Sports equipment can often be neglected in between games or events. Trailers, bags, and other equipment suitable for porting sporting gear and apparel are not always sufficient for properly storing such gear and apparel. Additionally, it can be easy to lose track of sporting equipment if it is not transported, stored and/or maintained in a visible location. The inside of a bag or trailer or other device that can transport sports apparel does often not provide sufficient visibility to keep track of and aerate equipment.
Helmets especially can be important pieces of equipment to properly store and maintain. If not properly stored, helmets can easily scratch reducing their visual appeal, and/or have protective integrity damage reducing the helmet's safety effectiveness. In addition, straps, padding, and other helmet accessories can break and/or wear prematurely if not stored and maintained properly. Of particular concern with helmets, gloves and similar equipment worn in direct contact with the human body, is ventilation. Such equipment can accumulate sweat, chalk, deodorant and other chemicals during use at sporting events and matches that require exposure to good ventilation in order to limit odors.
Sporting equipment can also be subject to misplacement in between use. Worse still, relatives, children, pets and others can damage, scratch, move, misplace, etc. helmets and other sporting equipment. As a result, an improved mechanism for organizing equipment in between matches and events can be useful.
The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the full written description. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Briefly described, the subject disclosure relates to a sports equipment organizer that can support, store, display and provide ventilation for a helmet and/or other sports apparel such as gloves, a jacket, eyewear, clothing and the like. A mounting device can be attached to a portion of an extension arm and secure the extension arm to a mounting surface. The extension arm can extend substantially perpendicular out from the mounting surface. Additionally, a mounting arm can be attached to and supported by the extension arm, and can securely support at least one head-ware device.
According to additional aspects of the claimed subject matter, the mounting arm can support head-ware in a manner that provides ventilation. Specifically, the mounting arm can hold the head-ware aloft and allow air to circulate in and around the head-ware. For example, the mounting arm support surface can be of a substantially smaller volume than an inside portion of the head-ware, allowing air to circulate in and out freely. As described, the claimed subject matter provides an apparatus that can store and provide ventilation to such apparel in between events and matches.
According to additional aspects of the claimed subject matter, an apparatus is provided that can organize and store sporting apparel including at least a helmet, gloves, and jacket. In addition to a mounting device, extension arm and mounting arm, the apparatus can include an attachment mechanism that extends outward from the extension arm that can secure a clothes hanger bearing at least a jacket, or gloves, or both. According to additional aspects, the attachment mechanism can extend bilaterally outward from the extension arm and support at least two clothes hangers bearing sporting apparel and/or clothing, a pair of gloves, or both.
Related aspects provide for an organizer apparatus that can securely strap and store a sporting helmet in between matches or events. The apparatus can include an extension stud or loop that protrudes out from an extension arm or mounting arm of the apparatus, enabling a chin strap of the sporting helmet to secure the helmet tightly to the organizer. As a particular example, the extension stud or loop can protrude outward from a point substantially coincident with a point where the extension arm and the mounting arm coincide. According to additional aspects, the apparatus can include a padding material, partly including silicone rubber for instance, that covers metal edges of a support surface and that softly supports the helmet. The padding material can be attached to an end of the mounting arm and/or mounting arm support surface (e.g., 2 inch by 2 inch metal plate) that contacts the helmet, providing a firm yet supple seat for the helmet.
In accordance with related aspects of the claimed subject matter, a method for making a helmet and sporting apparel organizer is provided. The method can comprise attaching a mounting bracket to a longitudinal extension arm, the mounting bracket secures the extension arm to a mounting surface and the extension arm extends outward from the mounting surface. In addition, the method can comprise attaching a mounting arm to the extension arm, the mounting arm can extend outward and upward, for instance, from the extension arm a distance sufficient to support at least one sports head-ware device off of the extension arm.
The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the claimed subject matter. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the claimed subject matter may be employed and the claimed subject matter is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and distinguishing features of the claimed subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description of the claimed subject matter when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are described in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It can be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter can be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In addition, not all possible details within the scope of the subject innovation can be specifically articulated and/or depicted herein. However, such details or embodiments, known in the art or made known to one of skill in the art by way of the context provided herein, are incorporated into the subject specification. In some instances, well-known structures and devices can be shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the claimed subject matter.
Furthermore, the claimed subject matter may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard manufacturing and/or engineering techniques to produce the disclosed subject matter. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter. In addition, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.
As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.
Referring now to
Apparatus 102 can include a mounting arm 106 that can support and secure at least one head-ware (e.g., helmet 104). The mounting arm can be any suitable, substantially rigid device having a longitudinal dimension sufficient to support the head-ware (104) off of a mounting surface and/or an extension object (e.g., an extension arm 108). The mounting arm can optionally have a seat 108 that can provide a surface (e.g., substantially planar surface, curved convex or concave surface, or the like) for the head-ware (104) to rest upon. For instance, the seat 108 can support the head-ware (104) at an inner crown (e.g., an inner surface of the apex 114 of the helmet) portion of such head-ware.
In addition, apparatus 102 can include an extension arm 110 that extends substantially perpendicular out from a mounting surface (not depicted), and can support the mounting arm 106. The extension arm 110 can be a substantially rigid object (e.g., a rod, bar, plank, or the like) attached to the mounting arm 106 (e.g., via welding, fasteners such as screws, nails, rivets, and the like, mounting plates, etc.) Alternatively, extension arm 110 and mounting arm 106 can comprise a single object (e.g., a rod) bent (e.g., at a 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 135, or 150 degree angle, or other suitable angle) along a longitudinal length to form both the extension arm 110 and the mounting arm 106. According to a particular embodiment, at least one mounting arm (106) is attached in a substantially perpendicular orientation to an end of the extension arm 110. The extension arm 110 can displace the mounting arm 106 and head-ware (104) from the mounting surface, so the head-ware (104) can be supported by the mounting arm 106 without being in contact with the mounting surface (e.g., to prevent scratching or otherwise damaging/defacing the head-ware).
Apparatus 102 can also include a mounting device 112 that can attach to a portion of the extension arm 110 (e.g., an end opposite the mounting arm 106) and can secure the extension arm 110 to the mounting surface (not depicted). For example, the mounting device 112 can comprise a substantially planar and rectangular portion; the substantially planar and rectangular portion can be secured flush to a substantially planar portion of the mounting surface by one or more fasteners (e.g., screws, nails, rivets, bolts, nuts, etc.) Alternatively, the substantially planar portion of the mounting device 112 can slide into a quick release bracket-type device (e.g., having a rectangular slot of similar dimension to the substantially planar and rectangular portion of the mounting device, that can accept the mounting device as it is slid into the rectangular slot for securing; not depicted) that is secured to the mounting surface by fasteners, for instance.
As depicted, apparatus 102 can provide a secure support for at least one head-ware device, and can further provide good ventilation for such device by facilitating air flow into an inner portion of the head-ware (e.g., by having a volume of the mounting arm 106 and optionally the seat 108 substantially smaller than an inner volume of the head-ware 104). It should be appreciated that apparatus 102 can be mounted (e.g., via mounting device 106) to a wall, door, ceiling, shelf, or other suitable, relatively secure and/or rigid object, such as a bed wall of a pick-up truck, a wall of a trailer, an automobile wall, door, ceiling, or the like. As a result, apparatus 102 can provide for storage, ventilation, and care of one or more sporting head-ware devices in between use.
Referring to
Additionally, apparatus 202 can include a padding material 216 attached to an apex of mounting arm 210 (e.g., at an end of mounting arm 210 opposite from extension arm 208). The padding material can softly support head-ware 204, for instance, at an inner crown portion of the head-ware (e.g., an inner apex of a helmet). Padding material can be comprised at least in part of any suitable material that is relatively soft compared with mounting arm 210 and/or head-ware 204, such as foam, foam rubber, cloth, memory foam, or the like. According to a particular embodiment, padding material 216 can be comprised at least in part of rubber and/or silicone rubber. Furthermore, padding material 216 can be formed (e.g., including ridges and/or channels) so as to facilitate providing ventilation for a portion of head-ware 204 resting upon the padding material 216 (e.g., see
In addition to the foregoing, mounting device 206, extension arm 208 and/or mounting arm 210 can be formed of a substantially rigid material such as metal, ceramic, or plastic, or combinations thereof. According to a particular embodiment, mounting device 206, extension arm 208 and/or mounting arm 210 can be formed at least in part from plastic, steel, aluminum, a steel alloy, or an aluminum alloy, or combinations thereof or of a like substantially rigid material. Additionally, mounting device 206, extension arm 208 and/or mounting arm 210 can be covered in a protective coating. For example, the protective coating can be paint or a powder coat, or like coating material, or a combination thereof.
It should be appreciated that various numbers of grooves 306B can be included with padding material 302A. In addition, the grooves 306B can be spaced apart from each other, such that an apex to apex distance from one groove 306B to a neighboring groove 306B can be larger than a width of either groove 306B. Additionally, the grooves 306B can be extruded along a dimension of a surface of the padding material, or can be ‘bumps’ that extend only a portion of the dimension of the surface, or combinations thereof.
Referring to
The extension stud 412 can allow a strap (e.g., a chin strap or the like) to secure a head-ware device (not depicted) to apparatus 402. For instance, the strap can be tightly secured around the extension stud 412, fastening the head-ware device to the padding material 410 and mounting arm 408. Alternately, or in addition, the strap can thread through a loop portion of the extension stud 412 and tightly secured thereto, to prevent inadvertent slipping of the helmet or the strap. As a result, one or more helmets attached to one or more mounting arms (408) (e.g., each extending outward from the extension arm 406 substantially perpendicular from each other and from the extension arm) can be secured to the apparatus 402 via by strapping the helmets to the extension stud 412. It should be appreciated that the attachment stud 412 can be comprised of and/or coated with substantially similar material as the mounting device 404, extension arm 406, and/or mounting arm 408 as described supra.
Apparatus 402 can also include an attachment mechanism 414 that can extend outward from a longitudinal dimension of the extension arm. The attachment mechanism 414 can support one or more clothing hangers bearing one or more articles of clothing, riding gloves, or a combination thereof. The attachment mechanism 414 can also support various articles of clothing and sporting apparel (e.g., shirt, pants, jacket, shoes, socks, gloves, scarf, additional helmets, or the like) by themselves or from the hangers, for instance. According to additional aspects, the attachment mechanism 414 can extend bilaterally outward from the longitudinal dimension of the extension arm 406, ending in two arms 416, 418 such that at least two clothing hangers bearing one or more articles of clothing, a pair of riding gloves, or a combination thereof, can be secured to the two arms 416, 418 of the attachment mechanism 414. As described, apparatus 402 can organize various articles of sporting equipment, including one or more helmets, a jacket, shoes/boots, gloves, pants, shirt, shoulder pads, skateboard, snowboard, and the like. In addition, the apparatus 402 can facilitate ventilation of at least the one or more helmets (not depicted) as described herein.
In addition to the foregoing, the extension arm 506 can be formed with substantially 0.5 inch gap between the two parallel portions of the extension arm loop (506). The mounting arm 508 can be substantially 0.5 inches thick (e.g., rectangular, cylindrical or similar dimension) secured between the ⅜ inch loops, substantially 1 inch from the extension stud 512. The mounting arm 508 can be welded to both loop wires of the extension arm 506, adding structural integrity to both the extension arm 506 and the mounting arm 508.
