Valve covers

A valve cover adapted for sealably protecting valves of a storage or transportable container having an imaginary center line, said cover comprising:

• a) a lid having a perimeter;
• b) a rim having a sealing surface, said rim being rigidly attached to or integral with said container and surrounding one or more valves connected to said container;
• c) a hinge connecting said lid to said rim, said hinge (i) being displaced from said center line at a first preselected angle, and (ii) having stop means for preventing said lid from swinging open more than a second preselected angle from a plane occupied by said sealing surface;
• d) securing means attached to said rim or to said container for securing said lid to said rim;
• and
• e) elastomeric means disposed proximate to said perimeter for creating and maintaining a seal between said lid and said sealing surface when said lid is secured to said rim.

A valve cover adapted for sealably protecting valves of a storage or transportable container having an imaginary center line, said cover comprising:

• a) a lid having a perimeter;
• b) a rim having a sealing surface, said rim being rigidly attached to or integral with said container and surrounding one or more valves connected to said container;
• c) a hinge connecting said lid to said rim or to said container, said hinge (i) being displaced from said center line at a first preselected angle, (ii) being free-floating to permit horizontal self-alignment of said lid with said rim upon placement of said lid in contact with said sealing surface, and (iii) having stop means for preventing said lid from swinging open more than a second preselected angle from a plane occupied by said sealing surface;
• d) securing means attached to said rim or to said container for securing said lid to said rim;
• and
• e) elastomeric means disposed proximate to said perimeter for creating and maintaining a seal between said lid and said sealing surface when said lid is secured to said rim.

A storage or transportable container having an imaginary center line, said container comprising:

• a) a hollow container;
• b) one or more valves connected to said container for controlling the loading and/or unloading of the contents of said container, and
• c) a valve cover further comprising:
• i) a lid having a perimeter;
• ii) a rim having a sealing surface, said rim being rigidly attached to or integral with said container and surrounding one or more of said valves;
• iii) a hinge connecting said lid to said rim or to said container, said hinge (A) being displaced from said center line at a first preselected angle, (B) being free-floating to permit horizontal self-alignment of said lid with said rim upon placement of said lid in contact with said sealing surface, and (C) having stop means for preventing said lid from swinging open more than a second preselected angle from a plane occupied by said sealing surface;
• iv) securing means attached to said rim or to said container for securing said lid to said rim;
• and
• v) elastomeric means disposed proximate to said perimeter for creating and maintaining a seal between said lid and said sealing surface when said lid is secured to said rim.