GB2098572A

GB2098572A - Blow-moulded containers for liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2098572A
Application number: GB8206848A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Chevron Research and Technology Co; Chevron Research Co
Current assignee: Chevron USA Inc
Priority date: 1981-03-10
Filing date: 1982-03-09
Publication date: 1982-11-24
Also published as: SE8201421L; DE3208077A1; DK150573C; BE892392A; DK97382A; NL8200965A; DK150573B; GB2098572B; CA1202580A; IT1150265B; FR2501632B1; IT8220042A0; FR2501632A1

Abstract

A portable container for liquid, e.g. lubricating oil, is formed by blow moulding from a thermoplastics material so that during the moulding operation an air inlet conduit (1) extending from a pouring spout (2) to the interior of the container can be formed by a pinched portion of the thin walled hollow body portion of the container. Desirably, the air conduit (1) is formed with a drain hole (4) to allow any liquid which inadvertently enters the conduit (1) to flow back into the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for liquids This invention relates to containers for liquids and is concerned with a portable container for a liquid, such as a lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine, which will permit a substantially constant flow of liquid to be obtained therefrom when in use.

Small containers used for the storage of liquids and with a single aperture through which the liquid is dispensed tend to pour unevenly. This is due to the liquid entirely filling the aperture as the container is tilted and the liquid is poured out. As liquid leaves the container the pressure drops in the increasing air space within the container. After some time, the difference between the pressure inside the container and the atmosphere is such that the air is suddenly drawn into the container and the flow is interrupted momentarily. The flow then continues and the pressure difference increases until flow is again interrupted as air is drawn in. This sequence is repeated until the level of liquid is reduced to the point where a permanent air space is formed between the inside of the container and the atmosphere.By this stage the liquid is not filling the entire aperture area and the flow is smoother.

It has heretofore been suggested in the art (see, for example, British Patent Specifications Nos.

872297 and 1024763) to provide air vents in containers to permit air to enter the container as the liquid is poured to provide for even flow of the liquid from such a container. However, none of the prior art describes a container with an integral air vent which can be easily formed by blow moulding and which effectively allows even flow of liquid from the container.

The present invention provides a portable blow moulded container for a liquid comprising a thin walled hollow body portion defining a substantially closed chamber. An upwardly extending pouring spout is formed in the upper portion of the container. An air inlet conduit is formed by a pinched portion of the thin walled hollow body portion. The air conduit extends from the pouring spout to the upper portion of the closed chamber formed by the hollow body portion. Preferably the air conduit extends into the interior of the pouring spout, so that liquid flowing out of the pouring spout when the container is in use is channelled around the pinched wall portion of the container forming the air inlet conduit.

Preferably the part of the air conduit within the pouring spout is substantially parallel to the normal axis of the pouring spout.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a portable container for a liquid, such as a lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine, said container comprising a thin walled hollow body portion communicating with an upwardly extending pouring spout disposed above said body portion and situated at a corner of the container and also communicating with a hollow carrying handle disposed above said body portion and spaced apart from said spout, and an air inlet conduit which extends from the interior of that side portion of said spout which is nearest to said handle to the interior of said hollow carrying handle, whereby when the container is tilted to cause liquid to flow from the body portion into the pouring spout, air is continuously drawn into the container through said air inlet conduit so as to provide a substantially constant flow of liquid from the pouring spout, the body portion, pouring spout, carrying handle and conduit being integrally formed from a synthetic plastics material by blow moulding.

The pouring spout will normally be provided with a closure cap, generally of the screw-on type, although a plastic press-on cap may alternatively be used.

The container of the invention can be made by conventional blow moulding techniques from a suitable synthetic thermoplastic plastics material, advantageously high density polyethylene, using an appropriately shaped mould adapted to pinch the required air inlet conduit during the blow moulding operation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air inlet conduit is provided with a drain hole to allow any liquid which inadvertently enters the conduit from the pouring spout to fall into the body portion of the container and thereby prevent any blockage of the conduit. Alternatively the conduit may be provided with a longitudinally extending slit which can be formed by not completely sealing the base of the conduit during formation thereof by blow moulding.

The container may be made in various suitable sizes, for example, for motor lubricating oil, the container may, for instance, have a capacity of 3 litres or 5 litres. A perspective view of a 3-litre container formed in accordance with the invention is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, whilst Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a 5-litre container formed in accordance with the invention.

The construction of a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 3 is a part vertical cross-section of a container constructed in accordance with the invention showing an air inlet conduit 1 extending from the interior of a spout 2 to an adjacent handle 3.

Figure 4 is a partial enlarged plan view of the container of Figure 3 and Figure 5 is a crosssection along the line V-V of Figure 4, showing a drain hole 4 formed in the wall of the conduit 1.

