Wetsuit Hanger Dryer

Abstract

A hanger / dryer device causes rapid drying of a wet wetsuit while providing a superior hanging arrangement for the wetsuit, which minimizes stress and lessens deterioration of the wetsuit's neoprene materials.

Description

[0001] Wetsuits, which are close-fitting garments, usually of one-piece rubber or of foam neoprene construction, are typically worn by divers, surfers and water skiers to increase body warmth in cold-water conditions. The foam insulation layer is typically faced with a nylon spandex fabric, which is bonded to inner and outer surfaces. The fabric, while useful in its intended function, promoting warmth and comfort, causes the suit to dry slowly taking as much as 24 hours to fully dry after each use. A diver or surfer that desires to reuse the wetsuit within a short time frame must endure an uncomfortable cold, wet experience and increased difficulty in putting on the still damp wetsuit. [0002] The inherent configuration of the closed one-piece suit and its waterproof core material, when combined with slow-drying conditions, often promote the growth of mold and objectionable odor. Additionally, hanging the wetsuit in a vertical condition after use assists the suite to drip dry. Howeve...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0001] Wetsuits, which are close-fitting garments, usually of one-piece rubber or of foam neoprene construction, are typically worn by divers, surfers and water skiers to increase body warmth in cold-water conditions. The foam insulation layer is typically faced with a nylon spandex fabric, which is bonded to inner and outer surfaces. The fabric, while useful in its intended function, promoting warmth and comfort, causes the suit to dry slowly taking as much as 24 hours to fully dry after each use. A diver or surfer that desires to reuse the wetsuit within a short time frame must endure an uncomfortable cold, wet experience and increased difficulty in putting on the still damp wetsuit.

[0002] The inherent configuration of the closed one-piece suit and its waterproof core material, when combined with slow-drying conditions, often promote the growth of mold and objectionable odor. Additionally, hanging the wetsuit in a vertical condition after use assists the suite to drip dry. However, conventional clothes hangers, with their minimal width cross-section, place harmful stress on the neoprene material, seams and bonded panels when its weight is made heavier by the absorbed water. This localized pressure accelerates failing of the suit material's integrity. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The principal object of this invention is to enhance the frequency of wetsuit utilization by reducing the length of time required to dry the suit after each use, thereby facilitating a more comfortable and less arduous donning of the otherwise still damp suit. This device causes air to be drawn into the body of the suit where it is warmed and subsequently exhausted out of the arm and leg openings, thereby greatly accelerating the drying process.

[0004] It is also an object of this invention to provide a hanger configuration that distributes the hanging weight of the wet wetsuit over a broad surface designed to minimize localized stress or pressure, which can be damaging to the somewhat delicate neoprene foam material. The broad hanger surfaces act to open and separate the suit cavity, which promotes air ventilation and rapid drying by evaporation while maximizing the drip-dry effect of water removal by gravity.

[0005] It is also an object of this invention to prevent the occurrence of souring or the creation of objectionable odors within the suit, which often result from prolonged periods of dampness and lack of fresh air ventilation.

Problems solved by technology

This device causes air to be drawn into the body of the suit where it is warmed and subsequently exhausted out of the arm and leg openings, thereby greatly accelerating the drying process.

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