Mobile support assembly for holding and transporting a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11300249-B2
Application number	US-201816213142-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A mobile storage apparatus for containers is provided. The apparatus provides a unique support assembly for holding a container. The assembly includes a latch mechanism that allows a clamp of cylinder to be moved from a closed position to an open position which creates clearance around a neck of cylinder to allow it to rotate without falling out of clamp. The other end of apparatus is structurally configured with a release plunger that can be retracted to allow rotation of cylinder along said other end. Rotatable wheels on a user side with a braking mechanism along a handle and a foot ledge allow improved maneuverability and stability.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) configured to securely hold a container ( 11 ) therewithin, said transportable support assembly ( 1 ′), comprising:
a first clamp ( 15 ) spaced apart from a first plate ( 7 );
a second plate ( 14 ) located a predetermined distance away from the first clamp ( 15 );
multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) extending between the first plate ( 7 ) and the second plate ( 14 ) and defining a first side ( 35 ) of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) and a second side ( 36 ) of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′), said second side ( 36 ) substantially diametrically opposed to the first side ( 35 );
the first plate ( 7 ), the second plate ( 14 ) and the multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) being arranged to create a protective opening ( 29 ), said protective opening ( 29 ) adapted to receive the container ( 11 ) that can be secured to a second clamp ( 28 ) located on the second plate ( 14 ); and
a protective ring ( 8 ) operably connected to the first plate ( 7 ), said protective ring ( 8 ) characterized by an opening facing the first side of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′);
a handle ( 3 ) located at a predetermined handle height along the first side ( 35 ), said handle operably connected to one or more of the multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d );
a first wheel ( 1 a ) and a second wheel ( 1 b ) spaced apart from the first wheel ( 1 a ) by a first predetermined distance, each of said first wheel ( 1 a ) and said second wheel ( 1 b ) operably connected to the second plate ( 14 ) along the first side ( 35 ), each of said first wheel ( 1 a ) and said second wheel ( 1 b ) being non-rotatable along a vertical axis;
a third wheel ( 2 a ) operably connected to the second plate ( 14 ) along the second side ( 36 ), said third wheel ( 2 a ) being rotatable;
a dead man brake actuator ( 4 ) extending along at least a portion of the handle ( 3 ), said dead man brake actuator ( 4 ) in mechanical communication with the first wheel ( 1 a ) and the second wheel ( 1 b ), said dead man brake actuator ( 4 ) movable between an activated state and a deactivated state, wherein the dead man brake actuator ( 4 ) in the deactivated state is configured to prevent movement of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) and wherein the dead man brake actuator ( 4 ) in the activated state is configured to allow movement of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′).

2. The transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) of claim 1 , further comprising a modular housing ( 71 ) extending around the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′).

3. The transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) of claim 1 , further comprising a foot ledge ( 12 ) secured to the second plate ( 14 ) along the first side ( 35 ).

4. The transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) of claim 1 , wherein the multiple elongated rods comprise a first elongated rod ( 9 a ) and a second elongated rod ( 9 b ) spaced apart from the first elongated rod ( 9 a ) to define, at least in part, the first side ( 35 ).

5. The transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) of claim 1 , wherein the multiple elongated rods comprises a third elongated rod ( 9 c ) and a fourth elongated rod ( 9 d ) spaced apart from the third elongated rod ( 9 c ) to define, at least in part, the second side ( 36 ).

6. A protective support structure ( 22 ), comprising:
a first plate ( 7 );
a protective ring ( 8 ) along the first plate ( 7 );
a clamping mechanism comprising a second clamp ( 28 ) operably connected to a second plate ( 14 ) located a predetermined distance away from the first plate ( 7 );
multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) extending between the first plate ( 7 ) and the second plate ( 14 ), each of said multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) having a first end and a second end, each of said first ends operably connected to a corresponding first region along the periphery of the first plate ( 7 ), and each of said second ends operably connected to a corresponding second region along the periphery of the second plate ( 14 );
wherein the first plate ( 7 ), the second plate ( 14 ) and multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) are configured to define a first side ( 35 ) of the protective support structure ( 22 ) and a second side ( 36 ) of the protective support structure ( 22 ); a handle between elongated rods along the first side, said protective ring ( 8 ) characterized by an opening facing the handle ( 3 ).

