US2795257A - Collapsible container - Google Patents

Description

M. M. CUNNINGHAM COLLAPSIBLEVCONTAINERV June 1 1, 1957 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 R we I fllilllllqll M Q g N\ @3 Q Q N lmrm 'Uflitd States 2,795,257 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER "Marion M.'-Cunnin'gham, Providence,'R. I., assignor to 'iUnitedStates Rubber Company, New ork, "-Y., a corporation ofNewJersey ApplicationiAugust'i 1955,1Serial No. 526,119 6' Claims. -(Cl.' 150- 1) This 'invention relates to .a .collapsiblecontainer .for liquids such as gasoline, oil, water, chemicals .and foodstuffs.

The primary .object :of the'invention ,isto {provide a .collapsiblecontainer of a construction which .willfacilitatetheIhandling of the filled container andthedispensing of .the liquids therefrom.

' .To this-end, the containeris formedof flexible,-liquid impervious material, such as rubberized cord fabricand is of a generally cylindrical shape when filled .and-.ex-

.panded. The container is provided.witharhollow rrigid :tube, openat least.at,one end, which extends internally .of the .containerfrom oneuend theerof to .the other and g .is rigidly secured toendafittings attached to. centralpori of hose "is permanentlysecured-to an opening through the 'wall oftherigid-tube. The other end of 'the'hose is provided with a clampor-ot-her suitable closurefor closing iofl? 1 the hose. To empty the container/the length of hose is extended from its storage space within the tube and the clamp or closure released to permit the liquid from the container to flow through the opening through the wall of the rigid tube and out through the hose. The liquid may be withdrawn from the container by means of a pump attached to the hose or may be siphoned out of the container through the hose.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the collapsible container of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view showing an alternate form of end fitting for the container.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Fig. 1, the container of the present invention, when filled and expanded, is of generally cylindrical shape. The cylindrical body portion 10 and the end or head portions 11 are conveniently formed of plies of rubberized cord fabric, either textile or wire and fabric, in the manner described in U. S. Patent Nos. 2,612,924 and 2,672,902, though it will be appreciated that other liquid impervious flexible materials, such as some types of sheet plastics may be used.

For storing liquid foodstuffs and fuels, a neoprene rubber is particularly suitable as the coating rubber for the cord fabric plies, particularly the inner surface of the innermost ply, as neoprene does not impart an objectionuable taste tothe foodstuffs and is not adversely effected by 'fuel suchas gasoline and oil. v -zIn :accordance with the invention, the container is ,provided-With a rigid, hollow tube 12 of metal or other .suitablerigid material. The tube lz-extends internally of the container from one end thereof to the other-end-and is rigidly secured to fittings '13 attachedfto'centralportions of ,each of the ends '11.

, 'a-EflCh fitting 13 includes an inner annular plate 13a :and .an.outer annular plate 1312 between which the walls -of 1hecontainer surrounding an opening through the-ends 11 are clamped by means of bolts 130 which extend through the outer plate and .thread into the. inner-plate.

The ends of the tube 12 are rigidly secured to the innenplates 13a .by welding or :bybeing (threaded therein YSOJflSatO form a. fluid itight seal 'therebetween and to pre- -vent cocking of the fittings 13' in the ends of .thec'ontainer. iTheqouter gplates 13b carry pivotally 'mounted D-rings 13d:by'1Which-.the container may be lifted, dragged or .rolled -.by the attachment of cables or the like thereto.

;.The .rigid tube. 12 provides the container with rigidity .zagainsttlongitudinal bending, thereby permitting the con- .'.--tainer to be rolled or dragged by cables attached to the 1 .r-ings 1311. The tube 12 alsotakes the loadwhen .the

. filled container is lifted from one end.

The tube-12 alsoxprovides a storagespacezfor alength :of flexible.emptyinghosetli when theehose is not infuse. Thettubezl-2 has an opening 15 through the wallthereof communicating with the interior .of a container and "one end oftthehose is attachedto the opening 1-5Iby a suitable Z-fit'ting 16. A clamp 17 or othersuitable closure is "prowided-at the other-end ofthe hose for selectively .closing :or opening theh'ose. 'The hose is of a -much-.smaller -diameter .thanthe tube "12 so that -a-substantial length aofahose can be stored-within the tubeby'folding-the hose :as illustratedin Fig. 1.

