EP3282048B1 - Device for drying scuba elements - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of drying devices, and in particular devices for drying dive equipment while limiting its contact with the immediate environment of the dryer.

State of the art

The importance of maintaining dive equipment such as a scuba gear that usually includes a wetsuit, mask, fins, gloves, buoyancy vest, ballast, and a dry dive bottle. corrosive elements such as salt water is well known. This equipment is normally used in immersion, potentially at high depths, it is essential to properly maintain this equipment. The maintenance of this equipment includes a rinsing step and a drying step subsequent to a diving assignment. However, the drying step can be problematic for several reasons. It is necessary on the one hand to have a dedicated place in order to dry all the material. It is also necessary to have means for placing the various elements of the diving equipment, these means must be properly sized and arranged to dry the material in optimal conditions and to avoid any deformation of the equipment. Finally, it must also ensure that the material once dry does not come into contact with any messy or corrosive, in order to keep the equipment in good condition.

To this end, devices for drying diving equipment have been developed. For example, the document CA2822985 discloses a tripod device for drying clothes, and having a plurality of means for hanging or hanging clothes. The described device also comprises a motor for propelling air within the framework of the tripod, and thus dry clothes hanging or hanging on the tripod more quickly.

This device is not suitable for drying the various elements of a scuba, that is to say at least a diving suit, for example an isothermal suit, a mask, fins, gloves, a stabilizing vest, a ballast and a dry diving bottle. Some of these elements can not be suspended or hooked optimally to ensure their drying. In addition, when the various elements of the scuba apparatus are placed on this device after rinsing, the water from these elements falls on the ground surrounding the device. This is a major drawback when one does not have a room dedicated to drying, or not including a waterproof floor for example. Other devices, in particular described in the documents WO 2011/088498 , US 2007/051686 and US 2008/222909 , disclose similar devices, but do not allow easy drying of the various elements of a scuba, or are not easily transportable.

It is essential in this context to have a device capable of receiving the various elements of a scuba, including at least a diving suit, a mask, flippers, gloves, a stabilizing vest, a weighting and a dry diving bottle, a regulator, and the arrangement of these different elements allows a better drying of each element, while preventing water from spreading around the device. It would also be advantageous for this device to be retractable, so as to be in a compact form when it is not in use in order to greatly facilitate its transport or storage. Finally, it would also be advantageous for this device to include means for accelerating the drying of at least part of the elements constituting the scuba apparatus.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device for drying diving equipment, such as elements of a scuba, which is collapsible and / or retractable, prevents the dripping of water around the device, and allows a drying of each of the elements on a means dedicated to it.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

• Ladite armature comprenant une ossature inférieure en forme de « V » inversé en position déployée, et dont les branches du « V » sont articulées au sommet du « V » inversé,

According to the invention there is provided a collapsible dryer for drying elements of a scuba apparatus suspended or disposed on said dryer, said dryer being adapted to be in a folded position or an extended position, said dryer comprising a frame;

• Said armature comprising an inverted "V" shaped lower frame in the extended position, and whose branches of the "V" are hinged to the top of the inverted "V",

• Ladite armature comprend en outre une ossature supérieure reliée de façon articulée au sommet du « V » inversé, ladite ossature supérieure étant articulée entre une position contre l'ossature inférieure en position repliée, et une position au-dessus du sommet du « V » inversé en position déployée,
• L'ossature inférieure comprend en outre une plaque articulée, ladite plaque étant articulée entre une position contre l'ossature inférieure dans la position repliée, et une position parallèle à la surface sur laquelle repose le séchoir en position déployée,
• L'ossature inférieure comprend en outre un bac de récupération, ledit bac de récupération apte à envelopper l'armature lorsque l'ossature inférieure et l'ossature supérieure sont dans une position repliée les unes contre les autres,
• L'ossature supérieure et l'ossature inférieure comprenant chacune en outre des moyens de suspension pour suspendre des éléments du scaphandre autonome.

