Patent US4762440A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4762440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spill containment device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1986-06-16
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Granted: 1988-08-09
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Expires: 2006-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A spill containment device for the fill tube of a liquid storage tank, particularly an underground, liquid storage tank. The containment device has a spill container with a bottom opening for receiving the tank fill tube in liquid sealing relation to the container wall and a top opening through which the fill tube is accessible for filling the tank, whereby the container contains any liquid spill during filling of the tank. The container top opening is closed by a removable cover which cooperates with a water drain arrangement to vent liquid vapor from the container while preventing rain and other ground surface water from entering the container. A drain valve operable from a position adjacent the container top opening is provided for draining liquid spill from the container to the tank. One embodiment is designed to receive multiple tank fill tubes and has a surrounding casing with a relatively massive top end closure having openings closed by separate relatively small covers which are individually removable to access the different tank fill tubes.
Inventors
- 👤 Toby Argandona
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:59
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/10; B65D90/105; B67D7/32; B67D7/3209; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/5762; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6966; Y10T137/6991; Y10T137/7043; Y10T137/7058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A spill containment device for a fill tube of a liquid storage tank comprising: a spill container having a bottom opening for removably receiving the tank fill tube, a top access opening bounded circumferentially by wall means having an upper edge surrounding said top access opening through which top opening the fill tube is accessible for filling the tank through the fill tube, and an upwardly opening water drain channel surrounding said access opening outwardly of said wall means and separated from said access opening by said wall means, means for sealing said container to the fill tube, whereby the containment device is adapted to contain any liquid spill during filling of the tank through its fill tube, a removable cover closing said access opening, said cover having a top wall seating on said upper edge of said wall means and a depending circumferential flange about said top wall projecting downwardly into said channel, and drain means opening to said channel below the level of said upper wall edge for draining water from said channel to the exterior of said container, said channel draining means comprising a drain conduit extending downwardly from said channel through the bottom of said spill container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A spill containment device for a fill tube of a liquid storage tank comprising: a spill container having a bottom opening for removably receiving the tank fill tube, a top access opening bounded circumferentially by wall means having an upper edge surrounding said top access opening through which top opening the fill tube is accessible for filling the tank through the fill tube, and an upwardly opening water drain channel surrounding said access opening outwardly of said wall means and separated from said access opening by said wall means, means for sealing said container to the fill tube, whereby the containment device is adapted to contain any liquid spill during filling of the tank through its fill tube, a removable cover closing said access opening, said cover having a top wall seating on said upper edge of said wall means and a depending circumferential flange about said top wall projecting downwardly into said channel, and drain means opening to said channel below the level of said upper wall edge for draining water from said channel to the exterior of said container, said channel draining means comprising a drain conduit extending downwardly from said channel through the bottom of said spill container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
A spill containment device for at least one underground liquid storage tank fill tube, comprising: a casing to be recessed into the ground substantially flush with the surrounding ground surface and in surrounding relation to the tank fill tube, and having a top opening through which the casing interior is accessible and a removable cover for said casing top opening, and a spill container within said casing secured to said cover and having a bottom opening for receiving the tank fill tube in liquid sealing relation to the bottom wall of said container, said casing cover having an access opening through which said fill tube is accessible for filling the tank through the fill tube, whereby said container contains any liquid spill during filling of the tank, a removable cover for closing said access opening, and said access opening cover is substantially smaller and lighter than said casing cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
A spill containment device for at least one underground liquid storage tank fill tube, comprising: a casing to be recessed into the ground substantially flush with the surrounding ground surface and in surrounding relation to the tank fill tube, and having a top opening through which the casing interior is accessible and a removable cover for said casing top opening, and a spill container within said casing secured to said cover and having a bottom opening for receiving the tank fill tube in liquid sealing relation to the bottom wall of said container, said casing cover having an access opening through which said fill tube is accessible for filling the tank through the fill tube, whereby said container contains any liquid spill during filling of the tank, a removable cover for closing said access opening, and said access opening cover is substantially smaller and lighter than said casing cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The spill containment device of claim 2, wherein: said spill containment device is adapted to serve two underground tank fill tubes, said container has two spaced bottom openings for receiving the two underground tank fill tubes in liquid sealing relation to the wall of the container means, and said casing cover has two access openings through which the two fill tubes are accessible, respectively, and separate removable covers for said access, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The spill containment device of claim 3, wherein: each access opening cover has a depending peripheral flange, and said containment device includes water drain channels about and opening upwardly through said casing cover access openings, respectively, and receiving the respective cover flanges, whereby water flowing over the cover edges enters said channels, and means for draining water from said channels to the exterior of said spill container device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spill containment device of claim 4, wherein: said drain channels are secured to the under side of said casing cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The spill containment device of claim 2, including: means for draining liquid from said container to an underground tank including a valve for controlling drainage flow, and a valve operator accessible through and immediately adjacent said casing cover access opening for operating said valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The spill containment device of claim 5, wherein: means for draining liquid from said container to an underground tank includes a valve to controlling drainage flow, and a valve operator accessible through and immediately adjacent one of said access openings for operating said valve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-09 | 1992-02-08 | 1992-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-09 | 1996-02-08 | 1996-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-09 | 2000-02-08 | 2000-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |