NZ756950A - Gas bottle carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable gas cylinder carrier comprises a container to receive a gas cylinder. The container has a bottom and at least one wall extending from the bottom to substantially surround the gas cylinder and a slot in the at least one wall of the container. The slot is arranged to receive a belt so that the belt wraps around an outside of the container and a portion of a cylinder located within the container without requiring the threading of an end of the belt through the slot or an aperture in the wall of the container. The carrier provides for a quick and convenient way in which to secure the cylinder within the container and the carrier within a vehicle for safe transportation.

Description

GAS BOTTLE CARRIER Field of Invention The invention relates to a carrier for carrying and/or transporting an article, and in particular a carrier for carrying or transporting a heavy article, for example a gas bottle or canister.

Background to the Invention A gas bottle or gas cylinder holds a volume of pressurised gas. The gas may be combustible, in which case the gas cylinder is provided as a fuel source for an item such as a burner or heater for heating water or air, or a cooking appliance such as a stove or barbeque.

A typical cylinder is substantially cylindrical in shape, with a domed top and bottom end. The top end is provided with a tap or valve and a fitting to attach a hose, via regulator. The fitting and valve are surrounded by a shield or frame attached to the top end of the cylinder. The bottom end is provided with a stand, typically a ring attached to the bottom end of the cylinder to support the cylinder on a flat surface.

A standard and popular gas cylinder typically used as a fuel source for barbeques and heaters and the like has a capacity of 9 kilograms of gas. A 9kg cylinder has an empty weight of around 10kg, giving a full weight of around 19kg. A 9kg cylinder typically has an outer diameter in the range of about 309mm to 335mm and a height in the range of about 450mm to 525mm.

A cylinder provides a portable source of gas. Cylinders for use in appliances such as barbeques and heaters are typically refillable. Moving, lifting and transporting/carrying a cylinder, especially when full, can be difficult due to its size, shape and weight. When transporting a cylinder in a motor vehicle, for example from a gas filling station to a home or other venue or from one venue to another, the cylinder can easily tip over and once on its side roll around in a boot or trunk space of the vehicle. This can damage the cylinder or more likely the vehicle or other items stored within the same space due to the weight of the cylinder. The damage that can be caused by an unsecured cylinder in an accident is considerable. An unsecured cylinder can present a safety hazard.

It would be useful if there was an apparatus that allowed for transportation or carriage of a gas cylinder in a safe, convenient and easy manner.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus to carry or transport a gas cylinder that addresses the above-mentioned problems, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable gas cylinder carrier.

The carrier comprises a container to receive a gas cylinder. The container has a bottom and at least one wall extending from the bottom to substantially surround the gas cylinder, and a slot in a wall of the container. In a most preferred embodiment, the slot is a continuous slot. The slot is structured and / or arranged to receive a belt to wrap around an outside of the container and a portion of a cylinder located within the container without the requirement to thread an end of the belt through the slot or an aperture in the wall of the container.

This arrangement provides for a quick and convenient way in which to secure the cylinder within the container and the carrier within a vehicle for safe transportation, for example by a lap belt of a standard seat belt of a motor vehicle. The slot allows an intermediate length of a belt to pass from an outside of the container into the container to wrap around a portion of a cylinder located within the container without threading an end of the belt through the slot or other aperture in the container wall. In addition, the slot provides resistance to the belt slipping down or otherwise being dislodged from the carrier.

The slot preferably extends around a centre of the bottom of the container by more than 90 degrees. More preferably the slot extends around a centre of the bottom of the container by at least 100 degrees, or at least 110 degrees, or at least 120 degrees, or at least 130 degrees, or at least 140 degrees, or about 140 to 145 degrees.

