Air tank locking mechanism

A back plate for a wearable harness configured to receive at least one air tank, the back plate comprising:

• a plate configured for positioning on a user's back, the plate having a tank engagement surface configured for engaging at least a portion of the at least one air tank;
• a receiving cradle on the plate configured to receive a regulator of the at least one air tank;
• and
• a locking mechanism associated with at least one of the plate and the receiving cradle for releasably locking the regulator and the receiving cradle relative to the plate, the locking mechanism comprising two locking members each configured to move between a first locked position, in which each locking member engages at least one of the regulator and the receiving cradle to restrict removal of the regulator and the receiving cradle from the plate, and a second unlocked position, in which each of the locking members disengages from at least one of the regulator and the receiving cradle, the locking members moving independently of each other and being configured to permit removal of the air tank only when both said locking members are in the second unlocked position.

A locking mechanism for securing a regulator of an air tank to a back plate assembly of a self-contained breathing apparatus, the locking mechanism comprising:

• at least one locking member comprising a latching end opposite a controlling end, the latching end having a sloped surface at an acute angle;
• and
• at least one biasing member for biasing at least a portion of the at least one locking member,
• wherein the at least one locking member is movable between a first locked position, wherein the latching end is configured to engage the regulator to prevent movement of the regulator relative to the latching end, and a second unlocked position, wherein the latching end is configured to disengage the regulator to permit movement of the regulator relative to the latching end,
• wherein:
• the controlling end is configured for facilitating movement of the latching end,
• the at least one biasing member is configured to bias the latching end to the first locked position, and
• the sloped surface is configured for automatically moving the at least one locking member out of the first locked position into the second unlocked position during the insertion of the air tank into a receiving cradle or during the insertion of the receiving cradle into a cradle receiving arrangement on the plate.