Abstract:
A scuba tank caddy, having an optional gear drying rack and an optional portable shower, for improving the comfort and convenience of the scuba diver. Additional advantages include, but are not limited to, retractable wheels, telescoping shower head, tank-pressurizing freshwater shower, and corrosion-resistence.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Ser. No. 60/189,520 filed Mar. 15, 2000. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of scuba diving equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparati for transporting scuba diving equipment. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a dive equipment transportation apparatus, such as a scuba tank caddy having optional features (e.g. a gear drying rack and a portable shower), and its method of fabrication. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With steady interest in the sport of scuba diving, there is a need for effectively transporting scuba diving equipment. Currently, scuba divers are unduly burdened by carrying heavy dive gear along with very heavy air tanks over their shoulders to a dive site. Related art scuba equipment transportation apparati are large nylon bags which do not provide sufficient convenience to the scuba diver. By merely placing all the dive gear in a large bag, the diver is still encumbered with the excessive weight. Thus, a method of manufacturing a lightweight, durable, and cost-effective apparatus for conveniently transporting dive gear, such as a scuba tank caddy with optional features for improving the scuba diving experience (e.g. a gear drying rack and a portable shower), and an apparatus thereby produced are desirable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a method of fabricating a lightweight, durable, and cost-effective scuba tank caddy, having an optional gear drying rack and an optional portable shower, for improving the comfort and convenience of the scuba diver, and a caddy thereby manufactured. Generally, the scuba tank caddy&#39;s method of fabrication comprises the steps of (a) providing a tank-holder, having a floor for supporting at least one tank, a full-span of at least one tank diameter, and a mid-span located at one-half the full-span; (b) providing an axle, having two ends, the axle being rotatably mounted to the tank-holder; (c) providing two wheels, each wheel of the two wheels being rotatably mounted to each of the two ends of the axle; (d) providing a handle assembly, having a handle stem and a handle bar; (e) providing an elongated tank-holder stem oriented normally to the tank-holder floor, having a top, a bottom, a rear-side, and a pull, the elongated tank-holder stem bottom being mounted at the mid-span of the tank-holder and the handle stem being coaxially oriented with and collapsibly mounted to the elongated tank-holder stem top, the pull being perpendicularly mounted on the rear-side of the elongated tank-holder stem top; and (f) a tank-retaining mechanism, the tank-retaining mechanism being fastened to the elongated tank-holder stem near the elongated tank-holder stem top, thereby producing the scuba tank caddy. 
     Subsequently, at least one tank and dive gear are placed in the caddy for easy transportation and usage. The scuba diver can then roll the caddy containing his/her gear and at least one tank along the ground by merely holding the handle bar or the pull, with the caddy angled toward him/her, while walking to the dive site, however remote. Additional advantages provided by the instant invention include, but are not limited to, retractable wheels, wheel-fairings, telescoping shower assembly, tank-pressurizing freshwater shower, self-retracting shower head, and corrosion-resistant components. Thus, “creature-comforts” and convenience have been provided by the present invention to the diver, in contrast to related art gear bags. Further, the manufacture of the present invention involves the use of corrosion-resistant materials, such as polymeric materials, resulting in a more convenient, more durable, and more cost-effective product than the related art apparati. 
     Other features of the present invention are disclosed or apparent in the section entitled: “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.” 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the present invention, the accompanying drawings are below referenced. 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a basic embodiment of a scuba tank caddy with its wheels in an un-retracted position for rolling at least one tank along the ground and having an optional wheel-fairing mounted on each wheel, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the basic embodiment of a scuba tank caddy with its wheels in a retracted position for use in water or for storage and having an optional wheel-fairing mounted on each wheel, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a scuba tank caddy with its handle assembly in a down position, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of a scuba tank caddy with its handle assembly in an up position, for rolling at least one tank along the ground, for drying dive gear in situ, and for portably showering a diver in situ, in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     Reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of a present invention basic embodiment of a scuba tank caddy  100  wherein an air tank  10  is placed in a tank-holder  20  having been rotatably mounted to two wheels  40 , by either a fastening means or a retracting means  30 , in their un-retracted position for rolling at least one tank  10  along the ground. An optional wheel-fairing  35  is mounted to each of the two wheels  40 , by either the fastening means or the retracting means  30 , for reducing drag and preventing seaweed entanglement during use in water. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the present invention basic embodiment of a scuba tank caddy  100  wherein an air tank  10  is placed in a tank-holder  20  having been rotatably mounted, to two wheels  40 , by either the fastening means or the retracting means  30 , in their retracted position for use in water or for storage. The optional wheel-fairing  35  is mounted to each of the two wheels  40 , by either the fastening means or the retracting means  30 , for reducing drag and preventing seaweed entanglement during use in water. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a present invention preferred embodiment of a scuba tank caddy  200 , comprising: a tank-holder  20  for holding at least one tank  10 , each of the at least one tank  10  having a top  10   a  and a bottom  10   b , the tank-holder  20  having a rear wall  20   rw  and a floor for supporting the tank-bottom  10   b , and the tank-holder  20  having a full-span equal to an integer number of at least one tank  10  diameter and a mid-span located at one-half of the tank-holder  20  full-span; an axle  50  having two ends, the axle  50  being rotatably mounted to the tank-holder  20 ; two wheels  40 , which may be made optionally retractable, for facilitating usage of the caddy  200  in water and storage of the caddy  200  when not in use, each wheel of the two wheels  40  being rotatably mounted, by either fastening means or a retracting means  30  such as an over-center cam lever, to each of the two axle ends; a handle assembly  60 , in a down position, having a handle stem  61  and a handlebar, the handle stem  61  having a top and a bottom, the handlebar having two ends, the handlebar having a full-span and a mid-span located at one-half of the handlebar full-span, and the handle stem  61  top being mounted at the handle stem top, by a fastening means, to the handlebar at the handlebar mid-span; an elongated tank-holder stem  21  oriented normally to the tank-holder floor, the elongated tank-holder stem  21  having a top  21   a , a bottom  21   b , a rear-side, and a pull  21   c , the tank-holder stem bottom  21   b  being mounted, by a fastening means, to the tank-holder  20  at the tank-holder mid-span, the pull  21   c  being perpendicularly mounted on the rear-side of the elongated tank-holder stem top  21   a , the handle stem bottom being coaxially oriented with and collapsibly mounted, by a collapsing means, to the elongated tank-holder stem top  21   a ; and a restraining means  70 , such as a locking strap, for restraining the tank-top  10   a , the restraining means  70  being mounted, by a fastening means, to the elongated tank-holder stem  21  near the elongated tank-holder stem top  21   a . The caddy  200  may further comprise two wheel-fairings  35 , for reducing drag and preventing seaweed entanglement during use in water. Each of the two wheel-fairings  35  may be mounted to each of the two wheels  40  by either a fastening means or the retracting means  30 . 
     In addition, the tank-holder stem  21  of the scuba tank caddy  200  may bear a hollow cross-section having a given set of inner dimensions, wherein the handle stem  61  has a cross-section having a given set of outer dimensions, wherein the elongated tank-holder stem  21  hollow cross-section set of inner-dimensions is larger, by a slight tolerance, such as a tolerance in the range of 0.031 inch to 0.0625 inch, than the handle stem  61  cross-section set of outer dimensions, wherein the handle stem  61  is coaxially and collapsibly mounted, by a collapsing means, within the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , wherein the collapsing means comprises the handle stem  61  being telescopic from within the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , and wherein the handle stem  61  is positioned within the elongated tank-holder stem  21  by a locking means  80  such as a locking pin, a threaded locking ring, a spring-loaded detent, or a locking clip. 
     Along with this telescopic feature, the scuba tank caddy  200  may further comprise: a reservoir  90  for storing a volume of freshwater, the reservoir  90  having a top  90   a  and a bottom  90   b , the reservoir  90  being either fixedly or detachably mounted to the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , the reservoir bottom  90   b  being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as a quick-disconnect, and in fluid communication with the elongated tank-holder stem bottom  21   b , and the reservoir top  90   a  being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as a quick disconnect fitting used in combination with a low pressure quick disconnect hose (e.g. Oceanic™ inlet coupling, part #83365, in conjunction with Oceanic™ hose connection, part #816172.26), and in fluid communication with the tank-top  10   a ; at least one shower head  95  being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as a quick-disconnect, a flexible hose, or a self-retracting flexible hose, to at least one of the two handlebar ends; wherein the volume of freshwater in the reservoir  90  is pressurized with a volume of residual air from the at least one tank  10  by opening at least one tank valve, wherein the volume of freshwater is displaced from the reservoir  90  by the volume of residual air through the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , subsequently through the handle stem  61 , and consequently through at least one handlebar end, being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as the quick-disconnect, the flexible hose, or the self-retracting flexible hose, to the at least one shower head  95 , wherein the volume of freshwater is forced through the at least one shower head  95 , and thereby providing at least one in-situ shower. The reservoir  90  may be either formed from a black material or coated with a black material for self-heating of the contained volume of freshwater by solar energy absorption, and thereby providing a warm in-situ shower. 
