Disposable pressurized fluid dispenser

Claim 2

A self-contained disposable dispenser for dispensing a fluid under pressure comprising, housing means defining a product chamber for said fluid, said housing means comprising a multilayer cylindrical portion having an inside layer which is contacted by said fluid and is made of a comparatively thin fluid-impervious material having a cylindrical outside surface and layer means adjoining said outside surface over substantially its entire area, said layer means defining the main structural portion of said cylindrical portion and said structural portion assuring said inside layer is prevented from moving outwardly by said fluid under pressure, a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with the fluid carried within said chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid, and a spigot assembly carried by said housing means and provided for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber.

Claim 3

A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 in which said inside layer comprises a layer of metallic foil fixed against said structural portion and said structural portion is comprised of a nonmetallic material.

Claim 4

A self-contained disposable fluid dispenser comprising: housing means defining a fluid product chamber; said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a fluid-impervious material and layer means adjoining said inside layer defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion; said housing means further comprising an end wall having a peripheral flange of substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration extending completely therearound, said U-shaped flange having a bight and a pair of outwardly extending legs including an outer leg which terminates in an annular curled extension, and said inside layer having an end portion which is fixed between said extension and said outer leg to define a multiple thickness mechanical joint having high strength; a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with a fluid carried within said product chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid; and a spigot assembly for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber.

Claim 5

A self-contained disposable fluid dispenser comprising: housing means defining a fluid product chamber; said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a fluid-impervious material and layer means adjoining said inside layer defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion; said housing means further comprising an end wall having a peripheral flange of substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration extending completely therearound, said U-shaped flange having a bight and a pair of outwardly extending legs including an outer leg which terminates in an annular curled extension, and said inside layer having an end portion which is fixed between said extension and said outer leg to define a multiple thickness mechanical joint having high strength; a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with a fluid carried within said product chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid; and a spigot assembly for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber.

Claim 6

A dispenser as set forth in claim 3 in which said tubular portion has a comparatively short tubular section fixed thereto adjacent said one end wall, said tubular section having an inwardly offset portion which cooperates with an oppositely arranged inside annular surface of said structural portion to define an annular groove, said annular groove receiving said mechanical joint therewithin while said projection is received within said U-shaped flange to provide a construction which assures said end wall will be held firmly in position even with excessive pressures within said chamber.

Claim 7

A dispenser as set forth in claim 3 in which the outside surface of said mechanical joint has an inwardly inclined configuration and an outer peripheral outline which corresponds to and is no greater than the peripheral outline of the inside surface of said structural portion.

Claim 8

A self-contained disposable fluid dispenser comprising, housing means defining a fluid product chamber, said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a fluid-impervious material and layer means adjoining said inside layer defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion, a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with a fluid carried within said product chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid, and a spigot assembly for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber, said housing means comprising an end wall having an opening therein defined by a tubular flange and said spigot assembly having a first and a second portion arranged essentially on opposite sides of and sandwiching said tubular flange therebetween to provide a fluidtight seal between said end wall and said spigot assembly, said first and second portions being snapfitted together.

Claim 9

A self-contained disposable fluid dispenser comprising, housing means defining a fluid product chamber, said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a fluid-impervious material and layer means adjoining said inside layer defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion, a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with a fluid carried within said product chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid, and a spigot assembly for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber, said housing means comprising an end wall having an opening therein defined by a tubular flange and said spigot assembly having a first and a second portion arranged essentially on opposite sides of and sandwiching said tubular flange therebetween to provide a fluidtight seal between said end wall and said spigot assembly, said first and second portions being snapfitted together.

Claim 10

A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 in which said cylindrical portion comprises a right circular cylindrical portion and said housing means further comprises a pair of end walls fixed to opposite end portions of said right circular cylindrical portion in sealed relation with only said inside layer, each of said end walls being made of a metallic material and having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, said regulator assembly being carried by one of said end walls and comprising a charging container containing a pressurized charging fluid and a pressure regulator operatively associating with said charging container and said chamber to maintain a predetermined minimum pressure against the fluid within said chamber irrespective of the fluid level within said chamber, said spigot assembly being carried by the other of said end walls.

Claim 11

A dispenser as set forth in claim 7 in which said pressure regulator has a bellows member which has parts of its outer surfaces exposed to ambient pressures and temperatures.

Claim 12

A self-contained disposable dispenser for dispensing a fluid under pressure comprising, housing means defining a product chamber for said fluid, said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a comparatively thin fluid-imPervious material and layer means adjoining the entire outside surface of said inside layer, said layer means defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion and said structural portion assuring said inside layer is prevented from moving outwardly by said fluid under pressure, a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with the fluid carried within said chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid, and a spigot assembly carried by said housing means and provided for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber, said tubular portion comprising a right circular cylindrical portion and said housing means further comprising a pair of end walls fixed to opposite end portion of said right circular cylindrical portion in sealed relation with said inside layer, each of said end walls having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, said regulator assembly being carried by one of said end walls and comprising a charging container containing a pressurized charging fluid and a pressure regulator operatively associating with said charging container and said chamber to maintain a predetermined minimum pressure against the fluid within said chamber irrespective of the fluid level within said chamber, said pressure regulator being carried within said product chamber and having a bellows member which is exposed solely to pressures and temperatures in said product chamber, said spigot assembly being carried by the other of said end walls.

Claim 13

A self-contained disposable dispenser for dispensing a fluid under pressure comprising, housing means defining a product chamber for said fluid, said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a comparatively thin fluid-imPervious material and layer means adjoining the entire outside surface of said inside layer, said layer means defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion and said structural portion assuring said inside layer is prevented from moving outwardly by said fluid under pressure, a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with the fluid carried within said chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid, and a spigot assembly carried by said housing means and provided for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber, said tubular portion comprising a right circular cylindrical portion and said housing means further comprising a pair of end walls fixed to opposite end portion of said right circular cylindrical portion in sealed relation with said inside layer, each of said end walls having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, said regulator assembly being carried by one of said end walls and comprising a charging container containing a pressurized charging fluid and a pressure regulator operatively associating with said charging container and said chamber to maintain a predetermined minimum pressure against the fluid within said chamber irrespective of the fluid level within said chamber, said pressure regulator being carried within said product chamber and having a bellows member which is exposed solely to pressures and temperatures in said product chamber, said spigot assembly being carried by the other of said end walls.

Claim 14

A self-contained disposable fluid dispenser comprising; housing means defining a fluid product chamber; said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a fluid-impervious material and layer means adjoining said inside layer defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion; a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with a fluid carried within said product chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid; and a spigot assembly for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber; said regulator assembly comprising, a yokelike support fastened to said housing means, said support having a resilient annular flange defining the outer periphery thereof with said flange having an inner groove and an outer groove formed therein, a bellows member having an annular portion thereof snapfitted within said inner groove, said annular portion having an inner edge which is held in a fluidtight manner against said support to define a bellows chamber between said support and said bellows member, a charging container containing a pressurized charging fluid and carried by said support, a metering valve operatively connected between said bellows member and said charging container, said metering valve being actuated by said bellows member to meter said charging fluid into said bellows chamber, and a passage from said bellows chamber to said product chamber, said metering valve normally metering charging fluid into said bellows chamber and hence into said product chamber through said passage and in the event of excessive pressure buildup in said bellows chamber said bellows member is blown outwardly so that said annular portion is received within said outer groove and caught by surface means defining said outer groove to prevent further outward movement thereof while simultaneously said inner edge is moved away from said support to vent said bellows chamber to atmosphere in a safe manner and relieve the excessive pressure buildup.

Claim 15

A self-contained disposable fluid dispenser comprising; housing means defining a fluid product chamber; said housing means comprising a multilayer tubular portion having an inside layer made of a fluid-impervious material and layer means adjoining said inside layer defining the main structural portion of said tubular portion; a regulator assembly carried by said housing means and operatively associating with a fluid carried within said product chamber to maintain pressure on said fluid; and a spigot assembly for dispensing said fluid from within said chamber; said regulator assembly comprising, a yokelike support fastened to said housing means, said support having a resilient annular flange defining the outer periphery thereof with said flange having an inner groove and an outer groove formed therein, a bellows member having an annular portion thereof snapfitted within said inner groove, said annular portion having an inner edge which is held in a fluidtight manner against said support to define a bellows chamber between said support and said bellows member, a charging container containing a pressurized charging fluid and carried by said support, a metering valve operatively connected between said bellows member and said charging container, said metering valve being actuated by said bellows member to meter said charging fluid into said bellows chamber, and a passage from said bellows chamber to said product chamber, said metering valve normally metering charging fluid into said bellows chamber and hence into said product chamber through said passage and in the event of excessive pressure buildup in said bellows chamber said bellows member is blown outwardly so that said annular portion is received within said outer groove and caught by surface means defining said outer groove to prevent further outward movement thereof while simultaneously said inner edge is moved away from said support to vent said bellows chamber to atmosphere in a safe manner and relieve the excessive pressure buildup.

Claim 16

A dispenser as set forth in claim 7 in which said inside layer is defined as a layer of aluminum foil, said layer means defining said structural portion is made of paper, and further comprising adhesive means between said inside layer and said layer means holding said inside layer firmly in position.

Claim 17

A dispenser as set forth in claim 7 in which said charging container is defined by a cylindrical tube having a pair of oppositely arranged end plugs.