WO2005113344A1

WO2005113344A1 - Vessel with handling formation and detachable base portion

Info

Publication number: WO2005113344A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Arthur Sims
Original assignee: Topchoice Investments Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-20
Filing date: 2005-05-19
Publication date: 2005-12-01

Abstract

A vessel (11) having an upper end (18) and a lower end (15) and being defined by a base wall (32) at the lower end (15) and an upper wall (17) at the upper end, wherein the container is provided with a formation (42) adjacent the upper end (18) defined by a waisted region (46) of the upper wall (17), the container (12) further comprising a base (13) having a circular outer perimeter ( defined by a bearing edge (53) wherein the container is adapted to be supported on a surface by the bearing edge (53) when titled away from an upright orientation, the formation (42) being adapted to be gripped by a user when in use to tilt the container (12) away from an upright orientation and to roll the container (12) about the bearing edge (53).

Description

VESSEL WITH HANDLING FORMATION AND DETACHABLE BASE PORTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a container suitable for storage and transport of a wide range of materials such as liquids, particulate matter and powders. It is 5 particularly suitable for containers having a volume in the vicinity of a hundred litres but is applicable over a much wider range of volumes than that.

Background of the Invention

Vessels for storage and transportation of industrial materials including liquids, particulate solids and powders are well known. Vessels having a volume in the0 range of 20 to 200 litres have been very popular as providing a suitable capacity for storage while being reasonably transportable. Within this range, drums of the 200 litre size, are too heavy to be handled manually when filled while those of the 20 litre size while being easily transportable are often found to have insufficient capacity for efficient handling. Drums of around 100 litres capacity5 are now found to be the best compromise in. many circumstances.

Nevertheless a filled drum with a volume of 100 litres will often have a weight in the region of 70 to 120 kilograms which remains quite difficult for manual handling. In particular, drums of the prior art have not been designed to facilitate movement by manual handling, particularly when filled. 0 Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly the invention resides in a vessel, the vessel having an upper end and a lower end and being defined by a base wall at the lower end and an upper wall at the upper end, wherein the vessel is provided with a formation adjacent the upper end defined by a waisted region of the upper wall, the vessel further5 comprising a base having a circular outer perimeter defined by a bearing edge wherein the vessel is adapted to be supported on a surface by the bearing edge when titled away from an upright orientation, the formation being adapted to be gripped by a user when in use to tilt the vessel away from an upright orientation and to roll the vessel about the bearing edge.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the lateral extent of the formation does not exceed in width the maximum width of the remainder of the vessel.

According to a preferred embodiment, the formation has a curved profile adapted to be grasped within the palms of the hands of a user.

According to a preferred embodiment, the formation is circumferentially continuous.

According to a preferred embodiment, the formation is circular.

According to a preferred embodiment, the upper wall encloses the vessel with a panel comprising a sealable opening, the panel having a recessed portion in which the sealable opening is located.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the vessel is further provided with a side wall to define a main body portion intermediate the upper wall and lower wall, the main body portion having a substantially square cross-section.

According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of handles are formed between the formation and the main body portion.

According to a preferred embodiment, reinforcement structures are provided between the formation and the waisted portion of the upper wall.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the base having the circular outer perimeter defined by a bearing edge is detachable from the vessel.

According to a preferred embodiment, the base is replaceable. According to a preferred embodiment, the base comprises a substantially cylindrical wail, an annular element extending inwardly from the annular wall and support elements extending between the cylindrical wall and the annular element adapted to provide support to the vessel.

According to a preferred embodiment, the base is provided with a plurality of tabs adapted to engage corresponding slots in the lower end of vessel to thereby detachably secure the base to the vessel.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the base is colour coded.

According to a preferred embodiment, the base is manufactured from a plastics material selected from a predetermined range of colours chosen to designate the contents of the vessel.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the vessel further comprises a protuberance associated with the lower end of the vessel adapted to facilitate the removal of the contents from the vessel.

According to a preferred embodiment, the base is provided with a clearance for the protuberance.

