Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Expanding or contracting portion or component
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2001-03-13
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Expanding or contracting portion or component
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199717
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a water container, more particularly to a container for storing and supplying water under pressure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional water container
10
is shown to comprise complementary upper and lower container parts
11
,
12
, a retaining ring
13
and a water and air impermeable flexible partition member
14
. The upper and lower container parts
11
,
12
are made of plastic. The upper container part
11
opens downwardly, and has a bottom rim
111
. The lower container part
12
opens upwardly, and has a top rim
121
. The upper container part
11
has a top end formed with a water inlet
112
that is adapted to be connected to a water valve (not shown). The lower container part
12
has a bottom end formed with an air inlet
122
that is adapted to be connected to an air valve (not shown). The retaining ring
13
, such as an annular washer, is formed with a radial outward peripheral flange
131
. The partition member
14
is disposed in the upper container part
11
, and is configured to line an inner wall surface of the same. The partition member
14
is formed with a peripheral lip
141
.
During assembly, the flange
131
and the lip
141
are received in an annular groove
113
that is formed in the bottom rim
111
of the upper container part
11
. The upper container part
11
is then disposed on top of the lower container part
12
, and the bottom and top rims
111
,
121
are bonded sealingly to each other via known high frequency welding techniques such that the flange
131
and the lip
141
are clamped tightly between the rims
111
,
121
. At this time, the partition member
14
cooperates with the upper container part
11
to form a volume variable water chamber (A), and further cooperates with the lower container part
12
to form a volume variable air chamber (B) that is sealed off from the water chamber (A).
In use, water is introduced into the water chamber (A) via the water inlet
112
. Pressurized gas is introduced into the air chamber (B) via the air inlet
122
. The partition member
14
deforms due to the weight of the water in the water chamber (A), thereby compressing the gas in the air chamber (B). Thus, when water pressure at the water inlet
112
drops, the compressed gas in the air chamber (B) forces the partition member
14
upwardly so that water can be released from the water chamber (A) under pressure.
In the aforesaid conventional water container
10
, the retaining ring
13
is essential to maintain tight contact among the partition member
14
and the upper and lower container parts
11
,
12
. Without the retaining ring
13
, leakage of air and/or water can easily occur at the joint of the partition member
14
and the upper and lower container parts
11
,
12
. However, due to the presence of the retaining ring
13
, the production cost of the conventional water container
10
is accordingly increased. Moreover, even with the presence of the retaining ring
13
, it is observed that leakage of air and/or water can still occur due to the lack of a facility to ensure tight contact between the retaining ring
13
and the partition member
14
. Furthermore, because the lip
141
is relatively small in size, the securing effect provided thereto is relatively weak, thereby resulting in an increased risk of air and/or water leakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a container for storing and supplying water under pressure which dispenses with the need for a retaining ring as taught in the aforesaid prior art and which has better protection against air and water leakage than the aforesaid prior art.
According to the present invention, a container is adapted to store and supply water, and comprises complementary upper and lower container parts, and a water and air impermeable flexible partition member.
The upper container part is formed with a water inlet, and has a top wall and a first surrounding wall with an upper end connected to the top wall, and a lower end formed with a bottom rim. The lower container part is formed with an air inlet, and has a bottom wall and a second surrounding wall with a bottom end connected to the bottom wall, and a top end formed with a top rim that is disposed below and that confronts the bottom rim. The bottom rim is formed with a lip anchoring groove therealong. The lip anchoring groove has a horizontal groove portion that confronts the top rim and that extends in a radial outward direction from an inner wall surface of the first surrounding wall, and a vertical groove portion that extends in an upward direction from one end of the horizontal groove portion distal to the inner wall surface of the first surrounding wall. The partition member is disposed in the upper container part, and has a central portion that confronts the top wall, a connecting portion that is disposed around the central portion and that is configured to line the inner wall surface of the first surrounding wall, and a peripheral lip that is disposed around the connecting portion and that engages the bottom rim at the lip anchoring groove. The peripheral lip has an upwardly extending distal portion that extends into the vertical groove portion. The bottom and top rims are bonded sealingly to each other such that the peripheral lip is clamped tightly between the bottom and top rims. The partition member cooperates with the upper container part to form a volume variable water chamber that is adapted to receive water therein, and further cooperates with the lower container part to form a volume variable air chamber that is sealed off from the water chamber and that is adapted to receive pressurized gas therein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3158296 (1964-11-01), Cornelius
patent: 4595037 (1986-06-01), Lebreton et al.
patent: 5176178 (1993-01-01), Schurter et al.
patent: 5407092 (1995-04-01), Hardgrove et al.
patent: 5806705 (1998-09-01), Herald, Jr. et al.
patent: 6129236 (2000-10-01), Osokin et al.
Ladas & Parry
Moy Joseph M.
LandOfFree
Container for storing and supplying water under pressure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Container for storing and supplying water under pressure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Container for storing and supplying water under pressure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2511565