# US 11,299,040 B2 · Low-profile liquid storage tank and grounds maintenance vehicle incorporating same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,040 B2 - Document ID: US11299040B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/295,107 - Filed: 2019-03-07 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-07 - Assignees: Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated - Applicants: Exmark Manufacturing Company, Incorporated - Inventors: Nickolas T. Moore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299040B2 ## CPC - B60K 15/073: Tank construction specially adapted to the vehicle (B60K15/077 takes precedence) - B60K 15/03: Fuel tanks - B60K 15/03006: {Gas tanks (B60K15/07 takes precedence)} - B60K 15/03177: {made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material (B60K15/03006 takes precedence)} - B60K 15/04: Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) - B60K 2015/03118: {Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks} - B60K 2015/03493: {made of plastics} - B60Y 2200/223: Ridable lawn mowers - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A low-profile liquid storage tank and vehicles incorporating same. An exemplary low-profile liquid storage tank may define an interior volume having an upper surface that defines an access port, and a lower surface that includes a fluid impingement portion positioned below the access port. The impingement portion may include two or more undulations formed in or on the lower surface of the tank, the undulations adapted to assist with reducing splash-back of fluid added to the tank through the access port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A grounds maintenance vehicle, comprising: a frame; and a low-profile liquid storage tank attached to the frame and defining an interior volume, the tank comprising: an interior upper surface defining an access port into the interior volume; and an interior lower surface comprising a fluid impingement portion positioned vertically below the access port, the impingement portion comprising two or more undulations formed in or on the lower surface of the tank, wherein the impingement portion defines a serpentine shape when viewed in cross section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the two or more undulations are integrally formed with the lower surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more undulations comprises an elongate rib extending along, and protruding from, the lower surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the ribs are parallel to one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the ribs each present a convex surface toward the access port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the ribs each present a peak toward the access port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the tank comprises roto-molded plastic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more undulations defines a maximum offset of 3 millimeters to 7 millimeters from adjacent portions of the lower surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the access port defines an external rim, and wherein a distance measured from a most distal point on the external rim orthogonal to the lower surface is 150 millimeters or less. ### Claim 10 A grounds maintenance vehicle, comprising: a frame; and a low-profile liquid storage tank attached to the frame and defining an interior volume, the tank comprising: an interior upper surface defining an access port into the interior volume; and an interior lower surface comprising a fluid impingement portion positioned vertically below the access port, the impingement portion defining a serpentine shape when viewed in cross section. ### Claim 11 A grounds maintenance vehicle, comprising: a frame; and a low-profile liquid storage tank attached to the frame and defining an interior volume, the tank comprising: an interior upper surface defining an access port into the interior volume; and an interior lower surface comprising a fluid impingement portion positioned vertically below the access port, the impingement portion comprising two or more undulations formed in or on the interior lower surface of the tank, wherein at least one of the two or more undulations defines: a convex cross-sectional profile a saw-tooth cross-sectional profile a concave cross-sectional profile; or part of a serpentine cross-sectional profile. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein each of the two or more undulations are parallel to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the two or more undulations comprise three undulations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein each of the two or more undulations defines a maximum offset of 3 millimeters to 7 millimeters from adjacent portions of the interior lower surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the access port defines an external rim, and wherein a distance measured from a most distal point on the external rim orthogonal to the interior lower surface is 150 millimeters or less.