Isolation container connector

Abstract

A container includes a hollow container body and a container connector including a central outlet, an annular groove, and an annular rib. The container and container connector are formed of a molded thermoplastic material or any other suitable material. The annular groove allows the container connector to bend outwardly due to internal pressure of the container without the central outlet warping outwardly.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a hollow container body for receiving a substance; and   at least one container connector for connecting a hose or other component to the container body, the container connector including:
 a central outlet; 
 an annular groove concentric with and extending around the central outlet; and 
 an annular rib concentric with and extending around the annular groove, 
 the container connector being configured to bend near the annular groove so that the central outlet does not warp from internal pressure of the container when the container is pressurized, the annular rib being configured to absorb outward bending stresses induced by the internal pressure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the central outlet has a helical thread bore for receiving a helical threaded connector. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the thread bore is a buttress thread bore. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container connector is a molded part of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container connector includes an outer flange concentric with and extending around the annular rib, the outer flange being configured to be sealed to the hollow container body. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the annular rib is narrower at its distal end than at its base. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container connector is thinnest near the middle of the annular groove. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container connector has smooth contours near the annular groove and the annular rib to prevent local stress buildup. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the annular rib extends longitudinally beyond a front edge of the central outlet when no pressure is exerted on the container connector. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed of a rotational molded thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container connector forms a concave contour opposite the annular groove and the annular rib when the container is pressurized. 
     
     
         11 . A container comprising:
 a hollow container body for receiving a substance; and   a number of container connectors for connecting hoses or other components to the container body, each container connector comprising:
 a central outlet; 
 an annular groove concentric with and extending around the central outlet; and 
 an annular rib concentric with and extending around the annular groove; 
 the container connector being configured to bend near the annular groove so that the central outlet does not warp from internal pressure of the container when the container is pressurized, the annular rib being configured to absorb outward bending stresses induced by the internal pressure of the container. 
   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the central outlet has a helical thread bore for receiving a helical threaded connector. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the thread bore is a buttress thread bore. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each container connector is a molded part of the outer wall of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the annular rib is narrower at its distal end than at its base. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each container connector is thinnest near the middle of the annular groove. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each container connector has smooth contours near the annular groove and the annular rib to prevent local stress buildup. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the annular rib extends longitudinally beyond a front edge of the central outlet when no pressure is exerted on the container connector. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each container connector is formed of a rotational molded thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         20 . A container formed of molded thermoplastic material and comprising:
 a hollow container body for receiving a substance; and   a container connector for connecting a service component to the container body, the container connector comprising:
 a central outlet having a buttress thread bore extending at least partially into the central outlet; 
 an annular groove concentric with and extending around the central outlet; and 
 an annular rib concentric with and extending around the annular groove, the annular rib extending longitudinally beyond an outermost edge of the central outlet and being narrower at its distal end than at its base, 
 the container connector having smooth contours near the annular groove and the annular rib to prevent local stress buildup and being configured to bend near the annular groove so that the central outlet does not warp from internal pressure of the container when the container is pressurized, and the annular rib being configured to absorb outward bending stresses induced by the internal pressure.