Patent ID: 8720738

Claim:
A cover assembly for use with large commercial and residential propane tanks of a type that are free standing cylinders bounded by substantially flat upper and lower surfaces and having a cylindrical collar of lesser diameter than the cylinder permanently affixed to a central portion of the upper surface, said cover assembly comprising: a lid configured to cover the inside of the cylindrical collar, said lid comprising a disc having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a downward facing annular flange integral with its outer edge, said annular flange configured to enclose the upper rim of the cylindrical collar, a handle, integral with and disposed on the front outer surface of the annular flange, and a hinge assembly integral with and disposed on the rear outer surface of the annular flange opposite the handle, said hinge assembly having communicating horizontally oriented apertures therethrough; an adapter to enable the lid to be hingedly attached to the cylindrical collar, said adapter comprising a semi-rigid plate having at least two openings through which to attach said plate to the outside of the cylindrical collar and two vertical ears integral with and at right angles to said plate, said ears having horizontally oriented apertures therethrough and configured for communication with the horizontal apertures of the hinge assembly; a pin configured to pass through the apertures in the hinge assembly and the apertures in the ears such that the lid can pivot upward to expose the interior of the cylindrical collar and can pivot downward to protect said interior; and a cylindrical button having a substantially flat bottom a domed top and an axial bore for attachment of the button to the cylindrical collar and an opening in the front of the annular flange of the lid configured to accept the button.