WO1998012120A1

WO1998012120A1 - Arrangements in cans

Info

Publication number: WO1998012120A1
Application number: PCT/NO1997/000253
Authority: WO
Inventors: Einar ASBJØRNSEN
Original assignee: Asbjoernsen Einar
Priority date: 1996-09-23
Filing date: 1997-09-17
Publication date: 1998-03-26
Also published as: AU4475097A; EP0932555A1; NO963980L; NO963980D0; NO305472B1

Abstract

A can (10) has a cup-shaped closure hood (20), e.g. in the form of an internally threaded screw cup to be screwed on or unscrewed from, respectively, an externally threaded socket (18) formed at an upper portion (16) of the can (10), defining the filler opening. In the can (10), is desired e.g. a lubricating-oil-gasoline-mixture, according to percentage corresponding to e.g. 2 or 4 % lubricating oil to the gasoline, suitable for a two-stroke internal combustion engine. In order to be spared from calculating the lubricating oil volume corresponding to 2 and/or 4 % of the gasoline volume upon almost full can (10) and, likewise, to be spared from bringing with one a separate meauring cup, the closure hood (20) is shaped, designed and dimensioned as a measuring cup.

Description

ARRANGEMENTS IN CANS

The invention relates to especially a gasoline can having a preferably cup-shaped closure hood, e.g. a hood having internal threads to be screwed onto or unscrewed from, respectively, an externally threaded pipe socket formed in the gasoline can's upper portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, the can may, additionally to the closure hood, be assigned a decanting pipe. Closure hood and decanting pipe may be sealingly interconnected in a manner further indicated in the following.

As known, for lubrication purposes, two-stroke internal combustion engines require supply of lubricating oil together with the fuel-air-mixture.

It has been usual to use e.g. 2 or 4% lubricating oil admixed into the gasoline. Earlier, special gasoline pumps existed delivering a finish mixture containing gasoline and lubricating oil in the prescribed amount. However, such pumps are no longer available.

Therefore, one has to purchase the lubricating oil e.g. in one litre cans and, then, calculate the necessary amount of lubricating oil corresponding to e.g. 2 or 4% lubricating oil addition to a gasoline volume of e.g. 10 or 5 litres, and to use a measuring glass in order to measure the volume of lubricating oil corresponding to e.g. 2% lubricating oil admixture to the gasoline. Not each and all control the art of percentage calculation, and it is easy to forget the measuring glass. This can result in addition of lubricating oil to the gasoline in the can at random. However, the lubrication conditions and related conditions, e.g. fouling conditions in the cylindres of the two-stroke internal combustion engines, etc., are deteriorated upon the addition of an unaccurate volume of lubricating oil to the gasoline.

Therefore, according to the invention, one has aimed at eliminating the aforesaid deficiencies and disadvantages of prior art technique and, thus, to provide a gasoline can of the kind defined introductorily, where favourable conditions are offered for simple and rapid measurement of the amount of lubricating oil in percentage, e.g. in volume%, required by a certain two-stroke internal combustion engine, without having to calculate the volume of lubricating oil and without having to remember to bring with one a measuring glass.

According to a first aspect in accordance with the invention, said object is realized by means of a gasoline can having a closure hood, shaped and designed as defined in the introduction, as well as exhibiting the special features appearing from the characterizing clause of claim l.

According to the invention, the cup-shaped closure hood of the invention is shaped and designed as a measuring glass.

According to a second aspect, the decanting pipe may be shaped and designed as a measuring glass/cup.

In one embodiment, full hood/measuring cup may correspond to 2% or to 4%, respectively, lubricating oil addition, and the hood may be marked correspondingly, e.g. by the inscription "2%" or ^H4%" , respectively, at a mark adjacent the upper edge when the closure hood is orientated upside down, i.e. as a measuring cup.

In another, more versatile embodiment, the cup-shaped hood may have at least one intermediate mark between the bottom and the upper edge, in order to indicate "half measuring cup" corresponding to 2% lubricating oil addition to a full gasoline can, 4% lubricating oil admixture to a full gasoline can corresponding to a closure hood-measuring cup completely filled with lubricating oil.

In an advantageous modification of the last-mentioned embodiment, the closure hood may have a graduated diameter, its lower portion, when used as a measuring cup, having a smaller diameter than an overlying portion. Then, a completely filled narrow end portion may correspond to 2% lubricating oil addition to a full gasoline can, while a full closure hood/- measuring cup corresponds to 4% lubricating oil admixture to a full gasoline can. With such a "graduated" closure hood/- measuring cup, the filling to half measuring cup (for 2% lubricating oil addition) is facilitated by means of the well visible annular transition portion forming an upper limit for the filling of the narrow measuring cup portion.

