Dry suit dryer

Details Dry suit dryer Dry suit dryer

2001-06-12

2003-02-11

Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3749)

Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids

Apparatus

For hollow article

C034S103000, C034S104000, C034S202000, C034S218000, C134S022100, C134S16600C

Reexamination Certificate

active

06516536

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparel resistant to particular materials or environmental conditions, including so-called “dry suits” and wet suits for diving, full-body sealed suits and the like used for protection from hazardous materials, fire-fighting apparel, and “cleanroom” clothing. More particularly, the invention pertains to methods and means for cleaning, drying and maintaining the inside of such exposure suits following use.
2. State of the Art
Free underwater diving and swimming using Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA devices) have become very popular receational pursuits, and have been used for many years in commercial and military applications. Diving without protective wear can be very hazardous, because of cold water, razor-sharp coral formations, contaminated environments, sunken debris, poisonous life forms and the like. Thus, so-called “wet suits” have been in wide use for many years. A wet suit covers a substantial portion of a diver's body, but permits entry of water to contact the diver's skin. The insulative value of the wet suit is limited, and diving in cold waters results in discomfort, fatigue and added stress.
For enhanced comfort and safety, the “wet suit” is being replaced by the more expensive so-called “dry suit”, which is designed to prevent water access next to at least a major portion of the diver's skin. The dry suit has a neck opening which may be sealed by pressure of a neck membrane against the diver's neck. Although some dry suits are configured to enclose all of the wearer's body except a hard hat, others may leave the hands and/or feet either exposed, or coverable by “wet” coverings or “dry” coverings such as e.g. soft soled “socks” or hard-soled “boots”. Dry hand or foot coverings are configured to be sealed against leakage. Generally, entry into a dry suit is via an opening closable with an essentially water-tight zipper. Often, a dry suit for diving is configured to totally enclose the diver's feet, while non-footed dry suits may be more frequently used for water skiing, surfing, kayaking, etc.
Although the term “dry suit” generally refers to a suit used in water, similar suits are used to protect persons in other environments, i.e. to protect a person from exposure to hazardous materials (HAZ MAT suits) including chemical and biological materials. Similar wear is used by firemen as protection against exposure to heat, water, etc. In sterile, explosive, or “clean” environments , suits similar to “dry suits” are used to prevent contamination of the environment, or to prevent static electricity discharges by the entry of persons.
One of the problems with dry suits and similar apparel is that during use, perspiration and condensation become entrapped within the suit. Other moisture may be introduced into a dry suit by improper use of an exhaust valve or from inadvertent flooding, particularly in a diving situation. It is important to drain and wash the interior of a dry suit following use to remove perspiration and other contaminants. After a dive, commercial divers typically rinse the interior of the dry suit with an anti-fungicide, followed by three or four rinses with fresh water. However, the interior surfaces may remain wet for the next user, and may become malodorous and slimy.
With any suit whose interior is exposed to water, perspiration and/or other contaminants, removing the moisture quickly and completely after use is important to proper maintenance of the suit. Rapid drying (a) avoids growth of malodorous and destructive molds and bacteria, (b) prevents premature deterioration of the suit, and (c) permits comfortable subsequent use. A short drying time is not only necessary for cleanliness, suit preservation and wearer comfort, but increases the available use time as well. For example, donning a dry suit which has wet interior surfaces is very uncomfortable, and is counter to the purposes of a dry suit.
In order to simply drain water from a dry suit, the suit is typically hung head down on a commercially obtainable hanger. Use of such hangers does not readily permit removal of creases from the suit; instead, water typically remains trapped in the creases and takes a very long time to drain or evaporate. For this reason, it has been found very important to remove creases in the dry suit material.
At the present time, various hangers are available which suspend the dry suit from its ankles, for draining water through the neck and wrist openings. The hanger constricts the ankle portions of the suit, preventing passage of moisture from the foot spaces. Hanging a dry suit by the neck opening is also done, but the presence of major air-stagnant spaces in the legs and arms of the dry suit require much extended drying times. Expected drying times may be as short as a few hours in hot, dry climates, or as long as days. In humid areas, the drying time may be considerably longer, and the dry suit may never become fully dry. As already indicated, prior art hangers do not satisfactorily stretch the dry suit to remove wrinkles or creases, and water remains entrapped in the suit between creases.
Regardless of the position in which the dry suit is hung for drying, there is little if any air movement within the suit, and rapid growth of mold and bacteria ensues. In addition to the unpleasant odor, skin irritation and destructive nature of such growths to the dry suit, hazards to the health of the diver may also be presented.
Dry suits typically have stretchable seals at the neck and wrists and/or ankles which press against a diver's skin to substantially prevent the entry of water. These seals are typically formed of rubber or latex, and must be tight enough about the diver's neck and limbs to prevent water entry, yet not so tight as to cause vascular and respiratory restriction and/or panic (a life-threatening event in a diving situation). Once a seal is stretched, frequent use is required to maintain it in the stretched condition. Most dry suits purchased for recreational diving are used only a few times a year for a number of dives in quick succession. During intervening storage (months or years), the seals tend to return to their original un-stretched size. The neck seal, wrist seals and ankle seals of dry suits are typically pre-stretched by hand prior to each dive or dive series, or cut to size.
A large share of recreational diving (and subsequent suit drying) is done in geographical areas having high humidity, such as in or offshore the states of Florida and Washington. In such areas, rapid drying of diving suits using current procedures is nearly impossible.
The present invention is directed toward solving the above indicated problems associated with the use of dry suits, wet suits and other types of “exposure” suits which require drying or cleaning plus drying after being used.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus to remove interior moisture from an exposure suit in a very short time, to prevent the proliferation of fungi, bacteria, etc. and malodors associated therewith within the suit.
A further object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus for conditioning and drying exposure suits for rapid turn-around use.
Another major object of the invention is to provide a method and means for initiating and maintaining the proper pre-stretched Ad size of neck seals, wrist seals and ankle seals of a e.g. dry suit.
An additional object of the invention is to provide apparatus and methods for cleaning and drying so-called “wet suits” commonly used for diving.
A further object is to provide drying apparatus which is portable, and which may be used in a boat or land vehicle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises apparatus and methods for rapidly removing moisture from an “exposure” body suit such as a dry suit. While the invention is illustrated as being applied to a dry suit for diving, it may also be effectively used for drying any waterproof or water-

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