FIELD OF INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates broadly to the handling and transportation of articles and more specifically to a carrying case for a gas cylinder and to a method of carrying a gas cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Gas is commonly used as a source of fuel. One form in which gas is provided is in metal cylinders, usually of standard sizes, which require transport, among others, from the place of purchase of the cylinder to its place of use and back once empty.

Typically, a cylinder is placed on its round sidewall or stands upright during transportation. In the former orientation, the cylinder tends to roll around if not firmly secured. As cylinders tend to be heavy they have capacity quickly to gain momentum when rolling and can cause harm to nearby persons or objects on impact.

When placed in an upright orientation, the centre of gravity of the cylinder may be such that the cylinder can topple over during transportation. This is especially true when being transported in a vehicle. Furthermore, if cylinders are placed on an uneven surface, such as the seat of the vehicle, the above risks may become more acute. The present invention seeks to address the abovementioned risks associated with transporting gas cylinders and similar objects.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a carrying case for a gas cylinder or similar article for transportation by vehicle, the carrying case including: a body defining a storage cavity for accommodating the gas cylinder; and at least two straps which are laterally spaced apart and connected or connectable to the body, the straps being of different lengths and comprising a shorter strap and a longer strap, such that, in use, a three- point seatbelt of the vehicle can be accommodated by the straps, with a part of the seatbelt nearer the buckle being accommodated by the shorter strap and a part of the seatbelt nearer the seatbelt fixed points being accommodated by the longer strap, thereby to retain the carrying case and gas cylinder accommodated therein in a seat of the vehicle securely.

The carrying case may include a handle. The handle may be in the form of a strip of material. The strip may be provided to define a continuous loop around the body in an upright plane, the loop defining the handle, an under case support and at least one of the straps (e.g., the longer strap).

Alternatively the handle may be a strip of material affixed at two points, in any orientation, on an upper region of the body of the carrying case. In one embodiment, the carrying case includes two such handles diametrically opposed on the upper region of the body. The body may comprise a deformable material which may also be inelastic. The body and/or the straps may be of a polymer, such as Nylon. The straps may be attached to the body by means of adhesion, stitching, or the like.

The body may be cylindrical, including a circular base, and a mouth defining an opening. The mouth may be generally frusto-conical in shape. The mouth may include a closure member for varying the size of the opening, the closure member for example being a drawstring.

The body may be mounted or mountable to a wheeled support frame. The frame may be integrated with the body and inseparable therefrom, or may be removably mountable to the body. The frame may include a frame handle which may be rigid and extendible. The frame may also include a foot formation protruding from a base of the frame. The frame may include a guide formation mounted on the base of the frame to assist secure location of a cylinder in the carrying case. The guide formation may be in the form of a rigid cylindrical skirting.

There may be more than two straps. In one embodiment, there are three straps. There may be one shorter strap arranged between two longer straps, one on each side of the shorter strap. In this manner, the carrying case becomes symmetrical in that it can receive a seat belt from one side of the car in one of the longer straps and the shorter strap, or it can receive a seat belt from the other side of the car in the other of the longer straps and the shorter strap.

The straps may be equi-angularly spaced around a periphery of the body. The angle between the straps may be between 30° and 180°, for example 90°. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of transporting a gas cylinder, the method including:

(a) placing the carrying case as defined above on a seat of a vehicle;

(b) feeding a three-point seatbelt first through the longer strap and then through the shorter strap;

(c) securing the seatbelt in an operative condition; and

(d) placing a gas cylinder or a similar article in the carrying case before or after any of steps (a) to (c).

The method may then include:

(e) transporting the carrying case and accommodated cylinder;

(f) releasing the seatbelt from the operative condition;

(g) removing the seatbelt from the shorter and longer straps; and

(h) removing the carrying case from the vehicle.

The method may further include:

(i) removing the gas cylinder from the carrying case before or after any of steps (f) to (h).

Before removing the gas cylinder from the carrying case in step (i), the method may include:

(j) carrying by hand, or propelling by walking using the wheeled frame (if present), the carrying case and accommodated gas cylinder to its intended place of use (e.g., a kitchen or store room).

It is not mandatory to remove the gas cylinder from the carrying case for use, and step (i) may be omitted altogether. The gas cylinder may be stored semipermanently in the carrying case. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a carrying case, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the carrying case of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of a carrying case, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the carrying case of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a third embodiment of a carrying case, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the carrying case of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of a fourth embodiment of a carrying case, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the carrying case of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the carrying case of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a wheeled support frame before the body of the carrying case of FIG. 7 is mounted thereon; and

FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the wheeled support frame of FIG. 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be made to the embodiment described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not a limitation thereof.

