US-12624803-B2 - Handle assembly for a portable pressurized gas cylinder

Abstract

Provided is a handle assembly for a cylinder. The handle assembly includes a handle support configured to couple to a valve of the cylinder. The handle support includes a body having first and second ends circumferentially spaced from one another to define a gap and a longitudinal passage opening to a top and bottom of the body for receiving the valve, and first and second deflectable arms projecting from the body. The handle assembly also includes a handle rotatably coupled to the handle support. The handle including a top portion, first and second side portions, and an attachment member coupled to the first and second deflectable arms of the handle.

Inventors

• Carlos Aguiar
• Filipe Pedrosa
• TIAGO Teixeira Rego de OLIVEIRA

Assignees

• AMTROL LICENSING INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240912

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A portable cylinder for filling a balloon, the portable cylinder comprising: a tank having a valve port; a valve coupled to the valve port, the valve including a handle and an outlet port; a nozzle coupled to the outlet port, the nozzle configured to receive the balloon; and a handle assembly including a handle support coupled to the valve and a handle coupled to the handle support, the handle support including a body having first and second ends circumferentially spaced from one another to define a gap and a longitudinal passage opening to a top and bottom of the body for receiving the valve, and first and second deflectable arms projecting from the body.
2. 2 . The portable cylinder according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second deflectable arms are laterally spaced from one another on opposite sides of the gap.
3. 3 . The portable cylinder according to claim 1 , wherein the body additionally includes an opening that opens to the longitudinal passage through which the outlet port of the valve extends.
4. 4 . The portable cylinder according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second deflectable arms each include an inner arm member and an outer arm member laterally spaced from one another.
5. 5 . The portable cylinder according to claim 4 , wherein each inner and outer arm member includes a slot opening to a bottom of the handle support.
6. 6 . The portable cylinder according to claim 5 , wherein the handle includes a grip area for a user to grasp and an attachment member coupled to the first and second deflectable arms of the handle support.
7. 7 . The portable cylinder according to claim 6 , wherein the attachment member includes a plurality of laterally spaced projections projecting radially outwardly from the attachment member and a spacer on each side of each of the plurality of projections.
8. 8 . The portable cylinder according to claim 7 , wherein each spacer is configured to be received in one of the slots via a snap connection to couple the attachment member to the handle support.
9. 9 . The portable cylinder according to claim 8 , wherein each pair of inner and outer arm members defines a cavity therebetween for receiving one of the plurality of laterally spaced projections.
10. 10 . The portable cylinder according to claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of laterally spaced projections is received between the inner arm members.
11. 11 . The portable cylinder according to claim 1 , wherein the handle and handle support are polymeric.
12. 12 . A portable cylinder for filling a balloon, the portable cylinder comprising: a tank having a valve port; a valve coupled to the valve port, the valve including a handle and an outlet port; a nozzle coupled to the outlet port, the nozzle configured to receive the balloon; and a handle assembly including: a handle support coupled to the valve, the handle support including a body having first and second ends circumferentially spaced from one another to define a gap, and first and second deflectable arms projecting from the body, and a handle rotatably coupled to the handle support, the handle including an attachment member coupled to the first and second deflectable arms of the handle support.
13. 13 . The portable cylinder according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second deflectable arms are laterally spaced from one another on opposite sides of the gap.
14. 14 . The portable cylinder according to claim 12 , wherein the body additionally includes an opening that opens to the longitudinal passage through which the outlet port of the valve extends.
15. 15 . The portable cylinder according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second deflectable arms each include an inner arm member and an outer arm member laterally spaced from one another.
16. 16 . The portable cylinder according to claim 15 , wherein each inner and outer arm member includes a slot opening to a bottom of the handle support.
17. 17 . The portable cylinder according to claim 12 , wherein the attachment member includes a plurality of laterally spaced projections projecting radially outwardly from the attachment member and a spacer on each side of each of the plurality of projections.
18. 18 . The portable cylinder according to claim 17 , wherein each spacer is configured to be received in one of the slots via a snap connection to couple the attachment member to the handle.
