US3889839A

US3889839A - Blow-molded drum

Info

Publication number: US3889839A
Application number: US474797A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alvin L Simon; Klaus S Butz
Original assignee: Advanced Chemical Technology Inc
Current assignee: Advanced Chemical Technology Inc
Priority date: 1974-05-30
Filing date: 1974-05-30
Publication date: 1975-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-17
Also published as: DK242275A; BE829753A; FR2275367B1; IT1038461B; BR7503442A; ES438087A1; GB1507074A; JPS5130078A; SE7506007L; NL7506329A; DE2523784A1; ZA753418B; IL47358A0; FR2275367A1

Abstract

The peripheral wall of a blow-molded plastic drum is provided with recesses positioned at diametrically opposite sides, adjacent the top of the drum. Each includes a substantially flat horizontal surface functioning as a bearing surface for the forks of a fork-lift truck. A handling attachment can be provided at the top of the drum to accept the top hook of a hand truck or a similar transporting device.

Description

United States Patent Simon et al.

Ill] 3,889,839

[ June 17, 1975 1 BLOW-MOLDED DRUM 3,586,204 6/l97l Roper 220/72 x 7'] [0 1972 H 220 7 [75] Inventors: Alvin L. Simon; Klaus S. Butz, both 3 64 3/ ammes I 2 of Los Angeles Primary Examiner-William l. Price [73] Assignee: Advanced Chemical Technology, Los Asslsran! E raminerSteven M. Pollard Angeles, Calif. Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarvin H. Kleinberg [22] Filed: May 30, 1974 [57} ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 474797 The peripheral wall of a blow-molded plastic drum is provided with recesses positioned at diametrically op- [52] US. Cl. 220/72; 220/66 posite sides, adjacent the top of the drum Each in- [51] Int. Cl B6Sd 7/42 cludes a substantially flat horizontal surface function- [58] Field of Search 220/72, 70, 69, 66, 5 R ing as a bearing surface for the forks of a fork-lift truck. A handling attachment can be provided at the [56] References Cited top of the drum to accept the top hook of a hand UNITED STATES PATENTS truck or a similar transporting device. 1.909928 5/[933 Waite to 220/66 30 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures e 4e 1a a Z4 II 1 22 f9 :2 3a 26 14 BLOW-MOLDED DRUM BAC KGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to containers 5 and, more particularly, to a blow-molded drum of the stackable type, made of atherm'oplastic material.

2. Description of the Prior Art Drums of this kind are known in the art and are phys ically configured to be stacked on top of each other for economy of space requirements. One such conventional blow-molded drum comprises, for example, a substantially cylindrical main body and a head and bottom portion which are considerably tapered inwardly, relative to the longitudinal axis of the drum, to provide the required structural strength for the container.

The head and bottom portions of this conventional drum terminate in generally planar end walls with depressions formed at diametrically opposite sides of the top end wall. A tubular portion or projection is located in each of the depressions and constitutes an inlet, an

outlet or an air escape opening. Each of the tubular projections communicates with the interior of the drum. The upper bpen edges of the projections terminate in a plane corresponding to the general plane of the top wall surface. i

Usually, reinforcing webs are provided in the respective depressions and are integrally formed with the pro era] surfaces which include a threaded portion adapted to intermesh with the threaded portion of a bung or closure cap which, normally, seals the tubular projections, isolating the interior from the environment.

Conventionally, this type of plastic drumisprovided with an eyelet positioned in the central portion of the top end wall intermediate the depressions therein. For example, it may be disposed in a recess beneath the general plane of the'end wall. This centrally positioned eyelet accepts the hook of a crane or similar lifting device for vertical lifting or positioning of the drum during loading or unloading thereof.

Loading and unloading of a fully loaded drum onto and from a truckbed, platform or other location, by means of the eyelet and a lifting hook, has the inherent disadvantage that, during aerial travel of the drum by, for example, a crane, the tension exerted on the drum in the region of the eyelet is exceedingly high, particularly with those drums which have a large volumetric" content. It will be appreciated that as a result of this tension, centered solely on the carrying eye or eyelet of the drum, breakage or disengagement of the eyelet from the drum top surface may occur, which, in turn, can affect the integrity ofthe drum and lead to extremely hazardous situations.

