Patent Application
20240076116
In general, the present invention relates to a portable storage cylinder, and in particular, to a portable storage cylinder including an inner bag that contains a material for dispensing.
A variety of storage containers have been used that incorporate an inner bag or bladder for containing a material. However, attachment methods of the inner bag or bladder to the surrounding storage container and/or valve can create points of failure, especially in situations where the container is dropped or is subject to a force.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a storage container includes a body that defines an interior of the storage container, and a bag contained within the interior of the storage container. The bag is constructed of an elastomer, includes an opening, and defines a bag interior configured to contain a material. The storage container further includes a material valve assembly coupled to a portion of the body. The material valve assembly is coupled to the bag and configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the bag interior and an external environment of the storage container.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a storage container includes a body that defines an interior of the storage container, and a bag contained within the interior of the storage container. The bag defines a bag interior configured to contain a material, and the bag includes an opening and a means for preventing material blockage coupled to the bag at the opening. The storage container further includes a material valve assembly coupled to a portion of the body. The material valve assembly is coupled to the bag and configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the bag interior and an external environment of the storage container.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a storage container includes a body that defines an interior of the storage container, and a bag contained within the interior of the storage container. The bag includes an opening, and defines a bag interior configured to contain a material. The storage container further includes a material valve assembly coupled to a portion of the body. The material valve assembly is coupled to the bag and configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the bag interior and an external environment of the storage container. The storage container further includes a hose comprising a first end coupled to the material valve assembly, and a second end coupled to the opening of the bag, wherein the hose is configured to provide fluid communication between the bag interior and the material valve assembly.
These and other objects of this invention will be evident when viewed in light of the drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein:
Embodiments of the invention include methods and systems related to a storage container having a body, a material valve, and an internal bag or bladder configured to contain a material. The bag or bladder can be coupled to the material valve within the storage container by way of a hose, or in certain embodiments, the bag or bladder can directly couple to the material valve. The storage container can include a chamber configured to internally store a compressed gas, such as air, in a space between the bag/bladder and the body. A user can dispense the material out of the bag or bladder, through the hose and material valve (or directly through the material valve in embodiments without a hose), into an exterior environment. The compressed gas can act as a propellant in dispensing the material to the exterior environment.
With reference to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. However, the inclusion of like elements in different views does not mean a given embodiment necessarily includes such elements or that all embodiments of the invention include such elements. The examples and figures are illustrative only and not meant to limit the invention, which is measured by the scope and spirit of the claims.
Turning now to
In certain embodiments, the bag 104 can be directly coupled to the valve assembly 106 by a spout 126 or another connection method such as a weld, barbs, quick connect fittings, a washer fitting, among others. For example, a first end 126a of the spout 126 can be coupled to the bag 104 and a second end 126b of the spout 126 can be coupled to the material valve assembly 106. The first end 126a of the spout 126 can be coupled to the bag 104 using, for example, an adhesive or a weld, depending on the material. In one example, the first end 126a of the spout 126 can be coupled to the opening of the bag 104. The second end 126b of the spout 126 can be coupled to the material valve assembly 106, for example, by being coupled to the spout adapter 110. In one embodiment, the spout adapter 110 can include a threaded connection that extends into the interior of the body 102. The second end 126b of the spout 126 can include a corresponding threaded connection that mates with the threaded connection of the spout adapter 110. In these embodiments, the bag 104 hangs directly from the material valve assembly 106 within the body 102. The bag 104 can be made of a material selected such that the bag 104 is stretchable (e.g. thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC)). For example, in certain embodiments, the bag 104 can be stretchable between 500% and 800% of its unstretched length. In other embodiments, the bag 104 can be stretchable between 200% and 1,000% of its unstretched length. The stretchable nature of the bag 104 protects the bag from damage during an impact or a drop. When an impact is made on the body 102, the force provided by the contents of the bag 104 causes the bag 104 to temporarily expand to relieve the force.
The connection of the spout 126 to the material valve assembly 106 creates a material flow path 128 between an interior of the bag 104 and the external environment. It should be appreciated that material can flow through the material flow path 128 in either direction. For example, a user can fill the bag with a material such that the material flows inward from the manually actuated valve 108, through the material flow path 128 and into the interior of the bag 104. The user can also dispense material such that the material flows from the interior of the bag 104, through the material flow path 128, and out of the manually actuated valve 108 into the external environment. The material can be any type of fluid such as a liquid, a gas, or a granulized solid suspended in a liquid. In certain embodiments, the material can be an adhesive, a foam, a paint, or a liquid food or drink product. In certain embodiments, the material can also include a refrigerant. When a refrigerant is mixed with another fluid in the bag 104, the refrigerant can act as a blowing agent or as a propellent from within the bag 104. When the refrigerant acts as a propellant, the bag 104 stretches outward and maintains contact with the interior walls of the body 102 and no air charge is necessary within the chamber 122. When the refrigerant is a blowing agent, its vapor pressure is less than an air charge pressure that exists within the chamber 122.
In certain embodiments, the storage container 100 can further include additional components such as a pressure relief device 130 and/or a pressure gauge 132. In certain embodiments, the pressure relief device 130 and/or the pressure gauge can be connected to the charge gas path 124. The pressure gauge 132 can measure and display the pressure of a gas within the chamber 122. In one embodiment, the pressure relief device 130 can be a blowout valve that can be configured to vent the gas from the chamber 122 to the external environment when the pressure of the gas within the chamber 122 exceeds a predetermined threshold. In another embodiment, the pressure relief device 130 can be a blow out disk coupled to the body 102. The blow out disk can be configured to rupture to vent gas from the chamber 122 to the external environment when the pressure of the gas within the chamber 122 exceeds a predetermined threshold. In certain embodiments, a second pressure relief device can be included on the material valve assembly 106, which is configured to vent liquid from the bag 104 to the exterior atmosphere in situations where the bag's 104 internal pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure. Further, the storage container 100 can include one or more handles 134 configured to allow a user to grip and carry the storage container 100. The one or more handles 134 also provide protection to the material valve assembly 106 in the event that the storage container 100 is dropped.
Turning now to
A dispensing process is depicted starting at numeral 306. In certain embodiments, a dispensing device 310 can be coupled to the manually actuated valve 308 by way of tubing 312. For example, the dispensing device 310 can be an adhesive applicator, a tap, a faucet, or a paint sprayer, among others. The manually actuated valve 108 can be actuated to dispense the material via the dispensing device 310. When the manually actuated valve 108 is actuated to dispense the material, the pressurized gas within the chamber 122 applies a force on the outside of the bag 104 and causes the material to be expelled from the bag 104, thus forcing the material to flow through the flow path 128. As the material is dispensed from the manually actuated valve 108, the material flows from the bag 104, through the material flow path 128, and out the manually actuated valve 108. In embodiments that utilize a dispensing device 310, the material also flows out of the manually actuated valve 108, through the tubing 312, and out through the dispensing device 310. As the material is being dispensed from the bag 104, the volume taken up by the bag 104 decreases within the body 102, which increases the volume of the chamber 122 as depicted at numeral 308.
Turning now to
In certain embodiments, the bag 404 can be fluidly coupled to the valve assembly 406 by way of a hose 436. The hose 436 can include a first end coupled to the material valve assembly 406 and a second end coupled to the bag 404 by a spout 426. For example, a first end 426a of the spout 426 can be coupled to the bag 404 using, for example, an adhesive or a weld, and a second end 426b of the spout 426 can be coupled to the second end of the hose 436. In an example, the first end 426a of the spout 426 can be coupled to the opening of the bag 404. The hose 436 is configured to provide a dampening effect to prevent physical damage to the bag 404, the spout 426, or the material valve assembly 406 in the event that a force is applied to the bag 404 due to the storage container 400 being dropped or the storage container 400 receiving a force due to an impact.
The hose 436 provides fluid communication between the interior of the bag 404 and the material valve assembly 406. The hose 436 can be constructed of a flexible material such as a plastic, a rubber, or an elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or a braided construction. In certain embodiments, the hose 436 can have a length that allows for the hose to expand and/or stretch within the interior of the body 402 without detaching from the material valve assembly 406 or the bag 404. The hose 436 can be coiled between the first end and the second end, or it can be straight. In one example, the hose 436 is coiled between the first end and the second end of the hose 436. In one example, the hose 436 can expand at the coiled portion of the hose 436 and provide a dampening effect when a downward force is exerted on the bag 404 within the body 402. In another example, the hose 436 can be constructed from a flexible and/or stretchable material such that the hose 436 can stretch to provide a dampening effect when a downward force is exerted on the bag 404 within the body 402. It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, the hose 436 can be both coiled and constructed from a flexible and/or stretchable material to provide a dampening force by way of the coiled portion of the hose 436 and also the flexing and/or stretching of the hose 436 material.
As shown in
The hose 436 creates a material flow path 428 between an interior of the bag 404 and the external environment. It should be appreciated that material can flow through the material flow path 428 in either direction. For example, a user can fill the bag with a material such that the material flows inward from the manually actuated valve 408, through the material flow path 428 and into the interior of the bag 404. The user can also dispense material such that the material flows from the interior of the bag 404, through the material flow path 128, and out of the manually actuated valve 408 into the external environment. The material can be any type of fluid such as a liquid or a gas. In certain embodiments, the material can be an adhesive, a foam, a paint, or a liquid food or drink product. In certain embodiments, the material can also include a refrigerant. When a refrigerant is mixed with another fluid in the bag 404, the refrigerant can act as a blowing agent or as a propellent from within the bag 404. When the refrigerant acts as a propellant, the bag 404 stretches outward and maintains contact with the interior walls of the body 402 and no air charge is necessary within the chamber 422. When the refrigerant is a blowing agent, its vapor pressure is less than an air charge pressure that exists within the chamber 422. It should be appreciated that the storage container 400 can function as part of the processes 300 depicted in
In certain embodiments, multiple bags 404 can be included within the body 402. Each of the multiple bags 404 can have a corresponding hose 436 that couple with a corresponding fitting on the valve assembly 406. In these embodiments, the contents of each individual bag can be dispensed individually through the valve assembly 406 or dispensed simultaneously to mix the contents through the valve assembly 406, depending on the necessary application.
