PROPANE TANK CARRY HANDLE APPARATUS

Abstract

A propane tank carry handle apparatus has a handle member gripped in a hand of the user and first and second legs extending from opposing ends of the handle member to form a U-shaped body. First and second hooks on the first and second legs respectively are arranged to be received through diametrically opposed openings in the protective cage about the valve of the propane tank. The legs are spaced apart to receive the valve of the tank between the legs in the mounted position when the upper boundaries of the handle openings of the tank are engaged on the hooks. Locating the handle member centrally above the valve allows the tank to be suspended in a balanced manner in an upright orientation below the handle member when the handle member is gripped in a single hand of the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to carry handle apparatus arranged to be releasably secured to a portable propane tank for carrying the tank, and more particularly the present invention relates to a carry handle apparatus for a propane tank having a protective cage surrounding a valve structure at the top of a cylindrical tank body in which the carry handle apparatus releasably attaches to the protective cage of the propane tank and includes a handle member arranged to be gripped in a hand of the user to suspend the propane tank from the handle member in use.

BACKGROUND

A known structure of a portable propane tank of the type commonly used with barbecues and other portable propane appliances includes a cylindrical tank body supported by a base in an upright orientation with a generally domed top and supporting a valve assembly centrally thereon and a generally cylindrical protective cage that surrounds the valve assembly. A pair of handle openings are formed at diametrically opposed locations on the protective cage. The transport of propane tanks of this configuration is generally difficult and awkward in part due to their heavy weight and in part due to the lack of comfort resulting from handles being formed as cutouts in a sheet-metal structure of the protective cage.

Furthermore, the location of the handle cutouts being radially offset from the central valve assembly makes it difficult to suspend the tank in a balanced manner from the handle cutouts. Presently, the primary methods by which a propane tank is transported by an individual include: grasping the propane tank by one end of the metal cavity or handle opening in the propane tank's protective cage (also known as the tank collar) (“One Hand” transport), or by grasping the propane tank from both ends of the metal cavity (“Two Hand” transport).

The One Hand method of transport is uncomfortable as the individual is required to grasp the propane tank through a small metal cavity which provides only an extremely small metal surface area of which an individual's hand can take hold of in order to lift the tank. This method of transport is also uncomfortable and potentially unsafe because once the individual has lifted the propane tank in such a manner, the propane tank is oriented in a diagonal direction and which causes an individual to have to compensate for the uneven distribution of weight by adjusting the vertical plane of their body to counteract the additional weight on one side of their body, leading to potential falls and or injury generally.

The Two Hand method of transport is uncomfortable as the individual is required to grasp the propane tank through two small metal cavities which provides only extremely small metal surface areas of which an individual's hands can take hold of in order to lift the tank. This method of transport is also uncomfortable and potentially unsafe because once the individual has lifted the propane tank in such a manner, the propane tank is oriented in front of the individual which causes the individual to adjust their posture in a generally uncomfortable and unsafe manner wherein the individual must compensate for the uneven distribution of weight by adjusting the vertical plane of their body to counteract the additional weight at the front of their body, leading to potential falls and or injury generally.

The lack of a suitable simple solution for carrying various propane tanks, of which there are a variety with different collar dimensions but most of which contain similar cavities in their collar, in a manner that is easy, safe, and effective, makes it difficult for individuals to carry and transport propane tanks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a carry handle apparatus for a propane tank including a generally cylindrical tank body, a valve assembly at a top end of the tank body and a protective cage on the top end of the tank body surrounding the valve assembly, the protective cage including first and second handle openings formed therein at diametrically opposing locations relative to the valve assembly, the carry handle apparatus comprising:

• • a handle member arranged to be gripped in a hand of the user in which the handle member extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposing second end of the handle member;
  • a first leg and a second leg extending in a common direction oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction from first and second mounting locations on the handle member respectively in which the first and second mounting locations are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction such that the handle member, the first leg and the second leg collectively form a U-shaped body;
  • a first hook protruding in the longitudinal direction from the first leg such that the first hook defines a first hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a first distance, in which the first hook is arranged to be inserted through the first handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the first handle opening of the protective cage supported on the first hook surface in a mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank; and
  • a second hook protruding in the longitudinal direction from the second leg such that the second hook defines a second hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a second distance, in which the second hook is arranged to be inserted through the second handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the second handle opening of the protective cage supported on the second hook surface in said mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank;
  • wherein the first leg and the second leg are spaced apart from one another in said mounted position by a prescribed distance which is greater than a diameter of the valve assembly so as to be arranged to receive the valve assembly between the first leg and the second leg in said mounted position; and
  • wherein the first distance of the first leg and the second distance of the second leg are arranged to support the handle member spaced above the valve assembly when the first hook surface and the second hook surface are engaged with the upper boundary edges of the first handle opening and the second handle opening respectively in said mounted position.

The carry handle apparatus according to the present invention which includes first and second hooks for being engaged within the diametrically opposed first and second handle openings in the protective cage allows the handle member to be located between the hooks at a central location above the valve assembly such that the propane tank can be suspended in a balanced manner in an upright orientation below the handle member when the handle member is gripped in a single hand of the user.

The present invention thus provides a significant advance in the field of propane transportation by offering a practical and effective solution for transporting propane tanks. The proposed mechanism overcomes the challenges of existing transportation methods and provides a versatile solution that is suitable for a variety of tank sizes and with various collar sizes.

The resulting carry handle apparatus is easy to use and safely suspends a propane tank therefrom in a more stable and upright orientation and thus in a more advantageous manner than generally holding the propane tank by one of the handle openings in the protective cage. The carry handle apparatus is specifically adapted to secure itself to the existing configuration of the protective cage of a propane tank and cooperates with existing structures of the protective cage to securely position the apparatus relative to the tank. The apparatus can also accommodate a variety of different sizes of refillable propane tanks which may have different protective cage dimensions. The carry handle apparatus can be readily secured to the protective cage of the propane tank without any contact with the valve assembly during mounting or during use in a mounted position. The apparatus can likewise be easily removed when desired without contacting the valve assembly. The carry handle apparatus is also small, light and easily transportable.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second hooks in the first and second legs comprise a unitary rigid structure together with the handle assembly while being suitably sized for insertion of both hooks into the respective handle openings of the protective cage while providing adequate clearance about the central valve assembly throughout mounting and use of the apparatus.

In the preferred embodiment, a longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction between an outermost portion of the first hook and an outermost portion of the second leg may be less than an internal dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

The first hook preferably includes a first stop member protruding upwardly from the first hook surface at a location spaced longitudinally from the first leg so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the protective cage therebetween in said mounted position. In this instance, a combined height of the first hook and the first stop member on the first hook is preferably less than a height of the first handle opening of the protective cage. Furthermore, the first hook surface is preferably configured to receive said portion of the protective cage between the first stop member and the first leg such that the apparatus is restricted from sliding in the longitudinal direction relative to the protective cage.

The second hook surface is preferably longer in the longitudinal direction than the first hook surface.

A longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction between an outermost portion of the second hook surface and an outermost portion of the first leg is preferably greater than an internal dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

The second hook may include a second stop member protruding upwardly from the second hook surface at a location spaced longitudinally from the second leg so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the protective cage therebetween in said mounted position. Preferably a combined height of the second hook and the second stop member on the second hook is less than a height of the second handle opening of the protective cage. In this instance, a longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction between the second member and an outermost portion of the first leg may be greater than an outer dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

When each of the handle openings in the protective cage includes at least one upwardly extending recess formed in the upper boundary edge, preferably at least one of the first hook and the second hook is arranged to be at least partially received within the at least one recess of the respective handle opening so as to restrict relative sliding between the hook and the protective cage in a circumferential direction of the protective cage. In some instances, both the first hook and the second hook may be configured to be at least partially received within the recesses of the handle openings respectively so as to restrict relative sliding between the hook and the protective cage in a circumferential direction of the protective cage. When the at least one recess of each handle opening has a curved boundary, the first and second hook surfaces may also be curved about respective longitudinal axes of the first and second hooks respectively, in which a radius of curvature of the first and second hook surfaces is equal to a radius of curvature of the recesses of the handle openings respectively.

According to further embodiments, an adjustable element may be provided to support at least one of the first hook and the second hook relative to the handle member such that a longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook can be adjusted as said at least one of the first hook and the second hook is displaced between said mounted position and a mounting position.

In one embodiment, the adjustable element comprises a flexible portion of the leg associated with said at least one of the first hook and the second hook whereby the longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook is adjusted by flexing said flexible portion.

In another embodiment. the adjustable element comprises a hinge pivotally supporting said at least one of the first hook and the second hook relative to the handle member about a hinge axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane occupied by the handle member and the legs whereby the longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook is adjusted by pivoting said hinge. When using in this manner, the first hook and the second hook may extend inwardly towards one another in the mounted position in which a longitudinal distance between an innermost portion of the first hook and an innermost portion of the second hook in the mounting position is greater than an external dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings. Alternatively, the first hook and the second hook may extend outwardly away from one another in the mounted position in which a longitudinal distance between an outermost portion of the first hook and an outermost portion of the second hook in the mounting position is less than on internal dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

In a further embodiment, the adjustable element comprises a hinge pivotally supporting said at least one of the first hook in the second hook relative to the handle member about a hinge axis oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction within a plane occupied by the handle member and the legs whereby the longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook is adjusted by pivoting said hinge.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a carry handle apparatus for a propane tank including a generally cylindrical tank body, a valve assembly at a top end of the tank body and a protective cage on the top end of the tank body surrounding the valve assembly, the protective cage including first and second handle openings formed therein at diametrically opposing locations relative to the valve assembly, the carry handle apparatus comprising:

• • a handle member arranged to be gripped in a hand of the user in which the handle member extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposing second end of the handle member;
  • a first leg and a second leg extending from the handle member from proximal ends supported on the handle member to opposing distal ends of the legs respectively;
  • a first hook protruding from the first leg such that the first hook defines a first hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a first distance in which the first hook is arranged to be inserted through the first handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the first handle opening of the protective cage supported on the first hook surface in a mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank;
  • a second hook protruding from the second leg such that the second hook defines a second hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a second distance, in which the second hook is arranged to be inserted through the second handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the second handle opening of the protective cage supported on the second hook surface in said mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank;
  • an adjustable element supporting at least one of the first hook and the second hook relative to the handle member such that a longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook can be adjusted as said at least one of the first hook and the second hook is displaced between said mounted position and a mounting position allowing insertion and removal of the apparatus from the protective cage;
  • wherein the distal ends of first leg and the second leg are spaced apart from one another in said mounted position by a prescribed distance which is greater than a diameter of the valve assembly so as to be arranged to receive the valve assembly between the distal ends of first leg and the second leg in said mounted position; and
  • wherein the first distance of the first leg and the second distance of the second leg are arranged to support the handle member spaced above the valve assembly when the first hook surface and the second hook surface are engaged with the upper boundary edges of the first handle opening and the second handle opening respectively in said mounted position.

As described herein, the carry handle apparatus provides for the transport of a propane tank using a handle member that is adapted for securing each of its ends to the collar of a propane tank, in which the handle member will be approximately orientated in the center of the propane tank by virtue of its design to secure itself relative to the collar. The handle member is arranged to be gripped in a single hand of the user and supports to leg portions, each of which extend downward and away from the handle and which support hooks which secure themselves to the collar of a tank. The design of the carry handle apparatus in each instance ensures that at no time does the apparatus obstruct the use of the valve of the propane tank, nor does the valve assembly obstruct mounting and removal of the apparatus relative to the tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the carry handle apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carry handle apparatus according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1 as the apparatus is mounted onto the protective cage of a propane tank;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views illustrating the second hook and the first hook seated into corresponding recesses in the handle openings of the tank according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the carry handle apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carry handle apparatus mounted onto a tank according to the second embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is side elevational view of a third embodiment of the carry handle apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the carry handle apparatus mounted on the tank;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the carry handle apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the carry handle apparatus mounted on the tank;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the carry handle apparatus in a mounting position released from the tank; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the carry handle apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of FIG. 15 in a mounted position on the tank.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a portable propane tank carry handle apparatus generally indicted by reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 is particularly suited for releasable attachment to a conventional portable propane tank 12.

A common construction of a portable propane tank 12 includes a tank body having a generally cylindrical side wall 14 with a domed top 16 enclosing the top end. A base ring (not shown) is typically secured at the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall 14 for supporting the cylindrical sidewall in an upright vertical orientation when the base ring is engaged upon a horizontal supporting surface. The tank 12 further includes a valve assembly 18 which is mounted centrally on the top 16 of the tank body. The valve assembly typically includes a threaded outlet for securement to a propane consuming appliance, an internal check valve, and a shut off valve with an operator handle at the top end for opening and closing the shut off valve.

A protective cage 20 is also fixedly mounted to the top 16 of the tank body to surround and protect the valve assembly 18. The protective cage 20 comprises a generally cylindrical collar formed of sheet metal having an open side such that the cage is generally C-shaped in cross-section. The arcuate wall of the protective cage, which forms part of a cylinder in shape, is aligned coaxially with the valve assembly 18 to surround the valve and extend a greater height from the top of the tank than the operator handle of the valve assembly 18 to protect the valve assembly on all sides. The valve assembly remains accessible through the open top of the protective cage 20 and through the open side of the cage 20.

The protective cage 20 includes a first handle opening 22 and a second handle opening 24 formed therein at diametrically opposed locations. Each handle opening is a rectangular cut-out in the sheet metal forming the protective cage such that the handle opening is elongated in the circumferential direction. A top flange 26 extends downwardly and radially outward from an upper boundary edge 28 of each handle opening at a central location in the circumferential direction. The upper boundary edge 28 further includes two recesses 30 which extend upwardly beyond a remaining central portion of the upper boundary edge 28 where the top flange 26 is attached. The recesses 30 are semicircular shaped upper boundary portions extending above the remaining upper boundary edge 28 of the handle opening at circumferentially opposed ends of each handle opening. Each of the resulting four recesses 30 has a similar prescribed radius of curvature.

The protective cage 20 defines an interior dimension which is measured as a horizontal, longitudinal distance extending between innermost surfaces of the protective cage extending diametrically between the locations of the first and second handle openings 22 and 24 respectively. The protective cage 20 also defines an exterior dimension which is measured as a horizontal, longitudinal distance extending between outermost portions of the protective cage, extending diametrically between the locations of the first and second handle openings 22 and 24 respectively.

Features of the apparatus 10 will now be described in further detail. Although various embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying figures, the features in common with the various embodiments will first be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 16, in each instance the apparatus 10 includes a handle member 40 which is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the handle member extending between a first end 42 and an opposing second end 44 of the handle member. The handle member is suitably sized and configured for being comfortably gripped in a single hand of the operator. The handle member 40 typically extends generally horizontally across a diameter of the protective cage at a location spaced vertically above the protective cage in a mounted position of the apparatus 10.

The apparatus 10 further includes a first leg 46 and a second leg 48 extending in a common downward direction from the handle member 40 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle member so as to be approximately radially oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle member. Each leg 46 and 48 extends along a length of the leg from a proximal end 50 supported on the handle member 42 a distal end 52 space from the handle member.

A first hook 54 is supported on the distal end of the first leg 46 so as to be spaced from the handle member at a first distance along the first leg. A first hook surface 56 is defined along an upper surface of the first hook facing towards the handle member such that the first hook surface 56 extends in the longitudinal direction of the handle member so as to be arranged to receive the upper boundary edge 28 of the first handle opening 22 engaged thereon in the mounted position.

A first stop 58 extends upward from the first hook surface 56 towards the handle member at a location spaced longitudinally from the first leg 46 to define a longitudinal gap of the first hook which is arranged to receive a portion of the protective cage 20 of the tank therein between the first stop 58 and the first leg 46 when the portion of the cage above the first handle opening 22 is engaged upon the first hook surface 56.

Similarly, a second hook 60 is supported on the distal end of the second leg 48 so as to be spaced from the handle member at a second distance along the second leg. A second hook surface 62 is defined along an upper surface of the second hook facing toward the handle member such that the second hook surface 62 extends in the longitudinal direction of the handle member so as to be arranged to receive the upper boundary edge 28 of the second handle opening 24 engaged thereon in the mounted position.

A second stop 64 extends upward from the second hook surface 62 towards the handle member at a location spaced longitudinally from the second leg 48 to define a longitudinal gap of the second hook which is arranged receive a portion of the protective cage 20 of the tank therein between the second stop and the second leg when the portion of the cage above the second handle opening 24 is engaged upon the second hook surface 62.

In the mounted position, the distal ends of the first leg and the second leg are spaced apart from one another by a prescribed distance which is greater than a diameter of the valve assembly so as to be arranged to receive the valve assembly between the distal ends of the first leg and the second leg while the hooks at the distal ends remain spaced radially outward from the opposing sides of the valve assembly 18. More particularly, the first hook surface of the first hook 54 and the second hook surface of the second hook 60 are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the handle member by a distance which corresponds to the diameter of the protective cage between the upper boundary edges 28 of the first and second handle openings 22 and 24 so that the hooks are aligned with the upper boundary edges in the mounted position.

Also in the mounted position, the first distance of the first hook on the first leg from the handle member and the second distance of the second hook on the second leg from the handle member are arranged to support the handle member spaced above the valve assembly and spaced above the upper edge of the protective cage when the first hook surface and the second hook surface receive the upper boundary edges of the first and second handle openings engaged thereon. In this manner, full access is provided for the user to grip the handle member in the mounted position. In addition, full access is provided to the valve assembly 18 through the open side of the cage with the apparatus 10 in the mounted position.

Turning now to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 14, in this instance the first leg 46 and the second leg 48 extend from the handle member so as to be parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle member. In this instance, the first and second legs are joined to the handle member at the opposing first and second ends of the handle member respectively so as to define longitudinally spaced apart first and second mounting locations for the first and second legs at the opposing ends of the handle member. In this instance the first leg 46, the second leg 48, and the handle member 40 connected therebetween collectively form a U-shaped body of the apparatus lying generally in a flat, common plane of the apparatus.

Turning now more particularly to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 10, 12 and 13, a longitudinal and horizontal dimension of the apparatus between an outermost portion of the first leg 46 and an outermost portion of the second leg 48 in these instances is equal to or less than the defined interior dimension of the protective cage 20 so as to allow insertion of the legs into the interior of the cage during mounting and removal of the apparatus from the tank. In these instances, in the mounted position, the first hook 54 and the second hook 60 extend longitudinally outward from the respective legs for extending through the first and second handle openings 22 and 24 in the protective cage 20.

Alternatively, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 14, a longitudinal and horizontal dimension of the apparatus between an innermost portion of the first leg 46 and an innermost portion of the second leg 48 in these instances is equal to or greater than the defined exterior dimension of the cage so as to allow positioning of the legs along the exterior of the cage during mounting and removal of the apparatus from the tank. In these instances, in the mounted position, the first hook 54 and the second hook 60 extend longitudinally inward from the respective legs towards one another for extending through the first and second handle openings 22 and 24 in the protective cage 20.

A preferred embodiment according to FIGS. 1 through 8 will now be described in further detail. In this instance, the handle member 40, the first leg 46, the second leg 48, the first hook 54, the second hook 60, the first stop member 58, and the second stop member 64 all collectively form a single, unitary body formed of a common material which is seamless and continuous throughout while being rigid and substantially non-flexible.

