Air bottle carrier

Abstract

An air bottle carrier for use primarily by fire fighters includes square top and bottom frames, the corners of which are interconnected by hinges so that the frames can be moved between collapsed and erect conditions; support bars in the bottom frame for supporting the hemispherical bottom ends of air bottles, and crossbars in the top frame defining sleeves for slidably receiving and supporting the sides of air bottles. Bolts and internally threaded knobs are used to lock the frames in the collapsed or erect condition.

1 . An air bottle carrier comprising a rectangular bottom frame; support bars in said bottom frame; pockets in top edges of said support bars for receiving hemispherical bottom ends of air bottles; a rectangular top frame for resting on said bottom frame in a collapsed condition of the carrier; crossbars in said top frame defining sleeves for supporting sides of air bottles; hinges interconnecting the corners of the bottom frame to the corners of the top frame; and stops for limiting movement of the hinges when the carrier is an erect, use condition.  
   
   
       2 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom frame is square and includes a pair of parallel sides and a pair of parallel ends, said support bars extending diagonally between said sides and ends.  
   
   
       3 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 2 , wherein said top frame is square having the same length and width as the bottom frame, and said top frame includes a pair of parallel sides and a pair of parallel ends, said crossbars being parallel to said sides and ends of the top frame for defining square bottle receiving sleeves.  
   
   
       4 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the sides of said bottom frame extend beyond the ends of the bottom frame to define hinge stops at the corners of the bottom frame.  
   
   
       5 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 4 , wherein each said hinge includes an upper arm having one end pivotally connected to said top frame proximate a corner thereof; a lower arm having one end pivotally connected to a second end of said upper arm, and a second end pivotally connected to said bottom frame proximate a corner thereof, and a flange on one said arm for abutting the other said arm in the erect condition of the carrier for maintaining said arms vertical.  
   
   
       6 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 5 , including a bolt connecting said one end of the lower arm to said second end of the upper arm, and an internally threaded knob on said bolt for locking said arms together in the collapsed or erect condition of the carrier.  
   
   
       7 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 1 , wherein each said hinge includes an upper arm having one end pivotally connected to said top frame proximate a corner thereof; a lower arm having one end pivotally connected to a second end of said upper arm, and a second end pivotally connected to said bottom frame proximate a corner thereof; a first bolt connecting said one end of the lower arm to said second end of the upper arm; an arcuate slot in said upper arm proximate said second end thereof; a second bolt extending through said one end of said lower arm above said first bolt in an erect position of the carrier for sliding into said slot when the carrier is erected; and a knob on said second bolt for locking the arms together in the erect condition of the carrier.  
   
   
       8 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 7 , including a pair of stops extending outwardly from the ends of the bottom frame proximate each corner of said bottom frame for limiting movement of the hinges when the carrier is in the collapsed or erect condition.  
   
   
       9 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 1  including a plurality of casters on said bottom frame; and an elongated handle releasably connectable to said carrier for moving the carrier along a surface.  
   
   
       10 . The air bottle carrier of  claim 9  including a lug extending outwardly from at least one end of said bottom frame having an opening for receiving a bottom end of said handle.