When it istdesired to empty the container, Ethehose is pulled out through :the open-end ofthetubelz and the clamp-enclosure released so that the liquid can 'fiow out through-the hose. The liquid can be withdrawn from the liquid.istwithdrawn. theicontainer collapsesdueto Ithe negative pressure created therein thereby insuring complete emptying of the container. No venting of the container during emptying is necessary. The container can be filled either through the hose or through a separate filling opening 18 provided in one of the ends 11.

In Fig. 2 there is shown an alternate form of end fitting for the container shown in Fig. 1. In this form, the D-rings have a swivel or rotary connection with the end fittings so that they can freely turn thereby facilitating the rolling of the container by cables, chains or the like attached thereto.

As shown in Fig. 2 the D-ring 19 is pivotally attached to an annular swivel plate 20. The swivel plate 20 in turn is journaled in an annular space 21 formed between an outer annular plate 22a and an inner annular plate 22b forming the end fitting 22 for the container. The container wall surrounding the opening through the ends of the container is clamped between the outer annular plate 22a and the inner annular plate 22b by clamping bolts 23 which extend through the outer plate 22a and threads into the inner plate 22b. The end of the tube 12 is rigidly secured to the inner plate 22b.

From the above description, it can be seen that there is provided an improved collapsible container which may be easily moved without the necessity of expensive lifting equipment. To move the container, it is only necessary to attach cables to the D-rings at each end of a container and pull the container along the ground by means of any available vehicle. In lifting, connection is made only to one end of the container so that the load is carried axially by the tube 12. Inasmuch as the container, carries its own emptying tube, the container may i be easily emptied. Conveniently a number of the-filled 1 containers can be transported on a flat-bed truck, with t the containers disposed transversely of the bed with their ends" adjacent the side of the truck. In this manner, the containers may be emptied without removal thereof from the truckmerely by pulling the emptying hoses thereof from within the rigid tubes.

While certain preferred forms of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that i this is for the purpose of illustration only and that modifications could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 5

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:

1. A collapsible container having a generally cylindrical body portion and end portions of a flexible liquid impervious material, a rigidtube extending internally of the container from one end thereof to the other, said rigid tube being rigidly secured at each end to rigid fittings attached to the center portion of each of said end portions of the'container, said rigid tube-having at least one end open to the exterior of the container, said rigid tube having an'opening through the wall thereof communicating withthe interior of the container, a hose r secured to said opening, said hose being of a length to extend a substantial distance out of the open end of the v tube and being adapted to be folded and stored in said tubewhen not in use, and attaching rings secured to each of said fittings externally of the container.

2. 'Acollapsible container having agenerallycylin I drical body portion and end portions of a flexible liquid impervious material, a rigid tube extending internally of the container from one end thereof to the other, said rigid tube being secured at each end to the central portion closure means for opening and closing said hose.

tube when not inuse, the free end of saidhose having 3. A collapsible container having a generally cylindrical body portion and end portions of a flexible liquid impervious material, a rigid tube extending internally of the, container from one end thereof to the other, said rigid tube being secured at each end to a central portion of each of said end portions of the container and having at least one end open to the exterior of the container, and means for filling and emptying said container.

4. A collapsible container having a generally cylindrical body portion and end portions of a flexible liquid impervious material, a rigid tube extending internally of the container from one end thereof to the other, said rigid tube being secured to each end to rigid end fittings attached to the center portion of each of said end portions of the container, and said rigid tube having at least one end thereof open to the exterior of the container, and means for filling and emptying said container.

5. A collapsible container having a generally cylindrical body portion and end portions of a flexible liquid impervious material, a rigid hollow member extending internally of the container from one end thereof tothe other, said rigid member being rigidly secured at each end to rigid end fittings attached to the center portion of each of each of said end portions of the container and a ring member rotatably secured to each ofsaid fittings for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said rigid member, and means for filling and emptying said container.

6. A collapsible container having a generally cylindrical body portion and end portions of a flexible liquid impervious material, a rigid hollow member extending internally of the container from one end thereof to the other and secured at each end to center portions of the end portions of the container, attaching means rotatably secured to each end of said rigid member for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said rigid member, and means for filling and emptying said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 336,981 Bartlett Mar. 2,, 1886 1,535,308 Hele-Shaw et al. Apr. 28, 1925 2,622,645 Pfleumer Dec. 23,, 1952 2,637,862 Freas May 12, 1953 2,677,406 Cunningham May 4, 1954

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