Both the first hook 54 and the second hook 60 extend longitudinally outward and away from one another beyond opposing ends of the handle member in which the second hook 60 and the second hook surface 62 thereon are longer outward in the longitudinal direction from the respective second leg than the corresponding longitudinal distance of the first hook 54 and the first hook surface 56 defined thereon extending outward from the respective first leg. The first stop 58 is supported to protrude upwardly from the first hook surface 56 in close proximity to the outer boundary of the first leg 46 to define a narrow gap that receives the upper boundary edge of the cage above the first handle opening 22 therein such that the apparatus 10 is restricted from sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of the handle member relative to the tank when the upper boundary edge is seated on the first hook surface 56. More particularly, in addition to the close proximity between the first stop and the first leg, the first hook surface 56 may taper towards a bottom apex in the longitudinal direction that centres the upper boundary edge of the protective cage thereon when the weight of the tank is partially carried on the first hook surface 56 so that the apex of the first hook surface in the longitudinal direction centres the upper boundary edge of the tank thereon to assist in restricting relative sliding movement in the longitudinal direction even when the longitudinal distance between the first stop and the first leg is slightly larger than the corresponding thickness of the portion of the protective cage received therebetween.

Both the first hook 54 and the second hook 60 in this instance are formed of a rod material having a generally circular cross-section such that the first hook surface 56 and the second hook surface 62 are both generally curved and partly cylindrical about a respective longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the handle member. The radius of curvature about the long axis of both the first hook surface 56 and the second hook surface 62 are approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the recesses 30 formed at opposing ends of the upper boundary of each handle opening 22 and 24 in the cage. In this instance, a portion of the cross-section of the first hook 54 and a portion of the cross-section of the second hook 60 are arranged to be partly received within diametrically opposed recesses 30 of the first handle opening 22 and the second handle opening 24 respectively as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in the mounted position. The mating profiles of the hooks 54 and 60 with the recesses 30 provides a restriction to prevent relative sliding movement in the circumferential direction between the apparatus 10 and the tank when weight of the tank is carried on the first and second hook surfaces 56 and 62 to further restrict relative movement between the apparatus 10 and the tank 12 in the mounted position to ensure the tank is stable relative to the apparatus 10 while carrying the tank suspended from the apparatus 10.

The first distance of the first leg 46 between the first end of the handle member 40 and the first hook 54 and the second distance of the second leg 48 between the second end of the handle member 40 and the second hook 60 are both arranged to be approximately equal to the longitudinal distance of the handle member between the first mounting location of the first leg 46 and the second mounting location of the second leg 48 to ensure that the handle member in the mounted position is supported well above a height of the valve assembly and the top edge of the protective cage for maximizing accessibility of a person to grip the handle member in their hand in the mounted position.

The mounting of the apparatus 10 according to the preferred embodiment is shown more particularly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the longer second hook 62 is initially inserted into the second handle opening 24 of the protective cage with the handle member extending at an upward inclination from the second end to the first end thereof such that the first hook remains spaced above the upper boundary of the cage 20 above the first handle opening 22. The combined height of the second stop and the second hook is less than a height of the second handle opening to readily allow insertion of the second hook through the second handle opening. Once the second hook has been inserted through the second handle opening of the tank, the apparatus 10 is longitudinally displaced such that the outermost edge of the second leg is abutted against the corresponding portion of the interior diameter of the cage. An outer distance measured in the longitudinal direction of the handle member between an outermost portion of the second leg 48 and an outermost portion of the first stop 58 supported on the first hook 54 is less than the defined interior dimension of the protective cage so as to allow pivoting of the apparatus 10 to insert the first hook downwardly through the open top end of the protective cage for subsequent alignment with the first handle opening 22 at the interior of the cage as shown in FIG. 4. A combined height of the first stop 58 on the first hook 54 is less than a height of the first handle opening to readily allow insertion of the first hook through the second handle opening from the interior to the exterior by longitudinally displacing the apparatus 10 into the position of FIG. 5 such that the outermost edge of the first leg 46 is substantially abutted with the inner surface of the protective cage at the location of the first handle opening 22. An outer dimension between an outermost portion of the first leg 46 and an outermost portion of the second hook surface 62 at the inner boundary of the second stop 64 is greater than the defined interior dimension of the cage such that the upper boundary edge of the second handle opening remains engaged upon the second hook surface 62 as the first hook surface is aligned with the upper boundary edge of the first handle opening as shown in FIG. 5. Once the first hook is aligned with one of the recesses 30 of the first handle opening and the second hook is aligned with a diametrically opposed recess 30 of the second handle opening 24, the apparatus 10 is lifted vertically upward to seat the first and second hooks into the recesses while also seating the upper boundary edge of the first handle opening on the first hook surface 56 in a manner that restricts relatively longitudinal sliding movement between the apparatus 10 and the tank while also restricting relative sliding movement in the circumferential direction between the apparatus 10 and the tank. In the mounted position, the second stop 64 remains spaced radially outward from the outer boundary of the protective cage 20 such that the apparatus 10 is well-suited for mounting onto other tanks having cages with a larger diameter.

