U.S. patent application number 11/150979 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-15 for wetsuit rinsing hanger.
Invention is credited to Plumley, Aric, Redenbaugh, Ryan.
Application Number | 20050274751 11/150979 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35459445 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050274751 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Plumley, Aric ; et
al. |
December 15, 2005 |
Wetsuit rinsing hanger
Abstract
Described is a wetsuit rinsing hanger that allows a user to hang
up the wetsuit, attach the wetsuit rinsing hanger to a hose and
turn on the water. The invention includes a water inlet at an
attachment and a hollow elongated body member in the shape of a
hanger with appropriately placed holes for rinsing the wetsuit. The
water is taken into the elongated body member through the
attachment and is then passed through the holes to the wetsuit. The
water then flows through the wetsuit with the assistance of gravity
to thoroughly rinse the wetsuit. Additionally, a sensor system may
be included that notifies a user when the wetsuit has be thoroughly
rinsed and dried.
Inventors: |
Plumley, Aric; (Huntington
Beach, CA) ; Redenbaugh, Ryan; (Huntington Beach,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Aric Plumley
6061 Kelsey Circle
Huntington Beach
CA
92647
US
|
Family ID: |
35459445 |
Appl. No.: |
11/150979 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60579502 |
Jun 14, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
223/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 2025/1485 20130101;
B08B 13/00 20130101; B63C 11/02 20130101; A47G 25/14 20130101; B08B
9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
223/085 |
International
Class: |
A41D 027/22; B63C
011/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wetsuit rinsing hanger, comprising: an elongated body member
having a hollow cavity therein with a plurality of holes formed
therethrough, the plurality of holes formed such that they provide
for fluid communication between the hollow cavity and an external
portion of the elongated body member; and a fluid provider
attachment connected with the elongated body member such that the
fluid provider attachment is in fluid communication with the hollow
cavity and is configured to allow for attachment of a fluid
provider, whereby a user may hang a wetsuit upon the wetsuit
rinsing hanger and pass a fluid through the fluid provider
attachment, out of the plurality of holes, and through the wetsuit,
thereby rinsing the wetsuit.
2. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a downward protrusion connected with the elongated body
member, the downward protrusion having holes therethrough and
having a hollow cavity therein in fluid communication with the
hollow cavity of the elongated body member.
3. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
fluid provider attachment includes threads and is configured to be
connected with a water hose, thereby allowing for the fluid
provider to be a water hose with the fluid being water.
4. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
elongated body member includes a width, with the width being at
least one inch.
5. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
fluid provider attachment includes at least two parts, a first part
connected with the elongated body member and a second part for
connecting with a water hose, and where the first part and the
second part are detachably attachable with each other, whereby when
the second part is connected with a water hose, a user may quickly
attach/detach the attached water hose.
6. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
elongated body member includes at least one divot, with one of the
plurality of holes formed in the divot, such that a fluid being
passed through the hole is dispersed in a plurality of
directions.
7. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
elongated body member includes two opposing ends and further
comprises a support member connected between the two opposing
ends.
8. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
support member has a hollow cavity therein in fluid communication
with the hollow cavity of the elongated body member, and where a
plurality of holes are formed therethrough, the plurality of holes
formed such that they provide for fluid communication between the
hollow cavity and an external portion of the support member.
9. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a cleansing solution dispenser connected with the
elongated body member such that the cleansing solution dispenser is
in fluid connection with the hollow cavity, and where the cleansing
solution dispenser is formed such that as a fluid is passed through
the elongated body member, a cleansing solution disposed within the
cleansing solution dispenser is drawn from the dispenser to be
mixed with the fluid.
10. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a shower head adapter for attaching between a shower
head and the fluid provider attachment, the shower head adapter
including a shower head attachment and a flexible hose, and being
configured to be connected with a shower head and the fluid
provider attachment, thereby allowing a user to attach the wetsuit
rinsing hanger with a shower head and rinse an attached wetsuit
while it hangs in a shower.
11. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
plurality of holes are formed such that they face a plurality of
directions, thereby allowing fluid to be sprayed against an
attached wetsuit from a plurality of angles.
12. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising an external spray member in fluid connection with the
elongated body member, the external spray member including a
plurality of holes such that as a fluid is passed from the
elongated body member and through the external spray member, the
fluid is dispersed through the plurality of holes and sprayed
against an external portion of an attached wetsuit.
13. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 12, wherein the
elongated body member has a first side and a second side, and
wherein the external spray member extends in multiple directions on
each of the first and second sides, such that water is dispersed
through the external spray member and onto multiple sides of an
attached wetsuit.
14. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a sensor system connected with the elongated body
member, the sensor system having a sensor, a micro-computer, and
alarm, the sensor being functional for sensing a property of an
attached wetsuit and transmitting a signal containing
characteristics of the property to the micro-computer, the
micro-computer being functional for receiving the signal and
determining if the characteristics satisfy a predetermined
threshold for that property, and the alarm being functional for
alerting a user when the characteristics have been determined to
satisfy the predetermined threshold for that property, and wherein
the alarm is selected from a group consisting of an audible alarm
and a visual alarm.
15. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 14, wherein the
sensor is a salinity sensor and the property of the attached
wetsuit is the salinity content of water passing through the
wetsuit, and wherein the micro-computer further includes a computer
program product comprising computer-readable instruction means
encoded on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to:
receive a signal from the salinity sensor; determine the salinity
content of water passing through the wetsuit; determine if the
salinity content is lower than a predetermined threshold; and send
an alarm signal to the alarm if the signal satisfies the
predetermined threshold.
16. A wetsuit rinsing hanger as set forth in claim 14, wherein the
sensor is a moisture sensor and the property of the attached
wetsuit is the moisture (water) content of the wetsuit, and wherein
the micro-computer further includes a computer program product
comprising computer-readable instruction means encoded on a
computer-readable medium for causing a computer to: receive a
signal from the moisture sensor; determine the moisture content of
the wetsuit; determine if the moisture content is lower than a
predetermined threshold; and send an alarm signal to the alarm if
the signal satisfies the predetermined threshold.
17. A system for rinsing a wetsuit and sensing properties of the
wetsuit, the system comprising: an elongated body member having a
hollow cavity therein with a plurality of holes formed
therethrough, the plurality of holes formed such that they provide
for fluid communication between the hollow cavity and an external
portion of the elongated body member; a fluid provider attachment
connected with the elongated body member such that the fluid
provider attachment is in fluid communication with the hollow
cavity and is configured to allow for attachment of a fluid
provider, thereby allowing a user to hang a wetsuit upon the
elongated body member and pass a fluid through the fluid provider
attachment, out of the plurality of holes, and through the wetsuit,
thereby rinsing the wetsuit; a sensor system connected with the
elongated body member, the sensor system having a sensor, a
micro-computer, and alarm, the sensor being functional for sensing
a property of an attached wetsuit and transmitting a signal
containing characteristics of the property to the micro-computer,
the micro-computer being functional for receiving the signal and
determining if the characteristics satisfy a predetermined
threshold for that property, and the alarm being functional for
alerting a user when the characteristics have been determined to
satisfy the predetermined threshold for that property, and wherein
the alarm is selected from a group consisting of an audible alarm
and a visual alarm.
18. A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the sensor is a
salinity sensor and the property of the attached wetsuit is the
salinity content of water passing through the wetsuit, and wherein
the micro-computer further includes a computer program product
comprising computer-readable instruction means encoded on a
computer-readable medium for causing a computer to: receive a
signal from the salinity sensor; determine the salinity content of
water passing through the wetsuit; determine if the salinity
content is lower than a predetermined threshold; and send an alarm
signal to the alarm if the signal satisfies the predetermined
threshold.
19. A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the sensor is a
moisture sensor and the property of the attached wetsuit is the
moisture (water) content of the wetsuit, and wherein the
micro-computer further includes a computer program product
comprising computer-readable instruction means encoded on a
computer-readable medium for causing a computer to: receive a
signal from the moisture sensor; determine the moisture content of
the wetsuit; determine if the moisture content is lower than a
predetermined threshold; and send an alarm signal to the alarm if
the signal satisfies the predetermined threshold.
