US2009272666A1PendingUtilityA1
Tank tote

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 2, 2008Filed: May 2, 2008Published: Nov 5, 2009
Est. expiryMay 2, 2028(~1.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Eric P. Marcel
B65D 88/127B65D 88/126B65D 77/0453B65D 88/129B65D 90/0033
PatentIndex Score
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References
Claims
Abstract

Embodiments provide a tank tote including a base, a tank floor defined by the base, the tank floor being suitable to support a plurality of tanks, and a frame joined to the base, the frame including a plurality of sides extending up from the base, the plurality of sides including a first side spaced from a second side, the frame including a front divider, cooperation of the front divider with the first side defining a first front tank compartment suitable to receive a first tank, cooperation of the front divider with the second side defining a second front tank compartment suitable to receive a second tank, the first front tank compartment being accessible through a first front access portal, the second front tank compartment being accessible through a second front access portal, the frame including a front gate selectively movable relative to a closed position, the front gate in the closed position preventing passage of the first tank through the first front access portal and preventing passage of the second tank through the second front access portal.
Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A tank tote adapted to rest on an external support, the tank tote comprising:
 a base adapted to rest on the external support;   a tank floor defined by the base, the tank floor being suitable to support a plurality of tanks; and   a frame joined to the base, the frame including a plurality of sides extending up from the base in a vertical direction, the plurality of sides defining an enclosure above the tank floor, the plurality of sides including a first side spaced from a second side, the frame including a front divider, the front divider being spaced from the first side, cooperation of the front divider with the first side defining a first front tank compartment suitable to receive a first tank, the front divider being spaced from the second side, cooperation of the front divider with the second side defining a second front tank compartment suitable to receive a second tank, the front divider separating the first front tank compartment from the second front tank compartment, the first front tank compartment being accessible through a first front access portal, the second front tank compartment being accessible through a second front access portal, the front divider separating the first front access portal from the second front access portal, the frame including a front gate selectively movable relative to a closed position, the front gate in the closed position preventing passage of the first tank through the first front access portal, the front gate in the closed position preventing passage of the second tank through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       2 . A tank tote according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 the front gate in the closed position cooperating with the front divider, the front gate in the closed position cooperating with the first side, the front gate in the closed position cooperating with the second side, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider and with the first side preventing movement of the first tank through the first front access portal, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider and with the second side preventing movement of the second tank through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       3 . A tank tote according to  claim 2  and further comprising:
 the base having a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above, the periphery including a spaced pair of ends extending in parallel relationship, the periphery including a front edge extending between the ends in perpendicular relationship thereto, the periphery including a rear edge extending between the ends in spaced parallel relationship to the front edge, the base having a center, the center being equidistant from the pair of ends, the center being equidistant from the front edge and the rear edge;   the first side being spaced from the second side in parallel relation thereto, the first side extending in the vertical direction above a first one of the end members, the second side extending in the vertical direction above a second one of the end members, the front divider being intermediate the first side and the second side, the front divider extending from the front edge toward the center in parallel relationship to the first side and the second side, the first front access portal being adjacent and the second front access portal above the front edge;   the front gate in the closed position being above the front edge, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider and with the first side preventing movement of the first tank across the front edge through the first front access portal, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider and with the second side preventing movement of the second tank across the front edge through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       4 . A tank tote according to  claim 3  and further comprising:
 the frame including a rear divider, the rear divider being spaced from the first side, cooperation of the rear divider with the first side defining a first rear tank compartment suitable to receive a third tank, the rear divider being spaced from the second side, cooperation of the rear divider with the second side defining a second rear tank compartment suitable to receive a fourth tank, the rear divider separating the first rear tank compartment from the second rear tank compartment, the first rear tank compartment being accessible through a first rear access portal, the second rear tank compartment being accessible through a second rear access portal, the rear divider separating the first rear access portal from the second rear access portal, the frame including a rear gate selectively movable relative to a closed position, the rear gate in the closed position preventing passage of the third tank through the first rear access portal, the rear gate in the closed position preventing passage of the fourth tank through the second rear access portal.   
   
   
       5 . A tank tote according to  claim 4  and further comprising:
 the rear gate in the closed position cooperating with the rear divider, the rear gate in the closed position cooperating with the first side, the rear gate in the closed position cooperating with the second side, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider and with the first side preventing movement of the third tank through the first rear access portal, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider and with the second side preventing movement of the fourth tank through the second rear access portal.   
   
