PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER FOR PRESSURIZED GAS

Abstract

A protection device for a container for pressurized gas comprises a main body which is configured so as to at least partially close a valve body of the container and a coupling element being rotatably connected to the main body. The main body comprises an abutment element which extends in the direction away from the main body, the abutment element being configured in such a manner that, when the coupling element is in an open configuration, a receiving cavity is defined between the abutment element and the arms and is configured to receive a bar-shaped element.

Claims

1. A protection device for a container for pressurized gas, comprising a valve body which is provided for dispensing the gas which is contained in the container, the protection device comprising a main body which is configured so as to at least partially close the valve body and a coupling element comprising a pair of arms, the coupling element being rotatably connected to the main body about a rotation axis so as to be positioned in two different configurations, a first closed configuration, in which the arms are directed towards the valve body and/or the pressurized container, and a second open configuration, in which the arms are in a remote position with respect to the main body, the protection device being characterized in that the main body comprises an abutment element which extends in the direction away from the main body, the abutment is element being configured in such a manner that, when the coupling element is in an open configuration, a receiving cavity is defined between the abutment element and the arms and is configured to receive a bar-shaped element, having a circular or oval or rectangular cross-section or with a regular polygon shape, in such a manner that the bar-shaped element is in contact with both the abutment element and the arms.

2. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the abutment element comprises an abutment surface which has a curved surface.

3. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the curved surface defines a center of curvature, the center of curvature of the curved surface being located on a straight line parallel with the rotation axis.

4. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the curved surface has concavity which is directed towards the coupling element.

5. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the abutment surface extends over an angle () less than 90.

6. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the arms define an additional abutment surface which extends along a circumferential arc.

7. The protection device according to claim 6, wherein the additional abutment surface has a center of curvature which is located on an additional straight line parallel with the rotation axis.

8. The protection device according to claim 6, wherein the additional abutment surface extends over an angle () less than 90.

9. The protection device according to claim 6, wherein the abutment surface and the additional abutment surface have the same curvature.

10. The protection device according to claim 9, wherein the abutment surface and the additional abutment surface define respective centers of curvature, the centers of curvature being located on straight lines parallel with the rotation axis.

11. The protection device according to claim 6, wherein the arms comprise a shock-absorbing coating which defines the additional abutment surface.

12. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the arms in the closed configuration define a lower edge of the protection device, the lower edge extending along a circumferential arc in continuation of a retention collar which is defined by the main body and which is configured so as to block the protection device on the container.

13. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises an opening which is intended to receive an end of the abutment element.

14. The protection device according to claim 13, wherein the opening is a through-opening.

15. The protection device according to claim 13, wherein the coupling element comprises a tapered portion which tapers in the direction towards the opening.

16. The protection device according to claim 15, wherein the tapered portion defines a surface which is conjugate to the abutment surface.

17. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element, when in the closed configuration, is arranged so as to at least partially cover the abutment element.

18. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a handle.

19. The protection device according to claim 18, wherein the handle is arranged in a position which, during use, is directed upwards.

20. The protection device according to claim 18, wherein the coupling element and the abutment element are arranged in a position vertically opposite the handle.

21. The protection device according to claim 12, wherein the retention collar, together with the arms, defines a closed ring which is configured to extend about a main axis of the container.

22. The protection device according to claim 12, wherein the retention collar has a lower notch in the region of which the arms can be received in a closed configuration.

Description

[0046] The features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from the detailed description of a number of embodiments thereof which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for gas, in which the protection device according to the present invention is installed, while it is positioned on a tubular element;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a side view of the container with the protection device of FIG. 1 when it is supported on the tubular element;

[0049] FIGS. 3 and 4 are two perspective sectioned views which illustrate the protection device with a coupling element in an open configuration and a closed configuration, respectively; and

[0050] FIG. 5 is a side view of the protection device of the present invention which illustrates the movement of the coupling element between the closed configuration and the open configuration. Initially with reference to FIG. 1, a protection device according to the present invention is generally designated 100.

[0051] As may be observed in FIG. 1, the protection device 100 is intended to be used in a container for pressurized gas, for example, a bottle B.