     Having the foregoing handle assembly  60 , the scuba tank caddy  200  may further comprise a retaining means (as shown in FIG.  4  and described, infra) for hanging and facilitating the drying of wet dive gear, wherein the retaining means, in turn, comprises a web strap and a plurality of hooks, the plurality of hooks being mounted, by a fastening means, to the web strap for hanging and facilitating the drying of wet dive gear. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the present invention preferred embodiment of a scuba tank caddy  200 , comprising: a tank-holder  20  for holding at least one tank  10 , each of the at least one tank  10  having a top  10   a  and a bottom  10   b , the tank-holder  20  having a rear wall  20   rw  and a floor for supporting the tank-bottom  10   b , and the tank-holder  20  having a full-span equal to an integer number of at least one tank  10  diameter and a mid-span located at one-half of the tank-holder  20  full-span; an axle  50  having two ends, the axle  50  being rotatably mounted to the tank-holder  20 ; two wheels  40 , which may be made optionally retractable, for facilitating usage of the caddy  200  in water and storage of the caddy  200  when not in use, each wheel of the two wheels  40  being rotatably mounted, by either a fastening means or a retracting means  30  such as an over-center cam lever, to each of the two axle ends; a handle assembly  60 , in an up position for rolling at least one tank  10  along the ground, having a handle stem  61  and a handlebar  62 , the handle stem  61  having a top  61   a  and a bottom  61   b , the handlebar  62  having two ends,  62   a ,  62   b , the handlebar  62  having a full-span and a mid-span located at one-half of the handlebar  62  full-span, and the handle stem  61  being mounted at the handle stem top  61   a , by a fastening means, to the handlebar  62  at the handlebar  62  mid-span; an elongated tank-holder stem  21  oriented normally to the tank-holder floor, the elongated tank-holder stem  21  having a top  21   a , a bottom  21   b , and a pull  21   c , the elongated tank-holder stem bottom  21   b  being mounted, by a fastening means, to the tank-holder  20  at the tank-holder mid-span, the handle stem bottom  61   b  being coaxially oriented with and collapsibly mounted within the elongated tank-holder stem top  21   a ; and a restraining means  70 , such as a locking strap, for restraining the tank-top  10   a , the restraining means  70  being mounted, by a fastening means, to the elongated tank-holder stem  21  near the elongated tank-holder stem top  21   a . The caddy  200  is shown further comprising the two optional wheel-fairings  35 , for reducing drag and preventing seaweed entanglement during use in water. Each of the two optional wheel-fairings  35  may mounted to each of the two wheels  40  by either the fastening means or the retracting means  30 . 
     In addition, the tank-holder stem  21  of the scuba tank caddy  200  may bear a hollow cross-section having a given set of inner dimensions, wherein the handle stem  61  has a cross-section having a given set of outer dimensions, wherein the elongated tank-holder stem  21  hollow cross-section set of inner-dimensions is larger, by a slight tolerance, such as a tolerance in the range of 0.031 inch to 0.0625 inch, than the handle stem  61  cross-section set of outer dimensions, wherein the handle stem  61  is coaxially and collapsibly mounted, by a collapsing means, within the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , wherein the collapsing means comprises the handle stem  61  being telescopic from within the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , and wherein the handle stem  61  is positioned within the elongated tank-holder stem  21  by a locking means  80  such as a locking pin, a threaded locking ring, a spring-loaded detent, or a locking clip. 
     Along with this telescopic feature, the scuba tank caddy  200  may further comprise: a reservoir  90  for storing a volume of freshwater, the reservoir  90  having a top  90   a  and a bottom  90   b , the reservoir  90  being either fixedly or detachably mounted to the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , the reservoir bottom  90   b  being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as a quick-disconnect, and in fluid communication with the elongated tank-holder stem bottom  21   b , and the reservoir top  90   a  being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as a quick disconnect, and in fluid communication with the tank-top  10   a ; at least one shower head  95  being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as a quick-disconnect, a flexible hose, or a self-retracting flexible hose, to at least one of the two handlebar ends  62   a ,  62   b ; wherein the volume of freshwater in the reservoir  90  is pressurized with a volume of residual air from the at least one tank  10  by opening at least one tank valve, wherein the volume of freshwater is displaced from the reservoir  90  by the volume of residual air, through the elongated tank-holder stem  21 , subsequently through the handle stem  61 , and consequently through at least one handlebar end,  62   a ,  62   b , being either fixedly mounted by a fastening means or detachably mounted by a disconnecting means such as the quick-disconnect, a flexible hose, or a self-retracting flexible hose, to the at least one shower head  95 , wherein the volume of freshwater is forced through the at least one shower head  95 , and thereby providing at least one in-situ shower. The reservoir  90  may be either formed from a black material or coated with a black material for self-heating of the contained volume of freshwater by solar energy absorption, and thereby providing a warm in-situ shower. 
     Having the foregoing handle assembly  60 , the scuba tank caddy  200  may further comprise a retaining means  63  for hanging and facilitating the drying of wet dive gear, wherein the retaining means, in turn, comprises a web strap  65  and a plurality of hooks  64 , the plurality of hooks  64  being mounted, by a fastening means, to the web strap  65  for hanging and facilitating the drying of wet dive gear in situ. 
     Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”