Patent Abstract:
A tank handle or cap is designed for the convenience of the consumer. One aspect of the invention cap allows the end user to determine at a glace and from a distance if the tank is full or empty based on color distinction and/or word imprints on different sides (halves) of the invention cap. The cap is removably securable to the tank in different orientations to effectively expose the telling side of the invention cap. This allows the user the ability not to have to go over to the tank and lift the tank to gauge if the tank is full or not. This will reduce the risk of possible back injury. Other design features include an easy-to-use grip and open and close directional indicators to allow clear and concise understanding and operation of tank valves.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/793,600, filed on Apr. 20, 2006. 
     The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Propane gas cylinders of about 50 lbs. or so are used in residential settings. A common problem of such use is the inability to visually determine whether a subject cylinder/tank is empty or full. Similarly, other types of cylinders and tanks (typically made for homeowner use) lack gauges, visual indicators, and the like indicating level of contents (e.g., empty versus full). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cap secures over a three spoke propane tank cylinder handle. The handle is found on 50 lbs. cylinders typically used for home use of propane gas. The cap is made of a pliable product (plastics or rubber) to allow the end user the ability to remove, turn over, and then replace the cap (now in an opposite or generally in one of two orientations) as the tank becomes empty or each time the tank is refilled. Embodiments have legible printing on each side to tell the user which direction to turn the cap to close the cylinder flow of gas. One direction is marked “open” with an arrow pointing in a direction indicating how to turn the handle to open the valve and start gas flow. Likewise, the cap is marked with “close” and an arrow pointed in the opposite direction indicating the direction to turn the handle to close the flow of gas. 
     In particular embodiments, the cap has ribs along the outside to allow a better grip when turning off and on the valve. In an embodiment, the cap has a distinct color labeled for each side (orientation). One side, for example, is colored green and is labeled “FULL.” The other side is red and is labeled “EMPTY.” 
     In one embodiment, a cap for cylindrical tank has one side (orientation) that visually indicates the contents of the tank being at or near full capacity of the tank. The cap also includes an opposite side (orientation) that visually indicates the tank is empty. Each orientation of the cap is removably settable with respect to the tank, but while the cap in one orientation is removably secured to the tank, the operative side of the opposite orientation is not viewable. 
     In another embodiment, the user removably secures a cap to a tank. In the secured position, the cap has a front facing portion and a back facing portion. The front facing portion bears an indicator indicating the contents of the tank being at or near full capacity of the tank. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a cap or handle cover embodiment of the present invention in place on a propane tank handle. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view that shows how an embodiment is placed on the handle of the propane tank. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the cap embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the EMPTY indicating side of the cap of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the  FIG. 1  cap in place on a propane tank handle. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevated view of another embodiment as it would appear in place on a propane tank handle. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view on how the  FIG. 6  embodiment snaps together to form one unit that is then placed on the propane tank handle. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross section of both halves of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  before assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross section of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  assembled and in place on a propane tank handle. 
         FIG. 10  is a partially exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a cap used as a visual indicator. 
         FIG. 10A  is a close-up view of a swivel connector. 
         FIG. 11  is a top-view of the  FIG. 10  embodiment shows a connection of a receiving inlet and swivel connector. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 10  embodiment places on a valve of the propane tank. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows. 
       FIG. 1  shows a cap  20  (e.g., a handle cover) on a propane tank handle  10 . In use, a user places the cap  20  on the propane tank handle  10  as shown. For example, a donut shaped design of the cap  20  that is placed over a three pronged propane tank handle  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . Further, the cap  20  includes ridge grips  50  around the outside circumference allowing for better gripping when rotating the cap. The cap  20  also has two visually distinct sides. More specifically, one side  30  is color-coded, preferably GREEN, and imprinted with an indicator (e.g., FULL  28 ). Moreover, the one side  30  includes the word OPEN  24  with a direction arrow and the word CLOSE  24  with an opposite direction arrow indicating how to operate a tank valve. The other side  32  (e.g., opposite side) is also color-coded, preferably RED, and is imprinted with the indicator EMPTY  26  ( FIG. 4 ). The other side  32  also includes OPEN  24  and CLOSE  24  labels with directional respective arrows. It is useful to note that the indicator  26 ,  28  may also be a symbol, such as a recognized representation for FULL or EMPTY. 
     In a convenient embodiment, for each orientation illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the cap  20  is pressed down over the three pronged propane tank handle  10  until lower flexible fins  22  snap under each prong of the tank handle  10 . The upper and lower fins  22  hold the cap  20  in place on the tank handle  10 . In this way, a user can removably secure the cap  20  in the appropriate and desired orientation (FULL  28  indicator side up or EMPTY  26  indicator side up), and thereafter be able to visually recognize the indicator (e.g., FULL  28  or EMPTY  26 ) on the propane tank by viewing the cap  20  (i.e., at a glance). 
     Shown in  FIGS. 3-5  is a cross section view of cap  20  ( FIG. 3 ), a top view of the EMPTY  26  indicating side  32  ( FIG. 4 ), and a cross sectional view of the cap installed on the propane tank handle  10  ( FIG. 5 ). More accurately,  FIGS. 3-5  show details of the indicators OPEN  24 , CLOSE  24 , and EMPTY  26 . From the cross sectional view of  FIG. 3 , one can distinguish between the EMPTY indicating side  32  (a red side in one embodiment) and the FULL indicating side  30  (a green side in one embodiment). Also shown in detail are ridges  50  allowing for a better grip for a user. Moreover, the flexible upper and lower fins  22  are seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . The flexible fins  22  secure the cap  20  to a three (or any number) pronged tank handle  10 . The relationship between the flexible fins  22  and the multi-pronged tank handle  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In use, the user removably secures cap  20  FULL  28  indicia side  30  up (e.g., green side  30  up) onto tank handle  10  of a full propane tank. This is accomplished by respectively orienting cap  20  (side  30  up) and snapping cap  20  over or pressing the cap  20  onto the tank handle  10 . After use of the contents of the tank, i.e., when the tank is effectively empty of its contents, the user lifts cap  20  off tank handle  10  and changes orientation of cap  20 . That is, the user flips cap  20  over to bear opposite (red) side  32 . now with EMPTY indicator  26  (red) side  32  up, the user applies (presses) cap  20  onto the tank handle  10  removably securing cap  20  in its new orientation. As a result, cap  20  now at a glance (readably visually) indicates that the subject tank is empty and the user can easily avoid attempting to use contents from the tank. Instead, the convenient cap indicators let the user know, again at a glance and without lifting the tank, that the tank needs refilling or replenishing of contents. Once the user refills the tank the user reasserts cap  20  to be removably secured on handle  10  in the orientation reading “FULL” and so on. 
       FIGS. 6-8  show a cap embodiment assembled in two components, where one component  300  (a green piece) indicates FULL  280  and the other component  320  (a red piece) indicates EMPTY  260 . Both components are shaped like a bowl with the FULL  280  component  300  having pencil-like prongs  42  with ridges on the ends protruding from a bottom side. Similarly, EMPTY  260  component has holes  40  having a ridge inside that receives prongs  42 . To make the cap  200  ready for use, the prongs  42  of component  300  are snapped into respective receiving holes  40  of component  320 . Once the components  300 ,  320  are snapped together, both components during use in this manner, they will not separate from each other during cap  200  use. An additional benefit of snapping the components  300 ,  320  together is ridges  50  are formed, by way of the cap assembly, resulting in a more comfortable grip. Further, the cap  200  also includes CLOSE  24  and OPEN  24  indicators with respective directional arrows for providing to a user operating instruction for the valve. Moreover, on the green component  300 , the indicator “FULL”  280  is imprinted on the bottom of a bowl shaped surface. On its counterpart, the red color component  320 , the indicator “EMPTY”  260  is similarly imprinted on the respective bottom of the bowl surface of component  320 . 
     For further convenience, each component  300 ,  320  includes flexible fins  22  as shown in the cross sectional of  FIGS. 8-9 . The flexible fins  22  are used to removably secure a cap  200  to a tank handle  10 , in the desired one of two orientations at a time, in the manner describe above for cap  20  in  FIGS. 1-5 . For example,  FIG. 9  shows how the fins  22  snap under the tank handle  10  to temporarily securely hold the cap  200  in place (i.e., in removably secure fashion). 
       FIG. 10  represents an alternative embodiment of a visual indicator cap  403 . In particular, the cap  403  includes a first half  410  or first portion, a second half  405  or second portion, and a receiving inlet  415 . In  FIG. 12  for purposes of illustration, the first half  410  is shown forward facing and includes indicia (e.g., FULL) in proper reading orientation for a user to determine, at a glance, whether the contents of the tank are near full. The second half  405  is shown backwards facing and includes indicia (e.g., EMPTY) that is not in proper reading orientation when the cap  403  is positioned with the first half  410  facing out. As will be further described below, depending on orientation (position/placement) of cap  403  on a subject tank, one of the two halves  405 ,  410  will be outward facing and in proper reading orientation to indicate respective contents level (empty or full) of the tank. 
     Also shown is a strap  420 , which includes a swivel connector  425  at a distal end. The swivel connector  425  is adapted to cooperate with the receiving inlet  415  so as to form a rotatable connection with cap  403 . A close-up view of the swivel connector  425  is shown in  FIG. 10A . The swivel connector  425  also provides a fastened connection by using flexible fins  428 . The flexible fins  428  protrude into the receiving inlet  415  of  FIG. 10  and secure the swivel connector  425  to the cap  403 . A top-view of the connection (strap  420  connected to cap  403 ) is shown in  FIG. 11 . First half  405  and second half  410  are shown on either side of a ring  430 , and the ring  430  couples receiving inlet  415  to cap  403 . The receiving inlet  415  receives swivel connector  425  to form a rotatable connection. 
     The swivel connector  425  provides a rotational movement of about 360 degrees within receiving inlet  415 . The rotational movement allows the strap  420  and cap  403  to rotate relative to each other and to change angular position, relative to each other, about a longitudinal axis. For example, cap  403  rotates, using the swivel connector  425 , to reverse the position of the first half  410  and the second half  405 . That is, the first half  410  can be moved (repositioned) to be backwards facing and the second half  405  becomes forward facing. As a result, the indicia (e.g., EMPTY) of the second half  405  moves to a proper reading orientation and the indicia (i.e., indicator) of the first half  410  is consequently placed in a non-readable orientation as desired by the user. 
       FIG. 12  shows cap  403  placed over a tank valve, orifice, or other opening  455 . In a preferred embodiment, the cap  403  includes a first cup-shaped half  410  that is color-coded, preferably GREEN, and imprinted with the indicator FULL  28 . A second. cup-shaped half  405  is also color-coded, preferably RED, and is imprinted with the indicator (a word, symbol or other indicia) EMPTY  26 . At one end, strap  420  connects to the tank valve  455 . At the other end, the strap  420  attaches to receiving inlet  415  in rotational freedom fashion described above. By attaching the distal end of strap  420  to the receiving inlet  415 , the strap  420  secures (tethers) the cap  403  to the tank valve  455  and also enables the cap  403  to be rotatable by a user at the receiving inlet  415 . For example, a user may remove the cap  403  from the tank valve  455  and swivel, pivot, or rotate the cap  403  to be in the reverse direction (orientation). That is, the user rotates the first half  410  from forward facing to backwards facing (i.e., towards the stem of the tank valve  455 ) and the second half  405  from backwards facing to forward facing (i.e., away/outward from the tank). After rotating the cap  403 , the user places the cap  403  over the tank valve  455  opening where the indicia (e.g., EMPTY) of the second half  405  is in proper reading orientation. To aide a user in removably securing the cap  403  over the tank valve  455  opening, the cap  403  (cup halves  405 ,  410 ) is made of internal dimensions and material that allows a comfortable loose fit over such opening. It is useful to note that the cap  403  may be two separate pieces that are snapped together in the same manner as described in  FIGS. 6-8  above. 
     It should be understood that any of the embodiments disclosed herein, such as the cap of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 10 , may be implemented without the use of sensors (e.g., sensor-less) or electronics. If implemented without the use of sensors, a user may manually position/reposition the cap. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 
     For example, in addition to the above retrofit type caps/handle covers, initial handles manufactured with the tank stem may incorporate the principles of the present invention. A releasable and reversible (top to bottom side up and vice versa) cap may incorporate the color scheme and FULL/EMPTY coordinating indicia as described above and shown in the drawings. 
     Although the above description refers to propane tanks, the present invention cap is useable on other tanks, refillable containers and the like of various contents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5