Lather producing composition

Oct. 13, 1953

J. G. SPITZER ETAL

2,655,480

LATHER PRODUCING COMPOSITION·

Filed Nov. 2, 1949

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IRVING REICH JOSEPH G SPITZER NORMAN F/NE INVENTORS

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ATTORNEYS

Patented Oct. 13, 1953

2,655,480

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,685,480

LATHER PRODUCING COMPOSITION

Joseph G. Spitzer, Yonkers, Irving Reich, Brooklyn, and Norman Fine, Mount Vernon, N. Y.; said Reich and said Fine assignors to said Spitzer

Application November 2,1949, Serial No. 125,032

Claims.

This invention relates to a composition for use in producing a soap or detergent lather without resorting to any manual or mechanical whipping or agitating operation.

Prior to the present invention, preparations employed to produce lather for shaving, shampooing or other washing or cleansing operations, have included soaps in solid, powdered, liquid or cream form, which are whipped up into a lather by agitation, sometimes with the aid of a brush or other whipping device, as in preparing shaving lather, sometimes by agitation with the hands, as in shampooing, and sometimes by agitation by water in preparing the lather for other washing operations. For example, preparations employed to prepare the beard and skin for shaving have generally included lathering soaps and brushless creams. Lathering soaps in various forms are whipped up into a lather with water on the face, or in a cup or bowl, by means of a brush. This lathering operation is time-consuming and somewhat inconvenient, and the brushless creams were Introduced to obviate the shortcomings of the lathering operation.

Brushless creams are typically modified vanishing creams that are spread upon the face in the state that they are sold without forming any lather. They are somewhat greasy or salve-like in texture and are quite adherent to the skin. They also adhere to other surfaces and for this reason tend to clog razors and to cause or promote the clogging of drains. The heavy texture or high viscosity of brushless creams makes them generally less desirable than the light and more readily removable soap lathers, particularly in that the creams do not permit as close or satisfactory shaves as the lathers and unless very thoroughly rinsed off, leave a greasy or sticky feeling on the skin.

In shampooing the hair, soap solutions are generally applied to the hair and then worked into a lather with the hands. The working up of lather delays the actual hair washing operation and the rubbing of the hair and scalp incident to mechanically working up the lather may be undesirable in some cases.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an improved composition for forming soap or synthetic detergent lather of fine quality without the use of a brush or any mechanical whipping mechanism or operation. The composition of the present invention provides a lather, such as a shaving, shampooing or washing lather, that is formed as the composition is released from its container' and may be (CL 252—90) directly applied to the skin, hair, or other part or material in lather form without the use of a brush or other applying instrument and without preliminary mechanical or manual lather form⁰ mg operations.

In general, the above and other objects of the invention are carried out by employing a composition comprising a water solution of a suitable soap or like detergent and a highly volatile ‘° organic liquid, hereinafter generally termed a propellant. At least a substantial proportion of the propellant used in the mixture is insoluble in the soap solution and the two primary ingredients are mixed and maintained under sufficient ¹⁵ pressure so that the insoluble portion of the propellant Is in liquid phase, existing as droplets or in the form of a liquid-liquid emulsion in the soap solution. The mixed primary ingredients are confined at the vapor pressure of the pro²⁰ pellant in a pressure-tight container having an opening controlled by a suitable manually operable valve. When the valve is opened, the pressure on the composition is released as it emerges from the container, with the result that a fine ²⁸ textured creamy lather is produced. The action is apparently such that the volatile propellant liquid, entrapped as an emulsion within the liquid soap solution, vaporizes upon the release of pressure therefrom, forming fine gas cells 30 throughout the liquid soap solution and thus forming it into a lather.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure is a sectional elevation 35 representing a can or container suitable for packaging our improved composition and provided v ith an outlet valve.

T e nature of the soap or detergent used, ‘ iugh not critical, has an effect on the type 40 o : i i.iiex produced. Suitable soaps, include the s t ’ I’ stearate soaps, such as~Ehe potassium, aw -onium and soluble amine soaps of commerc ' I -.tearic acid, particularly the triethanolamine and morpholine soaps of commercial stearic acid. 45 ’> ? e product sold commercially as stearic acid 1;. t Anally a mixture consisting primarily of stearic and palmitic acids. We shall use the term “stearates” herein to designate soaps of c nercial stearic acid, although soaps of chem50 icrd : pure stearic acid would be the equivalent for -.he purposes of this invention. The stearates may be made by neutralization of stearic acid with suitable alkali, or may be introduced in the form of animal fate, such as tallow, which are ⁰⁸ rich in stearic acid and which, when saponified,