The keg-shape of conventional plastic drums' prevents normal manual handling thereof as compared with the common steel drum which is substantially cylindrical with relatively flat top and bottom surfaces and can be easily rolled and positioned onto the platshaped configuration, which enables a standard fork truck to lift the drum. Plastic drums of the type under discussion do not have such well defined edge portions due to the degree ofcurvature at the top and bottom portions, and hence, these drums are unsuitable for use with a fork-lift truck.

Moreover, due to the highly curved or rounded top and bottom sections of conventional keg or egg-shaped plastic drums, it is nearly impossible to make use of a standard hand truck for handling and transporting these drums. The support forks, which project outwardly from the lower end of the truck, are rather short in length and, as such, usually cannot reach the bottom surface of such configured drums. Even in instances where the curvature at the bottom section would allow the forks to engage the bottom surface of the drum, it is extremely difficult tobalance the drum on the hand truck, again as a result of the general curved configuration of the drum. In addition, the absence of anykind of handling attachment leaves the drum in an unbalanced, relatively unstable position on the'truck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It, therefore, is an object of the invention to over come the above disadvantages encountered with conventional blow-molded, plastic polyethylene drums and to providea drum which enables easy handling both manually and mechanically using conventional lifting devices. 1

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a drum of substantially cylindrical configuration has slightly curved top and bottom sections, terminating in generally planar end walls.

The drum is made of a high density thermoplastic material; such as polyethylene, and is blow-molded in the conventional manner. Provided in the generally straight, circumferential wall of the drum, adjacent the top thereof, are a pair of indentations or recesses positioned diametrically opposite each other. Each recess provides a generally flat surface which extends substantially normal to thelon'gitudinal axis of the drum, parallel to the planar top end walls thereof.

The purpose of providing the circumferential wall with such flat recessed indentations is to provide bearing surfaces forthe straight and flat forks of a conventional fork-lift truck. The indentations are configured to support the entire weight of a fully filled drum and do not affect the structural strength of the drum. Also, as a result of the cylindrical circumference and flat bot tom surface of the drum, the latter, when positioned on the forks or bottom plate of a hand truck, is easily balanced against the upwardly directed supports of the hand truck, a feature'which, hitherto, was impossible due to the rounded configuration of the circumferential surface of the conventional plastic drums.

Furthermore, dueto the provision of the substantially cylindrical circumferential wall and the slightly curved top and bottom portions of the drum, edge portions are formed between the circumferential wall and the top and bottom surfaces. 'Such an edge portion at the bottom region of the drum enables the latter to be easily manually rolled and, in additiomenables the drum to be adequately engaged by and positioned onto the forks or plate of a standard hand lift truck. The degree of curvature at the bottom of the drum is such as to enable the rather short forks to be easily disposed beneath the drum bottom surface,a feature which, as hereinbefore discussed, was practically impossible, again as a result of the rather large curvature at the bottom portions of conventional plastic drums.

Another feature of the invention not found in prior art blow-molded drums is the handling attachment which further facilitates handling and lifting of the drum by a hand truck. The handling attachment is positioned at the drum top and enables the top to be con nected to the conventional top hook with which the hand truck is usually equipped to connect the upper end of the drum to the truck. The handling attachment may, of course, also be used to accept the hook or connecting member ofa similar lifting device which utilizes the hook or connecting member for stabilizing the drum on the device.

The handling attachment, in one embodiment thereof, is in the form of a flexible loop attached laterally to the bung projection at the top wall of the drum. The loop is arranged to accept the top hook of the hand truck.

In another embodiment. the handling attachment is formed by a wall receptacle which extends slightly angularly inwardly from the planar Surface at the top wall of the drum, adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, and defines a cutout portion between the drum side and bung projection. With the drum positioned on the forks of the hand truck, the cutout portion accepts the top hook of the hand truck.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a blow-molded polyethylene drum according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the drum of FIG. 1, illustrating the upper portion of the drum turned through 90, more clearly showing the handling attachment and the wall indentation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the drum top of FIG. 2, illustrating the handling attachment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view similar to FIG. 1, however, illustrating a second embodiment of the handling attachment according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the drum taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, illustrating in detail the handling attachment;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, however, illustrating an open-top drum incorporating the indentations and the handling attachment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8a and 8b are fragmentary views showing profiles of other embodiments oflifting portions of a drum.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals index like parts and, with attention initially directed to FIG. 1, there is shown a blow-molded drum 10 which is made of a thermoplastic material such as a heavy density polyethylene. The drum is of substantially cylindrical configuration and, as shown, has a generally straight periphery 12 and slightly curved top and

bottom portions

14, 16, respectively,

which ternunate in generally planar top and bottom end walls 18, 20, respectively.