7. The protective support structure ( 22 ) of claim 6 , said handle ( 3 ) comprising a horizontal portion extending between the multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) and a first vertical portion extending down from a first end of the horizontal portion and a second vertical portion extending down from a second end of the horizontal portion, said first vertical portion and said second vertical portion operably connected to one or more of the multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) at a predetermined handle height along the first side ( 35 ).

8. The protective support structure ( 22 ) of claim 6 , further comprising a foot ledge ( 12 ) secured to the second plate ( 14 ) along the first side ( 35 ).

9. The protective support structure ( 22 ) of claim 6 , further comprising a first wheel ( 1 a ) and a second wheel ( 1 b ) spaced apart from the first wheel ( 1 a ), said first wheel ( 1 a ) and said second wheel ( 1 b ) operably connected to the second plate ( 14 ) along the first side ( 35 ), each of said first wheel ( 1 a ) and said second wheel ( 1 b ) being non-rotatable along a vertical axis.

10. The protective support structure ( 22 ) of claim 9 , further comprising a third wheel ( 2 a ) operably connected to the second plate ( 14 ) along the second side ( 36 ), said third wheel ( 2 a ) being rotatable.

11. A transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) configured to securely hold a container ( 11 ) therewithin, said transportable support assembly ( 1 ′), comprising:
a first plate ( 7 );
a second plate ( 14 ) located a predetermined distance away from the first plate ( 7 );
multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) extending between the first plate ( 7 ) and the second plate ( 14 ) and defining a first side ( 35 ) of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′) and a second side ( 36 ) of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′);
the first plate ( 7 ), the second plate ( 14 ) and multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d ) are arranged to create a cage-like enclosure ( 29 ), said cage-like enclosure ( 29 ) adapted to receive the container ( 11 ) that can be secured to a second clamp ( 28 ) located on the second plate ( 14 ); and
a protective ring ( 8 ) on the first plate ( 7 ), said protective ring ( 8 ) characterized by an opening facing the first side ( 35 ) of the transportable support assembly ( 1 ′);
a handle ( 3 ) located at a predetermined handle height along the first side ( 35 ), said handle operably connected to one or more of the multiple elongated rods ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c and 9 d );
a first wheel ( 1 a ) and a second wheel ( 1 b ) spaced apart from the first wheel ( 1 a ), each of said first wheel ( 1 a ) and said second wheel ( 1 b ) operably connected to the second plate ( 14 ) along the first side ( 35 ); each of said first wheel ( 1 a ) and said second wheel ( 1 b ) being non-rotatable along a vertical axis;
a third wheel ( 2 a ) and fourth wheel ( 2 b ) operably connected to the second plate ( 14 )

Assignees

• Pareek Mayank
• Sinha Ashwini K
• Smith Stanley M
• Bursac Ranko
• Boll Amber L
• Riehm Constantino Merry
• Hangen Amy Beth
• Marconi Jr Fred A
• Praxair Technology Inc

Inventors

• Pareek Mayank
• Sinha Ashwini K
• Smith Stanley M
• Bursac Ranko
• Boll Amber L
• Riehm-Constantino Merry
• Hangen Amy Beth
• Marconi Jr Fred A

Classifications

• B62B5/0414 Primary

  dead man's brakes · CPC title

• B62B3/104

  the object being of cylindrical shape, e.g. barrels, buckets, dustbins · CPC title

• B62B2203/44

  Clamping or supporting circumferentially · CPC title

• F17C13/08

  Mounting arrangements for vessels · CPC title

• B62B2202/022

  Gas bottles · CPC title