Abstract:
A container for storing and dispensing liquids such as gasoline has a gate valve wherein the gate valve comprises a thin, substantially flat slide member optionally angled at a portion thereof. The gate valve member is slidably positioned within a similarly shaped channel formed into a surface of a reservoir (storage) portion of the container, or other area of the container.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 60/421,660 filed on Oct. 28, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention generally relates to containers for storing and dispensing a liquid. More specifically, a container where a flow of liquid from a container may be selectively and reversibly interrupted at will by an operator. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A problem often encountered when dispensing liquid from a container is that spillage of the liquid occurs. For example, pouring gasoline from a hand held container into a fuel tank mounted on a lawn mower might result in gasoline being spilled onto a hot engine causing the gas to ignite and harming an operator. This situation is not only more likely, but also particularly dangerous when the container is filled to maximum capacity. 
   A similar scenario exists when filling windshield washer reservoirs with cleaning fluid, the primary differences being the working area in the engine compartment is tightly constrained exacerbating the problem, and any spillage may not immediately endanger a user. However, lingering environmental effects may be incurred. 
   Multiple piece assemblies using intermating conical or domed structures are known forming a rotatable valve where openings in each piece are rotatably aligned to allow dispensing of fluids. This design requires a user to first rotate the valve in order to open it, reposition one&#39;s hands and then tip the container to dispense the liquid. This process encourages spillage as indicated supra. 
   Older designs for valve mechanisms used on gasoline containers include pivoting flapper type valves. These types of valves are made of metal, require complex hinge and actuation apparatus, and are generally unsuitable for low cost plastic injection molding manufacturing techniques. 
   Metal plunger type valves have been used on gasoline containers. However, these valves also require complex hinge and actuation apparatus, and are generally unsuitable for very low cost plastic injection molding manufacturing techniques used in high volume production. 
   Some manufacturers have placed a rotatable valve directly in line with a spout such as FloTool&#39;S™ Spill Saver Oil Spout. 
   Another type of gasoline container is the Smart Fill Fuel Can® made by Briggs and Stratton where a nozzle must be rotated, the container inverted and the nozzle placed into the mouth of a gas tank. With the mouth of the gas tank supporting the full weight of the gas and container, the container is pushed downward to cause the gas to flow into the tank. This design is still complex, and expensive to produce using known plastic manufacturing techniques, including assembly of the various components. Further, pushing downward with a full gas container onto a plastic fuel tank weakly mounted on a hot lawn mower, could create a potentially hazardous situation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of the invention described herein. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective, partial view of the gate valve member disposed in the channel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an end and top view of view A—A of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the invention integrated in a neck portion of a gas container. 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternate embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of an inventive vent assembly for a container in an open “vented position”. 
       FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of an inventive vent assembly for a container in a closed “sealed position”. 
       FIG. 8  shows an alternate embodiment of the invention described in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   There is a need for a valve controlled liquid storage and dispensing container suitable for use in dispensing liquids such as gasoline, windshield washer fluid, vehicle oil, etc., which is very inexpensive to manufacture using processes including plastic injection molding. There is also a need for a container having a valve assembly that may be actuated with the same hand that is simultaneously supporting a portion of the container, while the container is orientated in a pouring position. 
   A combination of a container (e.g. gasoline can) and a gate valve wherein the gate valve comprises a substantially flat member angled at a portion thereof. The gate valve member is slidably engagable within a similarly shaped channel formed into a surface of a container proximate to a neck portion of the container. The channel comprises first and second orifices in alignment and formed in opposing surfaces at a first end of the channel positioned beneath a neck portion. The gate valve member is slidably operative to a first position where a flow of liquid is blocked from a reservoir portion of the container to the neck portion and subsequently out of the container. The gate valve member is slidably moveable to a plurality of second positions whereas a flow of fluid may be varied from a mostly restricted flow, to a completely non-restricted flow commensurate with a position of the gate valve member. The gate valve member and/or the channel may be of a material that is resiliently deformable so as to provide a resilient interference fit between the gate valve member and the first and second orifices in the channel. One alternate embodiment of the invention is a gate valve mechanism, either spring biased or unbiased, fitted wholly into a portion of a threaded neck member of the container in contrast to the first embodiment wherein the gate valve mechanism is fitted into a surface of the container. A second alternate embodiment comprises a gate valve mechanism, either biased or unbiased (e.g. a spring), fitted wholly into a portion of a removable coupling or spout that may or may not have universal threads and/or diameter to fit any other gas can or other container. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A container  1  in accordance with embodiments of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1  having reservoir  33  for storing liquids, and a threaded neck portion  24  having an opening (not shown) for dispensing liquids such as gasoline. A substantially flat gate valve member  4  is slideably disposed within a portion of a channel  2  formed into a surface  3  of container  1  as shown by arrow  29 . In an alternate embodiment, optionally thin gate valve member  4 , has a portion thereof  5  acutely angled with respect to the remaining portion  7 . Channel  2  has a shape that generally follows the contour of the shape of the container as shown in  FIG. 1 . A gate valve is a type of valve that incorporates a sliding gate to block fluid flow, where the direction of gate movement is substantially perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow. A gate valve can block fluid flowing in either direction. In embodiments of the invention herein, the use of a gate valve also prevents moisture, rain, pests or other contaminants from entering the container. 