When the decanting pipe is shaped, designed and dimensioned as a suitable measuring cup for the measurement of a prescribed amount of lubricating oil, the decanting pipe may be graduated from a closable end which is openable when the decanting pipe has to be used for its real purpose.

The decanting pipe's closable end portion may be connected to the annular part of the cup-shaped closure hood, the lateral, substantially disc-shaped end piece of the closure hood being disposed screwable/unscrewable in relation to the annular part. The substantially disc-shaped end piece of the cup- shaped hood may have axially directed flutes, grooves, ripples, ribs, ledges, projections or the like, in order to facilitate the screwing operations. It is only when the decanting pipe is to be used for its real purpose, coupled to the upright socket of the can, that the end piece of the cup- shaped closure hood is screwed off and temporarily removed from the annular part thereof.

Two examplary embodiments of the invention are further explained in the following, reference being made to accompanying drawings, in which figures 1 - 3 show a first embodiment and figures 4 - 6 a second embodiment, and wherein:

Figure 1 shows a can having a cup-shaped closure hood in a position screwed onto a somewhat inclined, upright, externally threaded socket formed at the upper portion of the gasoline can, as seen in perspective view, obliquely from above;

Figure 2 shows the same can, but here the internally threaded, cup-shaped closure hood, unscrewed and turned upside down, orientated for its use as a measuring cup, as seen in a perspective view, obliquely from above, as in figure 1;

Figure 3 shows can and cup-shaped closure hood/measuring cup taking the same positions as in figure 2, but here seen in a different perspective view, from above, almost straight down towards can and hood/measuring cup;

Figure 4 shows the same can as in the embodiment of figures 1 - 3, but here a divided, screwed together cup- shaped closure hood carries a decanting pipe occupying an inoperative position where it takes a slopingly downwards directed position within the gasoline can;

Figure 5 shows can with decanting pipe according to figure 4, but here the closure hood with the decanting pipe in the form of an internally tight unit is shaped. dimensioned and graduated as a measuring cup;

Figure 6 shows the same embodiment as figures 4 and 5, but here one end portion of the decanting pipe is connected to the can's slopingly upwards directed connecting socket and sealingly interconnected thereto by means of the annular, internally threaded part of the closure hood, from where the disc-shaped end piece thereof is unscrewed and temporarily removed for as long as liquid is being decanted through the decanting pipe.

In the various embodiments, identical reference numerals generally denote the same parts; this does not apply to the closure hood which has a different shape and design in figure 1 - 3 where it serves as a lubricating oil measuring cup, than in figures 4 - 6 where the decanting pipe serves as a lubricating oil measuring cup, and where the closure hood is divided.

First, reference is made to the embodiment according to figures 1 - 3.

The gasoline can 10 has an ordinary design with a handle 12 and strengthening pressed in portions 14 in the side walls. The upper wall of the can has an inclined portion 16, in which it has been formed a somewhat slopingly upwardly directed, externally threaded socket 18 forming the filler opening for gasoline and lubricating oil, said opening being closed and possibly released by screwing on or unscrewing, respectively, an internally threaded closure hood or screw cap 20.

When the can 10 is filled with gasoline, e.g. 10 litres, there will still be space therein to accommodate the lubricating oil which is admixed in a percentage of the gasoline content amounting to 2 or 4%. In the can shown, 10 litres of gasoline may e.g. fill the can to a level scarcely filling the lowermost portion of the socket 18, or corresponding to an internal mark, not shown. An empty can 10 does not involve any problem. Then, one fills exactly 10 litres gasoline from a petrol pump, the can being dimensioned ssuch that the internal volume thereof thereafter gives plentiful space for the added amount of lubricating oil that corresponds to 4 volume% of 10 litres.

In order to avoid calculating the required amount of lubricating oil for admixture to the gasoline filling the can almost completely, the internally threaded closure hood 20 is, according to the invention, shaped, designed and dimensioned as a measuring cup.

The closure hood is shown orientated upside down for use as a measuring cup in figures 2 and 3.

In the examplary embodiment shown, the multipurpose hood (closure hood/measuring cup) 20 has a special, stepped design making it useful for both 2 volume% addition of lubricating oil and 4 volume% addition of lubricating oil to an almost full gasoline can.

