GB2393947A

GB2393947A - Reflective fuel can

Info

Publication number: GB2393947A
Application number: GB0323787A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Minihan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-12
Filing date: 2003-10-10
Publication date: 2004-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-10
Also published as: GB0323787D0; GB2393947B; GB0223789D0

Abstract

A can for vehicle fuel has a reflective outer surface. The reflective surface may be formed integrally with the can, or may be adhered or clipped to it, or attached by hook and loop fasteners. Alternatively, a reflective strap, preferably of elasticated material may be located about the can or an outer sleeve having a reflective material may be provided.

Description

-.. -1 FUEL CAN

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fuel can, and in particular although not 5 exclusively, to a fuel can configured to reflect light.

Background to the Invention

When travailing by motor vehicle, it is not uncommon for motorists to run out of fuel thereby preventing further travel until more fuel is obtained.

An unfortunate motorist who does not carry a storage of reserve fuel within the vehicle is often required to travel to and from the nearest fuel station by foot carrying a fuel can.

15 Such a motorist, required to walk on or near to a road during nondaylight hours, is put at considerable risk with regard to being involved in an accident with passing vehicles. The risk of injury to this pedestrian is significantly increased if the person is wearing dark clothing and/or the road does not have provision for pedestrians in the way of footpaths or walkways.

In general, motorists do not carry reflective clothing within a vehicle to be worn in the event of the vehicle running out of fuel so as to provide easy identification passing motorists. However the common element accompanying the person when walking to obtain fuel and returning to the stranded vehicle is a 25 fuel can.

A problem with prior art fuel cans is that such cans typically comprise a

polymer based plastics material or metal being colored or painted, such coloration not serving to reduce the risk of injury to a person required to retrieve 3 0 fuel for a stranded vehicle by easy identification particularly at night.

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What is required therefore is a fuel can which allows easy and ready identification of a pedestrian on or near to a road in order to reduce the considerable risk of the pedestrian being injured by passing vehicles. Such a device is disclosed herein.

Summarv of the Invention The inventors provide a fuel can which reduces the risk posed to a pedestrian, walking on or near to a road in nondaylight hours by way of a reflective material positioned on at least one outer surface of the fuel can.

Accordingly, a pedestrian, being a motorist who has run out of fuel and is required to walk to and from the nearest fuel station is readily visible to motorists travailing on the road due to reflection of light from vehicle headlights against the outer surface of the fuel can.

According to specific implementations of the present invention the fuel can or receptacle is made of a polymer based compound incorporating a reflective pigment or particles throughout the polymer material or at an external surface of the can or receptacle.

2 o According to a first aspect of the present invention that is provided a fuel can configured to reflect light, said fuel can comprising: a body to house a volume of fuel, said body having an external surface; and a reflective material positioned at said external surface.

Preferrably, said reflective material is formed integrally with said body.

Preferrably, said reflective material is removably attached to said external surface. o Preferrably, said reflective material is adhered to said external surface.

Preferrably the fuel can further comprises affixing means for affixing said reflective material to said external surface.

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À À À À r Preferrably, the fuel further comprises a recess formed in said external surface, said recess being configured to accommodate said reflective material.

5Preferrably, said reflective material is formed as a disc configured to clip into said recess.

Preferrably said reflective material is adhered to said external surface using hook and loop type fasteners.

Preferrably, said reflective material is formed integrally with said body wherein said reflective material is concentrated at said external surface.

Preferrably, said reflective material is configured to be resistant to removal 15by said fuel.

Preferrably, said reflective material is incorporated within substantially the whole of said body and said external surface wherein a pedestrian carrying said fuel can is visible to passing motorists approaching said pedestrian from different 2 oangles.

Preferrably, the fuel can further comprises a highly visible material, said highly visible material being highly visible during daylight hours, the visible material being in particular a luminescent material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention that is provided a receptacle for vehicle fuel comprising: a body for housing said fuel; and a reflective material being incorporated within said body; wherein, in use, a pedestrian carrying said receptacle is visible to passing motorists approaching osaid pedestrian from different angles.

According to a third aspect of the present invention is provided a receptacle for vehicle fuel comprising: a body to house said fuel; a reflective material formed

ce c À r.e _c À' c À e a C c c À a r a at an exterior surface of said body; a handle provided on said body for transporting said receptacle; at least one orifice capable of allowing fuel into and out off said receptacle; and a can configured for covering said orifice.

