Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Use of wetsuits in water sports is a common practice. One problem associated with using wet suits is the task of drying the wetsuit in between sessions. Typically a surfer may rinse the suit out at a beach side shower then put it in a bucket until they get home to hang it out and let it dry. 
         [0002]    A common practice is the use of a bucket or tub to transport the wet wetsuit in the users vehicle. Typically the user will not leave the wetsuit in the bucket or tub because the water draining from the suit collects in the bottom of the bucket and does not allow the suit to dry. The ability to allow a wet suit to dry while stored in the user&#39;s vehicle is highly desirable. The hanging out and drying of wet suits after transport from the beach or other water sports venue adds another chore to the experience of enjoying water sports. 
         [0003]    The described invention is designed to address these issues. 
       NOTES 
       [0004]    The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”. 
         [0005]    The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a drying aid for the drying of a wet wetsuit or other wet material; the drying aid comprising an assembly configurable for use between a first or bucket mode and a second or tub mode; the drying aid supporting the wet wetsuit or other wet material above a level of water draining from the wet wetsuit or other wet material. 
         [0007]    Preferably the assembly substantially conforms to a base of a bucket when in the first mode, and conforms substantially to an elongated base of a tub when in the second mode. 
         [0008]    Preferably the assembly includes two generally horizontal and opposing top plates; each of the two top plates interconnected with, and spaced apart from, corresponding opposing bottom plates by structural elements. 
         [0009]    Preferably at least the opposing top plates are provided with drainage holes. 
         [0010]    Preferably the opposing top plates and corresponding opposing bottom plates are separated sufficiently to locate the opposing top plates above a level of water draining from a wet wetsuit or other wet material placed in the bucket or tub. 
         [0011]    Preferably the assembly further includes a slider assembly comprising an upper facing plate interconnected with, and spaced apart from a corresponding bottom facing plate; the upper facing plate and bottom facing plate spaced apart so as to allow the slider assembly to slide between the opposing top plates and opposing bottom plates. 
         [0012]    Preferably the upper facing plate and bottom facing plate are provided with slots to guide and control an extension of the opposing top plates and opposing bottom plates from the bucket mode to the tub mode. 
         [0013]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of drying a wet wetsuit or other wet material in a bucket or tub; the method including the steps of:
       i. placing a drying aid configurable between a first or bucket mode and a second or tub mode at the bottom of the bucket or tub,   ii. placing the wet wetsuit or other wet material on upper surfaces of the drying aid, and   iii. wherein the drying aid comprises an assembly including at least opposing top plates and corresponding opposing bottom plates interconnected by structural elements; the opposing top plates and opposing bottom plates spaced apart sufficient to locate the opposing top plates above a level of water draining from the wet wetsuit or other wet material placed in the bucket or tub.       
 
         [0017]    Preferably the assembly further includes a slider assembly comprising an upper facing plate and a bottom facing plate. 
         [0018]    Preferably the upper facing plate and bottom facing plate are interconnected by structural elements and space apart to allow the slider assembly to slide between the opposing top plates and opposing bottom plates. 
         [0019]    Preferably the upper facing plate and bottom facing plate are provided with slots to guide and control an extension of the opposing top plates and opposing bottom plates from the bucket mode to the tub mode. The features and advantages described in this disclosure and in the following detailed description are not all-inclusive. 
         [0020]    Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims hereof. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter; reference to the claims is necessary to determine such inventive subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood, by reference to the following description of one or more embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1   a —Plan view of the example embodiment in bucket mode, 
           [0023]      FIG. 1   b —Front elevation view of example embodiment in bucket mode  FIG. 2   a —Plan view of the example embodiment in tub mode, 
           [0024]      FIG. 2   b —Front elevation view of example embodiment in tub mode FIG.  3 —Perspective view of example embodiment in tub mode, 
           [0025]    FIG.  4 —Side elevation cross section of example embodiment in bucket mode inside a bucket and in use. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    The Figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1   a  discloses a plan view of the example embodiment in buck mode. The device is in a round form including a left  10  and right  11  halves and sits in the bottom of a bucket. The example embodiment contains a top facing plates  10   11  that also have drainage holes in them  13  that allow water from the wetsuit stored above the device to drain down towards the bottom of the bucket a second arrangement of extension plates  16  cannot be seen in this view but are represented as dotted lines in this figure. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1   b  shows a front elevation view of the example embodiment in bucket mode. The two top facing plates  20   21  which can also be seen in  FIG. 1   a    10   11 , are connected to a pair of bottom facing plates  23   22  which are the same size. The bottom facing  23   22  and top facing plates  20   21  are connected by structural spacers  27   28  that ensure that the top facing and bottom facing plates are separated to a distance that allow water from a wet suit in a bucket to drain to the bottom of a bucket and allow the wetsuit to dry while still contained within a bucket. 
