Encapsulating device for gas cylinder

Claim 1

An encapsulating device for a gas cylinder having a valve and gauge assembly thereon for use with emergency medical equipment, said encapsulating device comprises an open cage assembly to enclose and protect the gas cylinder and valve and guage assembly, said open cage assembly comprises a protective ring disposed adjacent the valve and gauge assembly and a base to support the gas cylinder held in fixed spaced relation relative to each other by a plurality of legs extending therebetween to permit operation of the gas cylinder while within said encapsulating device, a first retainer means comprising an elongated flexible spring member movable between a first and second position attached to the upper portion of one of said legs wherein the lower portion of said spring member is disposed to engage the upper portion of the gas cylinder when in said first position to secure the gas cylinder device in said encapsulating device and to disengage the upper portion of the gas cylinder when in said second position to permit removal of the gas cylinder from said encapsulating device, a second retainer means to retain the gas cylinder within said open cage assembly comprising a retainer ring disposed to surround the gas cylinder at the mid portion thereof and a holding means to fixedly engage the gas cylinder for retention thereof in said encapsulating device, said protective ring being at least twice the diameter of said base such that said legs extending therebetween follow the natural anatomical contour of the patient's legs when in use, said encapsulating device further comprising an attachment means fixedly attached to said retainer ring for the removable attachment of said encapsulating device to the wall of a structure for storage.