Preferrably said reflective material comprises a plurality of sheets adhered to said external surface.

Preferrably said reflective material comprises a plurality of individual reflective particles incorporated within said body.

Preferrably said reflective material comprises a reflective pigment incorporated within said body.

Preferrably said receptacle further comprises a highly visible material; i wherein when a pedestrian is carrying said receptacle said highly visible material is highly visible to passing motorists approaching said pedestrian from different angles. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention that is provided a 2 0 reflective strap configured for locating about a fuel can, said strap comprising: a length a material having an external surface, said length of material being configured for locating about an external surface of said fuel can; and a reflective material position at said external surface of said length of material; wherein, when is use, said reflective strap is located about said fuel can so as to be visibly 2 identifiable at night by passing motorists.

Preferrably said strap is elasticated.

Preferrably said strap further comprises hook and loop type fasteners 3 o configured for locating said strap about said fuel can.

Preferrably said strap forms part of a bag, said bag being configured to house said fuel can.

À.e:: he.: À:.....:.::.: e: -5 According to a fifth aspect of the present invention that is provided a sleeve configured for positioning over a receptacle configured for storing vehicle fuel, said sleeve comprising: a main body being configured for accommodating said 5 receptacle; securing means for securing said sleeve to said receptacle; and a reflective material provided at an external surface of said sleeve; wherein, when in use, a user secures said sleeve to said receptacle so as to enable said receptacle to be highly visible to passing motorists during non-daylight hours.

10 Brief Descrintion of the Drawings For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the fuel can comprising a reflective material according to a specific implementation of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a crosssection side view of an external surface of the 2 o fuel can comprising a reflective material positioned within a recess of the surface according to a specific implementation of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section side view of an external surface of the fuel can comprising a reflective material affixed to the external surface according 2 5 to a specific implementation of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a reflective band configured for positioning around a fuel can comprising a length of material and a reflective material according to a specific implementation of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Best Mode for Carrvin Out the Invention

There will now be described by way of example the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. In the following

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-6 description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough

understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not 5 been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

The inventors on realising the problems associated with the prior art fuel

cans provide a improved fuel can comprising a reflective material such that a pedestrian carrying the can whilst walking on or near by a highway is easily 10 identified by passing motorists. A motorist who has run out of fuel during non-

daylight hours is able to walk to and from a nearby fuel station with a considerably reduced risk of being involved in an accident with a passing vehicle.

Moreover, the reflective fuel can negate a requirement for a motorist to carry additional reflective clothing.

According to specific implementations of the present invention, the reflective material may be removable affixed to the fuel can, using reflective discs, strips or tags in addition to the use of a reflective band, strap or bag for positioning around an external surface of a prior art non-reflective fuel can.

Referring to Figure 1 herein there is illustrated a fuel can 100 comprising a body 101; an external surface 102; a reflective material 103; a handle 104 and; cap 105.

The reflective material 103 is positioned at at least one external surface 102 of the fuel can 100. According to the specific implementation of the present invention reflective material 103 is positioned on substantially the whole of each external surface of the fuel can so as to reflect light from vehicle headlights approaching the pedestrian carrying the can from a plurality of directions. The 30 reflective material 103 is affixed to the external surfaces such that any fuel spillage onto the external surface(s) of the fuel can does not dislodge the reflective material 103.

:.:....e:. According to a further embodiment of the present invention reflective material 103 may be incorporated within body 101, for example, during the manufacturing process of the fuel can. For example, the external surface(s) 102 may comprise interspersed reflective particles.

Referring to Figure 2 herein there is illustrated a side cross-section view of the fuel can of Figure 1 herein comprising at least one recess 200. Recess 200 is positioned at the at least one external surface 102 such that the reflective material 103, being formed as a disc or plaque, may be clipped into recess 200.

Reflective material 103 may be removable positioned within recess 200 or may be substantially non-removable by a user of the fuel can.

Referring to Figure 3 herein there is illustrated a side cross-section view of 15the fuel can of Figure 1 comprising means for affixing the reflective material to the external surface 300, 301.

