Patent Publication Number: US-11383917-B2

Title: Aerosol product

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an aerosol product having a valve unit having a stem protruding from an aerosol container, and an actuator fitted to the stem, and more particularly to an aerosol product suitable for discharging the contents in the form of a foam. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Aerosol products having a valve unit having a stem protruding from an aerosol container, and an actuator fitted to the stem are well known, and those which discharge the contents in the container from the actuator in the form of a foam are also well known. 
     For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an aerosol product (foamable aerosol product  10 ) having a pressure-resistant aerosol container (outer container  11 ), a housing space (inner container  12 ) that is housed in the aerosol container (outer container  11 ) and has a partition wall having a variable volume, a valve unit (aerosol valve  13 ) communicating with the housing space (inner container  12 ), a foamable composition filled in the housing space (inner container  12 ) and composed of a foamable liquid (aqueous stock solution) and a foaming agent (lipophilic liquefied gas), and a pressurizing agent B filled in a pressurizing chamber S between the housing space (inner container  12 ) and the aerosol container (outer container  11 ). 
     In this aerosol product (foamable aerosol product  10 ), the pressure of the pressurizing agent B is set to be equal to or less than the pressure of the foamable composition and higher than the atmospheric pressure, so that a gas phase is contained in the housing space (inner container  12 ). By shaking the aerosol container (outer container  11 ) up and down, it is possible to emulsify the foamable composition and form a uniform foamable liquid (aqueous stock solution) and a dispersed phase of a foaming agent (lipophilic liquefied gas), and to discharge a stable foam. 
     In addition, the gas-phase portion in the housing space (inner container  12 ) communicates with the atmosphere during use, and a portion of the gas in the gas-phase portion in the housing space (inner container  12 ) may escape to the atmosphere immediately after use. However, at the same time, the pressure in the housing space (inner container  12 ) decreases, so that the housing space (inner container  12 ) is contracted by the pressure of the pressurizing agent B to assume an almost liquid-tight state. Thus, even if the aerosol product (foamable aerosol product  10 ) is discharged in an upright state or an inverted state, the liquid-phase portion in the storage space (inner container  12 ) can be reliably discharged. 
     Furthermore, it is also possible to accommodate two housing spaces (inner containers  12 ) in one aerosol container (outer container  11 ), and an aerosol product (foamable aerosol product  10 ) enabling the discharge of two foamable compositions as a foam simultaneously or separately can also be provided in a compact size. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-224376 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, there is still room for improvement in the known aerosol products disclosed in Patent Literature 1. 
     That is, when the foamable liquid and the foaming agent have been present separately in the same inner container in the stationary state of the aerosol product, it is necessary to shake and emulsify the aerosol product before use. This takes time, and also where the aerosol product is shaken and then allowed to stand without discharging, the foam may fill the gas-phase portion in the inner container depending on the nature of the foamable liquid, and where defoaming is not completed before the next use, the foamable liquid and the foaming agent may not be sufficiently emulsified even if the aerosol product is shaken again. 
     In addition, depending on the type of the foamable liquid, deterioration and a change in properties may be advanced by contact with the foaming agent. Therefore, both the foamable liquid and the foaming agent sometimes cannot be put in one inner container. 
     The present invention solves these problems, and it is an object thereof to provide an aerosol product which has a simple configuration, in which a foamable liquid and a foaming agent are not in contact with each other inside an aerosol container during storage, and which makes it possible to emulsify the foamable liquid and the foaming agent sufficiently and discharge a satisfactory foam without shaking the aerosol container. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The aerosol product of the present invention has a valve unit having a stem protruding from an aerosol container, and an actuator fitted to the stem, wherein the aerosol container includes a plurality of partitioned housing spaces, an inflow port corresponding to the housing space, and one or more valve units in which a sealing member opening and closing the inflow port is provided for each inflow port; at least one among the plurality of housing spaces is a foamable liquid housing section that houses contents including a foamable liquid; at least one other of the plurality of housing spaces is a foaming agent housing section that houses contents including a foaming agent; and the foamable liquid discharged from the inflow port corresponding to the foamable liquid housing section and the foaming agent discharged from the inflow port corresponding to the foaming agent housing section are mixed in the actuator, thereby resolving the aforementioned problem. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the aerosol product of the invention according to claim  1 , the aerosol container includes a plurality of partitioned housing spaces, an inflow port corresponding to the housing space, and one or more valve units in which a sealing member opening and closing the inflow port is provided for each inflow port, at least one among the plurality of housing spaces is a foamable liquid housing section that houses contents including a foamable liquid, at least one other of the plurality of housing spaces is a foaming agent housing section that houses contents including a foaming agent, and the foamable liquid discharged from the inflow port corresponding to the foamable liquid housing section and the foaming agent discharged from the inflow port corresponding to the foaming agent housing section are mixed in the actuator. Therefore, even if the foamable liquid and the foaming agent react with each other and deteriorate when mixed together, they can be stored in a state of insulation from each other until immediately before use. 
     Furthermore, since the foamable liquid and the foaming agent are mixed in the actuator, they can be discharged in the form of a foam without shaking the container immediately before use. 
     According to the configuration set forth in claim  2 , the inflow port corresponding to the foaming agent housing section is configured to eject a liquid phase of the foaming agent from the foaming agent housing section. Therefore, the liquid phase of the foaming agent and the foamable liquid can be reliably mixed in the actuator and can be discharged in the form of a foam, without discharging the gas phase of the foaming agent. 
     According to the configuration set forth in claim  3 , the aerosol container has one container and one or more foamable liquid housing sections housed in the container, and the foaming agent housing section is configured by a space outside the foamable liquid housing section in the container. Therefore, the foamable liquid housing section can be compressed and discharged by the pressure of the gas phase of the foaming agent, and it is not necessary to prepare a discharge gas in addition to the foaming agent. 
     According to the configuration set forth in claim  4 , the actuator has a fitting portion fitted to the stem, a mixing section where materials discharged from the inflow ports are mixed, and a discharge port for discharging the mixed discharged materials, and the foamable liquid and the foaming agent are merged and mixed for the first time in the actuator connected to the valve unit. Therefore, even if the residual liquid of the foamable liquid and the foaming agent mixed in the actuator is fixedly attached therein, satisfactory discharge in the form of a foam can be maintained by simply replacing with a new actuator or by washing. 
     Further, the state of the foam to be discharged can be changed by replacing with an actuator of a different shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol product  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol product  200  according to a variation example of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               100 ,  200  Aerosol product 
               110 ,  210  Aerosol container 
               111 ,  211  Mounting cup 
               120 ,  220  Valve unit 
               120 A,  220 A Liquid phase valve unit 
               121 ,  221  Stem 
               122 ,  222  Inflow port 
               122 A,  222 A Liquid phase inflow port 
               123 ,  223  Sealing member 
               130 ,  230  Actuator 
               131 ,  231  Discharge port 
               132 ,  232  Fitting portion 
               133 ,  233  Discharge flow path 
               140  Foaming agent housing section 
               240  Propellant housing section 
               241  Foaming agent housing section 
               141 ,  242  Foamable liquid housing section 
               142 ,  243  Residual quantity reduction member 
               143  Dip tube 
             LG Foaming agent 
             S Content 
             B Propellant 
           
