Foaming bottom-dispensing containers

Abstract

The need for a foaming bottom-dispensing package that dispenses liquid compositions in a foamed state from the bottom of the package, while being able to be kept for long durations in a bottom-dispensing orientation and without the need to invert the container for the air reservoir to be replenished, while also being resistant to leakage, even when there is no closing cap, is met by incorporating a foamer body into the base of the bottom-dispensing package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bottom-dispensing foam discharge package comprising:
 a. a resiliently squeezable container for housing a liquid composition, the resiliently squeezable container comprising a container wall;   b. a void volume;   c. a base operably connected to the resiliently squeezable container, wherein the base comprises a base orifice; and   d. a foamer body, wherein the foamer body comprises:
 i. a mixing chamber; 
 ii. at least one liquid inlet; 
 iii. at least one air inlet, wherein the at least one air inlet comprises an air inlet valve, wherein the air inlet valve is a one-way valve which allows ingress of air into the mixing chamber from the void volume through the air inlet, and the air inlet valve opens at a pressure differential of from about 1.0 to about 25 mbar, measured at about 20° C.; and 
 iv. a foam outlet operably connected to the base orifice, wherein the foam outlet comprises a foam-dispensing valve for dispensing the foam from the mixing chamber through the foam outlet, and the foam-dispensing valve opens to dispense foam at a pressure differential of from about 25 to about 250 mbar, measured at about 20° C. 
   
     
     
         2 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam-dispensing valve is a two-way valve. 
     
     
         3 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam-dispensing valve opens at a pressure differential of from about 25 mbar to about 150 mbar, measured at about 20° C. 
     
     
         4 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 3 , wherein the foam-dispensing valve opens at a pressure differential of from about 25 mbar to about 100 mbar, measured at about 20° C. 
     
     
         5 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet valve opens at a pressure differential of from about 5.0 to about 25 mbar, measured at about 20° C. 
     
     
         6 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 5 , wherein the air inlet valve opens at a pressure differential of from about 10 to about 25 mbar, measured at about 20° C. 
     
     
         7 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet valve is operably connected to the void volume via a dip-tube. 
     
     
         8 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid inlet has a total surface area of from about 1.0 mm 2  to about 50 mm 2 , wherein the total surface area is measured as a sum of cross-sectional areas of all of the liquid inlets. 
     
     
         9 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 8 , wherein the total surface area of the liquid inlet is from about 1.0 mm 2  to about 25 mm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet has a total surface area of from about 1.0 mm 2  to about 50 mm 2 , wherein the total surface area is measured as a sum of cross-sectional areas of all of the air inlets. 
     
     
         11 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 10 , wherein the total surface area of the air inlet is from about 1.0 mm 2  to about 25 mm 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the foamer body comprises an upper cavity and a lower cavity, wherein the upper cavity and the lower cavity are connected by a diffusing orifice. 
     
     
         13 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the foam outlet comprises at least one mesh, wherein a nominal sieve opening and typical wire diameter are as defined in in ASTM E11-22. 
     
     
         14 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently squeezable container contains the liquid composition, wherein the liquid composition partially fills the container in order to create the void volume. 
     
     
         15 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 1 , wherein prior to initial use, the void volume forms from about 1.0% to about 25% by volume of the container. 
     
     
         16 . A bottom-dispensing foam discharge package comprising:
 a. a resiliently squeezable container for housing a liquid composition, the resiliently squeezable container comprising a container wall;   b. a void volume;   c. a base operably connected to the resiliently squeezable container, wherein the base comprises a base orifice; and   d. a foamer body, wherein the foamer body comprises:
 i. a mixing chamber; 
 ii. at least one liquid inlet; 
 iii. at least one air inlet, wherein the at least one air inlet comprises an air inlet valve, wherein the air inlet valve is a one-way valve which allows ingress of air into the mixing chamber from the void volume through the air inlet; and 
 iv. a foam outlet operably connected to the base orifice, wherein the foam outlet comprises a foam-dispensing valve for dispensing the foam from the mixing chamber through the foam outlet; 
   
       wherein a ratio of a total surface area of the air inlet to a total surface area of the liquid inlet is from about 1:1 to about 1:15. 
     
     
         17 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of the total surface area of the air inlet to the total surface area of the liquid inlet is from about 1:1.15 to about 1:10. 
     
     
         18 . A bottom-dispensing foam discharge package comprising:
 a. a resiliently squeezable container for housing a liquid composition, the resiliently squeezable container comprising a container wall;   b. a void volume;   c. a base operably connected to the resiliently squeezable container, wherein the base comprises a base orifice; and   d. a foamer body, wherein the foamer body comprises:
 i. a mixing chamber; 
 ii. at least one liquid inlet; 
 iii. at least one air inlet, wherein the at least one air inlet comprises an air inlet valve, wherein the air inlet valve is a one-way valve which allows ingress of air into the mixing chamber from the void volume through the air inlet; and 
 iv. a foam outlet operably connected to the base orifice, wherein the foam outlet comprises a foam-dispensing valve for dispensing the foam from the mixing chamber through the foam outlet. 
   
     
     
         19 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 18 , wherein the air inlet valve is a one-way valve selected from: a duckbill valve, an umbrella valve, a flapper valve, a ball valve, or a degassing valve. 
     
     
         20 . The bottom-dispensing foam discharge package according to  claim 18 , wherein the mixing chamber comprises at least two cavities, the at least two cavities comprising an upper cavity and a lower cavity, wherein the upper cavity and the lower cavity are connected by a diffusing orifice.