   Gate valve member  4 , and optionally container  1  may be made of resiliently deformable material such as plastic (including, but not limited to HDPE, LDPE, PVC, Delrin™ etc.). Channel  2  has sealing surfaces  13  and  14  formed into face  15 . Sealing surfaces  11  and  12  are formed in opposite face  17  of channel  2 . Gate valve member  4  has surfaces  6  and  16  disposed on acutely angled portion  5  that are reverseably mateable with complementary sealing surfaces  13 ,  14  and  11 ,  12  respectively, that are formed in opposing faces of channel  2 . Fluid leakage is prevented by pressure engagement between surfaces  6  and  16  of gate valve member  4  and sealing surfaces  11 , 12 , 13 , 14  via a resilient interference fit. End  8  of gate valve  4  may abut surface  10  of channel  2  forming a mechanical stop. An opening  22  formed through an end of channel  2  is positioned under threaded neck portion  24 . When gate valve member  4  is slideably moved in a direction parallel to channel  2  as shown by the arrow  27  in  FIG. 1 , end  8  of gate valve member  4  traverses across opening  22  in channel  2  thereby allowing a stream of fluid to flow from reservoir  33 , through opening  22  and out of threaded neck portion  24 . Gate valve member may be moved incrementally in order to achieve varying flow rates ranging from a mere trickle, to maximum flow when opening  22  is fully exposed. Further, gate valve member  4  may be operated with one hand after container  1  is inverted and neck  24  positioned over or in a second container such as a gas tank on a lawn mower. Container  1  may or may not be operated with a spout (not shown) attached to threaded neck portion  24  as some embodiments of the invention are integral only to the body portion of the container such as shown in  FIGS. 1–3 . In alternate embodiments, gate valve member  4  is spring biased to a normally closed position providing a fail safe mechanism. 
   An alternate embodiment of channel  2  and gate valve member  4  uses a sealing slot  23  formed in a wall  19  formed transversely across channel  2  as shown in view D—D. Gate valve member  4  slides through sealing slot  23  thereby precluding fluid leakage out of channel  2 . 
   Gate valve member  4  (which may be very thin) is shown disposed in channel  2  of the partial perspective view  18  of  FIG. 2 . Opening  22  formed in channel  2  is shown as blocked by gate valve member  4 . Slot  20  may be formed in channel  2  to allow a handle portion  9  to move back and forth within channel  2 . 
     FIG. 3  shows an end view section A—A of channel  2  in  FIG. 1 . Channel  2  is shown positioned under threaded neck portion  24  for receiving gate valve member  4  without interfering with a threaded mating cap or spout (not shown).  FIG. 3  also shows a top view of section A—A. Gate valve member  4  is shown in two positions: fully closed by the dotted lines  28  thereby blocking a liquid flow, and fully open as shown by solid lines  26  thereby allowing a maximum flow of liquid. Though only two positions are shown in  FIG. 3 , it is fully understood not to be a limitation of any of the embodiments of the invention herein. Many incremental positions of gate valve member  4  are possible using embodiments of the invention herein in order to vary a flow of liquid from a mere trickle, to maximum flow as dictated by a diameter of opening  22 . The direction of actuation of gate valve member  4  may be generally perpendicular relative to a vertical axis (not shown) emanating out from threaded neck portion  24  in  FIG. 1 . 
   An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . A solid flat gate valve member  30  is slideably disposed in channel  32  formed into a portion of a threaded male-female coupling  25 . Gate valve member  30  is actuated in bi-directional fashion perpendicular to a path formed by a flow of liquid progressing from the female threads to the male threads. Gate valve member  30  may be captively retained in channel  32  via retaining ears or tabs  44  and complementary locking notches  42  or equivalent. This captive retaining action prevents gate valve member  30  from being completely withdrawn out of channel  32  thereby precluding leaks, evaporation of the contents, or spillage. View B—B shows a section of the top view along lines B—B. Sealing of gate valve member  30  to the coupling  25 , and operation thereof is substantially similar to the embodiments described supra and will not be repeated here. A feature of embodiments of coupling  25  is that the gate valve member  30 , ergo the entire gate valve, is wholly contained within the coupling  25  itself. No part of the gate valve is integral (an essential part thereof) to the body of a container, and therefore may be manufactured separately from liquid containers. Consequently, the gate valve may be purchased and added to existing containers. 