   
       6 . A tank tote according to  claim 5  and further comprising:
 the rear divider being intermediate the first side and the second side, the rear divider extending from the rear edge toward the center in parallel relationship to the first side and the second side, the first rear access portal being adjacent and the second rear access portal above the rear edge;   the rear gate in the closed position being above the rear edge, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider and with the first side preventing movement of the third tank across the rear edge through the first rear access portal, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider and with the second side preventing movement of the fourth tank across the rear edge through the second rear access portal.   
   
   
       7 . A tank tote according to  claim 6  and further comprising:
 a first front-rear divider extending from the first end toward the center in perpendicular relation to the front divider and the rear divider, the first front-rear divider separating the first front tank compartment from the first rear tank compartment;   a second front-rear divider extending from the second end toward the center in perpendicular relation to the front divider and the rear divider, the second front-rear divider separating the second front tank compartment from the second rear tank compartment.   
   
   
       8 . A tank tote according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 the tank floor including a plurality of discrete floor sections, each floor section being defined by a respective upper surface of the base.   
   
   
       9 . A tank tote according to  claim 2  and further comprising:
 the front gate including a front gate panel supported for pivotal movement about a front gate pivot axis, the front gate panel being selectively pivotably movable about the front gate pivot axis relative to the closed position, in the closed position cooperation of the front gate panel with the front divider and with the first side preventing movement of the first tank through the first front access portal, in the closed position cooperation of the front gate panel with the front divider and with the second side preventing movement of the second tank through the second front access portal, the front gate panel being selectively pivotably movable about the front gate pivot axis between the closed position and an open position, in the open position the front gate panel being spaced apart from the front divider to permit movement of the first tank through the first front access portal and to permit movement of the second tank through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       10 . A tank tote according to  claim 9  and further comprising:
 the front gate including at least one hinge supporting the front gate panel for pivotal movement about the front gate pivot axis, the at least one hinge defining the front gate pivot axis, the at least one hinge being supported by one of the first side and the second side, the front gate including a latch suitable to retain the front gate panel in the closed position.   
   
   
       11 . A tank tote according to  claim 2  and further comprising:
 the front gate including front gate support apparatus suitable to retain a front gate panel in the closed position, the front gate support apparatus being suitable to support the front gate panel to be removed from the closed position, the front gate panel when removed from the closed position being in a removed condition, in the removed condition the front gate panel being separated from the front divider, the first side and the second side to permit movement of the first tank through the first front access portal and to permit movement of the second tank through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       12 . A tank tote according to  claim 11  and further comprising:
 the front gate support apparatus including at least one retaining member affixed to one of the front gate panel, the base, the front divider, the first side and the second side, the at least one retaining member being suitable to retain the front gate panel in the closed position, the at least one retaining member being suitable to selectively release the front gate panel from the closed position.   
   
   
       13 . A tank tote according to  claim 5  and further comprising:
 the rear gate including a rear gate panel supported for pivotal movement about a rear gate pivot axis, the rear gate panel being selectively pivotably movable about the rear gate pivot axis relative to the closed position, in the closed position cooperation of the rear gate panel with the rear divider and with the first side preventing movement of the third tank through the first rear access portal, in the closed position cooperation of the rear gate panel with the rear divider and with the second side preventing movement of the fourth tank through the second rear access portal, the rear gate panel being selectively pivotably movable about the rear gate pivot axis between the closed position and an open position, in the open position the rear gate panel being spaced apart from the rear divider to permit movement of the third tank through the first rear access portal and to permit movement of the fourth tank through the second rear access portal.   
   
   
       14 . A tank tote according to  claim 13  and further comprising:
 the rear gate including at least one hinge supporting the rear gate panel for pivotal movement about the rear gate pivot axis, the at least one hinge defining the rear gate pivot axis, the at least one hinge being supported by one of the first side and the second side, the rear gate including a latch suitable to retain the rear gate panel in the closed position.   
   
   
       15 . A tank tote according to  claim 5  and further comprising:
 the rear gate including rear gate support apparatus suitable to retain a rear gate panel in the closed position, the rear gate support apparatus being suitable to support the rear gate panel to be removed from the closed position, the rear gate panel when removed from the closed position being in a removed condition, in the removed condition the rear gate panel being separated from the rear divider, the first side and the second side to permit movement of the third tank through the first rear access portal and to permit movement of the fourth tank through the second rear access portal.   
   
