Patent Application
20120286009
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a storage and transport carrier. More specifically, the present invention concerns a storage and transport carrier that is configured to securely hold multiple configurations of individual or combinations of fuel containers, including containers of different shapes and/or capacities.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that liquid fuel is used to power many devices. Often, the liquid fuel is stored in and/or dispensed from a fuel container (e.g., gas cans, liquid propane cylinders, etc.). For a variety of reasons, it frequently becomes necessary to transport both empty and filled fuel containers.
One common arrangement for transporting fuel containers is to load the fuel container into a vehicle, such as the interior of a car or the bed of a truck. Traditionally, it has been difficult to keep a fuel container stable while it is being transported, and the dangers of transporting unstable fuel containers can be significant. A conventional arrangement involves using a dedicated carrier designed specifically to carry only one type of fuel container (e.g., a standard 20 lb liquid propane cylinder).
According to an aspect of the present invention, a unique storage and transport carrier may be used for securely holding a selected one or more of a plurality of fuel containers. From this inventive construction, multiple configurations of individual or combinations of fuel containers, including containers of different shapes and/or capacities, may be securely held by a single carrier without the need for moveable dividers or the like. Additionally, the novel carrier maintains stability of a held fuel container, which may prevent undesirable static buildup, and provides a contained overflow area in case any fuel is accidently spilled during transport. Multiple carriers can be vertically nested within one another for storage, and the carriers can be secured to one another side-by-side for transport of additional fuel containers.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a storage and transport carrier is provided that is configured to securely hold a selected one or more of a plurality of fuel containers. The carrier includes a unitary molded body. The body includes a side wall that presents opposite inner and outer surfaces. The body further includes a bottom wall that extends generally between the side wall, and the bottom wall presents opposite interior and exterior surfaces. The inner surface of the side wall and the interior surface of the bottom wall cooperatively define an interior chamber of the body. The body further includes a pair of opposite elongated protrusions, wherein each protrusion projects upwardly from the bottom wall and is spaced laterally inwardly from the side wall. Each of the elongated protrusions extends between opposite end margins and presents an inner container-engaging surface that is configured to engage at least a portion of one or more of the fuel containers when disposed within the interior chamber of the body.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Various other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
a is a top-down plan view of the storage and transport carrier with the propane cylinder secured therein of
a is a top-down plan view of the storage and transport carrier with the single large fuel container secured therein of
a is a top-down plan view of the storage and transport carrier with the pair of medium fuel containers secured therein of
a is a top-down plan view of the storage and transport carrier with one medium fuel container and one small fuel container secured therein of
a is a top-down plan view of the storage and transport carrier with the pair of small fuel containers secured therein of
The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferred embodiments.
The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate, and the specification describes, certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments.
With initial reference to
It is noted at the outset that many of the structural features discussed below cooperate to provide the body 22 of the carrier 20 with a strong and durable unitary construction without requiring excess material thickness. This construction enables the carrier 20 to be formed from a relatively lightweight material that can be cost-effectively mass-produced without comprising the strength and durability of the carrier 20. For example, the depicted carrier 20 can be formed from a synthetic resin material, such as injected molded plastic, preferably polypropylene or polyethylene. In this manner, the carrier 20 is strong, lightweight, readily transportable, and easy to store. While this unitary, molded plastic construction is preferred, it is clearly within the ambit of the present invention to form the carrier 20 from virtually any material, including materials other than plastic, or in virtually any other manner, including constructions other than the depicted configuration.
The body 22 includes a first pair of opposite side walls 24, 26. Each of the first side walls 24, 26 presents an inner surface 28, 30 and an opposite outer surface 32, 34. The body 22 also includes a second pair of opposite side walls 36, 38. Each of the second side walls 36, 38 presents an inner surface 40, 42 and an opposite outer surface 44, 46. Although the depicted side walls 24, 26, 36, 38 cause the illustrated carrier 20 to have a generally rectangular shape, it will be appreciated that the body 22 may alternatively be formed in different polygonal or non-polygonal shapes without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The body 22 further includes a bottom wall 48 that extends generally between the side walls 24, 26, 36, 38. The bottom wall 48 presents an interior surface 50 and an opposite exterior surface 52.
The body 22 presents an interior chamber 54. The interior chamber 54 is cooperatively defined by the inner surfaces 28, 30, 40, 42 of the side walls 24, 26, 36, 38 and the interior surface 50 of the bottom wall 48.
The side walls 24, 26, 36, 38 and the bottom wall 48 intersect one another substantially continuously about an outer periphery 56 of the bottom wall 48. In this way, the side walls 24, 26, 36, 38 and the bottom wall 48 cooperatively form a drip trough 58 within the interior chamber 54 of the body 22. The drip trough 58 will retain material (e.g., liquid fuel) that may leak or spill out from one or more of the fuel containers received within the carrier 20. As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the drip trough 58 ensures that any undesirable material remains within the confines of the body 22 and does not leak out onto other surfaces, such as the interior of a transport vehicle.
With attention specifically now to
With continued reference now to
Each of the elongated protrusions 66, 68 extends between a pair of opposite end margins 70, 72, 74, 76. In more detail, the first protrusion 66 extends between opposite end margins 70, 72 and the second protrusion 68 extends between opposite end margins 74, 76. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, each of the elongated protrusions 66, 68 extends generally parallel to one of the respective second side walls 36, 38. The protrusions 66, 68 are shorter than the second side walls 36, 38, such that the end margins 70, 72, 74, 76 are disposed within the interior chamber 54 of the body 22. Furthermore each of the end margins 70, 72, 74, 76 is spaced laterally inwardly from a respective one of the first side walls 24, 26.
Each of the elongated protrusions 66, 68 presents an inner container-engaging surface 78, 80 that is configured to engage at least a portion of one or more of the fuel containers when the container is disposed within the interior chamber 54 of the body 22 (as shown in the illustrative examples of
With attention initially to the first elongated protrusion 66 (shown particularly in
The interior container-engaging surface 78 of the first protrusion 66 further includes a vertically extending tapered notch 88 defined therein that is configured to selectively engage part of another one of the containers (not shown). The tapered notch 88 is disposed generally centrally between the end margins 70, 72 of the first elongated protrusion 66.
In more detail, the tapered notch 88 includes a pair of tapering side walls 90, 92 and a generally flat back wall 94. As will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of this disclosure, the depicted shape of the notch 88 is configured to correspond with a part of selected fuel containers, but could be alternatively configured to correspond with parts of other fuel container shapes (not shown).
Turning now to the second elongated protrusion 68 (shown particularly in
The interior container-engaging surface 80 of the second protrusion 68 further includes a pair of vertically extending tapered notches 100, 102 defined therein, with each notch 100, 102 being configured to selectively engage part of another one of the containers (see, e.g.,
In more detail, the tapered notch 100 includes a pair of tapering side walls 104, 106 and a generally flat back wall 108. Similarly, the tapered notch 102 includes a pair of tapering side walls 110, 112 and a generally flat back wall 114. As will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of this disclosure, the depicted shapes of the notches 100, 102 are configured to correspond with parts of selected fuel containers, but could be alternatively configured to correspond with parts of other fuel container shapes (not shown).
With continued reference to
Moreover, the notch 88 within the inner container-engaging surface 78 is disposed generally opposite at least a section of the flat face portion 98 of the inner container-engaging surface 80. Also, the notch 100 within the inner container-engaging surface 80 is disposed generally opposite at least a section of the flat face portion 84 of the inner container-engaging surface 78. Similarly, the notch 102 within the inner container-engaging surface 80 is disposed generally opposite at least a section of the flat face portion 86 of the inner container-engaging surface 78.
With attention still to
In even more detail, each of the depicted hook-receiving loops 116 is disposed within (and extends generally upwardly from) a circular recessed liquid containment area 118. Each recessed liquid containment area 118 is in communication with a drainage pathway 120, such that any stray liquid that may enter the liquid containment area 118 (such as fuel leaks or spills) drains away from the hook-receiving loops 116 and into the drip trough 58. In the illustrated embodiment, a hole 122 defined by the hook-receiving loop 116 is disposed above a raised portion 124, such that any stray liquid is directed away from the hole 122, as will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of this disclosure.