Said dryer is further defined in that:

• Said armature further comprises an upper frame hingedly connected to the top of the inverted "V", said upper frame being articulated between a position against the lower frame in the folded position, and a position above the top of the inverted "V" in the deployed position,
• The lower frame further comprises an articulated plate, said plate being articulated between a position against the lower frame in the folded position, and a position parallel to the surface on which the dryer in the deployed position,
• The lower frame further comprises a recovery tank, said recovery tank adapted to envelop the frame when the lower frame and the upper frame are in a folded position against each other,
• The upper frame and the lower frame each further comprising suspension means for suspending the elements of the scuba apparatus.

Indeed, thanks to the dryer according to the invention, each element of a scuba can be placed at a suitable place for drying in good conditions; large items such as the wetsuit can be hung up without touching the ground; the water dripping from the different elements is collected in the tank and keeps the environment around the dryer dry and clean.

Preferably, the recovery tank is hingedly connected to the lower frame pivotally so as to be disposed under the lower frame when the dryer is in the deployed mode. According to this embodiment, during the deployment of the dryer, the recovery tank wrapping the dryer in folded mode, is found to be directly the part of the dryer in contact with the ground without having to move the frame on the recovery tank.

Preferably, the lower frame and the upper frame consist of a set of uprights and at least one cross, preferably at least two sleepers. Such a structure allows the dryer to be light and thus facilitates its transport.

Preferably, the upper frame and the lower frame are hollow frames. This characteristic allows to lighten even more the dryer and thus facilitate its transport. In a complementary manner, the upper frame and the lower frame comprise a plurality of outlet orifices, said outlet orifices being arranged at the level of the suspension means, and an inlet orifice, preferably arranged on the lower frame. . These characteristics make it possible to couple the dryer according to the invention to an air propulsion system. The blown air is introduced at the lower orifice and exits through the outlet openings. This embodiment makes it possible to accelerate the drying of the various elements suspended on the suspension means.

In a still preferred manner, the dryer further comprises a means for blowing air, and able to cooperate with the inlet orifice.

In a preferred version of the invention, the two branches of the inverted "V" of the upper frame consist of two uprights and two sleepers, the sleepers being telescopic, and the upper frame consists of two uprights and at least one telescopic cross member. In this embodiment, the hinged plate and the recovery tank are telescopic in their respective widths.

With this embodiment, the size of the dryer can be reduced as needed, whether the dryer is folded or deployed.

Brief description of the figures

Fig.1

montre une vue en de côté d'un séchoir selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention en position déployée;

Fig.2

montre une vue en perspective de l'armature du séchoir de la fig. 1 en mode replié ;

Fig.3

montre une vue en perspective d'un séchoir selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention de la Fig. 1 ;

Fig.4

montre une vue en perspective d'un bac de récupération selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention en mode déployé.

These and other aspects of the invention will be clarified in the detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings of the figures, in which:

Fig.1

shows a side view of a dryer according to one embodiment of the invention in the deployed position;

Fig.2

shows a perspective view of the frame of the dryer of the Fig. 1 in folded mode;

Fig.3

shows a perspective view of a dryer according to the embodiment of the invention of the Fig. 1 ;

Fig.4

shows a perspective view of a recovery tank according to an embodiment of the invention in deployed mode.

The figures are not scaled or proportioned. Generally, similar or identical elements are denoted by identical references in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The dryer according to the invention is illustrated in particular in FIG. Fig. 1 . The dryer (1) is foldable, i.e., the dryer (1) can be in an extended position, as shown in FIG. Fig. 1 , or in a folded position, as shown in Fig. 3 . In the folded position, the various elements constituting the dryer (1) are arranged against each other, in order to reduce its bulk to the maximum. By length, it is necessary to understand the measure of the distance between the base of the inverted V and the edge with the vertex (12) of V. By width, it is necessary to understand the measure in the direction perpendicular to the measurement of the length.

The dryer (1) consists of two frames hinged together: a lower frame (11) and an upper frame (13). The lower frame (11) is inverted "V" shape when the dryer is in deployed mode. In other words, in the so-called deployed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1 , the branches of the "V" are spaced from each other, and in the folded position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 , the branches of the "V" are close to each other to facilitate the storage of the dryer. The lower frame (11) consists of two branches (11a, 11b) hinged together at the edge of the summit (12) of the "V". The two branches (11a, 11b) can be hinged together by means of, for example, a hinge, or even a plurality of hinges, disposed on the edge of the top of the "V". These elements are illustrated in figs. surrounded by circles. Alternative means may however be envisaged, such as a hinge or a clevis joint. Preferably, these means of articulation of the two branches of the lower frame (11) are plastic hinges of the PVC type, or cylinder pivots, preferably made of plastic.

When the dryer (1) is in folded mode, as shown in FIG. Fig. 2 the two branches (11a, 11b) are arranged one against the other. Note that Fig. 2 , the recovery tray has not been reproduced to facilitate the representation of the frame (10). The lower frame (11) can also be defined as a folding easel, or retractable. The two branches (11a, 11b) can be solid plates, for example wood, steel, aluminum, or molded plastic. However, in a preferred version, and as illustrated in Fig. 1 the legs (11a, 11b) each consist of an assembly of lower uprights (21a, 21b) and lower crosspieces (22a, 22b). Preferably, the branches each comprise two uprights and two sleepers. Advantageously, a lower crossmember of each branch (11a, 11b) is arranged relative to the uprights (21a, 21b) so as to form feet (23a, 23b). The uprights (21a, 21b) and crosspieces (22a, 22b) may be molded plastic, aluminum, steel, or even wood. Preferably, the uprights (21a, 21b) and crosspieces (22a, 22b) are hollow, and are made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The upper frame (13) is articulated with respect to the lower frame (11) at the edge of the top (12) of the "V". When the dryer (1) is deployed, the upper frame (13) extends above the lower frame (11), for example in the extension of one or other of the branches (11a, 11b ) as shown in Fig. 1 and at the Fig. 3 . In the folded position, visible on the Fig. 2 , the upper framework (13) is arranged against one or the other of the branches (11a, 11b), in other words, the upper framework (13) is brought closer to the lower framework (11) to facilitate storage of the dryer (1) and reduce its bulk so that it can be easily wrapped by the recovery tank (18). The articulation between the two frames is disposed at the edge of the top of the "V", and this articulation can be identical to the articulation between the two branches (11a, 11b), namely a hinge or a plurality hinges, disposed on the edge of the top of the "V", but alternative means may be envisaged, such as a hinge or a clevis joint. The upper frame (13) may for example be a wooden plate, steel, aluminum or plastic such as PVC.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper frame (13) consists of an assembly of upper uprights (31) and upper sleepers (32). Preferably, the upper framework (13) comprises two uprights (31) and at least one upper cross member (32). The upper uprights (31) and the at least one upper cross member (32) may be molded plastic, aluminum, steel or wood. Preferably, the upper uprights (31) and the at least one upper cross member (32) are hollow, and are made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Preferably, the lower frame (11) and the upper frame (13) have the same length. By length of the frames, it is necessary to understand the length of the lower uprights (21a, 21b) and the upper uprights (31). Always preferred, the lower frame (11) and the upper frame (13) have a similar width. By width of the frames, it is necessary to understand the length of the lower cross members (22a, 22b) and the at least one upper cross member (32).

The dryer (1) also comprises an articulated plate (19). This plate (19) is part of the lower frame (11). This articulated plate (19) is movably connected to the lower frame (11) so as to be arranged against the legs (11a, 11b) of the lower frame (11) when the dryer is folded, and so as to be disposed substantially parallel to the floor on which the dryer (1) is deployed. In other words, when the dryer (1) is deployed, and thus the bridge forming the lower frame (11) is unfolded, the hinged plate (19) is substantially horizontal. This is illustrated in particular in Fig. 1 and at the Fig. 3 . Various means are possible to allow the articulation of the plate (19) relative to the lower frame (11). For example, and as illustrated in Fig. 1 , the plate may comprise at its end one or more hinges connected to a lower part of a branch (11a) of the lower frame (11), while the other end of the plate (19) is connected by a rope and a pulley at an upper portion of the other leg (11b) of the lower frame (11), so as to allow rotation of the plate (19) at the hinges, allowing the plate (19) to be placed against one of the branches or between the branches and horizontally.

