Rinse hanger

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a rinse hanger for rinsing a wetsuit thereon. The rinse hanger is differentiated by a hook and cap assembly configured to provide swivel function; longitudinal grooves for improved structural support and weight displacement; a male adapter extending along a longitudinal axis; the hanger body being symmetrical about the longitudinal axis; and other features as described herein. A user hangs a wetsuit on the hanger and places the hook end of the hanger on a structural support, a quick release connector and hose is then coupled to the hanger and water flow is communicated through holes in the hanger body to rinse the inside of the wetsuit. The quick release connector and hose are removed, and a spray nozzle is coupled to the quick connector and hose, the spray nozzle is used to rinse an outside of the wetsuit. The hanger is then hung for drying and storage.

Claims

1. A rinse hanger, comprising: a rigid hollow hanger body extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, the hanger body comprising: a neck portion extending vertically from a center of the hanger body, the neck portion comprising a body fillet extending about a perimeter formed between the neck portion and the hanger body, and further comprising a planar longitudinal base portion disposed at a top end of the neck portion, wherein the longitudinal base portion extends parallel with the longitudinal axis of the hanger body, the neck portion further comprising a pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves each disposed on the neck portion at a uniform height above the longitudinal axis and oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis, with a first of the pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves positioned on a first side of the neck portion, and a second of the pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves positioned on a second side of the neck portion opposite the first side; a first broad shoulder portion extending from the neck portion to the first end; a second broad shoulder portion extending from the neck portion to the second end; a threaded portion extending vertically from the longitudinal base portion, the threaded portion comprising threads disposed about a side wall of the threaded portion and further comprising a channel extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along a top surface of the threaded portion; the hanger body further comprising: a plurality of holes each disposed about a surface of the hanger body along a periphery thereof, the holes each being configured to communicate water therefrom; and a male adapter extending from the neck portion parallel with the longitudinal axis, the male adapter being configured to couple with a quick release connector and garden hose for receiving a water flow therethrough; and a hook and cap assembly configured to attach to the threaded portion of the hanger body, the hook and cap assembly including: a hanger hook having a first end and a second end, the hook having a first diameter at the first end and further having a flanged portion at the second end wherein a second diameter associated with the flanged portion is greater than the first diameter; a cap having threads disposed about an inside wall thereof, and further having a cap aperture disposed through a center of the cap at a top surface thereof, wherein the hanger hook is configured to be inserted through the cap aperture and the flanged portion of the hanger hook is configured to abut an inside upper surface of the cap for retaining the hanger hook therein; wherein the hanger hook does not extend into a volume of the hanger body; and wherein the hanger hook is configured to swivel about the cap and attached hanger body.

2. The rinse hanger of claim 1, wherein each of the broad shoulder portions have a width between 3 inches and 6 inches.

3. The rinse hanger of claim 1, wherein the male adapter further comprises an O-ring configured to form a seal between the male adapter and the quick release connector.

4. The rinse hanger of claim 1, further comprising a hook washer configured to slide over the first end of the hanger hook and further configured to abut the second end of the hanger hook at the flanged portion, wherein the hook washer is configured to provide an increased diameter for distributing weight about the inside upper surface of the cap.

5. The rinse hanger of claim 1, further comprising an annular cap seal configured to be disposed between the threaded portion of the hanger body and the cap for providing a friction seal therebetween.

6. The rinse hanger of claim 1, further comprising a pair of flat bottom ends, with one of said pair of flat bottom ends being disposed at each end of the hanger body at a bottom side thereof.

7. A rinse hanger, comprising a rigid hollow hanger body extending along a longitudinal axis and adapted to receive and communicate water therethrough, the hanger body comprising a male adapter extending from a neck portion of the hanger body, the male adapter being configured to couple with a quick release connector and garden hose for receiving a water flow therethrough, the hanger body comprising a plurality of holes each disposed about a surface of the hanger body; and a hook and cap assembly including a hook having a flanged end, and a cap having a cap aperture disposed at a center of the cap, wherein the hook and cap assembly is configured to attach with the hanger body for providing a swivel hook function of the rinse hanger; further characterized in that: the hanger body comprises a body fillet extending about a perimeter formed between the neck portion and a remainder of the hanger body; and the neck portion further comprises: a planar longitudinal base portion disposed at a top end of the neck portion, and a pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves each disposed on the neck portion at a uniform height above the longitudinal axis and oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis, with a first of the pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves positioned on a first side of the neck portion, and a second of the pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves positioned on a second side of the neck portion opposite the first side.

