Gas cylinder carrier

Claim 1

A carrier for a compressed gas cylinder and the like comprising a cylinder engaging member including a segment of a tube having an inner face, an outer face, a first end face, a second end face, a first inner edge formed at the intersection of said inner face and said first end face and a second inner edge formed at the intersection of said inner face and said second end face, said segment having an arc the angle of which is in excess of 180° and having an inner diameter which is at least as small as the outside diameter of said cylinder, said first inner edge and said second inner edge being spaced apart from each other a distance less than said outside diameter of said cylinder, said cylinder engaging member being made of material which is elastic to an extent which permits said first and second inner edges to be opened outwardly such that the distance between said edges is equal to said outside diameter of said cylinder without exceeding the elastic limit of said material, strap means associated with said cylinder engaging member for holding said first and second inner edges said distance less than said outside diameter of said cylinder, said strap means including an elongated strip of material having a top side, a bottom side, a free end, and an opposing fixed end which is mounted onto said cylinder engaging member, said strap means having fastener means in operative association therewith, and handle means attached to said cylinder engaging member, whereby said cylinder engaging member is pressed down onto said cylinder and said strap means is wrapped around said cylinder by taking said free end of said strap having said fastener means, wrapping said strap means around the portion of said cylinder not engaged by said cylinder engaging member and contacting said fastener means to said fastener means disposed on said fixed end of said strap so that said cylinder will be held firmly and securely in place by said cylinder engaging member so that said cylinder may be carried away by use of said handle means.