The carrier may have a cylindrical wall extending from the bottom of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the container has a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposed side walls connecting between the front and rear walls. The walls extend from the bottom to form a box around the gas cylinder. The slot extends preferably fully across the front wall and into at least a front portion of each side wall. Alternatively, the slot extends across at least a portion of the front wall and into at least a front portion of each side wall, i.e. the slot may include two aligned spaced apart slots each slot bridging a front corner of the container to extend into the side wall and front wall. Where the centre front of the container is a 12 o’clock position, each slot bridges a position extending at least part way between the 9 o’clock and 12 o’clock positions or at least part way between the 12 o’clock and the 3 o’clock positions.

The slot extends into the side walls by a distance sufficient to allow for a belt to hold securely any cylinder in a diameter range for a standard capacity cylinder. In some embodiments the standard capacity cylinder is a 9kg gas cylinder and/or the diameter range is about 309mm to 335mm. Preferably, the slot extends into the side wall by a distance of at least 10%, and more preferably at least 20%, and most preferably at least 30% of the width of the side wall, e.g. about one third of the width of the side wall.

The slot is substantially horizontal with the carrier in an upright orientation, or in other words, a longitudinal axis of the slot is perpendicular to a vertical axis of the container or vertical sides of the container.

Preferably the wall or walls extend from the bottom of the container to substantially the height of the gas cylinder.

The slot is in a front wall of the container. In some embodiments, the container comprises a slot in each of two opposed side walls of the container, the slot in each side wall open upwardly through a top edge of the side wall. The upwardly open slots in the side walls allow a belt to be placed in one or both slots in the side walls from the top of the container to extend into the container and contact and secure the cylinder within the container. Again, an end of the belt does not need to be threaded through the slot or other aperture in the side wall. The upwardly open slots in combination with the front slot allows for the cylinder to be quickly and conveniently secured within the container and the carrier within a vehicle for safe transportation by a standard seat belt of a motor vehicle. A seat belt may be extended across and over the carrier, with a lap belt of the seatbelt being passed through the front slot and a shoulder or chest belt of the seat belt being passed though one of the upwardly open side slots to secure the carrier to a seat of the vehicle and also the cylinder within the container of the carrier. The seat belt buckle does not need to be threaded through a slot or aperture in the wall of the container of the carrier.

Preferably the slot in each side wall is angled towards the rear wall from the top edge of the container. By angling the upwardly open slots rearwards, the slots are conveniently arranged to accept a diagonal chest/shoulder seat belt. Preferably the slot in each side wall is angled from the top edge of the container towards the rear wall so that the top of a rear edge of the slot is closer to the front wall than the bottom of the rear edge of the slot.

The carrier may have other features making the carrier particularly useful for transporting a gas cylinder. In some embodiments, the container has at least one handle for lifting the carrier.

The handle(s) may be provided by an aperture(s) in the front and / or rear walls of the container. The carrier may have a pair of wheels located adjacent a bottom of a back wall of the container. The carrier may be tilted onto the wheels to carry the cylinder on the wheels of the carrier. The carrier preferably also has a telescopic handle moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the handle located adjacent a top of the back wall of the container, to be used when pulling the carrier along on the wheels.

In some embodiments, the carrier comprises a pair of vertical rails on an outside of a back wall of the container. The rails assist with moving the carrier with cylinder up a step or stair case.

When pulling the carrier up a step, the rails contact a corner of a step, and reduce a contact area with the step, to reduce friction and make lifting the carrier with bottle easier.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable gas cylinder carrier comprising a container to receive a gas cylinder, the container having a bottom and a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposed side walls connecting between the front and rear walls, said walls extending from the base to form a box around the gas cylinder, and a slot extending fully across the front wall and into at least a front portion of each side wall. The second aspect may have any one or more of the features described above with reference to the first aspect. The slot is preferably a continuous slot.

The preferred embodiment of a carrier is for carrying and/or transporting a gas bottle, however in other embodiments, a carrier according to aspects of the present invention may be adapted for carrying and/or transporting other articles, and in particular a carrier for carrying or transporting a heavy article that needs to be safely secured when being moved.

