GB2483850A

GB2483850A - Fuel container with spout

Info

Publication number: GB2483850A
Application number: GB201015415A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Azhar Iqbal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-15
Filing date: 2010-09-15
Publication date: 2012-03-28
Also published as: GB201015415D0

Abstract

A portable liquid fuel container assembly (10) includes a container (12) defining an interior (14) in which inflammable liquid fuel such as gasoline, petrol or diesel is receivable, a filling hole (18) and a pouring hole (22). The assembly (10) includes a hollow spout (24) which defines a spout passage (30), the spout (24) being mountable to the container (12) to permit fluid communication in use through the pouring hole (22) and along the spout passage (30). The assembly (10) is movable between a fill/pour condition in which one end (25) of the spout (24) is free and a storage condition in which the one end (25) is fixed. A one-way float valve may be provided in the filling hole and handle (50), which may have a recess for partially receiving the spout.

Description

I

Portable Liquid Fuel Container Assemt4y The present invention relates to a portable liquid fuel container S assembly.

Conventionally, portable liquid fuel container assemblies are used to provide an emergency backup supply of fuel such as gasoline, petrol or diesel fluid. Such assemblies usually comprise a container defining an interior in which the fluid can be stored, a filling/pouring hole defined by a threaded neck, a cap for sealing the filling/pouring hole, and a removable spout. During the pouring operation the spout is screwed on to the threaded neck, and unscrewed when the pouring operation is completed. However, the user must then safely store the spout, which contains a residue of the liquid fuel which is not easy to remove, is messy and creates a potential hazard. During storage the spout can be lost.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable liquid fuel container assembly, the assembly including a container defining an interior in which liquid fuel is receivable, a filling hole and a pouring hole, the assembly including a hollow spout which defines a spout passage, the spout being mountable to the container to permit fluid communication in use through the pouring hole and along the spout passage, the assembly being movable between a fill/pour condition in which one end of the spout is free and a storage condition in which the one end is fixed.

Possibly, in the storage condition, the assembly is arranged to permit fluid communication from the spout passage through the filling hole.

Possibly, the spout is permanently mounted to the container.

Possibly, the container includes a body. Possibly, the container includes a pouring neck, which may project from the body, and may define the pouring hole. Possibly, the assembly includes a mounting for mounting the spout to the pouring neck. Possibly the mounting comprises a snap fit connection. Alternatively, the mounting may comprise a threaded connection.

The mounting may include a seal.

S

Possibly, the container includes a filling neck which may project from the body and may define the filling hole. Possibly, the assembly includes a mounting for mounting the spout to the filling neck. Possibly, the mounting comprises a threaded collar, which in the storage condition engages a threaded formation formed on the filling neck. The mounting may include a seal.

Possibly, in the storage condition, the one end of the spout is received within the filling neck.

The filling hole may be larger than the pouring hole.

Possibly, the assembly includes a valve, which may be a one-way valve. The valve may be arranged to substantially prevent fluid communication through the filling hole in an outward direction, but permit fluid communication through the filling hole in an inward direction, and may be arranged to do so automatically. Possibly, the valve includes a flotation member, which may be in the form of a ball, which may in use float on the surface of the fluid, and may be located within a cage beneath the filling hole, and may be arranged so that as the fluid rises towards the filling hole, the flotation member blocks the filling hole preventing fluid communication there through in an outward direction.

Possibly, the spout includes a rigid part, which may be curved or bent, and may form an L shape. Possibly, the spout includes a flexible part.

Possibly, in the storage condition, the spout may form a U or C shape.

Possibly, the container includes a handle, which may be curved, and which may form a U or C shape. Possibly, the handle defines an outwardly facing recess, in which the spout may be partially receivable.