According to a further aspect the invention resides in a container provided with an attachment having a circular outer perimeter defined by a bearing edge, the attachment adapted to engage the base of the container and to be removable therefrom, wherein the container is adapted to be supported from a surface by the bearing edge when titled away from an upright orientation and to rolled about said bearing edge.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of several specific embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a materials handling vessel in accordance with the embodiment;

Figure 2 is a lower perspective view of the material handling vessel of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the material handling vessel of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the material handling vessel of Figure 1 , the vessel being rotated by 45^° relative to the view of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the material handling vessel of Figure 1 ; the vessel being rotated by 90^° relative to the view of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a upper plan view of the material handling vessel of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a lower plan view of the material handling vessel of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 is an exploded isometric view of the material handling vessel of Figure 1 , showing the base separated from the container;

Figure 9 is an upper isometric view of the base unit of the material handling vessel of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

The embodiment of the invention is directed to a materials handling vessel and is depicted in the drawings, Figures 1 to 9.

As shown in the drawings, the vessel 11 of the embodiment comprises a container 12 and a detachable base member 13. The container 12 comprises a continuous wall 20 which thereby defines a storage space adapted to provide storage for a material. The container 12 is constructed from suitable plastics material such as polyethylene and comprises a main body portion 14, a base portion 15 adapted to provide support for the container, an intermediate portion 16 between the main body portion 14 and the base portion 15 and an upper portion 17 at an upper end 18 of the container enclosing the container 12 and which is provided with a sealable opening 19 by which material can be inserted or removed.

The wall 20 at the main body potion 14 defines a space of substantially square cross-section with curved comer portions 21 to thereby maximize the storage capacity within a space when a plurality of containers are closely positioned together. The wall of the main body potion 14 is reinforced by a plurality of ribs 22 moulded in the wall 20 and extending around the wall transversely to a central axis of the container to thereby stiffen the walls and reduce the tendency for the walls to bow outwardly when the container is filled.

The base portion 15 of the container 12 comprises a circular floor section 31 in the general form of a broad circular dish with a floor portion 32 and an upturned rim 33. The diameter of the edge 34 of the upturned rim is substantially the same as the width of the main body portion 14. The upturned rim 33 has a curved profile so that the diameter of the floor portion 32 is somewhat less than the diameter of the edge 34 of the upturned rim 33. Centrally located within the floor section 31 is moulded a circular protrusion 35 extending externally from the floor section 31.

A plurality of indentations in the form of slots 36 are moulded within the rim 33, the slots 36 having an axial portion extending from the level of the floor section 31 and a circumferential portion extending circumferentially intermediate the floor section 31 and the edge 34.

The first intermediate portion 16 extends the wall from the square-sectioned main body portion 14 to the circular edge 34 of the rim 33.

The upper portion 17 extends the wall to an uppermost, annular panel 41 which encloses the container 12, but the wall is provided with a waisted region 46 intermediate the main body portion and the annular panel 41 to provide a circular grip portion 42 at the upper end 18. In the embodiment, the grip portion 42 comprises a circumferentially continuous rim having a curved profile of almost semi-circular shape and having a height adapted to be readily grasped by a user, the curved profile adapting the grip portion to fit conveniently into the palms of the hands of the user. The outer diameter of the grip portion 42 is the same as the width of sides of the main body portion.

The annular panel 41 is provided with a central, recessed region 43, in the centre of which is located the sealable opening 19 which is threaded in conventional manner and adapted to receive a corresponding bung. The outer portion of the annular panel 41 provides an annular region 44 which is thereby the uppermost portion of the container 12. As a result of the sealable opening 19 being located within the recessed region 43, the opening 19 and the bung are located at a level below that of the annular region. Thus if an item, especially another vessel, is placed on top of the container, that item will only contact the annular region 44 and thus the sealable opening 19 and the bung are protected from damage.