         
       
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an aerosol product  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     Here, specific uses of the foamable liquid of the present invention include a face wash, a cleansing agent, a shaving agent, a hair restorer, a hand soap, a styling agent, and the like. Examples of the respective compositions are shown in Tables 1 to 6. 
     The application and composition of the foamable liquid that can be used in the present invention are not limited to these examples. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Face wash 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Content ratio (wt %) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Sodiumlauroylglutamate 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Glycerin 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Xantangum 
                 0.1 
               
               
                   
                 Citricacid 
                 0.075 
               
               
                   
                 EDTA-2Na 
                 0.05 
               
               
                   
                 CocamideDEA 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Decylglucoside 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Polyquaternium-39 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Phenoxyethanol 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance 
               
               
                   
                 Total 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Cleansing agent 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Content ratio (wt %) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 IsostearicacidPEG-10BG 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Isopropylmyristate 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 Dimethicone 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Decylglucoside 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Laurylglucoside 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Phenoxyethanol 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                 Glycerin 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 BG 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Ethanol 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance 
               
               
                   
                 Total 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Shaving agent 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Content ratio (wt %) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Stearicacid 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Palmiticacid 
                 3.5 
               
               
                   
                 POEsorbitantristearate (20 E.O.) 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 POEsorbitanmonolaurate (20 E.O.) 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 POEsorbitanmonooleate (20 E.O.) 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Triethanolamine 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 48% Aqueous solution of  
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 potassiumhydroxide 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Phenoxyethanol 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance 
               
               
                   
                 Total 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Hair restorer 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Content ratio (wt %) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Ethanol 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Dipotassiumglycyrrhizate 
                 0.1 
               
               
                   
                 Swertia japonica extract 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                 Menthol 
                 0.2 
               
               
                   
                 POEsorbitanisostearate (20 E.O.) 
                 0.75 
               
               
                   
                 Isopropylmyristate 
                 0.5 
               
               
                   
                 Phenoxyethanol 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance 
               
               
                   
                 Total 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Hand soap 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Content ratio (wt %) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Sodiumlaurylsulfate 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Sodiumcocoamphoacetate 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Glycerin 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Dipropyleneglycol 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Methylparaben 
                 0.2 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance 
               
               
                   
                 Total 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Styling agent 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Content ratio (wt %) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Ethanol 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 (Acrylate/diacetoneacrylamide)  
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 copolymerAMP 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cetrimoniumchloride 
                 0.25 
               
               
                   
                 POEsorbitanmonostearate 
                 0.25 
               
               
                   
                 Phenoxyethanol 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance 
               
               
                   
