Apparatus for securely transporting items in a vehicle

An apparatus for securely transporting a propane tank cylinder in a vehicle having a LATCH system, the cylinder having a collar with an opening therethrough, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing having an interior, an exterior, an open top, a closed bottom, and a plurality of sides, the housing adapted to fit on a seat of the vehicle, the housing adapted to receive the cylinder therein;
• an elongated strap member secured to a housing first side, the strap member made of a flexible fabric material;
• a lower clip tethered to the housing adjacent the housing bottom, the lower clip adapted to releasably attach to a lower anchor of the vehicle LATCH system to secure the housing bottom to the vehicle seat;
• and
• an anti-slip member secured to the housing bottom, the anti-slip member adapted to prevent the housing from sliding when the housing is seated on the vehicle seat;
• wherein the strap member is adapted to pass through the cylinder collar opening and then through an opening through a housing second side and then be secure about a headrest of the vehicle seat and thereby secure the cylinder within the housing and the housing to the vehicle seat;
• wherein the housing having the cylinder therein is substantially immobilized when the lower clip is attached to the lower anchor and the strap member is attached to the headrest.

A method of securing a propane tank cylinder in a vehicle for transport, the vehicle having a LATCH system and the cylinder having a collar with an opening therethrough, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an apparatus comprising:
• i. a housing having an interior, an exterior, an open top, and a closed bottom, the housing adapted to fit on a seat of the vehicle, the housing adapted to receive the cylinder therein;
• ii. an elongated strap member secured to a housing first side, the strap member made of a flexible fabric material;
• and
• iii. a lower clip tethered to the housing adjacent the housing bottom, the lower clip adapted to releasably attach to a lower anchor of the vehicle LATCH system to secure the housing bottom to the vehicle seat;
• b) securing the lower clip to the lower anchor of the vehicle LATCH system;
• c) passing the strap member through the cylinder collar opening and then through an opening in a housing second side;
• and
• d) attaching the strap member to a headrest of the vehicle seat and thereby securing the cylinder within the housing and the housing to the vehicle seat;
• e) wherein the housing having the cylinder therein is substantially immobilized when the lower clip is attached to the lower anchor and the strap member is attached to the headrest.