It can be seen that the wall 20 between the main body portion 14 and the waisted, region at the lower side of the grip portion 42 has a generally tapered appearance, somewhat like a truncated pyramid, extending from the generally square configuration of the main body portion to the circular configuration of the grip portion. To provide increased strength and rigidity to the grip portion 42, two buttress-like reinforcement protrusions 45 are moulded into the waisted region between the grip portion and the main body portion. These protrusions 45 are nevertheless well recessed with the waisted region so that they do not pose any significant obstruction to a user gripping the grip portion 42. The protrusions 45 are each centrally aligned with one of an opposed pair of sides of the main body portion 14.

Centrally aligned with each of the alternate pair of sides of the main body portion 14, is moulded a handle 48overlying the waisted region. The handle 48 extends from the outer edge of the grip to the respective side of the main body portion. The handle is rod-like and provides a space between the handle 48 and the wall 20 in the waisted region so that a user can readily and securely grasp the handle. The detachable base member 13 provides a substantially cylindrical rim 51 of short length having an external diameter substantially corresponding with that of the edge 34 of the base portion 15. The lower edge of the cylindrical rim 51 comprises a bearing edge 53 providing the contact means with a support surface. Within the cylindrical rim 51 s located an annular plate 52 extending radially inwards form the cylindrical rim 51 , intermediate the ends of the cylindrical rim 51. A plurality of buttress-like formations 55 extend from the lower side of the annular plate 52 to the inner wall of the cylindrical rim 51 to thereby provide reinforcement to the base member 13.. Further formations extend parallel to the cylindrical rim 51 to the plane of contact of the lower end of the base member to thereby both provide reinforcement and to act as feet, spreading the contact load.

On the upper side of annular member 52 further buttress-like reinforcement 56 formations are provided, the external edges 57 thereof being curved with a curvature selected to correspond with the curvature of upturned rim 33. These formations are thereby directly adapted to support the base portion 15 of the container 12.

In addition, a plurality of tabs 58 extend radially inwards from the inner wall of the cylindrical rim 51. The tabs 51 are configured to correspond with and adapted to engage the slots 36. The base member 13 is thereby able to securely engage and support the container 12, yet be removable and replaceable in the event of damage being sustained.

In an adaptation of the embodiment, the base is provided with a screwed locking pin held within a suitable aperture in the base element 13. The aperture and locking pin are configured so that the locking pin is adapted to securely engage the container and thereby prevent the base inadvertently rotating relative to the container and perhaps becoming detached.

The base element 13 is formed of plastics material and as a result can be manufactured in a range of colours. This colour range can comprise a colour coding for the range of chemicals to be stored. The coding can be determined according to an international or regional standard. A base of a particular colour will be selected according to the contents to be held and applied to a container. As a result, containers can be produced without any colour coding, but matched with the appropriate base prior to filling. This means that only bases require to be coloured rather the complete vessel and so the container, the more expensive item can be manufactured more cheaply.

The vessel of the embodiment has a number of significant advantages over the prior art. Firstly, the provision of grip portion 42 provides a means by which the vessel may be conveniently and securely grasped by a user. To move the vessel, a user is able to tilt the vessel at an angle to the upright orientation and rotate it about its longitudinal axis supported by the circular bearing edge 53. Because the profile of the circular grip portion 42 conforms generally to the palms of the users hands when being gripped firmly and that this profile is continuous, the user can control the vessel when it is rolling in the manner described above with considerable ease. This grip is integral with the container and is provided in a manner so that does not extend laterally beyond that part of the container which is primarily concerned with storage. In this way is does not extend beyond The additional gripping means in the form of the handles 48 provide a simple but effective means for gripping the vessel when it is not desired that the vessel rotates, eg in lifting or dragging the vessel. Nevertheless, these handles are provided in a way that they are effective and easy to use yet do not protrude beyond the outline of the vessel itself, and therefore do not interfere with the stacking of vessels adjacent to one another.

