Abstract: A normally-closed pour spout is operable to pour fluid from a container to a receptacle. The normally-closed pour spout includes a fluid conduit and a valve. The fluid conduit has proximal and distal ends, with the proximal end being fluidly connectable to the container and the distal end being configured for fluid association with the receptacle. The fluid conduit forms a passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and fluidly communicate with the container and the receptacle. The valve is operably assembled with the fluid conduit so that the valve controls fluid flow through the passageway.

Abstract: A vehicle ramp supports a wheel in an elevated position spaced above the ground. The vehicle ramp includes an elongated body and an upright column. The upright column is substantially surrounded by the body. The column presents respective parts of the upper surface of the vehicle ramp and extends downwardly therefrom. The column is defined along the upper surface by a groove that intersects the upper surface and extends endlessly about the column so that the column is isolated from the body along the upper surface.

Abstract: A normally-closed pour spout is operable to pour fluid from a container to a receptacle. The normally-closed pour spout includes a fluid conduit and a valve. The fluid conduit has proximal and distal ends, with the proximal end being fluidly connectable to the container and the distal end being configured for fluid association with the receptacle. The fluid conduit forms a passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and fluidly communicate with the container and the receptacle. The valve is operably assembled with the fluid conduit so that the valve controls fluid flow through the passageway.

Abstract: A storage and transport carrier is configured to securely hold a selected one or more of a plurality of differently-shaped fuel containers therein. The carrier includes a unitary molded body with first and second pairs of opposite side walls. The body also includes a bottom wall that extends generally between the side walls, such that surfaces of the side walls and the bottom wall cooperatively define an interior chamber of the body. The body also includes a pair of opposite elongated protrusions. Each protrusion projects upwardly from the bottom wall and is spaced laterally inwardly from a respective one of the second pair of side walls. Each of the elongated protrusions extends between opposite end margins and presents an inner container-engaging surface. The inner container-engaging surfaces are configured to engage at least a portion of one or more of the fuel containers, and thereby securely retain the same, when the containers are selectively disposed within the interior chamber of the body.

Abstract: A ramp is provided for lifting and supporting a wheel of a vehicle thereon when the wheel is driven onto the ramp. The ramp includes a body that is shiftable between a ready position and a discrete support position and presents a ground-engaging surface including a first portion that engages the ground in the ready position and a second portion that engages the ground in the support position. The first and second surface portions are substantially planar and define an angle therebetween through which the body rocks about a fixed pivot as a wheel moving along a wheel-engaging surface causes the body to move from the ready position to the support position. A pair of ramps is provided for lifting and supporting a pair of wheels, with the ramps being nestable for compact storage.

Abstract: A spouted container comprises a container and a vented spout that fluidly communicates with the container. The vented spout defines a fluid passageway extending therethrough and includes a conduit housing and a cover that cooperatively form a vented chamber. The vented chamber fluidly communicates with the passageway through a pair of spaced apart vent openings presented by the conduit housing. The vented chamber also fluidly communicates with ambient through a vent opening presented by the cover. The vented spout further includes a locking valve assembly that restricts inadvertent opening of the spouted container. The assembly includes a shiftable valve that normally occludes the passageway and a trigger operably coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve. The trigger includes a catch that holds the trigger in a locked condition when the valve is closed.

Abstract: A ramp is provided for lifting and supporting a wheel of a vehicle thereon when the wheel is driven onto the ramp. The ramp includes a body that is shiftable between a ready position and a discrete support position and presents a ground-engaging surface including a first portion that engages the ground in the ready position and a second portion that engages the ground in the support position. The first and second surface portions are substantially planar and define an angle therebetween through which the body rocks about a fixed pivot as a wheel moving along a wheel-engaging surface causes the body to move from the ready position to the support position. A pair of ramps is provided for lifting and supporting a pair of wheels, with the ramps being nestable for compact storage.

Abstract: A spouted container comprises a container and a vented spout that fluidly communicates with the container. The vented spout defines a fluid passageway extending therethrough and includes a conduit housing and a cover that cooperatively form a vented chamber. The vented chamber fluidly communicates with the passageway through a pair of spaced apart vent openings presented by the conduit housing. The vented chamber also fluidly communicates with ambient through a vent opening presented by the cover. The vented spout further includes a locking valve assembly that restricts inadvertent opening of the spouted container. The assembly includes a shiftable valve that normally occludes the passageway and a trigger operably coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve. The trigger includes a catch that holds the trigger in a locked condition when the valve is closed.