8. A rinse hanger, comprising a rigid hollow hanger body extending along a longitudinal axis and adapted to receive and communicate water therethrough, the hanger body having a threaded portion extending vertically from a neck portion thereof, the threaded portion comprising threads disposed on a side wall of the threaded portion; the hanger body comprising a plurality of holes each disposed about a surface of the hanger body; and a hook and cap assembly adapted to attach to the threaded portion of the hanger body for providing a swivel hook wherein the hook of the hook and cap assembly does not extend within a volume of the hanger body; the rinse hanger being further characterized in that: the neck portion comprises: a body fillet extending about a perimeter formed between the neck portion and a remainder of the hanger body; a planar longitudinal base portion disposed at a top end of the neck portion; and a pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves each disposed on the neck portion at a uniform height above the longitudinal axis and oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis, with a first of the pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves positioned on a first side of the neck portion, and a second of the pair of opposing separate longitudinal grooves positioned on a second side of the neck portion opposite the first side.

9. The rinse hanger of claim 8, wherein a vertical plane extending along the longitudinal axis defines a longitudinal plane.

10. The rinse hanger of claim 9, wherein the threaded portion of the hanger body further comprises a channel for receiving a portion of the hook therein, the channel being disposed along a top surface of the threaded portion, wherein a volume within the channel does not form part of the volume associated with the hanger body.

11. The rinse hanger of claim 10, wherein the channel is oriented perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis associated with a length of the hanger body.

12. The rinse hanger of claim 9, further comprising a male adapter extending from a neck portion of the hanger body in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis, the male adapter being configured to couple with a quick release connector and garden hose for receiving a water flow therethrough.

13. The rinse hanger of claim 9, wherein the hanger body is symmetrical about the longitudinal plane.

14. The rinse hanger of claim 8, further comprising a pair of flat bottom ends, with one of said pair of flat bottom ends being disposed at each end of the hanger body at a bottom side thereof.

15. The rinse hanger of claim 8, the hanger body comprising a pair of broad shoulder portions each disposed on opposite sides of the hanger body, wherein the broad shoulder portions each have a width between 3 inches and 6 inches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a first perspective view of a rinse hanger in accordance with an embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the rinse hanger.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the rinse hanger.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a right view of the rinse hanger.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a left view of the rinse hanger.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the rinse hanger.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a top view of the rinse hanger.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the rinse hanger.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a front view of a hanger body of the rinse hanger.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the hanger body.

(11) FIG. 11 shows a top view of the hanger body.

(12) FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of the hanger body and a hook and cap assembly adapted to attach with a threaded portion of the hanger body.

(13) FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of the hook and cap assembly.

(14) FIG. 14 shows an assembled hook and cap assembly for attaching with the hanger body.

(15) FIG. 15 shows a hanger hook with a flanged portion thereof resting within a channel of the threaded portion of the hanger body, the channel extends perpendicular to the longitudinal plane.

(16) FIG. 16 shows the rinse hanger in accordance with the illustrated embodiment.

(17) FIG. 17 shows the cap scaled for viewing the cap threads, inside upper surface, and cap aperture.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(18) For purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions of certain preferred embodiments are hereinafter provided such that one having ordinary skill in the art may be enabled to make and use the invention. These details and descriptions are representative only of certain preferred embodiments, however, and a myriad of other embodiments which will not be expressly described will be readily obvious to those of skill in the art upon a thorough review hereof. Accordingly, any reviewer of the instant disclosure should interpret the scope of the invention by the claims, and such scope shall not be limited by the embodiments disclosed herein.

(19) Now turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8 show the rinse hanger in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

(20) FIG. 1 shows a first perspective view of a rinse hanger in accordance with an embodiment. The rinse hanger is shown including a hanger body 100 and a hook and cap assembly 200 attached to the hanger body. The hanger body is configured with broad shoulder portions 101a; 101b, with one broad shoulder portion on each respective side of the hanger, and is further configured with a male adapter 103 extending outwardly from a neck portion 102 of the hanger body, the male adapter being configured to couple with a quick release female connector and garden hose (not shown). The broad shoulder portions can be any size, but in the preferred embodiment the broad shoulder portions are between about 3 inches and 6 inches wide, and more preferably about 4 inches wide, and in addition, the broad shoulder portions are generally curved to mimic the shoulders of a wearer of the wetsuit such that a larger surface area is provided. The hook and cap assembly is configured with a swivel hook function for providing rotation of the hanger body about the hanger hook. The hanger body further comprises a plurality of holes 109, with each of the holes disposed about a surface of the hanger body and configured to provide a water jet or spray function such that the collection of hanger body holes functions to rinse the inside surface of a wetsuit or other garment hanging on the hanger body.

(21) The rinse hanger is configured such that a user may hang a wetsuit on the rinse hanger; hang the hook of the rinse hanger about an structural object (for example the end of an open garage door), connect a female quick connector and garden hose to the male adapter of the hanger body such that water from the garden hose is communicated into the hanger body through the male adapter and further communicated through the holes of the hanger body creating a spray function for rinsing an internal surface of the hanging wetsuit. After about a minute or so, the user may then disconnect the female quick connector from the hanger body, attach a standard sprayer or spray nozzle to the female quick connector and proceed to rinse the exterior surface of the wetsuit. Subsequent to rinsing the inside and outside of the wetsuit, the wetsuit is left to hang on the hanger for an air drying, and further hung for long term storage.

(22) An O-ring 110 is attached to the male adapter for providing a seal with a female quick release connector when coupled therewith.

(23) FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the rinse hanger. The filleted neck portion further comprises longitudinal grooves 104a; 104b extending between the filleted neck portion of the hanger body and the longitudinal base portion 105. Each of the longitudinal grooves is symmetrically disposed on either side of the longitudinal base portion. Moreover, the longitudinal base portion extends along the longitudinal axis of the hanger body. The longitudinal grooves 104, base 105 and filleted neck portion 102 collectively provide a rigid structure for attaching the hook and cap assembly, with the rigid structure being configured to distribute up to fifty pounds or more of a wetsuit without deforming the hanger body.

(24) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the rinse hanger. As shown in FIG. 3, the hanger body of the rinse hanger includes flat bottom ends 106a; 106b with one of the flat bottom ends at each opposing end of the hanger body. Also shown in FIG. 3 is a first of the longitudinal grooves 104a, the male adapter 102, shoulder portions 101a; 101b, and the hook and cap assembly 200 being attached to the hanger body 100. Holes 109 are disposed along a bottom periphery of the hanger body. Although the holes are shown in a particular pattern and arrangement, any number of holes and any pattern may be implemented to provide the spray function for rinsing the inside of a wetsuit. Likewise, any size hole that will communicate a stream of water flowing therethrough can be used, though in a preferred embodiment the hole diameter can be between about 1/32.sup.nd and 1/16.sup.th of an inch.

(25) FIG. 4 shows a right view of the rinse hanger. The rinse hanger is shown looking along the longitudinal axis (through the page). Note the hanger body is symmetrical about a vertical plane extending along the longitudinal axis, otherwise referred to herein as the longitudinal plane.

(26) FIG. 5 shows a left view of the rinse hanger. The rinse hanger is further shown extending along the longitudinal axis and being symmetrical along the vertical longitudinal plane. The longitudinal grooves 104a; 104b are shown in FIG. 5, wherein each of the longitudinal grooves is coupled to the filleted neck portion 102 at a bottom end thereof and further coupled to the longitudinal base portion 105 along a top end.

(27) FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the rinse hanger. The rear side of the rinse hanger is a mirror image of the front side as shown in FIG. 3.

(28) FIG. 7 shows a top view of the rinse hanger. Each of the hook and cap assembly 200, longitudinal grooves 104a; 104b, male adapter 103, broad shoulder portions 101a; 101b, filleted neck portion 102, and the longitudinal base portion 105 are shown.

(29) FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the rinse hanger. The flat bottom ends 106a; 106b are shown.

(30) FIGS. 9-11 further illustrate the hanger body portion 100.

(31) FIG. 9 shows a front view of a hanger body of the rinse hanger. Without the hook and cap assembly being attached one can see the threaded portion 107 of the hanger body. The threaded portion extends vertically from the longitudinal base portion 105. Threads are disposed about a circumferential side surface of the threaded portion as shown. Along the top side of the threaded portion is disposed a channel 108, the channel extends perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis along the top of the threaded portion. With the channel being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the hanger body is capable of being molded, since, the hanger body remains symmetrical about the longitudinal plane.

(32) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the hanger body. The threaded portion 107 of the hanger body and the channel 108 thereon are further illustrated. The width and depth of the channel are configured to allow the flanged portion of the hook to nest within the channel, such that the hook is not inserted into the volume of the hanger body.