   
       16 . A tank tote according to  claim 15  and further comprising:
 the rear gate support apparatus including at least one retaining member affixed to one of the rear gate panel, the base, the rear divider, the first side and the second side, the at least one retaining member being suitable to retain the rear gate panel in the closed position, the at least one retaining member being suitable to selectively release the rear gate panel from the closed position.   
   
   
       17 . A tank tote adapted to rest on an external support, the tank tote comprising:
 a base adapted to rest on the external support, the base having a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above, the periphery including a spaced pair of ends extending in parallel relationship, the periphery including a front edge extending between the ends in perpendicular relationship thereto, the periphery including a rear edge extending between the ends in spaced parallel relationship to the front edge, the base having a center, the center being equidistant from the pair of ends, the center being equidistant from the front edge and the rear edge;   a tank floor defined by the base, the tank floor being suitable to support a plurality of tanks; and   a frame joined to the base, the frame including a plurality of sides extending up from the base in a vertical direction, the plurality of sides defining an enclosure above the tank floor, the plurality of sides including a first side spaced from a second side, the first side being spaced from the second side in parallel relation thereto, the first side extending in the vertical direction above a first one of the end members, the second side extending in the vertical direction above a second one of the end members, the frame including a front divider, the front divider being spaced from the first side, the front divider being intermediate the first side and the second side, the front divider extending from the front edge toward the center in parallel relationship to the first side and the second side, the first front access portal being adjacent the second front access portal above the front edge, cooperation of the front divider with the first side defining a first front tank compartment suitable to receive a first tank, the front divider being spaced from the second side, cooperation of the front divider with the second side defining a second front tank compartment suitable to receive a second tank, the front divider separating the first front tank compartment from the second front tank compartment, the first front tank compartment being accessible through a first front access portal, the second front tank compartment being accessible through a second front access portal, the front divider separating the first front access portal from the second front access portal, the frame including a front gate selectively movable relative to a closed position, the front gate in the closed position being above the front edge, the front gate in the closed position cooperating with the front divider, the front gate in the closed position cooperating with the first side, the front gate in the closed position cooperating with the second side, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider and with the first side preventing movement of the first tank across the front edge through the first front access portal, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider and with the second side preventing movement of the second tank across the front edge through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       18 . A tank tote according to  claim 17  and further comprising:
 the frame including a rear divider, the rear divider being intermediate the first side and the second side, the rear divider being spaced from the first side, the rear divider extending from the rear edge toward the center in parallel relationship to the first side and the second side, cooperation of the rear divider with the first side defining a first rear tank compartment suitable to receive a third tank, the frame including a first front-rear divider extending from the first end toward the center in perpendicular relation to the front divider and the rear divider, the first front-rear divider separating the first front tank compartment from the first rear tank compartment, the rear divider being spaced from the second side, cooperation of the rear divider with the second side defining a second rear tank compartment suitable to receive a fourth tank, a second front-rear divider extending from the second end toward the center in perpendicular relation to the front divider and the rear divider, the second front-rear divider separating the second front tank compartment from the second rear tank compartment the rear divider separating the first rear tank compartment from the second rear tank compartment, the first rear tank compartment being accessible through a first rear access portal, the second rear tank compartment being accessible through a second rear access portal, the rear divider separating the first rear access portal from the second rear access portal, the first rear access portal being adjacent the second rear access portal above the rear edge, the frame including a rear gate selectively movable relative to a closed position, the rear gate in the closed position being above the rear edge, the rear gate in the closed position cooperating with the rear divider, the rear gate in the closed position cooperating with the first side, the rear gate in the closed position cooperating with the second side, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider and with the first side preventing movement of the third tank across the rear edge through the first rear access portal, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider and with the second side preventing movement of the fourth tank across the rear edge through the second rear access portal.   
   
   
       19 . A tank tote according to  claim 17  and further comprising:
 the tank floor including a plurality of discrete floor sections, each floor section being defined by a respective upper surface of the base.   
   