         [0029]    Between the bottom  23   22  and top  20   21  surfaces is a structure  24   26  that is not used in bucket mode but allows the device to be extended for use in an elongated oval shaped container such as a tub. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2   a  shows a plan view of the example embodiment in tub mode. In tub mode the two upper facing plates  30   31  are separated and connected by a slider assembly  32  which contains guide tracks  33   34  that allow the two halves  30   31  to separate in a repeatable and predictable manner so that the device can be used in tubs which typically have an elongated egg shape in their base rather than a circular shape as in the case of the bottom of a bucket. 
         [0031]    This configuration allows the drainage capability of the device to be used in a tub, where the wet suit is still suspended above the bottom of the tub and the draining capability of the device allows the wetsuit to dry while the drained water is below the wetsuit due to the height of the device. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2   b  shows a front elevation view of the example embodiment in extended or tub mode. The top facing plates  40   41  are separated from the bottom facing plates  43   42  by spacers  46   47 . 
         [0033]    The connecting slider assembly  44  also has a top facing plate  44  and a bottom facing plate  45  that are separated also by spacers  48  that allow drainage of water while the weight of the wetsuit is supported to help keep the suit above the waterline of the drained water. Pins are used to connect the outer plates to the connecting slider assembly and the slider slots  33   34  allow the two outside parts  30   31  to slide out and extend to the full width of the tub in which it is being used. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the example embodiment in tub or extended mode. The upper facing plates  50   51  connect with spacers to the bottom facing plates  52   53  and the slider assembly  54   55  allows the two parts  50   53  and  51   52  to separate and extend to the size of the tub in which the device is being used. 
         [0035]    The slider assembly contains an upper facing plate  54  and a lower facing plate  55  with spacers that separate the two plates  54   55  and slots  56  that act as guide slides to allow the two outer parts  50   53  and  51   52  to extend in a uniform, predictable and controlled manner. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section of a front elevation view of the example embodiment in bucket mode. The bucket  60  contains a storage space for the transport of a wetsuit  63  where the water from the wet wetsuit  63  drains through the drainage holes of the example embodiment  61  to a holding area  62  at the bottom of the bucket. This arrangement allows the wetsuit to drain and dry without the need for hanging out the wetsuit to dry. The height of the example embodiment is large enough to allow the wetsuit to drain and remain dry during normal use and driving where turns and bumps may make the water in the bottom of the bucket splash and spray. 
         [0037]    The result is a simple easy to use and adaptable device that allows users to store and dry wet suits in the users vehicle between water sports sessions. 
       ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT 
       [0038]    The example embodiment shows a double sided device that allows the device to be dropped into the bottom of a bucket or tub without consideration to which side is facing up. An alternative embodiment could use a configuration where there is a plate only on the upper facing plane and where spacer legs are used to keep the plate above the waterline of the drained water in the bucket or tub. An alternative embodiment could use any porous material that allows the wetsuit to be suspended above the waterline of the drained water. 
         [0039]    The example embodiment is applied to the use of a wetsuit. 
         [0040]    An alternative embodiment could be applied to any material where the user would like the suspended material to drain and dry while being suspended above the drained water or fluid. This approach could be applied to but not limited to the drying of laundry or use in laundry tubs, baskets or buckets. 
         [0041]    The example embodiment is applied to use in buckets or tubs. An alternative embodiment could see the devices use in any situation where wet or liquid soaked materials need to be drained and remain dry after draining.

Technology Category: 6