Patents by Inventor Dwight E. Nichols

Dwight E. Nichols has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5836472
    Abstract: A container for bulk liquid storage consisting of a tank member with lifting surfaces and a pallet having downwardly facing surfaces. The lifting surfaces and the downwardly facing surfaces are substantially in vertical alignment with each other and interfit together with removably mounted structural members in between them to hold the tank member and the pallet together. The tank member is structured to thoroughly drain through a discharge port without any additional action by the user. The container is made from a corrosion resistant material and is easy to assemble and disassemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Elaine K. Vavra, Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5738240
    Abstract: A composite shipping container primarily for shipping bulk liquids consisting of an inner plastic tank held upright by an outer support structure of mesh wire side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. This outer support structure forms a housing which is supported on a unitary tubular member pallet, which allows the composite shipping container to freely stand on a floor surface or stack upon a like composite shipping container. The unitary tubular member pallet is comprised of a single piece of metal tubing shaped into co-planar surfaces for the outer housing to rest on and shaped into feet to set the composite shipping container on a generally horizontal floor or other surface. The configuration of the unitary tubular member pallet reduces the amount of material required to complete the pallet and eases pallet construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc,
    Inventors: Elaine Kay Vavra, Scott Charles Higgins, Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5217138
    Abstract: A container for retaining bulk liquid materials is provided having an outer drum forming an enclosed cavity bounded by a base portion, upright walls and a top wall including at least one port. A liner is disposed within the cavity of the outer drum and is fixably secured to a first bung removably engaged with the port. The first bung has a central opening enabling access to the interior of the liner for filling and discharge purposes. When filled with a bulk liquid material, the liner conforms in shape to the shape of the enclosed cavity of the drum. The first bung opening is sealed by a second bung member in engagement with the first bung member. Upon the emptying of the bulk materials from the drum, the liner, being thin walled, substantially fully collapses. The first bung member may then be disengaged from the port and the liner, in its collapsed state, removed through the port in the top wall of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5156268
    Abstract: A composite container for storing flammable and combustible liquids. The container includes a generally rigid outer container having upright continuous side walls and a substantially flat top wall. One of the side walls includes an access opening adjacent to the base of the wall. A unitary blow molded plastic inner tank is positioned inside of the outer container which maintains the inner tank in its upright position when the tank is filled with a liquid. A discharge fitting of the tank is positioned adjacent to the access opening to facilitate the discharge of liquid from the tank. A cover coacts and engages the access opening to seal the outer container against the leakage of liquid from the tank. The outer container and inner tank are supported on a pallet member having a top surface and depending legs which are spaced apart to enable the extension of fork lift tines therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5156294
    Abstract: A container for liquids in the form of a foldable box with an internal flexible bag for containing the liquid. The box is formed in a manner which enables it to be expanded from a folded flat configuration to a three dimensional configuration. Two opposed sides of the box and the box end panels feature centrally positioned fold or crease lines. As the box is expanded from its folded flat to its three-dimensional configuration, open slots are formed at the ends which enable the bag to be inserted into the box. The bag is thereafter filled and the open slots at the box ends are sealed using tape or another fastening system. Following use, the box can be readily reused by cutting the fastening tape, refolding it flat and later refilled it with another bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5110000
    Abstract: A shipping container having an inner tank, a housing and a pallet. The tank is made of poly material and is positioned and supported within the housing on the pallet. The housing includes upright side walls which maintain the tank side walls in an upright position and further includes a top structure and bottom structure. The bottom structure is attached to the pallet and assists the pallet in supporting the weight of the tank. Both the top and bottom structures incorporate features which allow them to self engage the upper and lower periphery ends of the side walls upon relative telescoping movement between the top and bottom structures and the side walls. This engagement is releasable and generally allows the housing to be quickly and securely snapped together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5029734
    Abstract: A composite container which consists of a reusable pallet, a thin walled plastic tank and a reinforcing cardboard shell maintaining the tank in an upright position on the pallet. Plastic clips connect the shell to the pallet and enable easy assembly and disassembly of the container. Additionally, a dry break valve is incorporated in the container so as to prevent material leakage and enable easy discharge of the tank contents on an intermittent basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5002194
