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US 10,207,862 B1Granted
Flowable material container with an opening having improved flow characteristics
AssigneeBuckhorn, Inc.
InventorScott Bailey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The outlet of a flowable material container has a flow cutoff device, which is slidably supported in a frame assembly that comprises two, spaced apart perforated side rails and a perforated end rail. No accumulation shield is used.
Claims19
A flowable material control device for an outlet opening of a flowable material container, the flowable material control device comprising:
- a frame assembly configured to be coupled to the outlet opening and comprising first and second side rails and an end rail, the side rails and the end rail each having a top surface and a mounting foot, each top surface and each mounting foot of each rail being coupled to and separated from each other by a corresponding intermediate portion, each mounting foot being configured to be coupled to the flowable material container;
- wherein, the top surfaces of the rails are substantially planar and wherein the mounting feet have fastener holes and a granular material passage hole, each of the fastener holes being configured to receive a fastener to attach the frame assembly to the flowable material container, the granular material passage hole being configured to allow granular material to pass through it when the frame assembly is attached to the flowable material container, the fastener holes being additionally configured such that they are unable to pass granular material when the frame assembly is attached to the flowable material container, and wherein the side rails are substantially parallel to each other;
- and
- wherein the end rail is substantially orthogonal to both side rails;
- and
- a flow cutoff device slidably supported in the frame assembly by the side rails, during movement of the flow cutoff device between a closed, granular material flow blocking position and an open, granular material flow enabling position;
- wherein the flow cutoff device comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs having reinforcing rib ends, the reinforcing rib ends extending toward the end rail.
4 more elements
A flowable material container having angled walls, and an outlet opening, the outlet opening being defined by the angled walls, the flowable material container comprising:
- a frame assembly coupled to the outlet opening and comprising first and second spaced apart side rails and an end rail, each of the side rails and the end rail having a top surface and a corresponding mounting foot, the mounting foot of each rail being coupled to the outlet opening, the mounting feet of the side rails and end rail being substantially co-planar;
- wherein, the top surface of the first and second spaced apart side rails are substantially parallel and wherein the mounting foot of the first and second side rails and the mounting foot of the end rail having first and second mounting holes and at least one granular material passage hole that is configured to allow granular material to flow through it when the frame assembly is attached to the flowable material container, each mounting hole being sized, shaped and arranged to receive a fastener that attaches the frame assembly to the flowable material container, the mounting holes being configured to be unable to pass granular material when the frame assembly is attached to said flowable material container by a fastener;
- and
- wherein the end rail is substantially orthogonal to both side rails;
- and
- a flow cutoff device slidably supported in the frame assembly by the spaced-apart side rails, the flow cutoff device being supported by the spaced-apart side rails during movement of the flow cutoff device between a closed, flow blocking position and an open, flow enabling position;
- wherein the flow cutoff device comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs having reinforcing rib ends, the reinforcing rib ends extending toward the end rail.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.