FIGS 1 -2 show a carrying case 1 in accordance with the invention. The carrying case comprises a hollow body 2 shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a standard size gas cylinder. The body 2 could come in various sizes to accommodate various standard sizes of gas cylinders. The body 2 is composed of a cylindrical sidewall 3 and a circular or disc-shaped floor 4.

At a top end of the body 2, a frusto-conical shoulder 5 is provided. The shoulder 5 converges inwardly to define an upwardly open mouth 5a at a top thereof. The shoulder 5 includes a drawstring 6 located around a perimeter of the mouth 5a. The drawstring 6 includes a cinch or closure clip (see FIG. 6) for securing the mouth 5a in a desired condition or size.

This example embodiment includes three straps 7, 8a, 8b which are attached to the sidewall of the body 2. One longer strap 7 extends between a top and bottom of the sidewall 3. The longer strap 7 is slightly arcuate and curves gently away from the sidewall 3. A pair of shorter straps 8a, 8b of equal size are attached to the sidewall 3 of the body 2, and are arranged one on either side of, or laterally spaced apart from, the longer strap 7. In this embodiment, the shorter straps 8a, 8b are diametrically opposed; an angle between the longer strap 7 and each of the shorter straps 8a, 8b being approximately 90°. The shorter straps 8a, 8b are approximately half the length of the longer strap 7. The shorter straps 8a, 8b are secured to the bottom end of the sidewall 3 at their bottom ends and their top ends are secured to the sidewall 3 approximately half way up its length.

Each end of an elongate handle 9 is secured to the sidewall 3 at a top region of the body 2. The handle 9 is inverted u-shaped and is used for grasping and carrying the case by hand. The ends of the handle 9 are in register with the shorter straps 8a, 8b and thus also diametrically opposed to each other.

The sidewall 3, floor 4, and straps 7, 8a, 8b are made of padded nylon. The handle 9 is made from stiffened nylon and the drawstring 6 from polyester or nylon.

FIGS 3-4 show another embodiment of a carrying case 100 in accordance with the invention. The same numerals in FIGS 3-4 as those in FIGS 1 -2 refer to the same or similar parts. The carrying case 100 is provided with only one shorter strap 101 and a strip 102 of material that defines a continuous loop around the body 2 of the carrying case 100. The strip 102 defines two longer straps 105a, 105b, a handle 106 and an under-case support 107. Stitching is provided in various regions to separate the strip 102 into its various functional parts and to secure the strip 102 to the body 2 where the strip 102 meets edges of the floor 4 and at a top region of the sidewalls 3. The handle 106 includes a compacted or gathered portion 109 located directly over the mouth 5a, for ease of grasp. A third embodiment of a carrying case 200 in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGS 5-6. The body 2 of the carrying case is mounted to a wheeled support frame 202. The body 2 may be fixedly mounted or removably mounted to the support frame 202. The support frame 202 includes a circular base 204 made of rigid material. A pair of spaced apart wheels 205 is mounted beneath the base 204 with the wheels 205 being located towards one side of the base 204. On an opposite side of the base 204, a pair of feet formations 206 depends downwardly from the base 204. The feet formations 206 have a generally v-shaped profile.

The support frame 202 has a pair of support rods 207 which project upwardly from the base 204. Each rod 207 projects from above a wheel 205. The bottom ends of the rods 207 are fixed to the base 204 and their upper ends are interconnected by a crosspiece 210 which serves as a handle. Each rod 207 comprises a pair of telescopic members 207a, 207b so that a length of the rod 207, and consequent height of the cross-piece/handle 210, is adjustable. The rods 207 are fastened to the body 2 by means of sleeves 208 fast with an upper part of the sidewall 3.

In this embodiment, the carrying case 200 has only two straps 21 1 , 212, that is, one longer strap 21 1 and one shorter strap 212. Bottom ends of each strap 21 1 , 212 terminate at a bottom end of the sidewall 3. A top of the longer strap 21 1 terminates at a top edge of the sidewall 3. A top end of the shorter strap 212 has an oblique edge secured partway up the sidewall 3.

FIGS 5-6 also show a cylinder 400 accommodated in the carrying case 200. The drawstring 6 is engaged in a tight fit around a shoulder portion of the cylinder 400. In this condition, the shoulder 5 of the carrying case 200 is gathered or wrinkled around the cylinder 400 with a cinch 215 located snugly against the cylinder 400. A fourth embodiment of a carrying case 300 in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGS 7-1 1 . The body 2 of the carrying case 300 is fixedly mounted to a wheeled support frame 202. The wheeled support frame 202 includes a base 304. In this embodiment, only one foot formation 308 depends from the base 304. The foot formation 308 is arcuate and spans about half a circumference of the base 304.