    Abstract: A reusable wire mesh shipping container for the one-way transportation of bulk liquid materials. The shipping container consists of a box like wire mesh outer container and a blow molded inner tank. The bottom wall of the outer container has dependent legs which are appropriately spaced so as to enable the extension of forklift tines thus promoting manipulation of the container. The side and bottom walls of the container are connected so as to permit the side walls to fold upon each other, and subsequently, upon the bottom wall. The container is secured in the folded position by the top wall. In the folded position, the container thereby occupies a minimum amount of transportation space during subsequent return to the original supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4995588
    Abstract: A dry-break discharge valve assembly for use in connection with liquid bulk containers which includes a valve and a valve housing. The valve housing includes an inner lining member having an upper valve seat, and a lower shoulder portion. The valve is movable between a closed position in the housing seated on the valve seat, and an upwardly moved open position. The valve has a stem with a lower portion which is secured by a retaining pin to a retaining member and a spring is disposed within the housing between the shoulder portion and the retaining member so as to urge the valve toward its seated position, thereby creating a leak-proof seal. The valve may be opened by directing an upward force against the lower portion of the valve stem and urging the valve upwardly away from the valve seat. Wings or fins on the valve stem engage the lining member to guide the up and down movement of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4928922
    Abstract: A butterfly valve assembly for use in connection with liquid bulk containers. An annular discharge passage houses an annular valve member moveable within the discharge passage between open and closed positions. An annular groove in close proximity to the periphery of the valve member is included on a first side of the valve member. A compressible resilient, thermoplastic rubber material in the form of a sealing ring is disposed within the groove and allows an annular edge surface of the valve member to be deflected inwardly relative to the annular groove when the valve member is rotated to the closed position. A manually grippable knob and a shaft attached between the knob and the valve member allows the valve member to be manually moved between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4905963
    Abstract: A discharge valve assembly for a liquid containing tank includes a hollow valve body having an outer tubular member and a concentrically spaced inner tubular member each being closed at one end by a generally disk shaped end portion. Both inner and outer members have radial apertures therethrough adjacent the closed end portion. A tubular gate member is guidably supported between the inner and outer members for axial and circumferentially movement between closed and open positions. A bung is engagable with the inner member and coacts with the tubular gate member when the gate member is in the fully closed position to lock the tubular gate member in the fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4044912
    Abstract: A container consisting of a rigid outer tank having a collapsible bag liner for retaining viscous substances such as grease. A vane shape spacer assembly is disposed inside the bar and secured to the open upper end of the bag to provide a skeletal structure about which the bag can collapse as the grease is being removed to thereby insure more complete evacuation of a filled tank than has heretofore been possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1977
    Assignee: Hoover Ball and Bearing Company
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4032048
    Abstract: A bin for storing and transporting bulk material having a pair of sloped internal walls which direct contents of the bin toward a discharge opening in the bottom wall. A feed opening is provided in one of the internal walls in substantial vertical alignment with the discharge opening and a door is pivotally mounted on the underside of the wall so that it can be moved to a latched position closing the feed opening. A gasket retained in a channel on the door cooperates with flanges that are formed on the internal walls at positions surrounding the feed opening to provide a dust tight seal between the door and the internal walls of the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Assignee: Hoover Ball and Bearing Company
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4020967
    Abstract: A collapsible container for storing and transporting bulk material, particularly baled rubber, and the like, comprising independent floor and wall members which can readily be moved between container forming and knockdown positions. In the container-forming positions of the wall members, a container of substantial capacity is formed and in the knock-down position of the walls, the container can be stocked so that several containers can be transported in a minimum transportation space. The floor is provided, adjacent its periphery, with an arcuate groove and the walls are provided at their bottom ends with complimentary shaped projections which pivotally interfit within the floor groove to facilitate quick and easy movement of the walls between upright container forming positions and horizontal knock-down positions. Releasable latches are provided at the upper corners of the container to connect adjacent walls together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Assignee: Hoover Ball and Bearing Company
    Inventors: Ronald D. Hammond, Dwight E. Nichols
  • Patent number: D277041
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwight E. Nichols