(33) FIG. 11 shows a top view of the hanger body 100. The position and orientation of each of the longitudinal base portion 105, threaded portion 107 of the hanger body and the channel 108 thereon is further illustrated. In addition, the hanger body is shown extending along a longitudinal axis A.sub.L. Moreover, the neck portion 102 comprises a body fillet 111 extending along a bottom circumference of the neck portion where the neck portion meets the center of the hanger body. In addition, the neck portion comprises a pair of opposing longitudinal grooves 104a; 104b each disposed adjacent to the longitudinal base portion 105, with a first 104a of the pair of opposing longitudinal grooves disposed on a first side of the longitudinal base portion, and a second 104b of the pair of opposing longitudinal grooves disposed on a second side of the longitudinal base portion opposite the first side. FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of the hanger body 100 and a hook and cap assembly 200 adapted to attach with a threaded portion 107 of the hanger body. The hook and cap assembly includes a hanger hook 201 and a threaded cap 202, wherein the threaded cap is configured to engage the threaded portion of the hanger body as shown.

(34) FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of the hook and cap assembly. A first end 203 of the hanger hook can be inserted through one or more of: an annular cap seal 205, an optional hook washer 206, and an aperture 207 of the threaded cap 202. A second end of the hanger hook, the bottom terminal end thereof, includes a flanged portion 208 which comprises a diameter D2 that is greater than a diameter D1 of the remainder of the hook. The aperture of the threaded cap has a diameter less than D2 but greater than D1, such that the hook is vertically constrained within the threaded cap forming the hook and cap assembly. Although the size can vary between embodiments, a preferred embodiment includes a first diameter D1 of 4 mm and a second diameter D2 of 4.3 mm. The flanged portion 208 of the hook, or the optional hook washer 206 attached to the hook at the flanged portion, is configured to abut an inside upper surface of the threaded cap 202. The annular cap seal 205 is a rubberized or otherwise pliable seal used to create a friction seal between the threaded cap 202 and the threaded portion 107 of the hanger body (See FIG. 12). The hook is generally curved about an upper side for engaging a standard closet rod or similar hanging object. The hook is preferably formed from stainless steel, however other rigid materials may be similarly used.

(35) FIG. 14 shows an assembled hook and cap assembly 200 for attaching with the threaded portion 107 of the hanger body 100 (See FIG. 15). While the threads of the cap (inside wall surface thereof) and the corresponding threaded portion of the hanger body can be any size, in the preferred embodiment the thread size is garden hose thread (GHT).

(36) FIG. 15 shows a hanger hook with a flanged portion 208 thereof resting within a channel 108 of the threaded portion 107 of the hanger body; the channel extends perpendicular to the longitudinal plane. The threaded cap is not shown such that a reviewer will appreciate the relation of the flanged portion of the hook with respect to the channel of the threaded portion of the hanger body.

(37) FIG. 16 shows the rinse hanger without markings or reference numbers in accordance with the illustrated embodiment.

(38) FIG. 17 shows the cap scaled for viewing the cap threads 209, inside upper surface 204, and cap aperture 207. The annular cap seal is used to form a friction seal between the cap when attached to the threaded portion of the hanger body. The cap threads can be any size, however, in the preferred embodiment the cap thread size is standard garden hose thread (GHT).

(39) In a preferred method of utilization, the wearer can configure the wetsuit inside-out prior to hanging on the rinse hanger. In this regard, the rinse hanger is then configured to rinse the outside of the wetsuit (though configured on the inside surface). After a minute or so of rinsing, the quick connector is detached from the hanger and a spray nozzle is coupled. The spray nozzle is used to rinse the inside of the wetsuit (here configured on the outside since the wetsuit is inside-out).

(40) Other features, embodiments and other variations of the above disclosure will be readily identifiable by those having skill in the art. While the instant disclosure provides detailed descriptions, such descriptions are not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention. Rather, the inventive scope shall only be determined through the claims as appended hereto.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(41) The rinse hanger is used to hang, rinse, dry and store a wetsuit or similar garment.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(42) hanger body (100) broad shoulder portions (101a; 101b) filleted neck portion (102) male adapter (103) longitudinal grooves (104a; 104b) longitudinal base portion (105) flat bottom ends (106a; 106b) threaded portion (107) channel (108) hanger body holes (109) O-ring (110) hook and cap assembly (200) hanger hook (201) threaded cap (202) first end of hook (203) inside upper surface of cap (204) annular cap seal (205) hook washer (206) cap aperture (207) flanged portion of hook (208) cap threads (209) first diameter (D1) second diameter (D2)