Tank holder for a vehicle

Abstract

A holder for storing an SCBA tank in a vehicle includes a frame configured to support the SCBA tank in a storage position. A first arm is coupled to the frame for movement about a first pivot point and a second arm is coupled to the frame for movement about a second pivot point The first arm and the second arm are movable between a closed position and an open position, so that the arms restrain the SCBA tank when the arms are in the closed position and permit removal of the SCBA tank when the arms are in the open position. An inertial lock device is coupled to at least one of the arms to prevent removal of the SCBA tank when a predetermined acceleration or deceleration is applied to the arms.

1 . A tank holder for securing a tank in a vehicle, comprising: 
 a pair of curved arms pivotally coupled to each other for movement between a closed position and an open position, wherein a tank is restrainable by the arms in the closed position and is removable from the arms in the open position;    a restraint mechanism coupled to the arms to prevent movement of the arms when a predetermined acceleration or deceleration is applied to the arms.    
   
   
       2 . The tank holder of  claim 1  wherein the restraint mechanism comprises an inertial locking member.  
   
   
       3 . The tank holder of  claim 2  wherein the inertial locking member is spring biased and actuates upon a predetermined acceleration or deceleration.  
   
   
       4 . The tank holder of  claim 1  wherein the curved arms are spring biased toward the closed position.  
   
   
       5 . The tank holder of  claim 1  wherein the curved arms are connected to intermeshing structure so that the arms move substantially simultaneously with each other between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       6 . A vehicle having a holder for securing an SCBA tank, comprising: 
 a frame coupled to an interior portion of a cab of the vehicle;    a pair of curved arms pivotally coupled to the frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, wherein an SCBA tank is restrainable by the arms in the closed position and is removable from the arms in the open position;    a restraint mechanism coupled to the arms to prevent movement of the arms when a predetermined acceleration or deceleration is applied to the arms.    
   
   
       7 . The tank holder of  claim 6  wherein the restraint mechanism comprises an inertial locking member.  
   
   
       8 . The tank holder of  claim 7  wherein the inertial locking member is spring biased and actuates upon a predetermined acceleration or deceleration.  
   
   
       9 . The tank holder of  claim 6  wherein the curved arms are spring biased toward the closed position.  
   
   
       10 . The tank holder of  claim 6  wherein the curved arms are connected to intermeshing structure so that the arms move substantially simultaneously with each other between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       11 . A holder for securing a tank in a vehicle, comprising: 
 a frame configured to support the tank;    a first arm pivotally coupled to the frame for movement about a first axis;    a second arm pivotally coupled to the frame for movement about a second axis;    the first arm and the second arm operable to restrain the tank when the arms are in a closed position;    the first arm and the second arm operable to permit removal of the tank when the arms are in an open position, and    a spring-biased auto-locking device having an inertial lock member coupled to at least one of the arms to prevent removal of the tank when a predetermined acceleration or deceleration is applied to the arms.    
   
   
       12 . The tank holder of  claim 11  wherein the first axis and the second axis are substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       13 . The tank holder of  claim 12  wherein the first axis and the second axis are substantially parallel to a center axis of the tank.  
   
   
       14 . The tank holder of  claim 11  wherein the arms are spring biased toward the closed position.  
   
   
       15 . The tank holder of  claim 11  wherein the first arm and the second arm are connected to intermeshing structure so that the first arm and the second arm move substantially simultaneously with each other between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       16 . A holder for storing an SCBA tank in a vehicle, comprising: 
 a frame configured to support the SCBA tank in a storage position;    a first arm coupled to the frame for movement about a first pivot point;    a second arm coupled to the frame for movement about a second pivot point;    wherein the first arm and the second arm are movable between a closed position and an open position, so that the arms are configured to restrain the SCBA tank when the arms are in the closed position and to permit removal of the SCBA tank when the arms are in the open position;    an inertial lock device coupled to at least one of the arms to prevent removal of the SCBA tank when a predetermined acceleration or deceleration is applied to the arms.    
   
   
       17 . The tank holder of  claim 16  wherein the first arm and the second arm each comprise a front end portion, and the front end portions move toward one another as the arms move toward the closed position, and the front end portions move away from one another as the arms move toward the open position.  
   
   
       18 . The tank holder of  claim 17  wherein the front end portions are offset from a center axis of the SCBA tank toward a front of the tank.  
   
   
       19 . The tank holder of  claim 18  wherein the first pivot point and the second pivot point defines axes of rotation for the first arm and the second arm, and the axes of rotation are offset from the center axis of the SCBA tank toward a rear of the SCBA tank.  
   
   
       20 . The tank holder of  claim 16  wherein at least one of the first arm and the second arm is spring biased toward the closed position.