Aerosol Package With Fermentation Propulsion

Abstract

A method is provided for filling a container system for a cosmetic product that has a hollow pressure containment vessel defining a chamber that encloses a sealed, collapsible, air-less pouch container containing product to be dispensed. A fermentation propulsion system is provided between the inner wall of the chamber and the air-less pouch container. The fermentation propulsion system comprises a quantity of yeast able to generate fermentation gas within the chamber, a quantity of sugar for the yeast to consume to fuel the fermentation process, and a yeast extract to boost fermentation activity. The fermentation gas serves as propellant for dispensing the product by applying pressure to the pouch container. A valve is secured in the opening of the vessel such that the chamber is hermetically sealed, and so that product can be selectively dispensed from the vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preparing a pressurized product delivery package comprising the steps of:
 providing a pressure containment vessel having a hollow body defining a chamber, the hollow body having a first end with an opening into the chamber and a closed second end;   providing a container and valve assembly, the container having a flexible wall defining a compressible reservoir for containing the product, the valve having a housing with a dispensing port and an inlet port, the valve housing adapted to be secured in the opening of the vessel, the valve housing secured to the container such that the inlet port is in fluid communication with an outlet of the container, the valve selectively operable to dispense the product from the reservoir through the dispensing port;   inserting a fermentation-based propulsion system in the chamber to generate after a predetermined amount of time gas in a volume sufficient to pressurize the chamber, the propulsion system comprising a quantity of microorganisms able to bring about fermentation to generate gas within the chamber, and a quantity of food for the microorganisms;   inserting the container portion of the container and valve assembly through the opening in the vessel such that the container is inside the chamber with the outlet in or adjacent the opening;   securing the valve housing in the opening of the vessel such that the chamber is hermetically sealed;   filling the reservoir with a quantity of product for dispensing; and   storing the package for a period of time sufficient to allow the fermentation-based propulsion system to generate a desired volume of gas;   wherein after storing, the volume of gas generated in the chamber exerts pressure on the flexible wall sufficient to dispense product when the valve is actuated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the container is a flexible pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the microorganisms comprise a yeast and the quantity of food comprises a sugar. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising an activity booster added to the fermentation-based propulsion system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the booster comprises a yeast extract. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the yeast extract comprises at least one of vitamins, amino acids, phosphates and ammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of preparing a pressurized product delivery package of  claim 1  wherein the container has a first compressed configuration and a second expanded configuration, the first compressed configuration adapted for the step of inserting the container portion of the container and valve assembly through the opening in the vessel, and the second expanded configuration adapted for receiving the quantity of product during the step of filling the reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . A method for preparing a pressurized product delivery package comprising the steps of:
 providing a pressure containment vessel having a hollow body defining a chamber, the hollow body having a first end with an opening into the chamber and a closed second end;   providing a container and valve assembly, the container having a flexible wall defining a compressible reservoir for containing the product, the valve having a housing with a dispensing port and an inlet port, the valve housing adapted to be secured in the opening of the vessel, the valve housing secured to the container such that the inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet of the container, the valve selectively operable to dispense the product from the reservoir through the dispensing port;   filling the reservoir with a quantity of product for dispensing;   inserting a fermentation-based propulsion system in the chamber to generate after a predetermined amount of time gas in a volume sufficient to pressurize the chamber, the propulsion system comprising a quantity of microorganisms able to bring about fermentation to generate the gas within the chamber, and a quantity of food for the microorganisms;   inserting the container portion of the container and valve assembly through the opening in the vessel such that the container is inside the chamber with the outlet in or adjacent the opening;   securing the valve housing in the opening of the vessel such that the chamber is hermetically sealed; and   storing the package for a period of time sufficient to allow the fermentation-based propulsion system to generate a desired volume of gas;   wherein after storing, the volume of gas generated in the chamber exerts pressure on the flexible wall sufficient to dispense product when the valve is actuated.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the container is a flexible pouch. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the microorganisms comprise a yeast and the quantity of food comprises a sugar. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising an activity booster added to the fermentation-based propulsion system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the booster comprises a yeast extract. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the yeast extract comprises at least one of vitamins, amino acids, phosphates and ammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of preparing a pressurized product delivery package of  claim 8  wherein the container has a first compressed configuration and a second expanded configuration, the first compressed configuration adapted for the step of inserting the container portion of the container and valve assembly through the opening in the vessel, and the second expanded configuration adapted for receiving the quantity of product during the step of filling the reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . A method for preparing a pressurized product delivery package comprising the steps of:
 providing a pressure containment vessel having a hollow body defining a chamber, the hollow body having a first end with an opening into the chamber and a closed second end;   providing a container and valve assembly, the container having a flexible wall defining a compressible reservoir for containing the product, the valve having a housing with a dispensing port and an inlet port, the valve housing adapted to be secured in the opening of the vessel, the valve housing secured to the container such that the inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet of the container, the valve selectively operable to dispense the product from the reservoir through the dispensing port;   inserting a fermentation-based propulsion system in the chamber to generate after a predetermined amount of time gas in a volume sufficient to pressurize the chamber, the propulsion system comprising a quantity of microorganisms able to bring about fermentation to generate the gas within the chamber, and a quantity of food for the microorganisms;   inserting the container portion of the container and valve assembly through the opening in the vessel such that the container is inside the chamber with the outlet in or adjacent the opening;   securing the valve housing in the opening of the vessel such that the chamber is hermetically sealed;   storing the package at ambient temperature for a period of time sufficient to allow the fermentation-based propulsion system to generate a desired volume of gas; and   filling under pressure the reservoir with a quantity of product for dispensing;   wherein after filling, the volume of gas generated in the chamber exerts pressure on the flexible wall sufficient to dispense product when the valve is actuated.