[0052] The bottle comprises a valve body V which is covered by the protection device 100 and which is only schematically indicated in FIG. 1.

[0053] The protection device 100 comprises a main body 1 which is preferably configured so as to close the valve body V. There may be provided openings which are not illustrated in the Figures and which are constructed so as to be able to afford access to a control handwheel for dispensing the gas, in order to afford access to connectors for filling the container and for connection to potential supply means or for making optional indicators of the state of the container visible from the exterior, such as, for example, the pressure of the gas present therein, where applicable in the form of a digital display.

[0054] In preferred embodiments, the main body further comprises a handle 12 which allows the bottle B to be gripped using a single hand and, in any case, in a secure manner.

[0055] The handle 12 can be arranged in a vertically higher position than the protection device 100.

[0056] It will be appreciated that, in the context of the present invention, the vertical direction and particularly the upward and downward directions are unambiguously defined by the characteristics of the container. For example, in the case of a cylindrical bottle, the vertical direction is defined by the axis of the bottle and the upward and downward directions are indicated by the attachment for the valve body V and the base of the bottle itself, respectively.

[0057] In any case, it is evident that a person skilled in the art will be able to unambiguously recognize these directions for each type of container.

[0058] Still with reference to FIG. 1, the protection device 100 further comprises a coupling element 2 which is configured so as to engage with the protection device, together with the bottle B on a bar-shaped element T. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, this bar-shaped element is defined by a tubular member which may form a portion of a frame of a hospital bed. In any case, it is evident that other arrangements may be provided for the device according to the present invention and the use in hospital beds must not be considered to be limiting. Furthermore, the tubular member described in the present embodiment has a circular cross-section but it will be understood that the invention may also be used in the case of cross-sections with different shapes, such as an oval cross-section, rectangular cross-section, with a regular polygonal shape, that is to say, a convex polygon with all the sides of an equal size and all the angles of an equal magnitude, or also with an irregular shape.

[0059] As can better be observed in FIG. 5, the coupling element 2 is rotatably connected to the main body 1 about a rotation axis X so as to be positioned in two different configurations, a first closed configuration which is illustrated in the Figure with a solid line and a second open configuration which is instead illustrated with broken lines.

[0060] As can be seen in the Figure, the coupling element 2 can be moved from the open configuration to the closed configuration by means of a rotation in a downward direction.

[0061] Advantageously, this can be carried out with a rotation about an angle less than 90. Preferably, the angle is less than 90 and greater than or equal to 70, preferably less than 90 and greater than or equal to 80, preferably less than 90 and greater than or equal to 85.

[0062] It is known that a small rotation angle is advantageous because it simplifies the movement of the coupling element and reduces the risks of damage during the rotation.

[0063] The two rotation limit positions, which define the closed configuration and open configuration, respectively, can be defined by means of abutment between the main body 1 and the coupling element 2.

[0064] Again with reference to FIG. 1, the coupling element 2 comprises a pair of arms 20 which allow support on the bar-shaped element T, as can be observed in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0065] In order to improve the contact with the bar-shaped element, in some embodiments there is provision for the arms 20 to comprise a shock-absorbing coating 22 which defines an abutment surface 21, in the region of which the contact between the arms 20 and element T is brought about.

[0066] As may be observed in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the first closed configuration, the arms 20 are directed towards the valve body V and the pressurized container while, in the second open configuration, the arms 20 are in a remote position with respect to the main body 1.

[0067] As can better be seen by means of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the arms 20, when they are in the closed configuration, advantageously define a lower edge of the protection device 1.

[0068] The lower edge extends along a circumferential arc in continuation of a retention collar 13 which is defined by the main body 1 and which is used to block the protection device 1 on the container B. The retention collar may have a lower notch, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the region of which the arms 20 can be received in the closed configuration.

[0069] In some embodiments, the retention collar 13, together with the arms 20, define a closed ring which is configured to extend about the main axis of the bottle B. Typically, the bottle B is provided with a neck, on which the valve body V is mounted and the collar is mounted so as to extend about the neck of the bottle.

[0070] In order to carry out the mounting of the protection device on the bottle, there may be provision for the main body 1 to be formed by two half-shells 1A which are joined in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis X.

