US 7,063,236 B2Granted

Aerosol systems and methods for mixing and dispensing two-part materials

AssigneeHomax Products, Inc.

InventorsLester R. Greer, Jr., John Kordosh

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An aerosol system or method for mixing first and second materials comprising a coupler, an actuator, and first and second containers that support first and second valve assemblies. The first container contains the second material and a propellant material. The second container contains the first material. The second container contains the first material. The first and second valve assemblies define first and second valve connecting portions. The coupler comprises first and second coupler connecting portions. The actuator defines an actuator connecting portion. In use, the coupler is arranged such that the first coupler connecting portion engages the first valve connecting portion and the second coupler connecting portion engages the second valve connecting portion. The coupler allows a mixture of the first and second materials to be formed in the second container. The actuator allows the propellant material within the second container to force at least a portion of the mixture from the second container.

Claims37

Dependent claims

An aerosol system for mixing first and second materials, comprising:

a first container for containing the second material and a propellant material that pressurizes the second material;
a first valve assembly defining a first valve connecting portion, where the first valve assembly is mounted on the first container;
a second container for containing the first material;
a second valve assembly defining a second valve connecting portion, where the second valve assembly is mounted to the second container;
a coupler comprising first and second coupler connecting portions and a stabilizing structure;
an actuator defining an actuator connecting portion;
whereby
the coupler is arranged such that
the first coupler connecting portion engages the first valve connecting portion,
the second coupler connecting portion engages the second valve connecting portion, and
the stabilizing structure engages the first and second containers;
the first and second valve assemblies are operated to allow a portion of the propellant material and at least a portion of the second material to flow into the second container to form a mixture in the second container, where the stabilizing structure stabilizes the engagement of the coupler with the first and second valve assemblies as the first and second valve assemblies are operated;
the actuator is arranged such that the actuator connecting portion engages the second valve connecting portion;
and
the actuator is operated to cause the second valve assembly to allow the propellant material within the second container to force at least a portion of the mixture from the second container.

12 more elements

A method of mixing and dispensing first and second materials, comprising the steps of:

arranging the second material in a first container;
arranging a propellant material in the first container to pressurize the second material within the first container;
mounting a first valve assembly defining a first valve connecting portion on the first container;
arranging the first material in a second container;
increasing a pressure differential between first and second containers;
mounting a second valve assembly defining a first valve connecting portion on the second container;
providing a coupler comprising first and second coupler connecting portions;
providing an actuator defining an actuator connecting portion;
arranging the coupler such that the first coupler connecting portion engages the first valve connecting portion and the second coupler connecting portion engages the second valve connecting portion;
operating the first and second valve assemblies to allow a portion of the propellant material and at least a portion of the second material to flow into the second container to form a mixture in the second container;
arranging the actuator such that the actuator connecting portion engages the second valve connecting portion;
and
operating the actuator to cause the second valve assembly to allow the propellant material within the second container to force at least a portion of the mixture from the second container.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/048,560Filed 1 Feb 2005 · continuation in part
Priority: 14 Mar 2002
Published: US 2005/0178464 A118 Aug 2005
Granted: 20 Jun 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B65D 83/687
Initially separated and subsequently mixed: with contents and the propellant being fully mixed on, or prior to, first use, e.g. by breaking an…
B01F 33/25
Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers: mixers with loose mixing elements, e.g. loose balls in a receptacle
B01F 33/251
Mixers with loose mixing elements, e.g. loose balls in a receptacle: using balls as loose mixing element
B01F 33/5011
Movable mixing devices, i.e. readily shifted or displaced from one place to another, e.g. portable during use: portable during use, e.g. hand-held

Family

Application60/364,946Us provisional application · filed 14 Mar 2002
Application10/389,426Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Mar 2003
US 2005/0178464 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Aug 2005
US 6,848,601 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2003/0183651 A1Published application
US 7,063,236 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.