20. A method for forming a wetsuit rinsing hanger, the method
comprising acts of: forming an elongated body member having a
hollow cavity therein with a plurality of holes formed
therethrough, and where the plurality of holes are formed such that
they provide for fluid communication between the hollow cavity and
an external portion of the elongated body member, and where the
elongated body member includes at least one divot, with one of the
plurality of holes formed in the divot, such that a fluid being
passed through the hole is dispersed in a plurality of directions;
connecting a fluid provider attachment with the elongated body
member such that the fluid provider attachment is in fluid
communication with the hollow cavity and is configured to allow for
attachment of a fluid provider, whereby a user may hang a wetsuit
upon the wetsuit rinsing hanger and pass a fluid through the fluid
provider attachment, out of the plurality of holes and through the
wetsuit, thereby rinsing the wetsuit.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a Non-Provisional Patent Application,
claiming the benefit of priority to provisional application No.
60/579,502, filed in the United States on Jun. 14, 2004, titled
"Wetsuit rinsing hanger."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (1) Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a wetsuit rinse and sensor
apparatus, and more particularly, to a hanger that is formed to
rinse a hanging wetsuit and that includes a sensor system having a
micro-computer configured to sense and notify a user of various
properties of the hanging wetsuit.
[0004] (2) Description of Related Art
[0005] In cold ocean areas in which water activities, such as
surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, and kite surfing to name a few,
are undertaken it is necessary for humans to insulate themselves
from the cold water. Typically, a wetsuit is used to insulate a
user from the cold water. A wetsuit is typically made of a
semi-permeable neoprene rubber which is designed to prevent the
liquid convective cooling of the skin. By limiting the flow of
liquid around the skin, the body is able to maintain its
temperature in much colder conditions than it would be able to if
it were exposed directly to the cold water.
[0006] Some issues associated with maintenance of the wetsuit are
that the ocean's salt water accelerates decay of the neoprene, and
the wetsuit houses bacteria and salt that often cause a foul odor.
To prevent odor and decay, a user typically rinses out the wetsuit
after every use by taking the wetsuit off and spraying it down with
a hose, or by bringing the wetsuit into the shower and rinsing it
off in the shower. In either case, maintenance of the wetsuit is a
time consuming task that takes away from the enjoyment of
participation in water activities. Additionally, after the wetsuit
is rinsed, it is typically hung to dry on a standard hanger.
[0007] As an improvement over simply rinsing the wetsuit and
hanging it to dry, a few inventions have been devised that assist a
user in rinsing a wetsuit through the use of a hanging device. U.S.
Pat. No. 4,949,739, issued to Ryan (hereinafter "the Ryan patent")
discloses a wetsuit washing hanger device. The Ryan patent
discloses a hollow hanger with a funnel. The funnel is for
attaching with a shower head, with water dispersed through the
hollow hanger and onto a hanging wetsuit. A problem with such a
configuration is that it must be used in conjunction with a shower
head. Additionally, because of the weight of a wet, hanging
wetsuit, an improperly shaped hanger may result in deformation of
the wetsuit.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,624, issued to Darling (hereinafter "the
Darling patent") discloses a wetsuit rinsing hanger that does not
rely on a shower and that is adapted to be used with a water hose.
The Darling patent describes a hanger that includes a vertical
passage, with a lower-horizontal cross-arm, and a top-horizontal
cross-arm. The hanger is hung upon the lower-horizontal cross-arm,
with water being dispersed through both the lower and top
horizontal cross-arms. Because the Darling patent specifically
describes the horizontal configuration of the top cross-arm, a
problem associated with such a configuration is that water sprayed
from the top cross-arm is ONLY sprayed upon the top shoulder
portion of the wetsuit. Although the lower cross-arm sprays an
interior of the wetsuit, the top horizontal cross-arm leaves the
remainder of the exterior (with the exception of the shoulder
portion) unsprayed. Additionally, as was the case with the Ryan
patent, an improperly shaped hanger may result in a deformation of
the wetsuit. Because of the horizontal configuration of the
invention disclosed in the Darling patent, deformation is likely to
occur if a wet and heavy wetsuit is hung upon the wetsuit rinsing
hanger of the Darling patent.
[0009] Furthermore, when rinsing and then hanging a wetsuit to dry,
a user is not typically notified when the wetsuit is clean or dry.
Thus, a continuing need exists for a wetsuit rinsing hanger that is
adaptable to a hose, that is configured to spray multiple exterior
portions of a hanging wetsuit, that has a shape that will not
deform a hanging wetsuit, and that can automatically notify a user
when the wetsuit is clean and/or dry.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to a wetsuit rinsing hanger.
The wetsuit rinsing hanger comprises an elongated body member
having a hollow cavity therein with a plurality of holes formed
therethrough. The plurality of holes are formed such that they
provide for fluid communication between the hollow cavity and an
external portion of the elongated body member. A fluid provider
attachment is connected with the elongated body member such that
the fluid provider attachment is in fluid communication with the
hollow cavity and is configured to allow for attachment of a fluid
provider. A user may hang a wetsuit upon the wetsuit rinsing hanger
and pass a fluid through the fluid provider attachment, out of the
plurality of holes, and through the wetsuit, thereby rinsing the
wetsuit.
[0011] In another aspect, the present invention further comprises a
downward protrusion connected with the elongated body member. The
downward protrusion includes holes therethrough and has a hollow
cavity therein in fluid communication with the hollow cavity of the
elongated body member.
[0012] In yet another aspect, the fluid provider attachment
includes threads and is configured to be connected with a water
hose, thereby allowing for the fluid provider to be a water hose
with the fluid being water.
[0013] Additionally, the elongated body member includes a width,
with the width being at least one inch.
[0014] Furthermore, the fluid provider attachment includes at least
two parts, a first part connected with the elongated body member
and a second part for connecting with a water hose. The first part
and the second part are detachably attachable with each other,
whereby when the second part is connected with a water hose, a user
may quickly attach/detach the attached water hose.
[0015] In yet another aspect, the elongated body member includes at
least one divot, with one of the plurality of holes formed in the
divot such that a fluid being passed through the hole is dispersed
in a plurality of directions.
[0016] In another aspect, the elongated body member includes two
opposing ends and further comprises a support member connected
between the two opposing ends.
[0017] In yet another aspect, the support member has a hollow
cavity therein in fluid communication with the hollow cavity of the
elongated body member, and where a plurality of holes are formed
therethrough. The plurality of holes are formed such that they
provide for fluid communication between the hollow cavity and an
external portion of the support member.
[0018] In another aspect, the present invention further comprises a
cleansing solution dispenser connected with the elongated body
member such that the cleansing solution dispenser is in fluid
connection with the hollow cavity. The cleansing solution dispenser
is formed such that as a fluid is passed through the elongated body
member, a cleansing solution disposed within the cleansing solution
dispenser is drawn from the dispenser to be mixed with the
fluid.
[0019] In yet another aspect, the present invention further
comprises a shower head adapter for attaching between a shower head
and the fluid provider attachment. The shower head adapter includes
a shower head attachment and a flexible hose and is configured to
be connected with a shower head and the fluid provider attachment,
thereby allowing a user to attach the wetsuit rinsing hanger with a
shower head and rinse an attached wetsuit while it hangs in a
shower.
[0020] Additionally, the plurality of holes are formed such that
they face a plurality of directions, thereby allowing fluid to be
sprayed against an attached wetsuit from a plurality of angles.
[0021] In another aspect, the present invention further comprises
an external spray member in fluid connection with the elongated
body member. The external spray member includes a plurality of
holes such that as a fluid is passed from the elongated body member
and through the external spray member, the fluid is dispersed
through the plurality of holes and sprayed against an external
portion of an attached wetsuit.
[0022] Additionally, the elongated body member has a first side and
a second side and the external spray member extends in multiple
directions on each of the first and second sides, such that water
is dispersed through the external spray member and onto multiple
sides of an attached wetsuit.
[0023] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a sensor
system connected with the elongated body member. The sensor system
includes a sensor, a micro-computer, and alarm. The sensor is
functional for sensing a property of an attached wetsuit and
transmitting a signal containing characteristics of the property to
the micro-computer. The micro-computer is functional for receiving
the signal and determining if the characteristics satisfy a
predetermined threshold for that property. The alarm is functional
for alerting a user when the characteristics have been determined
to satisfy the predetermined threshold for that property.
Additionally, the alarm is selected from a group consisting of an
audible alarm and a visual alarm.
[0024] In another aspect, when the sensor is a salinity sensor and
the property of the attached wetsuit is the salinity content of
water passing through the wetsuit, the micro-computer further
includes a computer program product comprising computer-readable
instruction means encoded on a computer-readable medium for causing
a computer to receive a signal from the salinity sensor; determine
the salinity content of water passing through the wetsuit;
determine if the salinity content is lower than a predetermined
threshold; and send an alarm signal to the alarm if the signal
satisfies the predetermined threshold.
[0025] In another aspect, when the sensor is a moisture sensor and
the property of the attached wetsuit is the moisture (water)
content of the wetsuit, the micro-computer further includes a
computer program product comprising computer-readable instruction
means encoded on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer
to receive a signal from the moisture sensor; determine the
moisture content of the wetsuit; determine if the moisture content
is lower than a predetermined threshold; and send an alarm signal
to the alarm if the signal satisfies the predetermined
threshold.
[0026] Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the
present invention also comprises a system for rinsing a wetsuit and
sensing properties of the wetsuit, and methods for forming and
using the wetsuit rinsing hanger described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions
of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with
reference to the following drawings, where:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a front side-view illustration of a wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a rear bottom-view illustration of the wetsuit
rinsing hanger of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is an illustration of another aspect of wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention, illustrating a
detachably attachable hose connector;
[0031] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the wetsuit rinsing hanger of
FIG. 3, illustrating a hose attached thereto;
[0032] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the wetsuit rinsing hanger of
FIG. 3, illustrating water being dispersed through the hanger and
out of the hanger's holes;
[0033] FIG. 6 is an illustration of another aspect of a wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention, illustrating a
downward protrusion for further dispersing a fluid;
[0034] FIG. 7 is an illustration of another aspect of a wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention, illustrating an
external spray member connected with the hanger;
[0035] FIG. 8 is an illustration of another aspect of a wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention, illustrating a
cleansing solution dispenser attached with the hanger;
[0036] FIG. 9 is an illustration of another aspect of a wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 10 is an illustration of another aspect of a wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention, illustrating a
sensor system being included within the hanger; and
[0038] FIG. 11 is a cut-away view of a wetsuit hung upon a wetsuit
rinsing hanger according to the present invention, illustrating
rinsing of the wetsuit through dispersing a fluid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] The present invention relates to a wetsuit rinse and sensor
apparatus, and more particularly, to a hanger that is formed to
rinse a hanging wetsuit and that includes a sensor system having a
micro-computer configured to sense and notify a user of various
properties of the hanging wetsuit. The following description is
presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and
use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of
particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a
variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined
herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the
present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments
presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with
the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
[0040] In the following detailed description, numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough
understanding of the present invention. However, it will be
apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may
be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific
details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are
shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to
avoid obscuring the present invention.
[0041] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and
documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and
which are open to public inspection with this specification, and
the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated
herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this
specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and
drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same,
equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.
Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is
one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar
features.
[0042] Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly
state "means for" performing a specified function, or "step for"
performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a
"means" or "step" clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112,
Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of "step of" or "act of" in the
claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C.
112, Paragraph 6.
[0043] Before describing the invention in detail, first, an
introduction is provided to provide the reader with a general
understanding of the present invention. Second, a detailed
description of various aspects of the present invention is provided
to give an understanding of the specific details.
(1) INTRODUCTION
[0044] Wetsuits are typically used to insulate a user from cold
water. When used in the ocean's salt water, the salt water has a
detrimental impact on the wetsuit material. To remove the salt
water from the wetsuit, and thereby prevent odor and decay, a user
typically rinses out the wetsuit after every use and thereafter
hangs the wetsuit for drying.
[0045] The present invention reduces the amount of time and effort
spent rinsing and hanging the wetsuit by incorporating the two
activities into a single wetsuit rinsing hanger. Using the present
invention, a wetsuit is hung on the wetsuit rinsing hanger and
rinsed thoroughly. After turning off the water, the wetsuit is left
upon the hanger to dry, thereby decreasing the effort needed to
properly maintain the wetsuit and increasing the wetsuit's usable
life.
[0046] While rinsing the wetsuit, it may be desirable to receive a
notification when the salt water has been sufficiently removed and
thereby allow a user to turn off the water to begin the drying
process. Furthermore, when drying the wetsuit, a user may
appreciate a notification of when the wetsuit is dry. Therefore,
the present invention also includes a sensor system that may be
included within the hanger to sense and notify a user of various
properties of the wetsuit, such as the salinity and/or moisture
remaining in the wetsuit.
(2) DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS ASPECTS
[0047] The present invention is a wetsuit rinsing hanger which has
an attachment for a hose and holes in it to channel water through
the hanger body and to distribute it to the wetsuit in such a way
that the wetsuit will be rinsed thoroughly.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, the wetsuit rinsing hanger 100 includes
an elongated body member 102 having a hollow cavity therein. The
elongated body member 102 includes an external portion 104 with a
plurality of holes 106 formed through the elongated body member 102
to provide fluid communication between the hollow cavity and the
external portion 104. The elongated body member 102 is formed of
any suitably durable and rigid material, non-limiting examples of
which include plastic and metal. The elongated body member 102 is
formed to support a wetsuit and allows a user to hang a wetsuit
upon the wetsuit rinsing hanger 100.
[0049] A fluid provider attachment 108 is connected with the
elongated body member 102 such that the fluid provider attachment
108 is in fluid communication with the hollow cavity. The fluid
provider attachment 108 is formed of any suitably durable and rigid
material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic and metal.
The fluid provider attachment 108 is configured to allow for
attachment of a fluid provider. The fluid provider is any suitable
device that provides a sustained stream of fluid, non-limiting
examples of which include a water hose and a shower head. After
attaching a fluid provider (e.g., water hose), a fluid (e.g.,
water) may be passed through the fluid provider attachment 108,
through the elongated body member 102, and out of the plurality of
holes 106 to be dispersed onto an attached wetsuit.
[0050] A hanging apparatus 110 is attached with the elongated body
member 102 to allow a user to hang the wetsuit rinsing hanger 100
upon an object. The hanging apparatus 100 is any suitable mechanism
or device for hanging one object upon another, a non-limiting
example of which includes a hook, a loop, and a ring.
[0051] When hanging a wet wetsuit upon the wetsuit rinsing hanger
100, the wetsuit may possess a considerable amount of weight. To
assist in supporting the weight, a support member may optionally be
included. As such and in the aspect shown in FIG. 1, the elongated
body member 102 includes two opposing ends 114 with a support
member 112 connected between the two opposing ends 114. The support
member 112 has a hollow cavity therein that is in fluid
communication with the hollow cavity of the elongated body member
102.
[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates another angle of the wetsuit rinsing
hanger shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, both the two opposing
ends 114 and the support member 112 may include a plurality of
holes 106 to assist in rinsing an interior portion of a
wetsuit.
[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates another aspect of the wetsuit rinsing
hanger 100. In this aspect, the fluid provider attachment 108 may
include at least two parts, a first part 300 connected with the
elongated body member 102 and a second part 302 for connecting with
a water hose. The first part 300 and the second part 302 are
detachably attachable with each other using common quick
connect/disconnect mechanisms. For example, the first part 300
includes a female sleeve, while the second part 302 includes a male
member. By retracting the female sleeve, a male member can be
easily inserted and affixed within the female sleeve. Although FIG.
1 illustrates the female sleeve being connected directly to the
wetsuit rinsing hanger 100 with the male member being connectable
with a water hose, it can be appreciated by one in the art that the
first part 300 can be formed to include the female sleeve while the
second part 302 includes the male member. To enable the fluid
provider attachment 108 to attach with a water hose, the fluid
provider attachment 108 includes threads 304 that correspond to a
water hose's threads.
[0054] In another aspect, it may be desirable to rinse the wetsuit
while it hangs in a shower. In doing so, a hose is often out of
reach, leaving the shower head as a desirable source of fluid. As
such, the present invention also comprises a shower head adapter
306 for attaching between a shower head and the fluid provider
attachment 108. The shower head adapter 306 includes a shower head
attachment 308 and a flexible hose 310 for connecting the shower
head attachment 308 with the fluid provider attachment 108. The
shower head attachment 308 is any suitable device for attaching
with a shower head, non-limiting examples of which include a funnel
with a hook, and a flexible container that can be slid over and
affixed with the shower head. As can be appreciated by one in the
art, the flexible hose 310 may be directly attached to the fluid
provider attachment 108, or may include a detachably attachable
mechanism as described above.
[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates a hose 400 being attached with the fluid
provider attachment 108. As shown in FIG. 5, after the hose 400 is
attached, a fluid 500 (e.g., water) may be passed through the fluid
provider attachment 108, through the elongated body member 102 and,
out of the plurality of holes 106. To assist in dispersing the
fluid 500 in a plurality of directions, divots 502 may be included
in the elongated body member 102. In this aspect, the holes 106 are
formed within the divots 502. The divots 502 decrease the thickness
of the elongated body member 102 at the hole's 106 location so that
fluid dispersed through the hole 106 is less channeled and allowed
to spray in multiple directions. Additionally, because a wetsuit is
typically hanging upon the elongated body member 102, the divots
502 provide space for the water to travel to. The weight and
presence of the wetsuit may impede flow from the holes 106, and as
such, the divot provides a space between the hole 106 and the
wetsuit, thereby increasing fluid 500 flow.
[0056] Through use of divots 502, the elongated body member 102 has
a sufficient thickness to maintain its supportive properties, yet
has a diminished thickness at the hole's 106 location.
Additionally, the holes 106 are formed such that they face a
plurality of directions, thereby also allowing fluid to be sprayed
against an attached wetsuit from a plurality of angles.
[0057] As noted above, a wet wetsuit may possess a considerable
amount of weight. If a user were to hang a wet wetsuit upon a
traditional hanger, it is possible that as gravity pulls the
wetsuit down upon the hanger, the hanger will deform the shoulder
portions of the wetsuit. To prevent deformation of the wetsuit, the
elongated body member 102 includes a width 504 that is sufficiently
wide to support a wet wetsuit while preventing its deformation. As
a non-limiting example, the width 504 is at least one inch.
[0058] An important aspect of the present invention is the ability
to adequately disperse a fluid through the wetsuit rinsing hanger
100 and onto a wetsuit. To further assist this process, and as
shown in FIG. 6, a downward protrusion 600 may be connected with
the elongated body member 102. The downward protrusion 600 includes
a plurality of holes 106 to further disperse a fluid. The downward
protrusion 600 enables the wetsuit rinsing hanger 100 to extend
further into an interior of a wetsuit to assist in the rinsing
process.
[0059] In another configuration, and as shown in FIG. 7, an
external spray member 700 may be formed to be in fluid connection
with the hollow cavity of the elongated body member 102. The
external spray member 700 includes a plurality of holes 106 such
that as a fluid is passed from the elongated body member 102 and
through the external spray member 700, the fluid is dispersed
through the plurality of holes 106 and sprayed against an external
portion of an attached wetsuit.
[0060] The external spray member 700 may be formed in a variety of
shapes to allow for spraying fluid against an external portion of
an attached wetsuit. As a non-limiting example, the elongated body
member 102 has a first side 702 and a second side 704, with the
external spray member 700 being formed such that it extends in
multiple directions on each of the first 702 and second 704 sides.
By having a multi-directional external spray member 700, water
dispersed through the external spray member 700 is sprayed onto
multiple sides of an attached wetsuit.
[0061] In another aspect and as shown in FIG. 8, a cleansing
solution dispenser 800 may be connected with the elongated body
member 102. The cleansing solution dispenser 800 is in fluid
connection with the hollow cavity of the elongated body member 102.
The cleansing solution dispenser 800 is formed such that as a fluid
is passed into the elongated body member 102, a cleansing solution
802 disposed within the cleansing solution dispenser 800 is drawn
from the dispenser 800 to be mixed with the fluid. A solution
control mechanism 804 may be affixed with the dispenser 800 to
allow a user to selectively control the amount of cleansing
solution 802 that is drawn from the dispenser 800. For example, a
solution control mechanism 804 may include a slide-able wheel 808
having a solution hole 808 that can be rotated around to pair up
with a second solution hole 810. By turning the slide-able wheel
808, a user may selectively control the amount of cleansing
solution 802 that is allowed to flow through the elongated body
member 102 and onto the wetsuit.
[0062] As can be appreciated by one in the art, the wetsuit rinsing
hanger 100 can be formed in a variety of shapes. For illustrative
purposes, FIG. 9 depicts yet another form of a wetsuit rinsing
hanger 100. In this aspect, the downward protrusion 600 also
operates as the fluid provider attachment 108. Additionally, the
elongated body member 102 includes an arcuate shape. In addition to
its width 504, the arcuate shape assists in dispersing weight from
a wet and heavy wetsuit. Both the width 504 and arcuate shape help
to prevent deformation of the wetsuit.
[0063] While rinsing the wetsuit, it may be desirable to receive a
notification when the wetsuit has been thoroughly rinsed and dried.
Accordingly, the wetsuit rinsing hanger 100 optionally includes a
sensor system for notifying a user when the salt water has been
sufficiently removed from the wetsuit and, for notifying a user
when the wetsuit is dry.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 10, the sensor system 1000 is connected
with the elongated body member 102. The sensor system 1000 includes
a sensor 1002, a micro-computer 1004, and an alarm 1006. A power
source 1008 such as a battery is included to power the sensor
system 1000. The sensor is functional for sensing various
properties of an attached wetsuit, such as the salinity content of
the water dripping from the wetsuit and the moisture content of the
air around the wetsuit (and thereby the moisture content of the
wetsuit). For example, the sensor is a salinity sensor and/or a
moisture sensor.
[0065] After sensing the respective property (i.e., salinity and
moisture), the sensor transmits a signal containing characteristics
of the property to the micro-computer 1004. After receiving the
signal, the micro-computer 1004 is configured through instruction
means to determine if the characteristics satisfy a predetermined
threshold for that property. As a non-limiting example, the
threshold may be less than 3% saline content in the water that is
flowing from the wetsuit.
[0066] The term "instruction means" as used with respect to this
invention generally indicates a set of operations to be performed
on a computer, and may represent pieces of a whole program or
individual, separable, software modules. Non-limiting examples of
"instruction means" include computer program code (source or object
code) and "hard-coded" electronics (i.e. computer operations coded
into a computer chip). The "instruction means" may be stored in the
memory of a computer or on a computer readable medium such as a
floppy disk, a CD-ROM, and a flash drive.
[0067] Once the predetermined threshold has been met, a signal is
sent to the alarm 1006 to alert a user. The alarm is any suitable
device for alerting someone, non-limiting examples of which include
an audible alarm (such as a siren) and a visual alarm (such as a
light).
[0068] In operation, a user is notified after the salt water has
been sufficiently removed from the wetsuit, thereby allow a user to
turn off the water to begin the drying process. When drying the
wetsuit, a user is further notified when the wetsuit is dry
(3) CONCLUSION
[0069] In conclusion, as shown in FIG. 11, the present invention is
a wetsuit rinsing hanger 100 that allows a user to simply hang up
the wetsuit 1100, attach the wetsuit rinsing hanger 100 to a hose
400 and turn on the fluid 500 (e.g., water). The invention includes
a water inlet at a fluid provider attachment 108 and a hollow
elongated body member 102 in the shape of a hanger with
appropriately placed holes 106 for rinsing every the wetsuit 1100.
The fluid 500 is taken into the elongated body member 102 through
the fluid provider attachment 108 and is then passed through the
holes 106 to the wetsuit 1100. The fluid 500 then flows through the
wetsuit 1100 with the assistance of gravity to thoroughly rinse the
wetsuit 1100.
[0070] The wetsuit rinsing hanger 100 will be able to rinse the
wetsuit 1100 thoroughly without any interaction from the user. Once
the wetsuit 1100 is rinsed the user simply turns off the fluid 500
and lets the wetsuit 1100 hang to dry, thus greatly simplifying the
rinsing and drying process and prolonging the life of the wetsuit
1100. Additionally, a sensor system may be included that notifies a
user when the wetsuit 1100 has been thoroughly rinsed and
dried.
* * * * *