Valve guard for protecting the regulator valve on a scuba tank
OwnerE. Vernon Whiteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve guard is mounted on a scuba air tank and includes a protective cap which envelops and shields the air tank regulator valve from damage and abuse during both storage and use of the tank. Flexible air hoses which are coupled to the regulator valve during use may freely pass through apertures provided in the cap. The apertures provide ready access to the regulator valve without requiring removal of the valve guard from the tank. The cap defines a handle for lifting the tank without requiring engagement of the regulator valve.
Claims6
A valve guard for protecting a regulator valve assembly of an air tank for a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus from damage and abuse during both storage and use, the air tank being of substantially cylindrical configuration and including a semispherical end having a boss located centrally thereof with the valve assembly received therein and projecting axially therefrom, the valve guard being releasably secured to and supported solely by the air tank and comprising:
- a. an elongate, hollow, cylindrical base portion for receiving the semispherical end of the tank and for engaging the cylindrical portion of the tank adjacent to said semispherical end, said base portion including an upper end terminating in a bearing surface which projects radially of the cylindrical base portion;
- b. tightening means carried by the base portion for selectively securing the base portion to the cylindrical portion of the tank by increasing the friction-gripping force therebetween;
- and
- c. a protective cap releasably secured to the base portion and projecting axially outward from the semispherical end of the tank, said cap of hollow, substantially cylindrical configuration conforming to and disposed in alignment with the cylindrical base portion and having a closed outer end for enveloping and shielding the regulator valve assembly, the cap including through apertures in the cylindrical portion thereof for permitting ready access to the regulator valve assembly, said cap being movable between an open, valve-assembly-exposing position and a closed bearing-surface-engaging position, wherein said cap is in abutting engagement with said bearing surface when in the closed position;
- and
- a locking device mounted on said cap for selectively locking the cap in the closed position relative to the base portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.