Turning briefly now to
Looking particularly now to
In more detail, each foot 128 is generally annular in shape and includes a plurality of teeth 130 arranged around a lower margin thereof. It is believed that the teeth 130 may assist in preventing the body 22 from sliding on some transport surfaces (e.g., carpet in an automobile).
In the illustrated embodiment, each foot 128 also includes a selectively removable non-slip polymer element 132 being received therein. It is believe that the non-slip polymer element 132 may assist in preventing the body 22 from sliding on some other transport surfaces (e.g., a truck bed).
The depicted body 22 also includes a generally centrally disposed ring 134 that extends downwardly from the exterior surface 52 of the bottom wall 48. The ring 134 includes a plurality of teeth 136 configured to frictionally engage a selected transporting or storage surface (e.g., carpet) to thereby reduce slipping between the body 22 and the transporting or storage surface. As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of this disclosure, when the non-slip polymer elements 132 are received within the feet 128, the body 22 may be elevated sufficiently above the transporting or storage surface such that the toothed ring 134 does not contact the transporting or storage surface. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of structural ribs 138 are shown extending generally from each of the feet 128 toward and into the toothed ring 134.
With continued reference to
Additionally, the body 22 includes a corresponding pair of spaced apart connection slots 142 defined within each of the two other adjacent side walls 26, 36. In more detail, each connection slot 142 is defined within the respective outer surface 34, 44 of the side walls 26, 36. As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of this disclosure, each connection slot 142 is configured to receive a corresponding connection tab 140 of another identical carrier body 22 (see, e.g., FIGS. 5 and 8-10).
In more detail now regarding specifics of construction of the illustrated embodiment, and with particular attention to
In even more detail, the first pair of side walls 24, 26 is longer than the second pair of side walls 36, 38. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first pair of side walls 24, 26 presents a length dimension along the outer surface 32, 34 thereof of approximately eighteen and one-half inches (18.5″). Also in the illustrated embodiment, each of the second pair of side walls 36, 38 presents a length dimension along the outer surface 44, 46 thereof of approximately seventeen inches (17″).
In addition to the lengths of the first and second side walls 24, 26 and 32, 34 being different from one another, it is also noted that the length spacing between each of the adjacent pairs of connection tabs 140 and connection slots 142 is may also be different from one another (although it will be readily appreciated that the spacing therebetween across opposite side walls is equal). In the illustrated embodiment, the length between the connection tabs 140 and the connection slots 142 along the first side walls 24, 26 is approximately twelve inches (12″). Also in the illustrated embodiment, the length between the connection tabs 140 and the connection slots 142 along the second side walls 32, 34 is approximately ten and one-half inches (10.5″).
In this way, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that a plurality of identical bodies 22 may be connected to one another along the first side walls 24, 26 (the long sides) to form a line, along the second side walls 32, 34 (the short sides) to form a line, or both (see, e.g.,
With attention briefly now to
Turning now specifically to the illustrative examples shown in
With attention to
Looking now to
a depict a pair of medium fuel containers, each in the form of a two gallon gas can 152, being disposed within the chamber 54 of the carrier 20. A single connecting element in the form of bungee cord 146, having a pair of hooks 148, is secured to the body 22 (with the hooks 148 being received within the hook-receiving loops 116) and is wrapped around both of the two gallon gas cans 152. As discussed above, each of the two gallon gas cans 152 is disposed with a generally converging handle portion being received within one of the pair of notches 100, 102 of the container-engaging surface 80. Additionally, each of the two gallon gas cans 152 is disposed with a substantially flat front portion engaging the flat face portions 84, 86 of the container-engaging surface 78. In this way, both of the two gallon gas cans 152 are stabilized within the carrier 20.
Next,
Finally, the example of
The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and access the reasonably fair scope of the present invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.
