Apparatus for drying and storage of diving garment and accessories

Abstract

A portable apparatus for drying and/or storage of garments and/or accessories including a base for supporting a frame, said base including a cavity for receipt of ballast to stabilise said apparatus said frame being mounted on said base and including projections suitable for supporting garments and/or accessories, wherein said base includes at least one opening for insertion of ballast into said cavity and a tray for collecting liquid, when in use, falling from wet garments and/or accessories that are suspended above said base.

1 . A portable apparatus for drying or storage of garments or accessories, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base for supporting a frame, said base including an enclosed cavity for receipt of ballast to stabilise the apparatus,    the frame being mounted on said base and including projections suitable for supporting at least one of the garments or accessories,    wherein the base includes at least one sealable opening for insertion of ballast into the enclosed cavity and a tray for collecting liquid, when in use, falling from the garments or accessories that are suspended above the base.    
   
   
       2 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the cavity is substantially watertight to allow water to be used as the ballast.  
   
   
       3 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the base includes a sufficiently dimensioned first opening to insert water as ballast into the cavity.  
   
   
       4 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the cavity is sufficiently sealed to allow particulate material to be used as the ballast.  
   
   
       5 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the base includes a sufficiently dimensioned first opening to insert particulate material as ballast.  
   
   
       6 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the first opening is sealable by a cover.  
   
   
       7 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the base includes a second sealable opening which, when unsealed, allows the draining of ballast from the base.  
   
   
       8 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein one or more wheels are included on said base.  
   
   
       9 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the frame for supporting the garments or accessories is collapsible to enable easy transport and storage of the apparatus when not in use.  
   
   
       10 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the projections are fittings separable from the frame.  
   
   
       11 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid collecting tray is formed by a substantially planar upper surface in the base with raised edges surrounding said upper surface.  
   
   
       12 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a mounting support for the frame, the mounting support substantially centrally located on the base, and the liquid collecting tray includes an annular concave depression in the upper surface of the base forming a central mounting support.  
   
   
       13 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising mounting supports for the frame located at substantially opposite ends of the base, and the frame extends across the base between said mounting supports.  
   
   
       14 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 9  further comprising a lid correspondingly shaped with the base such that the base and lid forms a case for transport or storage of the collapsible frame.  
   
   
       15 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein projections from the frame include any one or more of: 
 hanging knobs;    spikes with rounded ends;    accessory trays;    perforated accessory trays;    hooks;    hangers; or    support rails.    
   
   
       16 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a canopy for mounting above said garments or accessories.  
   
   
       17 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the canopy is correspondingly shaped with the base thus forming a lid for transport and storage of the apparatus when not in use.  
   
   
       18 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the canopy is formed of a flexible canopy frame covered with flexible material, said canopy attachable to said frame and collapsible for storage.  
   
   
       19 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid collecting tray defines perforations for drainage of liquids.  
   
   
       20 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid collecting tray includes alternately raised and depressed regions, whereby an object placed upon the liquid collecting tray is held above any liquid collected in said depressed regions.  
   
   
       21 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the alternately raised and depressed regions include walls defining a void correspondingly shaped with at least one member of the frame for snugly fitting frame member when inserted in the void.  
   
   
       22 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the alternately raised and depressed regions include walls defining a void correspondingly shaped with at least one projection of the frame to receive the frame projection when inserted therein.  
   
   
       23 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the raised regions form a series of ridges.  
   
   
       24 . A portable apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein hangers or hanging rails are attachable to the frame.  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)