Ergonomic propane tank carrier and stabilizer

Abstract

A portable propane tank carrier system is provided which includes a tank carrier, stabilizer ring, and tank neck cover. The tank carrier includes a rectangular main tank cover panel, and upper and lower radial sidewall panel. The tank carrier closely conforms to the shape of a portable propane tank while providing an upper opening adapted to receive a neck portion of the tank and a lower opening adapted to receive a tank base ring portion of the tank. The stabilizer rings may be attached to the bottom of the tank carrier to prevent the tank from tipping over.

1 . A portable propane tank carrier system comprising: 
 a tank carrier comprising, 
 a rectangular main tank cover panel having an upper edge, lower edge, leftside edge and rightside edge;  
 an upper radial sidewall panel having a ring shape with an outer circular edge, inner circular edge and an upper pair of opposing radial edges, said outer circular edge attached to said upper edge of said main tank cover panel;  
 a lower radial sidewall panel having a ring shape with an outer circular edge, inner circular edge, and a lower pair of opposing radial edges, said outer circular edge attached to said lower edge of said main tank cover panel; and  
 a main seam formed by said upper and lower pair of opposing radial edges of said sidewall panels and said leftside and rightside edges of said main tank cover panel;  
   wherein said tank carrier closely conforms to the shape of a portable propane tank while providing an upper opening adapted to receive a neck portion of the tank and a lower opening adapted to receive a tank base ring portion of the tank.    
     
     
         2 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle system, to attached to one of said main tank cover panel and said upper radial sidewall panel.  
     
     
         3 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 2 , said handle system comprising a left and right handle strap attached to one of said main tank cover panel and said upper radial sidewall panel.  
     
     
         4 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 3 , said handle system further comprising a handle attached to one of said left and right handle straps, said handle adapted to be wrapped around middle portions of said left and right handle straps and fastened to itself.  
     
     
         5 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fastening devices positioned along said seam for securing said tank carrier around the tank.  
     
     
         6 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 5  said plurality of fastening devices comprising at least one of buckles, snapping buttons, hook and loop, and a zipper.  
     
     
         7 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of circumferential straps attached to said rectangular main tank cover in a parallel and offset orientation to said upper and lower edges of said main tank cover.  
     
     
         8 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer ring adapted to be attached to a bottom portion of said tank carrier.  
     
     
         9 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , said stabilizer ring having a receiving hole adapted to receive the tank base ring portion.  
     
     
         10 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , said stabilizer ring comprising, 
 an inner radial panel having a first upper and lower longitudinal edge;    an upper radial panel ring having an upper inner ring edge and upper outer ring edge, said upper inner edge attached to said first upper longitudinal edge of said inner radial panel;    a lower radial panel ring having a lower inner ring edge and lower outer ring edge, said lower inner ring edge attached to said first lower longitudinal edge of said inner radial panel; and    an outer circumferential panel having a second upper and lower longitudinal edge, said second upper longitudinal edge attached to said upper outer ring edge of said upper radial panel, and said second lower longitudinal edge attached to said lower outer ring edge of said lower radial panel.    
     
     
         11 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 10 , said stabilizer ring filled with a filler material.  
     
     
         12 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 11 , wherein said filler material is sand.  
     
     
         13 . The tank carrier according to  claim 11 , said stabilizer ring further including a filler seam on said outer circumferential panel for receiving said filler material.  
     
     
         14 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 10 , said stabilizer ring further including a rigid foam ring maintained within said stabilizer ring.  
     
     
         15 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 10 , said stabilizer ring further attached to said tank carrier via a plurality of fastening devices comprising at least one of buckles, snapping buttons, and hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         16 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable tank neck cover.  
     
     
         17 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 16 , said detachable tank neck cover comprising, 
 a circular connecting flange having a outer flange circular edge and an inner flange circular edge;    a cylindrical wall formed from a rectangular panel comprising an upper edge and lower edge, said lower edge attached to said inner flange circular edge; and    a circular top portion attached to said upper edge of said cylindrical wall.    
     
     
         18 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 17 , circular top portion comprising a mesh material.  
     
     
         19 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 18 , said cylindrical wall comprising a mesh material.  
     
     
         20 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 17 , said tank neck cover further attached to said tank carrier via a plurality of fastening devices comprising at least one of snapping buttons, and hook and loop fasteners.  
     
     
         21 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 17 , said cylindrical wall portion having a pair of handle openings adapted to receive tank handles formed on the neck of the tank.  
     
     
         22 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 17 , said cylindrical wall portion having a gas supply opening adapted for allowing a gas supply hose to be routed outside said detachable neck cover.  
     
     
         23 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an integrally attached tank neck cover.  
     
     
         24 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 16 , said integrally attached tank neck cover comprising, 
 a cylindrical wall formed from a rectangular panel comprising an upper edge and lower edge, said lower edge attached to said inner flange circular edge, wherein said lower edge is attached to said inner circular edge of said upper radial sidewall; and    a detachable lid adapted to fit atop said cylindrical wall.    
     
     
         25 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 24 , said cylindrical wall comprising a mesh material.  
     
     
         26 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 25 , said cylindrical wall portion having a pair of handle openings adapted to receive tank handles formed on the neck of the tank.  
     
     
         27 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 17 , said cylindrical wall portion having a gas supply opening adapted for allowing a gas supply hose to be routed outside said neck cover.  
     
     
         28 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator window on said main tank cover panel.  
     
     
         29 . The tank carrier system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a door flap attached to said main tank cover panel for covering said indicator window.