Compact caddy for compressed gas tanks

A caddy for a tank of compressed gas, comprising:

• a frame extending vertically from a first end and to a second end, said frame including a handle attached at said first end and an axle latch member located at said second end;
• a base assembly connected to said frame at said second end, said base assembly being constructed to support a bottom portion of the tank;
• and
• an axle assembly including a pair of connecting arms that are each pivotally connected to said base assembly, said axle assembly including a first axle pivotally connected to each of said connecting arms and extending therebetween, and said axle assembly including a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on each end of said first axle, wherein said first axle can be connected to said axle latch member at one or more locations with said wheels in either of at least two positions, including a first, operational position in which said wheels are positioned to enable the caddy to be rolled across a ground surface on the wheels, and a second, stowed position in which said wheels and connecting arms are positioned at a raised position adjacent said base assembly;
• wherein said axle latch member has a plurality of slots that are vertically offset from each other, with said first axle being connectable to each of said slots to fix the wheels into different positions.

A scuba tank caddy used for storing and transporting a scuba tank, said scuba tank caddy comprising:

• a frame extending vertically from a first end to a second end, said frame including an axle latch member located at said second end, said axle latch member having one or more slots;
• a base assembly connected to said frame, said base assembly including a base plate sized to receive a cylindrical bottom portion of the scuba tank such that, when seated on the base plate, the scuba tank extends upwardly from the base plate towards the first end of the frame at a position adjacent the frame;
• a clamp attached to said frame at a location spaced above said base assembly;
• and
• an axle assembly including first and second connecting arms that are each pivotally connected to said base assembly and each having a hole spaced from said respective pivotal connection at said base assembly, said axle assembly including a one-piece first axle extending from a first end that is pivotally received in said hole of said first connecting arm to a second end that is pivotally received in said hole of said second connecting arm, and said axle assembly including a first wheel rotatably mounted on said first end of said first axle and a second wheel rotatably mounted on said second end of said first axle, wherein said first axle can be inserted into said slot(s) with said wheels in any of two or more different positions.

A scuba tank caddy used for storing and transporting a scuba tank, said scuba tank caddy comprising:

• an elongated support member extending vertically from a first end to a second end;
• a handle telescopically connected to the support member at said first end;
• an axle latch member connected to said support member at said second end, wherein said axle latch member has a plurality of slots formed therein;
• a base assembly connected to said axle latch member, said base assembly including a base plate sized to receive a cylindrical bottom portion of the scuba tank such that, when seated on the base plate, the scuba tank extends upwardly adjacent the support member from the base plate towards the handle;
• an upper clamp attached to said support member at a location between said first and second ends, said upper clamp constructed to hold an upper portion of the scuba tank close to said support member;
• a lower clamp located at said base assembly and being constructed to hold a lower portion of the scuba tank;
• and
• an axle assembly including a pair of connecting arms that are each pivotally connected to said base assembly, said axle assembly including a first axle pivotally connected to each of said connecting arms and extending therebetween, said first axle having a first end, a second end, and a central portion therebetween that is radially offset with respect to said first and second ends, and said axle assembly including a first wheel rotatably mounted on said first end of said first axle and a second wheel rotatably mounted on said second end of said first axle, wherein said central portion of said first axle can be inserted into any one of said plurality of slots to position said first and second wheels in either a stowed position or in different operational positions.