Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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,
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to jerry jug containers of the
type utilizing a stopcock to dispense the liquid contained therein.
Particularly, the present invention relates to an improvement in
such jugs wherein the stopcock may be detachably retained on the
jug body prior to replacement of the pour spout closure cap therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Jerry jug containers are available in many styles and configura-
tions. For example, the 1983 Spring Catalog "Plasticware" of the
Cole-Parmer Instrument Company shows various models of styles at
pages 14-15 and 28. Typically, the jug container is blow molded
from high-density polyethylene or similar polymeric material.
The types shown in the catalog include containers having only a
pour spout (Model TJ-6068-08, item j at page 15?, having a pour
spout and a vent spout (Model TJ-6068-11, item i at page 15), and
having a handle that folds flat (Model TJ-6067-00, item d at page
14). These containers may be provided with stopcocks, for example,
Model 6061-01 with faucet, item h at page 15.
Other jugs are illustrated in U.S. Patent D202,479, D206,961,
D207,243 and D212,350, each to Kelly; D219,867 to Reimer; and
D229,483 to Cutler.
U.S. Patent 4,368,826 to Thompson discloses a plastic bottle
with attachable handle, while U.S. Patent 3,746,200 to Flider dis-
closes a plastic jerry can made with a recessed handle and screw-top
opening. A breather tube extends from the highest part of the inside
of the can, through the recessed plastic handle, to a point on the
upper ledge surface of the single screw-top opening, which point is
sealed by the cap, when in place.
r~ j~
2 ~2~)9495
In the construction of the Flider can, there is proyided be-
neath the handle an upstanding fin or rib. The rib is in two
parts, one on each side of each molded section of the can~ and
provides greater strength to the can, particul~rly when ~rovided in
combination with handle supplements, which are riveted to the fins
or ribs of each molded section.
In many instances it is desirable to meter liquid from the can
by means of a stopcock or faucet. However, it is also desirable to
ship and store the container having on the pour spout a screw clos-
ure cap that provides a secure seal to the container. Although it
is, of course, possible to ship the filled container with a stop-
cock thereon, the seal provided thereby is not as secure, and the
container may leak. This might be occasioned by a defective stop-
cock, by a stopcock that is partially openj or by a stopcock that
fails in view of internA~ pressure within the jug brought on by
high storage temperatures. In addition, installation of the stop-
cock on the container requires additional quality control check to
make sure that the stopcock i8 properly closed. In certain types of
containers, the protrusion of the stopcock noz~le may present prob-
lems of stacking of the containers. Additionally, safety regula-
tions may prohibit shipping with the stopcock closure cap at~c~e~
to the pour spout.
~ ence, it is desirable to use the screw closure cap to seal the
container, but also to provide the cont~iner with a stopcock closure
cap. When the c~stomer is ready to use the jug, the closure cap
can then be replaced with the stopcock.
3 120949~i
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a jerry j~g con-
tainer having a stopcock.
It is another object of this invention to provide the jerry
jug container that is shipped and stored with a pour spout closure
cap sealing the container, which cap may then be replaced with a
stopcock by the user when desired.
It is a primary object of this invention to provide the jug con-
tainer having a stopcock-ret~ining means on the jug body, the stop-
cock being detachably retained in said means.
These and other objects and advantagesof the present inven-
tion will become apparent upon a further review of this specifica-
tion, and upon inspection of the drawings herewith.
In s~ -ry, the jerry jug container of the present invention
~_~ ises a jug body having a pour spout, a closure cap for the
pour spout, a stopcock closure cap att~chAhle to the pour spout,
the stopcock closure cap having a h~n~l e that is wedge-shaped in
the direction of the cock, and stopcock-ret~ining means on the jug_
body, whereby the-stopcock-may be detachably retAine~ in the retain-
ing means prior to replacement of the closure cap therewith.
The stopcock-ret~ining means is a planar strip of plastic pro-
jecting outwardly from the jug body adapted to receive the wedge-
shaped handle of the stopcock in a notch provided in the strip~
The top of the notch is provided with flexible opposing tabs, the
handle of the stopcock being inserted in the notch by flexing the
tabs away from one ano$her.
