GB2399404A

GB2399404A - Gas cylinder indicia collar

Info

Publication number: GB2399404A
Application number: GB0305556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark O'mahoney; Peter Brown
Original assignee: BOC Group Ltd
Current assignee: BOC Group Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-11
Filing date: 2003-03-11
Publication date: 2004-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-11
Also published as: GB2399404B; GB0305556D0

Abstract

A wrap around indicia collar 2, 30 is capable of being locked around the neck of a gas cylinder container 82. The collar 2, 30 carries indicia, which may be related to the contents of the cylinder 82, and may be in the form of a barcode. In a first embodiment, the collar 2, 30 is a hinged ring in two halves, with interlocking ends 15, 16. In a second embodiment, the collar is a single flexible strip 30 with interlocking ends 44, 46. The collar 2, 30 may overcome the problem of existing labels, which may tend to fall off, and may allow compliance with modern labelling legislation.

Description

INFORMATION-BEARING DEVICE

This invention relates to an information-bearing device for a gas cylinder.

There is an increasing need, partly for commercial reasons and partly to meet the requirements of new legislation, to convey more information with the product to a user of a gas cylinder. Gas cylinders are widely used to store and transport fluids under high pressure, for example up to 300 bar. Gas cylinders need to be used and handled with care not only because of the high pressure of their contents but sometime because their contents is inherently hazardous.

Difficulties arise in stencilling information onto the surface of a gas cylinder.

Further, although adherent labels can often be used instead, during use the labels tend readily to lose their adherency or can otherwise be removed.

According to the present invention there is provided an informationbearing device for a gas cylinder comprising an inner circumferential locating member able to be fitted around the neck of the cylinder and to engage an outer wrap around plastics collar which bears indicia on its outer surface and the ends of which are adapted to be locked together.

The information-bearing device according to the invention may be readily fitted to the gas cylinder without removal of its valve, any valve guard, or any handle attached to the cylinder. The collar can be formed with a label permanently attached thereto or integral therewith. For example, the collar may carry an in-moulded label. Because the collar is wrapped around the neck of the gas cylinder it can be formed as a flat strip of plastics material, thereby simplifying the tooling necessary for its manufacture. Manufacture of the label is facilitated because it too can be formed as a flat member.

Because the two ends of the collar lock together, it cannot readily be opened.

- 2 - M03B147/MW Indeed the locking arrangement can be such that the collar has to be destroyed before it can be removed.

The locating member is preferably sprung. A sprung locating member offers the advantage of enabling an information-bearing device according to the invention to be fitted to a range of different cylinders each having a neck of a different diameter from the others.

The locating member is preferably of plastics material.

The locating member conveniently comprises two semi-circular parts hinged together and having free ends with cooperating members adapted to make a fastening with one another. The locating member may be formed as a onepiece moulding and therefore its semi-circular parts may be integral with the 1 5 hinge.

Various arrangements of the cooperating members are possible. For example one free end of the locating member may have a tongue adapted to engage a complementary catch or socket at the other free end.

The locating member may be provided with springs attached thereto, but the springs are preferably integral therewith. In one embodiment, the locating member has integral therewith (or less preferably attached thereto) a plurality of resilient circumferentially-spaced loops against which the neck of the cylinder is able to bear in use of the information- bearing device. The locating member is thus able to grip the neck of the gas cylinder.

There are various ways of making the engagement between the collar and the locating member. In one embodiment the outer surface of the locating member has an upper circumferential ledge spaced from a lower circumferential ledge and the collar has on its inner surface an array of vertical ribs adapted to be engaged between the upper and lower ledges.

- 3 - M03B147/MW The cylinder to which the information-bearing device is fitted typically has a valve guard. An advantage of an informationbearing device according to the invention is that it can be fitted without requiring removal of the valve guard.

The valve guard typically prevents the information-bearing device from being lifted off the cylinder.

Various locking arrangements may be employed on the collar. For example, the collar may have an integral tongue at one end adapted to be inserted within a catch at the other end, the tongue carrying a wedge-shaped projection. The arrangement of the tongue and catch of the collar is such that the thicker end of the projection cannot escape the catch if an attempt is made to retract the tongue once the two ends are locked together.

If desired, the label carried by the collar may include a sequential bar code.

The bar code may contain a serial number so that the cylinder to which the information-bearing device is fitted can be uniquely identified.

The present invention also provides a wrap-around plastics collar which bears indicia on its outer surface and the ends of which are adapted to be locked together, the collar being adapted to form part of an information-bearing device as described above.