   
       20 . A tank tote according to  claim 17  and further comprising:
 the front gate including a front gate panel supported for pivotal movement about a front gate pivot axis, the front gate panel being selectively pivotably movable about the front gate pivot axis relative to the closed position, in the closed position cooperation of the front gate panel with the front divider and with the first side preventing movement of the first tank through the first front access portal, in the closed position cooperation of the front gate panel with the front divider and with the second side preventing movement of the second tank through the second front access portal, the front gate panel being selectively pivotably movable about the front gate pivot axis between the closed position and an open position, in the open position the front gate panel being spaced apart from the front divider to permit movement of the first tank through the first front access portal and to permit movement of the second tank through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       21 . A tank tote according to  claim 20  and further comprising:
 the front gate including at least one hinge supporting the front gate panel for pivotal movement about the front gate pivot axis, the at least one hinge defining the front gate pivot axis, the at least one hinge being supported by one of the first side and the second side, the front gate including a latch suitable to retain the front gate panel in the closed position.   
   
   
       22 . A tank tote according to  claim 17  and further comprising:
 the front gate including front gate support apparatus suitable to retain a front gate panel in the closed position, the front gate support apparatus being suitable to support the front gate panel to be removed from the closed position, the front gate panel when removed from the closed position being in a removed condition, in the removed condition the front gate panel being separated from the front divider, the first side and the second side to permit movement of the first tank through the first front access portal and to permit movement of the second tank through the second front access portal.   
   
   
       23 . A tank tote according to  claim 22  and further comprising:
 the front gate support apparatus including at least one retaining member affixed to one of the front gate panel, the base, the front divider, the first side and the second side, the at least one retaining member being suitable to retain the front gate panel in the closed position, the at least one retaining member being suitable to selectively release the front gate panel from the closed position.   
   
   
       24 . A tank tote adapted to rest on an external support, the tank tote comprising:
 a base adapted to rest on the external support, the base having a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above, the periphery including a spaced pair of ends extending in parallel relationship, the periphery including a front edge extending between the ends in perpendicular relationship thereto, the periphery including a rear edge extending between the ends in spaced parallel relationship to the front edge, the base having a center, the center being equidistant from the pair of ends, the center being equidistant from the front edge and the rear edge;   a tank floor defined by the base, the tank floor being suitable to support a plurality of tanks; and   a frame joined to the base, the frame including a vertical center post extending from the center of the base, the vertical center post being joined in integral fixed relationship with the base, the frame defining an enclosure above the tank floor, the enclosure defining four tank compartments arranged in two back-to-back pairs, the pairs including a front pair adjacent the front edge and a rear pair adjacent the rear edge, the front pair including a first front tank compartment suitable to receive a first tank moved across the front edge through a first front access portal, the front pair including a second front tank compartment suitable to receive a second tank moved across the front edge through a second front access portal, the second front tank compartment being adjacent the first front tank compartment, the rear pair including a first rear tank compartment suitable to receive a third tank moved across the rear edge through a first rear access portal, the rear pair including a second rear tank compartment suitable to receive a fourth tank moved across the rear edge through a second rear access portal, the second rear tank compartment being adjacent the first rear tank compartment, the frame including a front divider intermediate the first front tank compartment and the second front tank compartment, the front divider extending from a midpoint of the front edge to the vertical center post in perpendicular relationship to the front edge, the front divider separating the first front access portal from the second front access portal, the frame including a rear divider intermediate the first rear tank compartment and the second rear tank compartment, the rear divider extending from a midpoint of the rear edge to the vertical center post in perpendicular relationship to the rear edge, the rear divider separating the first rear access portal from the second rear access portal, the frame including a first front-rear divider extending from the vertical center post between the first front tank compartment and the first rear tank compartment in perpendicular relation to the front divider and the rear divider, the first front-rear divider separating the first front tank compartment from the first rear tank compartment, the frame including a second front-rear divider extending from the vertical center post between the second front tank compartment and the second rear tank compartment in perpendicular relation to the front divider and the rear divider, the second front-rear divider separating the second front tank compartment from the second rear tank compartment, the frame including a front gate selectively movable relative to a closed position, the front gate in the closed position being above the front edge, the front gate in the closed position cooperating with the front divider, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider preventing movement of the first tank across the front edge through the first front access portal, cooperation of the front gate in the closed position with the front divider preventing movement of the second tank across the front edge through the second front access portal, the frame including a rear gate selectively movable relative to a closed position, the rear gate in the closed position being above the rear edge, the rear gate in the closed position cooperating with the rear divider, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider preventing movement of the third tank across the rear edge through the first rear access portal, cooperation of the rear gate in the closed position with the rear divider preventing movement of the fourth tank across the rear edge through the second rear access portal.
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