Indicator device for collapsible fluid container

Claim 2

An indicator device for measuring the volume of fluid present in a flexible, collapsible container, and adapted, by its particular configuration, to fit over and be carried by said container, said device comprising a flat, generally stiff plate defining an aperture having an oval central portion, said aperture also defining a pair of auxiliary oval portions which are smaller than said central portion and are positioned at opposite ends of the long axis of said oval central portion, said auxiliary portions having long axes which are generally coaxial with the long axis of said central portion, said central portion and auxiliary portions defining throat portions providing communication between said central and auxiliary portions.

Claim 3

The indicator device of claim 1 in which said aperture also defines a pair of small, generally semicircular portions facing and communicating with said oval central portion at opposite ends of the short axis of said oval central portion.

Claim 4

The indicator device of claim 2 which is a rectangular plastic plate defining said aperture.

Claim 5

The indicator device of claim 3 in which said plate has a length of about 7 inches, a width of about 4 inches, and a thickness of about tHree-sixteenths inch.

Claim 6

The indicator device of claim 2 in which the inner peripheral wall of said plate defining said aperture is angled outwardly about 20* to 60* from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the indicator plate.

Claim 7

A flexible, collapsible, fluid container having a fluid access port at one end thereof, said container carrying an indicator device for measuring the fluid volume within said container, which indicator device comprises a flat, generally stiff plate defining an aperture having an oval central portion, said aperture also defining a pair of auxiliary oval portions which are smaller than said central portion, positioned at opposite ends of the long axis of said oval central portion, said auxiliary portions having long axes which are generally coaxial with the long axis of said central portion, said central portion and auxiliary portions defining throat portions providing communication between said central and auxiliary portions, the lateral edges of a cross-sectional portion of the flat collapsing container fitting within said auxiliary oval portions, and the remainder of the container in the same cross-sectional portion fitting within said oval central portion, whereby, as fluid is drained from the bottom of said container while the container is vertically hung, the indicator device slides downwardly along the container in uniformly reproducible manner to indicate the volume of fluid remaining in the container.

Claim 8

A flexible, collapsible, fluid container having a fluid access port at one end thereof, said container carrying an indicator device for measuring the fluid volume within said container, which indicator device comprises a flat, generally stiff plate defining an aperture having an oval central portion, said aperture also defining a pair of auxiliary oval portions which are smaller than said central portion, positioned at opposite ends of the long axis of said oval central portion, said auxiliary portions having long axes which are generally coaxial with the long axis of said central portion, said central portion and auxiliary portions defining throat portions providing communication between said central and auxiliary portions, the lateral edges of a cross-sectional portion of the flat collapsing container fitting within said auxiliary oval portions, and the remainder of the container in the same cross-sectional portion fitting within said oval central portion, whereby, as fluid is drained from the bottom of said container while the container is vertically hung, the indicator device slides downwardly along the container in uniformly reproducible manner to indicate the volume of fluid remaining in the container.

Claim 9

The container and indicator device of claim 6 in which said aperture also defines a pair of small, generally semicircular portions facing and communicating with said oval central portion at opposite ends of the short axis of said oval, central portion, to accommodate longitudinal folds which form as said container collapses.

Claim 10

The container and indicator device of claim 7 in which said container comprises a pair of plastic sheets sealed at their edges.

Claim 11

The container and indicator device of claim 7 in which said indicator device comprises a rectangular plastic plate defining said aperture.

Claim 12

The container and indicator device of claim 9 in which the lower side of the inner peripheral wall of said plate defining said aperture is angled outwardly by about 20* to 60* to facilitate the sliding of said device along said container.

Claim 13

A flexible, collapsible fluid container having a fluid access port at one end thereof, said container having a numerical scale on its surface indicative of the amount of fluid present in and expended from said container, said container carrying an indicator device for measuring the fluid volume within said container which comprises a flat, generally stiff plate defining an aperture, said aperture being shaped to facilitate, as fluid is drained from the bottom of said container while the container is vertically hung, the downward sliding of the indicator device along the container in uniformly reproducible manner, whereby said plate arrives at each individual member of the numerical scale on the container when said container holds that amount of fluid indicated by said individual member.

Claim 14

A flexible, collapsible fluid container having a fluid access port at one end thereof, said container having a numerical scale on its surface indicative of the amount of fluid present in and expended from said container, said container carrying an indicator device for measuring the fluid volume within said container which comprises a flat, generally stiff plate defining an aperture, said aperture being shaped to facilitate, as fluid is drained from the bottom of said container while the container is vertically hung, the downward sliding of the indicator device along the container in uniformly reproducible manner, whereby said plate arrives at each individual member of the numerical scale on the container when said container holds that amount of fluid indicated by said individual member.

Claim 15

The container and indicator device of claim 11 in which said aperture also defines a pair of auxiliary, oval portions at opposite ends of the long axis of said oval central portion which are smaller than said central portion, said auxiliary portions having long axes which are generally coaxial with the long axis of said central portion, said central portion and auxiliary portions defining throat portions communicating between said central and auxiliary portions.

Claim 16

The container and indicator device of claim 12 in which said aperture also defines a pair of small, generally semicircular portions facing and communicating with said oval central portion at opposite ends of the short axis of said ellipsoidal central portion, to accommodate longitudinal folds which form in the container as said container collapses.

Claim 17

The container and indicatOr device of claim 13 in which the lower side of the inner peripheral wall of said plate defining said aperture is angled outwardly to facilitate the sliding of said device along said container.