Turning now to FIGS. 9 through 16, in this instance, an additional adjustable element 70 is incorporated into the apparatus in association with one or both of the first hook 54 and the second hook 60 such that the hook associated with the adjustable element 70 is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the handle member relative to the handle member. In this instance a longitudinal distance between the first hook 54 and the second hook 60 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the handle. In this manner, the apparatus 10 can be adjusted from the mounted position in which the first and second hooks receive upper boundaries of the first and second handle openings engage thereon to a mounting position where the longitudinal distance between the hooks has been varied to assist in releasing the hooks from the respective handle openings of the protective cage for ease of removal of the apparatus 10 from the protective cage of the tank and subsequent insertion of the apparatus 10 back onto the cage of the tank.

According to a second embodiment of the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the handle member 40, the first leg 46, the second leg 48, the first hook 54, the second hook 60, the first stop member 58, and the second stop member 64 are all formed of a common body of material which is arranged to be somewhat flexible at the junction of each leg with the handle member. In this manner, the adjustable element 70 comprises a flexible or resilient portion of the body joining each leg to the handle member. The distance between the first and second hooks can thus be adjusted by flexing the distal ends of the legs towards and away from one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second legs are typically parallel to one another and the outer dimension between the outermost portion of the first leg in the outermost portion of the second leg fits within the defined interior dimension of the protective cage in a relaxed state of the adjustable elements 70. In this instance, the first hook 54 and the second hook 60 extend longitudinally outward from the perspective first leg 46 and second leg 48 for being received within the first and second handle openings of the cage. The legs are flexed inwardly towards one another from the mounted position corresponding to the relaxed state of the adjustable elements 70 towards a mounting position in which an outer dimension between an outermost portion of the first hook 54 and an outermost portion of the second hook 60 is less than the interior dimension of the protective cage to allow withdrawal of the apparatus 10 from the cage on the tank. The resilient nature of the material forming the apparatus 10 may be arranged so as to bias the hooks outwardly from the mounting position back to the mounted position.

In a variant of this embodiment, only one of the legs may incorporate an adjustable element 70 such that the longitudinal distance between the hooks can be varied by flexing only one of the legs.

In yet a further variant of this embodiment, the first and second legs may be spaced apart from one another such that the interior longitudinal distance between the innermost portion of the first leg and the innermost portion of the second leg is greater than the defined outer dimension of the cage so that the legs are positioned along the exterior of the cage in the mounted position. The first and second hooks in this instance extend inwardly from the respective legs towards one another for insertion through the handle openings. In the relaxed state, the hooks are again aligned with the upper boundaries of the first and second handle openings of the cage; however, one or both of the legs can be flexed to displace the hooks apart from one another into a flexed or deflected position in which the interior longitudinal dimension between the innermost portion of the first hook and the innermost portion of the second hook is greater than the defined outer dimension of the cage to allow removal or mounting of the apparatus 10 relative to the tank. The one or more legs in this instance may be biased inwardly towards one another from the mounting position back to the mounted position for ease of alignment of the hooks with the upper boundaries of the antelope and respectively.

Turning now to the embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 13, in this instance the adjustable element 70 of the apparatus 10 in each instance comprises a hinge at the connection of the proximal end of one or both legs with the respective end of the handle member in which the hinges define respective hinge axes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle member, perpendicular to the upright axis of the legs and thus perpendicular to the common plane of the U shaped body of the apparatus 10.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the interior dimension between an innermost portion of the first leg and an innermost portion of the second leg is greater than the defined outer dimension of the cage to allow the legs to be positioned along the exterior of the cage 20 in the mounted position. In this instance the hooks extend inwardly towards one another from the respective legs. The hooks are displaced from the mounted position in FIG. 11 to a mounting position by pivoting one or both of the legs longitudinally outward and away from one another for releasing the hooks from the handle openings in the protective cage.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the exterior dimension between an outermost portion of the first leg and outermost portion of the second leg is less than the defined interior dimension of the cage to allow the legs to be positioned within the interior of the cage in the mounted position. In this instance the hooks extend outwardly away from one another from the respective legs. The hooks are displaced from the mounted position of FIG. 13 to a mounting position by pivoting one or both of the legs longitudinally inward towards one another for releasing the hooks from the handle openings in the protective cage.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 14, the adjustable element 70 in this instance comprises a hinge coupling one or both of the legs to the handle member 40 such that the hooks supported on the legs can be swiveled about respective vertical axes of the legs. In this manner, the hooks can be swiveled about the respective vertical axes between a first configuration extending longitudinally inward towards one another and a second configuration extending longitudinally outward away from one another.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the outer dimension between the outermost portions of the first and second legs is equal to or less than the defined interior dimension of the cage to allow the legs to be received within the interior of the cage in the mounted position. The hooks in this instance are initially positioned to extend longitudinally outward away from one another in the mounted position for alignment of the hooks with the corresponding upper boundary edges of the first and second handle openings in the cage. One or both hooks in this instance can be swiveled about the upright vertical axis of the respective adjustable element 70 from the mounted position to a mounting position in which the hooks are displaced sufficiently inward towards one another that an outer dimension from an outermost portion of the first hook to an outermost portion of the second hook in the longitudinal direction of the handle member is less than the defined interior dimension of the cage to allow insertion or removal of the apparatus from the interior of the cage.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the interior dimension between the innermost portions of the first and second legs is equal to or greater than the defined outer dimension of the cage to allow the legs to be positioned at the exterior of the cage in the mounted position. The hooks in this instance are initially positioned to extend longitudinally inward towards one another in the mounted position for alignment of the hooks with the corresponding upper boundary edges of the first and second handle openings in the cage. One or both hooks in this instance can be swiveled about the vertical upright axis of the respective adjustable element 70 from the mounted position to a mounting position in which the hooks are displaced sufficiently outward away from one another that an interior dimension from an innermost portion of the first hook to an innermost portion of the second hook in the longitudinal direction of the handle member is greater than the defined exterior dimension of the cage to allow insertion or removal of the apparatus 10 relative to the exterior of the cage.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16, in this instance the handle member 40 includes an upper portion 80 extending in the longitudinal direction between the opposing first and second ends 42 and 44 and a lower portion 82 comprised of two frame members extending downwardly and longitudinally inwardly towards one another from respective ends of the upper portion 80 such that the frame members of the lower portion are joined to one another at a central location spaced below the upper portion 80 by a sufficient distance to allow comfortable gripping of the upper portion 80 in the hand of a user in use.

