Fluid container

Claim 2

A flexible fluid container formed of two spaced opposed sheets of flexible material having at least a portion of their peripheral outermost edges joined to form a chamber therebetween with an outwardly projecting seam therearound, said container including seam-extension means associated with said seam to allow extension in a direction normal to the direction of the projecting seam thereof when the chamber is filled in order to provide increased fluid-holding capacity in said container, said seam-extension meanS comprising a continuous strip of flexible material having a surface of one section thereof contacting the inner surface of one sheet in the seam structure and a surface of another section thereof opposed to said first section contacting the inner surface of the other sheet in the seam structure, thereby conforming to the contour of the seam, said strip having unjoined marginal edges projecting inwardly of the chamber, and means for preventing adhesion between the sections of said strip so that when the chamber is filled said seam can freely extend without presenting an undue obstruction within the chamber.

Claim 3

The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adhesion preventing means is a second strip of flexible material dissimilar to that of said first mentioned strip which is disposed between said sections thereof and prevents adhesion therebetween.

Claim 4

a second layer of dissimilar material to that of said first layer which is bonded to said first layer and disposed between said first and second sections of said first layer to prevent the adhesion thereof so that when the container is filled the seam is free to extend and thereby increase the capacity of the chamber.

Claim 5

a second layer of dissimilar material to that of said first layer which is bonded to said first layer and disposed between said first and second sections of said first layer to prevent the adhesion thereof so that when the container is filled the seam is free to extend and thereby increase the capacity of the chamber.

Claim 6

a first generally V-shaped composite strip of flexible material extending substantially around the entire interior periphery of the container and fitting into the crotch-like contour formed by said sheets adjacent said joined outer edges thereof with said first strip including: a. a first layer having a first section which contacts the inner surface of one said sheets and a second section thereof which contacts the inner surface of the other said sheet; and b. a second layer of dissimilar material to that of said first layer which is bonded to said first layer and disposed between said first and second sections of said first strip to prevent the adhesion thereof so that when the container is filled the seam is free to extend and thereby increase the capacity of the chamber.

Claim 7

a first generally V-shaped composite strip of flexible material extending substantially around the entire interior periphery of the container and fitting into the crotch-like contour formed by said sheets adjacent said joined outer edges thereof with said first strip including: a. a first layer having a first section which contacts the inner surface of one said sheets and a second section thereof which contacts the inner surface of the other said sheet; and b. a second layer of dissimilar material to that of said first layer which is bonded to said first layer and disposed between said first and second sections of said first strip to prevent the adhesion thereof so that when the container is filled the seam is free to extend and thereby increase the capacity of the chamber.

Claim 8

The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second strip is bonded to the inner surfaces of said first strip to form a composite structure in the form of one continuous laminated strip.

Claim 9

A flexible fuel container with a chamber therein defined by two opposed sheets of flexible polymeric material which have been joined together along their respective peripheral outer edges to form a seam therearound having a crotch-like contour, said container comprising: A. means communicating with the chamber to allow the container to be filled; B. a generally V-shaped composite strip of flexible material extending substantially around the entire interior periphery of the container and fitting into the crotch-like contour formed by said sheets adjacent said joined outer edges thereof with said strip including:

Claim 10

A flexible fuel container with a chamber therein defined by two opposed sheets of flexible polymeric material which have been joined together along their respective peripheral outer edges to form a seam therearound having a crotch-like contour, said container comprising: A. means communicating with the chamber to allow the container to be filled; B. a generally V-shaped composite strip of flexible material extending substantially around the entire interior periphery of the container and fitting into the crotch-like contour formed by said sheets adjacent said joined outer edges thereof with said strip including:

Claim 11

The container as claimed in claim 4 wherein said sheets are laminates composed of an outer layer of elastomeric material and an inner layer of liquid impervious material.

Claim 12

The container as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first strip layer is composed of elastomeric material and said second strip layer is composed of thermoplastic material.

Claim 13

The container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first strip layer is composed of textile fabric material.

Claim 14

In a vacuum-formed flexible fuel container with a chamber therein, the combination of two opposed sheets of flexible fuel-resistant material which have been joined together along at least a portion of their respective peripheral outermost edges to form a seam therearound, means communicating with the chamber to allow the container to be filled with fuel, and the improvement comprising seam-extension means associated with said seam to allow extension thereof when the container is filled, thereby allowing the container to expand, said seam-extension means comprising a continuous strip of flexible material having a surface of one section thereof contacting the inner surface of one sheet in the seam structure and a surface of another section thereof opposed to said first section contacting the inner surface of the other sheet in the seam structure, thereby conforming to the contour of the seam, said strip having unjoined marginal edges projecting inwardly of the chamber, and means for preventing adhesion between the sections of said strip so that when the container is filled said seam can freely extend without presenting an undue obstruction in the chamber.

Claim 15

In a vacuum-formed flexible fuel container with a chamber therein, the combination of two opposed sheets of flexible fuel-resistant material which have been joined together along at least a portion of their respective peripheral outermost edges to form a seam therearound, means communicating with the chamber to allow the container to be filled with fuel, and the improvement comprising seam-extension means associated with said seam to allow extension thereof when the container is filled, thereby allowing the container to expand, said seam-extension means comprising a continuous strip of flexible material having a surface of one section thereof contacting the inner surface of one sheet in the seam structure and a surface of another section thereof opposed to said first section contacting the inner surface of the other sheet in the seam structure, thereby conforming to the contour of the seam, said strip having unjoined marginal edges projecting inwardly of the chamber, and means for preventing adhesion between the sections of said strip so that when the container is filled said seam can freely extend without presenting an undue obstruction in the chamber.

Claim 16

The improvement as claimed in claim 8 wherein said adhesion preventing means is a second strip of nylon film having a first portion thereof adhered to the inner surface of one section Of said first-mentioned strip and a second portion opposed to said first portion thereof adhered to the inner surface of another section of said first-mentioned strip.

Claim 17

An automotive fuel tank comprising: A. a rigid supporting structure having a cavity therein; and B. a flexible fuel container disposed within said cavity and including:

Claim 18

An automotive fuel tank comprising: A. a rigid supporting structure having a cavity therein; and B. a flexible fuel container disposed within said cavity and including: