CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of identically titled application Ser. No. 12/714,672, filed Mar. 1, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is broadly concerned with decorative cover assemblies designed to cover a propane tank (e.g., a standard 20 lb. household tank) and to present the three-dimensional appearance or likeness of a sports-related item, such as athletic headgear or athletic balls. More specifically, the invention is directed to such cover assemblies which may be separate from a propane tank or integrated therewith, and which may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal or synthetic resin. Exemplary cover assemblies in accordance with the invention may be solid, hollow, or inflatable. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    A tailgate party is a social event held on or around the open tailgates of vehicles. Tailgating traditionally involves consuming beverages and grilling food. Tailgate parties often occur in the parking lots of stadiums and arenas before, during, and after sporting events. For example, tailgate parties have become particularly popular in the U.S. as social gatherings that take place in stadium parking lots before football games. As an adjunct to such parties, tailgaters have flags, pennants, outerwear such as shirts, jackets, and caps, and all manner of other items, bearing the logo and/or name of their favorite team. Such team identification is deemed essential by tailgate participants. 
         [0006]    Dedicated tailgaters sometimes have elaborate portable equipment for grilling of foods. Thus, many tailgaters have portable propane grills making use of one or more standard household propane tanks. These tanks are generally white in color and are positioned beneath the grill. As such, the tanks are unsightly and do not contribute to the festive atmosphere of a tailgate party. Various covers have been provided in the past for coolers and barbecue grills. 
         [0007]    Additionally, flexible cloth-type covers for propane tanks have been proposed, which do not provide a definite, three-dimensional shape. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,705,085, 5,622,261, 6,237,787, 6,386,384, 6,401,951, and 6,866,159; U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D289,598, D351,971, D442,818, D486,551, D516,365, D572,478, D577,096, D577,097, D577,791, and D599,625; U.S. Published Patent Applications Nos. 2002/0175193, 2005/0205180, and 2007/0068957; Foreign Patent Publications Nos. AU2009100673 and GB2441056; and non-patent literature items entitled Baseball Jersey Grill Cover, BBQ Covers-Mustard Bottle, and Propane Tanks Cover. 
         [0008]    It would therefore be a boon to tailgaters if unattractive and innocuous propane tanks could be decorated in a manner consistent with a tailgate party scheme, and particularly to give the appearance or likeness of a sports-related item consistent with the tailgate party theme. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention addresses the problem outlined above, and provides decorated propane tanks with sports-related themes. In some embodiments, cover assemblies for propane tanks are provided, each comprising a decorative body having wall structure designed to surround a propane tank with a substantially rigid outer wall configured to present a three-dimensional likeness or appearance of a sports-related item. The wall structure may also include an inner wall designed to mate with a propane tank (i.e., the inner wall is configured to rest upon or otherwise be supported by a propane tank wall). The cover assembly may be separable from a propane tank, can be integrated with the tank, or the tank may be formed with the decorative surface aspects, such that there is no separate tank. The outer surface of the cover assembly is typically designed to give the three-dimensional likeness or appearance of things such as athletic headgear, athletic footwear, athletic balls, or other athletic equipment. 
         [0010]    As noted, the cover assemblies have substantially rigid outer walls defining the corresponding sports-related item, and preferably the entirety of the decorative bodies are of substantially rigid construction. The bodies have upper margins below the valve associated with the propane tank. In this fashion, the valve may be connected to a barbecue grill, for example, without interference by the cover assemblies. Thus, the propane tank can be used in the usual fashion with the cover assemblies of the invention in place. Moreover, the cover assemblies of the invention are not inflatable, as in the case of certain prior art covers; it is believed that such inflatable designs would not provide the degree of verisimilitude that can be achieved with the substantially rigid designs of the invention. 
         [0011]    As used herein, with reference to the cover assembly bodies of the invention “three-dimensional” means that a given cover assembly body presents a contoured or concavo-convex outer surface, preferably with portions of the outer surface spaced a significant distance (preferably at least about one-half inch, and most preferably at least about one inch) from the proximal propane tank wall. Such three-dimensional cover assemblies thus are distinctly different from conventional two-dimensional images printed on a simple flexible tank cover or the like. 
         [0012]    Hence, in the case of a cover assembly body having a simulated athletic headgear outer surface, the headgear is broadly selected from the group consisting of athletic helmets, caps, and hats, e.g., helmets for racing, football, lacrosse, baseball batting, rodeo, fencing, skiing and other winter sports, bicycling, hockey, and boxing. In the case of athletic footwear, the cover assembly body may present the three-dimensional appearance of footwear for soccer, football, hockey, basketball, track, skiing, boxing, golf, ballet, and bicycling. A wide variety of athletic cover assembly bodies may give the three-dimensional appearance of a simulated athletic ball, for example balls selected from the group consisting of baseballs, basketballs, cricket balls, tennis balls, footballs, rugby balls, lacrosse balls, baoding balls, billiard balls, table tennis balls, bowling balls, handballs, soccer balls, wiffle balls, polo balls, golf balls, racquet balls, beach balls, and volley balls. Other cover assembly bodies giving the three-dimensional appearance of simulated sports-related items may include covers giving the three-dimensional appearance of athletic apparel selected from the group consisting of jerseys, shirts, jackets, shorts, pants, stockings, pads, and gloves, hockey pucks, curling stones, racquets, mallets, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and basketball nets. In short, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the imagination of the fabricator. 
         [0013]    It will also be appreciated that, in most instances, the outer surface of a given cover assembly would also include the name and/or logo of a specific team or athlete. In this way, the user can both decorate an otherwise bland-looking propane tank, while also proclaiming loyalty to the user&#39;s favorite team or athlete. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the combination of a standard household propane tank with a detachable, dual section cover assembly in accordance with the invention and presenting the likeness of an automobile racing helmet, wherein the cover assembly is mounted on the tank; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 1 , but illustrating the surface structure of the cover assembly opposite that of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the combination depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the combination depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the combination of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the cover assembly in its open configuration before being mounted on to the propane tank; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an integrated propane tank and cover assembly in accordance with the invention, the cover assembly presenting the likeness of a football helmet; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an elevational view of the assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is front perspective view of a combination comprising a standard household propane tank with a unitary, one-piece cover assembly in accordance with the invention releasably mounted on the tank, the cover assembly presenting the likeness of a racing helmet; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an elevational view of the combination illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a partial sectional view of the combination illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a vertical sectional view of the one-piece cover assembly separate from the tank; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of the combination comprising a standard household propane tank with a hollow molded cover assembly in accordance with the invention mounted on the tank, with the cover assembly presenting the likeness of a football helmet; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is an elevational view of the combination illustrated in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is partial sectional view of the combination of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a vertical sectional view of the hollow molded cover assembly of  FIG. 14 , shown separate from the tank; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a combination comprising a standard household propane tank with a cover assembly in accordance with the invention mounted on the tank, the cover assembly presenting the likeness of a basketball. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1-5 , a combination  30  is illustrated including a standard household propane tank  32  and a detachable, two-piece cover assembly  34 . The tank  32  (see  FIG. 4 ) includes an upright hollow propane-holding container  36  having a circular base  38  and rounded upper and lower shouldered walls  40 ,  42 . A standard propane tank valve  44  is secured at the top of the tank and extends above the wall  40 , with a carrying and connection cage  46  disposed partially about the valve  44 . It will be appreciated that the tank  32  is itself wholly conventional. 
         [0033]    The cover assembly  34  in this embodiment is made up of a rigid body preferably formed of an appropriate synthetic resin material and having front and rear sections  48  and  50  which are hingedly interconnected by means of hinge structure  52 . The edges of the sections  48  and  50  opposite hinge structure  52  are provided with mating latch structures  54  and  56 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the inner surface  58  of the cover assembly  34  is made up of front and rear section inner surfaces  60  and  62 . These surfaces are designed to substantially surround the tank  32  and are further provided with a number of inwardly extending engagement blocks  64 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the blocks  64  are designed to firmly engage the wall of container  36  so as to prevent inadvertent axial or rotational movement of the cover assembly  34  relative to tank  32 . It will further be observed that the cover assembly sections  48  and  50  cooperatively present an upper margin defining upper opening  66 , which is disposed about cage  46  and valve  44 , and a lower margin defining lower opening  68 , which extends about the lower portion of tank  32 . 