Provided in the circumferential wall of the top portion 14, adjacent the top end wall 18, are two recesses or

indentations

22, 24 positioned diametrically opposite each other in the top portion 14.

The

recesses

22, 24 initially define

curved shoulder sections

26, 28, which deflect rather sharply from the generally straight line P of the projected periphery l2, inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis A of the drum 10. The

curved sections

26, 28 merge into substantially straight upright sections 30, 32, which extend upwards in general alignment with the longitudinal axis A of the drum l0 and extend lengthwise to form longitudinal channels in the side walls of the drum through which the forks ofa fork lift can be run in for the purpose of lifting the drum. The sections 30, 32, in turn, terminate in overhanging brows or lips having planar surfaces 34, 36, which extend in a normal plane relative to the axis A of the drum 10.

When the straight surfaces 34, 36 are engaged and lifted by the forks of, for example, a standard fork-lift truck, they provide bearing surfaces for the forks and effect equal and uniform weight distribution of a filled drum.

As shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the fork insertion recesses 22 and 24 are provided on the top portion 14 of the drum. This location for the recesses gives greatest stability and avoidance of tipping in the lifting ofa fully loaded drum, because the center of gravity of the fully loaded drum then lies well below the supporting forks. It should be understood that, if desired, additional recesses may be provided in the top portion, to permit fork lift approach from different angles, and also that the recesses may be positioned in other drum portions. Thus, for example, the drum may be provided in its middle portion with diametrically opposed recesses similar to 22 and 24. Also it may be desired that the drum be as readily liftable by a fork lift when the drum is upside down, and in such event the bottom portion of the drum may be provided with an oppositely disposed pair of recesses, having a configuration as shown in FIG. 8a, or a more central portion of the drum may be provided with pair of recesses having a configuration with both top and bottom lifting brows as shown in FIG. 8b.

The planar surfaces of the recesses in the respective wall sections are dimensioned as later discussed so as to prevent their dislodgement from the forks.

On the whole, the top and bottom portions l4, 16 have a curvature with a deflection of only a few degrees relative to the straight sides 12 of the drum. This slight degree of curvature is sufficient to give great structural strength to the container at the top and bottom sections.

One advantage of a drum thus configured is, for example, a substantial increase in dimension of the bot tom surface as compared with bottom portions of drums with a considerably high degree of curvature such as, for example, a kegor egg-shaped drum. The bottom surface of the present drum, for instance, permits positive engagement with and support by the forks or platform of a standard hand truck, which would not be feasible with a drum with a rather strongly curved bottom section. Since the forks or platform of the hand truck are relatively short in length, generally they would not extend far enough to reach and adequately support the bottom surface of such drums. Hence, the slight degree of curvature at the bottom section 16 provides a larger bearing surface of the bottom wall per se and, consequently, provides a greater support surface; e.g., for the platform of a truck.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top end wall 18 is provided with

bung projections

38, 40 of conventional design. The projections are positioned in

depressions

42, 44, which are disposed diametrically opposite each other in the top end wall 18. The

projections

38, 40 define openings therein which communicate the interior of the drum with the atmosphere, the openings or bung holes being arranged to receive the usual bungs or stoppers.

The upper edges of the

projections

38, 40, as shown, are located in the general plane of the top wall 18 while the upper edges of the bungs, not shown, are positioned in the plane of the upper limits of the projections. This arrangement provides that the overall upper wall 18 is generally flat which, as will be appreciated, provides increased stability in the stacking of the drums on top of each other.

