# US 10,871,238 B2 · Removable valve guard for ampoules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,238 B2 - Document ID: US10871238B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/031,432 - Filed: 2018-07-10 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-18 - Assignees: Versum Materials US, LLC - Applicants: Versum Materials US, LLC - Inventors: John Eric Baker; Charles Michael Birtcher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871238B2 ## CPC - F16K 27/12: Covers for housings - F16K 31/46: for remote operation - F16K 35/06: using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key (F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence) - F17C 13/04: Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00}) - F17C 2201/0119: with flat end-piece - F17C 2201/032: with substantially vertical main axis - F17C 2201/058: portable (<30 l) - F17C 2203/0643: Stainless steels - F17C 2205/0115: Dismountable protective hulls - F17C 2205/0165: with handgrip - F17C 2205/0196: with shock absorbing means - F17C 2205/0308: Protective caps - F17C 2205/0323: Valves - F17C 2205/0352: Pipes - F17C 2209/228: by screws, bolts or rivets - F17C 2270/0518: Semiconductors - Y10T 137/7062: Valve guards - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fully removable chime or valve guard that can support the container on its top, side and bottom is provided. The removable chime or valve guard provides protection if the container is dropped on its side or top. The protection provided allows the containers to pass a drop test per 49 CFR section 178.603, so the containers can be certified per 49 CFR 178.504. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fully removable valve guard for supporting a cylindrical container on its top, side and bottom; comprising: (1) a top part comprises: a top ring having a center ring line; and at least two posts; wherein each post is bent twice to form top, middle, and bottom sections wherein an axis of the top section of each post and an axis of the bottom section of each post are parallel or cross at an angle of ≤5 degree; each post comprises a flat contact extending radially inward from a top of the bottom section; and the axes of the bottom sections of the posts are on a virtual bottom ring that is smaller than the top ring, wherein the virtual bottom ring and the top ring are concentric; wherein a top end of each post is attached to a bottom of the top ring along the center ring line at right angles; and the posts are evenly spaced along the center ring line; and (2) a base comprises: a hollow cylinder having an outer surface with an outer diameter and an inner surface with an inner diameter; at least two tubes being smaller than the hollow cylinder; and a bottom covering all or part of a bottom hollow surface of the hollow cylinder; wherein the tubes are vertically connected to a top outer surface of the hollow cylinder and are spaced horizontally; and axes of the tubes are parallel to an axis of the hollow cylinder; and the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder is larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical container and the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder is smaller than a diameter of the virtual bottom ring; wherein the cylindrical container is optionally placed in the hollow cylinder and guarded with the flat contacts, the bottom of the base, the top ring, and the posts while the top part is connected to the base by plugging the posts into the respective tubes in the base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The removable valve guard of claim 1, wherein the flat contacts extend perpendicularly to an axis of the top ring; the tubes are evenly spaced horizontally; and the axis of the top section of each post is perpendicular to the center ring line of the top ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The removable valve guard of claim 1, wherein each post further comprises a thread section near end of the bottom section; and the removable valve guard further comprises nuts and washers screwing up along each thread section at the bottom of the respective tube to secure the top part to the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The removable valve guard of claim 1, wherein each post further comprises at least one hole in the bottom section through its side in a direction tangent to the virtual bottom ring; each tube further comprises at least one hole through its side in a direction tangent to the outer surface of the hollow cylinder and at a right angle with the axis of the tube; and one of the at least one hole in the post is aligned with one of the at least one hole in the tube; and the removable valve guard further comprises pins or bolts inserted through the aligned holes to secure the top part to the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The removable valve guard of claim 1, wherein the top part comprises four posts and the base comprises four tubes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The removable valve guard of claim 5, wherein the flat contacts extend perpendicularly to an axis of the top ring; the tubes are evenly spaced horizontally; and the axis of the top section of each post is perpendicular to the center ring line of the top ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The removable valve guard of claim 5, wherein each post further comprises (1) a thread section near end of the bottom section; and the removable valve guard further comprises nuts and washers screwing up along each thread section at the bottom of the respective tube to secure the top part to the base; or (2) at least one hole in the bottom section through its side in a direction tangent to the virtual bottom ring; each tube further comprises at least one hole through its side in a direction tangent to the outer surface of the hollow cylinder and at a right angle with the axis of the tube; and one of the at least one hole in the post is aligned with one of the at least one hole in the tube; and the removable valve guard further comprises pins or bolts inserted through the aligned holes to secure the top part to the base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The removable valve guard of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises (1) an outer hollow cylinder having inner surface with an inner diameter that equals a sum