Abstract:
A tank holding assembly for releasably securing a tank therewithin which is attachable to a hollow seat back to facilitate rapid tank donning when seated. A housing is included with a tank receiving recess positionable in the hollow seat back area. The housing is preferably made of a flexibly resilient plastic material for protection of the tank but includes a retaining bracket, preferably of metal, secured to the rear portion for strengthening and securement to a seat back. A restraining strap extends through openings defined in the housing and the retaining bracket and around the tank for firm securement thereof. A releasable clasping device can be included for selectively holding the restraining strap extending about the tank. A release lanyard can be included for facilitating speedy disengaging of the clasping device. A magnetic device is designed for holding the clasp in the opened position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention deals with the field of devices for facilitating rapid deployment of emergency personnel such as firefighters at the site of emergencies. Such devices can include a releasable tank holding device mounted in the hollow back of a seat in an emergency vehicle such as a fire truck. A firefighter can sit on the seat and attach the tank which is temporarily held in the housing and retaining bracket within the hollow seat back. The firefighter can attach the tank to his back and then pull a lanyard which will disengage a clasp which holds restraining straps in position tethering the tank thereto such that the tank will be released and the firefighter can move to the site of the emergency with a breathing tank deployed properly upon his back. The present invention provides a unique improvement over prior art devices by the unique configuration of the housing with a tank receiving recess defined therein and a retaining bracket extending about the rear portion thereof with a restraining strap and the clasp therefore used in combination therewith. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Many prior art devices have been used for the purposes of detachably holding a tank such as a self-contained breathing apparatus with respect to another surface such as a wall or hollow seat back such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,029,051 issued Jan. 28, 1936 to A. C. Blevins and assigned to Nu-Deal Handle Co. on a “Bottle Holder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,614,519 issued Oct. 21, 1952 to A J. Paladino on a “Combined Fire Alarm And Extinguisher Holder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,232 issued Aug. 11, 1964 to H. O. Smootz on a “Torch Holder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,775 issued Sep. 7, 1965 to G. L. Smith et al on a “Support For Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,644 issued Dec. 21, 1965 to W. J. Davis on a “Dispenser”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,720 issued Dec. 21, 1965 to C. L. Hain and assigned to The Fire Guard Corporation on a “Combined Handle Lock And Bracket For Fire Extinguishers”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,727 issued Jan. 20, 1970 to H. Q. Miller on a “Holding Apparatus For Loads Adapted To Be Strapped To The Back Of Humans”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,391 issued Dec. 15, 1970 to D. E. Johnson on a “Quick Release Support For Rescue Breathing Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,550 issued Sep. 7, 1971 to C. D. Byrd and assigned to Lacy J. Miller Machine Company, Inc. on a “Quick Release Support”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,714 issued Jun. 6, 1972 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a “Tank Support”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,972 issued Dec. 25, 1973 to J. C. Brodersen on a “Mounting Apparatus For Gas Containers”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,907 issued Jul. 16, 1974 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a “Positive Locking Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,591 issued Jul. 27, 1976 to J. Ziaylek and assigned to Ziamatic Corporation on a “Quic-Seat”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,358 issued to D. M. Spohn et al on Apr. 24, 1984 on a “Fluid Reservoir And Connector”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,083 issued Nov. 26, 1985 to F. D. Carter on a “Scuba Tank Positioner”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,687 issued May 6, 1986 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on an “Air Tank Support Of The Quick Release Type”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,211 issued May 9, 1989 to D. McConnell et al and assigned to ITC, Incorporated on a “Foldable Support For Beverage Container”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,714 issued Jul. 18, 1989 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a “Mounting Plate With Rollers”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,935 issued Jun. 25, 1991 to J. L. Hadachek on a “Portable Upright Scuba Cylinder Retention Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,029 issued Oct. 11, 1994 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a “Quick Release Tank Support Bracket With Positive Locking Engagement Means”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,022 issued Nov. 8, 1994 to J. E. McLoughlin et al on an “Air-Tank Bracket With Strap-Lifting Arms”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,195 issued to D. H. Haynes on Nov. 10, 1998 and assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army on a “Gas Retaining Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,796 issued Sep. 26, 2000 to W. Hincher on a “Fire Equipment Bracket Having Integral Locating Beacon”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,557 issued Apr. 24, 2001 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek, Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Theodore P. Ziaylek on a “Mounting Bracket Means For Detachably Supporting A Generally Cylindrically-Shaped Member Upon A Wall Surface”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 222,527 issued to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on Nov. 2, 1971 on a “Bracket For Use With Lifesaving Equipment”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 237,357 issued Oct. 28, 1975 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Ziamatic Corp. on a “Tank Support Bracket For Lifesaving Equipment”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 244,392 issued May 17, 1977 to R. J. Montambo and assigned to The Ansul Company on a “Combined Fire Extinguisher And Bracket”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 303,738 issued Oct. 3, 1989 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a “Rotatable Cylinder Holder”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 314,325 issued Feb. 5, 1991 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a “Clamping Set Of Bracket Arms For Supporting Tubular Objects”; and U.S. Pat. No. 347,735 issued Jun. 14, 1994 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a “Quick Release Support Tank Bracket”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 353,242 issued Dec. 6, 1994 to G. W. McCoy, Sr. et al on a “Paint Can Holder”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 394,381 issued May 19, 1998 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a “Tank Bracket”; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 424,414 issued May 9, 2000 to M. P. Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek, Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Theodore P. Ziaylek on an “Adjustable Mounting Bracket For A Cylindrical Member” and European Patent No. EP0903161A2. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a releasable tank holding assembly which can be fixedly secured to a hollow seat back for the purpose of detachable securement of a tank thereinto as desired. Such a device is often utilized on fire trucks on the seats on which firefighters or other emergency personnel will be seated such that they can quickly don self-contained breathing apparatus while in a seat traveling to the site of a fire or other emergency. 
     The assembly preferably includes a housing which is fixedly secured to the hollow seat back and defines a tank receiving recess therein. Preferably this receiving recess is concave in vertical cross section to facilitate the holding of a tank therein in a releasable manner. The housing is preferably made of a flexibly resilient thermoplastic material to facilitate retaining of the tank in a protective manner within the tank receiving recess. The housing preferably extends at least partially around the tank when it is positioned within the tank receiving recess in order to further protect the tank while attached therein. The housing preferably includes a plurality of housing restraint slots. 
     A retaining bracket may also be included which is fixedly secured to the housing for strengthening thereof. This retaining bracket will also facilitate fixed securement of the housing to a hollow seat back. The retaining bracket preferably is made of a metallic material for strengthening and stiffening of the housing. This retaining bracket preferably defines a plurality of bracket restraint slots therein. Also it is preferable that the retaining bracket include a lower support shelf extending below the tank receiving recess in order to support a tank from beneath when it is positioned within the recess. 
     A restraining strap mechanism is also included with the present invention which is preferably attached to the housing and to the retaining bracket. This restraining strap is preferably adjustable in length and is detachably securable around the tank when it is positioned in the tank receiving recess for retaining it in position therein for storage. The restraining strap preferably is also detachable from the tank in order to selectively facilitate release and removal thereof from the tank receiving recess. The restraining strap is adapted to extend through the housing restraint slots to facilitate detachable securement of the tank in the tank receiving recess and similarly is adapted to extend through the bracket restraint slots for the same purpose. 
     A clasping device may be included secured to the restraining strap and positionable in a closed position to facilitate retaining of the tank within a tank receiving recess by the restraining strap extending therearound. This clasping device is preferably movable to an opened position in order to facilitate release of the tank by the restraining strap. The clasp preferably is made of a metallic material and includes a first side member and a second side member which each are attached to the strap portion itself and are detachably securable from one another to facilitate movement of the clasping means between the opened and closed positions respectively. A temporary clasp holding device may also be included for the purpose of retaining the clasping device in the opened position to facilitate movement of the tank into the tank receiving recess with the restraining strap extending therearound. This temporary clasp holding means preferably includes a magnetic holding device to facilitate retaining of the clasp in the opened position selectively during movement of the tank into the tank receiving recess. 
     A release lanyard may be included attached to the clasp and extending outwardly away therefrom to facilitate movement thereof from the closed position to the opened position suddenly for the purpose of releasing the tank from the tank receiving recess in a quick manner. Also a plurality of bumpers may be spatially positioned from one another and be secured on the interior of the housing within the tank receiving recess in order to spatially dispose the tank positioned within the tank receiving recess from the housing for facilitating protection thereof. 
     Additionally the housing may define a plurality of lower housing restraint slots therein and a plurality of upper housing restraint slots therebelow. In this manner the retaining bracket can also be configured to define a plurality of lower bracket restraint slots therein in a plurality of upper bracket restraint slots positioned thereabove. The restraining strap is adapted to extend through the lower housing restraint slots and through the lower bracket restraint slots. The restraint strap is also adapted to extend through the upper housing restraint slots and the upper bracket restraint slots to further facilitate detachable angular securement of the tank within the tank receiving recess of the housing by the restraining strap means itself. Furthermore the housing may define a plurality of inwardly projecting sections extending into the tank receiving recess to facilitate positioning of a tank protectively therein spatially disposed from the housing. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which holds a tank in such a manner as to prevent damage thereof especially when utilized with non-metallic tanks normally made of composite material. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which includes a retaining bracket for stiffening and facilitating mounting of the tank housing. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which includes a retaining bracket of metal material for facilitating mounting and strengthening of the housing which is formed preferably of a thermoplastic material. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which includes a two-piece clasping means engageable and disengageable with respect to itself to hold a restraining strap in engagement or out of engagement with respect to a tank positioned in the tank receiving recess. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which can be usable for rapid deployment of self-contained breathing apparatus for emergency personnel such as firefighters. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which has minimal maintenance requirements. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which is usable with seating configuration within emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which defines a concave housing for surrounding and for engagement and protection of a self-contained breathing tank. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable tank holding assembly securable to a hollow seat back to facilitate detachable securement of a tank thereinto which includes lower support for beneath the tank by the inclusion of a lower support shelf in the retaining bracket. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portions herein, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of the releasable tank holding assembly of the present invention shown secured to a hollow seat back with a tank retained therein; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 showing a firefighter immediately after removing of the tank therefrom mounted upon his back; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the releasable tank holding assembly of the present invention showing the housing and retaining bracket exploded; 
     FIG. 4 is a front plan view of an embodiment of the releasable tank holding assembly of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of an embodiment of the releasable tank holding assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a releasable holding assembly usable for the retaining of a tank  10  with respect to a seat  12 . Preferably the seat  12  will be positioned within an emergency vehicle or other such fire truck and will include a hollow seat back  14  which defines a recess therein for retaining the releasable tank holding assembly to allow a tank to be detachably secured therewithin. 
     The basic holding assembly allows a tank to be easily attached and secured therein or detached and removed therefrom such as by emergency personnel. Such emergency personnel, for example like a firefighter  16 , can sit in the seat  12  which may be in an emergency vehicle such as fire truck and attach a tank vest  18  to the user&#39;s body which vest is attached to the tank  10  positioned in the assembly in the hollow seat back  14 . The user can then release the releasable tank holding assembly to thereby detach the tank  10  from the seat  12  in such a manner that when the firefighter  16  stands up and moves to address the emergency situation the tank  10  will be carried on this back and will be held there by the tank vest  18  which he puts on while seated in the seat  12 . Normally such tanks  12  will include the tank as well as self-contained breathing apparatus usable therewith. 
     The construction of the releasable tank holding assembly of the present invention includes a housing  20  which defines therein a tank receiving recess  22  which is preferably of a concave shape to facilitate retaining and holding removably of a tank  10  therewithin. Tank receiving recess  22  is preferably concave in vertical cross section and is defined by the form of the housing  20 . 
     A retaining bracket  28  is preferably secured to the housing  20  immediately therebehind between the housing  20  and the hollow seat back  14 . In this manner the retaining bracket  28  will provide significant strengthening of the housing  20 . In most configurations housing  20  is formed of a thermoplastic material which may be somewhat flexibly resilient in order to prevent damaging of the tank  10 . With this type of a construction the retaining bracket  28  will normally be chosen of a metal or other hard material for strengthening of the configuration of housing  20  while at the same time providing a secure means of attached attachment thereof with respect to the seat back  14 . Bracket  28  can include a lower support shelf  36  preferably made of metal which support the tank  10  and the housing  20  from below for support thereunder. Lower support shelf  36  preferably extends horizontally outwardly from bracket  28  immediately beneath the underside of housing  20 . 
     The releasable tank holding assembly also preferably includes a restraining strap means or configuration  38  which extends through the housing  20  and preferably also through the retaining bracket  28  and includes two ends with a clasping means  40  secured thereto. The clasping means  40  will preferably include a first side member  46  secured to one portion of the restraining strap  38  and will include a second side member  48  secured to another portion of the restraining strap  38 . The clasping means can then be moved to a closed position  44  as shown best in FIG. 1 for retaining of a tank  10  within the tank receiving recess  22  of housing  20 . The clasping means  40  can also be moved to an opened position  42  such that the restraining strap  38  will release tank  10  from securement in the tank receiving recess  22  of housing  20  and in this manner allow removal thereof. Actuation of movement of the clasping means  40  to the opened position  42  from the closed position  44  can be facilitated by the inclusion of a release lanyard  54  which will extend outwardly away from clasping means  40  and which can be pulled in order to move clasping means  40  from the closed position  44  to the opened position  42  and in this manner release the tank  10  from the tank holding assembly of the present invention. This lanyard  54  preferably can be of any chosen length which allows the firefighter  16  or other user to conveniently reach the release lanyard  54  for pulling thereof when the tank  10  is still retained within the housing  20  and when the user  16  is ready to leave the seat  12 . Thus the release lanyard or release means  54  provides a remote means of disengaging clasping means  40  or movement thereof to the opened position  42  allowing a firefighter  16  to leave with the tank  12  attached to his body by way of a conventional tank vest  18 . 
