BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a cap or handle cover embodiment of the present invention in place on a propane tank handle.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view that shows how an embodiment is placed on the handle of the propane tank.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cap embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the EMPTY indicating side of the cap of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the FIG. 1 cap in place on a propane tank handle.
FIG. 6 is an elevated view of another embodiment as it would appear in place on a propane tank handle.
FIG. 7 is an exploded view on how the FIG. 6 embodiment snaps together to form one unit that is then placed on the propane tank handle.
FIG. 8 is a cross section of both halves of the embodiment of FIG. 7 before assembly.
FIG. 9 is a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 7 assembled and in place on a propane tank handle.
FIG. 10 is a partially exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a cap used as a visual indicator.
FIG. 10A is a close-up view of a swivel connector.
FIG. 11 is a top-view of the FIG. 10 embodiment shows a connection of a receiving inlet and swivel connector.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the FIG. 10 embodiment places on a valve of the propane tank.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows.
FIG. 1 shows a cap 20 (e.g., a handle cover) on a propane tank handle 10. In use, a user places the cap 20 on the propane tank handle 10 as shown. For example, a donut shaped design of the cap 20 that is placed over a three pronged propane tank handle 10 is shown in FIG. 2. Further, the cap 20 includes ridge grips 50 around the outside circumference allowing for better gripping when rotating the cap. The cap 20 also has two visually distinct sides. More specifically, one side 30 is color-coded, preferably GREEN, and imprinted with an indicator (e.g., FULL 28). Moreover, the one side 30 includes the word OPEN 24 with a direction arrow and the word CLOSE 24 with an opposite direction arrow indicating how to operate a tank valve. The other side 32 (e.g., opposite side) is also color-coded, preferably RED, and is imprinted with the indicator EMPTY 26 (FIG. 4). The other side 32 also includes OPEN 24 and CLOSE 24 labels with directional respective arrows. It is useful to note that the indicator 26, 28 may also be a symbol, such as a recognized representation for FULL or EMPTY.
In a convenient embodiment, for each orientation illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cap 20 is pressed down over the three pronged propane tank handle 10 until lower flexible fins 22 snap under each prong of the tank handle 10. The upper and lower fins 22 hold the cap 20 in place on the tank handle 10. In this way, a user can removably secure the cap 20 in the appropriate and desired orientation (FULL 28 indicator side up or EMPTY 26 indicator side up), and thereafter be able to visually recognize the indicator (e.g., FULL 28 or EMPTY 26) on the propane tank by viewing the cap 20 (i.e., at a glance).
Shown in FIGS. 3-5 is a cross section view of cap 20 (FIG. 3), a top view of the EMPTY 26 indicating side 32 (FIG. 4), and a cross sectional view of the cap installed on the propane tank handle 10 (FIG. 5). More accurately, FIGS. 3-5 show details of the indicators OPEN 24, CLOSE 24, and EMPTY 26. From the cross sectional view of FIG. 3, one can distinguish between the EMPTY indicating side 32 (a red side in one embodiment) and the FULL indicating side 30 (a green side in one embodiment). Also shown in detail are ridges 50 allowing for a better grip for a user. Moreover, the flexible upper and lower fins 22 are seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The flexible fins 22 secure the cap 20 to a three (or any number) pronged tank handle 10. The relationship between the flexible fins 22 and the multi-pronged tank handle 10 is shown in FIG. 5.
In use, the user removably secures cap 20 FULL 28 indicia side 30 up (e.g., green side 30 up) onto tank handle 10 of a full propane tank. This is accomplished by respectively orienting cap 20 (side 30 up) and snapping cap 20 over or pressing the cap 20 onto the tank handle 10. After use of the contents of the tank, i.e., when the tank is effectively empty of its contents, the user lifts cap 20 off tank handle 10 and changes orientation of cap 20. That is, the user flips cap 20 over to bear opposite (red) side 32. now with EMPTY indicator 26 (red) side 32 up, the user applies (presses) cap 20 onto the tank handle 10 removably securing cap 20 in its new orientation. As a result, cap 20 now at a glance (readably visually) indicates that the subject tank is empty and the user can easily avoid attempting to use contents from the tank. Instead, the convenient cap indicators let the user know, again at a glance and without lifting the tank, that the tank needs refilling or replenishing of contents. Once the user refills the tank the user reasserts cap 20 to be removably secured on handle 10 in the orientation reading “FULL” and so on.
FIGS. 6-8 show a cap embodiment assembled in two components, where one component 300 (a green piece) indicates FULL 280 and the other component 320 (a red piece) indicates EMPTY 260. Both components are shaped like a bowl with the FULL 280 component 300 having pencil-like prongs 42 with ridges on the ends protruding from a bottom side. Similarly, EMPTY 260 component has holes 40 having a ridge inside that receives prongs 42. To make the cap 200 ready for use, the prongs 42 of component 300 are snapped into respective receiving holes 40 of component 320. Once the components 300, 320 are snapped together, both components during use in this manner, they will not separate from each other during cap 200 use. An additional benefit of snapping the components 300, 320 together is ridges 50 are formed, by way of the cap assembly, resulting in a more comfortable grip. Further, the cap 200 also includes CLOSE 24 and OPEN 24 indicators with respective directional arrows for providing to a user operating instruction for the valve. Moreover, on the green component 300, the indicator “FULL” 280 is imprinted on the bottom of a bowl shaped surface. On its counterpart, the red color component 320, the indicator “EMPTY” 260 is similarly imprinted on the respective bottom of the bowl surface of component 320.
