THIS INVENTION relates to an accessory for use with gas bottles.

The accessory of the invention is particularly suitable for use with gas bottles containing flammable gases and where gases require ignition. More particularly, the accessory of the invention is provided for use with gas bottles containing gases such as oxygen and acetylene, which are ignited in combination to provide a high temperature flame, via a hand held nozzle arrangement, whereby heat welding can be carried out.

According to the invention there is provided an accessory for use with gas bottles, which comprises a body that includes a first spanner formation and that defines a lever formation with respect to the spanner formation, the combination being configured to permit opening and closing of the gas supply from a gas bottle, and which body has a spark inducing means located thereon that is operable for inducing a spark that can ignite a gas released from a gas bottle.

The body forming the accessory typically comprises a fabricated body formed of aluminium. However, the body may be formed also of any other suitable material using any suitable manufacturing process.

The body particularly defines an elongated configuration with the first spanner formation being located near one end of the body, thus permitting the body itself to define the lever formation for rotating the spanner formation.

The first spanner formation may project from the general plane of the body for facilitating its engagement with the formation on a gas bottle which is to be rotated for opening and closing the gas supply from the gas bottle.

The spark inducing means of the accessory may comprise a flint body located within the body of the accessory in a partially exposed configuration in which a spark inducer, displaceably connected to the body, can be displaced along the flint body while frictionally bearing against the flint body for inducing a spark. The spark inducing means essentially may be the equivalent of a conventional spark inducing means as is associated with a cigarette lighter, or the like.

The body of the accessory of the invention further may define a second spanner formation that can serve to replace the regulator of a gas bottle, the second spanner formation being defined within the body near an end of the body. As such, the accessory may include an insert element removably locatable within the second spanner formation for adjusting the effective size of the second spanner formation. Thereby, the second spanner formation can serve to replace two different sizes of regulators, that are commonly associated with gas bottles.

Further according to the invention, the body of the accessory may define a third spanner formation near an end thereof, which third spanner formation is formed to replace a safety regulator that forms a part of a hand-held nozzle arrangement that can be used for heat welding purposes.

Still further according to the invention, the body of the accessory may have a clipping element secured thereto which can serve to clip the accessory to a clothing item of a

user for facilitating the portability of the accessory. Thereby, the accessory of the in invention can be easily carried around, remaining accessible for use whenever required.

The body of the accessory of the invention still further may have a screwdriver head formation secured thereto and projecting therefrom, the screw driver head formation being configured to permit securing of a hose that is associated with the flow of a gas from a gas bottle to a hand held nozzle arrangement. As such, the body also may have a blade element pivotally mounted thereon, the blade element being pivotally displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the blade edge of the blade element is not exposed, and an operative position, in which the blade element is exposed and permits cutting-off the end of a hose.

The body of the accessory also may have a file segment securely located thereon and, in addition, may have a scriber pivotally mounted on the body, the scriber being pivotally displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the point of the scriber is not exposed, and an operative position, in which the point of the scriber is exposed and permits scribing.

Still further according to the invention, the body of the accessory may define an internal compartment and have a displaceable closure formation displaceably located thereon for enclosing the internal compartment, the internal compartment being adapted to permit carrying pins, and the like, that can be used for cleaning the nozzles of hand-held nozzle arrangements that are associated with the use of gases contained in gas bottles.

It must be appreciated that the accessory of the invention can incorporate any combination of the above features and the invention extends to all such different configuration accessories which incorporate the essential features of the accessory as defined above, in combination with any one or more of the additional features as defined.

The overall configuration of the accessory of the invention clearly is greatly variable and, as such, the invention extends also to all such different configuration accessories which still incorporate at least the essential features of the accessory of the invention as hereinabove defined.

Insofar as a special purpose spanner is conventionally required to permit opening and closing of the gas supply from gas bottles, by combining such a spanner with a spark inducing means, to provide an accessory in accordance with the invention, the common problem of not having means for igniting a gas, released from a gas bottle, readily available, is essentially eliminated. The additional features of the accessory of the invention clearly enhance still further the utility and versatility thereof, rendering readily available commonly required tools which may otherwise not be readily available, or not be available at all.

The invention is now described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the accessory of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear view of the accessory of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a front view of the body of a second embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a first embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. For the sake of clarity, all the features of the accessory are

not illustrated in each drawing. The accessory 10 comprises a fabricated aluminium body 12 defining an outer perimeter profile as shown, the body 12 having a hole 14 defined therein near the end 16 thereof. The hole 14 has the shank of a bolt member 18 passing therethrough, the head 20 of the bolt member 18 defining a first spanner formation 22 in the form of a socket formation which is formed to engage the screw closure of a gas bottle to permit opening and closing of the gas supply from the gas bottle. The bolt member 18 is secured on the body 1 2 by having a nut 24 tightened thereon, particularly in a configuration in which the first spanner formation 22 can conveniently serve its purpose. By having the spanner formation 22 formed as part of the head 20 of the bolt member 18, this formation effectively projects from the general plane of the body 12, rendering it conveniently positioned to permit the manipulation of the closure of a gas bottle.

