GB2105674A - Containers having hand- gripping means - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (10) for liquids has a cylindrical body and is integrally formed of plastics material, an outlet (11) being provided in an arcuate recess (12) in an upper end wall (10A) and the top of a closure (8) for the outlet (11), when fitted, being flush with the upper end wall (10A). Arcuate passages (13) for hand-gripping open out at one end in the upper end wall (10A) and at the other end in the side wall (10B) adjacent to the junction therebetween. Complementary raised and recessed portions (16, 19) are provided in the upper and lower end walls (10A, 10C) respectively for use in stacking a plurality of similar containers, whilst rebate 21 assists stacking with different containers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Containers for liquids This invention relates to containers for holding and transporting liquids, particularly but not exclusively, corrosive liquids, such as acids or other chemicals. Such containers are of the type having an uprightly oriented closed cylindrical body of circular or quasi-circular horizontal section, and having an inlet/outlet in its top or upper end wall closable in liquid-tight fitment by a removable and replaceable closure. Hand-gripping facilities are provided at the top of the container to enable the container to be carried, particulary when full or partially full of liquid, and to be tipped for emptying purposes.Such facilities are normally three in number with one being located substantially diametrically opposite to the inlet/outlet for use in tipping, and the other two being located at opposite locations of a diameter at right angles to the first diameter for use in enabling the container to be carried. Hereinafter in the specification and claims, such a container will be referred to as a "container of the type stated".

Heretofore, the facilities have been provided in the form of apertures in a flange upstanding from around the top of the container, and the lower end of the container is such as to enable it to be stacked in the flange of a like container beneath it.

According to the present invention, a container of the type stated has its inlet/outlet provided in a recess at the periphery of the upper end wall, the top of the closure, when fitted thereto, being flush with the upper end wall, and the hand-gripping facilities being formed of arcuate passages opening out in the upper end wall and in the side wall of the body adjacent to the junction therebetween.

Preferably, a raised part-annular band stands proud of the upper end wall, concentric with the periphery thereof, the opening of the band being located adjacent to the recess.

Preferably also, an annular channel is provided in the lower end wall of the container for complementarily fitting over the band of a like container beneath it.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of a container according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container; Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the container; and Fig. 4 is a side view of an axial cross-section of a columnar stack of like and unlike containers.

Referring to the drawings, a container 10 of the type aforesaid is integrally formed of plastics material, for example polyethylene, and has its inlet/outlet 11 provided in an arcuate recess 12 bounded by the periphery of the upper end wall 1 OA. The hand-gripped facilities are formed by arcuate passages 13 opening out at one end in the upper end wall 1 OA and at the other end in the side wall lOB of the body adjacent to the junction therebetween. Each passage 1 3 formed between the two openings serves as a handle 14. The top of the passages 13 are flush with the upper end wall 1 OA, and the top of the closure, for example a cap 8 (shown in broken lines in Fig. 2), when fitted to the inlet/outlet 11, is flush with the upper end wall 10A.

A raised part-annular band 16 stands proud of the upper end wall 1 OA and is located centrally of the recess 12 and openings in the upper end wall 1 OA and concentric with the periphery of the upper end wall 1 OA, the opening of the band 1 6 is aligned with and adjacent to the recess 12. The central portion 1 OA' of the upper and wall 1 OA defined by and internally of said band 16 is sloped (as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2) towards the recess 12 to assist in the 'run-off' of rain water from the upper end wall 1 OA. The upright walls of the band 16 and the recess 12 are all sloped to assist in rain water 'run-bff'. The inlet/outlet is formed by a neck or nozzle 1 7 upstanding from a shoulder 18 proud of the bottom of the recess 1 2.

The neck 1 7 has an external screw-thread engagable by an internal screw-thread on the closure. The lower end wall 1 OC of the container has an inverted annual channel 19 (fig. 3) for complementarily fitting over the band 1 6 of a like container 10 beneath it. To enable the container to be interstacked, as shown in Fig. 4, in columnar formation with unlike containers 20, the corner junction between the side wall 1 OA and lower end wall 1 OC is rebated as shown in 21.

While containers above-described can have any required capacity, the desired capacity is for holding 50-60 litres and they are used in a similar manner to containers known heretofore.

Containers above-described are advantages over such known containers in that they are interstackable with like and unlike containers, the hand-gripping facilities are easier on the grippers' hands, and the upper end wall is contoured to assist in the easy 'run-off' of rain water or other fluid therefrom.

1. A container of the type stated having its inlet/outlet provided in a recess at the periphery of the upper end wall, the top of the closure, when fitted thereto, being flush with the upper end wall, and the hand-gripping facilities being formed of arcuate passages opening out in the upper end wall and in the side wall of the body adjacent to the junction therebetween.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein a raised part-annular band stands proud of the upper end wall, concentric with the periphery thereof, the opening of the band being located adjacent to the recess.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, wherein an annular channel is provided in the lower end wall of the container for complementarily fitting

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Containers for liquids This invention relates to containers for holding and transporting liquids, particularly but not exclusively, corrosive liquids, such as acids or other chemicals. Such containers are of the type having an uprightly oriented closed cylindrical body of circular or quasi-circular horizontal section, and having an inlet/outlet in its top or upper end wall closable in liquid-tight fitment by a removable and replaceable closure. Hand-gripping facilities are provided at the top of the container to enable the container to be carried, particulary when full or partially full of liquid, and to be tipped for emptying purposes.Such facilities are normally three in number with one being located substantially diametrically opposite to the inlet/outlet for use in tipping, and the other two being located at opposite locations of a diameter at right angles to the first diameter for use in enabling the container to be carried. Hereinafter in the specification and claims, such a container will be referred to as a "container of the type stated". Heretofore, the facilities have been provided in the form of apertures in a flange upstanding from around the top of the container, and the lower end of the container is such as to enable it to be stacked in the flange of a like container beneath it. According to the present invention, a container of the type stated has its inlet/outlet provided in a recess at the periphery of the upper end wall, the top of the closure, when fitted thereto, being flush with the upper end wall, and the hand-gripping facilities being formed of arcuate passages opening out in the upper end wall and in the side wall of the body adjacent to the junction therebetween. Preferably, a raised part-annular band stands proud of the upper end wall, concentric with the periphery thereof, the opening of the band being located adjacent to the recess. Preferably also, an annular channel is provided in the lower end wall of the container for complementarily fitting over the band of a like container beneath it. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side view of a container according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container; Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the container; and Fig. 4 is a side view of an axial cross-section of a columnar stack of like and unlike containers. Referring to the drawings, a container 10 of the type aforesaid is integrally formed of plastics material, for example polyethylene, and has its inlet/outlet 11 provided in an arcuate recess 12 bounded by the periphery of the upper end wall 1 OA. The hand-gripped facilities are formed by arcuate passages 13 opening out at one end in the upper end wall 1 OA and at the other end in the side wall lOB of the body adjacent to the junction therebetween. Each passage 1 3 formed between the two openings serves as a handle 14. The top of the passages 13 are flush with the upper end wall 1 OA, and the top of the closure, for example a cap 8 (shown in broken lines in Fig. 2), when fitted to the inlet/outlet 11, is flush with the upper end wall 10A. A raised part-annular band 16 stands proud of the upper end wall 1 OA and is located centrally of the recess 12 and openings in the upper end wall 1 OA and concentric with the periphery of the upper end wall 1 OA, the opening of the band 1 6 is aligned with and adjacent to the recess 12. The central portion 1 OA' of the upper and wall 1 OA defined by and internally of said band 16 is sloped (as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2) towards the recess 12 to assist in the 'run-off' of rain water from the upper end wall 1 OA. The upright walls of the band 16 and the recess 12 are all sloped to assist in rain water 'run-bff'. The inlet/outlet is formed by a neck or nozzle 1 7 upstanding from a shoulder 18 proud of the bottom of the recess 1 2. The neck 1 7 has an external screw-thread engagable by an internal screw-thread on the closure. The lower end wall 1 OC of the container has an inverted annual channel 19 (fig. 3) for complementarily fitting over the band 1 6 of a like container 10 beneath it. To enable the container to be interstacked, as shown in Fig. 4, in columnar formation with unlike containers 20, the corner junction between the side wall 1 OA and lower end wall 1 OC is rebated as shown in 21. While containers above-described can have any required capacity, the desired capacity is for holding 50-60 litres and they are used in a similar manner to containers known heretofore. Containers above-described are advantages over such known containers in that they are interstackable with like and unlike containers, the hand-gripping facilities are easier on the grippers' hands, and the upper end wall is contoured to assist in the easy 'run-off' of rain water or other fluid therefrom. CLAIMS

1. A container of the type stated having its inlet/outlet provided in a recess at the periphery of the upper end wall, the top of the closure, when fitted thereto, being flush with the upper end wall, and the hand-gripping facilities being formed of arcuate passages opening out in the upper end wall and in the side wall of the body adjacent to the junction therebetween.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein a raised part-annular band stands proud of the upper end wall, concentric with the periphery thereof, the opening of the band being located adjacent to the recess.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, wherein an annular channel is provided in the lower end wall of the container for complementarily fitting over the band of a like container beneath it.

4. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.