Tank cover

Abstract

The tank cover with an improved fit and function reflected in its method and material of construction is presented. The use of angled darts or other suitable angled fitting mechanisms of the cover in certain embodiments of the present invention provide desired snugness and fit, greatly reducing the prior art problems of sliding or shifting. Moreover, the optional use of quality material, such as drapery/upholstery grade fabric, characterized as having a weight sufficient to retain the cover in a certain position once fitted, greatly aids the present invention in providing the improved fit. The weight of the fabric is further accentuated through the use of quality construction techniques.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tank cover, comprising: 
 a top portion that substantially approximates a surface of a tank the tank cover is to cover;    a base portion coupled to the top portion and having a plurality of side portions and a bottom edge; and    a plurality of retention elements operable to couple the base portion to the top portion and encourage retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over a tank.    
     
     
         2 . The tank cover of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retention elements comprises at least one angled fitting element that causes the circumference of the bottom edge of the tank cover to be smaller than the circumference of the top portion of the tank cover and thereby contribute to retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over a tank.  
     
     
         3 . The tank cover of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one angled fitting element comprises one or darts formed into the plurality of side portions.  
     
     
         4 . The tank cover of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one angled fitting element is suitable for attaching the plurality of side portions to the top portion of the cover so that bottom edges of the plurality of side portions form the bottom edge of the tank cover.  
     
     
         5 . The tank cover of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retention elements comprises a plurality of tacking elements that couple one or more of the plurality of side portions to the top portion of the tank cover to encourage retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over a tank.  
     
     
         6 . The tank cover of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom portions are made from a single piece of material.  
     
     
         7 . The tank cover of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion further comprises an elastic piece of material tending to encourage retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over the tank.  
     
     
         8 . The tank cover of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one angled fitting element that causes the circumference of the bottom edge of the tank cover to be smaller than the circumference of the top portion of the tank cover and thereby encourage retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over the tank.  
     
     
         9 . A tank cover, comprising: 
 a top surface that substantially approximates a surface the tank cover is to cover;    a base attached to the top surface that has a plurality of side surfaces and a bottom edge;    at least one angled fitting element that causes the circumference of the bottom edge of the tank cover to be smaller than the circumference of the top surface of the tank cover and thereby contribute to retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over a tank;    
     
     
         10 . The tank cover of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one angled fitting element comprises one or darts formed into the plurality of side surfaces.  
     
     
         11 . The tank cover of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one angled fitting element is suitable for attaching the plurality of side surfaces to the top surface of the cover so that bottom edges of the plurality of side surfaces form the bottom edge of the tank cover.  
     
     
         12 . The tank cover of  claim 9 , further comprising a supplemental weighting material attached to at least a portion of the base of said tank cover that adds to the weight of the tank cover to contribute to retention of the tank cover.  
     
     
         13 . The tank cover of  claim 12 , wherein the supplemental weighting material comprises one or more of piping, fringe, beads, ruffles, buttons, pleats and tassels.  
     
     
         14 . The tank cover of  claim 12 , wherein the supplemental weighting material comprises a secondary piece of material affixed to an inside portion of the base of said tank cover.  
     
     
         15 . The tank cover of  claim 9 , wherein the material from which one or more of the top surface and the plurality of side surfaces are formed has a weight substantial enough to contribute to retention of the tank cover.  
     
     
         16 . The tank cover of  claim 15 , wherein the material is one of a decorator fabric and an upholstery grade fabric.  
     
     
         17 . The tank cover of  claim 9 , further comprising a hem formed along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the tank cover.  
     
     
         18 . The tank cover of  claim 17 , wherein the hem has a weight substantial enough to contribute to retention of the tank cover.  
     
     
         19 . The tank cover of  claim 18 , further comprising a supplemental weighting material attached to at least a portion of the hem of said tank cover that further contributes to retention.  
     
     
         20 . The tank cover of  claim 19 , wherein the supplemental weighting material comprises a secondary piece of material affixed to an inside portion of the base of said tank cover.  
     
     
         21 . The tank cover of  claim 9 , wherein the base further comprises one or more openings to accommodate a handle.  
     
     
         22 . The tank cover of  claim 9 , wherein the base further comprises an elastic piece of material tending to secure the base more securely to the tank when said tank cover is placed over the tank.  
     
     
         23 . The tank cover of  claim 22 , wherein the elastic piece of material is inserted into one or more of the plurality of side surfaces.  
     
     
         24 . The tank cover of  claim 23 , wherein the elastic piece of material is attached to at least a portion of the bottom edge of the base.  
     
     
         25 . The tank cover of  claim 23 , wherein the base further comprises one or more pockets along one or more of the plurality of side surfaces.  
     
     
         26 . A tank cover, comprising: 
 a top surface that substantially approximates a surface the tank cover is to cover;    a base attached to the top surface that has a plurality of side surfaces and a bottom edge, wherein the base comprises an elastic piece of material tending to contribute to retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over a tank.    
     
     
         27 . The tank cover of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one angled fitting element that causes the circumference of the bottom edge of the tank cover to be smaller than the circumference of the top surface of the tank cover and thereby contribute to retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over the tank.  
     
     
         28 . The tank cover of  claim 26 , wherein the elastic piece of material is inserted into one or more of the plurality of side surfaces.  
     
     
         29 . The tank cover of  claim 26 , wherein the elastic piece of material is attached to at least a portion of the bottom edge of the base.  
     
     
         30 . The tank cover of  claim 26 , further comprising a supplemental weighting material attached to at least a portion of the base of said tank cover that adds to the weight of the tank cover to contribute to retention of the tank cover.  
     
     
         31 . The tank cover of  claim 30 , wherein the supplemental weighting material comprises a secondary piece of material affixed to an inside portion of the base of said tank cover.  
     
     
         32 . A tank cover, comprising: 
 a middle portion operative to fit on top of a tank;    a front portion adjacent the middle portion;    a back portion adjacent the middle portion; and    a plurality of tacking elements that couple one or more of the front portion and the back portion to the middle portion of the tank cover to encourage retention of the tank cover when said tank cover is placed over a tank.    
     
     
         33 . The tank cover of  claim 32 , wherein the middle, front and back portions are made from a single piece of material.  
     
     
         34 . The tank cover of  claim 32 , wherein the base further comprises one or more pockets along one or more of the plurality of side surfaces.  
     
     
         35 . A wrap tank cover, comprising: 
 a material element adapted to wrap about a tank to be covered by the wrap tank cover;    an affixing element coupled to the material element for affixing the material element when wrapped about the tank;    
     
     
         36 . The tank cover of  claim 35 , wherein the material element is characterized as having an elastic property.  
     
     
         37 . The tank cover of  claim 35 , wherein the affixing element is a self-affixing element.  
     
     
         38 . The tank cover of  claim 37 , wherein the affixing element comprises a first affixing element arranged along an inside surface adjacent a first end of the material element and a corresponding second affixing element arranged along an outside surface adjacent the first end of the material element.  
     
     
         39 . The tank cover of  claim 35 , herein the material element is adapted to wrap around a side portion of the tank.  
     
     
         40 . The tank cover of  claim 35 , wherein the material element further comprises an opening to accommodate a handle of the tank.  
     
     
         41 . The tank cover of  claim 35 , wherein the wrap tank cover further comprises: 
 a piece of material having a weighting factor sufficient to encourage retention of the tank cover when placed over a top portion of the tank, wherein the piece of material further comprises a top portion and a base portion with the base portion of sufficient area to cover a portion of the tank other than the top portion of the tank.    
     
     
         42 . The tank cover of  claim 41 , wherein the base further comprises one or more pockets along one or more of the plurality of side surfaces.  
     
     
         43 . A tank cover, comprising: 
 a piece of material having a weighting factor sufficient to encourage retention of the tank cover when placed over a tank, wherein the piece of material further comprises a top portion and a base portion with the base portion of sufficient area to cover a portion of the tank not covered by the top portion.    
     
     
         44 . The tank cover, further comprising a supplemental weighting material attached to at least a portion of the base portion of said piece of material that adds to the weight of the tank cover to contribute to retention of the tank cover when placed over the tank.