Reinforcing webs 46, one shown, are provided at the sides of the

projections

38, 40, extending inwardly towards the center of the drum. Located below or extending through the web 46, as shown, is a cutout or eyelet 48. The eyelet 48 forms an opening for the pas sage of a loop-shaped, flexible member 50 which loosely surrounds the bung projection 38. The flexible member 50, e.g., a flexible wire cable, constitutes a handling attachment for the drum in that it is arranged to receive, for example, the upper connecting hook of a standard hand truck, or the hook ofa similar handling device. One such arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 2 with the hook shown in dashed lines.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the handling attachment of the invention. The bandling attachment, in this instance, is in the form of a fixed receptacle 52, open at its upper end. A downwardly directed, elongated cavity 54 is arranged to receive the top hook ofa hand truck or the hook ofa similar handling device.

The receptacle 52 is positioned laterally in the region of the circumferential edge 56 of the top end wall 18 and is disposed so that the walls of the cavity 54 extend at a slightly outwardly inclined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis A of the drum 10. The upper edges 58, 60, bounding the cavity 54, extend in a plane parallel with the general plane of the top wall 18.

The receptacle 52, in essence, is formed by a substantially wedge-shaped fold portion 62, including a bottom portion 64 and an outer wall portion 66. The fold portion 62 is integrally formed with a substantially rectangular base portion 68, including a bung assembly 70. The bung assembly 70, as shown in FIG. 6, includes an upper tubular portion 72 and the base portion 68 integrally formed therewith.

The four sides of the base portion 68 include an inner side 74 facing towards the center of the drum and an outer side 76 facing away from the center of the drum, the lower end of which is integral with the bottom portion 64. As shown, the outer side 76 of base portion 68 extends parallel with the outer wall portion 66 and angularly inwardly relative to the axis A of the drum.

Connecting the outer wall portion 66 with the outer side 76 of the base portion 68 are side surfaces 78, one of which is shown in FIG. 6.

The base portion 68 of the bung assembly 70 and the wedge-shaped fold portion 62, integrally formed therewith, constitute a substantially rectangular assembly when viewed from the top or bottom.

The bung assembly 70 constructed as discussed hereinbefore is a prefabricated unit formed, e.g., by an injection molding process. To position the assembly 70 in the top end wall 18 of the drum, the assembly is initially appropriately placed in the matrix used for shaping the drum and the latter is subsequently formed around the assembly 70 by a blow-molding process. It should be noted that the assembly 70 is preferably of a plastic substance with a higher melting point than that used for manufacturing the drum in order to avoid deformation or melting of the prefabricated assembly 70, or parts thereof.

Once the blow-molded drum, and the bung assembly 70 formed therein, is removed from the matrix, the drum is formed with an elongated, generally rectangular opening 82 provided in the top wall 18 and in which the bung assembly is appropriately located. Bounding the opening 82 is a generally rectangular wall 84, constituted by wall sections 86, 88, and a lateral wall section 92 which merges into the side wall 14 of the drum.

The outer circumferential surface of the base portion 68 and the fold portion 62 are provided with an integral circumferential rib portion 98, and as a result of blowmolding the drum around the assembly 70, the circumferential surface of the drum wall 84 is formed with a corresponding peripheral portion and these two portions, i.e., the rib portion 98 and the portion 100 of the drum wall 84, are in interlocking engagement with each other, as shown in FIG. 6. Also, following blowmolding the drum, the vertex 102 of fold portion 62 is in abutting engagement with an abutment surface 94 of an abutment portion 96 formed at the transistion region at the lower end of wall section 92 and the side wall 14 of the drum. Such abutment provides a reinforcing effect for the fold portion 62 and the wall section 92 in the region of the abutment portion 96.

Unitary with the drum top wall section 86 of the wall 84 and the central portion 104 of the drum top surface 18 is a reinforcing web 106 provided to add to the rigidity of the bung assembly 70 and to prevent deformation thereof.

The bung assembly 70 is provided with an inner annular circumferential wall 108 which at its lower end is provided with a threaded portion 110 which intermeshes with a correspondingly threaded portion 112 of a common bung 1 14, positioned in the assembly 70. Directly above the threaded portion 110 is an inwardly tapering portion 116 which tightly abuts a seal 118 provided on an inner tapering surface portion 120 of the bung. This arrangement provides a positive seal of the interior of the drum. A seal cap 122 is provided on the assembly 70 to prevent the bung 114 from being removed accidentally or surreptitiously.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the cavity 54 has a width which is substantially equal to the diameter of the tubular portion 72 of the bung assembly 70, the width being dimensioned such as to provide adequate access for the top hook of a standard hand truck.