Although not shown in
In certain embodiments, the storage container 400 can further include a compressible material located in between the bag 404 and the body 402. The compressible material can provide further cushioning to the bag 404 when a force is applied to the storage container 400. The compressible material can be constructed of, for example, a rubber or a foam material. In certain embodiments, the compressible material can be attached to the interior of the body 402 or attached to the bag 404. In other embodiments, the compressible material is not attached to the interior of the body 402, and is rather free moving within the chamber 422. The compressible material lessens the force applied to the bag 404 from a collision of the bag 404 with the body 402.
Turning now to
The storage container 600 can further include a concave pocket 642 in which the valve assembly 606 is inserted. A first fitting 638 of the valve assembly 606 extends through an aperture in the concave pocket 642 and into the space created by the concave pocket 642. The first fitting 638 provides a connection point for either a first end of a hose or a bag that is connected directly to the first fitting 638. The concave pocket 642 provides a protective space for the first fitting 638 such that the first fitting 638 only extends to a position located above a plane that would extend across the top surface of the body 602. The location of the first fitting 638 within the concave pocket 642 protects the first fitting 638 from being damaged by a bag contained within the storage container 600 in the event the storage container 600 falls upside down.
In another embodiment, first fitting 638 can be an angled fitting. The first fitting 638 can extend downwards into the interior of the body 602, bend at an angle (e.g. 90 degrees), and include a hose connection point extending at an angle to the downward extending portion of the first fitting 638. The bend can include a rounded exterior to ensure that the first fitting 638 does not puncture or damage the bag 604 should the bag 604 come into contact with the first fitting 638.
As shown in
Turning now to
The open celled foam 744 can be constructed of any suitable material, having pores that allow a fluid contents of the bag 704 to flow through the open celled foam 744. In certain embodiments, the s open celled foam 744 can be constructed of the same material as the bag 704. Fluid material from inside the bag 704 can flow from within the bag 704, through the open celled foam 744, and out through an opening 727 in the bag 704 through a spout 726, through the hose 736, and out of the corresponding storage container (e.g. 100, 400, 600) via a valve assembly (e.g. 106, 406, 606). As the fluid contents is being emptied from the bag 704, the bottom and/or sides of the bag 704 are drawn towards the opening 727 of the bag 704. The bottom and/or sides of the bag 704 contact the open celled foam 744, which prevents the bag 704 from self-sealing and trapping remaining fluid material within the bag 704. While the bottom and/or sides of the bag 704 contact the open celled foam 744, fluid material remaining within the bag 704 can still flow through portions of the open celled foam 744 and out of the bag 704. It should be appreciated that the open celled foam 744 can have any shape chosen using sound engineering judgment. In one embodiment, the open celled foam 744 is disc-shaped. The open celled foam 744 has a thickness such that when a portion of the bag 704 contacts a bottom surface of the open celled foam 744, fluid material may still flow through the sides of the open celled foam 744.
Turning now to
The aforementioned systems, components, (e.g., body, bag, material valve assembly), and the like have been described with respect to interaction between several components and/or elements. It should be appreciated that such devices and elements can include those elements or sub-elements specified therein, some of the specified elements or sub-elements, and/or additional elements. Further yet, one or more elements and/or sub-elements may be combined into a single component to provide aggregate functionality. The elements may also interact with one or more other elements not specifically described herein.
While the embodiments discussed herein have been related to the systems and methods discussed above, these embodiments are intended to be exemplary and are not intended to limit the applicability of these embodiments to only those discussions set forth herein.
The above examples are merely illustrative of several possible embodiments of various aspects of the present invention, wherein equivalent alterations and/or modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, systems, circuits, and the like), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component, such as hardware, software, or combinations thereof, which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated implementations of the invention. In addition although a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Also, to the extent that the terms “including”, “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in the detailed description and/or in the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that are not different from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
In the specification and claims, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify a quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Moreover, unless specifically stated otherwise, a use of the terms “first,” “second,” etc., do not denote an order or importance, but rather the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used to distinguish one element from another.
As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”
The best mode for carrying out the invention has been described for purposes of illustrating the best mode known to the applicant at the time and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using devices or systems and performing incorporated methods. The examples are illustrative only and not meant to limit the invention, as measured by the scope and merit of the claims. The invention has been described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of the specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differentiate from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/404,219, filed on Sep. 7, 2022, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63404219 | Sep 2022 | US |