A guide formation in the form of a cylindrical skirting 310 projects upwardly from an upper surface of the base 203. The cylindrical skirting 310 is sized to locate a cylinder (not shown) in a close-fit relationship. A pair of support rods

207 extend upwardly from the base 304 and are located adjacent and on the outside of the cylindrical skirting 310. The part of the base 304 on which the rods 207 are mounted is square shaped and the opposing part is circular thereby conforming to the periphery of the cylindrical skirting 310. This is best illustrated in FIG. 10.

In this embodiment, the body 2 of the carrying case 300 is affixed to the outside of the cylindrical skirting 310, e.g., by stitching, adhesive, or mechanical fasteners (not illustrated). Bottom ends of the rods 207 are covered by the body 2 of the carrying case and pass through openings provided in the shoulder 5 so that top portions of the rods 207 and crosspiece 210 are exposed. More particularly, upper telescopic members 207b are completely exposed while only the upper end regions of lower telescopic members 207a are exposed.

In a different implementation, the body 2 could be removable from the carrying case 300. Then, in use, the body 2 could be fastened using the seatbelt with the case 300 could be stowed separately, e.g., in a boot or floor of the vehicle.

Three straps 307a, 307b, 308 are attached to the sidewall of the body 2, all in vertical orientations. A shorter strap 308 diametrically opposes the pair of rods 207. Two longer straps 307a and 307b are laterally spaced apart from the shorter strap 308 equi-angularly and approximately 90° on either side of the shorter strap 308. Thus, the longer straps 307a and 307b are diametrically opposed with respect to each other. The lower ends of each straps 307a, 307b, 308 are attached at a lower end of the sidewall 3. The shorter strap 308 extends approximately halfway up the height of the sidewall 3 while the longer straps 307a, 307b extend approximately three quarters up the height of the sidewall 3.

A pair of handles comprising strips 306a, 306b is located on the sidewall 3 with the strips 306a, 306b in horizontal orientations. The strips 306a, 306b are also diametrically opposed with respect to each other.

The strips 306a, 306b, and straps 307a, 307b, 308 are all attached to the sidewall 3 at their ends with suitable stitching 309.

In use, the drawstring 6 is released using the cinch 215 to provide a suitably large mouth 5a to allow the cylinder 400 to be placed in the carrying case 1 , 100, 200, 300. The cinch 215 is then operated to draw the drawstring 6 taught around the shoulder portion of the cylinder 400 to keep the cylinder 400 in the carrying case 1 , 100, 200, 300.

A three-point seatbelt 410 is illustrated in FIG. 3, so the following in-use example will be described with reference to the carrying case 100 of FIG. 3, but the same methodology can be applied to the other embodiments 1 , 200,

300 also. The carrying case 100 is placed on a seat of a vehicle which will be used to transport the cylinder 400. The carrying case 100 is placed suitably close to the seatbelt 410 with the longer strap positioned closer to fixed points 410a of the seatbelt 410 and the shorter strap 101 positioned closer to a fixed female buckle portion 410b to which a male buckle portion 412 of the seatbelt

410 will be secured. The seatbelt 410 is threaded through the longer strap 105a first, through the shorter strap 101 , and then the buckle 412, 410b is secured.

In this condition, the carrying case 100 and gas cylinder 400 are securely retained in the seat during transportation. The gas cylinder 400 may be removed from the carrying case 100 by following the reverse procedure. The handle 106 allows a user conveniently to lift and move the carrying case 100 between the seat and its original or end location.

In the first two and fourth embodiments where the carrying case 1 , 100, 300 provides three straps 7, 8a, 8b; 101 , 105a, 105b; 307a, 307b, 308 the carrying case 1 , 100, 300 could be located on the seat on either side of the vehicle. In embodiments where the carrying case 200 only comprises one longer strap 21 1 and one shorter strap 212, the carrying case 200 should be on a suitable side of the vehicle

In the third and fourth embodiments, the wheels 205 allow for the carrying case 200, 300 to be pushed or pulled along the ground in the event that the cylinder 400 is heavy and is less suited to being lifted and carried. The feet 206 or foot 306 provide a support and a safety stop for the carrying case 200,

300 while it is on the ground and stationary.

The handle (i.e., the crosspiece 210) is extendible between extended and retracted conditions by means of the telescopic support rods 207. In the extended condition, a person does not have to bend uncomfortably to pull or push the carrying case 200, 300. While in the retracted condition, the carrying case 200, 300 can be conveniently lifted from the ground into the vehicle without the handle catching on a door frame or without the person having to tilt the carrying case 200, 300 awkwardly. The carrying case 1 , 100, 200, 300 therefore provides a safe and convenient method of transporting a gas cylinder 400.