US3794235A

US3794235A - Plastic safety container for inflammables

Info

Publication number: US3794235A
Application number: US00171537A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Flider
Original assignee: Justrite Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Justrite Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1970-12-14
Filing date: 1971-08-13
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26

Abstract

An all-plastic safety container has a hollow plastic wall with a continuously closed inner surface terminating at a pair of openings; one for venting and filling, and one for pouring. An integral, upstanding, thickened fin and handle combination formed on the outside surface of the container, facilitates the attachment of trigger controlled, safety cap linkage and hardware to the can, without breaking through the inner surface. Yet, the container and its handle are mechanically strong enough to withstand severe usage and to life heavy weights.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 V Flider Feb. 26, 1974 [54] PLASTIC SAFETY CONTAINER FOR 2,147,230 2/1939 Anschicks 222 474 INFLAMMABLES 1,051,273 1/1913 Sandberg et a1 p 2,670,107 2/1954 Welden 222/474 [75] Inventor: Frank S. Fllder, Ch1cago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: The Justrite Manufacturing Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Company, Chicago, Ill. Assistant Examiner-Norman L. .Stack, Jr. Filed A 13 1971 Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Alter, Weiss, Whitesel &

Laff [21] Appl. No.: 171,537

Related 0.8. Application Data 57 TR [63] gy j f g g igg 23 97313 An all-plastic safety container has a hollow plastic wall with a continuously-closed inner surface terminating at a pair of openings; one for venting and filling, and fits-3L one orp uri g n i gral, pst ndi g, ick fi 58] Fieid 509 and handle combination formed on the outside surface 470 220294 of the container, facilitates the attachment of trigger controlled, safety cap linkage and hardware to the can, without breaking through the inner surface. Yet, [56] keferencs Clted the container and itshandle are mechanically strong UNITED STATES PATENTS enoughto withstand severe usage and to life heavy 2,172,142 9 1939 ILebus 222/474 g 4 3,387,749 6/1968 'Godshalk et al... 220/94 A I I 2,792,159 5/1957 Richmond; 222 472 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Pmm uraezslsn sum 1 or 2 FIC5.2

INVE-NiT BY .FRANK S. FLI-DER ATTORNEYS This is a continuation in part of my earlier filed, copending application entitled SAFETY CONTAINER FOR INFLAMMABLES, Sen. No. 97,713, filed Dec. 14, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,727,807 and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

This invention relates to plastic safety cans or containers, especially although not exclusively to containers for inflammable fluids, and more'particularly to low-cost containers having two vents with manually controlled, spring biased caps or valves attached thereto.

Containers for inflammables usually have prescribed safety specifications which are enforced by governmental, industrial, or trade agencies. Thus, improved containers must meet or exceed specifications. Also, they must have a sales appeal which goes beyond the sales appeal of previously available safety cans or containers. The exact nature and purpose of these structures is not too important. Therefore, the terms can or container, as used hereinafter, are intended to encompass any and all uses and structures falling within the scope of the invention.

Generally, previously known containers have been made of a heavy gauge steel material, which had draw backs in that they were expensive to make, hazardous in an explosive atmosphere, and short lived in use. They tend to corrode, create hazardous sparks, and scratch the surfaces they contact. Moreover, when metal cans are bumped they sometimes leak air and thereafter sustain internal fire.

Attractive, all-plastic safety cans or containers have been developed to provide spring loaded caps which automatically open when the can or container is tipped and close when it is at rest. These plastic cans or containers answer many long felt needs, with ease and convenience. However, they also present some problems, since it' is not always desirable to open the'can every time that it is tipped. Sometimes it is desirable for the can to remain closed after it is tipped and until its pouring spout or vent is brought into contact with the tank for receiving fluids poured from thecan. Only thenshould the safety cap be opened to release the fluids. If the can is a heavy one, suchas a five gallon gasoline can, forexample, the trigger for manually controlling the pouring should not require the user to shift or loosen'his grip when he operates the trigger. Also, the trigger should be positioned foreasy and positive operation.

Accordingly,.an object of the invention is to provide plastic containers having solid and upstanding, integral handles and fins thereon, which provide anchorv points for attaching cap controlling hardware to the containers. Here, an object is to provide as many all-plastic pieceparts as possible.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spring loaded, safety valve which is linked to a handle arrangement to open only when the user moves a trigger. Here, an object is to avoida container which pours gasoline whenever it is tipped.

A further object is to provide a low-cost, explosionproof. automatically venting gasoline container.

These and other objects are accomplished by an allplastic safety container, which has a hollow plastic wall with a continuously closed inner surface terminating at a pair of openings. An integral, upstanding, thickened fin and handle combination on the outside surface of the container facilitates the attachment of trigger controlled, safety cap hardware and linkage to the container, without breaking through the inner surface. Yet, the container and its handle are mechanically strong enough to withstand severe usage and to lift heavy weights. 1

The nature of a preferred embodiment of the invention, for accomplishing these and other objects may be understood best from a study of the following description and the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation side view of an all-plastic container;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view (partly in' crosssection) of the top of a plastic safety container with a fin and plastic handle arrangement showing the hardware, linkage, cap and valve used to control the pouring of fluids;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a saddle bracket used to attach a cap control linkage to a plastic container;

FIG.-4 is a top plan view of the saddle bracket taken along line 4--4 of FIG.-3;,

FIGS.'5 and 6 are side elevation and top plan view of the plastic control trigger and linkage piecepart;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view (taken along line 77 of FIG. 2) of the container handle; and,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of an injection molded part used in conjunction with the pouring spout of the can of FIG. 1.

7 The principal elements in FIGS. 1 and 2 are an allplastic container 20, a filter screenarrangement 21, 21a, and a handle and linkage cap control arrangement 22. The container is filled and vapors are vented via an opening on the right, and fluids are poured via an opening on the left, (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.) The cap control linkage 22 is normally set to close the container except when a trigger is operated. The cap recloses when the trigger is released. The plastic container20 may be formed by any suitable means such as blow molding inside a mold cavityformed by two pieceparts with a parting line which is thickened to form an up standing fin or rib 24 and handle 25. For strength and support, fin 24 may be made integral with a pouring neck 29; or, when the embodiment of FIG. 8 is used,

an all-plastic injection molded neck part 29a may be joined to the fin by a suitable saddle-bracket, for strength and support. The handle 25 is fairly massive, in the order of an inch wide and a half-inch thick. The strength of the resulting structure is adequate to support a large, full container without distortion of the plastic. A series of holes 3!), 31 and 32 are molded into the plastic fin 24 in order to provide a means for attaching the trigger and linkage mechanism to the container without piercing the walls thereof.

The plastic at pouring neck 29 is shaped somewhat as the neck of a bottle which enables fluid or other material to be poured out of the container 20. The exterior of the neck opening 29 is threaded to receive molded piecepart 290 (FIG. 8.) which is normally closed by a spring biased safety cap and an integral valve 34 (FIG. 2). Suspended inside a second and oppositely disposed filling and venting neck 35 is filter screen 21, which strains the fluid entering the container and which provides a fire barrier. To facilitate the suspension, the neck 35 has an annular ring 36 for captur- 3 ing a circular lock ring 37 having the filter screen 21 attached thereto. A similar screen 21a strains fluids leaving the container and presents a tire barrier at th pouring neck 29a.

Positioned over the filling and pouring neck is a safety cap 38 (FIG. 2) controlled by the trigger 23 and associated linkage 40 mounted on fin 24 by a saddle bracket 42(FIGS. 3 and 4). The bracket 42 is attached to the rib 24 by means of rivets 43-46 passing through the holes -33 (FIG. 1) in tin 24 and holes 47-50 in the saddle bracket 42 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The handle 25 and the bracket 42 are located at the top of the container 20, at the center of gravity thereof.

In keeping with an aspect of the invention, means are provided for controlling the opening and closing of the openings 29, in a predetermined sequence. More particularly, the trigger 23 and linkage assembly is preferably a single injection molded piecepart (FIG. 5). This part may be described as having a somewhat sleigh-shape with a pair of elongated mounting

slots

51, 52 whichfit over the

rivets

44, 46 to permit a reciprocal sliding motion in the directions A, B. This sleighshaped part also includes a pair of spaced parallel runners 53, 54 (FIG. 6) which loosely fit on opposite sides of the saddle bracket 42 to provide horizontal stability.

A pusher wheelSS is rotably mounted on the tips of the

runners

53, 54 to provide a linkage actuation point for controlling safety cap 38, and a hole 56 on upstanding tab end 57 provides a linkage connection point for controlling the valve 34. Thus, if part 40 slides in direction A, valve 34 'and cap 38 are closed. If it slides in direction B, the valve and cap open. The integrally formed trigger 23 provides a convenient squeeze actuated part for imparting-such sliding motion.

Attached to the filling and venting cap 38 (FIG. 2), and forming a part thereof, is a pin bracket 61 connected to an L-shaped assembly 62, which, in turn is pivotally connected by the pin 63 to an elongation 65 of the neck 35. Internal vapor pressure may overcome the bias of a spring 66, to vent the can, which normally urges cap 38 to a closed position. As the internal vapor pressure falls, the spring 66 recloses the cap 38. To fill the can, a user may lift at 67 to raise the cap 38 far enough to insert the nozzle of a hose.

When trigger 23 is pulled and the pusher wheel 55 moves in direction B, it encounters the end of L-shaped bracket assembly 62 which pivots and rotates to lift or pull pin bracket 61', with a force sufficient to open the cap 38 against the bias of the spring 66. When the trigger 23 is released, the reverse action takes place. The part 40 slides to the left,,in direction A, and spring .66 closes the cap 38.

