Patent Publication Number: US-2006006302-A1

Title: Apparatus to support at least one compressed gas cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      Not Applicable  
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not Applicable  
     DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX  
      Not Applicable  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to the field of SCUBA Diving and more specifically to an apparatus that is anchored by utilizing a vehicle&#39;s existing trailer hitch receiver to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear.  
      This invention relates generally to the field of SCUBA Diving and more specifically to an apparatus to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear.  
      SCUBA Diving is both labor and equipment intensive. In preparing to dive, a person must assemble a “SCUBA Unit” which is comprised of at least one compressed gas cylinder, a buoyancy compensation device which is a vest that one inflates or deflates to maintain neutral buoyancy in the water as well as providing anchoring points to hold equipment, enough lead weight to compensate for for the positive buoyancy of the human body and exposure suits. In addition, other equipment is also attached to the unit depending on the requirements of a particular dive. Inflatable buoys, dive reels, slates, knives and collection bags are just some of the most common items used and attached to the buoyancy compensator.  
      This assembly process usually occurs on the ground, a picnic bench, on the tailgate of a pickup or out of the trunk of a car. Often times, during or after assembly, equipment falls, causing medical injury and damage to equipment. Also, it is necessary to have another individual hold up or hold stable another person&#39;s equipment while they don it. If a large individual and a small individual are diving together, the smaller person may not be able to support the gear of the larger person.  
      Without a means of stable support of the SCUBA cylinder, and therefore the SCUBA unit and all the attached equipment, the risk of personal injury, equipment damage and the fatigue experienced prior to and after diving is greatly increased.  
      I do not know of any other apparatus that has been designed to support SCUBA gear for the purpose of assembly and donning and doffing.  
      I have seen vehicle hitch mounted accessories for items that provide storage and transportation, but never have seen the concept used for a method of assembly.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary object of the invention is to provide support for one or more SCUBA Cylinders by a singular means so that there is 360 degree access to said cylinder(s) for the purpose of assembling the SCUBA Unit(s).  
      Another object of the invention is to provide complete stability for heavy SCUBA equipment to prevent injury to divers or equipment due to cylinders and/or assembled SCUBA units falling over.  
      A further object of the invention is to hold assembled SCUBA Unit(s) at a convenient height so that a SCUBA Diver can don equipment without assistance.  
      Yet another object of the invention is to receive assembled SCUBA Unit(s) at a convenient height so that a SCUBA Diver can doff equipment without assistance.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide support by utilizing a vehicle&#39;s existing trailer hitch receiver.  
      Still yet another object of the invention is to provide easy one step assembly and adjustment of apparatus.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide easy disassembly and storage.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.  
      In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an apparatus to support at least one compressed gas SCUBA cylinder for assisting with safely assembling SCUBA Gear comprising: One or more receptacles, circular in shape, that are slightly larger in diameter than the SCUBA cylinders that they are meant to accommodate and are just deep enough to provide the cylinder complete vertical support, creating a singular point of vertical support, preventing SCUBA cylinder from falling over, an upper support bar onto which the circular receptacles are permanently mounted, that provides a substructure for horizontal support to the base of the SCUBA cylinder. A vertical support bar permanently attached to and descending from the upper support bar which that features a plurality of apertures to provide for adjustable height. A collar to accommodate the previously mentioned vertical support bar, with apertures on either side. A hitch pin to hold apparatus at desired height by setting through aligned apertures of vertical support and collar, and a lower horizontal support bar that is fixed with previously mentioned collar to accommodate vertical support bar as well as fit into a vehicle&#39;s existing trailer hitch receiver to provide the base support for entire apparatus.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention, assembled with an illustration of one cylinder seated in a receptacle and one cylinder elevated to demonstrate the featured concept of the support receptacle.  
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the invention demonstrating the vertical support in conjunction with the lower horizontal support and the intended use of the adjustment apertures.  
       FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating the orientation of the circular receptacles the upper horizontal support bar as well as illustrating the collar that is described as attached to the lower horizontal support bar.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the intended embodiment of the apparatus is demonstrated. The main apparatus which is comprised of an upper horizontal support  50  on top of which, at either end is permanently attached (welded) circular receptacles  60  and  70  that have an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the SCUBA compressed gas cylinder(s)  200  and  210  that will be supported by inserting the base of SCUBA compressed gas cylinder(s)  200  and  210  into the receptacles  60  and  70  and resting the bottom of the cylinder(s)  200  and  210  onto the upper horizontal support bar  50 . The receptacles  60  and  70  are constructed with a wall of sufficient thickness and height to be deep enough to prevent the intended compressed gas cylinder(s)  200  and  210  from leaning to such an angle as to cause the supported compressed gas cylinder(s)  200  and  210  to fall from the receptacle  60  and  70 , creating a singular method of support eliminating the need for any additional support or restraint, thus providing 360 degree access to the compressed gas cylinder(s)  200  and  210 , facilitating an easier, safer environment to prepare the SCUBA Unit for use. Permanently attached to (welded) and descending from horizontal support  50  is vertical support  40  which has a plurality of apertures  100  placed at intervals from top to bottom to provide for a means of height adjustment when used in conjunction with collar  20 .  
      Lower horizontal support  10  which is comprised of square tubing of the correct size for the intended vehicle&#39;s existing trailer receiver is inserted into the vehicle&#39;s existing trailer hitch receiver. At the end of lower horizontal support  10  that is inserted into the vehicle&#39;s existing trailer hitch receiver, there are two apertures  110  that will align with the vehicle&#39;s existing trailer receiver apertures so that hitch pin  90  can be inserted through the four apertures providing an anchor point for the apparatus. On the opposite end of lower horizontal support  10  is permanently attached (welded) collar  20 . Collar  20  has two apertures  30  to accommodate vertical support  40  which has a plurality of apertures  100  equally spaced along the support to accommodate vertical adjustment. Vertical support  40  is inserted into collar  20  and adjusted to desired height by inserting the hitch pin  80  through the apertures  30  on collar  20  into the appropriate apertures  100  on vertical support  40  to achieve the desired height of receptacles  60  and  70 . Also important in the construction of lower horizontal support bar  10  is that it is made of sufficient length to hold the apparatus far enough from the anchoring vehicle to aid in achieving the 360 degree access to the supported cylinders.  
       FIG. 2  is an elevation of the apparatus, displaying circular receptacles  60  and  70  permanently attached to upper horizontal support bar  50  and vertical support bar  40  which is also permanently attached to upper horizontal support bar  50 .  
       FIG. 3  is a side view showing circular receptacle  60  attached to upper horizontal support bar  50 , vertical support bar  40  including the vertical adjustment apertures  100 , and lower horizontal support bar  10  including collar  20  which contains the apertures  30  that will align with apertures  100  to provide for adjustable vertical support and at the opposite end of lower support bar  10  are the apertures  110  to anchor the apparatus to the existing vehicle trailer hitch receiver using hitch pin  90 .  
       FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the orientation of the receptacles  60  and  70  on horizontal support bar  50  onto which they are permanently attached (welded) and and a view of lower horizontal support bar  10  demonstrating the relationship that provides the 360 degree access to the support apparatus.  
      Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the order of assembly and usage is that lower horizontal support bar  10  is inserted into existing vehicles trailer hitch receiver (not shown) and apertures  110  are aligned with existing apertures in vehicle&#39;s trailer receiver and secured with hitch pin  90 , The vertical support bar portion of the apparatus  40  is then inserted into collar  20  and held at the desired height by aligning the appropriate apertures  100  with apertures  30  and inserting hitch pin  80 , thus completing assembly.  
      To use, after arriving at the dive site, the device is assembled and a compressed gas SCUBA cylinder  200  or  210  is placed into one of the receptacles  60  or  70  and rested onto upper horizontal bar  50 . Horizontal bar  50  provides the substructure that prevents the cylinder(s)  200  and  210  from falling though receptacle  60  and  70  while receptacles  60  and  70  provide vertical support to the cylinder(s)  200  and  210 , preventing the cylinder(s) from falling over.  
      The SCUBA diver may now safely attach the buoyancy compensating device (not shown) to the cylinder  200  or  210  and attach the regulator assembly to the cylinder  200  or  210  and in turn, may complete assembly and attach all necessary weights and peripheral equipment to the buoyancy compensating device. Once the SCUBA Unit is safely assembled, all the diver needs to do is back into the buoyancy compensating device and strap it onto her/his torso, adjust the SCUBA Unit as needed to fit and simply raise the cylinder  200  or  210  out of the receptacle  60  or  70  by raising their ankles and they are prepared to enter the water.  
      Upon completion of the dive, the diver backs up to the apparatus and positions the cylinder  200  or  210  into the receptacle  60  or  70  and releases the buoyancy compensating device and steps away from the assembled gear. Disassembly of the SCUBA gear is made appreciably easier when supported in this apparatus.  
      The device is then easily disassembled and stored.  
      While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.