Means for affixing 300, 301 may comprise hook an loop type fastenings, 300 being the hook portion and 301 being the loop portion such that reflective 20material 103 may be removable attached to at least one external surface 102 by a cooperation of hook and loop fastenings 300, 301.

According to further specific implementations of the present invention means for affixing 300, 301 may comprise a suitable adhesive.

Referring to Figure 4 herein there is illustrated a perspective view of a reflective band 400 comprising a length of material 401; at least one external surface 402; a reflective material 403; an internal surface 404; means for adjustment 405.

Reflective material 403 may be affixed to external surface 402 using, for example, an adhesive or stitching so as to enable band 400 to be flexible.

According to further specific implementations, reflective material 403 may be

Àe:: e:.e Ace: Àe e..... ee.. À.. e: -8 formed integrally with length of material 401. Internal surface 404 may comprise suitable means for gripping the external surface(s) of fuel can 406. Means for adjustment 405 are provided for adjustment of the length of band 400 for positioning around a variety of fuel can sizes.

A thickness of band 400 may be such so as to allow reflective material 403 to cover substantially the external surface(s) of fuel can 406.

Claims

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-9- Claims

A fuel can configured to reflect light, said fuel can comprising: a body to house a volume of fuel, said body having an external surface; and a reflective material positioned at said external surface.
2. The fuel can as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective material is formed integrally with said body.
3. The fuel can as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective material is removably attached to said external surface.
4. The fuel can as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective material 15 is adhered to said external surface.
5. The fuel can as claimed in claim 1 further comprising affixing means for affixing said reflective material to said external surface.

So
6. The fuel can as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a recess formed in said external surface, said recess being configured to accommodate said reflective material.
7. The fuel can as claimed in claim 6 wherein said reflective material is formed as a disc configured to clip into said recess.
8. The fuel can as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflective material is adhered to said external surface using hook and loop type fasteners.

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9. The fuel can as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reflective material is formed integrally with said body wherein said reflective material is concentrated at said external surface.

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10 10. The fuel can as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reflective material is configured to be resistant to removal by said fuel.
11. The fuel can as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said reflective material is incorporated within substantially the whole of said body and said external surface wherein a pedestrian carrying said fuel can is visible to passing motorists approaching said pedestrian from different angles.
12. The fuel can as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said fuel To can further comprises a highly visible material, said highly visible material being highly visible during daylight hours, the visible material being in particular a luminescent material.
13. A receptacle for vehicle fuel comprising: a body for housing said fuel; and and a reflective material being incorporated within said body; So wherein, in use, a pedestrian carrying said receptacle is visible to passing motorists approaching said pedestrian from different angles.
14. A receptacle for vehicle fuel comprising: a body to house said fuel; a reflective material formed at an exterior surface of said body; a handle provided on said body for transporting said receptacle; and at least one orifice capable of allowing fuel into and out off said receptacle; and

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:À À. À:.. À e -11 a can configured for covering said orifice.
15. The receptacle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said reflective material comprises a plurality of sheets adhered to said external surface.
16. The receptacle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said reflective material comprises a plurality of individual reflective particles incorporated within said body.

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17. The receptacle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said reflective material comprises a reflective pigment incorporated within said body.
18. The receptacle as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein said receptacle further comprises a highly visible material; wherein when a pedestrian is carrying said receptacle said highly visible material is highly visible to passing motorists approaching said pedestrian from different angles.

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19. A reflective strap configured for locating about a fuel can, said strap comprising: a length a material having an external surface, said length of material being configured for locating about an external surface of said fuel can; and a reflective material position at said external surface of said length of material; wherein, when is use, said reflective strap is located about said fuel can so o as to be visibly identifiable at night by passing motorists.
20. The strap as claimed in claim 19 wherein said strap is elasticated.

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21. The strap as claimed in claim 19 wherein said strap further comprises hook and loop type fasteners configured for locating said strap about said fuel can.
22. The strap as claimed in claim 19 wherein said strap forms part of a bag, said bag be configured to house said fuel can.
23. A sleeve configured for positioning over a receptacle configured for storing vehicle fuel, said sleeve comprising: a main body being configured for accommodating said receptacle; securing means for securing said sleeve to said receptacle; and : a reflective material provided at an external surface of said sleeve; wherein, when in use, a user secures said sleeve to said receptacle so as to enable said receptacle to be highly visible to passing motorists during non-

daylight hours.