At the opposite end of the part 40, the connecting point 56 is positioned opposite a hole 70 (FIG. 7) in handle 25. Pivotally connected at 56, and extending through hole 70 is an arm 71 which is connected to a bracket 72.

As shown inFlGS. 2 and 8, the pouring spout comprises two

distinct parts

29, 29a. The cylindrical portion 29, terminates in threads, and may be an integral part of body 20. The part 29a.may be made of any suitable material, but an injection molding is preferred. A valve body swivel ring 73 turns onto the neck threads of part 29 and fits over a lock ring 74 which is integral with the valve body 29a. An O-ring seal 75 prevents leakageat the coupling point between rings 73, 74.

The injection'molded portion 29a (FIG. 8) includes an integral bracket 76 which may have externally molded trusses (two of which are marked 77).for giving further strength. Theintegral bracket 76 abuts against the end of fin 24 on the blow molded container 20 and is joined thereto by the saddle bracket 42, side plates 78, 79(FIG. 4) and fastener 81 fitting through

apertures

82, 83. The valve body 29a may include a flange section 83 for connecting an outlet hose (not shown) thereto or for permitting fluid to flow therefrom.

In greater detail, bracket 76 (FIG. 2).supports pin 84 which pivotally attaches an L-shaped bracket 86 to the pouring vent or valve body 29a. The cap control linkage comprises a sliding bar 71 passing through slot in handle 25. The bar 71 is pivotally attached at 87 to an integral lug 72. Spring 88 normally forces the bar 71 to slide in the direction A to a valve closed position.

The coil spring 88 and valve 34, with valve stem 89 attached thereto by a swivel joint at 90, are positioned inside the pouring vent or valve body 29a. The upper end of the pouring vent or valve body 29a is closed and sealed by a cap 91 and a gasket 92. The cap 91 may be threaded to mate with threads on the outside of the cyl- I inder part of body 290. Alternatively, the cap 91 may be attached by any other well-known means; The valve stem 89 projects through a hole in the cap 91 and en-' gages a nut and washers combination 93. A second spring 95 keeps the swivel joint in a tightstate to preclude a feel of looseness. .After assembly 93, the top of the stem 89 is swaged to make a complete'subassembly.

Mounted on the integral bracket 76 is an L-shaped bracket 86', which has fork-shaped tines that fit under the nut and washer assembly 93 to control the valve 34. Normally, the spring 88 presses the valve 34 downwardly to seal the container 20. This pressure pulls the bar 71 to the left and moves the unit 50 in direction A.

A particularly attractive feature of the invention is that the trigger 23 is positioned to be operated by the users finger tips, in a squeeze motion. Thus, the user may pick up the container by holdingthe handle 25. After a comfortable grip is secured, the container is lifted and the container is tipped toa pouring position, the user squeezes his hand to move trigger 23 and open the two vents. When bar 71 moves, the nut and washer 93 are lifted by the tines on the L-bracket 86, spring 88 is compressed, valve 34 opens, and fluid may be poured from the container through the opening 83. This is done without having to shift the grip on the container.

The trigger controlled linkage 50 operates the two vents in a pre-determined sequence. More particularly, the righthand (as viewed in FIG. 2) end-55 of the linkage 50 is positioned to bear against a control lever of L-bracket 62, which lifts the safety cap 38. The lefthand end of the same-linkage 50 lifts the valve stem 89 for raising and lowering the internal valve 34, to enable or prevent the flow of fluids from the container 20 and through the opening 83. The proportions of linkage 50, and the various brackets and actuating arms, are such that the cap 38 opens first to vent the container; then,

models. The plastic has greater strength, is more resistant to dents, and is cooler handling. The method of hardware attachment to the fin makes a good, strong, and durable connection without piercing the wall of the container. The metal hardware parts may be dip-coated with plastic to preclude exposure of bare metal surfaces which may corrode, rust, or generate sparks.

While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific embodiments, apparatus, and applications, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures.

l claim:

l. A safety container comprising an all plastic wall having a continuously closed inner surface except for a pair of longitudinally displaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein,

a handle and fin combination integrally formed between said tubes and upstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall,

cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings,

a trigger controlled sliding linkage means attached to said fin without breaking through said inner surface for selecti-vely controlling the cover means for opening and closing said openings, and

said sliding linkage means comprising a plastic piece part having a pairof spaced parallel linkage arms with each linkage arm-fitting against opposite sides of said fin and attached to said fin by elongated mounting slots fitting over the ends of rivets passing through said fin.

2. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the cover means at one of said openings is closed by a pivoted cap and the cover means at the other of said openings is closed by a spring-biased valve, and said sliding linkage has proportions which open and close said cover means at said two openings in a predetermined sequence.