     To facilitate placement of a tank  10  into the tank receiving recess  22  of housing  20  a temporary clasp holding means  50  is preferably included positioned on each side of the housing  20  on opposite sides of the tank receiving recess  22 . Preferably these temporary clasp holding means  50  include magnetic holding means  52  when used with a metal clasp  40 . Clasp  40  when disengaged will have the first and second sides  46  and  48  separated from one another. Preferably the first side member  46  will be attached with respect to one of the magnetic holding members  52  and the second side member  48  will be secured to the other magnetic temporary clasping means  52 . In this manner the person who is placing the tank  10  in the housing  20  in the hollow seat back  14  of seat  12  will find this activity significantly easier because the two halves of the clasping means  40  are maintained to the sides of the front opening through which the tank  10  must be loaded. Release of the first and second side members  46  and  48  of clasp  40  is easily achieved especially when utilizing a magnetic holding means  52  in order to move the clasp  40  to the closed position  44  for storage of the tank  10  in position within the hollow seat back  14 . 
     Securement of the tank  10  with respect to the housing  20  by the restraining strap means  38  is greatly facilitated by the defining of a plurality of openings or slots in the housing  20  referred to as housing restraint slots  24 . Preferably such housing restraint slots  24  will include lower such housing restraint slots  25  and upper housing restraint slots  26 . It is preferable that the restraining strap means  38  extend through all of the restraint slots  24 ,  25  and  26  and around the tank  10  in such a manner as to securely but detachably hold the tank in position within the tank receiving recess  22  of housing  20 . 
     To further fixedly secure the positioning of the tank in the stored position within the recess  22  of housing  20  a plurality of slots are defined also in the bracket positioned immediately behind and adjacent to the housing. In this manner retaining bracket  28  will include bracket restraint slots  30  including both upper bracket restraint slots  34  and lower bracket restraint slots  32 . Preferably the restraining strap means  38  will extend through all of these slots  30 ,  32  and  34  in such a manner as to more firmly and fixedly secure the tank  10  in position within the tank receiving recess  22  of housing  20  while at the same time maintaining the detachable capability thereof. It is an important advantage of one of the embodiments of the present invention that the housing restraint slots and the bracket restraint slots include both upper and lower slots to facilitate angular forces being exerted upon the tank  10  for maintaining thereof in the stored position within the tank receiving recess  22  of housing  20 . Also it is preferable that the restraining strap means  38  extend through not only the housing restraint slots  24  but also the bracket restraint slots  30  since the bracket will normally be chosen of a metal material and provide significant additional strength to the releasable tank holding assembly of the present invention. 
     It is also preferred in the present invention that the tank  10  be protected from any damage thereto. This is a requirement with more modern equipment in view of the fact that most tanks are formed of lightweight non-metallic composite material. This material allows the tanks to be significantly lighter and more easily carried however they are more susceptible in some circumstances to damaging from impact or cutting or denting. For this reason the present invention includes a plurality of bumper means  56  preferably of a rubber or other flexible material mounted to the housing  20  within the tank receiving recess  22  which are adapted to abut the tank  10  when it is placed within the recess  22  and minimize contact thereof with respect to the housing  20  or the hardware which affixes the housing  20  with respect to the retaining bracket  28  or the hollow seat back  14 . Similarly the housing  20  which preferably is of a flexible softer thermoplastic material can include inwardly projecting sections  58  which also can contact the outer surface of the tank  10  in such a manner as to firmly retain the tank within the tank receiving recess  22  while at the same time minimizing damage to the external surface thereof. This is an important consideration in certain embodiments since the tank is then isolated from contact with any metallic parts such as the retaining bracket  28  because it is cradled within the concave tank receiving recess  22  of housing  20  which is formed of preferably thermoplastic material. Also the restraint strap  38  preferably is adjustable as to length to accommodate various sizes of tanks and for this purpose may include adjustment buckles  60  at various locations along the entire length of the restraining strap means  38 . 
     While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, it will be apparent, that many changes may be made in the form, arrangement and positioning of the various elements of the combination. In consideration thereof it should be understood that preferred embodiments of this invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.