Patent ID: 7975978

Claim:
A releasable mounting apparatus for securely retaining of a cylindrical tank in an inverted vertical position adjacent to a seatback assembly of an emergency vehicle comprising: A. a foot plate attached to a seatback assembly of an emergency vehicle; B. a top clamping assembly means attached with respect to the seatback assembly as a position above said foot plate to define a tank receiving zone therebetween which is adapted to receive a cylindrical tank positioned therewithin in an inverted orientation extending generally vertically, said top clamping assembly means being adapted to facilitate engaging and retaining a cylindrical tank positioned within said tank receiving zone, said tank receiving zone being defined below said top clamping assembly means and above said foot plate and extending generally vertically therebetween, said top clamping assembly means including: (1) a rear positioning means attached with respect to the seatback assembly and extending outwardly therefrom, said rear positioning means being adapted to abut a cylindrical tank responsive to movement thereof toward said tank receiving zone to facilitate positioning and selective securement thereof within said tank receiving zone; (2) an upper centering guide member attached with respect to the seatback assembly adjacent said rear positioning means and above said tank receiving zone, said upper centering guide member including a downwardly facing guide surface to facilitate retaining and guiding of movement of a cylindrical tank into and out of said tank receiving zone; (3) a top clamping member attached with respect to the seatback assembly adjacent said upper center guide means and said rear positioning means and being movable between a lower clamping position laterally adjacent said tank receiving zone for securely retaining a cylindrical tank therewithin and an upper releasing position for allowing of a cylindrical tank to move into and out of said tank receiving zone; (4) a return biasing means attached to said top clamping member for urging movement of said top clamping member toward said lower clamping position to facilitate selective secure retaining of a cylindrical tank within said tank receiving zone; and C. a releasing means operatively attached with respect to said top clamping member and being selectively operative to urge said top clamping member to move away from said lower clamping position and toward said upper releasing position to facilitate placement and removal of the cylindrical tank with respect to said tank receiving zone as desired.