Sprayer device with aerosol functionality ("flairosol")

Abstract

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, Flair® based aerosol-type devices can be provided. Such devices utilize a combination of Flair® technology, pre-compression valves and aerosol like pressurization of the dispensed liquid. Such a dispensing device has a main body comprising a pressure chamber, the latter being provided with a pressure piston and a pressure spring. The device further has a piston and a piston chamber which draws liquid from a reservoir and fills the pressure chamber with that liquid as a user operates the trigger in various compression and release strokes. The piston chamber has both an inlet valve and an outlet valve. In a dispensing head a valve is provided to regulate the strength of the flow and preclude leakage. Once the liquid is sufficiently pressurized, it can be dispensed by a user opening an activation valve, such as by pressing on an activation button, and spray can be abruptly stopped by a user ceasing to push on such button. Or, for example, in alternate embodiments without an activation button, once the liquid is sufficiently pressurized, continuous spray occurs until the pressure chamber is emptied. By repeatedly pumping the trigger before the pressure chamber is fully emptied, continuous spray can be achieved. By designing the input volume to be amply greater than the volume of the pressure chamber, continuous spray with fewer pumping strokes can be implemented.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method of spraying a liquid, comprising:
 pressurizing the liquid in a pressure chamber above a certain minimum pressure with an outlet valve locked in a closed position;   releasing a valve locking mechanism,   wherein said pressure chamber is provided within an inner container that is surrounded by an outer container, and   wherein a pressurizing medium can flow between the inner bottle and the outer bottle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pressurizing medium is air, and wherein the space between the outer surface of the inner container and the inner surface of the outer container is open to atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         10 . A method of dispensing a liquid from a device, comprising:
 providing a liquid within an inner container that is surrounded by an outer container;   providing a pressure chamber within the inner container, said pressure chamber separated from an outlet channel by an outlet valve, said valve normally locked in a closed position by a locking mechanism;   drawing liquid from the inner container and pumping it under pressure into the pressure chamber until said liquid is at a pressure greater than or equal to a minimum pressure sufficient to open the outlet valve; and   temporarily releasing the valve locking mechanism so that the liquid can open the outlet valve and exit via the outlet channel;   wherein the space between the outer surface of the inner container and the inner surface of the outer container is open to the atmosphere, and   wherein as the liquid is sprayed from the outlet channel air enters into such space and causes the inner container to shrink.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid is provided to the pressure chamber by hand pumping. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure chamber is spring loaded and wherein the liquid pumped into the pressure chamber pushes against the spring and storing energy in the spring. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid is pumped into the pressure chamber under a pressure sufficient to open a pressure chamber entry valve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the minimum pressure necessary to open said pressure chamber entry valve is more than the minimum pressure necessary to open the outlet valve. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of spraying a liquid, comprising:
 providing a pressure chamber within an inner container, said inner container surrounded by an outer container,   providing an outlet valve between said pressure chamber and an outlet channel;   pressurizing the liquid in the pressure chamber above a certain minimum pressure by moving a piston within a piston chamber through various release and compression strokes; and   opening the outlet valve and spraying the liquid when said liquid is pressurized above the opening pressure of the outlet valve.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein there is a displacement medium provided between the inner container and the outer container. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said displacement medium is air, and wherein the space between the outer surface of the inner container and the inner surface of the outer container is open to atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the volume of the piston chamber is greater than the volume of the pressure chamber, such that a continuous spray can occur. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the volume of the piston chamber is greater than the volume of the pressure chamber by a factor of between 1.5 and 3, inclusive. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said dispensing is one of spraying or foaming a liquid or a mixture of a liquid and a gas.