The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2000
Tony Maiuro, St. Charles, MO (US);
Contico International, L.L.C., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A liquid container comprises a container body, a hollow fill/drain conduit and a retaining member. The container body includes a base and at least one side wall extending generally upwardly from the base to define a liquid reservoir. The side wall includes a first port adjacent to the base. The fill/drain conduit has a first end and a second end. The first end of the conduit includes a first connector adapted for connecting the first end of the conduit with the first port in a manner to permit fluid communication between the conduit and the liquid reservoir via the first port. The second end of the conduit is moveable relative to the first end of the conduit between a stored position and a drain position. In the stored position, the second end of the conduit is positioned above a maximum recommended liquid level of the liquid reservoir. In the drain position, the second end of the conduit is below the first port to thereby permit gravity drainage of the liquid reservoir when the second end is in the drain position. The retaining member is connected to the container body above the maximum recommended liquid level of the liquid reservoir. The retaining member is adapted for engagement with the second end of the conduit in a manner for retaining the second end of the conduit above the maximum recommended liquid level of the liquid reservoir when the conduit is in its storage position.