2,686,480 form soaps rich in stearic acid. Mixtures of the various stearate soaps may be used, and small proportions, preferably less than 5 per cent, of a less soluble soap, such as a sodium stearate soap may be used with the more soluble stearate soaps mentioned above to secure the desired consistency, particularly when the product is used to.produce a shaving lather. Vegetable oil soaps, including the soaps of cocoanut oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, soya oil, etc., may be used either alone or in admixture with the soluble stearate soaps. When the vegetable oil soaps are used alone, or as the primary soap ingredient, the resultant lather is somewhat looser, coarser and less stable than when soluble stearate soaps or mixtures including a substantial proportion thereof are employed. For this reason, when the composition is to be used for producing shaving lather, a substantial proportion of soluble stearate soap is used, whereas compositions producing shampoo or washing lathers preferably comprise or contain a substantial proportion of vegetable oil soaps. On the other hand, vegetable oil soaps may to advantage be used in admixture with soluble stearic acid soaps to prepare a shaving lather producing product for the purpose of making the soap solution less lately to gel at low temperatures than solutions made from the stearate soaps alone. In preparing our product for producing shaving lather, we use upwards of 30 per cent, preferably from 60 to 100 per cent, of soluble stearate soap, the balance, if any, being an ordinary vegetable oil soap or animal fat soap, which is partially composed of stearate. Preferable soaps are triethanolamine, morpholine and potassium soaps, although ammonium soaps are usuable but have an undesirable odor.

When the product is employed to produce a relatively loose or coarse lather more suitable for shampooing or other washing than for shaving, the soap solution may be formed of vegetable oil soaps, examples of which have been referred to above, and of which cocoanut oil soaps are excellent examples. Certain synthetic surface-active agents, usually called wetting agents, may also be used as the soap ingredient. The wetting agents so employed should be anionic or nonionic in character. They should be appreciably soluble in water and of the type that foam in water solution. Examples of such agents are triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, and water soluble polyoxyethylene ethers of alkyl substituted phenols.

Although not essential to the invention, it may in some cases be desirable to add small proportions of the above-described anionic or non-ionic wetting agents to our lather-forming composition including other soap solutions, for the purpose of avoiding an oily residue on the skin and in order to facilitate rinsing off the lather. When thus added to another soap solution, the wetting agents should be used in relatively small proportions, preferably from about Vz per cent to about 5 or 6 per cent by weight in the soap solution.

The amount of soap employed to form the aqueous soap solution of our composition is not critical and generally depends upon the nature of the soap used. The low limit is the minimum amount that gives a satisfactory lather and the upper limit is fixed either by economic considerations or by the amount which will form a gel at the lowest temperatures likely to be encountered in use. A preferred range for all soaps is .

from about 5 to about 18 per cent by weight of the soap and water solution. With the soluble amine stearate soaps, the maximum range of usable soap concentration is between about 2 per 5 cent and 30 per cent by weight if the soap is entirely or substantially composed of triethanolamine stearate. If the soap is potassium stearate, the useful range is somewhat narrower, being from about 5 to 20 per cent. When vegetable 10 soap is used as a part of the soap mixture, the lower and upper concentration limits are raised somewhat and may be from about B to about 38 per cent by weight of the solution.

The following are examples of soap solutions 15 useful in preparing our composition, the amounts being given in per cent by weight of the soap and water solution. As is customary, we generally prefer to add a small percentage of glycerine to our soap solutions for use in compositions that 20 produce shaving lather. The glycerine is added for the known purpose of slightly increasing the stability of the lather. About 5 per cent by weight of glycerine based on the soap solution is a suitable proportion but the amount is not critical. 25 when used, the glycerine is substituted for a part of the water in the soap solution and it may be added to each of the following examples by reducing the proportion of water indicated by an amount equal to the proportion of glycerine 30 added.

Per cent

1. Triethanolamine stearate 8.0

Triethanolamine soap of cocoanut oil fatty acids 2.0

Water 90.0

2. Triethanolamine stearate______10.0

Water90.0

3. Triethanolamine stearate 3.0

Water97.0 ⁴⁰ 4. Potassium stearate10.0

Water90.0

5. Morpholine stearate 10.0

Water90.0

6. Triethanolamine stearate 5.0

Triethanolamine soap of castor oil fatty acids 5.0

Water90.0

7. Triethanolamine stearate 3.3

Triethanolamine soap of cocoanut oil fatty acids 6.7

Water90.0

8. Triethanolamine soap of castor oil fatty acids10.0

Water90.0

9. Triethanolamine soap of soya oil fatty acids10.0

Water90.0

10. Triethanolamine stearate_______ 8.0

Sodium stearate 2.0

Water90.0

11. Triethanolamine oleate10.0

Water90.0

12. Triethanolamine stearate10.0

Triethanolamine oleate10.0 ⁶⁵ Water 80.0

13. Sodium lauryl sulfate 10.0

Water90.0

14. Triethanolamine lauryl sulfate________10.0

Water90.0

15. Sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate10.0

Water90.0

16. Polyoxyethylene ether of alkyl substituted phenol — 10.0

Water —_90.0 β

Percent

17. Triethanolamine stearate______10.0

Sodium lauryl sulfate 0.7

Water89.3

18. Triethanolamine stearate 10.0

Polyoxyethylene ether of alkyl substituted phenol 3.5

Water86.5

19. Triethanolamine stearate 6.7

Triethanolamine soap of cocoanut oil fatty acids 3.3

Triethanolamine lauryl sulfate 5.4

Water84.6

Generally speaking, the propellant Ingredient of our Invention is a volatile organic material ¹⁵that exists as a gas at ordinary room temperatures, exists largely as a liquid at elevated pressures practically maintainable in suitable containers fbr our composition and that has a low solubility in water. The propellant must be of ²⁰such nature that it does not destroy the lather or decompose the lather-producing soap in solution.

We have discovered that relatively insoluble saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons and relatively ²⁵insoluble partially fluorinated and partially or wholly chlorfluorinated hydrocarbons having vapor pressures within the range from about 5 to about 300 pounds per square inch gauge, and preferably from about 30 to 80 pounds per square ³⁰inch gauge at 70° F., possess these properties. The propellant may be formed of a mixture of two or more such compounds which, although the individual ingredients may have vapor pressures outside the desired range, have, when com- ³⁵bined, a vapor pressure within that range. The water solubility of the propellant or propellant mixtures should be such that they exist mainly as a liquid phase undissolved in the soap solution when the two are mixed under pressure sufficient ⁴⁰to maintain the propellant in the liquid phase.

Particularly when the product is used to produce shaving lather, it may be desirable to avoid the use of propellants that result in a marked tingling or burning sensation when the compo- ⁴⁵sition is applied to the skin. We have found that the useful lather-producing propellants are generally those with very low solubility in water. The propellant should have a solubility such that less than about 32 cc. of the propellant gas will dissolve in 100 grams of water at one atmosphere absolute pressure and about 25° C. The best propellants have a solubility of less than about 10 cc. of gas in 100 grams of water at the stated pressure and temperature. In general, the least soluble propellants produce little or no burning sensation on the skin, particularly if hydrocarbons in which the hydrogen atoms are substituted by chlorine atoms alone or by more chlorine atoms than fluorine atoms are avoided. We have discovered that the straight chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons of suitable vapor pressure, which comprise propane, butane, ’robutane and cyclobutane are suitable lather-forming propellants and do not cause an undesirable burning sensation. The inflammability of these propellants introduces a Are hazard. Also usable, particularly in admixture with other propellants, are the saturated, partially but not completely fluorine substituted aliphatic hydrocarbons of suitable vapor pressure, such as 1,1 dlfluorethane (CHj.CHFj), which causes little tingling of the skin. Tlie most desirable propellants for int ier forming compositions are the substantially we tar insoluble chlorine and fluorine substituted hyd o6 carbons of the proper vapor pressure range. Examples of these propellants are:

1,2 dichlor 1,1,2,2 tetrafluorethane(CClFa.CCTFa). Trichlortrlfluorethane (C2CI3F3).

⁵ Dichlordifluormethane (CCI2F2).

Monochlordifluormethane (CHCIF2). Monofluortrichlormethane (CFCh).

1,1 difluorethane (CH3.CHF3).

monochlor 1,1 Dlfluorethane (CCIF3.CH3).

As to these compounds, absence of tingling sensation combined with production of the best shaving lather consistency is achieved by using those propellants in which all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine and fluorine and in which the number of fluorine atoms equals or exceeds the number of chlorine atoms, as is true, for example, of dichlordifluormethane, 1,2 dichlor 1,1,2,2, tetrafluorethane and trichlortrifluorethane.

Mixtures of different propellant compounds are useful for providing the particular vapor pressure desired, and propellants comprising mixtures of dichlordifluormethane and 1,2 dichlor 1,1,2,2 tetrafluorethane, of monofluortrichlormethane and dichlordifluormethane and of trichlortrifluorethane and dichlordifluormethane are satisfactory for this purpose. For example, dichlordifluormethane, which has a vapor pressure of about 70 pounds per square inch gauge and 1,2 dichlor 1,1,2,2 tetrafluormethane, with a vapor pressure of about 13 pounds per square inch gaug _zat 70° F., may be mixed in various proportions to' form a propellant having an intermediate vapor pressure which is well suited for use in relatively inexpensive containers.

As stated, the fluorinated chlorinated hydrocarbons in which all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine and fluorine and in which the number of fluorine atoms in the molecule equals or exceeds the number of chlorine atoms, are particularly desirable. They have low solubilities—only a few cubic centimeters of the gas being soluble per 100 grams of water at room temperature and one atmosphere pressure, and we believe this low solubility is significant in ac-_ counting for their good performance. The fluorinated chlorinated propellant compounds which do not meet the foregoing requirements as to hydrogen atom substitution are definitely less desirable. This is true of monochlordifluormethane, which has one unreplaced hydrogen atom in the molecule. Similarly, 1 monochlor 1,1 difluorethane, which has three unreplaced hydrogen at55 oms in the molecule, is a less desirable propellant. So also is monofluortrichlormethane, which has more chlorine than fluorine atoms in the molecule. All of these less desirable propellants cause undesirable smarting of the skin. _eo Furthermore, they form less stable lathers than the previously described preferred propellants. However, they may be used in admixture with the more desirable propellants, in which case their undesirable effects are less^-evident.

_e5 We have found that the unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, the chlorinated hydrocarbons containing no fluorine, and the completely fluorinated hydrocarbons as well as the volatile ethers do not form stable lathers or lathers of useful 70 consistency. All of these except the completely fluorinated hydrocarbons produce a marked burning or smarting sensation on the skin. The completely fluorinated hydrocarbons do not smart strongly but do not form satisfactory lathers, ‘ «'> Ince when the pressure is released from,mixtures

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Τ of these compounds and soap solutions, the gas escapes at once, leaving a watery liquid soap solution.

When it is desired to use a propellant having a . relatively high vapor pressure in inexpensive can type containers, we have found that the vapor pressure can be reduced without the use of low vapor pressure propellants and without destruction of the lather-producing properties of the composition by adding a minor proportion of a suitable petroleum oil fraction. Petroleum oils of the pure refined industrial white oil type, starting with deodorized kerosene which has a density of about 0.78 at 60° F. and a viscosity of 30 to 35 seconds Saybolt at 100° F. and running up to a light mineral oil having a density of 0.84 at 60° F. and a viscosity of 65-75 seconds Saybolt at 100° F. or higher, may be added in proportions to give the desired low vapor pressure without destroying the lather-producing properties of the composition. Petroleum fractions of lower boiling point than kerosene are undesirable since they have an adverse effect on the quality of the lather, whereas white oils within the indicated range produce an excellent lather when employed in our composition, despite the fact that the incorporation of such oils in ordinary soap solutions makes it practically impossible to work the soap into a lather by the use of a brush.

The amount of oil added is selected in accordance with the desired reduction in vapor pressure but is limited by the amount which will adversely affect the quality of the lather produced. We have found that the maximum permissible quantity of oil varies with its viscosity. Thus, whereas up to about 20 per cent of oil based on the soap solution may be used with the oil having a viscosity of more than about 40 seconds Saybolt at 100° F., when oils in the viscosity range between . _30 and 40 seconds Saybolt at 100° F. are employed, the maximum amount that will not impair the lather quality isapproximately 10 per cent. It is generally preferred, when oil is added, that the soap in the soap solution comprise more than 50 per cent stearate soap. When mineral oil is added to compositions containing a major proportion of vegetable oil Soaps, the lather is generally of inferior quality. When oil is added, the use of sodium salts and sodium salt wetting agents should be avoided, and at least 10 per cent of soap should be employed in the soap solution. Examples of our modified composition in which oil is employed to reduce the vapor pressure are given hereinafter.

The amount of propellant used In the soap solution and propellant composition of our invention is not critical, but is determinative of the density of the lather produced. The greater the proportion of propellant, the lower will be the density of the lather. In general, useful lather densities lie in the range of about .02 gram per cc. up. Lathers of such low density as .02 or .03 gram per cc. are rather firm and dry to the feel. At densities above about 0.20 gram per cc., lathers flow readily and hence are less desirable for shaving purposes but are useful for other washing operations, such as shampooing. Shaving lather densities should lie between about .03 and .25 gram per cc., while for shampooing or other uses a wider range of densities may be used. The preferred range fur shaving lather is a density between about .06 and .15 gram per cc. Densities Ln tills preferred range can be obtained by using from about .07 to about .025 mole of propellant to each 100 grams of the propeltank eoarseolutton composition, The percentage by weight of propellant required to produce a given lather density varies with the molecular weight of the propellant used. When using a propellant mixture comprising 39 per cent 5 by weight of dichlor difiuormethane and 61 per cent of 1,2 dichlor 1,1,2,2 tetrafluorethane, the proportion of propellant by weight of the composition ranges from about 23.3% to about 3.17% for lather densities of about .03 to about .25 gram 10 per cc. This propellant mixture has a molecular weight of about 151. Any desired density with any chosen propellant or propellant mixture can be approximated from the formula ^{15 D=}24,00OX+10OM ^{(at 70}° where D is the density in grams per cc., M is the molecular weight of the propellant, and X is the percent by weight of propellant in the composi20 ^tion·

Thus the proportions of propellant in terms of moles per 100 grams of the propellant and soap composition within ttie useful range of lather densities given above (.02 to .25 gram per cc.) ₂₅ may be calculated by solving for X in the abovestated formula and dividing the obtained value of X by the molecular weight of the selected propellant. For example, with D=.O2, X will equal .2041 M for any given propellant; hence the pro₃₀ portion of propellant in terms of moles per 100 grams of the composition will be about .20 mole. With D=.25, X will equal .0125 M, or .0125 mole per 100 grams of the composition.

Our composition is preferably enclosed in a ₃₅ container from which it is propelled as needed by the propellant gas pressure in the head space of the container. As the amount of liquid composition in the container decreases, the concentration of propellant in the liquid mixture drops due to the fact that some of the propellant evaporates to fill the increased head space. Thus, the density of the lather increases as the contents of the container decreases. For this reason, we prefer to use such a proportion of propellant to soap solution that the initial lather density when the container is substantially full lies under about 0.15 gram per cc., where the composition is to produce shaving lather. If the initial lather density is below about 0.06 gram per cc., the final ₅₀ lather will be dry and uneven.

The vapor pressure of the propellant at normal room temperatures determines the rapidity with which the lather is formed when the pressure on it is reduced to atmospheric pressure. To insure ₅₅ that the product will be expelled from the container, the vapor pressure of the propellant must be greater than 15 pounds per square inch absolute at room temperature. When propellants of slightly higher vapor pressure are used, the ₆₀ composition when released from the pressure container emerges as a liquid which thereafter swells to a lather. Thus, with propellants having vapor pressures of about 5 to 15 pounds per square inch gauge at 70° F„ the product emerges as a liquid ₆₅ or r, semi-liquid and is suitable for a shampoo since it swells into a lather after emergence. Compositions including propellants of such low vapor pressure can be used to produce shaving lathers, but it is preferred to employ higher pres-₀ sure propellants for this purpose so that the composition emerges as a substantially fully developed lather when released from the container. Propellants having vapor pressures of about 25 pounds per square inch gauge or more at 70° F. _7g give products that .emerge .as lathers when released to aimoepheWc pwfwm et normal room

3,03^0 © temperatures. Propellants having lower vapor pressures in the range from 5 to 25 pounds per square inch gauge at 70° F, produce products that emerge as lathers at elevated temperatures, but at temperatures below about 70’ F. emerge as liquids that slowly swell to lathers.

The upper limit of the propellant vapor pressure is not critical and is determined by considerations of safety and economy. Depending on the type of container used, pressures from about 5 to 10 pounds per square inch gauge up at 70° F. can be employed for shaving lathers, but with mass produced Inexpensive containers of the type used for beer cans, the maximum propellant vapor pressure should not exceed about 60 pounds per square inch gauge at the indicated temperature. Further, the higher the vapor pressure of the propellant, the greater is the proportion thereof required to fill the head space in the can as the liquid content is withdrawn. A practical range 20 of propellant vapor pressures when using can tjye mass produced containers lies between about 5 to 65 pounds per square inch gauge at 70° F. and for shaving lather producing compositions should preferably be between about 15 and 65 pounds per 25 square inch gauge at that temperature.

