초록 ▼

A scuba tank caddy that includes a vertically-extending frame, a base assembly connected to the frame, and an axle assembly having an axle, a pair of spaced wheels mounted on the axle, and a pair of connecting arms pivotally interconnecting the axle to the base assembly. The frame has a plurality o

A scuba tank caddy that includes a vertically-extending frame, a base assembly connected to the frame, and an axle assembly having an axle, a pair of spaced wheels mounted on the axle, and a pair of connecting arms pivotally interconnecting the axle to the base assembly. The frame has a plurality of slots formed in the frame at its lower end, and the axle assembly is adjustably connected to the frame via the slots such that the axle and wheels can be adjusted between several operational positions to accommodate different types of terrain. The axle and wheel can also be switched to a stowed position in which the wheels are positioned upwardly against the tank so that the caddy can remain on the tank during a dive.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A caddy for a tank of compressed gas, comprising: a frame extending vertically from a first end and to a second end, said frame including a handle attached at said first end and an axle latch member located at said second end; a base assembly connected to said frame at said s

What is claimed is: 1. A caddy for a tank of compressed gas, comprising: a frame extending vertically from a first end and to a second end, said frame including a handle attached at said first end and an axle latch member located at said second end; a base assembly connected to said frame at said second end, said base assembly being constructed to support a bottom portion of the tank; and an axle assembly including a pair of connecting arms that are each pivotally connected to said base assembly, said axle assembly including a first axle pivotally connected to each of said connecting arms and extending therebetween, and said axle assembly including a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on each end of said first axle, wherein said first axle can be connected to said axle latch member at one or more locations with said wheels in either of at least two positions, including a first, operational position in which said wheels are positioned to enable the caddy to be rolled across a ground surface on the wheels, and a second, stowed position in which said wheels and connecting arms are positioned at a raised position adjacent said base assembly; wherein said wheels are mounted for rotation about a common axis, and said axle includes a central portion that extends radially away from said axis, and wherein said axle assembly is removably connected to said frame via said central portion of said axle. 2. A caddy as defined in claim 1, wherein said axle assembly further comprises a second axle connected between said connecting arms and said base assembly, wherein said connecting arms each have first and second ends with said connecting arms each being connected at said first end to said first axle and being connected at said second end to said second axle. 3. A caddy as defined in claim 2, further comprising a compression spring mounted on said second axle between each of said connecting arms and said base assembly. 4. A caddy as defined in claim 1, wherein said base assembly includes an adjustable belt. 5. A caddy as defined in claim 1, further comprising a belt clamp attached to said frame at a location spaced above said base assembly. 6. A caddy as defined in claim 1, wherein said first axle is connectable to said axle latch member at a particular location in either of two configurations, wherein in one configuration said wheels are in said operational position and in the other configuration said wheels are in said stowed position. 7. A caddy for a tank of compressed gas, comprising: a frame extending vertically from a first end and to a second end, said frame including a handle attached at said first end and an axle latch member located at said second end; a base assembly connected to said frame at said second end, said base assembly being constructed to support a bottom portion of the tank; and an axle assembly including a pair of connecting arms that are each pivotally connected to said base assembly, said axle assembly including a first axle pivotally connected to each of said connecting arms and extending therebetween, and said axle assembly including a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on each end of said first axle, wherein said first axle can be connected to said axle latch member at one or more locations with said wheels in either of at least two positions, including a first, operational position in which said wheels are positioned to enable the caddy to be rolled across a ground surface on the wheels, and a second, stowed position in which said wheels and connecting arms are positioned at a raised position adjacent said base assembly; wherein said axle latch member has a plurality of slots that are vertically offset from each other, with said first axle being connectable to each of said slots to fix the wheels into different positions. 8. A scuba tank caddy used for storing and transporting a scuba tank, said scuba tank caddy comprising: a frame extending vertically from a first end to a second end, said frame including an axle latch member located at said second end, said axle latch member having one or more slots; a base assembly connected to said frame, said base assembly including a base plate sized to receive a cylindrical bottom portion of the scuba tank such that, when seated on the base plate, the scuba tank extends upwardly from the base plate towards the first end of the frame at a position adjacent the frame; a clamp attached to said frame at a location spaced above said base assembly; and an axle assembly including first and second connecting arms that are each pivotally connected to said base assembly and each having a hole spaced from said respective pivotal connection at said base assembly, said axle assembly including a one-piece first axle extending from a first end that is pivotally received in said hole of said first connecting arm to a second end that is pivotally received in said hole of said second connecting arm, and said axle assembly including a first wheel rotatably mounted on said first end of said first axle and a second wheel rotatably mounted on said second end of said first axle, wherein said first axle can be inserted into said slot(s) with said wheels in any of two or more different positions. 9. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 8, wherein said first axle comprises a single rod having collinear ends and a central portion comprising a bent portion of said rod that extends radially away from said first axle. 10. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 9, wherein said one or more slots comprise a plurality of slots and said central portion of said first axle is connectable to any of said slots to thereby locate said first and second wheels at different positions. 11. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 10, wherein said plurality of slots comprises three slots that are vertically offset from each other. 12. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 10, wherein said slots include an axle retention feature that retains said central portion in said slot. 13. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 8, wherein said one or more slots include a slot in which said first axle can be inserted in either of two configurations, one of which includes said wheels in an operational position and the other of which includes said wheels in a stowed position. 14. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 8, wherein said axle assembly includes at least one second axle connected between one or both of said connecting arms and said base assembly, wherein said connecting arms each have first and second ends with said connecting arms each being connected at its first end to said first axle and being connected at its second end to a said second axle. 15. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 8, wherein said base assembly includes an adjustable belt. 16. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 8, wherein said base assembly is connected to said frame via said axle latch member. 17. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 8, further comprising a telescoping handle attached at said first end of said frame. 18. A scuba tank caddy as defined in claim 8, further comprising a handle attached at said first end of said frame, said handle having an internal compartment and a removable cap that provides access to said compartment. 19. A scuba tank caddy used for storing and transporting a scuba tank, said scuba tank caddy comprising: an elongated support member extending vertically from a first end to a second end; a handle telescopically connected to the support member at said first end; an axle latch member connected to said support member at said second end, wherein said axle latch member has a plurality of slots formed therein; a base assembly connected to said axle latch member, said base assembly including a base plate sized to receive a cylindrical bottom portion of the scuba tank such that, when seated on the base plate, the scuba tank extends upwardly adjacent the support member from the base plate towards the handle; an upper clamp attached to said support member at a location between said first and second ends, said upper clamp constructed to hold an upper portion of the scuba tank close to said support member; a lower clamp located at said base assembly and being constructed to hold a lower portion of the scuba tank; and an axle assembly including a pair of connecting arms that are each pivotally connected to said base assembly, said axle assembly including a first axle pivotally connected to each of said connecting arms and extending therebetween, said first axle having a first end, a second end, and a central portion therebetween that is radially offset with respect to said first and second ends, and said axle assembly including a first wheel rotatably mounted on said first end of said first axle and a second wheel rotatably mounted on said second end of said first axle, wherein said central portion of said first axle can be inserted into any one of said plurality of slots to position said first and second wheels in either a stowed position or in different operational positions.