In this instance, the first leg 46 and the second leg 48 are both pivotally coupled at the proximal ends 50 thereof at a common pivot axis of a hinge 84 which is longitudinally centred relative to the upper portion 80 of the handle member at a location spaced therebelow at the junction of the frame members of the lower frame portion 82 of the handle member. Both legs 46 and 48 extend in a generally common downward direction radially of the longitudinal direction of the handle member from the proximal ends 50 to the distal end 52 thereof so that the legs are substantially identical in length. The legs lie in a common plane with the handle member 40 and remain within the common plane as they are pivoted between the mounted and mounting positions thereof. Accordingly the legs are pivotal about a common pivot axis which is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the handle member, perpendicularly to the long axes of the legs, and perpendicular to a plane occupied by the handle member and the legs.

In the mounted position of FIG. 16, the first hook 54 at the distal end of the first leg and the second hook 60 at the distal end of the second leg are spaced apart from one another by a suitable distance for alignment of the hooks with the upper boundary edges of the first and second handle openings 22 and 24 as described above. An outer dimension between the outermost portion of the first hook 54 and the outermost portion of the second hook 60 in this instance is greater than the defined outer dimension of the cage so that the hooks are received through both the first and second handle openings respectively to suspend the tank from the apparatus 10 similarly to the previous embodiments.

In the mounting position of FIG. 15, the legs are pivoted inwardly towards one another relative to the mounted position such that the longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction of the handle member is reduced from the mounted position to the mounting position. In this instance the outer dimension from the outermost portion of the first hook to the outermost portion of the second hook in the longitudinal direction is less than the defined interior dimension of the cage to allow insertion and removal of the apparatus relative to the cage.

In some instances, an additional spring may be coupled between the leg members at the hinge or directly between the legs at a location spaced outwardly from the hinge for biasing the legs outwardly away from one another from the mounting position of FIG. 15 to the mounted position of FIG. 16 for ease of alignment of the hooks with the upper boundary edges of the handle openings in the cage of the tank respectively.