                 Total 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an aerosol product  100  is a so-called dual valve type product in which two valve units  120  are fixed to the mouth of an aerosol container  110  with a mounting cup  111  and two stems  121  project upward. 
     The housing space in the aerosol container  110  is divided into two housing spaces: a foamable liquid housing section  141  having flexibility, and a foaming agent housing section  140  outside the foamable liquid housing section  141 . 
     Contents S including the foamable liquid are tightly housed inside the foamable liquid housing section  141 , and a foaming agent LG is housed in the foaming agent housing section  140 . 
     An inflow port  122  communicating between the inside and the outside of the valve unit  120  is provided at the lower part of the valve unit  120 , one of the two valve units  120  is connected to the inflow port  122  so that the contents S inside the foamable liquid housing section  141  are discharged therein, and the other valve unit  120 A (hereinafter, referred to as “liquid phase valve unit  120 A”) is configured so that a hollow dip tube  143  is connected to the inflow port  122 , and the liquid-phase portion of the foaming agent LG housed inside the foaming agent housing section  140  is discharged. 
     Stems  121  projecting upward from the two valve units  120  each have a sealing member  123 , an actuator  130  is attached to the stems  121  through a fitting portion  132 , and a discharge flow path  133  provided in the actuator  130  is configured to allow the two stems  121  to communicate with each other, to allow the contents S and the foaming agent LG to merge, and then to be able to discharge the two from a discharge port  131 . 
     Described hereinbelow is the foam-shaped discharge of the contents S and the foaming agent LG by the aerosol product  100 . 
     First, by pressing the actuator  130  downward, the blockage between the inflow ports  122  and the flow paths in the stems  121  by the sealing members  123  is released, the valve unit  120  and the liquid phase valve unit  120 A are opened, the liquid-phase portion of the foaming agent LG is discharged from the stem  121  through the dip tube  143  by the pressure of the gas-phase portion of the foaming agent LG housed in the foaming agent housing section  140 , the foamable liquid housing section  141  is also subjected to pressure, and the contents S is discharged from the stem  121 . 
     The foaming agent LG and the contents S merge in the discharge flow path  133  in the actuator  130 . 
     At this time, the foaming agent LG and the contents S are violently collided and mixed with each other in the discharge flow path  133  by the force of the pressure of the gas-phase portion of the foaming agent LG. 
     Thereby, the contents S and the foaming agent LG can be emulsified without shaking the aerosol container  110 . 
     Further, since the foaming agent LG gradually vaporizes and expands in an emulsified state to form countless fine bubbles, the contents S can be discharged in the form of a foam from the discharge port  131  of the actuator  130 . 
     In the present embodiment, a residual quantity reduction member  142  is attached to the inflow port  122  in the foamable liquid housing section  141  and is configured to stabilize the discharge amount of the contents S and reduce the residual quantity until the end. 
     Further, since the contents S are discharged by the pressure received by the foamable liquid housing section  141  from the foaming agent housing section  140 , the contents S and the foaming agent LG do not come into contact with each other during storage, and there is no need to mix a material such that applies pressure to the contents S. 
     Furthermore, when the foaming agent LG is made to have a low pressure and the foaming agent housing section  140  is filled with a compressed gas as a propellant together with the foaming agent LG, a rapid rise in pressure can be suppressed even in a high-temperature state, as compared with the case where the foaming agent LG is also used as a propellant. 
     Further, since the contents S and the foaming agent LG can be stored in an isolated state by the foamable liquid housing section  141 , even if the contents S and the foaming agent LG react with each other and deteriorate when mixed together, they can be stored without mixing with each other until immediately before use. 
     Further, since the contents S and the foaming agent LG merge for the first time in the actuator  130 , even when the residual liquid of the contents S and the foaming agent LG after discharging is fixedly attached inside the actuator  130  and blocks the discharge flow path  133 , a satisfactory discharge in the form of a foam can be maintained again by replacing or washing the actuator  130 , and the state of the foam to be discharged can easily be changed by changing to the actuator  130  with a different shape of the discharge flow path  133 . 
     Next, an aerosol product  200  according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     The description of members shared with the aerosol product  100  will be omitted. 
     In the aerosol product  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , a foamable liquid housing section  242  having flexibility and a foaming agent housing section  241  having flexibility are provided in the housing space in an aerosol container  210 , a propellant housing section  240  is further provided outside the foamable liquid housing section  242  and outside the foaming agent housing section  241 , and the inside of the aerosol container  210  is partitioned into three housing spaces. 
     The contents S including the foamable liquid is tightly housed inside the foamable liquid housing section  242 , and the foaming agent LG for foaming the foamable liquid is tightly housed inside the foaming agent housing section  241 . 
     A propellant B that applies pressure to compress the foamable liquid housing section  242  and the foaming agent housing section  241  during discharge is housed in the propellant housing section  240 . 
     Thus, the foaming agent LG in the foaming agent housing section  241  does not require pressure for discharging the contents S in the foamable liquid housing section  242 , and the low-pressure foaming agent LG can be used. Since the propellant B in the propellant housing section  240  is housed so as to maintain a pressure sufficiently larger than that of the foaming agent LG, the foaming agent LG in the foaming agent housing section  241  substantially generates no gas-phase portion, and the inside of the foaming agent housing section  241  can be maintained in a liquid-tight state. 
