Air tank handle assembly

#This invention relates to a handle assembly for a compressed air tank, and more particularly to a handle assembly which may be used to manipulate scuba air tanks.

#Conventional compressed air tanks such as scuba tanks are often fairly heavy, bulky, and awkward to handle. For example, a standard scuba tank is approximately 26 inches in height, 7 inches in diameter and weighs approximately 35 pounds when empty and 40 pounds when fully charged with compressed air. A person may carry such a tank by cradling it in his arms or alternatively by installing the tank into a conventional scuba backpack and then lifting the backpack and tank onto his back. However, both of these techniques are obviously quite cumbersome, tedious and inconvenient.

#Present scuba tanks do not provide any type of adequate hand hold. In order to manipulate the tank by hand the driver, dive shop personnel or boat operator typically must grasp the valve that extends from the top of the tank. This is unsatisfactory because the valve provides a fairly insecure grip, and the tank is likely to slip out of the person's hand and fall to the ground. Inasmuch as most conventional tanks do not provide protection for the valve or the tank wall, this can cause significant damage to either the wall of the tank or the valve. A dropped tank also presents the danger of foot or leg injury.

#Other objects, features and advantages will occur from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is an elevational, partly sectional view of a preferred handle assembly according to this invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a preferred first upper part of the handle assembly; and

#There is shown in FIG. 1 a handle assembly, generally indicated as 10, that is removably attached to a conventional, generally cylindrical compressed air tank 12. Tank 12 is the type that is employed in scuba diving or similar applications. Alternatively, the handle assembly may be employed with compressed air tanks such as are used in hospitals and emergency vehicles. The tank specifically includes a longitudinal axis 13, a convex upper end 14 and a substantially flat bottom 15. Conventional valve 16 emerges from upper end 14. Valve 16 is adapted for receiving the first stage of a scuba diving regulator in a conventional manner.

#More particularly, handle assembly 10 includes upper and lower parts 18 and 20, respectively. Upper part 18, shown alone in FIG. 2, includes an upper mounting piece 22 having a substantially annular shape. A central opening 26 is formed through mounting piece 22. An upper axial section 27 of tank 12, which section includes a portion of convex upper end 14, is received through opening 26 in the manner shown in FIG. 1, and mounting piece 22 includes an inner surface 28, shown in FIG. 2, that substantially, conformably engages the received axial section 27 of tank 12. More specifically, inner surface 28 of mounting piece 22 includes a concave portion that substantially engages section 27 of convex upper end 14 of tank 12. The uppermost end of convex tank portion 14 as well as valve 16 emerge from opening 26 and extend above mounting piece 22.

#Means such as a clamp 30 are provided for releasably fastening mounting piece 22 to the received section 27 of tank 12. Clamp 30 typically comprises a conventional aluminum hose clamp or similar fastener. The clamp includes a strap portion 32 that is wrapped about mounting piece 22. An adjusting screw 34 is selectively tightened in a conventional manner to urge mounting piece 22 against the outer wall of tank 12 so that the mounting piece is frictionally fastened to the tank.