FIG. 7 shows an open-top, blow-molded plastic drum 10', normally closed by a lid or cover member 124. The drum in this embodiment is configured similarly in appearance as the drum of FIG. 1. The drum 10' at the top portion 14' thereof is provided with an integral lateral projection 126 extending radially outwardly. The projection 126 is formed with an eyelet or opening 128 which provides passage for the handling attachment 130 which, as in FIG. 1, is in the form of a loop-shaped flexible member such as a looped wire 50 which accepts the hook of a lifting device. As shown, the upper surface 132 of the projection 126 lies in the general plane of the top end wall 134. The drum configuration of this embodiment is identical with its counterpart of FIG. I and will not be described further.

By way of example, the position and dimensions of the periphery of the foregoing embodiments are arranged so that, as shown in the top view of FIG. 5, the overhanging brow of a recess has its planar lifting surface occupying an area bounded between a chord C of the circumference of the drum and the corresponding arc subtended by the chord. The longitudinal width of the brow, corresponding to the length of chord C, subtends a central angle of approximately 62 at A. The depth of the overhanging brow is at least /2 inch and preferably approximately /4 inch to 1 /2 inches to pro vide adequate support for the forks of a fork lift and allowance for the variations in fork spacing, so as to assure that the lifting brow will not fail and that the forks will not slip off. The upright sections of the recesses have a height of approximately /2 inches to permit a reasonable initial misalignment with the height or angle of the forks of the fork lift as may be encountered when the fork lift approaches on an inclined or uneven pavement.

The upright sections of the recesses may be slightly outwardly or inwardly curved. This may facilitate positioning of the forks of a lifting device into the recesses, as, for example, in those instances where the forks do not extend in exact parallelism with each other. In addition, such slightly outwardly curved upright sections tend to add to the rigidity of the overall recess structure. An outwardly directed curvature of the upright sections is exemplarily shown by the dash-dotted line in FIG. 5.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting various features which, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific as pects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material comprising:

an extended drum body having a circumferential wall and top and bottom sections,

said circumferential wall having at least two integral overhanging brow portions positioned respectively on opposite sides of said circumferential wall of said body, each of said brow portions overhanging a corresponding clear and open volume adjacent said circumferential wall sufficiently large to permit insertion of the forks of a fork lift beneath the overhanging brows,

said overhanging brow portions having bottom surfaces adapted to serve as bearing and lifting surfaces for lifting and transporting of said drum by the forks of a fork lift.

2. The blow-molded drum defined by claim I wherein said brow portions are positioned in the circumferential wall of said body adjacent to the top of said drum body and substantially equidistant above the bottom of said body.

3. The blow-molded drum of claim 1 wherein said circumferential wall is generally cylindrical with slightly tapering top and bottom portions.

4. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein said clear and open volumes are defined by two indentations in opposite sides of said circumferential wall of said body, each of said indentations being extended lengthwise to define longitudinal channels in said circumferential wall through which the forks of a fork lift can be inserted, said overhanging brow por tions comprising the respective overhanging top portions of said longitudinal channels.

5. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein each of said overhanging brow portions has at its deepest portion a depth in the range of 3/2 of an inch to l fizinches.

6. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein said overhanging brow portions have at their deepest portion a depth of at least /2 inch.

7. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 6 wherein the clear and open volume beneath an overhanging brow portion has a height of approximately 1% inches.

8. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein said bottom surfaces of said overhanging brow portion are planar surfaces substantially normal to the axis of said drum, said circumferential wall including longitudinally extended upright wall sections immediately beneath and joining to said bottom surfaces of said overhanging brow portions.

9. The blow-molded drum of claim 1 wherein said drum body includes a handling member positioned at the top of said body and adjacent said circumferential wall and adapted to receive the handling hook of a hand truck.

10. The drum defined by claim 9 wherein said handling attachment comprises a loop of flexible material attached to said drum body.

11. The drum defined by claim 9 wherein said handling comprises a cup-like receptacle integrally formed in the plastic of the top of said drum body.

12. The drum defined by claim 1 wherein said bottom section of said drum body includes a bottom enclosing end wall and said top section of said drum body has an open top adapted to receive a mating plastic cover.

13. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body having opposite ends;

at least two indentations in the circumferential wall of said body at diametrically opposite sides thereof, said indentations having planar bearing surfaces disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said drum, said indentations being proportioned and adapted to receive the forks of a mechanical fork lift for lifting and transporting said drum on said planar bearing surfaces.

14. The drum of claim 13 wherein said opposite ends constitute top and bottom end walls of said body and said indentations extend equidistant from and adjacent to said top end wall.

15. The drum of claim 13 wherein said body has a longitudinal axis and includes a head portion and a plurality of indentations provided in the circumferential wall of said head portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof and positioned symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of said body.

16. The drum of claim 13 wherein said opposite ends constitute top and bottom end walls of said body, said indentations being positioned on the circumferential wall of said body equidistant above the bottom end walls of said body.

17. The drum of claim 13 wherein said opposite ends constitute top and bottom end walls of said body, said body being open at its top and said indentations being positioned on the circumferential wall of said body adjacent to the open top of said body and equidistant above the bottom end wall of said body.

18. The drum of claim 13, wherein said opposite ends constitute top and bottom end walls of said body, and includes at least one depression formed at one side of the top end wall, and further including a tubular projection affording access to the interior of said body and located in said depression.

19. The drum of claim 18 wherein said tubular projection is integrally formed with said depression in said planar end wall at the top of said body, said drum further including reinforcing webs integral with said end wall and said tubular projection and bridging said depression.

20. The drum of claim 19 wherein said tubular projections are provided with an inner circumferential surface and screw threads in said surface, said screw threads being adapted to intermesh with the screw threads of a plug member positioned in said tubular projection to seal the latter from the atmosphere.

21. The drum of claim 13 further including a handling member for manually and mechanically manipulating said drum, said handling member being positioned at the top of said drum adjacent said circumferential wall of said drum.

22. The drum of claim 21 wherein said opposite ends constitute planar end wall surfaces at the top and bottom of said body, the planar end wall surface at the top of said body being formed with at least one depression at the side of said surface, and further including a tubu lar projection affording access to the interior of said body located in said depression, and wherein said handling member is positioned laterally adjacent one of said tubular projections.

23. The drum of claim 22 wherein said handling member is a loop of flexible material cooperatively engaged with said one of said tubular projections.

24. The drum ofclaim 21 wherein the planar end wall surface at the top of said body is formed with at least one depression at one side of said surface and a tubular projection affording access to the interior of said body located in said depression, and wherein said handling member is in the form of a receptacle constituted by a wall section positioned radially outwardly and spaced from said tubular projection and defining a cavity in said surface in the region of the peripheral edge thereof, said cavity extending inwardly of said body.

25. The drum of claim 13 wherein said opposite ends constitute a top and bottom end of said body, said body being open at its top, said drum including a handling member positioned adjacent the peripheral edge bounding the open top of said body and adapted to receive the handling hook of a hand truck.

26. The drum of claim 25 wherein said handling member is in the form of a loop of flexible material and said peripheral edge includes a laterally outwardly directed projection defining an opening therethrough for the passage of said loop of flexible material.

27. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material comprising:

a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis;

slightly curved head and bottom portions at axially opposite ends of said main body portion and integral therewith, said head and bottom portions terminating into substantially planar end walls;

at least two indentations in the circumferential wall of said head portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof, equidistant from and adjacent to the planar end wall of said head portion, said indentations having planar bearing surfaces axially aligned relative to each other and disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said drum, said planar surfaces being adapted to receive supporting members for lifting and transporting said drum;

depressions in the planar end wall at the top of said body at diametrically opposite sides of said end wall;

a tubular projection affording access to the interior of said body located in each of said depressions; and

a handling member for manually and mechanically manipulating said drum, said handling member being positioned laterally of said end wall at the top of said body, adjacent said tubular projection.

28. The drum of claim 27 wherein said handling member is in the form of a loop of flexible material cooperatively engaging said tubular projection.

29. The drum of claim 27 wherein said handling member is in the form of a receptacle constituted by a cavity defined by a fold portion being an extension of said tubular projection and including an outer wall spaced from and substantially parallel with one side of said tubular projection facing away from the center of the top of said drum, and a base wall bridging said outer wall and said one side of said tubular projection at the lower ends thereof.

30. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material having an open top, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis;

slightly curved head and bottom portions at axially opposite ends of said main body portion and integral therewith, said head portion terminating into an upper free edge constituting the open top of said drum, and said bottom portion terminating into a substantially planar end wall;

at least two indentations in the circumferential wall of said head portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof, equidistant from and adjacent to said upper free edge, said indentations having planar bearing surfaces axially aligned relative to each other and disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said drum, said planar surfaces being adapted to receive supporting members for lifting and transporting said drum; and

a handling member for manually and mechanically manipulating said drum, said handling member being moveably attached to said upper free edge of said top portion of said body.

Claims

1. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material comprising: an extended drum body having a circumferential wall and top and bottom sections, said circumferential wall having at least two integral overhanging brow portions positioned respectively on opposite sides of said circumferential wall of said body, each of said brow portions overhanging a corresponding clear and open volume adjacent said circumferential wall sufficiently large to permit insertion of the forks of a fork lift beneath the overhanging brows, said overhanging brow portions having bottom surfaces adapted to serve as bearing and lifting surfaces for lifting and transporting of said drum by the forks of a fork lift.

2. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein said brow portions are positioned in the circumferential wall of said body adjacent to the top of said drum body and substantially equidistant above the bottom of said body.

4. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein said clear and open volumes are defined by two indentations in opposite sides of said circumferential wall of said body, each of said indentations being extended lengthwise to define longitudinal channels in said circumferential wall through which the forks of a fork lift can be inserted, said overhanging brow portions comprising the respective overhanging top portions of said longitudinal channels.

5. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein each of said overhanging brow portions has at its deepest portion a depth in the range of 3/2 of an inch to 1 1/2 inches.

6. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 1 wherein said overhanging brow portions have at their deepest portion a depth of at least 1/2 inch.

7. The blow-molded drum defined by claim 6 wherein the clear and open volume beneath an overhanging brow portion has a height of approximately 1 1/2 inches.

13. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material comprising: a substantially cylindrical body having opposite ends; at least two indentations in the circumferential wall of said body at diametrically opposite sides thereof, said indentations having planar bearing surfaces disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said drum, said indentations being proportioned and adapted to receive the forks of a mechanical fork lift for lifting and transporting said drum on said planar bearing surfaces.

22. The drum of claim 21 wherein said opposite ends constitute planar end wall surfaces at the top and bottom of said body, the planar end wall surface at the top of said body being formed with at least one depression at the side of said surface, and further including a tubular projection affording access to the interior of said body located in said depression, and wherein said handling member is positioned laterally adjacent one of said tubular projections.

24. The drum of claim 21 wherein the planar end wall surface at the top of said body is formed with at least one depression at one side of said surface and a tubular projection affording access to the interior of said body located in said depression, and wherein said handling member is in the form of a receptacle constituted by a wall section positioned radially outwardly and spaced from said tubular projection and defining a cavity in said surface in the region of the peripheral edge thereof, said cavity extending inwardly of said body.

27. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis; slightly curved head and bottom portions at axially opposite ends of said main body portion and integral therewith, said head and bottom portions terminating into substantially planar end walls; at least two indentations in the circumferential wall of said head portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof, equidistant from and adjacent to the planar end wall of said head portion, Said indentations having planar bearing surfaces axially aligned relative to each other and disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said drum, said planar surfaces being adapted to receive supporting members for lifting and transporting said drum; depressions in the planar end wall at the top of said body at diametrically opposite sides of said end wall; a tubular projection affording access to the interior of said body located in each of said depressions; and a handling member for manually and mechanically manipulating said drum, said handling member being positioned laterally of said end wall at the top of said body, adjacent said tubular projection.

30. A blow-molded drum of thermoplastic material having an open top, comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis; slightly curved head and bottom portions at axially opposite ends of said main body portion and integral therewith, said head portion terminating into an upper free edge constituting the open top of said drum, and said bottom portion terminating into a substantially planar end wall; at least two indentations in the circumferential wall of said head portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof, equidistant from and adjacent to said upper free edge, said indentations having planar bearing surfaces axially aligned relative to each other and disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said drum, said planar surfaces being adapted to receive supporting members for lifting and transporting said drum; and a handling member for manually and mechanically manipulating said drum, said handling member being moveably attached to said upper free edge of said top portion of said body.