     Depending on the pressure difference between the propellant B and the foaming agent LG, a gas phase may be generated in the foaming agent housing section  241 , but in such a case, a dip tube or the like may be used to suck up the liquid-phase portion. 
     An inflow port  222  communicating between the inside and the outside of the valve unit  220  is provided at the lower part of the valve unit  220 , and one of the two valve units  220  is connected so that the contents S inside the foamable liquid housing section  242  are discharged to the inflow port  222 , and the other valve unit  220 A (hereinafter, referred to as “liquid phase valve unit  220 A”) is configured to discharge the foaming agent LG housed in the foaming agent housing section  241  connected to the inflow port  222 . 
     Described hereinbelow is how the contents S and the foaming agent LG are discharged in the form of a foam by the aerosol product  200 . 
     First, by pressing the actuator  230  downward, the blockage between the inflow ports  222  and the flow paths in the stems  221  by the sealing members  223  is released, the valve unit  220  and the liquid phase valve unit  220 A are opened, the pressure of the propellant B housed in the propellant housing section  240  is received by the foamable liquid housing section  242  and the foaming agent housing section  241 , and the contents S and the liquid phase portion the foaming agent LG are discharged from the stems  221 . 
     The foaming agent LG and the contents S merge in the discharge flow path  233  in the actuator  230 . 
     At this time, the foaming agent LG and the contents S are violently collided and mixed with each other in the discharge flow path  233  by the force of the pressure of the gas-phase portion of the propellant B. 
     As a result, the contents S and the foaming agent LG can be emulsified without shaking the aerosol container  210 . 
     Further, since the foaming agent LG gradually vaporizes and expands in an emulsified state to form countless fine bubbles, the contents S can be discharged in the form of a foam from the discharge port  231  of the actuator  230 . 
     In the present embodiment, a residual quantity reduction member  243  is attached to the inflow port  222  in the foamable liquid housing section  242  and is configured to stabilize the discharge amount of the contents S and reduce the residual quantity until the end. 
     Further, where the propellant B is formed of a liquefied gas, even if the pressure of the gas-phase portion of the propellant B is reduced as a result of discharging the contents S and the foaming agent LG, the liquid-phase portion of the propellant B is vaporized to compensate the pressure of the propellant B, so that a decrease in the discharge pressure of the contents S and the foaming agent LG can be prevented. 
     When the foaming agent LG has a low pressure and the propellant B is composed of a compressed gas, a sharp increase in pressure can be suppressed even in a high temperature state, as compared with the case where a liquefied gas is used as the propellant. 
     Here, known liquefied gas and compressed gas which are generally used for aerosol products can be used as the types of gas to be used as the foaming agent and the propellant. 
     The types of liquefied gas to be used as the foaming agent and the propellant can be exemplified by propane, butane, pentane, or a liquefied petroleum gas including these, dimethylether, hydrofluoroolefins, hydrofluorocarbons, and the like, and the types of compressed gas to be used as the foaming agent and the propellant can be exemplified by nitrogen, carbondioxide, compressed air, oxygen, helium, nitrousoxide, and the like, and a mixture of a plurality of these types may be used. 
     The embodiments of the present invention have been described hereinabove in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention set forth in the claims. 
     In the above-described embodiments, the description has been given assuming that the residual quantity reduction member is attached to the inflow port. However, this configuration in the foamable liquid housing section is not limiting. For example, it is possible to attach a dip tube so that a gap is formed in a part of the inflow port, without providing the residual quantity reduction member. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, the so-called dual valve type in which one aerosol container has two valve units has been described. However, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of valve units may be three or more, a plurality of aerosol containers having one valve unit may constitute a plurality of housing spaces, and one valve unit may be provided with a plurality of inflow ports and sealing members corresponding to respective inflow ports. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration is described in which the liquefied gas is discharged from the liquid phase valve unit, but the configuration for discharging from the liquid phase valve unit is not limited thereto. For example, a perfume component which is not separated from the liquefied gas may be mixed with the liquefied gas. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid phase valve unit is connected to the hollow dip tube, and is configured to discharge the liquid-phase portion of the liquefied gas contained in the foaming agent housing section. However, this method for discharging the liquefied gas is not limiting. For example, a configuration may be used in which the dip tube is not connected, the discharge may be performed in the inverted state of the aerosol container, a weight is attached to the tip of the dip tube formed of a flexible material, so that the tip of the dip tube is located below the liquid surface of the liquefied gas at all times, and the liquid phase of the liquefied gas is sucked up regardless of the orientation of the aerosol container. 
     In the above-described embodiments, the foaming agent and the contents are violently collided and mixed in the discharge flow path by the force of the pressure of the gas-phase portion of the foaming agent, whereby the contents and the foaming agent are emulsified without shaking the aerosol container, but such a relationship between the foaming agent and the contents is not limiting. For example, a combination in which the foaming agent dissolves in the contents may be used.