TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally, to apparatus for storing and/or transporting liquids, and relates more particularly, though not exclusively, to fuel containers for storing and/or transporting substances such as petrol, gasoline, two-stroke or diesel. More particularly, the present invention relates to cap and/or seal assemblies for such fuel containers.

BACKGROUND ART

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure herein.

With continued reliance on fuel products such as petrol or diesel for routine day to day activities, storage and/or transportation of such fuel products has become increasingly more common. As a result thereof the need to improve the effectiveness and/or safety associated with the use of typical fuel containers has become a concern. Given that fuel containers are quite often exposed to harsh conditions during transportation, as for example, when loading and unloading occurs, or due to poor or rough road surfaces, etc, unwanted fuel spatter or spillage can result, particularly if the container cap is inadvertently dislodged or open due to such extreme conditions. Further, when such containers are stored for extended periods, fuel evaporation or leakage can occur if the container cap assembly does not provide an adequate or secure seal. A common form of fuel container is the so called "jerry can". Jerry cans typically have a cap assembly which pivots between an open and closed position allowing fuel to be loaded and unloaded as required. In an effort to provide a means of locking or securing the pivotal cap of such a typical jerry can in its closed position various fastening devices have been proposed. One such fastening device comprises a locking pin which can be manipulated to engage and hold captive various components of the cap in an effort to prevent unwanted opening of same. It has been found however that such a "locking pin" fastening device can easily become dislodged when a bump or collision occurs during transportation. Hence, inadvertent spillage, etc, of fuel can still occur with jerry cans or other fuel containers comprising this form of cap and locking pin assembly. A need therefore exists for an alternative and/or improved cap assembly for a fuel container.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a container cap assembly comprising: a cap body for selectively covering and closing an outlet of the container; a clasp or shackle fixed to the container on or adjacent the outlet; and, a cap securing hook pivotally connected to the cap body and adapted to pass through, or otherwise be inserted into, the shackle when the cap body is selectively manipulated and moved to a closed position; wherein a safety locking means is disposed at one side of the cap securing hook and is pivotally affixed thereto; the safety locking means including: a locking hook adapted to hook onto and lock relative to the shackle when cap body is moved to its closed position; and, a control portion for selectively unlocking the locking hook from the shackle when it is selectively desired to manipulate and move the cap body to an open position in order to expose the outlet.

Preferably the safety locking means comprises a piece of metal having the locking hook disposed at one end thereof, and the control portion disposed at an opposite end thereof, and wherein manipulation of the control portion pivots the safety locking means enabling the locking hook to be selectively disengaged from the shackle.

Preferably the control portion comprises a portion of the piece of metal that is folded substantially at right angles relative to the remaining portions of the piece or metal, and wherein the control portion is provided adjacent a control portion of the cap securing hook. Preferably the safety locking means is normally biased to an engaged state of the locking hook. It is also preferred that in order to normally bias the safety locking means to the engaged state of the locking hook the safety locking means includes a spring component which is wound around a pivot or fastener affixed to the safety locking means, one end of the spring component adapted to act against the safety locking means, and another end of the spring adapted to act against the cap securing hook.

Preferably the pivot or fastener is a screw which is affixed to the piece of metal comprising the safety locking means. Preferably the container is a fuel container.

According to a further aspect the present invention may also provide a fuel container including the cap assembly as described with reference to any one of the preceding paragraphs.

These and other essential or preferred features of the present invention will be apparent from the description that now follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail preferred constructions of a fuel container and cap assembly in accordance with the invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG.1 is a combined side view of a fuel container and cap assembly made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG.2 is a front view of the combined fuel container and cap assembly shown in FIG. 1 ; and,

FIG.3 is an enlarged view of the correspondingly marked circled region shown in FIG.1.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In FIGS.1 to 3, there is shown a combined fuel container and cap assembly made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the invention may relate only to the cap assembly, or it may relate to fuel containers comprising the cap assembly of the present invention. Similarly, although a preferred "jerry can" fuel container is shown, it will be appreciated that the principles of the cap assembly of the present invention could also be applied to other forms of fuel containers. The present invention should therefore not be construed as limited to the specific example provided. - A - In FIGS.1 & 3, it can be seen that the fuel container cap assembly of the present invention preferably comprising: a cap body 1 for selectively covering the fuel outlet of the fuel container; a clasp or shackle 2 fixedly disposed on the fuel container, on or adjacent the fuel outlet; and, a cap securing hook 3 pivotally fixed to cap body 1 ; the cap securing hook 3 being adapted to pass through, or otherwise be inserted into, shackle 2 when cap body 1 is selectively manipulated and moved to its closed position.

