Patent ID: 7374066

Claim:
A dispenser for a flowable product comprising: a reservoir containing a first, gaseous propellant, and a quantity of the flowable product mixed with a second propellant in a liquid phase, so that the second propellant expels the product from the reservoir and causes foaming of the product as it is expelled, wherein the product is released from the reservoir in a foamy state; a base adapted to support said reservoir; an electronically controllable valve with an associated dispensing outlet, the valve being responsive to a control signal to release a predetermined quantity of the product via the outlet; a sensor arranged to detect the presence of a human hand or other receptacle and to generate a sensor output signal; a control circuit responsive to the sensor output signal to generate the control signal, thereby to cause the release of the predetermined quantity of the product; an expansion chamber communicating with an outlet of the reservoir in which the flowable product expands; a diffusing chamber communicating with the expansion chamber and including a central body for directing the expanding product laterally outwardly; and a mixing chamber communicating with the diffusing chamber in which the product mixes and foams.