A flint body 26 is located within the body 12 near the end 28 thereof, the outer surface of the flint body 26 being partially exposed and positioned so that a spark inducer 30 is slidably displaceable along the flint body 26 for inducing a spark. The spark inducer 30 is located at the end of an elongate lever 32 which is secured to the body 12 by a securing screw 34, in the configuration as shown, the lever 32 permitting the required displacement of the spark inducer 30, particularly by the manipulation of a thumb engaging formation 36 projecting from the lever 32 in the configuration illustrated clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. The lever 32 may be spring loaded, or may be formed of a resiliently deformable material, for permitting it to be urged into a start position from which it can be displaced for inducing a spark. The operation of the spark inducing means, including the flint body 26 and spark inducer 30 essentially is the equivalent of a spark inducing means associated with a conventional cigarette lighter.

It is envisaged that the flint body 26 may be located in a configuration in which it is replaceable with a fresh flint body, whenever required.

The body 12 further defines a second spanner formation 38 therein at the end 28 thereof, an insert element 40 being securable within this formation by a securing screw

42, for rendering the size of the formation 38 adjustable. The second spanner formation 38 is provided in particular to permit the replacement of the regulator associated with a conventional gas bottle, it being well known that two different sizes of regulators are commonly associated with gas bottles. The adjustability of the size of the spanner formation 38 ensures that both common regulator sizes are accommodated.

The accessory 10, therefore, also can be conveniently used for replacing a gas bottle regulator which is indeed required from time to time for maintenance purposes.

A third spanner formation 44 is formed in the body 12 nearer the end 16 thereof and this formation is particularly provided for replacing the safety regulator that is commonly associated with a hand held nozzle arrangement, that can be connected to a gas bottle, where gas from the gas bottle can be ignited to create a flame for welding purposes, and the like.

Still further, the body 12 has a clip formation 46 attached to the side of the body opposite to the side where the lever 32 is operable, the clip formation permitting the accessory to clip onto a clothing part of a person to facilitate the portability of the accessory, rendering it conveniently available whenever required.

As is illustrated only in Figure 1 of the drawings, a screwdriver head 48 optionally is secured to the body 12 at the end 16 thereof, the screwdriver head being particularly suitable for tightening hose fasteners that are associated with hoses provided for conveying gases from gas bottles to nozzle arrangements. In order to still further facilitate the attachment and location of such hoses, a blade element 50 is pivotally secured on the body 12 in the configuration as shown in Figure 1, the blade element being pivotally displaceable into a configuration in which it projects from the body 12 and in which it can cut-off the end of hoses, as may be required.

As is illustrated only in Figure 3 of the drawings, a file 60 and a displaceable scriber 62 optionally may be located on the body 12, thereby enhancing still further the utility and versatility of the accessory, in association with its use in conjunction with gas bottles and hand held nozzle arrangements of heat welding apparatus.

Still further, the body 12 defines an internal compartment 52 therein that can contain needles for cleaning nozzles associated with nozzle arrangements, the compartment being closeable by a closure formation 54, which is pivotally displaceable for controlling access to the compartment 52.

The accessory of the invention clearly is adapted particularly for use with gas bottles that supply flammable gases to nozzle arrangements, typically of welding apparatus, or the like, the accessory comprising a single unit that can provide for the gas supply from a gas bottle to be opened and closed, for gas released to be ignited, and for a gas bottle regulator to be replaced. In relation to a nozzle arrangement it can provide for the safety regulator of the nozzle arrangement to be replaced, while also providing for the secure engagement of gas feed hoses between a gas bottle and the nozzle arrangement. The accessory clearly is a multi-purpose device which will be extremely useful in relation to the use of gas bottles in general, but particularly for those general industrial applications where gas bottles are associated with the use of welding apparatus, and the like.

It will be appreciated that the specific configuration of the accessory of the invention is greatly variable while it can still incorporate all the essential features of the invention as defined and described above, as well as one or more of the optional features in various different combinations as may be required for particular applications.

For example, a second embodiment of an accessory for use with gas bottles, in accordance with the invention, is illustrated in Figure 4 and comprises a fabricated aluminium body 112, the body 112 being configured to receive all the attachable

components and parts of the accessory 10 as described above thereon. The body 112 has a second spanner formation 138 at the end 128 thereof, the spanner formation 138 being a ring formation as opposed to the spanner formation 38 of the accessory 10 as shown in Figure 1. Also, the body 112 defines a further ring spanner formation 160 which can cooperate with an alternative configuration gas bottle, which renders the accessory including the body 112 usable for a wider range of applications. For the remainder the body 112 is essentially the equivalent of the body 12 of the accessory 10.

The invention extends also to all alternative configuration accessories which incorporate the essential features of the accessories as described above.