Plastic tank having a clamped joint
First Claim
1. An injection molded plastic tank having an interior for containing fluids comprising:
- (a) a first injection molded plastic half tank comprising a concave wall having an edge with a first flange running therealong;
(b) a second injection molded plastic half tank having a concave wall and comprising an edge with a second flange running therealong;
each flange havinga first surface for mating with the flange of the other half tank;
a second surface spaced apart from the first surface by the thickness of the flange; and
,a multiplicity of nubs spaced apart along said second surface, each nub having a free end spaced apart from said second surface;
wherein the flanges of the half tanks are mated to each other and the mated half tanks thereby define said tank interior and wherein said multiplicity of nubs on each of the mated flanges form a plurality of mated nub pairs; and
,(c) a multiplicity of clamps, each clamp having(i) a C-shape cross section body having an interior concavity extending along a length axis thereof;
(ii) opposing side grooves running lengthwise within the interior concavity of the C-shape cross section body, each groove having a groove bottom, and(iii) a first inwardly flared portion running between said grooves and transverse to the length of the clamp at one lengthwise end of the clamp for enabling lengthwise engagement of said clamp with a mated nub pair;
wherein each clamp is twistable lengthwise in a plane parallel to said flange first surface when the clamp is partially engaged with a mated nub pair; and
wherein each clamp is engaged with a mated nub pair, thereby holding fixedly to each other said half tank flanges.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An injection molded plastic tank for containing liquids, such as a septic tank, is comprised of mated half tanks which are clamped together at mating flanges. A clamp having a C-shape interior concavity has grooves which engage aligned pairs of nubs on the flange surfaces which are spaced apart from the joint surfaces of each flange. A clamp has one or more flared portions at the clamp leading edge end, leading to the grooves or to the inner concavity, to make easier installation of the clamp. When a clamp reaches its home position, the clamp is locked in place against further motion in one or both directions by interacting features on the tank and clamp.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An injection molded plastic tank having an interior for containing fluids comprising:
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(a) a first injection molded plastic half tank comprising a concave wall having an edge with a first flange running therealong; (b) a second injection molded plastic half tank having a concave wall and comprising an edge with a second flange running therealong; each flange having a first surface for mating with the flange of the other half tank; a second surface spaced apart from the first surface by the thickness of the flange; and
,a multiplicity of nubs spaced apart along said second surface, each nub having a free end spaced apart from said second surface; wherein the flanges of the half tanks are mated to each other and the mated half tanks thereby define said tank interior and wherein said multiplicity of nubs on each of the mated flanges form a plurality of mated nub pairs; and
,(c) a multiplicity of clamps, each clamp having (i) a C-shape cross section body having an interior concavity extending along a length axis thereof; (ii) opposing side grooves running lengthwise within the interior concavity of the C-shape cross section body, each groove having a groove bottom, and (iii) a first inwardly flared portion running between said grooves and transverse to the length of the clamp at one lengthwise end of the clamp for enabling lengthwise engagement of said clamp with a mated nub pair; wherein each clamp is twistable lengthwise in a plane parallel to said flange first surface when the clamp is partially engaged with a mated nub pair; and
wherein each clamp is engaged with a mated nub pair, thereby holding fixedly to each other said half tank flanges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A kit for assembling a molded plastic tank having an interior for containing fluids comprising:
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(a) a first molded plastic half tank comprising a concave wall having an edge, with a first flange running therealong; (b) a second molded plastic half tank having a concave wall comprising an edge, with a second flange running therealong; each flange having a first surface, for mating with the flange of the other half tank; a second surface spaced apart from the first surface by the thickness of the flange; and
,a multiplicity of nubs spaced apart along said second surface, each nub having a free end spaced apart from said second surface; wherein, when during use the flanges of said half tanks are mated to each other at said flange first surfaces, the mated half tanks define said plastic tank interior and the pluralities of nubs on said mated flanges form a plurality of mated nub pairs; and
,(c) a multiplicity of clamps, each clamp having (i) a C-shape cross section body having an interior concavity extending along a length axis thereof; (ii) opposing side grooves running lengthwise within the interior concavity of the C-shape cross section body each groove shaped to engage a nub on a flange; and
,(iii) at least one inwardly flared portion running between said grooves and transverse to the length of the clamp into said clamp interior concavity at one lengthwise end of the clamp, for enabling twistable lengthwise engagement of said clamp with a mated nub pair. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An injection molded plastic tank having an interior for containing fluids comprising:
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(a) a first injection molded plastic half tank comprising a concave wall having an edge with a first flange running therealong; (b) a second injection molded plastic half tank having a concave wall and comprising an edge with a second flange running therealong; each flange having a first surface for mating with the flange of the other half tank; a second surface spaced apart from the first surface by the thickness of the flange; and
,a multiplicity of nubs spaced apart along said second surface, each nub having a free end spaced apart from said second surface; wherein the flanges of the half tanks are mated to each other and the mated half tanks thereby define said tank interior and wherein said multiplicity of nubs on each of the mated flanges form a plurality of mated nub pairs which have nub free ends which are parallel to each other; and
,(c) a multiplicity of clamps, each clamp having (i) a C-shape cross section body having an interior concavity extending along a length axis thereof; (ii) opposing side grooves running lengthwise within the interior concavity of the C-shape cross section body and having bottoms which are parallel to each other; and
,(iii) an inwardly flared portion running from the end of the clamp and having an angle of inclination that extends to the bottom of at least one side groove; wherein each clamp is engaged with a mated nub pair, thereby holding fixedly to each other said half tank flanges. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification