U.S. patent application number 10/806184 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for air bottle carrier.
Invention is credited to Paquette, Andre.
Application Number | 20050211576 10/806184 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34988484 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050211576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paquette, Andre |
September 29, 2005 |
Air bottle carrier
Abstract
An air bottle carrier for use primarily by fire fighters
includes square top and bottom frames, the corners of which are
interconnected by hinges so that the frames can be moved between
collapsed and erect conditions; support bars in the bottom frame
for supporting the hemispherical bottom ends of air bottles, and
crossbars in the top frame defining sleeves for slidably receiving
and supporting the sides of air bottles. Bolts and internally
threaded knobs are used to lock the frames in the collapsed or
erect condition.
Inventors: |
Paquette, Andre; (Bowman,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GEORGE A. SEABY
SEABY & ASSOCIATES
250 CITY CENTRE AVNUE
OTTAWA
ON
K1R6K7
CA
|
Family ID: |
34988484 |
Appl. No.: |
10/806184 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 7/26 20130101; B62B
2205/06 20130101; B62B 3/104 20130101; B65D 85/305 20130101; B62B
5/06 20130101; B62B 2202/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/139 |
International
Class: |
B65D 075/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An air bottle carrier comprising a rectangular bottom frame;
support bars in said bottom frame; pockets in top edges of said
support bars for receiving hemispherical bottom ends of air
bottles; a rectangular top frame for resting on said bottom frame
in a collapsed condition of the carrier; crossbars in said top
frame defining sleeves for supporting sides of air bottles; hinges
interconnecting the corners of the bottom frame to the corners of
the top frame; and stops for limiting movement of the hinges when
the carrier is an erect, use condition.
2. The air bottle carrier of claim 1, wherein said bottom frame is
square and includes a pair of parallel sides and a pair of parallel
ends, said support bars extending diagonally between said sides and
ends.
3. The air bottle carrier of claim 2, wherein said top frame is
square having the same length and width as the bottom frame, and
said top frame includes a pair of parallel sides and a pair of
parallel ends, said crossbars being parallel to said sides and ends
of the top frame for defining square bottle receiving sleeves.
4. The air bottle carrier of claim 3, wherein the sides of said
bottom frame extend beyond the ends of the bottom frame to define
hinge stops at the corners of the bottom frame.
5. The air bottle carrier of claim 4, wherein each said hinge
includes an upper arm having one end pivotally connected to said
top frame proximate a corner thereof; a lower arm having one end
pivotally connected to a second end of said upper arm, and a second
end pivotally connected to said bottom frame proximate a corner
thereof, and a flange on one said arm for abutting the other said
arm in the erect condition of the carrier for maintaining said arms
vertical.
6. The air bottle carrier of claim 5, including a bolt connecting
said one end of the lower arm to said second end of the upper arm,
and an internally threaded knob on said bolt for locking said arms
together in the collapsed or erect condition of the carrier.
7. The air bottle carrier of claim 1, wherein each said hinge
includes an upper arm having one end pivotally connected to said
top frame proximate a corner thereof; a lower arm having one end
pivotally connected to a second end of said upper arm, and a second
end pivotally connected to said bottom frame proximate a corner
thereof; a first bolt connecting said one end of the lower arm to
said second end of the upper arm; an arcuate slot in said upper arm
proximate said second end thereof; a second bolt extending through
said one end of said lower arm above said first bolt in an erect
position of the carrier for sliding into said slot when the carrier
is erected; and a knob on said second bolt for locking the arms
together in the erect condition of the carrier.
8. The air bottle carrier of claim 7, including a pair of stops
extending outwardly from the ends of the bottom frame proximate
each corner of said bottom frame for limiting movement of the
hinges when the carrier is in the collapsed or erect condition.
9. The air bottle carrier of claim 1 including a plurality of
casters on said bottom frame; and an elongated handle releasably
connectable to said carrier for moving the carrier along a
surface.
10. The air bottle carrier of claim 9 including a lug extending
outwardly from at least one end of said bottom frame having an
opening for receiving a bottom end of said handle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a carrier for air bottles, and in
particular to a collapsible air bottle carrier.
[0003] While the invention was specifically created for use with
air bottles of the type used by firemen, it will be appreciated
that the carrier can be used for other air bottles, e.g. scuba
diver air tanks.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0005] It is common practice to carry air bottles loose on fire
trucks and other vehicles. The bottles are stored in any available
location on a vehicle, and are placed loose on the ground at the
site of the fire. After the tanks have been used, they are again
placed on the ground and often become mixed with fresh air bottles.
