 . 
   The lower stem  118  fits into a dip tube  46  which extends from the lower stem  118  to the bottom  24  of the container  4 . The lower stem  118  contains a lower vertical passageway  124  and lateral passageway  126  through which the viscous material passes when the container  4  is in the upright position. The lateral passageway  126  leads from the upper end  130  of the lower passageway  124  in the lower stem  118  to the central intake opening  66  of the valve body  50 . 
   The top  108  of the omnidirectional attachment  60  is held permanently in place to the valve body  50  by a snap-on connection between the external ridge  78  of the valve body  50  and the notch  116  on the interior surface  114  of the side wall  110  of the omnidirectional attachment  60 . 
   The check valve container  122  contains an open, but constricted, lower end  132  joining the lateral passageway  126 , a top surface  134 , a lateral opening  136 , and a check ball  138 . 
   The operation of the omnidirectional valve  48  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . In this description, the term “upright position” refers to any position of the container  4  which allows the check ball  138  to close the constricted lower end  132  of the check valve container  122 , the term “inverted position” refers to any position which allows the check ball  138  of the check valve container  122  to open the constricted lower end  132  of the check valve container  122  and allow passage of viscous material through the lateral opening  136  into the lateral passageway  126 , the term “upper end  144  of the container  4 ” refers to that end closest to the actuator  54 , and the term “lower end  142  of the container  4 ” refers to that end farthest from the actuator  54 . 
   When the container  4  is in the upright position or the inverted position, and the actuator  54  is not depressed, no viscous material will flow from the container  4  through the actuator  54 . 
   When the container  4  is in the upright position, the viscous material inside the container  4  is at the lower end  142  of the container  4  and the pressurizing gas is in the upper end  144  of the container  4 . If the actuator  54  is depressed, the viscous material is forced up the dip tube  46 , into the lower passageway  124  in the stem  118  of the omnidirectional valve attachment  60 , through the lateral passageway  126 , through the internal passageway  72  of the valve body  50 , around the valve plunger  56 , through the inlet orifice (not shown) of the actuator  54 , through the passageway  92  of the stem  84  of the actuator  54 , and out the outlet orifice  82  of the actuator  54 . Commonly, the viscous material combines in the mixing tube  28  with other viscous material being forced from the other actuator outlet opening  30 . In this case, the viscous material does not enter the check valve container  122  as the check ball  138  seals off the constricted lower end  132  thereof. 
   When the container  4  is in the inverted position, the viscous material inside the container  4  is at the upper end  144  of the container  4  and the pressurizing gas is in the lower end  142  of the container  4 . In this position, the check ball  138  (shown dashed) lies against the top surface  134  of the check valve container  122  allowing flow of viscous material from the upper end  144  of the container  4  into the lateral passageway  126  of the omnidirectional attachment  60 . If the actuator  54  is depressed, the viscous material is forced by the pressurizing gas through the lateral opening  136  into the check valve container  122 , past the check ball  138 , through the lateral passageway  126 , through the internal passageway  72  of the valve body  50 , around the valve plunger  56 , through the inlet orifice (not shown) of the actuator  54 , through the passageway  92  of the actuator  54 , and out the outlet orifice  82  of the actuator  54 . Commonly, the viscous material combines in the mixing tube  28  with other viscous material being forced from the other actuator outlet opening  30 . In this case, the pressurizing gas does not enter the internal passageway  72  of the valve body  50  as the viscous material seals off the lateral passageway  126 . 
   The storage and dispensing system  170  of the fourth preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . The storing and dispensing system  170  of this embodiment is made up of a standard aerosol container  4  with a standard one-inch (2.54 cm) diameter top opening  6 . In this embodiment, a bag  16  is attached to one inlet  18  of the multi-valve body  8  and a standard SA valve  145  and dip tube  46  is attached to the other inlet  18 . (If the valve(s) incorporated in the multi-valve body  8  are “female” valves, the standard SA valve  145  is appropriately replaced with the novel omnidirectional valve attachment  60  of this invention.) The multi-valve body  8  is secured to a cup  14  by crimping and a collapsible bag  16  and dip tube  46  are attached to the valve body  8 . In order for the collapsible bag  16  to pass through the top opening  6 , it is folded, coiled, or otherwise collapsed to a small diameter. The entire assembly of cup  14 , multi-valve body  8 , collapsible bag  16 , and dip tube  46  is inserted into the container  4  through the top opening  6 . The assembly is then sealed and secured to the container  4  by crimping around the inside perimeter of the cup  14 . 
   The collapsible bag  16  and the space surrounding the dip tube  46  are then filled by injecting the viscous materials through the top opening  6  through the corresponding valves  10 ,  145  and the pressurizing gas is injected through the port hole  22  in the perimeter of the cup  14  or in the bottom  24  of the container  4  or by the “undercup” method. Lastly, the actuator  26  is inserted onto the top of the multi-valve body  8 . 
   When the container  4  is inverted as shown in  FIG. 4 , the multi-valve body  8  delivers viscous materials simultaneously from the collapsible bag  16  and the SA valve which is now submerged in viscous material. The viscous fluid in the SA valve prevents pressurizing gas from entering the SA valve when the container  4  is inverted so that pressurizing gas cannot escape through the dip tube  46 . 
   The relative size of the central inlet orifices  34  of the central inlet opening  66  of the valve body  50  is sized to deliver the proper proportions of the viscous material to the valve plungers  36  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The viscous material in the bag  16  and in the container  4  are driven out by pressure from the pressurizing gas which acts upon them. The flow of materials is cut off when the plungers  36  are released. 
   The collapsible bag  16  is preferably constructed of foil-reinforced polyethylene, Nylon, aluminum, or other suitable material that will effectively contain the viscous materials but which is still pliable enough to collapse under pressure, like a toothpaste tube, when the first valve  10  in the multi-valve body  8  is opened. 
   The storage and dispensing system  170  of this embodiment is adaptable to be used with more than two viscous materials by simply adding additional collapsible bags  16  to the container  4  and a comparable number of additional valves  10  to the multi-valve body  8 . 
   This preferred embodiment of the invention is appropriate for products where the aerosol container  4  must be operable from either the normal or inverted position and a thinner viscous material needs to be mixed with a thicker, but smaller quantity, of viscous material as it is delivered. 
   The details of the multi-valve body  8  of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8 ,  9 , and  12 – 16 . Reference is also made to  FIG. 1  for details of the container. 
   These Figures show details of a multi-valve body  8  utilizing a typical “male” spring-loaded valve plunger  36 . “Female” and “tilt” spring-loaded valve plungers are used in a similar manner. The valve body  8  contains multi-valve stems  18  and valve plungers  36 . The valve body  8  is of such a size and shape as to fit into a cup  14  which, in turn, fits into the standard one-inch (2.54 cm) top opening  6  in the container  4 . In this way, a conventional aerosol container  4  may be used. Therefore the multi-valve body  8  of this invention may be incorporated cheaply and easily into already existing containers. 
   Each type of valve plunger  36  is appropriate for different applications of the multi-valve body  8 . The various multi-valve body  8  types can be used with a variety of different types and arrangements of spring-loaded valve plungers  36 , actuators  26 , mixing tubes  28 , and sealing caps  169 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8 ,  9 , and  12 – 16 , the multi-valve body  8  comprises a body constructed of suitable thermoplastic resins or Nylon. The body  8  in plan view is circular in shape and is formed with two or more cylindrical holes  162  to accept multiple spring-loaded valve plungers  36 . The plungers  36  extend upward through the holes  171  in the cup  14  and into the bottom of the actuator  26 . 
   Immediately below the opening  171  in the cup  14 , a rubber washer or seal  146  is fitted over plunger  36 . The seal  146  covers horizontal orifices  150  which pass horizontally through the wall  152  of the passageway  154  of the plunger  36 . When the spring-loaded valve plunger  36  is depressed by way of the actuator  26 , the rubber seal  146  tilts slightly, thereby exposing the horizontal orifices  150  to allow viscous material to pass from the container  4  to the passageway  154  of the plunger  36  and up into the actuator  26 . 
   The viscous material flows past the plunger  36  by way of vertical grooves  172  in the side of the valve body  8  in which the plunger  36  fits. The viscous material is forced by the pressurizing gas up from the container  4  through the valve inlet openings  34 , through the spring  158 , and into the grooves  172 . 
   The relative proportions of the viscous materials delivered to the actuator  26  is controlled by the relative size of the inlet orifices  34 . 
   The actuator  26  is formed of thermoplastic resins, Nylon, or other suitable material with independent passages  30 ,  32  through which viscous materials can flow without touching each other or mixing until they exit the actuator  26 . The actuator  26  is formed with force-fit or screw or a locking ring which receives the mixing tube  28  as it is pushed or screwed or twist-locked into position. After the mixing tube  28  is removed, a seal cap  169  can be pushed or screwed or twist-locked into position to seal the outlet openings  32 . 
   The multi-valve body  8  is formed with a perimeter ledge  160  to retain the rubber flap seal  168  and keep the seal  168  tight against the bottom of the cup  14 . The flap seal  168  is necessary to seal pressurizing gas from escaping after it is injected through a port hole  22  into the container  4 . 
     FIGS. 13–16  show typical plan views of different multi-valve bodies  8  utilizing the multiple spring-loaded valve plungers  36  to deliver more than two viscous materials from the container to the mixing tube  28 . 
   Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.