19. 19 . A portable cylinder for filling a balloon, the portable cylinder comprising: a tank having a valve port; a valve coupled to the valve port, the valve including a handle and an outlet port; a nozzle coupled to the outlet port, the nozzle configured to receive the balloon; and a handle assembly including a handle support coupled to the valve and a handle coupled to the handle support, the handle support including a body and first and second deflectable arms projecting from the body, each of the first and second deflectable arms including an inner arm member and an outer arm member laterally spaced from one another.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/678,331 filed Feb. 23, 2022, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD In general, the present invention relates to a portable pressurized gas cylinder, and in particular to a handle assembly for a portable pressurized gas cylinder. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A pressure tank containing a pressurized gas, a shutoff valve, and a tilt valve can be used for filling balloons. The tank is used to store a gas under a pressure, and the tank, the shutoff valve, and the tilt valve are placed in fluid communication with one another. The gas passes from the tank, through the shut off valve, through the tilt valve, and into the balloon in an effort to establish pressure equilibrium. The pressure tank and the shutoff valve can be of unitary construction. The shutoff valve generally provides a measure of safety that ensures that the pressurized gas inside the tank does not leak out unwantedly or is not dispensed inadvertently or accidentally. For example, the shutoff valve is typically closed to prevent the loss of gas when the device is being stored or transported or when the device is not being used to fill balloons. The tilt valve is placed in fluid communication with the shutoff valve by threading the tilt valve onto a mating threaded outlet port of the shutoff valve, the shutoff valve and the tilt valve having corresponding male and female threads, respectively. To fill a balloon, a consumer opens the shutoff valve, slides the neck of the balloon over the end of the tilt valve and presses against the side of the tilt valve, opening the tilt valve, transferring a portion of the pressurized gas stored in the pressure tank into the balloon to expand the balloon. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an embodiment of the present application, a handle assembly for a cylinder is provided. The handle assembly includes a handle support configured to couple to a valve of the cylinder, the handle support including a body having first and second ends circumferentially spaced from one another to define a gap and a longitudinal passage opening to a top and bottom of the body for receiving the valve, and first and second deflectable arms projecting from the body, and a handle rotatably coupled to the handle support, the handle including a top portion, first and second side portions, and an attachment member coupled to the first and second deflectable arms of the handle. In accordance with another embodiment of the present application, a portable cylinder for filling a balloon is provided. The portable cylinder includes a tank having a valve port, a valve coupled to the valve port, the valve including a handle and an outlet port, a nozzle coupled to the outlet port, the nozzle configured to receive the balloon, and a handle assembly including a handle support coupled to the valve and a handle coupled to the handle support. In accordance with still another embodiment of the present application, a handle assembly for a cylinder is provided. The handle assembly includes a handle support configured to couple to a valve of the cylinder, the handle support including a body having first and second ends circumferentially spaced from one another to define a gap and a longitudinal passage opening to a top and bottom of the body for receiving the valve, and first and second deflectable arms projecting from the body, each deflectable arm including an inner arm member and an outer arm member laterally spaced from one another, and each inner and outer arm member including a slot opening to a bottom of the handle support, and a handle rotatably coupled to the handle support, the handle including a grip area and an attachment member including a plurality of laterally spaced projections projecting radially outwardly from the attachment member and a spacer on each side of each of the plurality of projections, each spacer being received in one of the slots via a snap connection to couple the attachment member to the handle. These and other objects of this application will be evident when viewed in light of the drawings, detailed description and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view an exemplary portable cylinder. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the portable cylinder. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handle of a handle assembly. FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the handle. FIG. 5 is still another perspective view of the handle. FIG. 6 is a front view of the handle. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a handle support of the handle assembly. FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the handle support. FIG. 9 is still another perspective vi