A gas cylinder is a vessel that contains pressurised gas and may also be called a gas bottle. The terms ‘cylinder’ and ‘bottle’ may be used interchangeably. Further, the term ‘cylinder’ should not be considered limiting in the sense of being cylindrical in shape; a gas cylinder may be shaped other than cylindrical.

Further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following description which provides at least one example of a practical application of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings One or more embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example only, and without intending to be limiting, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a carrier for a gas cylinder, carrying a cylinder; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the carrier of Figure 1, without a cylinder; Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the carrier of Figure 1 carrying a gas cylinder and secured to a left-hand passenger seat of a vehicle using a seat belt; Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the carrier and gas cylinder secured to a seat as shown in Figure 3 but viewed from an opposite side; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the carrier of Figure 1 secured to a deck of a truck or utility vehicle; Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the carrier of Figure 1 with a handle in an extended position; Figure 7 is a side view of the carrier of Figure 1 tilted to carry a gas cylinder on wheels of the carrier; Figure 8 is a side view of the carrier of Figure 1 being pulled up a stair of a flight of stairs; Figure 9 is a front view of the carrier of Figure 1 holding a gas cylinder when being used as a fuel source for a barbeque appliance; Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the carrier of Figure 1 holding a gas cylinder; and Figure 11 is a plan view of the carrier of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the carrier of Figure 1 carrying a cylinder.

Brief Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a portable gas cylinder carrier 1 has a container 2 to receive a gas cylinder or bottle 3. The illustrated embodiment is for a 9kg gas cylinder; however, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a carrier for a cylinder of this size. A carrier according to the present invention may be of a size suitable for carrying smaller or larger gas cylinders. Furthermore, the carrier 1 is useful for carrying other objects, whether a single object or many smaller items loaded into the container of the carrier.

The container has a bottom or bottom wall 4 (Figure 2), a front wall 2a, a rear wall 2b, and two opposed side walls 2c connecting between the front and rear walls. The walls extend from the bottom of the container to substantially the height of the gas cylinder to form a box around the gas cylinder. The walls may extend to a height above the top of the gas cylinder, as shown in the Figures. In the illustrated embodiment, each side wall 2c is at a right angle to the front and back walls 2a and 2b. Each wall 2a, 2b and 2c is planar. However, other arrangements are possible, such as curved walls. Preferably the rear wall is planar, as described in more detail below.

The container 1 comprises a slot 5 that extends across the front wall of the container. The slot 5 extends fully across the front wall. The slot is preferably a continuous slot, i.e. a single continuous slot and not made up of more than one slot with each being arranged end to end.

The slot 5 extends into at least a front portion of each side wall 2c. As the slot extends from the front wall and into each side wall, the slot 5 is visible in a side view of the container.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the slot 5 allows for a strap or belt 6 to be placed into the slot from the front of the container 2, to extend into an inside of the container and through the front portion of each side wall 2c. The belt 6 extends through the container 2 via an end portion of the slot 5, in the front portion of each side wall. The belt 6 makes contact with the cylinder and secures the cylinder within the container.

The slot allows an intermediate portion of the belt to be passed through the slot and into the container, without a requirement to thread an end of the belt or a belt buckle through a slot or aperture in the container wall.

In Figures 3 and 4 the carrier is shown positioned on a seat of a motor vehicle, and the belt 6 is a lap belt or a lap belt portion of a typical vehicle seat belt. The belt extends through the slot 5, from one side of the container 2 to the other, and wraps around a front of the cylinder 3, to hold the cylinder against the rear wall 2b of the container. In this way, the cylinder 3 is securely fastened within the container 2, while at the same time the container 2 is strapped securely against a seat back of the seat within the vehicle. Preferably the back wall 2b of the container 2 is planar, so that the carrier when pressed against the seatback by the belt 6 does not roll about or move.

