GB2164914A

GB2164914A - A petrol can

Info

Publication number: GB2164914A
Application number: GB08424802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Bell
Original assignee: BELL PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: BELL PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1984-10-02
Filing date: 1984-10-02
Publication date: 1986-04-03
Also published as: GB2164914B; GB8424802D0

Abstract

A petrol can (1) made of plastics material has a base (5) provided with a central area (11) which is recessed above a surrounding peripheral area (12) of the base upon which the can stands. The central recessed area (11) of the base is substantially rectangular and is formed with a plurality of ribs extending transversely of the length of the central recessed area (11), the ribs being connected to form a further rib (14) extending along the base so that, in use of the can, the recessed central area can bow outwardly and downwardly under internal pressure, the ribs serving to limit the degree of bowing, while the can remains stably supported on its base (5). The ribs are preferably of rectangular cross section, the plastics material is a high density polyethylene and the top wall includes a spout, a handle, and an aperture (10) for receiving a separate extension spout. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A petrol can This invention relates to petrol cans, in particular petrol cans made of plastics material.

A conventional petrol can may be subjected to an internal pressure of up to approximately 1.6 atmospheres (1.6.X105 Pa) in use. Existing plastics material petrol cans are incapable of sustaining such pressures and will "balloon" or bow outwardly under the pressure so that the petrol can can no longer stably support itself on its base. Indeed, the base of a conventional plastics material petrol can may bow outwardly at internal pressures as low as, for example, 0.5 atmospheres (0.5 1X105 Pa).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a petrol can which overcomes or at least mitigates the disadvantages of existing petrol cans.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a petrol can made of plastics material, which petrol can has a base provided with a central area which is recessed above a surrounding peripheral area of the base upon which the can stands, whereby the recessed central area can bow outwardly and downwardly under internal pressure while the can remains stably supported on the peripheral area.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a petrol can made of plastics material, which petrol can has a base provided with a central area which is recessed above a surrounding peripheral area of the base upon which the can stands, the central recessed area of the base being elongate and being formed with a plurality of ribs extending transversely thereof, the ribs being connected to form a further rib extending along the base, whereby the recessed central area can bow outwardly and downwardly under internal pressure, the ribs serving to limit the degree of bowing while the can remains stably supported on the peripheral area.

Preferably, the central area of the base is substantially rectangular and the further rib extends along the major axis thereof. Generally, the ribs protrude outwardly from the central recessed area and are conveniently of substantially rectangular cross-section.

In the preferred embodiment, the plastics material used to form the can is a high density polyethylene which preferably has a polymer weight between 480 and 650 grams.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part-sectional side-elevational view of a petrol can embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the base of the petrol can of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a part-sectional view in the direction A in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a plastics material petrol can embodying the invention.

The petrol can 1 is substantially right parallelepipedal in shape having a front wall 2, a back wall 3, a top wall 4, a base 5 and side walls 6. As shown in the drawings, the walls are shaped so as to be continuous without any sharp edges or corners and, moreover, the front wall 2 bulges outwardly slightly in a direction parallel to the base 5 and the top wall 4 bulges upwardly.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the top wall 4 is formed with a cylindrical spout 7, the outer surface of the spout 7 being screw-threaded to receive a screw-threaded cap (not shown) for the petrol can 1. The top wall 4 is also formed with a carrying handle 8 and the carrying handle 8 is formed with an extension 9 which is provided with an aperture 10 which acts as a retaining device for a separate extension spout (not shown) for the petrol can.

The base 5 of the petrol can 1 is substantially rectangular and has a substantially rectangular central area 11 which is recessed above a surrounding peripheral area 12 of the base 5 so that the central area 11 extends inwardly of the petrol can. The central area 11 is provided with a plurality of ribs 13 which are substantially parallel to one another and to the minor axis of the central area 11.

The ribs 13 are connected together so as to form a further rib 14 which extends substantially perpendicular of the ribs 13 along the major axis of the central recessed area 11. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the ribs 13 and the further rib 14 are hollow, of substantially rectangular cross-section and protrude outwardly from the central recessed area 11.

One or both of the side walls 6 may be provided with a slightly recessed substantially rectangular area 1 5 to receive artwork, advertising material or the like. A further smaller substantially rectangular recessed area 16 may be provided on the back wall 3 of the petrol can, again to receive artwork, advertising material or the like.

The petrol can 1 preferably has a base area of approximately 280 mm by 170 mm and a height to the base of the spout of approximately 186mm, the height to the base of the handle being approximately 168mm, so that the can has a capacity of roughly 5.7 litres.

The petrol can 1 is preferably moulded from high density polyethylene having a polymer weight between 480 and 650 grams.

In use of the petrol can, the recessed central area 11 may bow outwardly under the internal pressure produced by petrol in the can whilst the can remains stably supported by the outer peripheral area 12. The ribs 13 and the further ribs 14 serve to strengthen the central recessed area 11 and to prevent the recessed area 11 bowing outwardly beyond the outer peripheral area 12 so that the can remains stably supported on its base.

Claims

1. A petrol can made of plastics material, which petrol can has a base provided with a central area which is recessed above a surrounding peripheral area of the base upon which the can stands, whereby the recessed central area can bow outwardly and downwardly under internal pressure while the can remains stably supported on the peripheral area.

2. A petrol can according to Claim 1, wherein the central recessed area of the base is provided with ribs which serve to limit the degree of flexing permitted to the recessed area of the base.

3. A petrol can made of plastics material, which petrol can has a base provided with a central area which is recessed above a surrounding peripheral area of the base upon which the can stands, the central recessed area of the base being elongate and being formed with a plurality of ribs extending transversely thereof, and ribs being connected to form a further rib extending along the base, whereby the recessed central area can bow outwardly and downwardly under internal pressure, the ribs serving to limiting the degree of bowing, while the can remains stably supported on the peripheral area.

4. A petrol can according to Claim 3, wherein the central recessed area of the base is substantially rectangular and the further rib extends along the major axis thereof.

5. A petrol can according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the ribs protrude outwardly from the central recessed area.

6. A petrol can according to Claim 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein the ribs are of substantially rectangular cross-section.

7. A petrol can according to any preceding claim, wherein the plastics material is a high density polyethylene.

8. A petrol can according to any preceding claim, wherein the central recessed area of the base has the same shape as the whole base.

9. A petrol can made of plastics material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features herein described.