1. A portable blow moulded container for a liquid comprising a thin walled hollow body portion defining a substantially closed chamber having an upwardly extending pouring spout formed in the upper portion thereof and an air inlet conduit formed by a pinched portion of said thin walled hollow body portion, said air conduit extending from said pouring spout to the upper portion of said substantially closed chamber.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Container for liquids This invention relates to containers for liquids and is concerned with a portable container for a liquid, such as a lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine, which will permit a substantially constant flow of liquid to be obtained therefrom when in use. Small containers used for the storage of liquids and with a single aperture through which the liquid is dispensed tend to pour unevenly. This is due to the liquid entirely filling the aperture as the container is tilted and the liquid is poured out. As liquid leaves the container the pressure drops in the increasing air space within the container. After some time, the difference between the pressure inside the container and the atmosphere is such that the air is suddenly drawn into the container and the flow is interrupted momentarily. The flow then continues and the pressure difference increases until flow is again interrupted as air is drawn in. This sequence is repeated until the level of liquid is reduced to the point where a permanent air space is formed between the inside of the container and the atmosphere.By this stage the liquid is not filling the entire aperture area and the flow is smoother. It has heretofore been suggested in the art (see, for example, British Patent Specifications Nos. 872297 and 1024763) to provide air vents in containers to permit air to enter the container as the liquid is poured to provide for even flow of the liquid from such a container. However, none of the prior art describes a container with an integral air vent which can be easily formed by blow moulding and which effectively allows even flow of liquid from the container. The present invention provides a portable blow moulded container for a liquid comprising a thin walled hollow body portion defining a substantially closed chamber. An upwardly extending pouring spout is formed in the upper portion of the container. An air inlet conduit is formed by a pinched portion of the thin walled hollow body portion. The air conduit extends from the pouring spout to the upper portion of the closed chamber formed by the hollow body portion. Preferably the air conduit extends into the interior of the pouring spout, so that liquid flowing out of the pouring spout when the container is in use is channelled around the pinched wall portion of the container forming the air inlet conduit. Preferably the part of the air conduit within the pouring spout is substantially parallel to the normal axis of the pouring spout. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a portable container for a liquid, such as a lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine, said container comprising a thin walled hollow body portion communicating with an upwardly extending pouring spout disposed above said body portion and situated at a corner of the container and also communicating with a hollow carrying handle disposed above said body portion and spaced apart from said spout, and an air inlet conduit which extends from the interior of that side portion of said spout which is nearest to said handle to the interior of said hollow carrying handle, whereby when the container is tilted to cause liquid to flow from the body portion into the pouring spout, air is continuously drawn into the container through said air inlet conduit so as to provide a substantially constant flow of liquid from the pouring spout, the body portion, pouring spout, carrying handle and conduit being integrally formed from a synthetic plastics material by blow moulding. The pouring spout will normally be provided with a closure cap, generally of the screw-on type, although a plastic press-on cap may alternatively be used. The container of the invention can be made by conventional blow moulding techniques from a suitable synthetic thermoplastic plastics material, advantageously high density polyethylene, using an appropriately shaped mould adapted to pinch the required air inlet conduit during the blow moulding operation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air inlet conduit is provided with a drain hole to allow any liquid which inadvertently enters the conduit from the pouring spout to fall into the body portion of the container and thereby prevent any blockage of the conduit. Alternatively the conduit may be provided with a longitudinally extending slit which can be formed by not completely sealing the base of the conduit during formation thereof by blow moulding. The container may be made in various suitable sizes, for example, for motor lubricating oil, the container may, for instance, have a capacity of 3 litres or 5 litres. A perspective view of a 3-litre container formed in accordance with the invention is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, whilst Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a 5-litre container formed in accordance with the invention. The construction of a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 3 is a part vertical cross-section of a container constructed in accordance with the invention showing an air inlet conduit 1 extending from the interior of a spout 2 to an adjacent handle 3. Figure 4 is a partial enlarged plan view of the container of Figure 3 and Figure 5 is a crosssection along the line V-V of Figure 4, showing a drain hole 4 formed in the wall of the conduit 1. CLAIMS

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the air inlet conduit extends into the interior of the pouring spout, so that in use liquid flowing out of the pouring spout is channelled around the pinched wall portion of the container forming the air inlet conduit.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the part of said air conduit within said pouring spout is substantially parallel to the normal axis of the pouring spout.

4. A container as claimed in Claim 1, said container comprising a thin walled hollow body portion communicating with an upwardly extending pouring spout disposed above said body portion and situated at a corner of the container and also communicating with a hollow carrying handle disposed above said body portion and spaced apart from said spout, and an air inlet conduit which extends from the interior of that side portion of said spout which is nearest to said handle to the interior of said hollow carrying handle, whereby, when the container is tilted to cause liquid to flow from the body portion into the pouring spout, air is continuously drawn into the container through said air inlet conduit so as to provide a substantially constant flow of liquid from the pouring spout, the body portion, pouring spout, carrying handle and conduit being integrally formed from a synthetic plastics material by blow moulding.

5. A container as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the air conduit is formed with a drain hole or slit to allow any liquid which inadvertently enters said conduit to fall into the hollow body portion of the container.

6. A container as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the pouring spout is provided with a closure cap.

7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is blow moulded from high density polyethylene.

8. A portable blow moulded container for a liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.