Abstract: A fuel can (20) is disclosed as having a hollow container body (22), a detachable pouring spout (32), and a fill/vent assembly (36, 132) which is integrally secured to the body (22). In one form, the fill/vent assembly (36) has a primary segment (60) defining a fill opening (66). The segment (66) supports a first, inner, spring-biased pivotal door (42) as well as a second, outer, spring-biased door (50). A flexible check valve (44) is also supported on the inner door (42). In another embodiment, second door is threadably attached to a neck (136) as opposed to being spring-biased into the closed position. In yet another embodiment, the can (20) has only a venting assembly (148) including a flexible check valve (156) supported on a primary segment (154). The segment (154) has venting slots (170) as well as a cap (158) designed to permit venting of the can (20) through the slots (170) and valve (156).

Abstract: A tractor-mounted utility container (20) is provided having a main body (24) and an alternate use panel (26) which can be positioned in an upright fashion to close the rear opening (74) of the body (24), or alternately in a horizontal orientation within the confines of the body (24). In either orientation, the panel (26) has a tool-holding section (84) which is capable of holding handled tools (134) for travel. The main body (24) and panel (26) have interengageable mounting structure (48, 76, 78, 54, 66, 92) for maintaining the panel (26) in the alternate positions thereof. The container (20) may be mounted on the draw plate (34) of a tractor (22) by means of an improved universal hitch assembly (32). The assembly (32) includes a slotted connection plate (110) which can be attached to the hitch plates (34) of different tractors (22) together with an upright connector (116) supported by the plate (110) and received within a socket (78) formed in the front wall (42) of main body (24).

Abstract: A spouted container (10) constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and configured for storing fluids and transferring the stored fluids to a fluid receiving receptacle such as a lawn mower fluid reservoir (R) is disclosed. The illustrated spouted container (10) broadly includes a storage container (12), a self-venting spout (14) removably coupled to the container (12), a collar (16) for removably coupling the spout (14) to the container (12), and a cap (18) for closing the spout (14) and/or the container (12). The collar (16) cooperates with an inventive sealing disc (32) and a neck (24) to create a gasket-less seal between the spout (14) and the storage container (12) that is adjustable yet prevents undesirable fluid leakage when the spout (14) is in either a pour or a storage position. The spout (14) is a self-venting spout that includes an air-venting passageway (34) formed in part by a flange (60).

Abstract: A wheel chock (10) configured for placement under a resting rubber tired wheel (W), such as a wheel found on a powered vehicle, to maintain the wheel (W) at rest is disclosed. The wheel chock (10) broadly includes a body (12) that defines an internal chamber (14) in communication with an open face (16) presented by the body (12). The body (12) presents a prism-like configuration having a generally triangular shape and includes a pair of oppositely spaced sidewalls (18, 20), a rear wall (22) extending between and adjoining the sidewalls (18,20), and a wheel-supporting surface (24) extending between and thereby enclosing the walls (18,20,22). The wheel-supporting surface (24) presents a low profile, arcuate leading tire-engaging edge (34). The arcuate leading edge (34) substantially complements the contour of the tire and enables the chock (10) to be easily placed under the wheel (W) in an optimal operating position i.e.

Abstract: A pair of wheel chocks (10, 12), configured for placement under a resting tandem wheel (W) to maintain the wheel (W) at rest and for alternatively supporting a trailer tongue wheel (Wj), are disclosed. The wheel chock (10) broadly includes a body (14) that defines an internal chamber (16) in communication with an open face (18) presented by the body (14). Wheel supporting surface (26, 28) each include a arcuate leading edge (60, 62) to complement the contour of the wheel (W) and enable the chock (10) to be easily placed under the wheel (W) in an optimal position. A top surface (24) of the body (14) including an arcuate depression (32) operable to receive the trailer tongue wheel (Wj). A substantially hollow tapered supporting leg (46) projects from arcuate depression (32) for support. The top surface additionally includes an open rim (36) which can at least partially receive a supporting leg of another similar configured wheel chock (12) to enable nesting of the chocks (10, 12).

Abstract: The illustrated spouted container (10) broadly includes a storage container (12), a self-venting spout (14) removably coupled to the container (12), a collar (16) for removably coupling the spout (14) to the container (12), and a cap (18) for closing the spout (14) and/or the container (12). The collar (16) cooperates with an inventive sealing disc (32) and a neck (24) to create a gasket-less seal between the spout (14) and the storage container (12) that is adjustable yet prevents undesirable fluid leakage when the spout (14) is in either a pour or a storage position. The spout (14) is a self-venting spout that includes an air-venting passageway (34) formed in part by a flange (60).