An information-bearing device according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a locating member forming part of the information-bearing device, with the locating member in an open position; - 4 - M03B147/MW Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the locating member shown in Figure 1, the locating member now shown partially around the neck of a gas cylinder but still in an open position; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the locating member shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locating member now shown in a closed position but with the gas cylinder omitted; Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation, partly in section, of the locating member shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a schematic rear view of a wrap-around collar forming another part of the information-bearing device; Figure 6 is a schematic front view of the collar shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the collar shown in Figures 5 and 6; Figure 8 is a schema showing a tongue-and-catch employed on the collar shown in Figures 5 to 7; Figure 9 is another schema illustrating the catch shown in Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a view of an information-bearing device in position around a cylinder which is also fitted with a valve guard.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the locating member is indicated by the reference numeral 2. The locating member 2 is formed of a suitable plastics material such as polypropylene which has structural strength and which exhibits a degree of resilience. The locating member 2 is preferably formed as a unitary article by a suitable moulding process.

- 5 - M03B147/MW The locating member 2 comprises two semi-circular parts 4 and 6 which are connected to one another by a hinge 8. The hinge is disposed in a vertical plane such that the two parts 4 and 6 can move in a horizontal plane. The locating member 2 has associated with its inner surface 10 a group of four circumferentially spaced resilient loops 12 which function as springs. Each loop 12 has two separate ends 14 which meet the inner surface 10. The loops 12 are typically integral with the locating member 2. The resilience of the plastics material from which they are made enables the loops 12 to function as springs. The loops 12 are capable of varying degrees of flexure enabling the locating device to be fitted to cylinders with necks of different sizes. When the locating member 2 is in position around the neck 80 of a cylinder 82 (see Figure 2) the two unhinged ends of the locating member engage one another (as shown in Figure 3) and the loops 12 bear against the cylinder 82. The semi-circular parts 4 and 6 of the locating member 2 are typically formed with axial slots 13 that are spanned by the loops 12.

The semi-circular part 4 of the locating member 2 has an integral tongue 15 projecting from its unhinged end. The semi-circular part 6 has a complementary catch or socket 16 formed in its unhinged end. In order to secure the locating member 2 about the neck 80 of the cylinder 82, the locating member 2 is placed in the position shown in Figure 2, the two unhinged ends are manually moved together and the tongue 15 inserted in the socket 16. As shown in Figure 4, the tongue 15 has a wedge-shaped projection 18 tapering in the direction of the unhinged end of the part 4. The resilience of the projection 18 is such that it permits insertion of the tongue 15 in the socket 16. Retraction of the tongue 15 from the socket 16 is prevented or hindered by the thicker end of the projection 18 being obstructed by a stop at the unhinged end of the part 6 of the locating member 2. It is not essential, however, for the free ends of the locating member 2 to make a permanent fastening.

- 6 - M03B147/MW The locating member 2 has an upper circumferential ledge 22 and a lower circumferential ledge 24 spaced apart from one another and projecting from its outer surface 26. The ledges 22 and 24 extend almost through a full 360 being interrupted only at the hinge 8 and at its unhinged ends. The ledges 24 and 26 form guides between which a ribbed surface of the collar can fit as will be described below.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 9 of the drawings, the collar is indicated by the reference numeral 30. It is in the form of a strip of plastics material. The plastics material may be the same as that from which the locating member 2 is formed. The collar 30 has an arcuate top edge 32 and an arcuate bottom edge 34. The bottom edge 34 is longer than the top edge 32. When the collar 30 is wrapped around a cylinder neck the difference in length between the edges 32 and 34 results in the fitted collar 30 being wider at its bottom than at its top. This tapering of the collar 30, when fitted to a cylinder, matches the shape of the neck of a typical gas cylinder. (The locating member 2 may also have a complementary shape, being wider at its bottom that at its top.) Referring to Figure 6, the front surface of the collar 30 carries a label 36 bearing indicia 38 shown schematically in Figure 6 and a bar code 40 also shown schematically in Figure 6. The label is permanently attached to the collar 30. Typically the label 36 is formed as a plastics member which is moulded into he collar 30 during manufacture.

Referring particularly now to Figure 5, the rear surface of the collar 30 is formed with a set of ribs 42 which each extend vertically downwards from the top edge 32 about one quarter of the way to the bottom edge 34. when the collar 30 is to be fitted to the cylinder, it is manually positioned such that the ribs 42 are located between the upper ledge 22 and the lower ledge 24 of the locating member 2. Once the ends of the collar 30 have been locked M03B147/MW together, the ledges 22 and 24 prevent upward or downward displacement of the collar 30 relative to the locating member 2.

The locking arrangement mentioned above is best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. It is similar to that employed for the locating member 2. One end of the collar 30 is provided with an integral tongue 44. The other end is provided within an integral loop or catch 46. The tongue 44 carries an integral wedge-shaped projection 48 having its thinner end near than its wider end to the tip of the tongue 44. The natural resilience of the projection 48 enables it to be momentarily deformed as the tongue 44 is pushed through the loop 46.

Once the tongue has been inserted, an attempt to retract it would fail because the thicker end of the wedge would be stopped by the top of the loop 46.

Thus, the tongue 44 is locked in the loop 46.

Both the locating member 2 and the collar 30 may be made as one-piece articles by moulding. If desired, some individual elements of both articles may be pre-moulded and the premouldings then moulded together.

Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown the information-bearing device 100 in position on a gas cylinder 102. The cylinder 102 has a valve (not shown) which may be opened and closed by turning a handwheel 104. The valve is protected by a valve guard 106. The valve guard 106 is clamped by means of a clamping member 110 arounqneck ring 108 integral with the cylinder 102.

The information-bearing devices positioned immediately below the valve guard 106. The clamping member 110 prevents the device 100 from being lifted axially from the cylinder 102.

The information-bearing device shown in the drawings is readily able to be fitted around the neck of a cylinder notwithstanding the presence of a cylinder valve or any conventional valve guard of the kind shown in Figure 10. As described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, the ledges 22 and 24 prevent upward or downward displacement of the collar 30 relative to the - 8 - M03B147/MW locating member 2. Once the ends of the collar 30 are fastened together they cannot be separated again. Thus, the collar 30 cannot be removed from the cylinder either with the locating member 2 or separately from it. If, for example, moulded into or onto the collar 30, the label cannot be readily removed from it. The information-bearing device according to the invention therefore enables a cylinder to be effectively provided with a permanent label.

Claims

- 9 - M03B147/MW CLAIMS

1. An information-bearing device for a gas cylinder comprising an inner circumferential locating member able to be fitted around the neck of the cylinder and to engage an outer wrap-around plastics collar which bears indicia on its outer surface and the ends of which are adapted to be locked together.

2. An information-bearing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the locating member is of plastics material.

3. An information-bearing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the locating member comprises two semi-circular parts hinged together and having free ends with cooperating members adapted to make a fastening with one another.

4. An information-bearing device as claimed in claim 3, in which the semi circular parts are integral with the hinge.

5. An information-bearing device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which one free end of the locating member has a tongue adapted to engage a complementary catch at the other free end of the locating member.

6. An information-bearing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locating member is sprung.

7. An information-bearing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the inner surface of the locating member has integral therewith or attached thereto a plurality of resilient circumferentially spaced loops against which the neck of the cylinder is able to bear in use of the information-bearing device.

- 10- M03B147/MW

8. An information-bearing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer surface of the locating member has an upper endless circumferential ledge spaced from a lower endless circumferential ledge, and the collar has on its inner surface an array of vertical ribs adapted to be engaged between the upper and lower ledges.

9. An information-bearing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the collar has an integral tongue at one end adapted to be inserted within a catch at the other end, the tongue carrying a wedgeshaped projection and the arrangement of the tongue and catch being such that the thicker end of the projection cannot escape the catch if an attempt is made to retract the tongue once the two ends are locked together.

10. An information-bearing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer surface of the collar carries an in-moulded label.

11. An information-bearing device as claimed in claim 10, in which the label includes a sequential bar code.

12. A wrap-around plastics collar which bears indicia on its outer surface and the ends of which are adapted to be locked together, the collar being adapted to form part of an information-bearing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

13. A wrap-around collar as claimed in claim 12, in the form of a flat strip.

M03B 1 47/MW

14. A wrap-around collar as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, in which the strip has an upper arcuate edge and a lower arcuate edge, the lower arcuate edge being longer than the upper arcuate edge.

15. A gas cylinder fitted with an information-bearing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.

16. A gas cylinder as claimed in claim 15, additionally being fitted with a valve guard, the valve guard preventing the information device being lifted off the cylinder.

17. An information-bearing device for a gas cylinder, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.