A further benefit of the slot 5 is that belt passing through the slot 5 to wrap around the cylinder securely holds the cylinder within the container for a range of diameter cylinders, as shown in Figure 12. The slot 5 extends into the side walls by a distance to allow for a belt to hold securely any cylinder in the diameter range of 309mm to 335mm. The carrier therefore provides a means to firmly secure any gas bottle diameter of a standard capacity, e.g. 9kg. The slot may extend into the sides by a distance of at least 10%, and preferably at least 20%, and most preferably at least 30% of the width of the side wall. In the illustrated embodiment the slot extends 33% of the width of the side wall.

The slot 5 allows a strap or belt 6 to pass through the container to secure the container within a vehicle and also the bottle within the container, without having to thread an end of the strap through an aperture in a wall of the container. The belt can be passed across the front of the container, to enter the slot 5. For example, when using a lap belt of a vehicle seat belt, the belt 6 may easily and conveniently be passed across the container 2 and clipped into a corresponding seat belt clip 9. A user can arrange the belt 6 to pass through the slot 5, so that the belt secures the bottle and the carrier, as described above. For a seat belt with a sliding buckle, like buckle 19 in Figures 3 and 4, the location of the buckle on the seatbelt defines the end of the belt. The buckle 19 defines the end of the lap belt 6 and the end of a chest/shoulder belt 8 of the seat belt.

In preferred embodiments, the container comprises a slot 7 in each side wall. The slot 7 in each side wall extends upwardly through a top edge 17 of the side wall, so that a belt 8 can be placed through one or both slots 7 in the side walls 2c from the top of the container. The belt 7 can extend into the container via one or both slots 7, to contact and secure the cylinder within the container.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the belt 8 may be a shoulder belt 8 of a typical vehicle seat belt.

The belt 8 is provided across the top of the carrier 1 from one side, to pass through the slot 7 in an opposite side of the container 2, to be secured in a corresponding seat belt clip 9. The belt 8 wraps around a front and top of the gas cylinder 3, to secure the cylinder within the container, and also secure the carrier to the vehicle. The belt 8 can act on the cylinder 3 to secure the cylinder downwards against the bottom 4 of the container, and rearwards against the rear wall 2b of the container. In Figures 3 and 4 a portion of belt 8 hidden from view is indicated by dashed lines.

In some embodiments, as illustrated in the Figures, the slot 7 in each side wall 2c is angled from the top edge 17 of the container towards the rear wall 2b of the container. The angle of the slots 7 is to accommodate in part an angle of a typical seat belt 8 as it passes over the top of the carrier 1 via one of the slots 7 from above the carrier 1 on one side to a low point on the opposite side of the carrier, for example as best shown in Figure 3. The slot 7 in each side 2c wall may be angled from the top edge 17 of the container 2 towards the rear wall 2b so that the top of a rear edge 18a of the slot 7 is closer to the front wall 2a than the bottom 18b of the rear edge 18 of the slot.

In Figures 3 and 4, the carrier is shown positioned on a passenger seat of a vehicle on a left- hand side of the vehicle, with the seat belt passing from a left-hand side of the carrier to pass through the slot 7 in the right-hand side of the container 2. The carrier may instead be placed on a seat on a right-hand side of the vehicle, with the belt 8 passing through the slot 7 in the left-hand side wall 2c of the container 2.

With each slot 7 extending through the upper edge 17 of the container, the slots 7 allows a belt 8 to be passed across the carrier through an interior of the container to secure the bottle near a top of the bottle, without having to thread an end of the strap 8 through an aperture in a wall of the container. As the belt may be placed across the top of the carrier, the slots 7 allow for a range of bottle heights to be accommodated, for example 450mm to 525mm for standard 9kg bottles.

In the preferred embodiment, the combination of the slot 5 across the front wall and into the side walls of the container, together with the slots 7 in the sides walls provides for a convenient means to secure a gas cylinder 3 for safe transportation within a vehicle by using a traditional personnel seat beat of the vehicle, using both the lap portion 6 and the shoulder/chest portion 8 of the seat belt. The lap and chest/shoulder portions of the belt are delimited by a buckle 19, which is slidable on the seatbelt 6, 8, its position set once the belt is tightened when clipped into a seatbelt clip 9. The end or buckle of the seat belt 6, 8 does not need to be threaded through the container but may be used to secure the bottle to the carrier and the carrier to the seat by simply passing the seat belt 6, 8 across the carrier and securing the buckle 19 of the seat belt 6, 8 in the corresponding vehicle seat belt clip 9. The user can position the lap belt portion 6 though the slot 5 and the shoulder belt portion 8 though the side slot 7. The belt 6 wraps around the front of the bottle and the belt 8 wraps over a top and front portion of the bottle, so that the bottle and carrier are both firmly and safely secured.

Although the carrier is particularly suitable for transporting a gas bottle on a seat of a vehicle, the carrier is also adapted for carriage in other locations, for example on the back tray or deck of a utility vehicle (ute) or truck, or in a boot or trunk space of a vehicle. For example, as shown in Figure 5, a tie down may be used to secure the carrier and bottle, in a boot or to the deck of a ute. The tie down (strap) is secured across the top of the carrier and passes through both slots 7 and to fasteners secured to a surface on which the carrier is placed.

The carrier also has features to assist with ease of carriage by a person. For example, in some embodiments the carrier has wheels 10. The wheels are preferable located at a back of the carrier, and preferably do not contact the floor or ground surface when the carrier is oriented in an upright or resting position, as best shown in Figure 10. To move the carrier on its wheels, the carrier is tilted backwards, so that the carrier is supported on the wheels, as shown in Figure 8. In the illustrated embodiment, each wheel is recessed from the side wall, so that an outer side of each wheel is in plane with or recessed into the side wall 2c.

By example, the wheels may be relatively large, for example having a diameter of about 100mm, for easy carriage over uneven ground.

The illustrated carrier also has a handle 12 to be used to move the carrier on its wheels. The handle is a telescoping handle and is shown in a storage or retracted position in Figures 1 to 5, 9 and 10, and a moving or extended position in Figures 6 to 8. In the extended position, a user can tilt the carrier back onto its wheels and transport the bottle in the same way a user may move a suitcase with a telescoping handle.

In some embodiments and as shown in the figures, the carrier 1 is provided with slide rails on an outer side of the rear surface of the container. With reference to Figures 2, 7 and 8, the rails 13 extend vertically on the rear of the container 2 and provide way to move the carrier with bottle 3 up a flight of stairs. As shown in Figure 7, to move the carrier up a stair or step, a user makes contact between the rails 13 and a corner 20 of the step. As shown in Figure 8, to move the carrier and bottle up the step, the user drags the carrier up the step with the rails running 13 over the corner 20 of the step. The rails provide the only point of contact between the carrier and the step when riding up the front corner of the step, until the wheels 10 make contact with the step. The rails 13 provide a reduced contact area with the step corner, so that the carrier 1 with bottle 3 slides up the step with a reduced lifting force.

The carrier 1 preferably has handle apertures 11 provided to opposite walls of the carrier.

Since the carrier has slots 7 in the side walls, preferably the carrier has a handle aperture 11 in the front wall 2a and a handle aperture 11 in the rear wall 2b. The handle apertures allow a person to lift the carrier and bottle together by two hands, one hand placed in each handle aperture 11, and is a more convenient way to lift a gas bottle than by the handle provided to the top of the gas bottle, which provides a single handle for one handed lifting only.

All edges of the container are preferably rounded so that no sharp edges are presented, so that for example upholstery of the seat of a vehicle is not damaged with the carried is secured firmly to the seat by the seat belt 6, 8, and so that the seat belt 6, 8 is not damaged by edges of slots , 7.

