Cylinder protection apparatus

Abstract

A cover for a gas supplying apparatus is provided, comprising an elongated sleeve and a handle. The sleeve envelopes a portion of a tank of the apparatus, and has a longitudinal slit, closeable with a zipper mechanism. The cover is removable, and reusable. The sleeve is constructed of impact-absorbent material, and, has an open top and a closed bottom. A seam formed by attachment of a circular piece to the bottom of the sleeve is external. There is a closable strap which fits around a portion of the tank to secure the tank. There is an attachable tool. The sleeve includes a pouch to house the tool. The sleeve material is neoprene, of a green coloration when the tank contains oxygen, and has lettering comprising “OXYGEN”. The handle is a strap device attached to the sleeve which forms handholds to carry the tank in a balanced horizontal orientation.

1 . Apparatus for a compressed gas tank, comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve, suitable for covering a substantial portion of the tank, said sleeve having a slit substantially oriented to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and running along at least a portion thereof, external coloration suitable to indicate contents of the tank, and external marking suitable to indicate contents of the tank; and,    a handle.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the slit runs at least a majority of the length of the sleeve.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the external marking comprises tactilely discernible features.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the external marking comprises visually discernible features.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cover is removable.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the cover is reusable.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the elongated sleeve comprises impact-absorbent material.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the elongated sleeve is closed at a bottom portion thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the bottom portion of the sleeve is closed by a substantially circular piece attached to the elongated sleeve substantially proximate an outer circumference of the circular piece.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein a seam formed by attachment of the circular piece to the elongated sleeve is substantially external the sleeve.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the elongated sleeve is open at a top portion thereof, the slit runs completely through the top portion, and further comprising a closable strap effective to secure contiguous sides of the slit at the top portion of the sleeve.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slit comprises a closure mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  when the closure mechanism comprises a zipper device.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an externally accessible pocket.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a tool tethered to the sleeve and suitable for use with flow control valves associated with the tank.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising an externally accessible pouch suitable for storage of the tethered tool.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve comprises neoprene.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the external coloration is a green coloration when the intended contents of the tank comprise medical oxygen.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said external marking comprises visually discernible marking.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said visually discernible marking indicates the intended contents of the tank comprise medical oxygen.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said external marking comprises visually discernible marking including the word “OXYGEN” when the intended contents of the tank comprise medical oxygen.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said external marking comprises tactilely discernible marking.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said tactilely discernible marking indicates the intended contents of the tank comprise medical oxygen.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said external marking comprises tactilely discernible marking including the word “OXYGEN” when the intended contents of the tank comprise medical oxygen.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprises marking suitable to indicate a pressure/flow/time relationship of the intended contents of the tank.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle comprises a strap device formed as a substantially continuous piece and attached to the elongated sleeve at a plurality of locations.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising the strap device attached to the elongated sleeve at a plurality of locations to form handholds suitable for carrying the tank in a substantially balanced horizontal orientation.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the strap device is attached to the sleeve at the plurality of locations on an inside surface of the sleeve.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein sleeve length is suitable to prevent shrouding of markings on a shoulder of the tank.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising means for preventing rolling when the tank is in a horizontal orientation.  
   
   
       31 . Cover for a gas supplying apparatus suitable for medical oxygen, comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve suitable for covering a substantial portion of a tank of the gas supplying apparatus, said sleeve having a slit substantially oriented to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and running along at least a portion thereof, external coloration suitable to indicate the contents of the tank comprise oxygen, and external marking suitable to indicate the contents of the tank comprise oxygen.    
   
   
       32 . Utility kit for a gas storage tank containing medical oxygen, comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve suitable for covering a substantial portion of the tank, said sleeve having a slit substantially oriented to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and running along at least a portion thereof, and a pouch;    a tool useable with the gas storage tank and storable in the pouch; and,    a handle comprising a strap device attached to the elongated sleeve at a plurality of locations such that handholds are formed suitable for carrying the gas storage tank in a substantially balanced horizontal orientation.    
   
   
       33 . The utility kit of  claim 32  wherein the sleeve is constructed of an impact-resistant material having external coloration suitable to indicate the contents of the tank comprise oxygen, and having marking indicating the contents of the tank comprise oxygen.  
   
   
       34 . Cover for a gas supplying apparatus including a tank and a flow regulator, comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve suitable for covering a substantial portion of the tank and having a length suitable to prevent shrouding of markings located on a shoulder of the tank, the sleeve having a slit oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and running along at least a portion thereof, the sleeve having a top portion and a bottom portion, said bottom portion being closed and said top portion being open;    a closable strap located at the top portion of the sleeve, fittable around a circumference of the tank, and operable to secure the tank within the sleeve;    a handle including a strap device attached to the elongated sleeve at a plurality of locations such that handholds are formed suitable for carrying the gas supplying apparatus in a substantially balanced horizontal orientation; and, 
 a tool useable with the gas supplying apparatus.