Since various modifications can be made in the invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A carry handle apparatus for a propane tank including a generally cylindrical tank body, a valve assembly at a top end of the tank body and a protective cage on the top end of the tank body surrounding the valve assembly, the protective cage including first and second handle openings formed therein at diametrically opposing locations relative to the valve assembly, the carry handle apparatus comprising: a handle member arranged to be gripped in a hand of the user in which the handle member extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposing second end of the handle member;a first leg and a second leg extending in a common direction oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction from first and second mounting locations on the handle member respectively in which the first and second mounting locations are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction such that the handle member, the first leg and the second leg collectively form a U-shaped body;a first hook protruding in the longitudinal direction from the first leg such that the first hook defines a first hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a first distance, in which the first hook is arranged to be inserted through the first handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the first handle opening of the protective cage supported on the first hook surface in a mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank; anda second hook protruding in the longitudinal direction from the second leg such that the second hook defines a second hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a second distance, in which the second hook is arranged to be inserted through the second handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the second handle opening of the protective cage supported on the second hook surface in said mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank;wherein the first leg and the second leg are spaced apart from one another in said mounted position by a prescribed distance which is greater than a diameter of the valve assembly so as to be arranged to receive the valve assembly between the first leg and the second leg in said mounted position; andwherein the first distance of the first leg and the second distance of the second leg are arranged to support the handle member spaced above the valve assembly when the first hook surface and the second hook surface are engaged with the upper boundary edges of the first handle opening and the second handle opening respectively in said mounted position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction between an outermost portion of the first hook and an outermost portion of the second leg is less than an internal dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first hook includes a first stop member protruding upwardly from the first hook surface at a location spaced longitudinally from the first leg so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the protective cage therebetween in said mounted position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a combined height of the first hook and the first stop member on the first hook is less than a height of the first handle opening of the protective cage.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first hook surface is configured to receive said portion of the protective cage between the first stop member and the first leg such that the apparatus is restricted from sliding in the longitudinal direction relative to the protective cage.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second hook surface is longer in the longitudinal direction than the first hook surface.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction between an outermost portion of the second hook surface and an outermost portion of the first leg is greater than an internal dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second hook includes a second stop member protruding upwardly from the second hook surface at a location spaced longitudinally from the second leg so as to be arranged to receive a portion of the protective cage therebetween in said mounted position.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a combined height of the second hook and the second stop member on the second hook is less than a height of the second handle opening of the protective cage.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction between the second member and an outermost portion of the first leg is greater than an outer dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the handle openings in the protective cage includes at least one upwardly extending recess formed in the upper boundary edge and wherein at least one of the first hook and the second hook is arranged to be at least partially received within the at least one recess of the respective handle opening so as to restrict relative sliding between the hook and the protective cage in a circumferential direction of the protective cage.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein both the first hook and the second hook are configured to be at least partially received within the recesses of the handle openings respectively so as to restrict relative sliding between the hook and the protective cage in a circumferential direction of the protective cage.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one recess of each handle opening has a curved boundary and wherein the first and second hook surfaces are curved about respective longitudinal axes of the first and second hooks respectively, a radius of curvature of the first and second hook surfaces being equal to a radius of curvature of the recesses of the handle openings respectively.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an adjustable element supporting at least one of the first hook and the second hook relative to the handle member such that a longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook can be adjusted as said at least one of the first hook and the second hook is displaced between said mounted position and a mounting position.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the adjustable element comprises a flexible portion of the leg associated with said at least one of the first hook and the second hook whereby the longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook is adjusted by flexing said flexible portion.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the adjustable element comprises a hinge pivotally supporting said at least one of the first hook and the second hook relative to the handle member about a hinge axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane occupied by the handle member and the legs whereby the longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook is adjusted by pivoting said hinge.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first hook and the second hook extend inwardly towards one another in the mounted position and wherein a longitudinal distance between an innermost portion of the first hook and an innermost portion of the second hook in the mounting position is greater than an external dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first hook and the second hook extend outwardly away from one another in the mounted position and wherein a longitudinal distance between an outermost portion of the first hook and an outermost portion of the second hook in the mounting position is less than on internal dimension of the protective cage between locations of the first and second handle openings.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the adjustable element comprises a hinge pivotally supporting said at least one of the first hook in the second hook relative to the handle member about a hinge axis oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction within a plane occupied by the handle member and the legs whereby the longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook is adjusted by pivoting said hinge.

20. A carry handle apparatus for a propane tank including a generally cylindrical tank body, a valve assembly at a top end of the tank body and a protective cage on the top end of the tank body surrounding the valve assembly, the protective cage including first and second handle openings formed therein at diametrically opposing locations relative to the valve assembly, the carry handle apparatus comprising: a handle member arranged to be gripped in a hand of the user in which the handle member extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end and an opposing second end of the handle member;a first leg and a second leg extending from the handle member from proximal ends supported on the handle member to opposing distal ends of the legs respectively;a first hook protruding from the first leg such that the first hook defines a first hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a first distance in which the first hook is arranged to be inserted through the first handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the first handle opening of the protective cage supported on the first hook surface in a mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank;a second hook protruding from the second leg such that the second hook defines a second hook surface thereon spaced from the handle member at a second distance, in which the second hook is arranged to be inserted through the second handle opening in the protective cage to receive an upper boundary edge of the second handle opening of the protective cage supported on the second hook surface in said mounted position of the carry handle apparatus on the propane tank;an adjustable element supporting at least one of the first hook and the second hook relative to the handle member such that a longitudinal distance between the first hook and the second hook can be adjusted as said at least one of the first hook and the second hook is displaced between said mounted position and a mounting position allowing insertion and removal of the apparatus from the protective cage;wherein the distal ends of first leg and the second leg are spaced apart from one another in said mounted position by a prescribed distance which is greater than a diameter of the valve assembly so as to be arranged to receive the valve assembly between the distal ends of first leg and the second leg in said mounted position; andwherein the first distance of the first leg and the second distance of the second leg are arranged to support the handle member spaced above the valve assembly when the first hook surface and the second hook surface are engaged with the upper boundary edges of the first handle opening and the second handle opening respectively in said mounted position.