Safety gasoline container

• US 5,564,608 A
• Filed: 05/03/1995
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safe-T-Way
• Original Assignee: Safe-T-Way
• Inventors: Cooper, Clinton T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US08/434,189
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 222/470-474, 222/484, 222/529, 222/543, 222/505, 222/511, 222/518, 222/397, 222/192, 220/203.01, 220/203.1, 220/203.23, 220/203.27, 220/203.29, 220/260, 220/284, 220/303, 220/88.2, 220/89.1
• US Class Current: 222/470
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/385 with means for preventing inflammation or explosion during discharging of inflammable or explosive substances from containers, e.g. from petroleum cans

Abstract

A transportable safety gasoline container suitable for use in the workplace. The gasoline container has safety features that include, an automatically venting pour spout, a protective skirt on top of the gasoline container to prevent damage to valves and fittings, and a pressure relief cap which satisfies the various regulations associated with using gasoline containers in the workplace as well as for the transportation of such gasoline containers.

Claims

1. A safety gasoline container, comprising:

a container having an interior and a top outer surface with a periphery;

a carrying handle mounted on said top surface of said container;

a pour spout assembly mounted on said top outer surface of said gasoline container, comprising;

a pour spout having both a threaded gasoline discharge port and an air inlet passage communicating with said interior of said container;

a flexible nozzle having one end threaded to engage with said threaded gasoline discharge port;

a pull handle;

a plunger stem having an inner end, an outer end, and a longitudinal axis, said outer end being connected to said pull handle, said plunger stem having a notch centrally disposed along said longitudinal axis and said notch capable of communicating with said air inlet passage and the outside atmosphere in an open operating position upon actuation of said pull handle;

a seat gasket being securably attached to said inner end of said plunger stem;

an inner plunger spring surrounding said plunger stem at said inner end along said longitudinal axis to force said seat gasket to seal said gasoline discharge port, said seat gasket being unseated from said gasoline discharge port upon actuation of said pull handle to discharge gasoline;

an outer plunger spring surrounding said plunger stem at said outer end along said longitudinal axis;

a skirt integrally engaged to said periphery of said outer top surface of said container and extending to a point above said pour spout assembly, said skirt having a plurality of drainholes proximate to said periphery of said outer top surface and a throughhole for said flexible nozzle; and

a pressure relief cap, comprising;

a cap body having a top section, a lower cylindrical section, and a bottom, said top section being formed from a flat plate having a central throughhole and a grip flange along its edge, said grip flange having at least one pair of parallel sides, said lower cylindrical section being partially threaded and integrally joined with said flat plate, said lower cylindrical section curving inward and upward from said bottom of said cap body to form a circular inner lip;

a circular inner spring retainer having throughholes and being disposed against said bottom of said cap body;

a circular outer spring retainer;

a spring disposed between said circular inner and outer spring retainers;

a circular gasket being in contact with said circular inner lip of said cap body;

a circular gasket cap disposed against said circular gasket and fastened to said spring and said inner and outer spring retainers by a post whereby the action of said spring urges said circular gasket against said circular inner lip of said cap body to form an airtight seal.

2. A safety gasoline container as recited in claim 1, wherein said container and said skirt are generally cylindrical in shape.

3. A safety gasoline container as recited in claim 1, wherein said container and said skirt are generally rectangular in shape.

4. A safety gasoline container as recited in claim 1, wherein said pressure relief cap further comprises a flexible chain for securing said pressure relief cap to said top outer surface of said container.

5. A safety gasoline container as recited in claim 1, further comprising a wrench for removing or tightening said pressure relief cap, a flexible chain for securing said wrench to said top outer surface of said container, and a wrench retaining clip mounted on said skirt for storing said wrench.