For further convenience, each component 300, 320 includes flexible fins 22 as shown in the cross sectional of FIGS. 8-9. The flexible fins 22 are used to removably secure a cap 200 to a tank handle 10, in the desired one of two orientations at a time, in the manner describe above for cap 20 in FIGS. 1-5. For example, FIG. 9 shows how the fins 22 snap under the tank handle 10 to temporarily securely hold the cap 200 in place (i.e., in removably secure fashion).
FIG. 10 represents an alternative embodiment of a visual indicator cap 403. In particular, the cap 403 includes a first half 410 or first portion, a second half 405 or second portion, and a receiving inlet 415. In FIG. 12 for purposes of illustration, the first half 410 is shown forward facing and includes indicia (e.g., FULL) in proper reading orientation for a user to determine, at a glance, whether the contents of the tank are near full. The second half 405 is shown backwards facing and includes indicia (e.g., EMPTY) that is not in proper reading orientation when the cap 403 is positioned with the first half 410 facing out. As will be further described below, depending on orientation (position/placement) of cap 403 on a subject tank, one of the two halves 405, 410 will be outward facing and in proper reading orientation to indicate respective contents level (empty or full) of the tank.
Also shown is a strap 420, which includes a swivel connector 425 at a distal end. The swivel connector 425 is adapted to cooperate with the receiving inlet 415 so as to form a rotatable connection with cap 403. A close-up view of the swivel connector 425 is shown in FIG. 10A. The swivel connector 425 also provides a fastened connection by using flexible fins 428. The flexible fins 428 protrude into the receiving inlet 415 of FIG. 10 and secure the swivel connector 425 to the cap 403. A top-view of the connection (strap 420 connected to cap 403) is shown in FIG. 11. First half 405 and second half 410 are shown on either side of a ring 430, and the ring 430 couples receiving inlet 415 to cap 403. The receiving inlet 415 receives swivel connector 425 to form a rotatable connection.
The swivel connector 425 provides a rotational movement of about 360 degrees within receiving inlet 415. The rotational movement allows the strap 420 and cap 403 to rotate relative to each other and to change angular position, relative to each other, about a longitudinal axis. For example, cap 403 rotates, using the swivel connector 425, to reverse the position of the first half 410 and the second half 405. That is, the first half 410 can be moved (repositioned) to be backwards facing and the second half 405 becomes forward facing. As a result, the indicia (e.g., EMPTY) of the second half 405 moves to a proper reading orientation and the indicia (i.e., indicator) of the first half 410 is consequently placed in a non-readable orientation as desired by the user.
FIG. 12 shows cap 403 placed over a tank valve, orifice, or other opening 455. In a preferred embodiment, the cap 403 includes a first cup-shaped half 410 that is color-coded, preferably GREEN, and imprinted with the indicator FULL 28. A second. cup-shaped half 405 is also color-coded, preferably RED, and is imprinted with the indicator (a word, symbol or other indicia) EMPTY 26. At one end, strap 420 connects to the tank valve 455. At the other end, the strap 420 attaches to receiving inlet 415 in rotational freedom fashion described above. By attaching the distal end of strap 420 to the receiving inlet 415, the strap 420 secures (tethers) the cap 403 to the tank valve 455 and also enables the cap 403 to be rotatable by a user at the receiving inlet 415. For example, a user may remove the cap 403 from the tank valve 455 and swivel, pivot, or rotate the cap 403 to be in the reverse direction (orientation). That is, the user rotates the first half 410 from forward facing to backwards facing (i.e., towards the stem of the tank valve 455) and the second half 405 from backwards facing to forward facing (i.e., away/outward from the tank). After rotating the cap 403, the user places the cap 403 over the tank valve 455 opening where the indicia (e.g., EMPTY) of the second half 405 is in proper reading orientation. To aide a user in removably securing the cap 403 over the tank valve 455 opening, the cap 403 (cup halves 405, 410) is made of internal dimensions and material that allows a comfortable loose fit over such opening. It is useful to note that the cap 403 may be two separate pieces that are snapped together in the same manner as described in FIGS. 6-8 above.
It should be understood that any of the embodiments disclosed herein, such as the cap of FIG. 1 or FIG. 10, may be implemented without the use of sensors (e.g., sensor-less) or electronics. If implemented without the use of sensors, a user may manually position/reposition the cap.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
For example, in addition to the above retrofit type caps/handle covers, initial handles manufactured with the tank stem may incorporate the principles of the present invention. A releasable and reversible (top to bottom side up and vice versa) cap may incorporate the color scheme and FULL/EMPTY coordinating indicia as described above and shown in the drawings.
Although the above description refers to propane tanks, the present invention cap is useable on other tanks, refillable containers and the like of various contents.
Patent Application
20080017641
