Abstract:
The valved container assembly comprises a container positionable on an adjustable stand. The container incorporates an outlet tube adjacent the bottom of the container, the outlet tube incorporating an inline flow control valve and an end valve which stops flow through the tube when flow into a receptacle for fluid from the container reaches a height below overflow.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a valved fluid container assembly including a container, such as, for example, a gas can, which is easy to use compared to those presently available and includes a valve system for greater accuracy in filling a device with fluid from the container, and for controlling flow of fluid from the container, the assembly further incorporating a stand for the container. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Heretofore, various liquid containers have been proposed. Also valved liquid containers have been proposed. 
   However, none have provided the ease of use and valving system which is described in greater detail hereinbelow. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention there is provided a valved container assembly comprising a fluid container, the container incorporating an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom adjacent a bottom of the container, the outlet incorporating an outlet tube, the outlet tube incorporating an inline valve for controlling flow of fluid through the tube, and the outlet tube further incorporating an end valve which acts to stop flow of fluid through the outlet tube before fluid exiting the outlet tube can cause an overflow from an item into which fluid from the container is flowing. 
   Further, according to the invention there is provided an inline valve for use in controlling flow through a flow line, the valve comprising a proximal end and a distal end mechanically engaged within and to the flow line, the valve incorporating a compressible tube therein and a stopper engaged about the compressible tube and being spring biased to maintain the tube in a compressed state so no flow can pass therethrough until force is applied onto the stop member against action of the biasing spring to allow decompression of the compressed tube for flow to pass therepast. 
   Still further, according to the invention there is also provided an end valve for use in a flow line to keep fluid passing through the flow line from overflowing an item into which fluid is being delivered by the flow line, the end valve having a proximal end and distal end and including a valve element in the proximal end, the valve element being configured to allow fluid flow therearound; a valve seat which is normally biased by a spring against the valve element, the valve seat defining an entry into an outflow channel which allows fluid to flow out of the distal end of the valve when action of the biasing spring is overcome; a movable float engaged slidably about a wall defining the outflow channel, a leaf spring having an arcuate configuration positioned between the float and the wall, the leaf spring having a proximal end positioned relative to the seal element in a manner to maintain the seal element away from the valve seat when adjacent a distal end of the seal element, when the seal element and valve seat are manually separated, the leaf spring being forced out of engagement with the distal end of the seal element by elevation of the float due to fluid contact therewith; the float and valve elements being housed within a cage and the cage having ports therein through which fluid can pass to cause elevation of the float to cause the valve to close off further outflow therethrough. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the valved container assembly. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of the assembly when viewed from one side thereof, showing an adjustable stand therefor, provided for ease of use thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view through an inline valve of the assembly showing same in an open condition. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view through the valve of  FIG. 3  showing same in an open condition position. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the valve of  FIG. 3  perpendicular to the cross section of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view through a second valve of the valve system showing the valve in an open condition. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view through the valve of  FIG. 6  showing same in a closed condition. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated therein the easy use fluid container assembly with valving system for same, made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and generally identified by the reference numeral  10 . 
   As shown, the assembly  10  includes a container  12  which is designed to receive, hold, and ultimately dispense fluid therefrom. In the illustrative embodiment presented, the container  12  is shown to comprise a gas can  12 , though this should not be construed as limiting. 
   Fluid containers  12 , such as gas cans  12 , are known to be of significant weight when filled, particularly when they are of large capacity, such as gas cans  12  used for filling boat motors (not shown). Such significant weight is, at best, unmanageable when emptying a conventional can provided with a typical top mount nozzle supplied with such can, especially when a woman attempts to lift such can and tilt same simultaneously for emptying thereof. 
   It is well known that due to the structure of such conventional cans, spillage of fluid, such as gasoline, is often unavoidable, although extremely undesirable. 
   The assembly  10  of the present invention overcomes these undesirable features. 
   First, a stand  14  is provided upon which the can  12  may be rested. Such stand  14 , in a preferred embodiment, will comprise a tray  16  with removable legs  18 , for easy storage. Now, the container  12  need merely be vertically elevated onto the stand  14  and need not be held during use. 
   It will by seen that the legs  18  are adjustable in height, having a plurality of spaced apart vertically aligned bores  20  therein. The legs  18  are slidably received in openings  22  provided in the base  14 , and any suitable structure, such as a pin  24  may protrude from one bore  20  in each leg  18 , engaging a bottom surface  26  of the base  14 , setting the base  14  at a desired height from a supporting surface for same (not shown). 
   Secondly, rather than draining the container  12  through a top mounted nozzle which would require tilting thereof, the container  12  is provided with a valved drain hose  30  adjacent a bottom wall  32  of the container  12 , so action of gravity will assist in drainage of the container  12 . 
