Dive equipment washing, drying, and storage rack

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a free-standing rack for hanging and supporting scuba diving or other wet equipment when not in use and particularly during cleaning, drying and storage thereof. The rack includes at least three support legs extending from a top point and a plurality of dive equipment holders attached to at least one of the supporting legs at points along its length. The rack of the present invention provides a free-standing and inherently stabile structure which can be easily collapsed for storage when not in use and quickly and easily expanded for use in a variety of locations. The rack is highly storable and portable in its collapsed state but is also movable in its expanded state, even with equipment supported thereon.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A free-standing dive equipment rack comprising: 
 (a) at least three support legs extending from a top, and    (b) a plurality of equipment holders attached to at least one of said support legs at spaced locations along its length.    
     
     
         2 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said legs each include first and second leg portions collapsibly and expandably connected at adjacent ends.  
     
     
         3 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said connected leg portions are connected by a hinge secured to said adjacent ends.  
     
     
         4 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said first leg portion is telescopically extendible from said second leg portion.  
     
     
         5 . The rack of  claim 4  further including a third or more leg portion telescopically extendable from said second leg portion.  
     
     
         6 . The rack of  claim 4  wherein the extension of said second leg portion from said first leg portion is variable.  
     
     
         7 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said dive equipment holders include at least one peg.  
     
     
         8 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said dive equipment holders include at least one hook.  
     
     
         9 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said dive equipment holders include at least one strap mounted on at least one of said support legs.  
     
     
         10 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said first and second leg portions are removably connected.  
     
     
         11 . The rack of  claim 1  wherein said dive equipment holders are constructed and arranged such that the downward force vectors created by the weight of equipment supported on said holders and said hangers intersect the plane formed by the points at the bottom ends of said support legs within the area bounded by the lines joining said points.