Method and device for preventing liquid dispensation from an aerosol spray can

Abstract

An aerosol spray can is provided. The aerosol spray can includes but is not limited to a housing forming a storage chamber, an initial amount of chemical stored in a compressed liquid state within the storage chamber, a valve assembly attached to the housing, and an extension tube connected with the valve assembly at a first end and extending into the storage chamber at a second end. The initial amount of chemical forms a top surface. The general direction of the top surface is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The valve assembly including a stem forming a central passage through which the chemical dispenses from the storage chamber. The second end of the extension tube remains a distance away from the top surface of the initial amount of chemical regardless of the position of the aerosol spray can.

1 . An aerosol spray can comprising:
 a housing forming a storage chamber;   an initial amount of chemical stored in a compressed liquid state within the storage chamber, wherein the initial amount of chemical forms a top surface, and wherein the general direction of the top surface is perpendicular to the direction of gravity;   a valve assembly attached to the housing, the valve assembly including a stem forming a central passage through which the chemical dispenses from the storage chamber; and   an extension tube connected with the valve assembly at a first end and extending into the storage chamber at a second end, wherein the second end of the extension tube remains a distance away from the top surface of the initial amount of chemical regardless of the position of the aerosol spray can.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 1 , wherein in an upright position the second end of the extension tube is a distance away from the top surface of the initial amount of chemical, and wherein no portion of the extension tube is in contact with the initial amount of chemical. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 1 , wherein in an upside down position the second end of the extension tube is a distance away from the top surface of the initial amount of chemical, and wherein a portion of the extension tube or the valve assembly is in contact with the initial amount of chemical. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 1 , wherein in a sideways position the extension tube is a distance away from the top surface of the initial amount of chemical. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber has a total volume of V T , wherein the amount of chemical in a liquid state within the storage chamber has a volume of V C , and wherein the remaining volume V R  within the storage chamber is equal to V T  minus V C , and wherein V R  is always greater than V C . 
     
     
         6 . A method of assembling an aerosol spray can comprising:
 installing a mounting cup over the storage chamber to seal the storage chamber, wherein the mounting cup is connected with an extension tube which extends into the storage chamber, wherein the extension tube is connected with the mounting cup at a first end and extends into the storage chamber at a second end; and   filling a storage chamber of the aerosol spray can with an initial amount of chemical, wherein a liquefied portion of the chemical forms a top surface, and wherein the general direction of the top surface is perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and wherein the second end of the extension tube remains a distance away from the top surface of the liquefied portion of the chemical regardless of the position of the aerosol spray can.   
     
     
         7 . An aerosol spray can comprising:
 a housing forming a storage chamber for storing a chemical in a compressed liquid state;   a valve assembly attached to the housing, the valve assembly including a stem forming a central passage through which the chemical dispenses from the storage chamber, the stem movable from a normal position to a depressed position;   an extension tube connected with the valve assembly at a first end and extending into the storage chamber at a second end; and   a sealing member for sealing the second end of the extension tube when the stem is in the normal position and for unsealing the second end of the extension tube when the stem is in the depressed position.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 7 , wherein in the normal position, the central passage is sealed from the extension tube, and wherein in the depressed position the central passage is connected with the extension tube, allowing fluid to travel between the extension tube and the central passage. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 8 , wherein in the normal position, the sealing member is in a sealed position, and wherein in the depressed position, the sealing member is in an unsealed position. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 9 , wherein in the unsealed position the sealing member forms a first opening having a first surface area A 1 , the second end of the extension tube forms a second opening having a second surface area A 2 , and the first surface area A 1  is equal to or greater than the second surface area A 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 7  further comprising an extension member located in the extension tube, the extension member connected at a first end with the stem and connected at a second end with the sealing member. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing member comprises a rubber gasket. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol spray can of  claim 11 , wherein when the stem moves from the normal to the depressed position, the extension member moves the sealing member from a sealed to an unsealed position. 
     
     
         14 . A method of preventing liquid dispensation from an aerosol spray can, the aerosol spray can having a housing forming a storage chamber for storing a chemical in both a liquid and gaseous state, a valve assembly attached to the housing, the valve assembly including a stem forming a central passage through which the chemical dispenses from the storage chamber, the stem movable from a normal position to a depressed position, and an extension tube connected with the valve assembly at a first end and extending into the storage chamber at a second end, the method comprising:
 sealing the second end of the extension tube when the stem is in the normal position; and   unsealing the second end of the extension tube when the stem is in the depressed position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein during the sealing of the second end of the extension tube, the central passage is sealed from the extension tube, and wherein during the unsealing of the second end, the central passage is connected with the extension tube, allowing fluid to travel between the extension tube and the central passage. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein during the unsealing of the second end of the extension tube, a first opening is formed having a first surface area A 1 , the second end of the extension tube forms a second opening having a second surface area A 2 , and the first surface area A 1  is equal to or greater than the second surface area A 2 . 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing of the second end of the extension tube is accomplished using a sealing member connected with the stem through an extension member located in the extension tube. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sealing member comprises a rubber gasket. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the unsealing of the second end comprises moving the stem from the normal to the depressed position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the moving of the stem from the normal to the depressed position comprises moving the sealing member away from the second end of the extension tube.