   Flow from the container  12  must be controllable. Such is accomplished in the present embodiment by a valve system  32  incorporated into the drain hose  30 , the illustrated valve system  32  incorporating two valves  34  and  36 . A first of the valves  34 , will be referred to as an inline valve  34  while the second of the valves  36  will be referred to as the end valve  36 . 
   The inline valve  34  will be seen to incorporate a flexible fluid passageway or tube  38  therethrough which is in line with a lumen  40  of the drain hose  30 . Extending transversely to and passing diametrically about the tube  38  is a U-shaped stopper  42  which is biased by a spring  44  to a normally closed position as shown in  FIG. 4 , to keep fluid from passing therethrough by pinching the tube  38  closed. 
   The stopper  42  includes a knob  46  at an end  48  opposite the spring biased end  50  which is manually manipulated and held downwardly to force the stopper  42  against action of the biasing spring  44  when it is desired to deliver fluid from the container  12 . 
   It will be understood that when the stopper  42  is in the depressed position, as best shown in  FIG. 5 , the tube  38  of the valve  34  flexes open and fluid is allowed pass through the hose  30  to the end valve  36 . Upon release of the knob  46 , the valve  34  closes. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , depicting the end valve  36  of the assembly  10 , it will first be understood that in use, a distal or depending end  52  of the valve  36  is placed downwardly into an item to be filled from the container  12 . 
   The end valve  36  is seen to include a seal  54  having a conical head  56  in the illustrated embodiment which engages via a ported neck  58  to a seal housing  60 . The neck  60  is ported to allow flow from a proximal channel  62  therethrough and around the conical head  56 , when the valve  36  is in an open position thereof. The housing  60  is also seen to include an inwardly extending flange  64  on a distal end thereof which will further be discussed below. 
   The conical head  56  seats within a proximal end  66  of an outflow channel  68  when the valve  36  is in its normally closed position. The seal  54  is biased toward the channel  68  by a biasing spring  70  interposed between a proximal end flange  72  of a defining wall  74  of the channel  68  and a distal end flange  64  of the seal housing  60 , the seal housing end flange  64 _ being distal to the proximal end flange  77 . 
   The channel wall  74  has positioned thereabout a float  76  which rides along the channel wall  74  from the distal end  52  of the valve  36  up to a point where it abuts the distal flange  64  of the seal housing  60 . 
   Surrounding the above structures and enclosing same therein is a cage  80  which is fixed to the channel wall  74  at the distal end  52  of the valve. The cage  80  has a plurality of ports  82  therein through which liquid can enter the cage  80  from within the item being filled. 
   It will be understood that, with the distal end  52  of the valve  36  being downwardly disposed in the item being filled should fluid in the item rise to a level to enter the cage  80  via the ports  82 , the float  76  will be moved proximally. 
   Provided between the float  76  and the channel wall  74  is an elongate leaf spring  88  which extends along the channel wall  74  from a position somewhere under the float  76  when the float  76  is in the most distal position thereof, to a point proximal to the distal flange  64  of the seal housing  60  when the valve  36  is in a closed position thereof. 
   The leaf spring  88  includes a distal flange  90  which seats within a groove  92  in an exterior surface  94  of the channel wall  74  and also includes a proximal flange  96  which also seats within a groove  98  when the seal housing  60  engages thereover. 
   The proximal flange  96  is also positioned within the valve  36  such that, when it elevates out of the groove  98  due to the flexed arcuate configuration thereof, it abuts against the distal flange  64  of the seal housing  60 , holding the vale  36  open against action of the biasing spring  70 . 
   This open position is maintained until the float  76  rides proximally a sufficient distance to overcome the flexure of the leaf spring  88  pushing the proximal flange  96  into the groove  98 , allowing the biasing spring  70  to expand and return the valve  36  to its normally closed position. 
   Thus, by motion of the float  76 , which is moved by the rising level of fluid in the item being filled from the container  12 , overflow of fluid from the item being filled, is avoided. 
   Turning back to the container  12 , in the preferred embodiment, a carrying handle  100  is provided on a top surface  102  thereof. 
   Also, provided on the top surface  102  is a fill inlet  104  which, in the preferred embodiment, includes a fill opening  106  in an elevated neck  108 , with a rotatable cap  110  seating over the neck  108  for use in closing off the fill inlet  104 . Further, if desired, a vent opening  112  can be provided in both the cap  110  and neck  108  which align when the cap  110  is rotated to allow access to the fill inlet  104 , to allow for venting of air from within the container  12  as liquid is filling the container  12 . 
   As described above, the assembly  10  provides a number of advantages, some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention. Also, modifications to the structures disclosed herein may be proposed without departing from the teachings herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.