초록 ▼

The present invention provides a chemical container or system for storing and dispensing chemicals, and in particular liquid chemicals such as fuels and the like. The chemical container has a first container portion for storing the chemical itself, and a second container portion with a vapor filter

The present invention provides a chemical container or system for storing and dispensing chemicals, and in particular liquid chemicals such as fuels and the like. The chemical container has a first container portion for storing the chemical itself, and a second container portion with a vapor filter for receiving, containing, and filtering or adsorbing gases or vapors that are associated with the chemical and which may be vented from the first container portion. This dual-chamber system avoids buildup of excessive vapor pressures inside of the containers, but filters any vented gases so that noxious or undesirable vapors are not emitted into the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the second container portion covers only a portion of the first container portion, while in other embodiments, a second container completely surrounds a first container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A portable chemical container with vapor filtration, said chemical container comprising: a first container defining a first chamber for storing a chemical, and said first container configured to selectively dispense the chemical;a second container surrounding at least a portion of said first cont

1. A portable chemical container with vapor filtration, said chemical container comprising: a first container defining a first chamber for storing a chemical, and said first container configured to selectively dispense the chemical;a second container surrounding at least a portion of said first container and defining a second chamber between at least a portion of said second container and said portion of said first container that is surrounded by said second container, said second chamber for containing a gaseous vapor of the chemical from said first container, and said second container having at least one wall portion and an openable and closable portion;a vapor filter at said at least one wall portion of said second container, said vapor filter in fluid communication with said second chamber and with the ambient environment; andwherein said vapor filter is configured to adsorb the gaseous vapor of the chemical from said second chamber and to vent filtered or cleansed air to the ambient environment. 2. The chemical container of claim 1, wherein said second container is sealed to a top portion of said first container and does not completely surround said first container, and wherein said second chamber is defined between said second container and said top portion of said first container. 3. The chemical container of claim 2, wherein said first container and said second container are substantially rigid. 4. The chemical container of claim 3, wherein said openable and closable portion of said second container comprises a removable lid that forms a top wall of said second container when said removable lid is attached to said at least one wall portion of said second container. 5. The chemical container of claim 4, wherein said second container is configured to support another chemical container in stacked arrangement atop said removable lid when said removable lid is attached to said at least one wall portion. 6. The chemical container of claim 1, wherein said first container comprises a dispensing spout that is positionable at a dispensing configuration at least when said openable and closable portion of said second container is opened. 7. The chemical container of claim 1, wherein said second container is configured to completely surround said first container, and wherein said second chamber is defined between said second container and the entirety of said first container. 8. The chemical container of claim 7, wherein said first container is substantially rigid and said second container is made of a flexible sheet material. 9. The chemical container of claim 8, wherein said openable and closable portion of said second container comprises at least one of (i) an interlocking closure, (ii) a releasable adhesive closure, (iii) a magnetic closure, (iv) a zipper closure, and (v) a hook-and-loop closure. 10. The chemical container of claim 8, further comprising a filter mount coupled to said flexible sheet material of said second container, said filter mount defining a fluid passageway and having a gripping portion positioned in said second chamber and a filter-engaging portion extending outwardly through said flexible sheet material, wherein said filter engaging portion is configured to releasably secure said vapor filter to said second container with said vapor filter in fluid communication with said second chamber via said fluid passageway. 11. The chemical container of claim 1, wherein said vapor filter comprises an activated charcoal adsorbent filter. 12. The chemical container of claim 1, wherein said first container is adapted to contain a liquid fuel in said first chamber, and wherein said second container is adapted to contain gaseous fuel vapors substantially without emitting the fuel vapors to the ambient environment. 13. A portable fuel container system comprising: an outer enclosure defining a chamber for receiving a fuel canister and having a closable opening through which the fuel canister may be inserted or removed from said chamber;a closure member at said closable opening of said outer enclosure, said closure member configured to selectively retain said closable opening in a closed configuration with the fuel canister positioned in said chamber of said outer enclosure; anda vapor filter at said outer enclosure and in fluid communication with said chamber and with the ambient environment, said vapor filter being configured to adsorb fuel vapors emitted by the fuel canister into said chamber. 14. The portable fuel container system of claim 13, wherein said outer enclosure defines at least one spout-receiving portion of the chamber, the spout-receiving portion configured to receive a dispensing spout of the fuel canister. 15. The portable fuel container system of claim 14, wherein said outer enclosure defines two of said spout-receiving portions, each of said spout-receiving portions configured to receive the dispensing spout of the fuel canister when the fuel canister is in a different orientation within said chamber. 16. The portable fuel container system of claim 13, further comprising a fuel canister having a dispensing spout, said fuel canister configured to contain a liquid fuel and to selectively dispense the liquid fuel via said dispensing spout. 17. The portable fuel container system of claim 13, wherein said closure member comprises at least one of (i) an interlocking closure, (ii) a releasable adhesive closure, (iii) a magnetic closure, (iv) a zipper closure, and (v) a hook-and-loop closure. 18. The portable fuel container system of claim 13, wherein said outer enclosure comprises at least one of (i) a sheet film material and (ii) a coated fabric sheet material. 19. The portable fuel container system of claim 18, wherein: said outer enclosure comprises outer surfaces and inner surfaces, said inner surfaces defining said chamber;said closure member comprises a double closure including a first corresponding pair of closure members disposed along respective ones of said inner surfaces of said outer enclosure at said closable opening, and a second corresponding pair of closure members disposed along respective ones of said outer surfaces of said outer enclosure; andsaid closure members of said second corresponding pair are arranged to engage one another to thereby releasably hold said closable opening in said closed configuration when said closure members of said first corresponding pair engage one another and said outer enclosure is folded or rolled at said closable opening. 20. The portable fuel container system of claim 13, further comprising a filter mount coupled to said outer enclosure, said filter mount defining a fluid passageway and having a gripping portion configured to be grasped by a user's hand and a filter-engaging portion extending outwardly through said outer enclosure, wherein said filter-engaging portion is configured to releasably secure said vapor filter to said outer enclosure with said vapor filter in fluid communication with said second chamber via said fluid passageway. 21. A portable fuel container system comprising: a flexible fabric outer container defining a chamber for receiving a fuel canister, said outer container having a closable opening through which the fuel canister may be inserted or removed from said chamber, and said outer container defining a spout-receiving portion of said chamber proximate said closable opening for receiving a dispensing spout of the fuel canister;a double closure including a first corresponding pair of closures disposed along said outer container at said closable opening, and a second corresponding pair of closures disposed along said outer container near said closable opening, wherein said second corresponding pair of closures are arranged to engage one another to thereby releasably hold said closable opening in said closed configuration when said first corresponding pair of closures engage one another and said outer enclosure is folded or rolled at said closable opening;a filter mount coupled to said outer container, said filter mount defining a fluid passageway through said outer container and having a gripping portion disposed inside of said container and a generally annular filter-engaging portion extending outwardly through said outer enclosure, said gripping portion having a plurality of upstanding gripping elements; anda vapor filter cartridge releasably secured to said filter-engaging portion of said filter mount at said outer container, whereby said vapor filter cartridge is in fluid communication with said chamber via said fluid passageway of said filter mount, said vapor filter being configured to adsorb fuel vapors emitted by the fuel canister into said chamber and to vent filtered air to the ambient environment.