[0071] It will further be appreciated that the extent of the arms 20 along this perimeter may be less than half of the perimeter of the ring.

[0072] Now with reference again to FIG. 1, the main body 1 advantageously comprises an abutment element 10 which extends in the direction away from the main body 1 and is preferably rigidly fixed thereto. For example, the abutment element 10 can be formed in one piece with the main body 1, where applicable also divided into two portions which are each fixedly joined to the two half-shells 1A.

[0073] As may also be observed in FIG. 2, the abutment element 10 is formed and arranged in such a position that, when the coupling element 2 is in an open configuration, there is defined between the abutment element 10 and the arms 20 a receiving cavity 3 which is configured to receive the bar-shaped element T.

[0074] In other words, when the cavity 3 defined in this manner is configured so that, when the protection device 100 is supported on the element T, it is in contact both with the abutment element 10 and with the arms 20. Therefore, both the elements contribute to the positioning of the bottle B.

[0075] As may be observed in the embodiment of FIG. 5, in some embodiments the coupling element 2, when in the closed configuration, is arranged so as to cover the abutment element 10.

[0076] Advantageously, the rotation axis X of the coupling element 2 can be arranged in a position which is, during use, vertically higher with respect to the abutment element 10.

[0077] According to another aspect, the abutment element 10 may have a wedge-like shape so as to define a notch in a downward direction of the protection device 100, thereby defining an abutment surface 11 which is directed downwards and which is therefore suitable for coming into contact with the element T.

[0078] Now also with reference to FIG. 3, in some embodiments the abutment surface 11 of the abutment element 10 has a curved surface with a centre of curvature which is preferably located on a straight line parallel with the rotation axis X. The curved surface preferably has a concavity which is directed towards the coupling element, as clearly shown in the same FIG. 3.

[0079] Similarly, the additional abutment surface 21 which is defined by the arms 20 can also extend along a circumferential arc with a centre of curvature located on an additional straight line which is still parallel with the rotation axis X. This configuration is particularly advantageous if the element T has a cross-section which is circular.

[0080] In preferred embodiments, the abutment surface 11 of the abutment element extends over an angle less than 90.

[0081] Similarly, the additional abutment surface 21 of the arms 20 can also extend over an angle less than 90.

[0082] In some embodiments, the abutment surface and the additional abutment surface may have the same curvature, with centres of curvature located on straight lines parallel with the rotation axis X. In this manner, if the coupling element is located in such a position that the centre of curvature of the additional abutment surface coincides with the centre of curvature of the abutment surface, and therefore the two straight lines which are parallel with the rotation axis X are coincident, a tubular structure with a circular cross-section can be received in a stable manner, preferably with a radius which substantially corresponds to the radius of the abutment surfaces.

[0083] Still with reference to FIG. 3, the coupling element 2 can further comprise an opening 23, preferably a through-opening, which is intended to receive an end 14 of the abutment element 10, as can better be seen in the closed configuration illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0084] The opening 23 can also be formed as a shaped open recess, which is defined in the region of an edge of the coupling element 2, as an alternative to the opening with a closed contour used in the embodiments illustrated in the Figures.

[0085] Still with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments the coupling element 2 comprises a tapered portion 24 which tapers in the direction towards the opening 23. Preferably, the tapered portion 24 has a complementary shape with respect to the abutment element 10 and, to this end, can define a surface which is conjugate to the abutment surface 11.

[0086] Consequently, as may be observed in FIG. 4, the coupling element 2 can completely cover the abutment element 10 when in the closed configuration. Furthermore, when the coupling element 2 is in the closed configuration, no projecting portions are present and the coupling device 2 and the abutment element 10 are kept within the overall spatial requirement of the main body 1.

[0087] Therefore, it will be appreciated that the protection device according to the present invention allows a bottle to be coupled to the structure of a hospital bed or to similar elements with a simple and robust solution.

[0088] There is further ensured a high level of stability of the bottle when it is coupled in various configurations of the bar-shaped element to which the abutment element is coupled, as abutment element and arms can cooperate by adapting to various forms and dimensions of the element to which the bottle is coupled.