Industrial tank support
View Patent ↗An industrial tank support includes a platform and multiple supporting legs positioned around the platform with the platform located between the top end and bottom end of the legs. The platform has first and second surfaces thereon which have different configurations, whereby the tank support can be positioned in two different orientations with either the first surface or the second surface uppermost in a tank receiving position to alternatively support tanks having two different bottom configurations. A central opening is provided in the platform whereby a dispensing outlet or other projection from the bottom wall of the supported tank may extend through the central opening. The legs and platform are preferably hollow and in fluidic communication by passages, and the tank support is preferably molded as a unitary member of synthetic resin.
1. A tank support operable to alternately support first and second tanks above a supporting surface, said first and second tanks having respective, different, first and second bottom surfaces, said tank support comprising:
a multiplicity of legs each having one and another opposed ends, with each opposed end including structure for engaging said supporting surface; and
a platform coupled to the legs between said opposed ends thereof and presenting opposed, first and second platform surfaces each including respective first and second tank-supporting structures, said first and second structures being asymmetrical in vertical cross-section,
said tank support being positionable with one of said platform surfaces facing upwardly and one multiplicity of leg end structures engaging said supporting surface, and alternately positionable with the other of said platform surfaces facing upwardly and with the other multiplicity of leg end structures engaging said supporting surface,
said first tank-supporting structure configured to support the first tank having the first bottom surface thereon when the tank support is positioned on said supporting surface with said first platform surface facing upwardly,
said second tank-supporting structure configured to support the second tank having the second bottom surface thereon when the tank support is positioned on said supporting surface with said second platform surface facing upwardly.
2. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a central passage extending through said structures.
3. A tank support as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the central passage is substantially circular.
4. A tank support as set forth in claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first and second structures includes an edge surrounding a recess with the respective structure located interiorly of the edge and outside the central passage.
5. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a platform wall enclosing a chamber and each of the legs includes a sidewall enclosing a cavity therein, such that the chamber of the platform is in fluidic communication with at least one of the cavities of the legs.
6. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first structure is substantially flat and horizontal when the tank support is supported on said legs.
7. A tank support as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said platform has a central passage and said second structure is sloped inwardly toward said central passage.
8. A tank support as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said second structure is substantially frustum shaped.
9. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second structures is bounded by a respective edge and said first and second structures are recessed relative to their respective surrounding edges.
10. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said platform and said legs are unitary and molded of synthetic resin.
11. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said legs have a transverse slot.
12. A tank support as set forth in claim 11 , further including a strap received in said transverse slots of said legs.
13. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said multiplicity of legs includes at least four of said legs spaced equidistantly around said platform.
14. A tank support as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said legs include a sidewall located between said one and another opposed ends and wherein said platform is substantially rectangular in plan and includes an outer wall having substantially planar wall segments which are substantially tangent to the sidewall of said legs.
15. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said multiplicity of legs includes at least six of said legs spaced equidistantly around said platform.
16. A tank support as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said platform is substantially hexagonal in plan and includes an outer wall having substantially planar wall segments which are substantially tangent to the sidewall of the legs.
17. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , further including a stand coupled to at least one of the legs.
18. A tank support as set forth in claim 17 , including a stirrer mounted on the stand.
19. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the one end of at least one of the legs has an opening therethrough for gaining access to the cavity.
20. A tank support as set forth in claim 19 , including means removably mounted on the one end of said at least one of the legs having an opening for covering the opening.
21. A tank support as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the another end of said at least one of the legs opposite the one end has a hole therein sized for receiving a threaded fastener.
22. A tank support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said platform includes portals extending through the platform and located adjacent respective ones of said legs, said platform further including upright interior walls extending between said first and second structures and surrounding said portals.
23. A method of alternately supporting first and second tanks each having respective differently configured first and second bottom surfaces tanks above a supporting surface, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a platform presenting opposed first and second platform surfaces each including respective first and second tank-supporting structures, said first and second structures being asymmetrical in vertical cross-section;
if said first tank is to be supported, orienting and mounting said platform above said supporting surface with said first platform surface facing upwardly, and then positioning said first tank with said first bottom surface on said first tank-supporting structure; and
if the second tank is to be supported, orienting and mounting said platform above said supporting surface with said second platform surface facing upwardly, and then positioning said second tank with said second bottom surface on said second tank-supporting structure.
24. The method of claim 23 , there being a multiplicity of legs having opposed ends, said platform being coupled to said legs between the opposed ends thereof, said platform mounting steps comprising the step of setting the corresponding ends of said legs on said supporting surface.