4 1209~
The location of the planar strip is not critical, but is
preferably situated in an area of the jug container away from the
exterior side walls thereof as to prevent interferences with ship-
ping of the containers and accidental removal.
This improvement may be incorporated in many styles of jugs,
the configuration, whether square, rectangular, round, octagonal,
etc., not being critical. Manufacture of the jug container of the
present invention can be accomplished easily by appropriate modifi-
cation to the mold.
BRIEF OESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the jug cont~iner of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detail view of the stopcock-ret~ining means.
FIG. 3 is a aetail perspective view of the pour spout illus-
trating the stopcock thereon.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view across section 4-4 of FIG. 1,
showing the stopcock in position in the retA; n i ng means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE P~; ~ ~ED EMBODIMENT
A perspective view of the preferred embodiment o~ the jerry
jug container 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The
container 10 is rectangular in configuration, the jug body 20 com-
prising side walls 21, 21a and 22, 22a, base 23 and top portion 25.
Proximate the bottom of the jug body is provided a continuous bumper
26. Si ~l~rly, the top portion 25 is shown to be slightly larger
than that portion of the jug body defined by walls 21, 21a and 22,
22a so as to provide a continuous raised surface that also func-
tions as a bumper for the top of the cont~iner.
5 ~ 20~
The top portion 25 may be considered to have a firs~ section
31 defined by side walls 32, sloped walls 33, top w~ll 34, and pour
spout (beneath pour spout cap 35)., a second section 41 defined by
side walls 42~ sloped walls 43, top wall 44~ and vent spout lbe-
neath vent spout closure cap 45~, and a center section that is the
wall 51 of the jug body, ana which extends ~etween interior walls
32 and 42. The general shape of sections 31, 41 in the embodiment
shown is prismoidal. It should be noted that the wall 51 is essen-
tially parallel to the base 23, However, as shown in PIG. 4, it
is clear that the wall 51 is sloped sli.ghtly as to for~ an apex at
the midpoint where the mold seam 50 o~ the jug exists.
Bridgin~ the tops 34 and 44 is a hollow handle 52 that provides
fluig communication between sect~ons 31 and 41 of the top section
25, the handle forming an aperture 53 with the Jug body 2Q~ Con-
sidering the second section 41, it is observed that the end of the
hanale 52 is molaed as to be a portion of said secti.on 41~ How-
ever, the overall configuration of section 41 is ~rismoidal~
The stopcock-retAining means 55 is located in the aperture 53
along the longituAinAl midpoint seam 50 of the wall 51, and is also
adjacent the inter~or wall 42 of section 41. In FrG~ 1 a stopcock
60 i8 shown in place in_the_retAinin~ means _5.__The stopcock 60
has a wedge-shaped handle 61 tapered in the direction of the coc~
62, the wedge-shaped handle 61 being secured within the notch 56
(shown clearly in FIG. 2 and described in detail below~.,
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the ret~ining means 55 is a thin
plAn~ ?r provided with a notch 56, the top of the notch having
two opposed, flexible tabs 57 such that the top opening 58 of the
notch is smaller than the bottom opening 59 of the notch, and also
smaller than the width of the stopcock handle at its smallest point~
The ~An~le may be inserted into o~ re ,c~ed from the notch ~X ~lexin~
1209496
the tabs. It is not necessary that the stopcock 60 be tightly
~ecured w~thin the notch, only that the ~topcock be loosely de-
tachably retained therein.
FIG. 3 shows the stopcock in position on the pour spout of the
~ug container. ~ preferred stopcock use~ herewith is described in
U.S. Patent 3,308,224, and is manufactured by Waddington 6 Duval,
Lond~n, England. The stopcock of the '224 patent is
available having a wedge-shaped handle.
Although the present invention has been described in detail
with respect to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the draw-
ings, it is to be understood that the invention can be incorporated
into a great variety of jug styles, for example, those previously
identified in the section Background of Invention, without depart-
ing from the scope and spirit of thi6 disclosure.
