Apparatus and method for releasing a measured amount of content from a container

Abstract

Apparatus and method for delivering a predetermined quantity of content from a pressurized container include a container for housing a pressurized gas and a content; a valve for releasing content from the container; a metering chamber in fluid communication with the container and the valve and having an upper wall and a lower wall, the metering chamber defining a volume proportionate to a predetermined quantity of content to be delivered; and a movable partition comprising a seal positioned in the chamber and capable of moving from a first resting position to a second sealing position, the sealing position sealing fluid communication of the chamber with the valve. When the valve is opened to deliver content from the container, the movable partition moves from a first resting position to a second sealing position.

1 . An apparatus for delivering a predetermined quantity of content from a pressurized container including: 
 a container capable of housing a pressurized gas and a content;    a valve for releasing content from the container;    a metering chamber in fluid communication with the container and the valve, said metering chamber having an upper wall and a lower wall and defining a volume proportionate to a predetermined quantity of content to be delivered; and    a movable partition comprising a seal located in the chamber, said movable partition capable of moving from a first resting position spaced apart from the valve to a second sealing position in sealing arrangement with the valve.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resting position of the movable partition is adjacent to the bottom wall of the metering chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing position of the movable partition is adjacent to the upper wall of the metering chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable partition substantially spans a cross-sectional area of the metering chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable partition is of sufficient specific weight to provide vertical displacement of the movable partition within the chamber against the resistance of content of varying viscosities.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable partition comprises at least one aperture.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable partition comprises a plurality of apertures.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in a geometric configuration resembling that of a sieve.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said aperture has a dimension substantially approximating 0.1%-3% of the surface area of said movable partition.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said aperture has a dimension substantially approximating 1% of the surface area of said movable partition.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a bias attached to the movable partition.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a bias comprises a spring, coil or lever.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a bias comprises a weight.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a one-way valve in fluid communication with the interior of the container and the metering chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall of the metering chamber is tapered.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an applicator.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the applicator comprises an extension tube and an applicator head having at least one smooth surface.  
   
   
       18 . A method for delivering a predetermined quantity of content from a pressurized container including: 
 (a) providing an apparatus for releasing a predetermined quantity of content from a pressurized container including: 
 (i) a container housing a pressurized gas and a deliverable content;  
 (ii) a valve for releasing the content from the container;  
 (iii) a metering chamber in fluid communication with the container and the valve, said metering chamber having an upper wall and a lower wall and defining a volume proportionate to a predetermined quantity of content to be delivered; and  
 (iv) a movable partition comprising a seal located in the chamber, said movable partition capable of moving from a first resting position spaced apart from the valve to a second sealing position in sealing arrangement with the valve; and  
   (b) opening the valve to deliver content from the container, wherein the movable partition moves from the first resting position to the second sealing position, said sealing position sealing fluid communication of the chamber with the valve to thereby halt content delivery from the container.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said movable partition returns to the resting position after content delivery.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein return to the resting position is accomplished by application of a force on the movable partition.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the force is gravitational force.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the force is applies by a biasing element.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising applying delivered content to a target surface with an applicator.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for applying a foamed content to a surface, comprising: 
 (a) a container capable of housing a pressurized gas and a content;    (b) a valve in fluid communication with the container for releasing the content from the container; and    (c) an applicator in fluid communication with the valve for controlling application of the content, said applicator comprising at least one substantially flat surface for spreading a foamed content.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the substantially flat surface comprises an aperture for introducing the content from the container onto the flat surface.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the substantially flat surface comprises at least one flexible membrane.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the applicator comprises an extension tube and an applicator head, said applicator head having at least one substantially flat surface.  
   
   
       28 . An method for applying a foamed content to a surface, comprising: 
 providing a pressurized container containing a foamable content, and comprising a valve in fluid communication with the container interior for releasing the content from the container and an applicator in fluid communication with the valve; and    releasing foamed content onto a surface and spreading the foamed content using a substantially smooth surface of the applicator.