Thus, a need exists for a carrier for air bottles which can be used
on fire trucks and other vehicles. By storing and transporting only
filled bottles in the carrier, the chances of mixing used with
fresh bottles are substantially reduced.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the present invention is to meet the above
defined need by providing a relatively simple air bottle carrier,
which is collapsible for compact storage when not in use.
[0007] Accordingly, the invention relates to an air bottle carrier
comprising a rectangular bottom frame; support bars in said bottom
frame; pockets in top edges of said support bars for receiving
hemispherical bottom ends of air bottles; a rectangular top frame
for resting on said bottom frame in a collapsed condition of the
carrier; crossbars in said top frame defining sleeves for
supporting sides of air bottles; hinges interconnecting the corners
of the bottom frame to the corners of the top frame; and stops for
limiting movement of the hinges when the carrier is an erect, use
condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention is described below in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a
preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the bottle carrier in
accordance with the present invention in a collapsed condition;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the carrier of FIG. 1 in a
partially erect condition;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the carrier of FIGS. 1 and 2
in the fully erect condition;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top view of a bottom frame used in the carrier
of FIGS. 1 to 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of a hinge used in the
carrier of FIGS. 1 to 3 in the erect condition;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the
bottle carrier of the present invention in a partially erect
condition;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of one corner of a
bottom frame of the carrier of FIG. 6 as seen from below; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the carrier of FIG. 6 in the
fully erect condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] In the following description of two embodiments of the
invention, wherever possible the same reference numerals have been
used to identify the same or similar elements.
[0018] The principal elements of the air bottle carrier shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings include a square bottom frame 1, a
square top frame 2 and four corner hinges 3.
[0019] The bottom frame 1 is rectangular with a pair of parallel
sides 4 and ends 5. The sides 4 extend beyond the ends 5, the outer
free ends of the sides defining stops 6 at the corners of the frame
1 for limiting movement of the hinges 3 as described below in
greater detail. Other hinge stops in the form of pins 7 extend
outwardly from the ends 5 of the frame 1. A flat, horizontal,
reinforcing ledge 8 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extends inwardly from the lower
ends of the sides 4 and the ends 5 of the bottom frame 1. Parallel,
bottle supporting strips or bars 9 extend diagonally between
opposite interior corners, and between the sides 4 and the ends 5
of the frame 1. The strips 9 intersect each other at right angles,
and include concave grooves 10 in their top edges defining nine
pockets for supporting the hemispherical bottom ends of cylindrical
air bottles (not shown).
[0020] The square top frame 2 has the same dimensions as the bottom
frame 1, so that the top frame 2 rests on the upper end of the
bottom frame when the carrier is in the collapsed condition (FIG.
1). Like the bottom frame 1, the top frame 1 includes a pair of
parallel sides 12 interconnected by parallel ends 13. Crossbars 14
extend between the sides 12 and ends 13, defining square sleeves
slidably receiving air bottles (not shown) and for supporting the
upper ends of the bottles. The crossbars 14 are parallel to each
other and to the sides 12 and ends 13 of the top frame 2.
[0021] As best shown in FIG. 5, each hinge 3 is defined by upper
and lower arms 15 and 16, respectively. The top end of each upper
arm 15 is pivotally connected to an end wall 5 near a corner of the
frame 2 by a bolt 18 and a nut 19. A Teflon (trademark) washer 20
(FIGS. 2, 3 and 5) spaces the arm 15 from the top frame 2. The
bottom end of the upper arm 15 is pivotally connected to the top
end of the lower arm 16 by a bolt 22 and an internally threaded
knob 23. The bottom end of the lower arm 16 is pivotally connected
to an end 5 of the bottom frame 1 near a corner thereof by a bolt
24 and a nut 25. An elongated flange 26 extends outwardly and
upwardly from the inner edge of the top end of the lower arm 16 (in
the erect position). The flange 26 defines a third stop for
limiting rotation of the arms 15 and 16. When the carrier is in the
collapsed or storage position (FIG. 1), the bottom arm 16 of the
hinge abuts the pin 7, limiting downward rotation of the hinge.
When the carrier is in the erect condition, the flange 26 abuts the
inner bottom end of the upper arm 15 and the stop 6 abuts the outer
bottom end of the arm 16 to maintain the arms 15 and 16 vertically
aligned.
[0022] A generally C-shaped handle 28 is provided on the center of
each end 13 of the top frame 2. The handles 28 are slidably mounted
in lugs 29 extending outwardly from the ends 13 for spacing the
handles from the frame 2 facilitating manual access to the handles.
Pins 30 extend diametrically through the bottom ends of the
vertical sides of each handle for limiting upward movement of the
handle in the lugs 29.
