초록 ▼

The invention is an illuminable tank that includes a partially translucent plastic tank and an illumination apparatus. The illuminable tank enables a user to determine the level of liquid in the tank, to make the tank more visible at night, and to light the area surrounding the tank's mouth and a sp

The invention is an illuminable tank that includes a partially translucent plastic tank and an illumination apparatus. The illuminable tank enables a user to determine the level of liquid in the tank, to make the tank more visible at night, and to light the area surrounding the tank's mouth and a spout. The illumination apparatus has a magnetic reed switch and an electrical circuit with a plurality of light emitting devices that are directed toward the interior of the tank, therein backlighting the tank and illuminating a visible level line at an interface of a surface of the liquid in the tank and the space above the surface. There can also be external lights which provide a cone of light for the spout. The illumination apparatus is explosion proof, and the illuminable plastic tank can be used to store, carry and dispense all commercial retail fuels.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An illuminable tank, said tank comprising: a partially translucent fuel tank, said partially translucent fuel tank having a relatively high opacity with translucent side walls and an upper portion; and an illumination apparatus comprised of an electrical circuit with a plural

What is claimed is: 1. An illuminable tank, said tank comprising: a partially translucent fuel tank, said partially translucent fuel tank having a relatively high opacity with translucent side walls and an upper portion; and an illumination apparatus comprised of an electrical circuit with a plurality of light emitting devices, where at least one first light emitting device is mounted in a receptacle on the upper portion of the partially translucent fuel tank, said first light emitting device directed toward an interior of the fuel tank, therein lighting the interior of the fuel tank, backlighting the partially translucent fuel tank, and illuminating the side walls and a visible level line at an interface of a surface of a liquid in the partially translucent fuel tank and a space above the surface; at least one second light emitting device mounted proximate to a neck element for attaching a spout to the tank, said second light emitting device directed toward the spout, therein providing a cone of light for the spout; a manual activation component that is a non-sparking enclosed switch; and a compact portable electrical power source that is enclosed in a spark proof, explosion proof compartment. 2. The illuminable tank according to claim 1, wherein said partially translucent side walls and an upper portion are composed of a plastic material. 3. The illuminable tank according to claim 2, wherein said plastic material is chemically resistant to water and fuel. 4. The illuminable tank according to claim 1, wherein said translucent fuel tank is portable. 5. The illuminable tank according to claim 1, wherein said non-sparking enclosed switch is a magnetic reed switch. 6. The illuminable tank according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of light emitting devices are white light LED lamps. 7. The illuminable tank according to claim 6, wherein said white light LED lamps are selected from the group consisting of a ROB LED lamp, a modified blue LED lamp that is typically a InGaN—GaN structure covered with a yellowish phosphor coating made of Ce3+ YAG crystals, a near ultraviolet (NUV) emitting LED lamp coated with a mixture of europium-based red and blue emitting phosphors plus green emitting copper and aluminum doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Cu, Al), a homoepitaxially grown zinc selenide on a ZnSe substrate LED lamp which simultaneously emits blue and yellow light, a blue LED lamp coated with dots that glow white in response to blue light produced by the blue LED, and an organic LED (OLED) lamp. 8. The illuminable tank according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit is substantially sealed in the upper portion of the translucent tank container. 9. The illuminable tank according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor that turns off the electrical circuit if a component of the electrical circuit overheats. 10. The illuminable tank according to claim 9, wherein said sensor is a thermistor. 11. The illuminable tank according to claim 9, wherein the sensor actuates a device selected from the group consisting of a timer device, a flasher device, an audible device and combinations thereof. 12. The illuminable tank according to claim 1 further comprising a grounding device that drains off electrical charges. 13. An illumination apparatus, said apparatus comprising: an electrical circuit that is fitted to a partially translucent plastic fuel tank, where the partially translucent fuel tank has a relatively high opacity, comprising a non-sparking switch in electrical communication with a compact portable electrical power source, and a plurality of light emitting devices comprised of at least one first light emitting device and at least one second light emitting device, said at least one first light emitting device being non-sparking and suitably resistant to solvent for mounting the at least one first light emitting device on an upper portion of the plastic fuel tank, such that the emitted light illuminates an interior of the partially translucent plastic fuel tank, therein backlighting the partially translucent plastic fuel tank and illuminating the side walls and a visible level line at an interface of a surface of a liquid in the fuel tank and a space above the surface, and at least one second light emitting device mounted adjacent to a neck element for fastening a dispensing spout, such that a region around the spout is lighted; and an explosion proof compartment that encloses the compact portable electrical power source. 14. The illumination apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a sensor for detecting if a component of the electrical circuit is overheated, whereupon said illumination apparatus is turned off. 15. The illumination apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said sensor is a thermistor. 16. An illuminable plastic fuel tank, said tank comprising: a partially translucent fuel tank, where the partially translucent fuel tank has a relatively high opacity, having translucent side walls and an upper portion composed of a pigmented thermoplastic colored material; and an illumination apparatus comprised of an electrical circuit with a plurality of light emitting devices, where at least one first light emitting device is mounted in a receptacle on the upper portion of the fuel tank, said first light emitting device directed toward an interior of the fuel tank, therein backlighting the partially translucent fuel tank and illuminating the side walls and a visible level line at an interface of a surface of a liquid in the fuel tank and a space above the surface; a compact portable electrical power source that is enclosed in a spark proof, explosion proof compartment; and a manual activation component that is a non-sparking enclosed switch. 17. The illuminable plastic fuel tank according to claim 16 further comprising: at least one second light emitting device mounted proximate to a neck element for attaching a spout to the tank, said second light emitting device directed toward the spout, therein providing a cone of light for the spout.