         [0034]    In this embodiment, the outer surface  70  of the assembly  34 , made up of substantially rigid front and rear walls  72  and  74 , gives the three-dimensional likeness and appearance of an automobile racing helmet. Thus, the front wall  72  has a simulated visor  76  presenting concavo-convex surfaces, as well as a downwardly and outwardly extending chin section  78 . In use, the cover assembly  34  is opened as depicted in  FIG. 5 , and closed about the tank  32  so that the latch structures  54  and  56  mate and engage. Removal of the cover assembly is accomplished by opening the latch structures and swinging the cover sections  48  and  50  apart. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate another embodiment in the form of a combination  80  made up of an integrated propane tank  82  and cover assembly  84 . In this case, the assembly  84  has a body presenting a rigid wall defining outer surface  86 , giving the three-dimensional appearance or likeness of a football helmet. The latter has a rounded surface characteristic of football helmets, along with simulated ear holes  88  and an outwardly projecting mask  90 . The combination  80  further includes an upper valve  44  and cage  46 , as previously described. Internally, the combination  80  may have a standard household propane tank, as described above, with the cover assembly  84  welded or otherwise permanently secured to the tank. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 10-13  illustrate another form of the invention made of a combination  92  having a standard propane tank  32 , described previously, and a molded, one-piece, substantially rigid, synthetic resin cover assembly  94 . As best seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the cover assembly  94  has a body presenting upper margin defining an upper opening  96  designed to surround and remain below cage  46  and valve  44 , and a lower margin defining lower opening  98 . The inner surface  100  of the assembly  94  is configured to closely mate with the outer wall of container  36  and shoulder  40 . The assembly  94  may thus be installed on tank  32  simply by positioning the lower opening  98  above the tank and sliding the cover assembly  94  onto the tank to assume the position shown in  FIG. 12 . The cover can of course also be readily removed from the tank  32  by reversing this procedure. The cover assembly  94  can be fabricated from any suitable synthetic resin material, such as compressible polyurethane  102 . The outer skin or surface  104  thereof is configured to give the three-dimensional likeness or appearance of an automotive racing helmet, as in the case of the first embodiment. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 14-16  depict another embodiment, in the form of combination  106  again comprising a standard propane tank  32  and a cover assembly  108 . The latter is in the form of a body having an inner wall  110 , an outer wall  112 , an upper margin defining upper opening  114 , and a lower margin defining lower opening  116 . Thus, the cover assembly  108  is a unitary, substantially rigid structure, similar to the cover assembly  94 . The inner wall  110  is designed to closely mate with the outer surfaces of tank  32 , whereas the outer wall  112  gives the three-dimensional likeness or appearance of a football helmet, including simulated ear holes  118  and an outwardly projecting face mask  120 . In this instance, however, the cover assembly  108  is a substantially rigid, hollow body presenting air space  122  between the inner and outer walls  110  and  112 , and can be conveniently produced by standard rotary molding or other conventional techniques. The use of assembly  108  is the same as that described with respect to unitary cover assembly  94 , i.e., the cover  108  can be positioned above a tank  32  and slid into place, as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 18  illustrates a combination  142  comprising a standard propane tank  32  and a cover assembly  144 . The assembly  144  has a substantially rigid body of unitary, one-piece construction as in earlier embodiments. Thus, the cover assembly  144  includes an inner surface (not shown) configured to mate with the outer surface of tank  32  and has upper and lower margins respectively defining openings  146 ,  148  allowing the assembly to be positioned over the tank  32 . In this instance, the outer surface  150  of the assembly  144  presents the three-dimensional appearance of a basketball having simulations of typical sections and intervening seams. The cover assembly  144  may be hollow or filled. 
         [0039]    It will thus be appreciated that the present invention provides a wide array of sports-related propane tank covers and combinations, which may be sectionalized, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , or unitary, as depicted in  FIGS. 6-18 . Alternately, combined assemblies can be made wherein the tank and cover assembly are unitized, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9 . 
         [0040]    Furthermore, while the invention has been illustrated in the context of standard household propane tanks, the principles of the invention can be equally applied to larger or differently-configured propane tanks. Thus, the term “propane tank” as used herein should be understood to embrace all shapes and sizes of propane tanks. Additionally, the cover assemblies may be separate from or used with any size or shape of propane tank, or a propane tank may be fabricated from two or more sections by welding the sections together, wherein at least some of the sections have preformed surface design features in accordance with the invention, so that the completed tank has the likeness or appearance of a sports-related item. It will be appreciated that this form of the invention does not make use of a pre-existing or pre-formed propane tank. 
         [0041]    As noted previously, the cover assemblies of the invention are characterized by substantially rigid outer walls configured to closely resemble a sports-related item. In many preferred forms, the entireties of the assemblies are of substantially rigid design.
Three-dimensional, sports-related cover assemblies ( 34, 84, 94, 108, 126, 144) for propane tanks ( 32) are provided in order to permit sport- or team-related decoration of the tanks ( 32). The cover assemblies ( 34, 84, 94, 108, 126, 144) may be separable from the tanks ( 32) or may be integrated and unitized with the tanks ( 32). The assemblies ( 34, 84, 94, 108, 126, 144) have substantially rigid, contoured or concavo-convex outer walls presenting surfaces ( 70, 86, 104, 112, 130, 150), which are configured to give the three-dimensional likeness or appearance of a sports-related item, such as athletic head gear, footwear, balls, or other equipment.