Possibly, the liquid fuel is inflammable, and may be gasoline, petrol or diesel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of containing liquid fuel, the method comprising providing a 1 0 portable liquid fuel container assembly, the assembly including a container defining an interior in which liquid fuel is receivable, a filling hole and a pouring hole, the assembly including a hollow spout which defines a pouring passage, the spout being mountable to the container to permit fluid communication in use through the pouring hole and along the pouring passage, the assembly being movable between a fill/pour condition in which one end of the spout is free and a storage condition in which the one end is fixed.

Other steps and/or features of the method may be described in any of the preceding paragraphs. The portable liquid fuel container assembly may be as described in any of the said preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of portable liquid fuel container assembly in a storage condition; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 1 in the storage condition; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional side view of a part of the assembly in a fill/pour condition; and Figs. 5 to 8 show sequential steps in a method of use of the assembly of Figs.1 to3.

Figs. 1 to 4 show a portable liquid fuel container assembly 10, the S assembly 10 including a container 12 defining an interior 14 in which inflammable liquid fuel such as gasoline, petrol or diesel is receivable, a filling hole 18 and a pouring hole 22, the assembly 10 including a hollow spout 24 which defines a spout passage 30, the spout 24 being mountable to the container 12 to permit fluid communication in use through the pouring hole 22 and along the spout passage 30, the assembly 10 being movable between a fill/pour condition in which one end 25 of the spout 24 is free and a storage condition in which the one end 25 is fixed.

The container 12 includes a body 13 and a pouring neck 20 which projects from the body 13 and defines the pouring hole 22. The assembly 10 includes a mounting 34 for mounting the spout 24 to the pouring neck 20.

The mounting 34 could comprise a snap fit connection, or alternatively, could comprise a threaded connection. The mounting 34 could be a permanent mounting, or could permit detachment of the spout 24 The mounting 34 includes a seal 56, in the form of an 0 ring or gasket, which is formed of a resilient, solvent resistant material. The seal 56 locates between the spout 24 and the pouring neck 20 at the mounting 34 to prevent fluid leakage. The mounting 34 is arranged to permit rotation of the spout 24 relative to the pouring neck 20.

The container 12 includes a filling neck 16 which projects from the body 13 and defines the filling hole 18. The assembly 10 includes a mounting 32 for mounting the spout 24 to the filling neck 16. The mounting 32 comprises a threaded collar 36, which in the storage condition engages a threaded formation 40 formed on the filling neck 16. The collar 36 is retained in position on the spout 24 by a projecting retaining formation 38 which extends around the spout 24 and is located towards but spaced from the one end 25. The mounting 32 includes a seal 54, in the form of an 0 ring or gasket, which is formed of a resilient, solvent resistant material and is positioned between the retaining formation 38 and the collar 36 to prevent fluid leakage. In contrast to the position shown in the exploded view of Fig 2, in an assembled condition the collar 36 and the seal 54 locate on the side of S the retaining formation 38 away from the filling neck 16.

The assembly 10 includes a valve 42 which includes a flotation member 44 in the form of a sphere or ball, located within a cage 46 beneath the filling hole 18. The cage 46 includes an out turned end lip 60, which, in an assembled condition seats against an outer edge of the filling neck 16. A seal 58 is located between the end lip 60 and the outer edge of the filling neck 16 to prevent fluid leakage. The seal 58 is in the form of a 0 ring or gasket, and is formed of a resilient, solvent resistant material.

The cage 46 defines a plurality of apertures 62 which permit fluid flow there through, but prevent passage of the flotation member 44, SO that movement of the flotation number 44 is constrained by the cage 46. The cage 46 defines a cage passage 64, the diameter of which is less than the diameter of the flotation member 44, so that in an upper position as shown in figure 4, the flotation member 44 blocks the cage passage 64, preventing fluid flow there through in an outward direction.

The spout 24 includes a rigid part 26, which in the example shown is curved, to form an L shape. The spout 24 includes a flexible part 28, located towards the pouring neck mounting 34.

The assembly 10 includes a handle 50, which projects from the body 13, and which in the example shown is curved to form a U or C shape. The handle 50 defines an outwardly facing recess 52, in which, in the storage condition, the spout 24 is partially receivable.

