Carrier for containerized fluids

Abstract

The safe storage and transportation of tanks containing compressed fluids is facilitated by a carrier which, in a preferred embodiment, can hold up to six such tanks in stable, fixed relation. Each tank is positioned in a compartment formed by front and rear members and a pair of sidewalls. The front member has a plurality of apertures for receiving the valve stems of the tanks. The rear member has a plurality of apertures for receiving the bottle ends of the tanks. Locking members can be adjusted to selectively lock the bottle ends at the rear member. A buffer region is preferably formed in front of the front member using a spaced front wall surface to prevent inadvertent contact with the valve stems. The sidewalls have handles to permit easy lifting and placement of the carrier.

1 . An apparatus for storing fluid containers, the apparatus comprising:
 carrier defined by a front member, a rear member and sidewalls, wherein said front member has at least one stem receiving aperture disposed therein and said rear member has at least one opening configured to receive a fluid container therethrough, wherein said front member supports a valve stem of the fluid container and said rear member supports a bottle member of the fluid container, said front member being configured to prevent the fluid container from exiting the front of the apparatus;   a locking device disposed adjacent said rear member to lock the fluid container to prevent the container from exiting said rear of the carrier, wherein said front member and said rear member cooperatively confine the movement of the fluid container to hold the fluid container within the carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  further comprising a buffer region formed by a front wall disposed in spaced relation to said front member for preventing inadvertent contact with a valve stem of said fluid container. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said sidewalls each comprise a handle for convenient lifting of said carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said locking device is releasably secured to said rear member for slidable movement relative to said fluid container for selective locking engagement therewith. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein said stem-receiving aperture is configured as a keyhole-shaped aperture to prevent inadvertent movement of a bottle stem therein. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for safely transporting bottles of compressed fluids, the bottles having a valve stem at a first end and having a second end; the apparatus comprising:
 a pair of spaced parallel opposed surfaces, one such surface having a plurality of stem-receiving apertures for receiving the valve stems of said bottles and the other such surface having a plurality of second end-receiving apertures for securing said bottles between said opposed surfaces; and   at least one handle located between said opposed surfaces for enabling grasping of said apparatus and bottles during transport thereof, said handle being positioned on a structural member interconnecting said opposed surfaces.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus recited in  claim 6  further comprising a buffer region immediately adjacent said valve stems and formed by a solid surface in parallel, spaced location relative to said stem-receiving apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus recited in  claim 6  further comprising at least one locking device positioned adjacent at least one second end-receiving aperture for stabilizing a compressed fluid bottle during transport thereof.