The following are examples of our composition the percentages of ingredients being given by weight. It is to be understood that the composition is confined under the vapor pressure of the 30 propellant at the prevailing temperature until lather is required, whereupon a suitable portion of the composition is released to atmospheric pressure and emerges as the lather or a latherproducing liquid. The following compositions 35 that are designated shaving lather producing compositions emerge as stable lathers when released to atmospheric pressure at normal room temperatures:

Shaving lather producing compositions . „ ,, Percent

A. Soap solution 1, 2, 5, 12, 17, 18, 4, 7 10 or 3______________;____________’

Dichlordifluormethane____________ dichlor 1,1,2,2, tetrafluorethane___

B. Soap solution 2 or 4_________________

Dichlordifluormethane ’__________2Z sec. vise, mineral oil___________ZZZ

C. Soap solution 1______________

Dichlordifluormethane_____________

65/75 sec. vise, mineral oil-_______ΞΞΞ

D. Soap solution 1________

Dichlordifluormethane__________ΞΞΖ

30/35 sec. vise, kerosene______________

E. Soap solution 2______________ZZZZZZZ

Dichlordifluormethane ______________

F. Soap solution 2____________.______”Z.

1,2 dichlor 1,1,2,2, tetrafluorethaneZZ Monofluortrichlormethane __________

O. Soap solution 2_____________________

Dichlordifluormethane__________ZZZ'

Trlchlortrifluorethane ________ZZZZZ'

H. Soap solution 1Z

Difluorethane _____________ZZZZZZZZZ.

1,2 dlchlor 1,1,2,2 tetrafluorethane _ 2.7

I. Soap solution 294 5

Dichlordifluormethane_________ZZZZZZ 2.1

Monofluortrichlormethane 3'4

J. Soap solution 2___________1_______ZZZZ 97.7

Butane __________________ZZZZZZZZZZZ 2'3

K. Soap solution 2___________„07.43

Isobutane 2.57

X«. Soap solution 297 3

Propane __________22

Percent — 03.33 __ 2.6 - 4.07 - 04.6 .- 5.4 00.0 - 3.55 - 5.55 • Μ

Shampoo and other lather producing compositions

M. Soap solution 7, 8,13,14,15 or 16_ Dichlordifluormethane_________

1^ dichlor 1,1,2,2 tetrafluorethane.

N. Soap solution 2___________________

Dichlordifluormethane ._._ZLZ

O. Soap solution 2__;________________

Dichlordifluormethane___ΣΖΞΞΞΞΞ^ dichlor 1,1,2,2 tetrafluorethane.

It is preferred to enclose our composition in a pressure-tight container such as that shown in the drawing. The container shown is a can having a body portion I and a suitably attached concave bottom wall 2. An outlet valve is suitably secured in an opening ih the top wall of the can. The valve shown comprises a tube 3 .OBVing. an inturned flange 4 at its inner end which forms a valve seat. A valve plug 6 carried by a valve stem 6 is resiliently held in engagement with the seat 4 by a spring 7 which is compressed between the flange 4 and a stop 8 struck from the stem 6. A nozzle 0 is secured to the upper end of the tube 8 and extends laterally from the tube. The stem 8 extends through an opening in the nozzle and is provided with a push button 18 which may be depressed to open the valve. A tube 11 of suitable material is fitted over the tube 3 within the can and extends to a point near the juncture of the side and bottom walls I and 2 of the can substantially in line with the nozzle 0 in order to Insure expulsion of substantially all of the can contents when the can is tilted in the direction of the nozzle.

The container is filled with the desired composition of soap solution and propellant in the proportions explained. The soap solution and propellant ingredients of the composition may be separately or simultaneously introduced. The composition or the propellant Ingredient thereof is preferably introduced under a pressure above its vapor pressure at the prevailing temperature so that the propellant Is in liquid phase except for the small amount in gaseous phase that Alls the head space. The composition is mixed in the container by agitation induced by shaking, jr by the introduction of the ingredients, and when a lather is required, the valve Is opened by depressing the button 18, whereupon the lather or lather-forming composition emerges from the nozzle 9.

The term soap solution as used herein and in the appended claims is inclusive of solutions in which the soap ingredient or the major proportion thereof comprises the soluble foaming wetting agents described above, examples of which are included in the above-listed examples of soap solutions.