Abstract:
Methods of covering a horizontally orientated substantially cylindrical propane tank supported on a surface, with the propane tank having a longest dimension parallel to the surface. One method comprises providing a cover having at least one closure mechanism, surrounding the propane tank with the cover, and closing the closure mechanism, wherein the cover can only be removed from the propane tank by opening the closure mechanism. Another method comprises providing a cover comprising a covering portion and a skirt extending downwardly from the covering portion, positioning the covering portion of the cover over the horizontally orientated cylindrical propane tank, and vertically hanging the skirt from the covering portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention concerns propane tanks, and more particularly relates to a cover for a propane tank.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Propane tanks are used to supply propane gas to residences to heat clothes dryers, ovens, fireplaces, furnaces, generators, grills, outdoor lighting, space and water heaters and other products in the residence. Typically, the propane tanks comprise a horizontally orientated substantially cylindrical housing having rounded ends (or “hot dog shaped”). The propane tanks typically come in 150 gallon to 1,000 gallon tanks and can be placed underground or positioned above ground on a surface adjacent the residence. Propane tanks that are above ground typically are painted white or silver to reflect heat and to prevent pressure inside the tank from getting too high. However, the white or silver exterior of the propane tanks can be highly visible adjacent a residence and therefore provide a very unappealing appearance.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, an apparatus is desired having the aforementioned advantages and solving and/or making improvements on the aforementioned disadvantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0004]     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of covering a horizontally orientated substantially cylindrical propane tank supported on a surface, with the propane tank having a longest dimension parallel to the surface. The method comprises providing a cover having at least one closure mechanism, surrounding the propane tank with the cover, and closing the closure mechanism. The cover can only be removed from the propane tank by opening the closure mechanism.  
         [0005]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of covering a horizontally oriented cylindrical propane tank connected to a ground surface. The method comprises providing a cover comprising a covering portion and a skirt extending downwardly from the covering portion. The method also comprises positioning the covering portion of the cover over the horizontally orientated cylindrical propane tank and vertically hanging the skirt from the covering portion.  
         [0006]     Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a covered propane tank comprising a horizontally oriented cylindrical propane tank connected to a ground surface and a cover comprising a covering portion and a skirt hanging vertically downwardly from the covering portion. The covering portion of the cover is positioned over the horizontally orientated cylindrical propane tank.  
         [0007]     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a cover of the present invention on a propane tank.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the cover of the present invention on the propane tank.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the cover of the present invention on the propane tank.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a second embodiment of the cover of the present invention on the propane tank.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the cover of the present invention on the propane tank taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
         [0014]     The reference number  10  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) generally designates a cover embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, the cover  10  is used to cover propane tanks  12  to provide the propane tanks  12  with an aesthetically pleasing appearance.  
         [0015]     Propane tanks  12  are typically used to provide propane fuel to residences and other buildings. The propane tank  12  comprises a horizontally orientated substantially cylindrical housing  14  having a cylindrical portion  15  and rounded ends  16  (or “hot dog shaped”). A pair of feet  18  extend downwardly from the cylindrical portion  15  of the propane tank  12 . The feet  18  can be secured to a support surface  20  and/or placed on support members  22  (e.g., cinder blocks) on the support surface  20 . Therefore, propane tank  12  has a longest dimension parallel to the surface  20 . The propane tank  12  further includes a removable tank cover  24  on an upper portion of the cylindrical portion  15 . A shut-off valve (not shown) is located under the tank cover  24  and a supply line (not shown) extends out of the tank cover  24  to supply the propane to the residence or other building. Propane tanks  12  and use of the same are well known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0016]     In the illustrated example, the cover  10  surrounds the sides and at least a portion of the top of the substantially cylindrical housing  14  of the propane tank  12 . The cover  10  includes a body portion  26  that surrounds the tank cover  24  of the propane tank  12 , with the body portion  26  covering the top and sides of the cylindrical portion  15  and the rounded ends  16  of the propane tank  12 . A bottom portion  28  of the cover  24  preferably wraps at least partially under the propane tank  12 . The cover  10  includes at least one slit  29  running vertically from the tank cover  24  to the bottom portion  28  of the cover  24 . The at least one slit  29  allows the cover  24  to be positioned over the propane tank  12 . A closure mechanism  30  is connected to the cover  10  on each side of the slit  29  for attached portions  32  of the cover  10  adjacent the slit  29  together, thereby securing the cover  10  to the propane tank  12 . The closure mechanism  30  can comprise a zipper, a hook and loop type fastener or any other closure mechanism that removably connects the portions  32  of the cover  10  together. Although one closure mechanism  30  is shown, it is contemplated that a plurality of closure mechanisms  30  could be used. Furthermore, while a vertically aligned closure mechanism  30  is shown, it is contemplated that the closure mechanism  30  could be horizontally orientated, with the cover  10  split into an upper portion and a lower portion. Accordingly, when the cover  10  is positioned on the propane tank  12 , the cover  10  can only be removed from the propane tank  12  by opening the closure mechanism  30 . Furthermore, it is contemplated that the cover  10  could include straps or other connection devices that extend under the propane tank  12  to assist in connecting the cover  10  to the propane tank  12 .  
         [0017]     The illustrated cover  10  includes a tank cover portion  34  for covering the tank cover  24  of the propane tank  12 . In the illustrated example, the tank cover portion  34  is separate from the body portion  26  and is removably connected thereto by a closure mechanism  36 . The closure mechanism  36  connecting the tank cover portion  34  to the body portion  26  can comprise a zipper, a hook and loop type fastener or any other closure mechanism that removably connects the tank cover portion  34  and the body portion  26  of the cover  10  together. It is contemplated that the closure mechanism  36  for connecting the tank cover portion  34  and the body portion  26  of the cover  10  together can be integral with the closure mechanism  30  for connecting the portions  32  of the cover  10  together. For example, the closure mechanisms  30 ,  36  can comprise a unitary zipper. Alternatively, the closure mechanisms  30 ,  36  can be separate. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the tank cover portion  34  can be integral with the body portion  26  of the cover or the cover  10  can be used without the tank cover portion  34 , wherein the body portion  26  can include an opening for accommodating the tank cover  24 . The cover  10  can also include other openings for allowing projections extending from the propane tank  12  (e.g., hook connections for transporting the propane tank  12 ) to extend therethrough.  
         [0018]     In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  10  preferably includes a design on the cover  10  to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. For example, the cover  10  can include a design having a professional or college logo or mascot thereon. Furthermore, the cover  10  can include a design such that the cover  10  will blend in with the background. For example, the cover  10  can include a nature scene thereon (e.g., trees and flowers), a fence, etc. It is contemplated that the design could be any picture or image. Furthermore, the cover  10  can be made of any fabric or material with the design integrally formed as part of the fabric or material or placed on the fabric or material. Preferably, the cover  10  reflects heat and/or sunlight and prevents pressure inside the propane tank  12  from getting too high.  
         [0019]     The reference numeral  10   a  ( FIGS. 4-5 ) generally designates another embodiment of the present invention, having a second embodiment for the cover. Since cover  10   a  is similar to the previously described cover  10 , similar parts appearing in  FIGS. 1-3  and  FIGS. 4-5 , respectively, are represented by the same, corresponding reference number, except for the suffix “a” in the numerals of the latter. The second embodiment of the cover  10   a  includes a body portion  26   a  and a bottom portion  28   a  that surrounds the tank cover  24   a  and at least partially covering the top and sides of the cylindrical portion  15   a  and the rounded ends  16   a  of the propane tank  12   a . The cover  10   a  also includes a skirt  50  hanging vertically downwardly from the body portion  26   a  or the bottom portion  28   a . The skirt  50  can extend downward from the body portion  26   a  at a point  52  that defines a vertical tangential line on the surface of the cylindrical portion  15   a  of the propane tank  12   a  or anywhere below the point  52  (although the skirt  50  could be connected to the body portion  26   a  above the point  52 ). Preferably, the skirt  50  hangs at least half way to the ground surface  20   a , such that a bottom edge  54  of the skirt  50  is closer to the ground surface  20   a  than the point at which the skirt  50  extends from the body portion  26   a  or the bottom portion  28   a  of the cover  10   a . It is contemplated that the skirt  50  could touch the ground surface  20   a . Preferably, the skirt  50  is uninterrupted and defines an oval horizontal cross-section. However, it is contemplated that the skirt  50  could be interrupted (e.g., the skirt  50  could only hang down on two opposite sides of the propane tank  12   a , but not from the ends of the propane tank  12   a ). Furthermore, it is contemplated that the skirt  50  could have weights adjacent the bottom edge  54  to ensure that the skirt  50  hangs vertically when the wind is blowing against the propane tank  12   a.    
         [0020]     The second embodiment of the cover  10   a  can be positioned over the propane tank  12   a  in a variety of manners. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the bottom portion  28   a  of the cover l 0   a  includes an elastic bottom  60  that allows the bottom portion  28   a  to be expanded to slide over the propane tank  12   a  and then automatically contracted to fit snugly below the propane tank  12   a  to secure the cover  10   a  to the propane tank  12   a . However, it is contemplated that the cover  10   a  could include at least one closure mechanism (e.g., zipper or hook and loop type fastener) and associated slit as in the first embodiment of the cover  10  to allow the cover  10   a  to be placed over the propane tank  12   a . Furthermore, it is contemplated that the skirt  50  could be removably connected to the remainder of the cover  10   a  by a closure mechanism. Moreover, it is contemplated that the cover  10   a  could include straps or other connection devices that extend under the propane tank  12   a  to assist in connecting the cover  10   a  to the propane tank  12   a  (in addition to the elastic bottom or substituted therefore). For example, the straps or other connection devices could extend between the points  52  of opposite sides of the propane tank  12   a  and the skirt  50  could be integral with the body portion  26   a  of the skirt  50 .  
         [0021]     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.