of the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder plus twice the diameter of the tubes; and (2) the bottom covers an entire bottom of the outer hollow cylinder; wherein the outer hollow cylinder and the hollow cylinder are concentric and connected to the bottom; and a hollow cylindrical volume is formed between the outer surface of the hollow cylinder and the inner surface of the outer hollow cylinder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The removable valve guard of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical container has a fill volume and the hollow cylindrical annular volume is 100% to 110% of the fill volume. ### Claim 10 A delivery and packaging system for a material, comprising: a cylindrical container containing the material; and a fully removable valve guard for supporting the cylindrical container on its top, side and bottom, comprising: 1) a top part comprises: a top ring having a center ring line; and at least two posts; wherein each post is bent twice to form top, middle, and bottom sections wherein an axis of the top section of each post and an axis of the bottom section of each post are parallel or cross at an angle of ≤5 degree; each post comprises a flat contact extending radially inward from top of the bottom section; and the axes of the bottom sections of the posts are on a virtual bottom ring that is smaller than the top ring, wherein the virtual bottom ring and the top ring are concentric; wherein a top end of each post is attached to a bottom of the top ring along the center ring line at right angles; and the posts are evenly spaced along the center ring line; and 2) a base comprises: a hollow cylinder having an outer surface with an outer diameter and an inner surface with an inner diameter; at least two tubes being smaller than the hollow cylinder; and a bottom covering all or part of a bottom hollow surface of the hollow cylinder; wherein the tubes are vertically connected to a top outer surface of the hollow cylinder and are spaced horizontally; and axes of the tubes are parallel to an axis of the hollow cylinder; and the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder is larger than outer diameter of the cylindrical container and the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder is smaller than a diameter of the virtual bottom ring; wherein the cylindrical container is optionally placed in the hollow cylinder and guarded with the flat contacts, the bottom of the base, the top ring, and the posts while the top part is connected to the base by plugging the posts into the respective tubes in the base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The delivery and packaging system for a material of claim 10, wherein the flat contacts extend perpendicularly to an axis of the top ring; the tubes are vertically connected to top outer surface of the hollow cylinder and the tubes are evenly spaced horizontally; and the axis of the top section of each post is perpendicular to the center ring line of the top ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The delivery and packaging system for a material of claim 10, wherein each post further comprises a thread section near end of the bottom section; and the removable valve guard further comprises nuts and washers screwing up along each thread section at the bottom of the respective tube to secure the top part to the base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The delivery and packaging system for a material of claim 10, wherein each post further comprises at least one hole in the bottom section through its side in a direction tangent to the virtual bottom ring; each tube further comprises at least one hole through its side in a direction tangent to the outer surface of the hollow cylinder and at a right angle with the axis of the tube; and one of the at least one hole in the post is aligned with one of the at least one hole in the tube; and the removable valve guard further comprises pins or bolts inserted through the aligned holes to secure the top part to the base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The delivery and packaging system for a material of claim 10, wherein the top part comprises four posts and the base comprises four tubes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The delivery and packaging system for a material of claim 14, wherein the flat contacts extend perpendicularly to an axis of the top ring; the tubes are evenly spaced horizontally; and the axis of the top section of each post is perpendicular to the center ring line of the top ring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The delivery and packaging system for a material of claim 14, wherein each post further comprises (1) a thread section near end of the bottom section; and the removable valve guard further comprises nuts and washers screwing up along each thread section at the bottom of the respective tube to secure the top part to the base; or (2) at least one hole in the bottom section through its side in a direction tangent to the virtual bottom ring; each tube further comprises at least one hole through its side in a direction tangent to the outer surface of the hollow cylinder and at a right angle with the axis of the tube; and one of the at least one hole in the post is aligned with one of the at least one hole in the tube; and the removable valve guard further comprises pins or bolts inserted through the aligned holes to secure the top part to the base. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The removable valve guard of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises (1) an outer hollow cylinder having inner surface with an inner diameter that equals a sum of the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder plus twice the diameter of the tubes; and (2) the bottom covers an entire bottom of the outer hollow cylinder; wherein the outer hollow cylinder and the hollow cylinder are concentric and connected to the bottom; and a hollow cylindrical volume is formed between the outer surface of the hollow cylinder and the inner surface of the outer hollow cylinder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The delivery and packaging system for a material of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical container has a fill volume and the hollow cylindrical annular volume is 100% to 110% of the fill volume.