Foam dispenser
The invention provides a dispenser for dispensing a mixture of two or more fluids, e.g. liquid and gas (e.g. air) as a foam and/or mist, the dispenser comprising a flexible container for a liquid including a conduit having first and second end portions, the first end portion terminating in an opening in the container through which the mixture is expelled from the container and the second open end portion being close to the base of said container, wherein the conduit includes a third open end portion which is located close to the top of the container and laterally inclined or opposed to the second open end portion.
1 . A dispenser for dispensing a mixture of two or more fluids, e.g. liquid and gas (e.g. air) as a foam and/or mist, the dispenser comprising a flexible container for a liquid including a conduit having first and second end portions, the first end portion terminating in an opening in the container through which the mixture is expelled from the container and the second open end portion being close to the base of said container, wherein the conduit includes a third open end portion which is located close to the top of the container and laterally inclined or opposed to the second open end portion.
2 . Dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a means for manually pressurizing the container.
3 . Dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein the conduit is branched, curved or kinked or a combination thereof to effect the relative orientation of the second and third conduit end portions.
4 . Dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein the conduit is curved or kinked in a section e.g. mid or upper section, so as to incline the second open end portion between 10-60 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the container, preferably 15-45 degrees, more preferably 15-30 degrees, even more preferably 20 degrees.
5 . Dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the conduit is kinked in a upper section by 20 degrees.
6 . Dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein the third open end portion extends from an upper section of the conduit, e.g at right angles.
7 . Dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein the conduit has a tee (T-shaped) configuration at the top, wherein the third open end portion branches off orthogonally from a main section of the conduit.
8 . Dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein the top of the conduit is aligned with the central longitudinal axis.
9 . Dispenser according to any of claims 1 - 8 wherein the top of the conduit is offset from the central longitudinal axis.
10 . Dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein the conduit is in the form of or include a dip tube which co-operates with a container closure or cap.
11 . Dispenser according to any preceding claim in combination with a liquid wherein the liquid may be an edible liquid such as cream or milk, or a surface treatment liquid e.g paint or a cleaning liquid.
12 . Dispenser according to claim 11 characterised in that the liquid is a cleaning liquid comprising a foaming surfactant.
13 . Dispenser according to claim 11 or 12 characterised in that the cleaning liquid does not contain any undissolved solids.
14 . Dispenser of any preceding claim wherein the dispenser is filled to less than 95% of its internal volume with the liquid.
15 . Dispenser of claim 11 or 12 further including instructions for use.
16 . A method of dispensing a foam or mist using a dispenser according to any of the claims 1 - 13 , the dispenser containing a liquid and comprising the step of squeezing the dispenser to expel the liquid as a foam or mist.
17 . A method of treating or cleaning a surface with a foam or mist using a dispenser or combination according to any of the claims 1 - 13 , the dispenser containing a surface treatment or cleaning composition.