The shown closure hood/measuring cup 20 comprises a lower, narrow measuring cup part 20' and an upper, wider measuring cup part 20". The internal, annular shoulder 20''' is easily visible upon the filling of lubricating oil when only the lower measuring cup part 20' has to be filled, corresponding to a 2 volume% lubricating oil admixture into a can almost filled with gasoline. Then, a full closure hood/measuring cup 20 will correspond to a 4 volume% lubricating oil admixture into an almost full can.

The stepped design of the closure hood/measuring cup 20 is not critical for the functioning of the invention. Gasoline cans may be produced where the inner walls of the closure hood extend cylindrically or conically without an internal transition part. Such simple hoods may be shaped, designed and/or dimensioned for 2 % lubricating oil addition or 4 % lubricating oil addition, respectively, corresponding to a full measuring cup or, the hood/measuring cup may be provided with an internal graduation for any desired addition of lubricating oil.

Now, reference is made to figures 4 - 6, showing another embodiment of the invention. Parts and portions of the can already described in connection with figures 1 - 3 and having the same shape, design and functional tasks in the embodiment of figures 4 - 6 as in figures 1 - 3, are - in order to avoid repetitions - not mentioned again in association with figures 4 - 6.

The embodiment according to figures 4 - 6 distinguishes itself over the embodiment shown in figures 1 - 3 in that it comprises a closure-hood-decanting-pipe-device 22. This combined device 22 comprises a tubular decanting pipe 22' provided with graduations as counted from the end piece 22^,,• of the closure hood 22,22", the end piece forming the decanting pipe-measuring cup's bottom according to figure 5.

The hidden end portion of the decanting pipe 22 • is lowermost attached to the inner wall of the annular part 22" of the closure hood.

The annular part 22" of the closure hood is separable from the end piece 22' '• which upon screwing/unscrewing possibility should have a short annular portion exhibiting external threads to be screwed into the internal threads of the annular part 22", figure 6, where the decanting pipe is open at both ends in the primary functional position thereof.

In figure 4, the closure hood 22",22''' occupies its operative position and keeps the decanting pipe 22 ' in a slopingly downwards projecting, inoperative position within the can. Due to the smaller internal diameter and the larger axial length of the decanting pipe 22 ' as compared to the closure hood/measuring cup 20 according to figures 1 - 3, a larger number of marks can be placed along the tubular decanting pipe 22' spaced easily visible and, thus, more accurate than what is possible on the relatively wide, low closure hood when the same is used as a measuring cup (figures l -3) .

Otherwise, the two embodiments are equal and based on the common idea to design a component (closure hood/decanting pipe) which originally is having a useful function especially in a gasoline can, as an accurate measuring cup for lubricating oil as an admixture for petrol for two-stroke internal combustion engines.

It will be appreciated that a similar can also can be used upon the mixing of other liquids, e.g. when diluting agents for the protection of plants in water prior to spraying.

Claims

m

1. A can (10) having a cup-shaped closure hood (20), e.g. in the form of an internally threaded screw cup for screwing on or unscrewing from, respectively, an externally threaded socket (18) formed at the upper portion (16) of the can (10) , defining the filler/drain off opening, e.g. a lubricating- oil-gasoline-mixture being desired within the can (10) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the closure hood (20) is shaped, designed and dimensioned as a measuring cup.

2. A can (10) as set forth in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the closure hood (20) has a part (20') constituting a lower part in its orientation as a measuring cup, said lower part (20') having a smaller diameter than the remaining part (20") of the closure hood/measuring cup (20) ahead to the opening, so that an annular transition part (20^,,,) emerges, internally visible in the hood/measuring cup, and that the lower measuring cup part (20') and said remaining part (20") substantially containing the same volume, so that a full measuring cup (20) will contain a substantially double as large volume as the relatively narrow lower measuring cup part (20').

3. A can (10) as set forth in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the closure hood/measuring cup (20) internally and/or externally is provided with marks.

4. A can (10) having a closure hood (22",22''^»), e.g. in the form of an internally threaded screw cup for screwing on or unscrewing from, respectively, an externally threaded socket (18) formed at the upper portion (16) of the can (10) , and wherein the can (10) is assigned a loose decanting pipe (22') sealingly connectable to said socket (18), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the tubular decanting pipe (22') is shaped, designed and dimensioned as a measuring cup.

5. A can as set forth in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the tubular body of the decanting pipe (22'), externally/internally, is provided with marks indicating the volume as counted from the closed end of the decanting pipe/- measuring cup (22^,,22''').

6. A can as set forth in claims 4 and 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the preferably tubular decanting pipe body (22'), at the closable end thereof, is connected to the annular part (22") of a cup-shaped closure hood (22",22'''), separably interconnected, e.g. through cooperating threads.