   Another alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . A flat gate valve member  31  having an aperture or hole  48  is slideably disposed in channel  32  formed into a portion of a threaded male-female coupling  25 . Gate valve member  31  is spring biased (a concave washer, a cantilevered lever etc. may also be used to accomplish biasing) in a fail-safe manner to a normally closed (fluid flow blocked) position. This fail-safe gate valve prevents spillage in the event a container having an embodiment of the invention is accidentally dropped while dispensing liquids such as gasoline into a lawnmower. When an operator desires to cause a flow of liquid through the coupling  25 , one need only push on thumb tab  38  compressing spring  40  thereby causing hole  48  to be at least partially aligned with opening  46  establishing liquid flow. As more force is exerted onto thumb tab  38 , the higher a flow rate is obtained because a larger portion of hole  48  is aligned with opening  46 . 
   Gate valve member  31  is actuated in bi-directional fashion perpendicular to a path formed by a flow of liquid progressing from the female threads to the male threads. Gate valve member  31  may be captively retained in channel  32  via retaining ears or tabs  44  and complementary locking notches  42 . This captive retaining action prevents gate valve member  31  from being completely withdrawn out of channel  32  thereby precluding leaks, evaporation of the contents, or spillage. View C—C shows a section of the top view along lines C—C. Sealing of gate valve member  31  to the coupling  25 , and operation thereof is substantially similar to the embodiments described supra and will not be repeated here. A feature of embodiments of coupling  25  is that the gate valve member  31 , ergo the entire gate valve, is wholly contained within the coupling  25  itself. No part of the gate valve is integral (an essential part thereof) to the body of a container, and therefore may be manufactured separately from liquid containers. Consequently, the gate valve may also be purchased and added to existing containers. 
     FIG. 6  shows one embodiment of an inventive vent cap assembly  100  for use with container  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . Vent cap  100  is threaded onto second threaded neck portion  50  shown in  FIG. 1  via threads  112  formed into body  102 . Handle  104  is pulled upwards thereby breaking a seal formed by surfaces  106  and  108  allowing gas pressure to equalize between reservoir  33  and ambient atmosphere via openings  114  and  116 . Mateable surfaces  106 A and  108 A may also be used to provide additional sealing as required. When the gas pressure between container  1  and ambient atmosphere is equal, a continual flow of liquid may be established from container  1  as is known in the art.  FIG. 7  shows vent cap  100  in a closed, sealed configuration. Handle  104  is pushed downward causing surfaces  106  and  108  to be pressed together thereby preventing stored liquid from spilling from container  1 . Handle  104  may become locked in place when moved to the open or closed positions. Further handle  104  is captively retained to body  102  via retaining ears or tabs  118  and  120 . 
   It is understood that variations of embodiments of the inventions herein are possible that are still within the bounds of embodiments of the inventions. For example, a spout molded into container  33  may replace the male threads shown in FIGS.  1 ,  4 , and  5 . Further, spring  40  may be disposed inside channel  32  to allow either push or pull operation (hole  48  is repositioned accordingly), though only push actuation is described. Spring  40  may also be deployed on the container and valve system of  FIG. 1  similar to  FIG. 5 . 
   Further, although the gate valve/couplings of  FIGS. 4 and 5  are shown as reversibly attachable to a container, neck member  24  of  FIG. 1  may be modified such as to incorporate the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5  into container  1  as a single piece construction (except gate valve member  4 , 48  and/or spring  40 ). 
   Further, embodiments of the gate valve shown in  FIGS. 4  and/or  5  may be incorporated into a spout that is either reversibly mateable to a container, or is a permanent part of a container. 
     FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the invention herein. Gate valve  204  is disposed in a channel  202  formed in a corner of container  201 . Internal spring  240  outwardly biases gate valve  204  to a normally closed position where first opening  248  formed into gate valve  204  is misaligned with second opening  222  formed through channel  202  and first neck portion  224  which may be thread to accept a spout. The valve is closed when openings  248  and  222  are misaligned. An operator moves gate valve  204  inward causing first opening  248  to become at least partially aligned with second opening  222  thereby allowing a flow of liquid to be established from reservoir  233  through second opening  248 / 222  and out of first neck portion  224 . Container  201  has a second neck portion  250  that may accept a vent cap  100  described above. 
   Container  210  may be filled through second neck portion  250  thereby allowing opening  222  in first neck portion  224  and/or opening  248  to be a smaller diameter than would be necessary if container  201  was to be filled through first neck portion  224 . A smaller diameter opening allows for more precise control of a fluid stream when dispensing liquids. Optionally, handle  252  may be formed into a side or bottom surface of container  201  to facilitate handling of container  201  when tilted or inverted. 
   In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations and combination of elements herein as described above are considered to represent preferred embodiments of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.