Safety container for fuel or other hazardous liquids

Abstract

The present invention provides a safety container for storing and dispensing hazardous liquids, such as fuel, featuring a teardrop-shaped spout and various lid-lock mechanisms. The teardrop-shaped spout is ergonomically designed to provide controlled and precise pouring, reducing spills and enhancing safety. The safety container may include one of multiple innovative lid-lock mechanisms to maintain the lid in an open position during pouring. These lid-lock mechanisms may include: (1) a pin-lock mechanism with a slide linkage piece, angled rotating pin piece, and locking hole; (2) a bi-stable lid-lock mechanism utilizing an internal spring in the handle for automatic lid positioning; and (3) bi-stable springboard lid-lock mechanisms using either flexible curved portions or a springboard platform with springs for biasing. Each lid-lock mechanism ensures the lid remains securely open during use and closed when not in use, providing reliable and safe handling of hazardous liquids.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A safety container for storing and dispensing hazardous liquids, the safety container comprising:
 a teardrop-shaped spout configured to provide controlled and precise pouring;   a lid covering the teardrop-shaped spout, configured to be locked in an open position and a closed position; and   a lid-lock mechanism configured to maintain the lid in the open position during pouring and maintain the lid in the closed position when not in use.   
     
     
         2 . The safety container of  claim 1 , wherein the teardrop-shaped spout comprises a narrow and pointed end that includes a pointed tip located at a dispensing end of the teardrop-shaped spout and provides precise flow control and directed pouring. 
     
     
         3 . The safety container of  claim 2 , wherein the teardrop-shaped spout comprises a rounded base opposite the narrow and pointed end, wherein the rounded base provides structural stability and a smooth transition for fluid flow. 
     
     
         4 . The safety container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid-lock mechanism is a pin-lock mechanism, comprising:
 a slide linkage piece configured to move backward along a guided track when the lid is in the closed position;   an angled rotating pin piece configured to rotate along a pivot link between the slide linkage piece and the angled rotating pin piece when the slide linkage piece is retracted; and   a locking hole into which the angled rotating pin piece is inserted to lock the lid in the open position.   
     
     
         5 . The safety container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid-lock mechanism is a bi-stable lid-lock mechanism, comprising:
 a sliding handle attached to the lid, wherein the sliding handle includes a first linkage and a second linkage opposite the second linkage; and   a pair of bi-stable springs housed inside a handle portion of the sliding handle, wherein the bi-stable springs are connected to the first linkage and the second linkage,   wherein in a first state, the lid remains closed due to a tension of the bi-stable springs in an extended configuration, and   wherein in a second state, pulling back on the sliding handle compresses the bi-stable springs, causing the lid to open and the bi-stable springs to extend the first linkage and the second linkage to a maximum length, thereby locking the lid in the open position.   
     
     
         6 . The safety container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid-lock mechanism is a bi-stable springboard lid-lock mechanism, comprising:
 two curved, flexible portions located on opposite sides of the bi-stable springboard lid-lock mechanism; and   an actuator connected to the lid that moves the lid from the closed position to the open position and extends linearly between the two curved, flexible portions,   wherein in a first state, the actuator remains stable due to the curved, flexible portions holding the actuator and the lid in the closed position,   wherein in a second state, actuating the actuator bends the curved, flexible portions, allowing the actuator to move linearly between the two curved, flexible portions, and once the actuator reaches the open position, the curved, flexible portions return to a curved state, holding the actuator and the lid in the open position.   
     
     
         7 . The safety container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid-lock mechanism is a bi-stable springboard lid-lock mechanism, comprising:
 a springboard platform with a handle connected to the lid; and   one or more springs positioned underneath the springboard platform,   wherein in a first state, the lid remains closed due to an upward biasing force of the one or more springs on the springboard platform and wherein in a second state, downward pressure applied to the springboard platform compresses the one or more springs, allowing the lid to move to the open position, with the one or more springs exerting a force to maintain the lid in the open position.   
     
     
         8 . The safety container of  claim 1 , wherein the teardrop-shaped spout is configured to provide a smooth and steady flow of liquid, minimizing spills and enhancing safety during dispensing. 
     
     
         9 . A safety container for storing and dispensing hazardous liquids, the safety container comprising:
 a spout configured to provide pouring of the hazardous liquids;   a lid covering the spout, configured to be locked in an open position and a closed position; and   a pin-lock mechanism configured to maintain the lid in the open position during pouring and maintain the lid in the closed position when not in use, that comprises:
 a slide linkage piece configured to move along a guided track when the lid is in the closed position; 
 an angled rotating pin piece configured to rotate along a pivot link between the slide linkage piece and the angled rotating pin piece when the slide linkage piece is retracted; and 
 a locking hole into which the angled rotating pin piece is inserted to lock the lid in the open position. 
   
     
     
         10 . The safety container of  claim 9 , wherein the locking hole is located at a rear portion of the safety container. 
     
     
         11 . The safety container of  claim 9 , wherein the spout includes a teardrop-shaped spout configured to provide controlled and precise pouring, the teardrop-shaped spout comprises a narrow and pointed end and a rounded base opposite the narrow and pointed end. 
     
     
         12 . The safety container of  claim 11 , wherein the narrow and pointed end includes a pointed tip located at a dispensing end of the spout and provides precise flow control and directed pouring. 
     
     
         13 . The safety container of  claim 12 , wherein the rounded base provides structural stability and a smooth transition for fluid flow. 
     
     
         14 . A safety container for storing and dispensing hazardous liquids, the safety container comprising:
 a spout configured to provide pouring of the hazardous liquids;   a lid covering the spout, configured to be locked in an open position and a closed position; and   a bi-stable lid-lock mechanism configured to maintain the lid in the open position during pouring and maintain the lid in the closed position when not in use, that comprises:
 a sliding handle attached to the lid, wherein the sliding handle includes a first linkage and a second linkage opposite the second linkage, and 
 a pair of bi-stable springs housed inside a handle portion of the sliding handle, wherein the bi-stable springs are connected to the first linkage and the second linkage, 
 wherein in a first state, the lid remains closed due to a tension of the bi-stable springs in an extended configuration, and 
 wherein in a second state, pulling back on the sliding handle compresses the bi-stable springs, causing the lid to open and the bi-stable springs to extend the first linkage and the second linkage to a maximum length, thereby locking the lid in the open position. 
   
     
     
         15 . The safety container of  claim 14 , wherein the spout includes a teardrop-shaped spout configured to provide controlled and precise pouring, the teardrop-shaped spout comprises a narrow and pointed end and a rounded base opposite the narrow and pointed end, wherein the narrow and pointed end includes a pointed tip located at a dispensing end of the spout and provides precise flow control and directed pouring, wherein the rounded base provides structural stability and a smooth transition for fluid flow. 
     
     
         16 . A safety container for storing and dispensing hazardous liquids, the safety container comprising:
 a spout configured to provide pouring of the hazardous liquids;   a lid covering the spout, configured to be locked in an open position and a closed position; and   a bi-stable springboard lid-lock mechanism configured to maintain the lid in the open position during pouring and maintain the lid in the closed position when not in use, that comprises:
 two curved, flexible portions located on opposite sides of the bi-stable springboard lid-lock mechanism, and 
 an actuator connected to the lid that moves the lid from the closed position to the open position and extends linearly between the two curved, flexible portions, 
 wherein in a first state, the actuator remains stable due to the curved, flexible portions holding the actuator and the lid in the closed position, 
 wherein in a second state, actuating the actuator bends the curved, flexible portions, allowing the actuator to move linearly between the two curved, flexible portions, and once the actuator reaches the open position, the curved, flexible portions return to a curved state, holding the actuator and the lid in the open position. 
   
     
     
         17 . The safety container of  claim 16 , wherein the spout includes a teardrop-shaped spout configured to provide controlled and precise pouring, the teardrop-shaped spout comprises a narrow and pointed end and a rounded base opposite the narrow and pointed end, wherein the narrow and pointed end includes a pointed tip located at a dispensing end of the spout and provides precise flow control and directed pouring, wherein the rounded base provides structural stability and a smooth transition for fluid flow. 
     
     
         18 . A safety container for storing and dispensing hazardous liquids, the safety container comprising:
 a spout configured to provide controlled and precise pouring of the hazardous liquids;   a lid covering the spout, configured to be locked in an open position and a closed position; and   a bi-stable springboard lid-lock mechanism configured to maintain the lid in the open position during pouring and maintain the lid in the closed position when not in use, that comprises:
 a springboard platform with a handle connected to the lid, and 
 one or more springs positioned underneath the springboard platform, 
 wherein in a first state, the lid remains closed due to an upward biasing force of the one or more springs on the springboard platform and in a second state, downward pressure applied to the springboard platform compresses the one or more springs, allowing the lid to move to the open position, with the one or more springs exerting a force to maintain the lid in the open position. 
   
     
     
         19 . The safety container of  claim 18 , wherein the spout includes a teardrop-shaped spout configured to provide controlled and precise pouring, the teardrop-shaped spout comprises a narrow and pointed end and a rounded base opposite the narrow and pointed end. 
     
     
         20 . The safety container of  claim 19 , wherein the narrow and pointed end includes a pointed tip located at a dispensing end of the spout and provides precise flow control and directed pouring and the rounded base provides structural stability and a smooth transition for fluid flow.