US3016938A - Collapsible container for fluids - Google Patents

Description

J. P. AKREP Jan. 16, 1962 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER FOR FLUIDS Filed Aug. 29

INVENTOR Unite States Patent O 3.016,938 CLLAPSBLE CltllCAlNER FR FLUEDS Joseph P. Alrep, 7939 Saratoga Drive, Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, lil. Filed Ang. 29, 196i), Ser. No. 52,747 l Claims. (Cl. 15G-.5) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (19,52), sec. 266) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

rI'his invention relates to fiuid containers and more especially to collapsible fluid containers.

A primary object of the invention consists in providing a simplified collapsible container of maximum capacity for a rectangular area, such as that of the conventional pallet.

A further object of the invention resides in the construction of a collapsible container of relatively light weight which is so designed as to take advantage of the fact that most materials exhibit their highest strengthweight ratio when in tension.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the novel liquid container in use with parts broken away to more clearly show the interior construction;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the container; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the manner of construction of the side walls, etc.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference numerals, the numeral l indicates a conventional pallet such as now in common use and may be of the 2-way or 4-way type as preferred; the present illustration being of a 2-way type with the passages 2 for the entrance of the forks of a fork lift truck.

Mounted upon the pallet 1 is the novel liquid container which is indicated generally by the numeral 3, and is of cubical shape to conform to the horizontal area of the pallet upon which it is mounted, and to provide maximum capacity for the larea involved.

In the present illustration, the container is composed of top and bottom walls 4 and 5 of flexible liquid-proof material and four side walls 6 of the same or equivalent material and diaphragms 7 connecting the four side walls 6, the diaphragms being provided with perforations 8 to permit the passage of liquid from one to the other of the four cells illustrated. The upper cell may be provided with an inlet valve 9, and the lower cell with a discharge nozzle 10.

Although the several elements just referred to may be constructed in various ways, they are here shown as composed of four side walls 6 which may be creased, as shown at 11, each of thelcreases being united to the related diaphragm 7, as indicated by thenumeral 12, and the top and bottom walls 4 and V5 being united to the side walls, as indicated by the numeral 13. The materials employed in constructing the container may vary from heavyweight rubber and tire cord combinations down to very thin plastic, such as 4 mil polyethylene, and the joints or seams may be formed in any preferred manner. Also, a rubberized cloth combination may be substituted for the materials just mentioned, if found desirable. The

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for absorbing the tension which will be applied to the side walls 6 when the container is filled with gasoline or other liquid to be transported or stored in the container.

It is to be noted that the diaphragm members 7 are of such size and are so attached to the side walls 6 of the container as to provide the rounded, substantially semicylindrical bulges on each of the four sides of the container, as clearly illustrated in the several views of the drawings. It should be mentioned also that the side walls 6 will ordinarily be collapsed unless the container is lled with liquid or the like.

With the container so designed, it is capable of taking advantage of the fact that the materials here employed have their highest strength-weight ratio in tension, and all the structural members of this container are so designed as to be in a state of tension when filled with the liquid with which the container is to be used. Thus, the use of the highest strength-weight ratio results in a liquid container of very light weight at a low cost.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what I now consider to be the preferred form of the invention, but since various minor changes may be made in structural detatils without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is intended that all such changes be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I ciaim:

1. A collapsible rectangular container for iluids, Said container having a plurality of rectangular cells vertical alignment, each of said cells having four liexible side walls, a flexible rectangular diaphragm being provided between adjacent cells, said diaphragm being provided with diaphragm members 7, of which there are three employed a plurality of apertures therethrough for permitting liquid to pass between said cells, the topmost cell being provided with a flexible rectangular top wall, and the bottom-most cell being provided with a flexible rectangular bottom wall and an outlet for said liquid; whereby said rectangular container may vertically expand to its maximum height when lled to capacity with said liquid, and gradually diminish in height, while retaining its general rectangular configuration, as said liquid is withdrawn.

2. A container according to claim l, wherein the said topmost cell is also provided with an inlet for said liquid.

3. A collapsible rectangular container for fluids, said container having four rectangular cells in vertical alignment, each of said cells having four flexible side walls, three flexible rectangular diaphragms, each of said diaphragms being provided between a pair lof adjacent cells, said diaphragm being provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough for permitting liquid to pass between said cells, the topmost cell being provided with a flexible rectangular top wall and with an inlet for said liquid, and the bottom-most cell being provided with a flexible rectangular bottom wall and an outlet for said liquid; whereby said rectangular container may vertically expand to a generally cubical configuration when filled to capacity with said liquid, and gradually diminish in height, while retaining a general rectangular configuration, as said liquid is withdrawn.

4. A container according to claim 1, `made of polyethylene material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,254 Boardman Mar. 16, 1954 2,931,409 Unthank Apr. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,539 Norway Aug. 12, 1935 75,209 NetherlandsV July 15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vCERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent Neo 3Ol6938 January 16, 1962 Josephvl?o Akrep It is hereby certified that error' appears in the above numbered patent requiring'correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of June 1962;

(SEAL). Attest:

4ERNEST w.. swIDEE DAVID L. LADD Ating Officr Commissioner of Patents

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