The body 13, the filling neck 16 and the pouring neck 20 could be formed of plastics material, and could be formed by moulding, and could be formed integrally. In another example, the spout 24 could also be formed integrally with the container 12, fixed to the pouring neck 20.

A method of use of the portable liquid fuel container assembly 10 will S now be described.

Initially, the assembly 10 is in the storage condition, but empty of fluid 48. In this condition, the spout 24 is fixed to the pouring neck 20 and extends from the pouring neck 20 to the filling neck 16, the one end 25 being received within the filling neck 16. The spout 24 is received within the recess 52, and the spout 24 corresponds in shape the shape of the handle 50, so that the spout 24 forms a U or C shape, the spout 24 nestling snugly against and partially within the handle 50.

To fill the interior 14 of the container 12 with fuel, the assembly 10 is moved to the fill/pour condition by unscrewing the collar 36 from the threaded formation 40 on the filling neck 16 and pulling the one end 25 out of the filling neck 16, as shown in figure 5, by flexing the flexible part 28 of the spout 24.

The nozzle of a fuel pump can then be inserted into the filling neck 16 and the interior 14 filled with fuel, as shown in figure 6.

As the interior 14 is filled with fuel, the flotation member 44 will rise in the cage 46 and eventually will rise sufficiently far as to block the filling neck 16, preventing over-filling of the interior 14, as shown in figure 4. The user can observe the level of the flotation member 44 to control the filling operation.

The nozzle of the fuel pump is then withdrawn from the filling neck 16, and the collar 36 screwed back onto the threaded formation 40 of the filling neck 16, returning the assembly to the storage condition, but now containing thefluid48.

The filling hole 18 is larger than the pouring hole 22, and could be arranged so that a nozzle of a fuel pump will only fit into the filling hole 18, so that a user will not mistakenly detach the spout 24 from the pouring neck 20.

S If fuel is required to be dispensed, the assembly 10 is moved to the fill/pour condition as previously described by unscrewing the collar 36 on the threaded formation 40 on the filling neck 16 and pulling the one end 25 out of the filling neck 16. The spout 24 can be rotated relative to the pouring neck so that the spout 24 extends outwardly away from the container 12, and the one end 25 located within a fuel filler hole of, for example, a vehicle, as shown in figure 7.

When the assembly 10 is in the fill/pour condition and is relatively full of fluid 48, the flotation member 44 of the valve 42 prevents or reduces the risk of any of the fluid 48 slopping out of the filling hole 18. For example, if the container 12 is tilted so that fluid 48 moves towards the filling hole 18, the flotation member 44 will automatically rise upwardly to block the cage passage 64, preventing fluid flow there through in an outward direction.

During the filling operation, the filling hole 18 permits venting of the interior 14 as the fluid 48 drains out of the interior 14, providing a smooth flow of the fluid 48.

When the filling operation has been completed, the assembly 10 is returned to the storage condition, with the one end 25 located within the filling neck 16. In this condition, fluid communication from the spout passage 30 through the filling hole 18 and the pouring hole 22 is permitted, so that any residue of the fluid 48 in the spout passage 30 can drain back into the interior 14.

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The various components of the assembly could be of any suitable size and shape, and could be formed of any suitable material, and could be formed by any suitable process. For example, the container 11 could be a different size and shape to that shown. The arrangement of the filling hole, pouring hole and handle could be different.

The valve could be different. For example, the valve could comprise a non return flap. The flotation member could be of any suitable size and shape.

For example, the flotation member could be in the form of a disk.

The invention thus provides a portable fuel container assembly which provides storage for the spout. The spout does not have to be cleaned after 1 0 use, as any residual fluid returns to the interior of the container. This reduces or removes the mess and hazard of cleaning up inflammable liquid. The spout storage along and partially within the handle is neat and unobtrusive.

The invention includes a valve which operates automatically to prevent overflow of fuel.