US4651503A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for forming and packaging unstable products
Assignee: Gillette Co LLC
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Filing: 1984-06-13
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Granted: 1987-03-24
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Expires: 2004-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for forming and packaging, within a suitable container for the dispensing thereof, an unstable product produced by intimately mixing at least first and second ingredients, the resulting unstable product remaining stable following the mixing of the ingredients for a relatively short period of time under normal ambient conditions, the method including the steps of providing streams of the ingredients, intimately mixing the ingredients in a filling head, ejecting the mixture from the filling head into a container, and sealing the container prior to the elapse of the relatively short period of time. The apparatus generally includes a first metering device for receiving a pressurized supply of the first ingredient and for producing therefrom predetermined dosages thereof, a second metering device for receiving a pressurized supply of the second ingredient and for producing therefrom predetermined dosages thereof, a filling head for simultaneously receiving the predetermined dosages of first and second ingredients, for intimately mixing the dosages and for ejecting the resultant mixture into a container, and actuation apparatus for simultaneously actuating the first and second metering devices when the container is moved to a filling position relative to the filling head.
Inventors
- 👤 John Anderson, III
- 👤 David R. Knowlton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B3/00; B65B3/26; B65B3/30; B65B3/32; B65B31/00; B65B31/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for forming and packaging, in a suitable container for the dispensing thereof, a delayed foaming gel, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stream of an aqueous surfactant; (b) providing a stream of a foaming agent; (c) providing a container filling head that has an outlet; (d) coupling a conventional aerosol-type gel dispensing container to said outlet of said filling head; (e) injecting said stream of aqueous surfactant into said filling head; (f) injecting said stream of foaming agent into said filling head in a flow direction opposite to the flow direction of said stream of aqueous surfactant to provide a flowing stream of an intimate mixture of said aqueous surfactant and said foaming agent in said filling head; (g) subjecting said flowing mixture stream to shearing action in said filling head sufficient to form a flowing stream of an emulsion of said foaming agent and said aqueous surfactant in said filling head; (h) ejecting said flowing emulsion of said foaming agent and said aqueous surfactant in liquid form from said filling head directly into said container; (i) sealing said container; and (j) thereafter equilibrating said container and the mixture therein to normal ambient temperature thereby causing said mixture to form said delayed foaming gel in said container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for forming and packaging, in a suitable container for the dispensing thereof, a delayed foaming gel, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stream of an aqueous surfactant; (b) providing a stream of a foaming agent; (c) providing a container filling head that has an outlet; (d) coupling a conventional aerosol-type gel dispensing container to said outlet of said filling head; (e) injecting said stream of aqueous surfactant into said filling head; (f) injecting said stream of foaming agent into said filling head in a flow direction opposite to the flow direction of said stream of aqueous surfactant to provide a flowing stream of an intimate mixture of said aqueous surfactant and said foaming agent in said filling head; (g) subjecting said flowing mixture stream to shearing action in said filling head sufficient to form a flowing stream of an emulsion of said foaming agent and said aqueous surfactant in said filling head; (h) ejecting said flowing emulsion of said foaming agent and said aqueous surfactant in liquid form from said filling head directly into said container; (i) sealing said container; and (j) thereafter equilibrating said container and the mixture therein to normal ambient temperature thereby causing said mixture to form said delayed foaming gel in said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1, and further including the steps of chilling said streams of said aqueous surfactant and said foaming agent to below ambient temperature prior to the intimate mixing thereof in said filling head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein the temperatures of said aqueous surfactant and foaming agent are in the range of from -1° C. to 10° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the temperatures of said aqueous surfactant and said foaming agent are between 0° C. and 3° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 1, and further including the step of intermittently pulsing said streams of aqueous surfactant and foaming agent to deliver consecutive dosages of said aqueous surfactant and said foaming agent to said filling head in a ratio determined to form said delayed foaming gel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of mixing said streams comprises the step of injecting said foaming agent into said filling head for flow in an upstream direction into an oncoming flow of said aqueous surfactant, and said step of emulsifying said mixture in said filling head includes the step of passing said flowing mixture through a static mixer and shear means for shearing said mixture sufficiently to emulsify said foaming agent within said aqueous surfactant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said shear means comprises a breaker plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 1, further comprising an initial step in mixing said aqueous surfactant with oil to form an aqueous surfactant and oil emulsion for injection into said filling head and intimate mixing with said foaming agent to form said flowing mixture of said aqueous surfactant and said foaming agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
A process for forming and packaging, within a suitable container for the dispensing thereof, an unstable product produced by intimately mixing at least first and second ingredients, the resulting unstable product remaining stable following the mixing of said ingredients for a relativley short period of time under normal ambient conditions, said method comprising: (a) providing a stream of said first ingredient; (b) providing a stream of said second ingredient; (c) injecting said stream of said first ingredient into a filling head in a first direction, injecting said stream of said second ingredient into said stream of said first ingredient in said filling head in a flow direction opposite to the flow direction of said stream of said first ingredient to form an intimate mixture of said first and second ingredients as a flowing liquid stream in said filling head; (d) ejecting said flowing liquid stream from said filling head directly into said container; and (e) sealing said container prior to the elapse of said relatively short period of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
A process for forming and packaging, within a suitable container for the dispensing thereof, an unstable product produced by intimately mixing at least first and second ingredients, the resulting unstable product remaining stable following the mixing of said ingredients for a relativley short period of time under normal ambient conditions, said method comprising: (a) providing a stream of said first ingredient; (b) providing a stream of said second ingredient; (c) injecting said stream of said first ingredient into a filling head in a first direction, injecting said stream of said second ingredient into said stream of said first ingredient in said filling head in a flow direction opposite to the flow direction of said stream of said first ingredient to form an intimate mixture of said first and second ingredients as a flowing liquid stream in said filling head; (d) ejecting said flowing liquid stream from said filling head directly into said container; and (e) sealing said container prior to the elapse of said relatively short period of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process as in claim 9, wherein said unstable product is a delayed foaming gel, said first ingredient is an aqueous surfactant and said second ingredient is a foaming agent, and wherein, following sealing of said container, said container is equilibrated to normal ambient temperature thereby causing said mixture to form said delayed foaming gel in said container.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-23 | 1990-09-22 | 1991-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-23 | 1994-09-22 | 1995-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-23 | 1998-09-22 | 1999-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |