Patent Application
20210268525
The present invention relates to a foam discharger.
Examples of foam dischargers configured to discharge a liquid agent in a foamed state include discharging containers (foam dischargers) disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 to 5. The discharging container of Patent Literature 1 is capable of mixing a liquid agent and a gas to produce a foamed liquid agent, and discharging the foamed liquid agent (foam) to outside the discharging container. The discharging container disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a porous element provided to a discharge opening, and makes the foamed liquid agent pass through the porous element, to thereby discharge a foamed liquid agent with uniform and fine foam structure. Patent Literature 2 discloses a foam producing device (foam discharger) that produces a foamed liquid agent by: spraying a liquid agent into a space provided near a discharge opening and thereby mixing the liquid agent and air in this space; and making the mixture pass through a porous element provided to the discharge opening. Patent Literatures 3 to 5 disclose foam-discharging containers capable of mixing a liquid agent and a gas to produce a foamed liquid agent, and discharging the foamed liquid agent to outside the respective foam-discharging container.
Patent Literature 1: JP2018-052601(A)
Patent Literature 2: CA1090748(A)
Patent Literature 3: JP2011-251691(A)
Patent Literature 4: US2006219738(A1)
Patent Literature 5: GB2566203(A)
The invention relates to a foam discharger including: a mixing portion configured to mix a liquid agent and a gas to foam the liquid agent into a foamed liquid agent; a discharge opening configured to discharge the foamed liquid agent; and a flow path in communication with the discharge opening, and configured to supply the foamed liquid agent from the mixing portion to the discharge opening. The discharge opening is provided with a first porous member. On an upstream side of the first porous member, a cross-sectional area of the flow path on a cross section orthogonal to a supply direction in which the foamed liquid agent is to be supplied increases along the supply direction. The cross-sectional area of the flow path at the discharge opening is at least 1.2 times a minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path.
The invention relates to a foam discharger including: a mixing portion configured to mix a liquid agent and a gas to foam the liquid agent into a foamed liquid agent; and a discharge opening configured to discharge the foamed liquid agent. The mixing portion includes: gas/liquid contact chambers, each configured to make the liquid agent and the gas contact one another; a plurality of liquid-agent flow paths configured to supply the liquid agent respectively to the gas/liquid contact chambers; gas flow paths, each configured to supply the gas respectively to the gas/liquid contact chambers; and foam flow paths, each configured to supply the foamed liquid agent respectively from the gas/liquid contact chambers toward the discharge opening. At a location where the gas flow path and the gas/liquid contact chamber intersect with one another, the gas flow path extends on a first plane that intersects with a direction in which the foam flow path extends.
Conventional foam dischargers may be incapable of producing fine and uniform foams depending on how a user uses the foam discharger or on properties of the liquid agent contained in the foam discharger. Conventional foam dischargers may also be incapable of sufficiently mixing a liquid agent and gas to produce a foamed liquid agent containing a sufficient amount of gas.
The present invention relates to a foam discharger capable of discharging a fine liquid agent foam with improved uniformity. The present invention also relates to a foam discharger capable of further increasing the content of gas in a foamed liquid agent.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present Description and drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same function/configuration are accompanied by the same reference sign, and repetitive explanation thereon is omitted. Further, in the present Description and drawings, similar constituent elements in different embodiments may be distinguished from one another by attaching different alphabets after the same reference number. Note, however, that similar constituent elements may be accompanied by the same reference sign in cases where there is no need to particularly distinguish those constituent elements.
The drawings referenced in the following description are for facilitating the explanation and understanding of the various embodiments of the invention, and for the sake of facilitating understanding, the shapes, dimensions, ratios, etc., of members illustrated in the drawings may differ from those in practice. Hereinbelow, a description of a concrete shape does not refer only to the exact geometrical shape, but also encompasses similar shapes thereto having differences permissible in terms of manufacture and use of the foam-discharging container. For example, the expression “disk shaped” hereinbelow is not limited to the shape of a plate having a perfect-circular surface, but also encompasses plates having surface shapes similar to a perfect circle, such as elliptic. Further, hereinbelow, the expression “substantially the same” used to describe a concrete diameter or length does not refer only to dimensions that exactly match either mathematically or geometrically, but also encompasses dimensions or lengths having differences (e.g., play (leeway) to facilitate manufacture) permissible in terms of manufacture and use of the foam-discharging container.
Hereinbelow, “up-down direction” is defined with reference to a foam-discharging container according to embodiments of the invention. More specifically, herein, “up-down direction” refers to the up-down (vertical) direction in a state where a foam-discharging container (described below) is arranged such that its container body for containing a liquid agent is located on the lower side, and its foam-discharging cap is located on the upper side. Note, however, that this “up-down direction” may differ from the up-down direction of the foam-discharging container during manufacture or use thereof or from the up-down direction of each of the elements (components) constituting the foam-discharging container. Hereinbelow, “upstream” and “downstream” refer to relative positions in the flow of a gas, a liquid agent, or a foamed liquid agent. More specifically, in relation to the flow thereof, a position close to the start point of the flow is referred to as “upstream”, whereas a position relatively farther from the start point than an “upstream” point is referred to as “downstream”.
Hereinbelow, a “foamed liquid agent” refers to a liquid agent that has taken in gas bubbles and has thereby incorporated a multitude of gas bubbles (foam cells) having a spherical shape or a shape similar to a sphere. Hereinbelow, the size of the gas bubbles (more specifically, e.g., the diameter of the sphere) included in the foamed liquid agent, the distribution density of the gas bubbles, etc., are not particularly limited; for example, the size and/or the distribution density of the gas bubbles may be varied depending on, for example, the use of the liquid agent.
Schematic Configuration of Foam-Discharging Container 10:
First, a foam-discharging container 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described. The foam-discharging container 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention is a container capable of mixing a liquid agent contained in a later-described container body 100 and a gas taken in from outside the container body 100 to thereby transform the liquid agent into a foam, and discharging the foamed liquid agent to outside the foam-discharging container 10. Below, a schematic configuration of the foam-discharging container 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
Container Body 100:
The container body 100 is located on a lower side of the foam-discharging container 10, and has a space capable of being filled with a liquid agent. For example, as illustrated in
The liquid agent to be contained in the container body 100 is not particularly limited, and may be one of various liquid agents used as a foam, with examples including face wash, hand soaps, body soaps, cleansing agents, various detergents for dishwashing, bathrooms, etc., hairdressing agents, shaving creams, cosmetics for the skin such as foundation creams, serums, etc., hair dye agents, and antiseptic agents. The viscosity of the liquid agent is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, preferably 2 cP (centipoise) or greater, or from 10 to 20000 cP, and more preferably 20 cP or greater, even more preferably 30 cP or greater, and more preferably 10000 cP or less, even more preferably 2000 cP or less, at 25° C. The viscosity of the liquid agent can be measured, for example, by using a B-type viscometer. As regards measurement conditions for measuring the viscosity, it is possible to select, as appropriate, the rotator type, rotation speed and rotation time as defined in accordance with the viscosity level for each viscometer.
Foam-Discharging Cap 200:
As illustrated in
More specifically, the cap member 210 has a cylindrical attachment portion 212, and by, for example, screwing the attachment portion 212 onto the neck portion 104, the whole foam-discharging cap 200 can be attached to the container body 100. Stated differently, by attaching the foam-discharging cap 200 onto the neck portion 104, the foam-discharging cap 200 closes the opening in the neck portion 104. The attachment portion 212 may be formed with a double-cylinder structure; in this case, the inner cylinder of the attachment portion 212 will be attached—e.g. screwed—onto the neck portion 104. Further, the cap member 210 includes: an annular closing portion 214 that closes an upper end portion of the attachment portion 212; and an upright tube portion 216 that rises upward from a central portion of the annular closing portion 214 (i.e., a central portion in a planar view of the annular closing portion 214). The upright tube portion 216 has a circular-cylindrical shape having a smaller diameter than the attachment portion 212. A portion of the later-described supply mechanism 260 is inserted within the upright tube portion 216.
As described above, the supply mechanism 260 is provided so as to hang down from the upright tube portion 216. The supply mechanism 260 includes: a liquid-agent supplying portion (not illustrated) for supplying the liquid agent stored in the container body 100 to the foamer mechanism 300, which is configured to mix the liquid agent with a gas and transform the liquid agent into a foam; and a gas supplying portion (not illustrated) for taking in a gas from outside the foam-discharging container 10 and supplying the gas to the foamer mechanism 300. More specifically, the liquid-agent supplying portion is, for example, a liquid-agent cylinder constituting a liquid-agent pump, and is configured to pressurize the liquid agent inside a liquid-agent pump chamber (not illustrated) provided within the supply mechanism 260 and supply the liquid agent to the foamer mechanism 300. The gas supplying portion is, for example, a gas cylinder constituting a gas pump, and is configured to pressurize a gas inside a gas pump chamber (not illustrated) provided within the supply mechanism 260 and supply the gas to the foamer mechanism 300. Note that, in the present embodiment, the configuration of the liquid-agent supplying portion and the gas supplying portion is not particularly limited, and various known configurations are applicable. The upper end of the supply mechanism 260 is either closed off by the foamer mechanism 300 or is in communication with the foamer mechanism 300 through a flow path (not illustrated).
The foamer mechanism 300 is provided so as to be contained within the upright tube portion 216 and a cylindrical portion 234, and is capable of mixing the liquid agent and a gas and transforming the liquid agent into a foam. Note that, hereinbelow, the “gas” to be mixed with the liquid agent in the foamer mechanism 300 refers to air (outside air) that is taken in from outside the foam-discharging container 10 and that contains nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc. In the present embodiment, however, the gas is not limited to air, and may be, for example, a gas containing various gaseous components and stored in advance in the container body 100 etc. Details on the foamer mechanism 300 will be described further below.
As illustrated in
In the present embodiment, a porous element (first porous member) 270 (see
The head portion 230 is configured so as to be movable along the up-down direction. More specifically, as illustrated in
Schematic Configuration of Foamer Mechanism 300:
Next, a schematic configuration of the aforementioned foamer mechanism 300 will be described with reference to
As described above, the foamer mechanism 300 is a mechanism for mixing a liquid agent and a gas to thereby transform the liquid agent into a foam. As illustrated in
A lower end of the foamer mechanism 300 opposes a check valve that is constituted by a ball valve 180 and a valve seat portion 131 provided inside the supply mechanism 260, and that permits liquid to be supplied to the foamer mechanism 300. With this configuration, the up-down movement of the ball valve 180 of the check valve can supply the foamer mechanism 300 with the liquid agent from the liquid-agent supplying portion (not illustrated) located below the ball valve 180, and can inhibit the liquid from returning from the foamer mechanism 300 to the liquid-agent supplying portion.
The foamer mechanism 300 also has, in the interior thereof, one or more liquid-agent flow paths (not illustrated) for the liquid agent supplied from the liquid-agent supplying portion and one or more gas flow paths (not illustrated) for the gas supplied from the gas supplying portion (not illustrated) of the supply mechanism 260. The foamer mechanism 300 also has, in the interior thereof, a mixing chamber (not illustrated) where the liquid-agent flow path and the gas flow path intersect with one another. In the mixing chamber, the liquid agent and the gas having been supplied can be mixed together, and the liquid agent can be made into a foam. The foamed liquid agent is emitted from the mixing chamber to the communication flow path 252 by being expelled by the liquid agent and gas supplied anew to the foamer mechanism 300. Further, as described above, the emitted liquid-agent foam will flow through the communication flow path 252 and the foam flow path 250 and be discharged from the discharge opening 242 to outside the foam-discharging container 10.
The foamer mechanism 300 also includes, in the interior thereof, a porous element (second porous member) 310. The porous element 310 is, for example, disk-shaped or circular-columnar, and is provided in a position capable of contacting the foamed liquid agent from the mixing chamber. Thus, the liquid agent foamed in the mixing chamber passes through the porous element 310, and is thereby made into a finer foam.
In the present embodiment, the porous element 310 may be, for example, a mesh, gauze, foam, sponge, or a combination including at least two selected from the above. More specifically, the size of the mesh opening of the porous element 310 may be, for example, preferably 20μm or greater, more preferably 40 μm or greater, and preferably 350 μm or less, more preferably 300 μm or less, although not particularly limited thereto. In cases where the porous element 310 is a mesh having rectangular openings, the mesh opening refers to the longitudinal/lateral length of the rectangular opening; in cases where the openings are circular, the mesh opening refers to the diameter of the circle. More specifically, for the porous element 310, it is possible to use, for example, a commercially available mesh sheet having a mesh size of from #50 to #550, and preferably, a commercially available mesh sheet having a mesh size of from #85 to #350. For example, it is possible to use a #61, #508, #85, or #305 mesh sheet.
Further, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in
Detailed Configuration of Head Portion 230:
Next, a detailed configuration of the aforementioned head portion 230 will be described with reference to
As described above, as illustrated in
Operation Portion 232:
As described above, the operation portion 232 is capable of receiving pressing operation by the fingers etc. of a user. In the present embodiment, by pressing of the operation portion 232 by the user, the head portion 230 is pressed down.
Cylindrical Portion 234:
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Nozzle Portion 240:
As illustrated in
It should be noted that the shape of the cross section of the foam flow path 250 is not particularly limited; it may be, for example, rectangular, rectangular with rounded corners, circular, or elliptic.
Further, as illustrated in
The porous element 270 is a member having, for example, a plate-like, rectangular-columnar, disk-like, or circular-columnar shape. By passing through the porous element 270, the foamed liquid agent supplied from the foamer mechanism 300 can be made into a finer foam.
Like the porous element 310 of the foamer mechanism 300, the porous element 270 may be, for example, a mesh, gauze, foam, sponge, or a combination including at least two selected from the above. More specifically, the size of the mesh opening of the porous element 270 may be, for example, preferably 20 μm or greater, more preferably 40 μm or greater, and preferably 350 μm or less, more preferably 300 μm or less, although not particularly limited thereto. In cases where the porous element 270 is a mesh having rectangular openings, the mesh opening refers to the longitudinal/lateral length of the rectangular opening; in cases where the openings are circular, the mesh opening refers to the diameter of the circle. More specifically, for the porous element 270, it is possible to use, for example, a commercially available mesh sheet having a mesh size of from #50 to #550, and preferably, a commercially available mesh sheet having a mesh size of from #85 to #350. For example, it is possible to use a #61, #508, #85, or #305 mesh sheet.
As illustrated in
It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the location where the cross-sectional area becomes the smallest is not limited to the connecting portion 254 where the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252 are connected, and it may be any location within the foam flow path 250 between the connecting portion 254 and the porous element 270. Even in this case, it is preferable that the length L of the foam flow path 250, along the supply direction of the foamed liquid agent, from the porous element 270 to the location where the cross-sectional area becomes the smallest is 3 mm or greater. Also in this case, the length is more preferably 10 mm or greater, even more preferably 20 mm or greater.
In the present embodiment, the length M of the communication flow path 252 from the connecting portion 254, where the communication flow path and the foam flow path 250 are connected, to the mixing chamber of the foamer mechanism 300, as illustrated in
Therefore, the start point of the length L and the length M at the connecting portion 254 can be defined as the point where the center line of the foam flow path 250 and the center line of the communication flow path 252 intersect with one another. In the present embodiment, by increasing the length M, it is possible to further reduce the flow velocity when the foamed liquid agent passes through the porous element 270 of the discharge opening 242, thereby enabling production of a fine foam with improved uniformity.
Stated differently, in the present embodiment, the length (L+M), along the supply direction of the foamed liquid agent, of the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252 from the porous element 270 to the mixing chamber of the foamer mechanism 300 is preferably 15 mm or greater. In the present embodiment, the length (L+M) is more preferably 25 mm or greater, even more preferably 40 mm or greater. In cases where the foamer mechanism 300 includes a plurality of porous elements 310, it is preferable that the length of the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252 from the porous element 270 to the most upstream porous element 310b of the foamer mechanism 300 is 10 mm or greater. The length from the porous element 270 to the most upstream porous element 310b of the foamer mechanism 300 is more preferably 20 mm or greater, even more preferably 35 mm or greater.
To produce a foam with further improved fineness and uniformity, it is preferable to reduce the flow velocity that the foamed liquid agent passes through the porous element 270 of the discharge opening 242. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the length of the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252 is increased, as described above. It is, however, not realistic to unlimitedly increase the length of the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252, because there are constraints in the size and shape of the foam-discharging container 10 considering, for example, the usability of the foam-discharging container 10. So, the present embodiment focuses on the flow path diameter of the foam flow path 250 and gradually increases the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250 toward the discharge opening 242. In this way, even when there are constraints in the length of the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252, it is possible to further reduce the flow velocity that the foamed liquid agent passes through the porous element 270 of the discharge opening 242.
More specifically, as described above, the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250 becomes the smallest at the connecting portion 254 where the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252 are connected. Further, in the present embodiment, on the upstream side of the porous element 270, the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250 on a cross section orthogonal to the supply direction, in which the foamed liquid agent is to be supplied, gradually increases along the supply direction of the foamed liquid agent from the connecting portion 254 toward the discharge opening 242. More specifically, as illustrated in
It should be noted that the present embodiment is not limited to a configuration wherein, on the upstream side of the porous element 270, the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250 on a cross section orthogonal to the supply direction of the foamed liquid agent gradually increases along the supply direction of the foamed liquid agent from the connecting portion 254 toward the discharge opening 242. Instead, the cross-sectional area of the cross section may increase stepwise on the upstream side of the porous element 270 along the supply direction from the connecting portion 254 toward the discharge opening 242.
In the present embodiment, by increasing the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250 on the upstream side of the porous element 270 along the supply direction, it is possible to reduce the flow velocity when the foamed liquid agent passes through the porous element 270, thereby enabling production of a fine foam with improved uniformity. More specifically, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that: by reducing the flow velocity of the foamed liquid agent, it is possible to uniformize the liquid agent passing through the foam flow path 250 by the action of laminar flow generated therein; and further, by causing the uniformized liquid agent to pass through the porous element 270 at low speed, it is possible to obtain a fine foam with improved uniformity. Particularly, by gradually increasing the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250 on the upstream side of the porous element 270 toward the discharge opening 242, it is possible to further promote the creation of laminar flow inside the foam flow path 250 and thereby uniformize the liquid agent passing therethrough, and further, by causing the uniformized liquid agent to pass through the porous element 270 at low speed, it is possible to obtain a fine foam with further improved uniformity.
It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, as described above, the location where the cross-sectional area becomes the smallest is not limited to the connecting portion 254 where the foam flow path 250 and the communication flow path 252 are connected, and it may be any location within the foam flow path 250 between the connecting portion 254 and the porous element 270. Even in this case, it is preferable that the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250 at the discharge opening 242 is at least 1.2 times, more preferably at least 3 times, the minimum cross-sectional area.
As described above, the present embodiment can provide a foam-discharging container 10 capable of discharging a fine liquid agent foam with further improved uniformity. Further, since the foam-discharging container 10 of the present embodiment does not require significant changes in shape/configuration from conventional foam-discharging containers, production line modification can be kept minimal, and also, the foam-discharging container compares favorably with conventional foam-discharging containers in terms of usability and appearance.
A head portion 230 according to an embodiment of the invention may have a different shape/configuration from the head portion 230 of the foregoing first embodiment. Below, a head portion 230a having a different shape/configuration will be described in detail as a head portion according to a second embodiment of the invention.
A detailed configuration of the head portion 230a according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to
As in the first embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the porous element 270a is provided directly to the discharge opening 242 without using a porous fitting member 272. Thus, the present embodiment can suppress reduction in the cross-sectional area of the porous element 270a due to, for example, the thickness of the porous fitting member 272. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the porous element 270a can be further increased, even if the degree of increase in the diameter of the foam flow path 250a is small. As a result, the present embodiment can reduce the flow velocity when the foamed liquid agent passes through the porous element 270a, even if the degree of increase in the diameter of the foam flow path 250a is small. Stated differently, the present embodiment can also provide a foam-discharging container 10 capable of discharging a fine liquid agent foam with further improved uniformity.
A foam-discharging cap 200 according to an embodiment of the invention may have a different shape/configuration from that of the foregoing first and second embodiments. Below, a foam-discharging cap 200b having a different shape/configuration will be described in detail as a foam-discharging cap according to a third embodiment of the invention.
Foam-Discharging Cap 200b:
More specifically, the cap member 210 has a cylindrical attachment portion 212, and by, for example, screwing the attachment portion 212 onto the neck portion 104, the whole foam-discharging cap 200b can be attached to the container body 100. Stated differently, by attaching the foam-discharging cap 200b onto the neck portion 104, the foam-discharging cap 200b closes the opening in the neck portion 104. The attachment portion 212 may be formed with a double-cylinder structure; in this case, the inner cylinder of the attachment portion 212 will be attached—e.g. screwed—onto the neck portion 104. Further, the cap member 210 includes: an annular closing portion 214 that closes an upper end portion of the attachment portion 212; and an upright tube portion 216 that rises upward from a central portion of the annular closing portion 214 (i.e., a central portion in a planar view of the annular closing portion 214). The upright tube portion 216 has a circular-cylindrical shape having a smaller diameter than the attachment portion 212. A portion of the cylinder portion 220 (described below) is inserted within the upright tube portion 216.
The cylinder portion 220 (see
Note that, hereinbelow, the “gas” to be mixed with the liquid agent in the foamer mechanism 300b refers to air (outside air) that is taken in from outside the foam-discharging container 10b and that contains nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc. In the present embodiment, however, the gas is not limited to air, and may be, for example, a gas containing various gaseous components and stored in advance in the foam-discharging container 10b's container body 100 etc.
As illustrated in
The head portion 230b is configured so as to be movable vertically (up and down). More specifically, the head portion 230b includes an operation portion 232 configured to receive pressing operation by the fingers etc. of a user. Further, as illustrated in
Detailed Configuration of Foam-Discharging Cap 200b:
Next, a detailed configuration of the foam-discharging cap 200b will be described with reference to
Head Portion 230b:
As described above, the head portion 230b includes the operation portion 232 and the cylindrical portion 234 hanging downward from the operation portion 232. More specifically, the cylindrical portion 234 is indirectly supported by the cylinder portion 220, a later-described piston guide 290, a coil spring 273, etc. The head portion 230b can be pressed down (lowered) within a predetermined range against the biasing force from the coil spring 273. More specifically, in a state where the pressing operation is released, the head portion 230b ascends relatively to the cap member 210 along the up-down direction, in accordance with the bias of the coil spring 273, and moves to the upper stop point. On the other hand, by the pressing operation applied by the user to the head portion 230b (more specifically, the operation portion 232) against the bias from the coil spring 273, the head portion 230b descends relatively to the cap member 210. As illustrated in
Foamer Mechanism 300b:
As described above, the foamer mechanism 300b is a mechanism for mixing a liquid agent and a gas to thereby transform the liquid agent into a foam. As illustrated in
Piston Guide 290:
The piston guide 290 is a cylindrical member that is located below the foamer mechanism 300b and that is long in the up-down direction, and is fixed to the head portion 230b. A later-described liquid piston 271 is fixed to the head portion 230b by means of the piston guide 290. The head portion 230b, the piston guide 290, and the liquid piston 271 are integrally movable along the up-down direction. The valve seat portion 131 is formed in the upper interior of the piston guide 290, and the ball valve 180 is arranged on the valve seat portion 131. The ball valve 180 is retained so as to be movable vertically (up and down) between the lower end of the foamer mechanism 300b and the valve seat portion 131. A through hole 131a in communication with the lower side of the valve seat portion 131 is provided in the center of the valve seat portion 131. More specifically, the ball valve 180 and the valve seat portion 131 constitute the aforementioned check valve; the up-down movement of the ball valve 180 allows the check valve to supply the liquid agent to the foamer mechanism 300b from below the valve seat portion 131, and to inhibit the liquid from returning from the foamer mechanism 300 to the liquid-agent supplying portion.
The piston guide 290 is fitted outside a later-described gas piston 255 in a manner that there is play therebetween, and the gas piston 255 can move along the up-down direction relatively to the piston guide 290. A flange 233 is provided in a central portion, in the up-down direction, of the piston guide 290. A ring-shaped (donut-shaped) valve-constituting groove 134 is formed in the upper surface of the flange 233. A cylindrical portion 251 of the later-described gas piston 255 is fitted outside the upper portion of the piston guide 290 in a manner that there is play therebetween. The valve-constituting groove 134 and a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 251 of the gas piston 255 constitute a gas emission valve. More specifically, a plurality of flow path-constituting grooves (not illustrated), each extending along the up-down direction, are provided in the outer circumferential surface of the piston guide 290 in a section onto which the cylindrical portion 251 is fitted. Gaps (not illustrated) are formed between these flow path-constituting grooves and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 251 of the gas piston 255, and these gaps constitute gas flow paths through which a gas, which exits from the later-described gas pump chamber 261, flows upward via the aforementioned gas emission valve.
Liquid-Agent Supplying Portion and Gas Supplying Portion:
As illustrated in
Gas Cylinder Mechanism 221:
The upper end portion of the gas cylinder mechanism 221 is fitted onto the lower surface side of the annular closing portion 214 and is thereby fixed to the annular closing portion 214. The gas cylinder mechanism 221 includes a gas piston 255. Hereinbelow, in the gas cylinder mechanism 221, a space between the gas piston 255 and the annular connecting portion 223 is referred to as a gas pump chamber 261. The gas pump chamber 261 is capable of storing a gas. The volume of the gas pump chamber 261 is expandable/contractible in accordance with the up/down movement of the gas piston 255.
The gas piston 255 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The gas piston 255 includes: a cylindrical portion 251 that is fitted on the outside of a central portion, in the up-down direction, of the piston guide 290 in a manner that there is play therebetween; and a piston portion 256 that projects radially outward from the cylindrical portion 251. An outer circumferential ring portion 253 is provided to the peripheral edge of the piston portion 256. The outer circumferential ring portion 253 circumferentially contacts the inner circumferential surface of the gas cylinder mechanism 221 in a gas-tight manner, and can slide along the inner circumferential surface of the gas cylinder mechanism 221 when the gas piston 255 moves up and down. A plurality of intake openings 257 penetrating the piston portion 256 along the up-down direction are provided in a section of the piston portion 256 near the cylindrical portion 251.
More specifically, pressing operation of the head portion 230b by a user causes the gas pump chamber 261 to contract. At this time, the gas inside the gas pump chamber 261 is pressurized and the gas piston 255 slightly rises relative to the piston guide 290, which thereby opens the gas emission valve constituted by the cylindrical portion 251 and the valve-constituting groove 134. As a result, the gas inside the gas pump chamber 261 is sent upward through the gas emission valve and the gas flow paths (not illustrated) provided between the cylindrical portion 251 and the piston guide 290. Further, above the cylindrical portion 251 of the gas piston 255, a gas flow path (not illustrated) is formed by a gap between the inner circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 234 and the outer circumferential surface of the piston guide 290. This gas flow path is in communication with the gas flow paths provided between the cylindrical portion 251 and the piston guide 290; thus, the gas inside the gas pump chamber 261 can be supplied to the foamer mechanism 300b through the gas emission valve, the gas flow paths provided between the cylindrical portion 251 and the piston guide 290, and the gas flow path provided between the inner circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 234 and the outer circumferential surface of the piston guide 290.
A ring-shaped intake valve member 155 is fitted onto the lower side of the cylindrical portion 251 of the gas piston 255. The intake valve member 155 includes a valve body which is an annular membrane projecting radially outward. The valve body of the intake valve member 155 and the piston portion 256 constitute a gas intake valve. More specifically, when the head portion 230b is lowered—i.e., when the gas pump chamber 261 contracts—the valve body of the intake valve member 155 is in tight contact with the piston portion 256, and thereby the intake openings 257 are closed. On the other hand, when the head portion 230b is raised—i.e., when the gas pump chamber 261 expands the pressure inside the gas pump chamber 261 drops, and thereby the valve body of the intake valve member 155 separates from the piston portion 256 and the intake openings 257 are thus opened. Thus, gas outside the foam-discharging container 10b can be taken into the gas pump chamber 261 through a gap located between the upper end of the upright tube portion 216 and the cylindrical portion 234.
Further, through holes 229 penetrating the gas cylinder mechanism 221, thereby connecting the inside and outside thereof, are formed in the gas cylinder mechanism 221. In a state where the head portion 230b is not pressed down and the head portion 230b is resting at an upward position, the through holes 229 are closed by the outer circumferential ring portion 253 of the gas piston 255. When the head portion 230b is pressed down and thereby the through holes 229 transition from a state where they are closed by the outer circumferential ring portion 253 to a non-closed state, gas outside the foam-discharging container 10b flows into the container body 100 through the gap located between the upper end of the upright tube portion 216 and the cylindrical portion 234, and the through holes 229. This inflow of gas makes the pressure of the space (gas) located above the liquid surface of the liquid agent inside the container body 100 equal to atmospheric pressure.
Liquid-Agent Cylinder Mechanism 222:
The liquid-agent cylinder mechanism 222 includes a liquid piston 271. Hereinbelow, in the liquid-agent cylinder mechanism 222, a space provided between the check valve, which is constituted by the ball valve 180 and the valve seat portion 131, and a later-described liquid-agent intake valve is referred to as a liquid-agent pump chamber 280. The liquid-agent pump chamber 280 is capable of storing a liquid agent. The volume of the liquid-agent pump chamber 280 is expandable/contractible in accordance with the up/down movement of the liquid piston 271 and the piston guide 290. More specifically, pressing operation of the head portion 230b by a user causes the liquid-agent pump chamber 280 to contract. At this time, the liquid agent inside the liquid-agent pump chamber 280 is pressurized, which thereby opens the check valve constituted by the ball valve 180 and the valve seat portion 131 and allows the liquid agent in the liquid-agent pump chamber 280 to be supplied to the foamer mechanism 300b through the check valve.
The liquid piston 271 has a cylindrical (tubular) shape. The lower end portion of the piston guide 290 is inserted in the upper end portion of the liquid piston 271. In this way, the liquid piston 271 can be fixed to the piston guide 290. A straight portion 222a of the liquid-agent cylinder mechanism 222 is provided below the lower end of the liquid piston 271.
As illustrated in
The liquid-agent cylinder mechanism 222 further includes a coil spring 273. The coil spring 273 is fitted on the outside of an intermediate section of the poppet 276 (more specifically, an intermediate section in the up-down direction) in a manner that there is play therebetween. The coil spring 273 is, for example, a compression coil spring, and is retained in a compressed state. Thus, the coil spring 273 is capable of upwardly biasing the liquid piston 271, the piston guide 290, and the head portion 230b.
The liquid-agent cylinder mechanism 222 further includes: a straight portion 222a having a straight shape extending along the up-down direction; and a tapered portion 222b that is connected below the straight portion 222a and that is tapered downward. The valve seat portion 224 to be paired with the valve body portion 278 is provided to a lower portion in the inner circumferential surface of the tapered portion 222b. The tapered portion 222b has a cylindrical tube-retaining portion 225 connected below the tapered portion 222b. An upper end portion of a dip tube 228 is inserted into the tube-retaining portion 225, and thereby, the dip tube 228 is retained by the lower end portion of the cylinder portion 220. In this way, the liquid agent in the container body 100 will be sucked into the liquid-agent pump chamber 280 through the dip tube 228.
More specifically, when the head portion 230b is pressed down by a user and the piston guide 290 descends, the poppet 276 follows the movement of the piston guide 290 due to friction between the piston guide 290 and an upper end portion of the poppet 276, and thereby, the lower surface of the valve body portion 278 of the poppet 276 contacts the valve seat portion 224 of the cylinder portion 220 in a liquid-tight manner. When the pressing operation to the head portion 230b by the user is released, the liquid piston 271, the piston guide 290, and the head portion 230b rise in accordance with the bias of the coil spring 273. As a result, the valve body portion 278 of the poppet 276 slightly rises at a gap between the lower end of the coil spring 273 and the valve seat portion 224, and thereby, the liquid-agent intake valve at the lower end portion of the liquid-agent pump chamber 280 opens along with the rise of the valve body portion 278, and the liquid agent is sucked into the liquid-agent pump chamber 280 through the liquid-agent intake valve.
It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the configuration of the liquid-agent supplying portion and the gas supplying portion is not particularly limited to the configuration described above, and various known configurations are applicable.
Configuration of Foamer Mechanism 300b:
Next, a configuration of the foamer mechanism 300b according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
More specifically, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, details of the various parts of the two members constituting the foamer mechanism 300b of the present embodiment—i.e., the first member 311 and the second member 350—will be described below.
First Member 311:
First, details of the first member 311 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the first member 311, the large-diameter portion 314 includes: a circular-cylindrical portion 314a; and a disk-shaped (circular plate-shaped; dish-shaped) slab portion 318 provided horizontally above the cylindrical portion 314a. As illustrated in the top view of the first member 311, an opening penetrating the slab portion 318 along the up-down direction is provided in a central portion of the slab portion 318 in a planar view thereof; this opening is in communication with the interior space of the cylindrical portion 314a and the interior space of the later-described small-diameter portion 312, to constitute the liquid-agent flow path 320. As illustrated in the top view of the first member 311, in a planar view of the slab portion 318, the upper surface of the slab portion 318 is provided with: a plurality of (e.g., eight) liquid-agent flow paths (first liquid-agent small flow paths) 322a extending radially from the liquid-agent flow path 320; and two liquid-agent flow paths (second liquid-agent small flow paths) 322b branching from each of the liquid-agent flow paths 322a and extending in a curved/bent manner therefrom. Also in the upper surface of the slab portion 318 are provided a plurality of (e.g., eight) gas flow paths 330 extending from the outer circumferential portion of the slab portion 318 toward the central portion thereof. The liquid-agent flow paths 322a, 322b and the gas flow paths 330 are constituted by gaps formed between flow path walls 326 as a result of the flow path walls 326 (more specifically, flow path walls 326a, 326b), which project upward from the upper surface of the slab portion 318, coming into contact with the lower surface of the second member 350 (more specifically, the lower surface of a slab portion 352) in a gas-tight (liquid-tight) manner.
More specifically, the liquid-agent flow path 320 provided in the central portion of the slab portion 318 will oppose the lower surface of the second member 350 (more specifically, the lower surface of the slab portion 352) in the up-down direction. Thus, the liquid agent fed through the liquid-agent flow path 320 will collide against the lower surface and will then flow along the in-plane direction (e.g., horizontal direction) of the upper surface of the slab portion 318. Stated differently, the lower surface of the second member 350 is capable of changing the flowing direction of the liquid agent from the up-down direction to the in-plane direction of the upper surface of the slab portion 318.
The upper surface of the slab portion 318 has a plurality of liquid-agent flow paths 322a extending so as to radially branch from the liquid-agent flow path 320. Stated differently, the liquid-agent flow paths 322a extend along the in-plane direction of the upper surface of the slab portion 318. The plurality of liquid-agent flow paths 322a are provided at equiangular intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer circumference of the slab portion 318. Further, in a planar view of the slab portion 318, two liquid-agent flow paths 322b branch from each liquid-agent flow path 322a and extend in a curved/bent manner therefrom in the upper surface of the slab portion 318.
More specifically, as illustrated in
In the present Description, as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, in a single liquid-agent flow path 322, it is preferable that the two liquid-agent flow paths 322b have substantially the same length. Further, between a plurality of liquid-agent flow paths 322, it is preferable that the liquid-agent flow paths 322a have substantially the same length, and also the liquid-agent flow paths 322b have substantially the same length. Furthermore, between a plurality of liquid-agent flow paths 322, it is preferable that the liquid-agent flow paths 322a have substantially the same width, and also the liquid-agent flow paths 322b have substantially the same width. Two liquid-agent flow paths 322b respectively belonging to different liquid-agent flow paths 322 and configured to supply the liquid agent to one gas/liquid contact chamber 340 are provided opposing one another with the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 located therebetween. At the gas/liquid contact chamber 340, the directions in which the liquid agent flows from the two liquid-agent flow paths 322b are opposite from one another. Thus, the liquid agent flowing in from two liquid-agent flow paths 322b will collide against each other at the gas/liquid contact chamber 340. Further, in cases where the central portion of the upper surface of the slab portion 318, where the flow direction changes, is considered as the start point, the liquid agent flowing into a single gas/liquid contact chamber 340 from two liquid-agent flow paths 322b will have flowed over substantially the same path length, if the length and width between the liquid-agent flow paths 322a, as well as between the liquid-agent flow paths 322b, are substantially the same, even though the paths up to the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 may be different. As a result, in the present embodiment, the strength of flow (flow velocity; pressure) of the liquid agent flowing in from the two liquid-agent flow paths 322b at the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 is substantially equal, and thus, the liquid agent from the two liquid-agent flow paths 322b can flow in toward the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 in a balanced manner.
Further, as illustrated in
More specifically, in a planar view of the slab portion 318, the direction in which the liquid-agent flow path 322b extends at a location where each liquid-agent flow path 322b and the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 intersect with one another is perpendicular to the direction in which the gas flow path 330 extends at a location where the gas flow path 330 and the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 intersects with one another. Thus, at the gas/liquid contact chamber 340, the gas flow path 330 can supply gas evenly to both flows of the liquid agent flowing-in toward the foam flow path 360 in a balanced manner from the two directions respectively defined by the liquid-agent flow paths 322b provided opposing one another with the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 located therebetween. As a result, in the present embodiment, the liquid agent and the gas can be mixed sufficiently.
Further, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in
Note that, as illustrated in the top view of the first member 311, the contours of the liquid-agent flow paths 322a, 322b and the gas flow paths 330 are defined by: a plurality of (e.g., eight) flow path walls 326a that project upward from the upper surface of the slab portion 318 and that have a substantially sector shape (or an isosceles triangular shape with no apex) provided so as to surround the central portion of the upper surface of the slab portion 318; and a plurality of (e.g., eight) flow path walls 326b that project upward from the upper surface of the slab portion 318 and that have a substantially sector shape provided so as to surround the plurality of flow path walls 326a. Stated differently, the liquid-agent flow paths 322a, 322b and the gas flow paths 330 are constituted by gaps formed between flow path walls 326 as a result of the flow path walls 326 (more specifically, the flow path walls 326a, 326b), which project upward from the upper surface of the slab portion 318, coming into contact with the lower surface of the second member 350 (more specifically, the lower surface of a slab portion 352) in a gas-tight (liquid-tight) manner.
More specifically, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the first member 311 in
As illustrated in the top view of the first member 311 in
As illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the first member 311 in
As illustrated in the bottom view of the first member 311 in
Second Member 350:
Next, details of the second member 350 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
More specifically, as illustrated in the top view of the second member 350 in
As illustrated in the bottom view of the second member 350, the plurality of outer circumferential walls 356 are provided projecting downward from the outer circumferential portion of the slab portion 352 so as to surround the center portion of the lower surface of the slab portion 352. A portion (more specifically, the flow path walls 326) projecting from the upper surface of the slab portion 318 of the first member 311 will be inserted into the inner side of the plurality of outer circumferential walls 356. As described above, the central portion of the lower surface of the slab portion 352 (more specifically, the central portion in a planar view of the slab portion 352) will oppose the liquid-agent flow path 320 of the first member 311. Each gap between adjacent outer circumferential walls 356 constitutes a portion of the aforementioned intake opening 370, and thereby, the gas supplied from the gas cylinder mechanism 221 can be guided to the gas flow path 330.
Flow of Liquid Agent and Gas in Foamer Mechanism 300b:
Next, flows of the liquid agent and the gas in the foamer mechanism 300b according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to
First, the flow of the liquid agent in the foamer mechanism 300b according to the present embodiment will be described briefly. As illustrated in
The gas/liquid contact chamber 340 according to the present embodiment will be described in further detail. As illustrated in
On the other hand, in the comparative example, as illustrated in
In the comparative example, the gas flow path 531 extends along the same direction as the direction in which the foam flow path 560 extends. Thus, the gas and the foamed liquid agent both flow in line with one another from below toward above (which creates laminar flow). Thus, in the comparative example, the gas supplied to the gas/liquid contact chamber 541 by the gas flow path 531 is immediately emitted to above the gas/liquid contact chamber 541 by action of the laminar flow, thus making it difficult to mix the gas sufficiently with the liquid agent.
In contrast, in the present embodiment, the gas flow path 330 does not extend along the same direction as the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends. More specifically, the gas flow path extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends. Thus, the gas and the foamed liquid agent do not flow in line with one another from below toward above, and therefore, creation of laminar flow can be suppressed. Thus, in the present embodiment, the gas supplied to the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 by the gas flow path 330 can be suppressed from being immediately emitted to above the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 by action of laminar flow. Therefore, the gas can be mixed sufficiently with the liquid agent.
Further, in the present embodiment, the gas flow path 330 is provided opposing the side surface (wall surface) 326c of the flow path wall 326a with the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 located therebetween. Thus, in the present embodiment, the gas supplied to the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 by the gas flow path 330 will collide against the side surface 326c of the flow path wall 326a, and will thereby dwell temporarily in the gas/liquid contact chamber 340. Therefore, the gas can be mixed sufficiently with the liquid agent in the gas/liquid contact chamber 340.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the content of gas in the foamed liquid agent can be further increased. More specifically, depending on the use etc. of the liquid agent, there are cases where a large content of gas (high air ratio) in the foamed liquid agent is preferred; the present embodiment can obtain suitable foam because it is possible to further increase the content of the gas in the foamed liquid agent. Particularly, in the comparative example, in cases where the depression speed of the head portion 230b's operation portion 232 by a user is fast, the flow velocity of gas supplied to the foamer mechanism 300b also becomes fast; thus, the gas is emitted promptly to above the gas/liquid contact chamber 541, thereby rendering the comparative example incapable of sufficiently mixing the gas with the liquid agent. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, the gas can be mixed sufficiently with the liquid agent, even when the pressing speed is fast. Further, the comparative example may be incapable of sufficiently mixing the gas and the liquid agent not only in cases where the depression speed is fast but also depending on the composition of the liquid agent. In contrast, the present embodiment can mix the gas and the liquid agent sufficiently, even when the composition of the liquid agent is changed.
In the foregoing third embodiment of the invention, the gas flow path 330 is configured so as not to extend along the same direction as the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends—i.e., so as to extend perpendicularly to the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends to thereby suppress creation of laminar flow and enable sufficient mixing of the gas and the liquid agent. In the present embodiment, however, the direction in which the gas flow path 330 extends is not limited to a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends. A modified example of the present embodiment—which is an example wherein a gas flow path 330b extends in a direction oblique to the same direction as the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends—will be described with reference to
As in the present embodiment described above, also in the modified example, at a location where the liquid-agent flow paths 322b and the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 intersect with one another, each of the liquid-agent flow paths 322b extends on a plane (second plane) 602 intersecting perpendicularly with the up-down direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends—i.e., on the upper surface of the slab portion 318—as illustrated in
In the modified example, the gas flow path 330b does not extend along the same direction as the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends. More specifically, the gas flow path extends in a direction oblique to the direction in which the foam flow path 360 extends. Thus, as in the foregoing embodiment of the invention, also in the modified example, the gas and the foamed liquid agent do not flow in the same direction, and therefore, creation of laminar flow can be suppressed. Thus, also in the modified example, the gas supplied to the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 by the gas flow path 330b can be suppressed from being immediately emitted to above the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 by action of laminar flow. Therefore, the gas can be mixed sufficiently with the liquid agent.
Further, also in the modified example, it is preferable that the gas flow path 330b is provided opposing the side surface (wall surface) 326c of the flow path wall 326a with the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 located therebetween. Thus, also in the modified example, the gas supplied to the gas/liquid contact chamber 340 by the gas flow path 330b will collide against the side surface 326c of the flow path wall 326a, and will thereby dwell temporarily in the gas/liquid contact chamber 340. Therefore, the gas can be mixed sufficiently with the liquid agent in the gas/liquid contact chamber 340.
Conclusion:
As described above, with the foam-discharging containers 10 of the first and second embodiments of the invention, it is possible to provide a foam-discharging container 10 capable of discharging a foamed liquid agent with further improved fineness and uniformity.
With the third embodiment of the invention and modified example thereof, it is possible to provide a foam-discharging container 10b capable of further increasing the content of gas in a foamed liquid agent.
The structures and movements of the foam-discharging containers 10, 10b described above are strictly examples, and known structures may be applied to the foregoing embodiments within a scope that does not depart from the gist of the invention.
The components constituting the foam-discharging containers 10, 10b according to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be, for example, made from any of various resin materials, although not particularly limited thereto. The foam-discharging containers 10, 10b can be manufactured by any of various known molding processes.
The foam-discharging containers 10 of the first and second embodiments of the invention are not limited to pump foamer-type containers, and may be, for example, so-called squeeze foamer-type containers, wherein a user squeezes the container body 100 to thereby transform a liquid agent into a foam and discharge the foam. In this case, the container body 100 is compressed by the user and the volume of the interior space is thus reduced, and thereby, the liquid agent and the gas inside the container body 100 are pressurized and thus supplied to the foamer mechanism 300. The foamer mechanism 300, to which the liquid agent and the gas have been supplied, mixes the liquid agent and the gas together to produce a foamed liquid agent, as in the foregoing first and second embodiments. Therefore, in cases where the foam-discharging container 10 is a squeeze foamer-type container, a side surface portion of the container body 100 can be considered as having the same function as the operation portion 232 in the foregoing first and second embodiments.
In the third embodiment, the shape/configuration of the head portion 230b and the nozzle portion 240b is not limited to the shape/configuration described above, and may have the same shape/configuration as the head portion 230 and the nozzle portion 240 of the first embodiment, or may have the same shape/configuration as the head portion 230a and the nozzle portion 240a of the second embodiment.
Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the foregoing examples. It is apparent that a person having ordinary skill in the art pertaining to the invention can arrive at various alterations and modifications within the scope of the technical concept described in the claims, and it should be understood that such alterations/modifications are also within the technical scope of the invention.
In relation to the foregoing embodiments, the invention further discloses the following foam dischargers and foam-discharging containers.
{1}
A foam discharger comprising:
a mixing portion configured to mix a liquid agent and a gas to foam the liquid agent into a foamed liquid agent;
a discharge opening configured to discharge the foamed liquid agent; and
a flow path in communication with the discharge opening, and configured to supply the foamed liquid agent from the mixing portion to the discharge opening, wherein:
the discharge opening is provided with a first porous member;
on an upstream side of the first porous member, a cross-sectional area of the flow path on a cross section orthogonal to a supply direction in which the foamed liquid agent is to be supplied increases along the supply direction; and
the cross-sectional area of the flow path at the discharge opening is at least 1.2 times a minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path.
{2}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {1}, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first porous member on a cross section orthogonal to the supply direction is at least 1.2 times the minimum cross-sectional area.
{3}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {1} or {2}, wherein, on the upstream side of the first porous member, the cross-sectional area of the flow path on the cross section orthogonal to the supply direction, in which the foamed liquid agent is to be supplied, gradually increases along the supply direction toward the discharge opening.
{4}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {1} to {3}, wherein a length of the flow path from the first porous member to an opening end of the discharge opening is 10 mm or less.
{5}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {1} to {4}, wherein a length of the flow path from the first porous member to a position of the minimum cross-sectional area where the cross-sectional area of the flow path becomes smallest is 3 mm or greater.
{6}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {1} to {4}, wherein: the flow path includes
the flow path has the minimum cross-sectional area at a connecting portion between the foam flow path and the communication flow path.
{7}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {6}, wherein:
the mixing portion includes a mixing chamber in which the liquid agent and the gas having been supplied are mixed together; and
a length of the flow path from the first porous member to the mixing chamber is 15 mm or greater.
{8}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {1} to {4}, wherein the mixing portion includes one or a plurality of second porous members.
{9}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {8}, wherein:
the flow path is in communication with the second porous member located on a downstream side among the second porous members; and
a length of the flow path from the second porous member located on the upstream side to the first porous member is 10 mm or greater.
{10}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {1} to {9}, wherein:
the mixing portion includes
at a location where the gas flow path and the gas/liquid contact chamber intersect with one another, the gas flow path extends on a first plane that intersects with a direction in which the foam flow path extends.
{11}
A foam discharger comprising:
a mixing portion configured to mix a liquid agent and a gas to foam the liquid agent into a foamed liquid agent; and
a discharge opening configured to discharge the foamed liquid agent, wherein:
the mixing portion includes
at a location where the gas flow path and the gas/liquid contact chamber intersect with one another, the gas flow path extends on a first plane that intersects with a direction in which the foam flow path extends.
{12}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {10} or {11}, wherein an angle formed between the first plane and a second plane intersecting perpendicularly with the direction in which the foam flow path extends is from −45° to 60°.
{13}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {12}, wherein the angle is preferably −30° or greater, more preferably −15° or greater, and preferably 50° or less, more preferably 45° or less.
{14}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {10} to {13}, wherein, at a location where the liquid-agent flow paths and the gas/liquid contact chamber intersect with one another, the liquid-agent flow paths extend on the second plane.
{15}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {10} to {14}, wherein, at the location where the gas flow path and the gas/liquid contact chamber intersect with one another, the gas flow path extends on the first plane intersecting perpendicularly with the direction in which the foam flow path extends.
{16}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {10} to {15}, wherein:
the mixing portion includes two said liquid-agent flow paths configured to supply the liquid agent per one said gas/liquid contact chamber; and
the liquid-agent flow paths are provided opposing one another with the gas/liquid contact chamber located therebetween.
{17}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {10} to {16}, wherein a first opening where the gas flow path and the gas/liquid contact chamber come into communication is provided opposing a wall surface with the gas/liquid contact chamber located therebetween.
{18}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {17}, wherein a second opening where the liquid-agent flow path and the gas/liquid contact chamber come into communication is provided in a manner that an opening center axis of the second opening is located closer to the foam flow path than an opening center axis of the first opening.
{19}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {18}, wherein the opening area of each second opening is smaller than the opening area of the first opening.
{20}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {10} to {19}, wherein the foam flow path is provided extending upward from the gas/liquid contact chamber along an up-down direction of the foam discharger.
{21}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {20}, wherein, in a planar view in which the gas/liquid contact chamber is viewed from above, a direction in which the gas flow path extends at the location where the gas flow path and the gas/liquid contact chamber intersect with one another intersects perpendicularly with a direction in which each of the liquid-agent flow paths extends at the location where the liquid-agent flow paths and the gas/liquid contact chamber intersect with one another.
{22}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {20} or {21}, wherein the mixing portion includes, in combination, a first member and a second member in order from the lower side of the foam discharger.
{23}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {22}, wherein, in a planar view in which the foam discharger is viewed from above, a center axis penetrating the center of the first member and a center axis penetrating the center of the second member 350 are coaxial.
{24}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {22} or {23}, wherein:
the liquid-agent flow path is provided so as to penetrate a central portion of the first member along the up-down direction;
an upper surface of the first member is provided with
each second liquid-agent small flow path is in communication with the gas/liquid contact chamber through the respective second opening.
{25}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {22} to {24}, wherein a plurality of intake openings, each configured to take in the gas into the mixing portion, are provided in the outer circumference of the mixing portion.
{26}
The foam discharger as set forth in clause {25}, wherein the gas flow paths are provided on the upper surface of the first member so as to be in communication with the respective intake openings.
{27}
The foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {22} to {26}, wherein the foam flow path is provided so as to penetrate the second member along the up-down direction.
{28}
A foam-discharging container comprising: the foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {10} to {27}; and a container body configured to be filled with the liquid agent.
{29}
A foam-discharging container comprising:
a container body configured to be filled with a liquid agent;
the foam discharger as set forth in any one of clauses {1} to {26}, the foam discharger being configured to be attached to a neck portion of the container body; and
an operation portion configured to receive pressing operation by a user, and
the foamed liquid agent being discharged by pressing of the operation portion.
{30}
The foam-discharging container as set forth in clause {29}, further comprising:
a cap member configured to be attached to the neck portion; and
a head portion supported by the cap member, wherein:
the head portion is provided with the discharge opening and the operation portion; and
by pressing of the operation portion by the user, the head portion is pressed down and the foamed liquid agent is discharged.
The following describes, with reference to
Herein, the comparative examples employ a foam-discharging container having a head portion 530 as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further, a foam flow path 550, through which a liquid agent foamed by the foamer mechanism 300 passes, is provided inside the nozzle portion 540 according to the comparative example. Note, however, that the foam flow path 550 is different from that of the first or second embodiment in that the inner diameter thereof does not increase toward the discharge opening 242, but rather, the inner diameter is substantially the same from a connecting portion 554, where the foam flow path is connected to the communication flow path 552, to the discharge opening 542. As illustrated in
Next, examples of foamed liquid agents obtained by using the foam-discharging container 10 having the head portion 230, 230a according to the first or second embodiment of the invention (Examples 1 to 5) and the foam-discharging container having the head portion 530 according to the aforementioned comparative example (Comparative Examples 1 and 2), are described with reference to
The deterioration in foam quality in the comparative examples may be attributable to the fast flow velocity of the foamed liquid agent when it passes through the porous element 570. In Examples 1 to 5, on the other hand, the cross-sectional area of the foam flow path 250, 250a gradually increases toward the discharge opening 242; this reduces the flow velocity of the foamed liquid agent when it passes through the porous element 270. As a result, in Examples 1 to 5, it is assumed that: by reducing the flow velocity of the foamed liquid agent, it is possible to uniformize the liquid agent passing through the foam flow path 250, 250a by the action of laminar flow generated therein; and further, by causing the uniformized liquid agent to pass through the porous element 270, 270a at low speed, it is possible to obtain a finer foam with further improved uniformity. Further, the photographed images of the foamed liquid agents corresponding to Examples 2 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2—which all had the same length L but had porous elements 270 with different cross-sectional areas show that fine foams with further improved uniformity were obtained in cases where the cross-sectional area of the porous element 270 was further increased compared to the foam flow path 250's cross-sectional area at the connecting portion 254 (i.e., minimum cross-sectional area). Furthermore, the photographed images of the foamed liquid agents corresponding to Examples 2 and 5—which both had porous elements 270 with the same cross-sectional area but had different lengths L—show that, by further increasing the foam flow path 550's length L from the porous element 570 to the connecting portion 554, where the cross-sectional area becomes the smallest, along the supply direction of the foamed liquid agent, it is possible to make the foamed liquid agent finer, and also further improve the uniformity of the foamed liquid agent.
The above results show that, according to the first or second embodiment, it is possible to discharge fine liquid agent foams with improved uniformity.
As described above, the foam discharger according to the invention is capable of discharging a fine liquid agent foam with improved uniformity. Also, as described above, the foam discharger according to the invention is capable of further increasing the content of gas in a foamed liquid agent.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-134827 | Jul 2018 | JP | national |
| 2018-216243 | Nov 2018 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2019/022344 | 6/5/2019 | WO | 00 |
