# US 10,765,590 B2 · Foam generator for inverted compression receptacles

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,765,590 B2
- Document ID: US10765590B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/746,924
- Filed: 2016-10-04
- Published: 2020-03-19
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-13
- Assignees: Apollo Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Apollo Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jae Kyung Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765590B2

## CPC

- A61H 7/003: {Hand-held or hand-driven devices}
- A47K 5/14: Foam or lather making devices
- A61H 7/00: Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for (electro-medical massage devices applying electric current by contact A61N1/18)
- B01F 23/235: for making foam
- B01F 23/291: {for obtaining foams or aerosols}
- B01F 25/3141: {with additional mixing means other than injector mixers}
- B01F 25/31432: {being a slit extending in the circumferential direction only}
- B01F 25/4523: {the components being pressed through sieves, screens or meshes which obstruct the whole diameter of the tube}
- B01F 33/50111: {Small portable bottles, flasks, vials, e.g. with means for mixing ingredients or for homogenizing their content, e.g. by hand shaking}
- B01F 35/71795: {Squeezing a flexible container}
- B01F 35/71805: {using valves, gates, orifices or openings}
- B01F 35/7546: {using squeezing means on a deformable container}
- B05B 11/1087: {Combination of liquid and air pumps}
- B65D 47/00: Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D 47/20: comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge (closures with discharge by pumping {B05B11/10})
- B65D 47/32: with means for venting
- B65D 51/16: with means for venting air or gas
- B65D 51/24: combined {or co-operating} with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
- B65D 85/73: with means specially adapted for effervescing the liquids, e.g. for forming bubbles or beer head
- A61H 2201/105: with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
- B01F 23/237611: {Air}
- B05B 7/0018: {with devices for making foam}
- B05B 11/043: {designed for spraying a liquid (B05B11/046 takes precedence)}
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A foam generator is configured such that liquid contents pumped by an internal pressure as a result of directly compressing an inverted compression receptacle, having the liquid contents stored therein, are mixed with air in a gas-liquid mixing chamber and, at the same time, directly discharged in the form of foam. That is, direct compression of the inverted compression receptacle allows the liquid contents to be instantly discharged in the form of foam, thereby further improving product responsiveness.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A foam generator for inverted compression receptacles, the foam generator comprising:
an inverted compression receptacle having liquid contents stored therein, the inverted compression receptacle having a neck disposed at a lower part of the inverted compression receptacle, the neck having screw threads formed therein;
a cap main body comprising a large cap part fastened to the neck of the inverted compression receptacle in a screw coupling manner, an upward and downward movement guide wall disposed at an outside of the large cap part, the upward and downward movement guide wall being formed in a shape of a cylinder, a foam discharge part protruding from a lower part of the large cap part in a shape of a pipe having a reduced diameter, a step formed at an upper end of the foam discharge part, a lower part of the foam discharge part being open, and an air hole for allowing external air to be introduced therethrough being formed in the step;
a content discharge guide having an edge fitted in a lower side of the large cap part of the cap main body so as to be spaced apart from an upper part of the step of the cap main body, the content discharge guide comprising a discharge guide part having a liquid discharge port formed in a central region of the discharge guide part so as to be recessed concavely and a cylindrical discharge channel protruding from an upper part of a center of the discharge guide part for guiding a discharge of the liquid contents, the discharge guide part having an air discharge port disposed at an edge of the discharge guide part, through which air in the inverted compression receptacle can move to a lower side of the discharge guide part when the inverted compression receptacle is compressed, and having an air introduction port, through which external air is introduced into the inverted compression receptacle when the inverted compression receptacle is restored to an original state thereof;
a valve housing comprising a cylindrical coupling part fitted into an upper part of the content discharge guide so as to cover the upper part of the content discharge guide such that an air compartment, which communicates with the air discharge port and the air introduction port, is defined in the cylindrical coupling part, the cylindrical coupling part having a content suction port disposed in a central region of the cylindrical coupling part, the cylindrical coupling part being coaxially fitted into the discharge channel defined in the content discharge guide, a content check valve for selectively opening and closing the content suction port depending on whether the inverted compression receptacle is compressed, and a tube fitting port protruding from an upper surface of the valve housing so as to communicate with the air compartment;
an air tube having a lower end fitted into the tube fitting port of the valve housing and an upper end extending toward an upper part of the inverted compression receptacle, for allowing an upper space in the inverted compression receptacle 100, in which air remains, and the air compartment to communicate with each other therethrough;
an air check valve unit made of an elastic material, the air check valve unit comprising a ring-shaped partition wall having an upper end disposed in tight contact with a lower surface of the content discharge guide and a lower end disposed in tight contact with an upper part of the step of the cap main body for defining an air and liquid mixing chamber in the foam discharge part, a first check valve part disposed inside the partition wall so as to extend upward toward a central part of the air check valve unit, an end of the first check valve part being disposed in elastically tight contact with the discharge guide part of the content discharge guide, the first check valve part being configured to allow the air in the inverted compression receptacle to move to the air and liquid mixing chamber through the air discharge port when the inverted compression receptacle is compressed, and a second check valve part disposed outside the partition wall so as to extend downward toward an outside of the air check valve unit, an end of the second check valve part being disposed in elastically tight contact with an outside of the step of the cap main body, the second check valve part being configured to close the air hole when the inverted compression receptacle is compressed and to open the air hole when the inverted compression receptacle is restored to the original state thereof such that external air can be introduced;
a filtration member fitted in the foam discharge part of the cap main body, the filtration member being formed in a shape of a cylinder having open upper and lower parts, the filtration member being provided at upper and lower surfaces thereof with filtration nets, the filtration member being configured to guide a discharge of foam formed as a result of the liquid contents being mixed with air in the air and liquid mixing chamber while homogenizing the foam; and
an upward and downward movement cap comprising a cylindrical wall surface having an upper end coupled to the upward and downward movement guide wall of the cap main body so as to be movable upward and downward and a lower surface configured to cover a lower part of the cap main body, the lower surface being provided with a plurality of foam distribution holes, through which the foam that has passed through the filtration member is discharged to the outside in a distributed manner, the upward and downward movement cap having a cylindrical blocking wall disposed at a center of the lower surface of the upward and downward movement cap in a protruding manner for selectively opening and closing the foam discharge part according to an upward and downward manipulation of the upward and downward movement cap.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The foam generator according to claim 1, wherein the content check valve comprises:
a valve body disposed in the coupling part of the valve housing so as to be slidable vertically for opening and closing the content suction port, an upper end of the valve body being formed in a conical shape; and
an elastic member for elastically supporting the valve body upward in the coupling part of the valve housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The foam generator according to claim 1, further comprising a massage member, wherein the massage member comprises:
a base fitted in a lower part of the upward and downward movement cap, the base being provided therein with a plurality of communication ports, which communicate with the respective foam distribution holes; and
massage bristles provided at a lower surface of the base for uniformly applying foam discharged through the communication ports to a skin of a user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The foam generator according to claim 1, wherein
support shafts are formed inside the upward and downward movement guide wall in a protruding manner such that the support shafts are opposite to each other, and
the upward and downward movement cap is provided at an outside of the wall surface thereof with spiral grooves for receiving the support shafts, the spiral grooves being formed so as to be opposite to each other over a predetermined region, the upward and downward movement cap being disposed so as to move upward or downward to regular positions of the upward and downward movement cap by rotating the upward and downward movement cap in a forward direction or a reverse direction, whereby
when the upward and downward movement cap is moved maximally downward as a result of the rotation of the upward and downward movement cap in the forward direction, the cylindrical blocking wall opens the foam discharge part, and when the upward and downward movement cap is moved maximally upward as a result of the rotation of the upward and downward movement cap in the reverse direction, the cylindrical blocking wall closes the foam discharge part.