BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
FIG. 1 is a side schematic illustration of the drum and pipe connector of the subject invention showing it attached to a drum and a pump assembly securely attached to the drum and pipe connector;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective illustration showing the drum and pipe connector and the cap of the pump apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the drum and pump connector of FIG. 1 showing the second cylindrical body telescopically positioned within the first cylindrical body forming a seat effective for operating as an annular gasket between the drum and pump connector and the cap of the pump assembly, and showing the closure cap;
FIG. 4 is another preferred embodiment of the drum and pump connector integrally formed with the cap of the pump assembly; and
FIG. 5 is another preferred embodiment of the invention showing the drum and pump connector further comprising a drum size adapter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 a conventional pump assembly 100 is shown for use in removing liquid from a conventional drum, such as a conventional 55-gallon drum. In a preferred embodiment the pump assembly 100 includes a hand crank pump 102 having a base siphon tube 104 for inserting through the bung hole 200 of a drum 202. In a preferred embodiment, the base siphon tube 104 includes an extender 106 telescopically mounted within the base siphon tube 104 and adapted to move inwardly into the base siphon tube 104 or outwardly from the base siphon tube 104 to shorten or lengthen, respectively, the siphon tube 104 depending on the size of the drum 202. As shown the pump assembly 100 further includes a cap 108 having internal threads 110 and adapted to cover the contact area between the crank pump 102 and the bung hole 200 and an output hose 112 for inserting into another container, not shown, for receiving the liquid being discharged from the drum 202.
Referring to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown whereby the drum and pump connector 114 comprises a first cylindrical body 116 and a second cylindrical body 118 concentric with and longitudinally aligned with the first cylindrical body 116. The first cylindrical body 116 includes a threaded outer surface 120 that is sized and adapted to mate with the internal threads 110 of the cap 108. The second cylindrical body 118 also includes a threaded outer surface 122 that is sized and adapted to mate with the internal threads 204 (FIG. 1) of the bung hole 200 in the drum 202.
In operation, the user removes the bung plug (not shown) which is threadedly secured in the bung hole 202 by a threaded connection from the drum 202 and screws the second cylindrical body 118 using the threaded outer surface 122 into the bung hole 106 to form a secure threaded connection between the bung hole 200 and the drum and pump connector 114. The siphon tube 104 is properly lengthened to fit the particular drum 202 and the pump assembly 100 can then be mated with the first cylindrical body 116 of the drum and pump connector 114 by screwing the cap 108 of the pump assembly 100 such that the internal threads 110 of the cap 108 mates with the threaded outer surface 120 of the first cylindrical body 116. The output hose 112 can then be placed in the container (not shown) to receive the expelled liquid and the pump can be activated.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the second cylindrical body 118 is telescopically positioned within the first cylindrical body 116 forming a seat 124 effective for operating as an annular gasket between the drum and pump connector 114 and the cap 108 of the pump assembly 100.
Referring to FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown whereby the drum and pump connector 114 is integrally formed with the cap 108 of the pump assembly 100. The drum and pump connector 114 is provided with a second cylindrical body 118 includes a threaded outer surface 122 that is sized and adapted to mate with the internal threads 204 of the bung hole 200 in the drum 202. In this way, the pump assembly 100 can then be securely connected to the drum 202 by screwing the second cylindrical body 118 using the threaded outer surface 122 into the bung hole 106 to form a secure threaded connection between the bung hole 200 and the drum and pump connector 114.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5 the drum and pump connector 114 includes a drum size adapter 126 comprising a cylindrical body 128 having a threaded outer surface 130 and a threaded inner surface 132. The threaded inner surface 132 is sized and adapted to mate with the threaded outer surface 120 of the second cylindrical body 118 and the threaded outer surface 130 of the drum size adapter 126 is sized and adapted to mate with the threads 204 of the bung hole 200. It should now be apparent that the size adapter is effective for permitting the drum and pump connector 114 of the subject invention to be easily adapted to mate with a variety of drums having different size and threaded bung holes.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 3, the drum and pump connector 114 includes a closure cap 134, preferably formed from plastic or metal, having internal threads 136 sized and adapted to mate with the threaded outer surface 120 of the first cylindrical body 116. The closure cap 134 is effective for providing a closure when the pump assembly 100 is removed from the drum and pump connector 114 thereby preventing accidental spillage of the liquid contained within the drum 202, prevents contamination of the liquid during the time the pump assembly is not connected to the drum and pump connector.
It should be understood that the drum and pump connector 114 and the cap 108 may be formed from various materials, including metal and plastic.
It should also now be understood that the hand crank pump 102 of the pump assembly 100 can be replaced by an electric pump.
It should also now be apparent that the drum and pump connector of the present invention can be easily and quickly installed onto a conventional 55-gallon drum, or the like, and allow various type of pumps typically used to pump liquid out of drums, such as a Flo-Fast™ pump, such as sold by Product Development Group LLC, to be securely connected to the drum.
Accordingly, the drum and pump connector of the present invention is a new and novel apparatus for use in securely attaching a conventional pump assembly used for pumping liquid out of a drum connector that can be easily installed on a conventional drum, that permits a pump assembly to be mounted thereon during use and can be easily removed allowing the drum and pump connector to be capped until the pump assembly is reattached, and provides a seal between the drum and the pump assembly.
While the apparatus described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080084063
