AU637076B2 - Protection arrangement for containers - Google Patents

Description

637076 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Priority: Class Int. Class Lodged: Accepted: Published: Se..

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0@ 0 Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT J. GADSDEN PTY. LTD.

42-48 Dudley Street West Melbourne Victoria SMITH SHELSTON BEADLE 207 Riversdale Road Box 410) Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: PROTECTION ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTAINERS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Page 1 Our Ref: #4917 JC:JH 2 This invention relates to a protection arrangement for containers, and is particularly applicable to protect vulnerable parts of steel drums.

Many liquid products are stored in steel drums. Such drums are generally cylindrical and have a generally circular top panel and a generally circular bottom panel. Protruding from the top is a threaded circular flange, which flange defines a filling and dispensing aperture. The aperture is normally closed by a screw cap. Such closures normally stand well above the top rim of the drum proper, and are thus exposed to damage, particularly if the. drum is dropped top-down onto a hard surface.

Such drums often contain hazardous liquids, poisons, and the like. The closures of the drums can be damaged such that the hazardous liquid can lead from the drum.

New regulations proposed in Australia call for such drums to pass a drop test to ensure that such leakage cannot occur as a result of damage to the closure. Conventional drums would not pass such a test, and suggestions for strengthening or protecting the closure would add a significant cost factor to the production cost of the drums.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide aI cheap and effective way of protecting the closure of a container such as a drum.

25 The invention provides a combination of a container and a protective handle, said container having an end wall and a closure protruding from said end wall, said closure protruding from said end wall to the extent that said closure constitutes the outermost exposed part of said container vulnerable to an impact, said handle and said closure being located adjacent one another on said end wall, said handle being located for pivoting movement only, between a first position and a second position, a part of said handle, in said first position, being adapted to overly at least portion of said closure such that it alone protects said closure from said impact, by being interposed between a source of said impact and said closure, and not being pivotable from said first position by said impact.

)11-sPEW#917 17 hch 199 3 An embodiment of the invention, which may be preferred, will be described in detail hereinafter with references to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drum including a handle embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the top of the drum of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the handle in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the handle in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. i.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, there is shown a go: generally conventional steel drum 10 having a top panel 12 in which is located a closure 14.

The closure 14 is an upstanding threaded collar (not shown) surrounding an opening which enables the drum to be fitted and emptied therethrough. The closure 14 is normally closed by a screw cap 16 screwed onto the collar. Such drums normally have a simple handle enabling them to be picked up and carried, and to assist in dispensing the contents.

S' In Fig. 2 particularly, it can be seen that the closure

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14 stands well above the lip 18 of the body/top panel 0: connection of drum 10, and is thus vulnerable to impact with an object falling on it, or upon which it may be dropped, topdown, such as a concrete floor. Such a fall will tend to push the closure 14 into the body of the drum 10, will distort it, and will often cause a rupture in part of it, allowing the contents to leak out.

Handle 20 of this embodiment of the invention is designed to work as a conventional handle, as well as operating as a protection device for closure 14. It is preferably formed from steel wire, of perhaps 2mm or 3mm diameter, and is formed into a loop, with ends 22, 24 being part L-shaped portions 26, 28 which generaLly lie in one plane. The remainder of the handle is formed in a U-shape 30, with a curve 32 in the top of the U, which extends outwardly and upwardly. The shape is best shown in Figs. 2 to 4.

4 The "ends" portion of members 26, 28 are located, in use, in a bearing 34, which enables free movement of the handle from the position shown in unbroken lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

It can be seen that in both positions, if the drum 10 is dropped top-down onto a hard surface, handle 20 would absorb the shock, leaving closure 14 undamaged. If the handle happened to be in an intermediate position, it would have portion of it above its highest point in the other positions, and would also protect the closure in that position. This is clear from broken line 36, which illustrates the position of portion 32 as handle 20 moves between its two extreme positions.

Every point on the line is above the top of closure 14/cap 16, in between the extreme positions shown in Fig. 2.

15 It is clear from Figs. 1, 3 and 4 that the handle can still be used as conveniently as a handle, as the prior art arrangements.

Of course, modifications in the shape of the handle could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

"030 The entire contents of the provisional specification and drawings lodged on 20th August 1984 with Australian patent application no. PG 6671 are hereby incorporated into this specifications.

The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

S" The entire contents of the specification, claims and drawings of AU- A-46478/85 are hereby incorporated into this specification.

Claims (4)

1. A combination of a container and a protective handle, said container having an end wall and a closure protruding from said end wall, said closure protruding from said end wall to the extent that said closure constitutes the outermost exposed part of said container vulnerable to an impact, said handle and said closure being located adjacent one another on said end wall, said handle being located for pivoting movement only, between a first position and a second position, a part of said handle, in said first position, being adapted to overly at least portion of said closure such that it alone protects said closure from said impact, by being interposed between a source of said impact and said closure, and not being pivotable from said first position by said impact.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said handle in both said first position and said second position, bears upon said top portion, and wherein in said second position said handle affords some impact protection to said closure, and is not pivotable from said second position by an impact. 20

3. A combination according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said handle consists of two generally L-shaped portions, respective ends of said L-shaped portions being connected by handle gripping means, the other respective ends of said L- shaped portions having means for locating in bearing means on i* 25 said top portion to facilitate said pivoting movement of said handle between said first position and said second position.

4. A combination of a container and a protective handle, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 17 March, 1993 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: -,rn J. GADSDEN PTY. LTD. ni-SP2Ma/M917 17 Mi-d4. 1M