Frothing actuator for pressurized container

Abstract

An actuator for a container that includes a valve and retains a flowable product under pressure includes a valve coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the valve for selective opening and closing of the valve. A dispensing applicator is connected to the valve coupler and has proximal and distal ends with an applicator length extending there-between. The dispensing applicator defines an applicator chamber having a chamber length extending along the applicator length, a chamber inlet in communication with the applicator chamber, and a chamber outlet in communication with the applicator chamber. The chamber outlet extends in a direction generally transverse to the applicator length. The dispensing applicator is in fluid communication with the valve when the valve is selectively opened using the valve coupler such that the flowable product flows through the chamber inlet into the applicator chamber and exits the dispensing applicator through the chamber outlet in a direction that is generally transverse to the applicator length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuator for a container that includes a container body configured to retain a flowable product under pressure, and a valve coupled to the container body, the actuator comprising:
 a valve coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the valve to allow selective opening and closing of the valve; and   a dispensing applicator connected to the valve coupler, the dispensing applicator being elongate and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an applicator length extending between the proximal and distal ends, the dispensing applicator defining
 an applicator chamber having a chamber length extending along the applicator length of the dispensing applicator, 
 a chamber inlet in communication with the applicator chamber adjacent the proximal end of the dispensing applicator, 
 a chamber outlet in communication with the applicator chamber at a location distal to the chamber inlet, wherein the chamber outlet extends in a direction generally transverse to the applicator length, 
   wherein the dispensing applicator is configured to be in fluid communication with the valve when the valve is selectively opened using the valve coupler such that the flowable product flows through the chamber inlet into the applicator chamber and exits the dispensing applicator through the chamber outlet in a direction that is generally transverse to the applicator length.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber outlet comprises a plurality of individual chamber outlets. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of individual chamber outlets comprises a first set of the individual chamber outlets and a second set of the individual chamber outlets, wherein the individual chamber outlets in the first set of individual chamber outlets extend in a first transverse direction relative to the applicator length, wherein the individual chamber outlets in the second set of individual chamber outlets extend in a second transverse direction, opposite the first transverse direction, relative to the applicator length. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second transverse directions are perpendicular to a direction of flow of flowable product in the applicator chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber outlet is adjacent the distal end of the dispensing applicator. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the dispensing applicator is closed and defines a closed distal end of the applicator chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing applicator comprises first and second broad sides opposing one another, and first and second narrow sides opposing one another and interconnecting the first and second broad sides to define a generally flat shape of the dispensing applicator. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the chamber outlet comprises a plurality of individual chamber outlets extending through at least one of the first and second broad sides of the dispensing applicator. 
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 8 , wherein the individual chamber outlets of the plurality of individual chamber outlets are spaced apart from one another across said at least one of the first and second broad sides of the dispending applicator to define a transverse row of individual chamber outlets. 
     
     
         10 . The actuator of  claim 7 , wherein the chamber outlet comprises a plurality of individual chamber outlets extending through the first and second broad sides of the dispensing applicator. 
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing applicator includes an interior wall within the applicator chamber extending from the distal end of the applicator chamber toward the proximal end of the applicator chamber and defining a first longitudinal chamber portion and a second longitudinal chamber portion of the applicator chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The actuator of  claim 10 , wherein the interior wall defines an opening adjacent the proximal end that provides fluid communication between the first and second longitudinal chamber portions. 
     
     
         13 . The actuator of  claim 11 , wherein the chamber outlet includes at least one first chamber outlet on a first side of the interior wall in direct fluid communication with the first longitudinal chamber portion, and at least one second chamber outlet on a second side of the interior wall in direct fluid communication with the second longitudinal chamber portion. 
     
     
         14 . The actuator of  claim 12 , wherein the dispensing applicator comprises first and second broad sides opposing one another, and first and second narrow sides opposing one another and interconnecting the first and second broad sides to define a generally flat shape of the dispensing applicator, wherein said at least one first chamber outlet includes a first cleaning chamber outlet extending through the first narrow side, wherein said at least one second chamber outlet includes a second cleaning outlet extending through the second narrow side. 
     
     
         15 . The actuator of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one first chamber outlet includes a plurality of first dispensing chamber outlets extending through the first and second broad sides, wherein said at least one second chamber outlet includes a plurality of second dispensing chamber outlets extending through the first and second broad sides, wherein cross-sectional areas of the first and second dispensing chamber outlets are less than than the cross-sectional areas of the first and second cleaning chamber outlets. 
     
     
         16 . The actuator set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the valve coupler is configured to seal on the valve. 
     
     
         17 . The actuator of  claim 15 , wherein the valve coupler defines a receiving compartment configured to receive the flowable product expelled from the valve, the receiving compartment providing fluid communication between the valve and the dispensing applicator. 
     
     
         18 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing applicator is rotatably connected to the valve coupler, the dispensing applicator rotatable 180 degrees from a storage position to a dispensing position. 
     
     
         19 . The actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising a skirt configured to be received on the container body, wherein the valve coupler is pivotably connected to the skirt. 
     
     
         20 . The actuation device of  claim 18 , wherein the valve coupler is pivotably connected to the skirt by a living hinge. 
     
     
         21 . A container for dispensing a flowable product under pressure, the container comprising:
 a container body configured to contain the flowable product under pressure therein;   a valve coupled to the container body, the valve being selectively operable to dispense the flowable product from the container body; and   an actuator including
 a valve coupler operatively coupled to the valve to allow selective opening and closing of the valve; and 
 a dispensing applicator connected to the valve coupler, the dispensing applicator being elongate and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an applicator length extending between the proximal and distal ends, the dispensing applicator defining
 an applicator chamber having a chamber length extending along the applicator length of the dispensing applicator, 
 a chamber inlet in communication with the applicator chamber adjacent the proximal end of the dispensing applicator, 
 a chamber outlet in communication with the applicator chamber at a location distal to the chamber inlet, wherein the chamber outlet extends in a direction generally transverse to the applicator length, 
 
   wherein the dispensing applicator is configured to be in fluid communication with the valve when the valve is selectively opened using the valve coupler such that the flowable product flows through the chamber inlet into the applicator chamber and exits the dispensing applicator through the chamber outlet in a direction that is generally transverse to the applicator length.