The benefit of the grip portion would apply to vessels which have a fixed circular base, as is commonly the case. However, where the vessel is being moved in the manner described on a frequent basis, it is found to be likely that the base will suffer damage. With vessels having such a conventional base, the damage to the base results in the need for premature replacement. By the provision of the replaceable base member 13, the embodiment enables the base member alone to be replaced when damaged, thereby considerably extending the serviceable life of the vessel. In addition, the use of the base member 13 allows for the provision of the circular protrusion 35. In use, a conventional pump is arranged so that its inlet is located within the protrusion 35. This protrusion 35 allows all of the contents to be withdrawn from the container except for a tiny volume within the protrusion. This reduces wastage as well as contamination of the subsequent contents. Such a protrusion could not be provided in a simple vessel of this nature, otherwise.

As mentioned previously, the substantially square cross-section of the main body portion results in better space utilisation than would be achieved by a purely cylindrical vessel. The net advantage of this is that the width of the vessel will be narrower than for a cylindrical vessel of equivalent volume and the same height. This is significant when a large number of vessel are stored together, thereby taking up a reduced total volume.

It has been already been mentioned that by providing the sealable opening 19 recessed within the reduces the risk of damage to the sealable opening 19. In addition one vessel may be stacked upon another.

While the embodiment identifies a particularly effective form of the invention, many adaptations are possible. For instance, while the gripping means has been described as being a circumferentially continuous rim, further adaptations can be provided wherein it is not continuous. As an example the gripping means might comprise a plurality of knobs moulded from the wall of the container, the knobs extending generally radially outwardly. Those skilled in the art will recognise that many other features of the vessel may be configured differently while maintaining the inventive concepts disclosed.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:-

1. A vessel having an upper end and a lower end and being defined by a base wall at the lower end and an upper wall at the upper end, wherein the vessel is provided with a formation adjacent the upper end defined by a waisted region of the upper wall, the vessel further comprising a base having a circular outer perimeter defined by a bearing edge wherein the vessel is adapted to be supported on a surface by the bearing edge when titled away from an upright orientation, the formation being adapted to be gripped by a user when in use to tilt the vessel away from an upright orientation and to roll the vessel about the bearing edge.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lateral extent of the formation does not exceed in width the maximum width of the remainder of the vessel.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the formation has a curved profile adapted to be grasped within the palms of the hands of a user.

4. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the formation is circumferentially continuous.

5. A vessel as in claim 4 wherein the formation is circular.

6. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the upper wall encloses the vessel with a panel comprising a sealable opening, the panel having a recessed portion in which the sealable opening is located.

7. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the vessel is further provided with a side wall to define a main body portion intermediate the upper wall and lower wall, the main body portion having a substantially square cross-section.

8. A vessel as in claim 7 wherein a plurality of handles are formed between the formation and the main body portion.

9. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein reinforcement structures are provided between the formation and the waisted portion of the upper wall.

10. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the base comprises a substantially cylindrical wall, an annular element extending inwardly from the annular wall and support elements extending between the cylindrical wall and the annular element adapted to provide support to the vessel.

11. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the base having the circular outer perimeter defined by a bearing edge is detachable from the vessel.

12. A vessel as claimed in claim 10 wherein the base is replaceable.

13. A vessel as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the base is provided with a plurality of tabs adapted to engage corresponding slots in the lower end of vessel to thereby detachably secure the base to the vessel.

14. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the base is colour coded.

15. A vessel as claimed in claim 14 wherein the base is manufactured from a plastics material selected from a predetermined range of colours chosen to designate the contents of the vessel.

16. A vessel as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the vessel further comprises a protuberance associated with the lower end of the vessel adapted to facilitate the removal of the contents from the vessel.

17. A vessel as claimed in claim 16 wherein the base is provided with a clearance for the protuberance.

18. A container provided with an attachment having a circular outer perimeter defined by a bearing edge, the attachment adapted to engage the base of the container and to be removable therefrom, wherein the container is adapted to be supported from a surface by the bearing edge when titled away from an upright orientation and to rolled about said bearing edge.

19. A container as claimed at claim 18 having an upper end being defined by an upper wall, wherein the vessel is provided with a formation adjacent the upper end defined by a waisted region of the upper wall, the formation being adapted to be gripped by a user when in use to tilt the vessel away from said upright orientation.