[0023] In the collapsed condition, with the top frame 2 abutting
the bottom frame 1 and the handles 28 in the lower position (FIG.
1), the carrier is compact for storage. By tightening the knobs 23
on the bolts 22, rotation of the arms 15 and 26 of the hinges 3
relative to each other is prevented, i.e. the carrier is locked in
the collapsed position for storage or transport. The carrier is
easily erected by loosening the knobs 23 and lifting up on the
handles 28 to pull the top frame 2 upwardly (FIG. 2). The erect
carrier is locked in the erect condition by rotation of the knobs
23. The square openings in the top frame 2 slidably receive air
bottles. The hemispherical bottom ends of the bottles rest in the
concave grooves 10 in the strips 9 to stabilize the bottles during
transport.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, a second embodiment of the
invention includes the same basic elements as the carrier of FIGS.
1 to 5. Accordingly only the modifications to the first embodiment
of the carrier are described below.
[0025] In the second version of the carrier, the stops 6 are
replaced by pins 32 extending outwardly from the corners of the
carrier for limiting movement of the lower arms 16 of the hinges 3.
The nuts 19 are omitted and the spacers 20 are replaced by
projections or bosses 31 on the ends of the top frame 1 with
threaded holes (not shown) for receiving bolts 18. The bottom ends
of the lower arms 16 of the hinges 3 are connected to the ends 5 of
the bottom frame 1 by bolts 24 only. The reinforcing ledge 8 is
replaced with triangular gussets 33 (FIG. 7) at each corner of the
bottom frame 1. Small feet-defining posts 34 are provided on the
bottom of the gussets 33. The posts 34 may include holes 36 (shown
in phantom) for receiving the shafts 37 of casters 38 so that the
carrier can be rolled along a floor or the ground. The bottle
supporting bars 9 include concave depressions 40 defining bottle
receiving grooves, and cruciform rubber covers 41 are mounted on
the intersecting bars 9 to cover the grooves for cushioning the
bottom ends of metal air bottles (not shown) when they are
deposited in carrier.
[0026] As best shown in FIG. 6, the hinges 3 of the second
embodiment of the carrier differ from the hinges shown in FIGS. 1
to 3. Specifically, the upper arm 15 of each hinge 3 overlaps the
lower arm 16, and is connected to the lower arm 16 by a bolt 43 and
a nut 44 (FIG. 8). A second bolt 45 extends through the top end of
the lower arm 16 and the upper arm 15 into a knob 23 above the bolt
43 in the erect position of the carrier (FIG. 8). When the knob 23
is loosened and the upper frame 2 is moved to the erect position,
the bolt 45 enters an arcuate slot 49 (FIGS. 6 and 8) in the upper
arm 15. The knob 23 can then be tightened against the bottom end of
the upper arm 15 to lock the carrier in the erect position.
Alternatively, a threaded hole (not shown) can be provided in the
top end of the arm 16 above the bolt 43, and the bolt 45 and the
knob 23 can be replaced by a knob 23 having a bolt on the inner end
thereof.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 8, when the carrier includes casters 38, a
handle 50 is provided for pulling the carrier. The handle 50 is
defined by an elongated rod with a generally C-shaped hook 52 at
the bottom end thereof for rotating an opening in a triangular lug
53 extending outwardly from the center of at least one and
preferably both ends 5 of the bottom frame 1. A generally C-shaped
loop 54 is provided in the handle 50 above and opening in the
opposite direction to the hook 52. The spacing between the hook 52
and the loop 54 is such that the loop 54 can be placed on a handle
56 on the center of an end 13 of the top frame 2. The dimensions of
the loop 54 and the handle 56 are such that there is a friction fit
between the two, so that the handle 50 does not flop around when
not in use. The top end 57 of the handle 50 has an inverted L-shape
to facilitate gripping of the handle.
[0028] The final important difference between the second and first
embodiments of the carrier is the handles 56 of the second
embodiment. The handles 56 are generally C-shaped and extend
horizontally outwardly from the top frame 2. Because, firefighters
usually wear heavy gloves, it is important that the handles 56 have
a large opening, and the large, C-shaped handles 56 meet this
need.
[0029] Thus, there has been described a structurally simple,
collapsible air bottle carrier, which is easy to erect and
collapse, and which provides excellent support for air bottles
during transport. The use of the carrier facilitates the separation
of full from empty or partially empty bottles. During the confusion
at the site of a fire, it should not be necessary for a fireman to
rummage through air bottles to find a full bottle. Of course, the
carrier can also be used to carry air bottles used by scuba divers
and others.
* * * * *