3. A safety container comprising an all-plastic wall having a continuously closed inner surface except for a pair oflongitudinally displaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein,

cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings,

said cover means at one of said openings comprising a pivoted cap,

the cover means at the other of said openings comprisinga spring biased valve,

a trigger controlled sliding linkage means attached to said fin without breaking through said inner surface for selectively controlling the cover means for opening and closing said openings,

said sliding linkage means dimensioned to open and close said cover means at said two openings in a pre-determined sequence, and

said sliding linkage means comprising a plastic piece part having a pair of spaced parallel linkage arms with each linkage arm fitting against opposite sides of said fin and attached to said fin by elongated mounting slots fitting over the ends of rivets passing through said fin.

4; The container of claim 3 wherein one end of said linkage arms operates'a closure means over one of said openings before the other end of said linkage arms operates a closure means over the other of said openings. 1 5. The container of claim 4 wherein said arms have an upstanding trigger thereon positioned in relation to said handle so that said linkage arms may he slid without requiring the user to shift or loosen his grip on the handle.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said trigger is positioned to be operated by a squeeze of a hand holding the handle.

7. A safety.containercomprising an all-plastic wall having a continuously closed inner surface except for a pairof longitudinally displaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein,

a handle and fin combinationintegrally formed between said tubes and upstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall,

cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings,

one of said cover means comprising a cap lifted by an L-shaped bracket pivotally connected to said container,

the'other of said cover means comprising a spring biased valve enclosed within a valve body,

said sliding linkage means comprising a piece part having a pair of spaced, parallel linkage arms with said arms fitting against opposite sides of said fin, one end of said sliding linkage being positioned to engage said L-shaped bracket and the other end of said sliding linkage being positioned to control said valve, said linkage having a length whereby said one endoperates said L-shaped bracket to lift the cap over one of the said openings before the other end of said linkage operates said valve, and i said sliding linkage further including an upstanding integral trigger positioned in said handle'to slide said linkage along said arms. 8. The container of claim 7 wherein said piece part is all plastic.

Claims

1. A safety container comprising an all plastic wall having a continuously closed inner surface except for a pair of longitudinally Displaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein, a handle and fin combination integrally formed between said tubes and upstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall, cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings, a trigger controlled sliding linkage means attached to said fin without breaking through said inner surface for selecti-vely controlling the cover means for opening and closing said openings, and said sliding linkage means comprising a plastic piece part having a pair of spaced parallel linkage arms with each linkage arm fitting against opposite sides of said fin and attached to said fin by elongated mounting slots fitting over the ends of rivets passing through said fin.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the cover means at one of said openings is closed by a pivoted cap and the cover means at the other of said openings is closed by a spring-biased valve, and said sliding linkage has proportions which open and close said cover means at said two openings in a predetermined sequence.

3. A safety container comprising an all-plastic wall having a continuously closed inner surface except for a pair of longitudinally displaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein, a handle and fin combination integrally formed between said tubes and upstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall, cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings, said cover means at one of said openings comprising a pivoted cap, the cover means at the other of said openings comprising a spring biased valve, a trigger controlled sliding linkage means attached to said fin without breaking through said inner surface for selectively controlling the cover means for opening and closing said openings, said sliding linkage means dimensioned to open and close said cover means at said two openings in a pre-determined sequence, and said sliding linkage means comprising a plastic piece part having a pair of spaced parallel linkage arms with each linkage arm fitting against opposite sides of said fin and attached to said fin by elongated mounting slots fitting over the ends of rivets passing through said fin.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein one end of said linkage arms operates a closure means over one of said openings before the other end of said linkage arms operates a closure means over the other of said openings.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said arms have an upstanding trigger thereon positioned in relation to said handle so that said linkage arms may be slid without requiring the user to shift or loosen his grip on the handle.

7. A safety container comprising an all-plastic wall having a continuously closed inner surface except for a pair of longitudinally displaced upstanding cylindrical tubes with openings therein, a handle and fin combination integrally formed between said tubes and upstanding upon the top outer surface of said wall, cover means over the tubes for closing each of said openings, one of said cover means comprising a cap lifted by an L-shaped bracket pivotally connected to said container, the other of said cover means comprising a spring biased valve enclosed within a valve body, said sliding linkage means comprising a piece part having a pair of spaced, parallel linkage arms with said arms fitting against opposite sides of said fin, one end of said sliding linkage being positioned to engage said L-shaped bracket and the other end of said sliding linkage being positioned to control said valve, said linkage having a length whereby said one end operates said L-shaped bracket to lift the cap over one of the said openings before the other end of said linkage operates said valve, and said sliding linkage further including an upstanding integral trigger positioned in said handle to slide said linkagE along said arms.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein said piece part is all plastic.