BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to vehicles, and more specifically, but not by way of limitation, to apparatuses for mounting tanks, such as, for example, fuel tanks, to vehicles.

2. Description of Related Art

In some instances, it may be desirable to mount a tank, such as, for example, a fuel tank, to a vehicle (e.g., during assembly of the vehicle, when adding a tank to the vehicle, and/or the like). Some existing tank mounts may require a significant amount of time and/or effort to install the tank mount on a vehicle and/or to install a tank on the tank mount.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present apparatuses for mounting a tank to a vehicle comprise: a frame defining a first support, a second support, and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first support and the second support, the tank mount configured to be coupled to a tank, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and a second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the first support is rigid. In some embodiments, the second support is rigid. In some embodiments, the first support comprises a cantilever support. In some embodiments, the second support comprises a cantilever support. In some embodiments, the first support is angularly disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to the second support. In some embodiments, the frame defines an opening between the first support and the second support.

In some embodiments, the frame defines a curved recess configured to correspond to an outer surface of the tank. In some embodiments, no portion of the frame extends laterally beyond the tank in a direction from the second support and towards the tank mount when the tank is coupled to the tank mount. In some embodiments, the frame tapers in a maximum thickness in a direction from the first support and towards the tank mount.

In some embodiments, the at least a portion of the tank mount is defined by the frame in fixed relation relative to the first support and the second support. In some embodiments, the tank mount defines an opening configured to surround a neck of the tank. In some embodiments, the tank mount is configured to retain the tank relative to the frame independently of the position of the frame relative to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the tank mount is configured to retain the tank relative to the frame such that a longitudinal axis of the tank is perpendicular to a direction from the first support and towards the tank mount.

Some embodiments comprise a frame mount configured to be coupled between the frame and the vehicle, the frame mount comprising a flange configured to be coupled to the vehicle, the flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener, and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the vehicle via the fastener, and, when the frame is in the second position, the cantilever second support is coupled to the post.

In some embodiments, the flange defines a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the first support and the flange comprises one or more protrusions that extend from the recess, the one or more protrusions configured to support the first support relative to the flange independently of the fastener. In some embodiments, the post is tubular.

Some embodiments comprise a receiver configured to be coupled to the second support, where the receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of the post when the frame is in the second position. In some embodiments, the receiver defines a channel configured to receive at least a portion of the post. Some embodiments comprise a resilient damper configured to be coupled between the second support and the receiver.

Some embodiments comprise one or more resilient components configured to be disposed between at least of: the first support and the vehicle and the second support and the vehicle. In some embodiments, the one or more resilient components comprises a bushing configured to be disposed between the first support and the vehicle. In some embodiments, the one or more resilient components comprises a damper configured to be disposed between the second support and the vehicle. Some embodiments comprise one or more resilient components configured to be disposed between at least one of: the first support and the flange and the second support and the post. In some embodiments, the one or more resilient components comprises a bushing configured to be disposed between the first support and the flange. In some embodiments, the one or more resilient components comprises a damper configured to be disposed between the second support and the post.

Some embodiments of the present methods comprise: coupling a frame mount to a vehicle, the frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, coupling a first support of a frame to the flange, the frame further defining a second support and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first support and the second support, and pivoting the frame relative to the vehicle to couple the second support of the frame to the post. Some embodiments comprise disposing a fastener through the opening of the flange and into the first support of the frame. Some embodiments comprise coupling a tank to the tank mount.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically; two items that are “coupled” may be unitary with each other. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless this disclosure explicitly requires otherwise. The term “substantially” is defined as largely but not necessarily wholly what is specified (and includes what is specified; e.g., substantially 90 degrees includes 90 degrees and substantially parallel includes parallel), as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In any disclosed embodiment, the term “substantially” may be substituted with “within [a percentage] of” what is specified, where the percentage includes 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 percent.

Further, a device or system that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but it can also be configured in other ways than those specifically described.

The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), and “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, an apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” or “includes” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements, but is not limited to possessing only those elements. Likewise, a method that “comprises,” “has,” or “includes” one or more steps possesses those one or more steps, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps.

Any embodiment of any of the apparatuses, systems, and methods can consist of or consist essentially of—rather than comprise/include/have—any of the described steps, elements, and/or features. Thus, in any of the claims, the term “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” can be substituted for any of the open-ended linking verbs recited above, in order to change the scope of a given claim from what it would otherwise be using the open-ended linking verb.

The feature or features of one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, even though not described or illustrated, unless expressly prohibited by this disclosure or the nature of the embodiments.

Some details associated with the embodiments described above and others are described below.

