Tank carrier with backpack straps and dolly

A tank carrier contains a retractable dolly and a pair of straps to allow a user to carry it on their back. The tank carrier also contains ladder hooks to allow an individual to rest the carrier on a ladder at any point. The side surfaces of the tank carrier also contains compartments to store rods or sticks. The access door to reach the tanks are also alterable to better secure the tanks in position while also providing another storage compartment.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates to tank carriers. In particular, the present application relates to tank carriers that can be carried by the user which contain more storage compartments on the carrier.

2. Description of Related Art

It is common that buildings contain air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment outside on top of the roof of the buildings themselves. Also, not every building has an easy access to get up onto the roof. Some have stairs, externally located building side ladders, internal building ladders that lead up through roof hatches, and some have no roof access stairs or ladders at all. This creates the present problem when the equipment on the roof needs maintenance or repair and the tools and equipment needed to repair them have to be physically transported up onto the roof and to the equipment. The overall safety and physical strain put on the user when getting the tools and equipment up onto and off of the top of the roof and to the equipment is the main concern here. At the moment with the prior art, a user can only get the equipment up onto and off of the roof of a building by either dangerously single handedly carrying the equipment up and down the ladders and stairs of a building, or by dangerously tying a rope to the equipment with no known or secure place to connect the rope to.

At times an individual user will have to take multiple trips up and down ladders or stairs given the large number of tools and other equipment needed in order to repair this type of equipment on roofs. This creates an even more significant amount of danger and physical stress to the user as the individual has to climb and descend the ladder or stairs multiple times while carrying the heavy equipment. The strain comes from the individual user climbing the ladder with heavy equipment and with bringing the heavy equipment to the location itself. Individual users will typically use one hand to carry their tools or bags from their vehicle all the way up the ladder which leaves an uneven strain on the individual. This puts more strain on one side of the body over the other and the individual will deal with pain over time because of this. Also, if the individual gets exhausted or experiences spasms or complications while climbing the ladder, there is nothing to help prevent their equipment from dragging them off the ladder at that point or making the situation even worse.

The safety and physical stress of the individuals while working on these projects should be preserved but the current method of carrying up the equipment as the person single handedly goes up a ladder or stairs, or roping up the equipment with no known secure place to connect a rope or rope clip to, and then when on the roof having to hand carry all the equipment and tools to the unit does not preserve this. There have been some improvements to this by having general bags or boxes that individuals can attach to ladders, or hold in a safer manner, which decrease the safety risk. However, there are still numerous concerns on the safety and physical strain that is put on the individuals in this work.

Although there are some methods of carrying equipment to job sites that require the use of ladders and multiple dollies, many shortcomings still remain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1in the drawings, the tank carrier with backpack straps and dolly100is illustrated. The structure of tank carrier100is a hollow arched base101which is comprised of a top handle portion103, a tank carrier compartment105, slanted end walls107, straight end walls109, and notched base111.FIG.1also shows that tank carrier100comprises tow handle207, tow handle release209, two handed cross bar double handles229, attachment base323, attachment base fasteners325, cross bar fasteners333, retractable tow cradle401, base403, fastener pin415, loop handle417, support legs419, retractable hoist ring421, and retractable hoist ring stoppers423, retractable cradle hinge425, bottle access door501, back plate505, T-shaped supports509, and front plate511. Tank carrier100may be used to carry, but is not limited to carry, oxygen and acetylene bottles.

Although the present application has been described with respect to hand tools, power tools, and equipment used by workers, such as heating and air conditioning workers, it will be appreciated that tool carrier100may easily be adapted and used by other types of workers, such as health care workers, military personnel, and other types of first responders. For example, emergency medical workers could use tool carrier100as a medical rescue pack to store, transport, and use items such as automated external defibrillators, oxygen tanks, medicine, bandages, IV bags, and other such emergency medical equipment.

Base101is hollow in order to ensure that tank carrier100will stay light weight enough for a user to carry it without issue. Tank carrier100may be made out of plastic, metal, wood, or any other lightweight material. Top handle portion103forms the top of tank carrier100and is square in shape and solid besides the handle portion at the very top and extends down to form the back wall of carrier100. The bottom sides of handle portion103connect to slanted end walls107which in turn connects to straight end walls109. It is appreciated that the dimensions and shapes of the end walls may change to accommodate whatever tank the manufacture designs it to carry. These three walls form tank carrier compartment105where the tanks are securely stored in order to keep them safe and secure during movement.

Referring now toFIG.2in the drawings, the back of the tank carrier100is depicted. In this figure, the wheels201of the tank carrier are clearly seen as being connected by axel203which goes through the bottom of the hollow arched body101of the tank carrier. Further,FIG.2also shows that the back of the carrier comprises back cushion205, tow handle207, tow handle release209, padded replaceable straps211, upper tightening grip213, lower tightening grip215, strap buckle housing216, strap buckle insert217, security strap219, security strap buckle housing220, security strap buckle insert221, two handed crossbar double handles229, and upper ladder hook fastener holes231.

Back cushion205is attached directly to the back of hollowed arched body101. Back cushion205supports the user while they are wearing the carrier and makes it easier for them to carry it around for longer periods of time. Back cushion205is secured to the back of hollow arched body101by back cushion fasteners233which can be seen inFIG.12. Connected to the top of back cushion205are two padded replaceable straps211which are attached to the upper left and right side of cushion205. Padded straps211allow the user to carry tank carrier100on their shoulders which will let users carry it for longer periods and experience less fatigue. Also, straps211being replaceable will allow the user to change them out if they become worn down or if the user desires straps that have more cushion. Padded replaceable straps211can also be tightened to fit the body of the user by using upper tightening grip213or lower tightening grip215to achieve this. These tightening grips will use the extra lengths of the straps to either make it tighter or looser on the user which will allow the user to set it to where it fits best on them so it's secured and comfortable.

Strap buckle housing216is found on the left padded strap211when looking at the back of tank carrier100and strap buckle insert217is on the right padded strap211. Buckle insert217will be inserted into buckle housing216to secure the two padded straps211together. When secured in this fashion, the straps will not be able to slide off the user during movement. Security strap219provides a strap which holds the wide padded backpack straps up in place and keeps them high and tight and out of the way so they don't drag the ground or get damaged when not in use, storing, or towing tank carrier100. Security strap219is attached to the sides of tank carrier100and strap219buckles over padded straps211when securing the straps to the carrier. Security strap219is attached to hollow arched body101by security strap fastener235which can be seen inFIG.12.

At the top of the hollow arched body101is tow handle207. At the top of tow handle207is tow handle release209which, when pressed down, releases tow handle207to be pulled away from arched body101. Tow handle207, in combination with the wheels at the bottom of arched body101, allow the user to pull tank carrier100behind them if they do not wish to carry it. Also at the top of hollow arched body101are two handed crossbar double handles229which protrude out from hollow arched body101on either side. Double handles229also have upper ladder hook fastener holes231going through them which allow ladder hooks309to be fastened in place there. These double handles will provide the user with a secure way to lift tank carrier100up. Since tank carrier100is heavier than most, double handles229gives the user a safer and more secure way to use both hands to lift tank carrier100so that the user is not injured from the strain of lifting the carrier. Double handles229are secured to tank carrier100by cross bar fasteners333which can be seen inFIG.1.

Referring now toFIGS.3,4, and6in the drawings, side views of tank carrier100are depicted.FIGS.3,4, and6show that the sides of tank carrier100comprises rod compartments303, C-shaped fasteners305, screws306, balancing feet307, retractable ladder hooks309, hook fastener311, rotatable hook base313, lower hook base315, lower hook base fastener317, lower hook base screws319, hook base rotatable fastener321, attachment base323, attachment base fasteners325, upper hook base327, and upper hook base fasteners329.

Rod compartments303are found on the left and right sides of tank carrier100and can be used to store rod shaped equipment. This provides another way for the user to store all their equipment onto one object when they are climbing a ladder or carting the carrier wherever they need to go which frees the hands of the user thus making it safer. Rod compartments303are secured to straight end walls109by two C-shaped fasteners305which attach to the upper and lower ends of rod compartment303. C-shaped fasteners305are secured to rod compartment303and arched body101by screws306inserted on each side of rod compartment303and into rod compartment303itself. Rod compartment303also has balancing feet307at the bottom of them which are used to secure tank carrier100in place when it is not moving.

Ladder hook309is also found on both sides of tank carrier100and are used to attach tank carrier100to a ladder. Ladder hooks309are arched shaped and as shown inFIG.9in the drawings, extend out towards the back of tank carrier100. Ladder hooks309are designed so if the person carrying tank carrier100up a ladder, or using a rope to lift it up, were to get tired in the process or if they had a muscle spasm and would need to set tank carrier100down, they could do so by using hooks309to rest tank carrier100on the ladder. Ladder hooks309will be most likely used when an individual is carrying up tank carrier100up a ladder themselves as opposed to when they are hoisting it because of the structure of the hooks getting in the way of hoisting, but these hooks may be used in any situation where tank carrier100is being taken up a ladder. Retractable ladder hooks309provide this service by being able to be flipped up and attach to the rungs of the ladder when this occurs. They provide hooks which allow the user to rest the tank carrier100on the ladder itself while the user recovers and once the user recovers, ladder hook309can be disengaged just by lifting up tank carrier100as gravity is what secures tank carrier100to the ladder using hooks309.

The entire ladder hook system is attached to both sides of arched body101by rotatable hook base313and retractable ladder hooks309are connected to hook base313by hook fasteners311. When rotatable hook base313is in the down position it is fastened to lower hook base315by lower hook base fastener317. Lower hook base315is L-shaped and one side of it is attached to arched body101by lower hook base screws319. The side of lower hook base315that is not attached to arched body101is just as long as rotatable hook base313and ends in a T shape. Being this length leads to the rotatable hook base313being snuggly secured when it is in the down position and fastened to lower hook base315which will prevent it from moving while the user is wearing or towing tank carrier100.

Rotatable hook base313may also be rotated into the up position when the user wishes to use ladder hooks309by rotating the base around rotatable hook base fastener321. Fastener321will be loosened which will allow the user to rotate base313to another position before tightening fastener321back and securing the base in the new position. Fastener321is also attached to attachment base323which is L-shaped and connects to arched body101by attachment base fasteners325. The attachment base323is attached to the side and front of arched body101which provides more stability in the system. Once rotatable base313has been rotated into the up position, upper hook base327will be used to secure it. Upper hook base327is secured to rotatable base313, which can be seen inFIG.5, by upper hook base fasteners329and upper hook base327will attach to upper ladder hook fastener holes231on the double handles229. A handle fastener331will go through the double handles229to secure upper hook base327into position.

Referring now toFIG.5, the front of tank carrier100is depicted with retractable tow cradle401down. Retractable tow cradle401further comprises base403, crenellated walls405, L support407, base fastener409, side walls411, fastener hole413, fastener pin415, loop handle417, support legs419, retractable hoist ring421, and retractable hoist ring stoppers423. Also shown inFIG.5are ladder hooks309being secured to double handles229by handle fastener331. Tank carrier base111is also depicted which is notched in order to secure tanks once they are inserted into tank carrier100. The front of bottle access door501is also depicted which comprises back plate505, support plate507, T-shaped supports509, front plate511, tool compartment bottom plate513, and compartment support515.

Retractable tow cradle401is designed to act as a dolly and hold another object on tank carrier100while it is in tow. This object could be another tank, a vacuum pump, tools, or any other object that the user wants to tow. This gives the user a place to tow the heavy objects so that way they do not have to physically carry them with their hands while traveling to the job site. This will save trips and also reduce the physical strain put on the user.

Retractable tow cradle401is formed with4walls surrounding base403. The front and back walls are crenellated walls405as there is a notch in them that covers most of the wall. The other walls that form retractable tow cradle401are side walls411. Also, on side walls411there is L support407which connects to base fastener409which is used to connect retractable tow cradle401to tank carrier100. Underneath base403, there are four support legs419which are used to help support tank carrier100when it is set in place with the retractable tow cradle401is in the down position.

Side walls411have a fastener hole413in the middle of each of them which fastener pin415is inserted into. When fastener pin415is fully inserted through fastener hole413, the pin will catch on bottle access door501which will secure retractable tow cradle401in the upright position. But, when a user pulls on loop handle417attached to the end of fastener pin415, the pin will pull out of fastener hole413and so retractable tow cradle401will be loosened and go into the down position.

Also inFIG.5is another look at retractable hoist ring421. Retractable hoist ring421is a U-shaped ring which is inserted into the top of hollow arched body101. The hoist ring421usually stays in the down position, due to gravity, but can be pulled up to allow the user to attach a rope, rope clip, hoist connector, or any other connection device to hoist ring421to hoist it up somewhere if they don't want to use or can't use the back straps. Stoppers423prevent ring421from fully going through hollow arched body101when it is being hoisted. Stoppers423are larger than the hole that ring421is inserted through and so once ring421has gone a certain length it will no longer be able to be pulled out further. These stoppers make sure that ring421will not be pulled out of the system while tank carrier100is being hoisted up.

Referring now toFIGS.7and8in the drawings, the perspective front view of tank carrier100is depicted with bottle access door501in the open position. Access door501further comprises hinge503, back plate505, support plate507, T-shaped supports509, front plate511, tool compartment bottom plate513, and tool compartment support515.FIG.7also shows retractable cradle hinge425which is used to move the retractable tow cradle into the upright and down position. Also,FIG.7further depicts tow handle207in the pulled out position giving a look at how support bars223are used to provide extra length to the user towing it. Support bars223are usually stored in hollow arched body101and are inserted into tow bar holes225which are at the top of tow bar base227found at the top of tank carrier100.FIG.8is used to depict how tank carrier100would look with access door501in the open position along with tank carrier100not housing any tanks.

Access door501is used to secure tanks that the user is currently carrying in tank carrier100while also allowing the user to access them easily. It is important that the tanks are secured during movement by the user so access door501is used to sandwich the tanks between the door and arched body101to secure them in place when access door501is closed. Also, since access door501can be opened, the user is able to easily change out the tanks that they are carting around without significant delay, or hurt their shoulders or injure themselves from having to pull the bottles straight up and out of a tight carrier.

Back plate505directly comes into contact with tanks when they are secured in tank carrier100. Back plate505is connected to arched hollow body101by hinge503which allows the user to open and close it. Connected to the front lower portion of back plate505is support plate507which is used to secure bottle access door to tank carrier100. Above support plate507, and connected to the front upper portion of back plate505, are two T-shaped supports509on both sides of back plate505. These supports are used to allow the user to wrap hoses, or other lengths of material, from the tanks or other equipment, around them in order to keep them organized and secured in place.

Attached to the front of the two T-shaped supports509is front plate511. Front plate511spans the entire distance between the two supports509but does not span the entire vertical length of these supports. Connected to the bottom of front plate511and the sides of the T-shaped supports509is tool compartment bottom plate513. With bottom plate513in this position, combined with front plate511and T-shaped supports509, a compartment is formed on the access door which allows a user to place items in it. This is useful if the user is wanting to carry tools or other items with them to the job site and does not have any other room to store them. The user will be able to store them in this cubby formed by these plates which will free up their hands and increase the user's safety while they head to their location. Tool compartment support515spans the sides of the compartment formed and provides support for all the walls forming together.

Referring now toFIG.9in the drawing, a side view of tank carrier100is depicted being hoisted up a building ladder with retractable ladder hooks309being used.FIG.9depicts how ladder hooks309will be utilized if an individual were to take a break while hoisting tank carrier100up a building ladder. This shows how hooks309engage with the building ladder along with how retractable hoist ring421is used to hoist up tank carrier100.

Referring now toFIG.10in the drawings, a front view of tank carrier100is depicted with retractable tow cradle401deployed carrying another object. When deployed, tow cradle401will act as a dolly which will allow the user to cart more objects around with them than they would have before. This figure shows how this would look and how a user would go about doing this.

Referring now toFIG.11in the drawings, a perspective front view of tank carrier100being stored in a truck is depicted. It is important that tank carrier100be small and compact so that way it does not take up too much space wherever it is stored.FIG.11depicts this by showing tank carrier100being compact and stored in a standard storage compartment that could be found on the side of work trucks.

Referring now toFIGS.12,13,14, and15in the drawings, an alternative embodiment of tank carrier100, tank carrier800, is shown. This embodiment differs as it is designed to hold a larger, singular tank and changes the design to reflect that. This alternative embodiment comprises parts from the previous embodiment along with bottle access door801, hinge803, hinge fasteners805, base attachment807, latch809, door attachment811, attachment fasteners813, hook tab815, hook tab fasteners817, and hosing tab819. It is also noted that this alternative embodiment does not have two handed crossbar double handles229, retractable ladder hooks309, nor retractable tow cradle401. Tank carrier800is used to carry, but is not limited to carry, Freon bottles.FIG.12also provides a look at back cushion fasteners233, and security strap fastener235which are used in all the embodiments to secure the back cushion and security strap to the tank carrier.

Bottle access door801in this embodiment is shaped with a curve in order to accommodate a larger tank, such as but not limited to a Freon tank. These tanks are larger than the tanks that were shown in the original tank carrier100and would not have worked in that system. The doors being curved here will guarantee that the tanks are secured. Access door801is also slim line in order to keep carrier800as compact as it can be. Door801is connected to the left side of hollow arched base101by hinge803which is fastened to door801and base101by hinge fasteners805. On the right side of the hollow arched base101is base attachment807connected directly to base101which has latch809fastened to it. This latch is used to secure bottle access door801in place during movement by latching onto door attachment811which is fastened to the door by fasteners813. This guarantees that door801remains secured while in movement.

At the top of tank carrier800, next to where retractable hoist ring421is located, hook tab815is protruding to the left of the carrier. This tab is fastened to the top of arched hollow body101by tab fasteners817. Hook tab815is a metal bar that extends from the top of hollow body101out to the side before coming back down and connecting back to hollow body101so as to leave a gap for a hook, or other apparatus used to hold objects, to be inserted there. Hook tab815is there so the user can secure gauges, hoses, and other tank equipment during transportation and storage. At the bottom of hollow body101is hosing tab819which can be used by the individual using tank carrier800to wrap around the hosing of the tank to secure it in place during movement. Hosing tab819accommodates the role that access door501allowed for in tank carrier100by giving the user a location to wrap their hosing around in a secured fashion.

Referring now toFIG.16in the drawings, a side view of tank carrier800is depicted being carried on an individual's back while they are climbing an extension ladder. One of the major parts of tank carrier800is that the user will be able to carry it on their back using the straps there.FIG.16shows how this would look on an individual if they were carrying it up an extension ladder in this fashion.

Referring now toFIG.17in the drawings, a perspective back view of tank carrier100and tank carrier800being pulled by an individual by their tow handle207is depicted. Tow handle207, in conjunction with wheels201is an important aspect as it allows the user to use one hand to tow the entire tank carrier around with them. As shown inFIG.17as well, when the user utilizes this they will be able to tow a tank carrier in each hand which decreases the amount of trips the user would need to take.

Referring now toFIGS.18and19in the drawings, another alternative embodiment of tank carrier100, tank carrier900, is shown. LikeFIG.12, tank carrier900does not have two handed crossbar double handles229, retractable ladder hooks309, nor retractable tow cradle401. In this figure, the modifications that can be seen is access door901, access door hinge903, hinge fasteners905, locking inserts907, and insert housing909. Tank carrier900is used to carry, but is not limited to carrying, nitrogen bottles.

As was mentioned in the previous alternative embodiment, tank carrier900is designed for situations where the tank carried is too large for the previous tank carrier100. The tank in this situation is not as round as the one inFIG.12, however, it is still too large for tank carrier100. Unlike the door inFIG.12, access door901is not curved and is straight along its outside length. The inside length of door901is curved to fit the dimensions of the tank used. Using this method will keep the tank securely fixed in position when tank carrier900is in movement. Door901is also thicker than previous embodiments which allows it to be straight on its outside face but curved inward on the inward face. Like tank carrier800, tank carrier900also uses a hinge connecting door901to arched hollow base101that is secured to both object by hinge fasteners905. Unlike tank carrier800, connecting door901is secured in the closed position by locking inserts907, found on the side of door901, inserting into insert housing909found on arched hollow base101. Once inserted, access door901will be secured and will not come loose.

Referring now toFIG.20in the drawings, a perspective front view of an alternative embodiment of tank carrier100is depicted. This alternative embodiment, hereinafter carrier1100, shares a majority of its structure with tank carrier900. The main difference is that carrier1100is designed to carry other objects that are not tanks, such as, but not limited to, tools, compressors, motors, or other objects. Carrier1100has slide out dolly1101which is comprised of base1103, crenellated walls1105, L support1107, base fastener1109, side walls1111, support legs1113, and slide out housing1115. Slide out dolly1101functions the same as retractable dolly401but instead the user will be able to slide dolly1101out of housing1115when they wish to use it instead of taking out pins to put it in the down position.

It is apparent that an invention with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but is amendable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.