The carrier 1 also provides a convenient storage box or container for the bottle, not only for transportation but also for use of the bottle together with an appliance. The carrier 1 is adapted so that the bottle need to be removed from the carrier. The bottle can remain in the carrier when in use beside an appliance such as a BBQ, as shown in Figure 9, or in a living entertaining space such as a patio, as shown in Figure 10. The carrier may be provided with surface texture/relief, images, patterns and/or colour to match a desired surrounding environment or décor. For example, the container 2 may be provided with a timber relief and colour. With reference to Figure 1, the slots 7 are also conveniently located so that a hose attached to a valve of the bottle 3 can pass through a slot 7 in the side wall, during use. The hose therefore does not need to bend or flex around a top edge of the container to reach the bottle 3 located inside the container.

Preferably the container is moulded from a suitable plastic material.

The walls of the container present a box or container that is substantially closed other than the open top and the slots 5, 7 and handle apertures if provided. The container is not an open frame work.

The illustrated carrier 1 comprises a cuboid shaped container, having four side walls, a bottom, and an open top. A lid may be provided to close the open top. In alternative embodiments the container may be shaped other than cuboid. For example, the container may have a cylindrical side wall extending from a base or bottom wall. The slot 5 in the container having a cylindrical side wall extends across a front of the container by a circumferential distance so that the belt 6 can wrap around and contact a front portion of the bottle. If the slot is too short in a circumferential distance, the belt will contact ends of the slot 5 without contacting the bottle to secure it firmly within the container.

With reference to Figure 11, the slot 5 is preferably of a length to extend about a centre 21 of the bottom wall 4 of the carrier by an angle A of more than 90 degrees, and preferably at least 100 degrees, or at least 110 degrees, or at least 120 degrees, or at least 130 degrees, or at least 140 degrees, or about 140 to 145 degrees . This ensures the bottle is securely contacted by the strap 6 entering the container 2 via slot 5. In Figure 11 ends of the slot 5 are indicated by reference numeral 5a.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention.

Claims (15)

Claims:

1. A portable gas cylinder carrier, comprising: a container to receive a gas cylinder, the container having a bottom and at least one wall extending from the bottom to substantially surround the gas cylinder, and a slot in the at least one wall of the container to receive a belt to wrap around an outside of the container and a portion of a cylinder located within the container without threading an end of the belt through the slot or an aperture in the wall of the container.

2. A carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot extends around a centre of the bottom of the container by more than 90 degrees.

3. The carrier as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the slot extends around a centre of the bottom of the container by at least 100 degrees, or at least 110 degrees, or at least 120 degrees, or at least 130 degrees, or at least 140 degrees, or about 140 to 145 degrees.

4. The carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container has a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposed side walls connecting between the front and rear walls, said walls extending from the bottom to form a box around the gas cylinder, and wherein the slot extends across at least a portion of the front wall and into at least a front portion of each side wall.

5. The carrier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slot extends fully across the front wall and into at least a front portion of each side wall.

6. The carrier as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the slot extends into the side walls by a distance sufficient to allow for a belt to hold securely any cylinder in a diameter range for a standard capacity cylinder.

7. The carrier as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the slot extends into the side wall by a distance of at least 10%, and preferably at least 20%, and most preferably at least 30% of the width of the side wall.

8. The carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall or walls extend from the bottom to substantially the height of the gas cylinder.

9. The carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot is in a front wall of the container, and the container comprises an upper slot in each of two opposed side walls of the container, the upper slot in each side wall open upwardly through a top edge of the side wall.

10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the upper slot in each side wall is angled towards the rear wall from the top edge of the container.

11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the slot in each side wall is angled from the top edge of the container towards the rear wall so that the top of a rear edge of the slot is closer to the front wall than the bottom of the rear edge of the slot.

12. The carrier as claimed in claim 9, wherein the container has at least one handle provided by an aperture in the front wall and/or an aperture in a rear wall of the container.

13. The carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier comprises a pair of wheels located adjacent a bottom of a back wall of the container.

14. The carrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein the carrier comprises a telescopic handle moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the handle located adjacent a top of the back wall of the container.

15. The carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier comprises a pair of vertical rails on an outside of a back wall of the container to contact a corner of a step when moving the carrier up one or more steps.