The application of downward force to pivotal cap securing hook 3, when cap securing hook 3 engages with and is inserted into, or under, shackle 2, provides a frictional connection (and seal) between cap body 1 and the fuel outlet. That is, when cap securing hook 3 is fully engaged with and inserted into shackle 2, when force is removed, cap body 1 is maintained in a closed and sealed manner relative to the fuel outlet of the container.

In order to ensure that cap body 1 is not inadvertently opened or dislodged during storage and/or transportation, in FIG.3 (in particular) it can be seen that the preferred cap assembly also includes a safety locking means 4, which is disposed at one side of cap securing hook 3, and pivotally affixed or otherwise thereto.

Safety locking means 4 comprises a locking hook 5 capable of hooking onto (and locking relative to) shackle 2 when cap body 1 is in its closed state. The engagement of locking hook 5 relative to shackle 2 ensures that cap securing hook 3 cannot inadvertently disengage or otherwise be released from shackle 2 when cap body 1 is in its closed state.

In order to readily manipulate safety locking means 4, and hence to selectively unlock locking hook 5 relative to shackle 2, a finger or thumb control portion 6 is provided. Downward force applied to control portion 6 causes safety locking means 4 to pivot, which as a result thereof disengages locking hook 5 from shackle 2 - which then enables cap securing hook 3 to be released from shackle 2 in order to open cap body 1 to expose the fuel outlet for filling or dispensing purposes. In FIG.3, it can be seen that safety locking means 4 can be constructed out of a single piece of metal 7, having locking hook 5 disposed at one end, and control portion 6 disposed at the other end. In this particular embodiment it can be seen that control portion 6 is simply provided by way of a portion of metal piece 7 being folded at right angles. It will be appreciated that safety locking means 4 could be formed or otherwise provided by one or more pieces of material and/or components. The present invention should therefore not be construed as limited to the specific example provided. To ensure that locking hook 5 is not inadvertently disengaged from shackle 2 when cap body 1 is selectively positioned in its closed state, safety locking means 4 also includes a spring component 8 which is connected to safety locking means 4 by way of a pivot or fastening means 9. Pivot or fastening means 9 is preferably a screw around the middle of which spring component 8 is wound. One end of spring component 8 preferably acts against safety locking means 4, whilst the other end preferably acts against cap securing hook 3, in this way biasing locking hook 5 to its locked or engaged position relative to shackle 2. This normally biased position of locking hook 5, of safety locking means 4, also conveniently enables locking hook 5 to automatically engage and lock relative to shackle 2 when cap body 1 is selectively manipulated to its closed position.

Although a particular spring 8 arrangement is proposed and shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that many other alternative arrangements could also achieve that same or similar result. A person skilled in the art will appreciate many such variations and as such the present invention should not be construed as limited to the specific example provided.

The present invention therefore provides a useful and affective fuel container cap assembly which has many advantages, of which the following are noted. Compared with other known solutions, the cap assembly of the present invention can securing engage and seal the fuel outlet of a fuel container in a manner which will not inadvertently be dislodged or opened when a bump or collision occurs during storage and/or transportation of the container. Thus, no splatter, leakage or otherwise avoidable evaporation will occur during normal use of a fuel container comprising the cap assembly of the invention. The fuel container cap assembly is skilfully designed with a simple structure which can be produced at low cost. The overall result is a container that meets stringent safety standards and prevents against loss of precious and often expensive fuel. These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments provided hereinbefore.

While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). The present invention is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth. Finally, as the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced.

Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components to be grouped therewith.