Aerosol dispenser having a safety valve
A method of warming food dispensable from an aerosol dispenser. The aerosol dispenser is made from materials which can go into a single recycling stream having a single class of materials, as defined by the Society of the Plastics Industry, and particularly may exclusively comprise Class 1 materials suitable for eating in a microwave oven. Consumer products, such as food, contained in the aerosol dispenser may be heated in a microwave oven prior to dispensing. Upon dispensing, food retains residual heat, and is suitable for eating or further cooking. Other heated products in the aerosol dispenser may be comfortably applied to the skin, used as air freshener, used for cleaning, etc. The aerosol dispenser may have indicia indicating the aerosol dispenser is suitable for microwave heating. The aerosol dispenser can have indicia indicating the aerosol dispenser is suitable for heating in a microwave oven. The indicia may be thermochromic, indicating when a desired temperature has been reached. The aerosol dispenser can have a safety valve, to safely relieve product and/or propellant pressure upon overpressurization in a microwave oven. The safety valve may be single use or reusable.
1. A microwavable aerosol dispenser comprising:
a polymeric outer container having a closed end bottom at a first end and an open neck at a second end and defining an outer container volume therein;
a polymeric product delivery device for providing a flow path to ambient, wherein said polymeric product delivery device is selected from said group consisting of: a collapsible bag, a dip tube, a piston, and combinations thereof;
a product disposed in fluid communication with said product delivery device;
a polymeric dispensing valve assembly for selectively dispensing said product from said microwavable aerosol dispenser in response to an actuator;
propellant disposed within said polymeric outer container and pressurizing said product to a gage pressure greater than ambient, to provide for selective delivery of said product from said microwavable aerosol dispenser; and
said polymeric outer container having a single use safety valve therethrough and operating to relieve propellant pressure upon over-pressurizing said microwavable aerosol dispenser, wherein said safety valve comprises a localized microwave receptor.
2. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said safety valve comprises a rupture membrane.
3. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said safety valve comprises a rupture membrane, said rupture membrane comprising an integral localized thin region in said polymeric outer container.
4. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said safety valve comprises a rupture membrane, said rupture membrane comprising an integral localized thin region in a base of said polymeric outer container and relieving radially inwardly.
5. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , comprising a TPE seal disposed between said neck and said polymeric dispensing valve assembly, wherein said safety valve comprises a weakened region in said TPE seal.
6. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said safety valve comprises a blowout panel in said polymeric outer container, said panel being joined to said polymeric outer container by a living hinge.
7. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said safety valve comprises a blowout panel in said polymeric outer container, said blowout panel being joined to said polymeric outer container by a living hinge disposed on said top of said blowout panel, so that said safety valve relieves in a generally downward direction.
8. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric dispensing valve assembly is disposed in a valve cup, said safety valve comprising a weakened region in said valve cup so that said safety valve relieves into said actuator.
9. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said safety valve comprises a plurality of spaced apart microwave receptors.
10. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said microwavable aerosol dispenser is entirely polymeric.
11. A microwavable aerosol dispenser comprising:
a polymeric outer container having a closed end bottom at a first end and an open neck at a second end and defining an outer container volume therein,
a product delivery device for providing a flow path to ambient wherein said product delivery device is selected from said group consisting of: a collapsible bag, a dip tube, a piston, and combinations thereof,
a product disposed in said outer container and in fluid communication with said product delivery device,
a dispensing valve assembly for selectively dispensing said product from said microwavable aerosol dispenser in response to an actuator, and
propellant disposed within said polymeric outer container and pressurizing said product to a gage pressure greater than ambient, to provide for selective delivery of said product from said microwavable aerosol dispenser and
said polymeric outer container having a single use safety valve therethrough and operating to relieve propellant pressure upon over-pressurizing said microwavable aerosol dispenser, wherein said microwavable aerosol dispenser is free of metal, and wherein said safety valve comprises a localized microwave receptor.
12. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 11 , wherein said safety valve comprises a rupture membrane.
13. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 11 , wherein said safety valve comprises a rupture membrane, said rupture membrane comprising an integral localized thin region in said polymeric outer container.
14. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 11 , wherein said safety valve comprises a rupture membrane, said rupture membrane comprising an integral localized thin region in a base of said polymeric outer container and relieving radially inwardly.
15. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 11 , comprising a TPE seal disposed between said neck and said dispensing valve assembly.
16. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 11 , wherein said safety valve comprises a blowout panel in said polymeric outer container, said panel being joined to said polymeric outer container by a living hinge.
17. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 11 , wherein said safety valve comprises a blowout panel in said polymeric outer container, said blowout panel being joined to said polymeric outer container by a living hinge disposed on said top of said blowout panel, so that said safety valve relieves in a generally downward direction.
18. The microwavable aerosol dispenser of claim 11 , wherein said safety valve comprises a plurality of spaced apart microwave receptors.