The hinged plate (19) may be a solid plate, or preferably a plate with through openings allowing water on an upper surface of the plate to drain. This hinged plate allows to have a flat surface on the dryer in order to store the most delicate elements of a self-contained breathing apparatus that must not rest on the ground, such as the mechanical elements of the mixer of a diving suit autonomous, the respirator, even the diving bottles. Thus, these elements can dry without being in contact with the dust. In an alternative version of the invention, it is possible to envisage the presence of a plurality of articulated plates in order to have a larger surface for drying the fragile elements of a self-contained breathing apparatus. The hinged plate (19) may for example be made of wood, steel, aluminum, or preferably plastic PVC. Preferably, the plate (19) may include flanges to reduce the risk of falling objects disposed on its upper surface.

The dryer (1) also includes a recovery tank (18). This recovery tank is particularly illustrated in detail at the Fig. 4 . By recovery tank (18), it is to understand an element comprising at least one bottom and flanges so as to recover and retain a liquid drip inside. Such a tray (18) will preferably be plastic, such as poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), but other materials are possible (steel, aluminum for example). Preferably, the recovery tank is a box in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped when the collection tank is closed, the tank being composed of two parts (181, 182) connected mobile in rotation, for example via hinges (184), in a length or width, so that when the tray (18) is open, the two parts (181, 182) have their largest surface against the ground, their walls extending upwards. This is for example illustrated on the Fig. 4 .

According to a general embodiment of the invention, the recovery tank (18) envelops the armature (10) when the latter is in folded mode. The recovery tank (18) may for example be a parallelepiped shaped box rectangle, or in other words a container with rigid walls opening in two parts (181, 182), as illustrated in FIG. Fig. 4 . When the armature (10) is to be deployed, the recovery tank is open, and the armature is arranged on the recovery tank, so as to recover water dripping from the elements hanging on the dryer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the recovery tank (18) is hingedly connected to the lower frame (11). That is to say that when the dryer (1) is folded, the tray is arranged against the lower frame (11), so as to minimize the bulk of the dryer (1), and when the dryer ( 1) is deployed, the recovery tank (18) pivots with respect to the lower frame so as to deploy under the lower frame (11), so as to recover the water dripping from the various elements suspended or arranged on the dryer (1). For example, the tray may be movably and rotatably connected to a lower part of a leg (11a or 11b) of the lower frame, on the outer part of the branch (11a or 11b), via hinges or cylinder pivots disposed at the feet (23a or 23b) of the lower frame (11). More specifically, the recovery tank (18) can be connected to the feet (23a or 23b) of one of the branches of the lower frame by a cylinder pivot. The recovery part of the tray is then oriented towards the frame of the dryer (1) when the latter is folded. After rotation and unfolding of the dryer, the recovery part of the tray is then directed towards the top of the dryer. Of course, similar means can also be employed.

Alternatively, a translation displacement system is possible to articulate the tray relative to the lower frame (11). Rails may be present on the sides of the tray, inside the recuperative portion of the tray, and projecting portions adapted to cooperate with the rails may be arranged on either side of a branch (11a or 11b) of the lower frame (11), preferably close to the feet (23a, 23b). The recovery part of the tank is then directed towards the frame of the dryer (1) when the latter is folded, and after translation of the recovery tank (18), the recovery part of the tank is then directed upward dryer.

The drip tray (18) shall be of greater length and width than the bottom framing and bottom framing to cover the entire floor under a dryer element after the dryer has been deployed, and to wrap it when the set is in folded mode. In other words, the recovery tank (18) has a width greater than the largest width of the lower frame (11) or the upper frame (13).
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the recovery tank (18) may further comprise wheels (185), and / or a handle (183) to facilitate the transport of the dryer when it is in mode folded.

The dryer (1) also comprises a plurality of suspension means (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e) for suspending various elements of a scuba apparatus, such as gloves, flippers or slippers, mask, Preferably these suspension means are arranged towards the outside of the dryer (1), on the lower framework (11) and on the upper framework (13), as illustrated in FIGS. Fig. 1 and 2 . These suspension means may be hooks, clamps, tubes extending away from the frame. Additionally, when the frameworks of the dryer are hollow means, the suspension means may also be hollow, the light of the suspension means being in connection with the light of the frames on which the suspension means is connected. When these elements are hollow, outlet orifices may be present at the suspension means, and an inlet orifice may be disposed on the upper framework (12) or preferably on the lower framework (11). Thus, it is possible to couple the dryer (1) according to the invention to a propulsion system, or blowing air, to accelerate the drying of the elements disposed on the outlet orifices. For example, a mechanical blower connected by a tube to the outlet port is conceivable. According to this embodiment, the hollow frames each comprise a continuous light, to allow the passage of air freely inside the frames.

According to a preferred version of the invention, the lower frame (11), the upper frame (13), the hinged plate (19) and the recovery tank (18) have a modular width. This further reduces the size of the dryer (1) when it is folded, but also when it is deployed, for example because when the diver has not used all the elements of his diving suit. For example, the crosspieces (22a, 22b, 32) may be telescopic elements, for example a plurality of tubes having a different diameter and fitting in translation so as to increase or reduce the length of the sleepers. The articulated plate (19) and the recovery tank (18) may each comprise two parts movable in translation according to their respective width, for example a plate fitting into another plate, or two sliding plates relative to one another. other in their widths.

The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which have a purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting. In general, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and / or described above. The presence of reference numbers in the drawings can not be considered as limiting, even when these numbers are indicated in the claims.
The use of the verbs "to understand", "to include", "to include", or any other variant, as well as their conjugations, can in no way exclude the presence of elements other than those mentioned.
The use of the indefinite article "a", "an", or the definite article "the", "the" or "the", to introduce an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements.

Claims (10)

1. Foldable dryer (1) to dry components of a scuba suspended from or placed on the said dryer (1), the said dryer (1) capable of being in a folded position and in an extended position, the said dryer (1) comprising a frame (10);

   - the said frame (10) comprising a lower frame (11) which has an inverted V-shape in the extended position, and where the branches (11a, 11b) of the "V" are joined by a hinge at the vertex (12) of the inverted "V",

   - said frame (10) further comprising an upper frame (13) connected to the vertex (12) of the inverted "V" by a hinge, said upper frame (13) bearing a hinge between a position on the lower frame (11) in folded position, and a position above the vertex (12) of the inverted "V" in the extended position,

   - The upper frame (13) further comprising suspension components (16c, 16e) for suspending components of the scuba,

   the said dryer being characterised in that:

   - The lower frame (11) further comprises a jointed plate (19), the said plate (19) bearing a hinge between a position on the lower frame (11) in the folded position, and a position parallel to the surface on which the dryer (1) rests in the extended position,

   - The lower frame (11) further comprises a drain pan (18), the said drain pan (18) of such a nature as to enclose the frame (10) when the lower frame (11) and the upper frame (13) are folded against each other,

   - The lower frame (11) further comprising suspension components (16a, 16b, 16d) for suspending components of the scuba.
2. Dryer (1) according to claim 1, the drain pan (18) being further connected by a hinge to the lower frame (11) so as to be extended under the frame (10) when the dryer is in the deployed mode.
3. Dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the arms (11a, 11b) of the lower frame (11) consist of an assembly of at least two lower upright bars (21a, 21b) and at least two lower cross-wise bars (22a, 22b).
4. Dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the upper frame (13) consists of an assembly of at least two upper upright bars (31) and at least one upper cross-wise bar (32).
5. Dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper frame (13) is a frame with a groove.
6. Dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower frame (11) is a frame with a groove.
7. Dryer (1) according to claim 5 and / or claim 6, characterised in that the suspension components (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e) each comprise an outlet, and in that the lower frame (11) and / or the upper frame (13) comprise an inlet.
8. Dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper frame (13), the lower frame (11), the jointed plate (19) and the drain pan (18) have an adjustable width.
9. Dryer (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the arms (11a, 11b) of the lower frame (11) each consist of at least two lower cross-wise bars (22a, 22b), and the upper frame (13) consists of at least one upper cross-wise bar (32), the said cross bars (22a, 22b, 32) being collapsible cross-wise components
   and in that the jointed plate (19) and the drain pan (18) each consist of at least two movable components which can be shifted in accordance to their width.
10. Dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drain pan (18) is a rectangular parallelepiped when the drain pan is folded.

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