GB2095637A

GB2095637A - Liquid dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2095637A
Application number: GB8207552A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-03-16
Filing date: 1982-03-16
Publication date: 1982-10-06
Also published as: GB2095637B; CA1177445A; HK29287A

Abstract

A liquid dispenser includes an enclosure having a flat bottom (12), and a peripheral wall (14) of conical shape with one generator generally at right angles to the flat bottom. A cylindrical spout (16) coupled with the enclosure at the top extends angularly away from the central axis (CA) of the enclosure, with a dispensing opening (22) at the extremity thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid storage container and dispenser The present invention relates generally to liquid containers, and specifically to containers designed to store gasoline, kerosene, and other volatile liquids.

In U.S. Design Patent 241,619, there is disclosed a liquid storage container having a conical configuration with a vertical side. Other liquid container designs of interest are disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 454,436 and 2,699,626, and in German Patent No. 21 8,1 17.

Portable gasoline and kerosene storage containers have traditionally take a blocky, short and wide shape, typically with a handle along a side or a surface opposite the direction of pour from a related spout.

Such prior art arrangements are difficult to use for emptying into automobile fuel tank filler necks, particularly late-model versions.

The present invention contemplates a liquid storage container and dispenser including an enclosure having a flat bottom for resting the container on a supporting surface, the side periphery of the enclosure defining a generally conical configuration with one side generally transverse to the flat bottom. A cylindrical spout is coupled with the enclosure at the top of the conical configuration and extends angularly away from the central axis of the enclosure, with a dispensing opening at the extremity of the neck.

Means are provided along the side periphery to permit ingress for filling the enclosure. A handle is included along the side periphery of the enclosure, and, in a preferred embodiment, has the filling means extending through the handle. It will be understood that the enclosure tapers from a large dimension adjacent the flat bottom to a smaller dimension adjacent the spout, such that liquids in the enclosure are funneled into the spout and out of the dispensing opening when the flat bottom is elevated above the spout.

The generally conical configuration of the container of the present invention is such that each imaginary lateral section of the enclosure has a tangent which lies in a common plate with respect to other imaginary lateral sections of the enclosure.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filling means and the handle comprise a hollow member formed integrally with the enclosure along the transverse side and including an encircling handle with a filler opening moulded into the hollow member at the extremity thereof toward the spout. An air vent tube extends completely through the container and terminates at the extremity of the spout.

In the preferred embodiment, the container further includes a bottom rim portion formed integrally with the conical enclosure, and between the enclosure and the flat bottom, the periphery of the end portion defining a substantially cylindrical side wall and including a finger grip indentation in the rim side wall adjacent the intersection ot the rim and the transverse side.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation illustrating a liquid storage container and dispenser in accordance with the present invention, FIGURE 2 is a side elevation similar to that of FIGURE 1, partialiy cut away, FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the liquid container and dispenser illustrated in FIGURE 1, and FIGURE 4(a) is a side elevation of the liquid storage container and dispenser of the present invention, including imaginary lateral sections used to illustrate the conical configuration of the container, and in which FIGURE 4(b) comprises projections of the imaginary lateral sections illustrated in FIGURE 4(a).

Referring to FIGURE 1, a liquid storage container and dispenser in accordance with the present invention is referred to generally with the reference numeral 10. The container includes a flat bottom 12 adapted for resting the container 10 on a supporting surface, and further includes a side periphery defining a generally conical configuration with one side 13 generally transverse to the flat bottom.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 4(a) and (b). The conical configuration of the periphery 1 4 of the enclosure of the container 10 is such that each imaginary lateral sections A-F, inclusive, of the generally conical enclosure has a tangent lying in a plane, referred with the letters "TP" in FIGURES 4(a) and 4(b), which plane TP is common with the tangents of the other imaginary lateral sections A-F.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the container 10 includes a generally cylindrical spout 1 6 coupled with the side periphery 1 4 forming the enclosure of the container at the top 1 8 of the conical configuration and extending angularly away from the central axis of the enclosure (not FIGURE 2).

The angular extension of the neck is referred to by the reference numeral 20 in FIGURES 1 and 2. As there shown, the spout 1 6 further includes a dispensing opening 22 at the extremity of the spout, with a closure 23 adapted to fit over the dispensing opening 22. In FIGURES 1 and 2, the central axis of the container is referred to by the reference letters "CA".

With reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the container 10 includes means along the transverse side 13 permitting ingress for filling the enclosure, and further including a handle along that side for holding the entire container. In the preferred embodiment, this combination of handle and filling means comprises a hollow member 24 formed integrally with the enclosure of the container 10 along the transverse side 13, and includes an encircling handle 26 with the filler opening 28 molded into the hollow member 24 at the extremity thereof toward the spout 1 6. A closure 29 is adapted to fit over the filler opening 28.

Noting FIGURES 2 and 3, the container 10 includes an air vent tube 21 extending from the extremity of the spout 22 and to the bottom 12.

The lower end 25 of the tube 21 is cut at an angle, to insure that air remains in the tube. The tube 21 is formed to a material having sufficient tensile strength as to maintain its position after insertion without being permanently fastened to the inner wall of the container 1 0.

As is shown at the bottom of FIGURES 1 and 2, the container 10 includes a bottom rim portion formed integrally with the conical enclosure defined by the periphery 14, and between that conical periphery and the flat bottom 12, the periphery of the rim portion defined by a substantially cylindrical side wall 30 and including a finger indentation 32 in the rim side wall adjacent the intersection 34 of the rim portion 34 and the transverse side 13.

It will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art that particular dimensions for the container 10 are not essential to the practice of this invention. However, typically the overall height of the container is approximately 17 to 20 inches (42.5 to 50 cm), and the flat bottom 12 has a dimension on the order of approximately 7 or 8 inches (17.5 to 20 cm). Typically, the spout 16 extends about 5 inches (12.5 cm) beyond the plane of the transverse side 13.

The container 10 is particularly suitable for the storage and dispensing of volatile liquids, such as gasoline and kerosene, and especially for use in the filling of automobile fuel tanks and the like. It will be understood that, after filling of the container 10, the closure 29 is placed firmly over the fill opening 28. The container 10 may then be used to pour the liquid contained therein from any direction; however, in the case of the filling through an automobile fuel tank filler neck, typically at the rear of the vehicle, it is preferred that the slanted conical surface opposing the transverse side 13 be up, with the transverse side 13 pointed down. When being held in that way, the bottom of the container is then elevated sufficiently to permit almost all of the liquid therein to drain out of the dispensing opening 22.

Any liquid remaining in the hollow handle may be drained by a slight rotation of the container to one side. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the design of automobile vehicles that the fuel tank filler neck is located within a recess, generally behind a license plate, or below an opening along a rear quarter panel. Because of the configuration of the conical periphery and the tilt on the spout of the container 10, almost the entire amount of liquid within the container may be easily drained into those types of late-model vehicle fuel tank filler necks.

Claims

1. A liquid storage container and dispenser comprising: (a) an enclosure having a flat bottom for resting said container on a supporting surface, and a peripheral wall which is of generally conical configuration with one side substantially transverse to said flat bottom; (b) a generally cylindrical spout coupled with said enclosure at the top of the peripheral wall and extending angularly away from the central axis of the peripheral wall, with a dispensing opening at the extremity of said neck; (c) means along the peripheral wall permitting ingress of filling said enclosure; and (d) a handle along the peripheral wall.

2. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 1, wherein the filling means is positioned along said generally transverse side of the peripheral wall.

3. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 2, wherein the handle is positioned along said generally transverse side of the peripheral wall.

4. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 3, wherein the filling means extends through the handle.

5. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 4, wherein the handle member and filling means comprise a hollow member formed integrally with said enclosure along said transverse side, the hollow member having the handle and a filler opening moulded therein.

6. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 5, wherein the axis of the filler opening extends generally parallei with the part of the conical peripheral wall opposite said transverse side.

7. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a bottom rim portion formed integrally with the conical peripheral wall and between the peripheral wall in the flat bottom, the periphery of said rim portion being formed by a substantially cylindrical side wall and including a finger indentation in the side wall adjacent the intersection of the rim portion and the transverse side.

8. A liquid storage container and dispenser comprising: (a) an enclosure having a flat bottom for resting said container on a supporting surface, and a peripheral wall of generally conical shape with one side generally transverse to said flat bottom, such that each imaginary lateral section of the peripheral wall has a tangent lying in a plane common with a tangent of each other imaginary lateral section; (b) a generally cylindrical spout having a dispensing opening at the extremity thereof, said spout extending first generally parallel and then bending angularly away from the central axis of the peripheral wall so as to face said dispensing opening and said transverse side on the same side of said container;; (c) a hollow member formed integrally with the peripheral wail along said transverse side and including an encircling handle with a filler opening moulded into the hollow member at the extremity thereof toward the spout; and (d) closures for said filler and dispensing openings.

9. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 8, further comprising a bottom rim portion formed integrally with the peripheral wall and between the peripheral wall and the flat bottom, the periphery of said rim portion being of substantially cylindrical shape and including a finger indentation in the rim portion adjacent the intersection of the rim portion and said transverse side.

1 0. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the handle extends longitudinally between the spout and the flat bottom.

11. A liquid storage container and dispenser comprising: (a) an enclosure defined by a flat bottom for resting said container on a supporting surface; (b) a generally cylindrical spout having a dispensing opening at the extremity thereof, said spout being coupled to said enclosure opposite said flat side; (c) said enclosure including a peripheral wall tapering from a large dimension adjacent said flat bottom to a smaller dimension adjacent said spout, such that liquids in said enclosure are funneled into said spout and out of said dispensing opening when said flat bottom is elevated above said spout; and (d) a hollow member formed integrally with said enclosure along said peripheral side, and including an encircling handle and a filler opening moulded into the handle at the extremity thereof in the direction of the spout

12. A liquid storage container and dispenser according to Claim 11, wherein the handle extends longitudinally between the spout and the flat bottom.

1 3. A liquid storage container and dispenser constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.