The mounting device 504 of apparatus 502 can be substantially planar and rectangular having rectangular width of 1.5 inches and height of 3 inches, and substantially 0.25 to 0.75 inches thick. The mounting device 504 can also include two substantially 7/16 inch holes, near the top and bottom of the 3 inch length dimension of the rectangular plate of the mounting device 504, allowing the mounting device to be fastened to a mounting surface. In addition, the bend at the open end of the extension arm 506 can be secured to the planar portion of the mounting device 504 as described above. Furthermore, the padding material 510 can be secured to a 2 inch by 2 inch steel plate (not depicted) mounted atop the mounting arm 508. The steel plate can offer a flat, level surface for the padding material 510. Moreover, the padding material 510 can be substantially 2 inches by 2 inches, and 0.5 inches thick, having 5 raised rubber ribs on the top facilitating ventilation of a helmet seated atop the padding material 510. Additionally, the padding material 510 can clasp onto the steel plate to be secured onto the mounting arm. The padding material can facilitate soft support, grip, and ventilation for a helmet mounted to the mounting arm 508.
The bilateral attachment mechanism 514 can be a ring, disc, or loop, or the like, substantially 5 inches long with a vertical bend (e.g., substantially 90 degrees) approximately 1 inch from each end of the ring/disc/loop. These bends of attachment mechanism 514 can facilitate organization of additional sports apparel, such as clothes hangers and/or jacket, gloves, shoes, clothing, boots, shoes, additional helmets, skateboards, snowboards, shoulder pads, and the like.
As depicted, apparatus has many beneficial properties. For example, it enables a helmet and/or other sports apparel to be stored and/or transported in a secure fashion, and in a manner that facilitates ventilation of such equipment. In addition, securing the apparatus 502 in an appropriate manner (e.g., on a wall out of the reach of children, and out of plain sight) can facilitate prevention of unwanted handling, from children, visitors, or pets for instance. This apparatus 502 also can be used in an enclosed trailer for safe transport of a helmet and other equipment while traveling. The horizontal wire loop forming the extension arm 506 also offers a place to hang a jacket and other clothing, giving a well organized mechanism for hanging riding apparel as well as gloves, etc.
According to one or more aspects, attachment mechanism 600 can secure to an extension arm by various mechanisms for securing rigid materials (e.g., metals, ceramics, plastics, and so on). For instance, the attachment mechanism 600 can be welded to the extension arm. Alternatively, or in addition, the attachment mechanism can be soldered or fastened (e.g., via screws, nuts and bolts, nails, clips, staples, or the like) to the attachment arm. In accordance with further aspects, the attachment mechanism 600 can be of substantially like material as the extension arm (e.g., plastic, steel, aluminum, a steel alloy, or an aluminum alloy, or combinations thereof or of a like substantially rigid material). Additionally, the attachment mechanism 600 can be coated with a durable powder coat finish, with paint, with primer, or combinations thereof or of the like.
According to one or more particular embodiments, the attachment mechanism 600 can extend bilaterally outward from a longitudinal dimension of an extension arm, such that at least two clothing hangers bearing one or more articles of clothing, a pair of riding gloves, or a combination thereof, can be supported by the attachment mechanism 600. For instance, ends (604, 606) of the attachment mechanism 600 can be bent upward (e.g., at an angle between substantially 20 and 160 degrees, such as 90 degrees) relative to a length of the attachment mechanism that is secured to the extension arm.
As a particular example, attachment mechanism 600 can be formed of metal wire substantially ⅜ inch in diameter. The metal wire can be formed into a substantially closed loop, substantially 5 inches long. Further, ends of the closed loop can be bent substantially 90 degrees with respect to a length of the loop, at substantially 1 inch from each end, forming a ‘wings’ (604, 606) at the end of the attachment mechanism 600 that provide stability and security for objects suspended from the attachment mechanism 600. As described, the attachment mechanism 600, when attached to a sporting apparel organizer as described herein, can facilitate support and suspension of sporting equipment, such as clothes, jackets, gloves, shoes, skates, shoulder-pads, or one or more additional helmets, or the like, as described herein.
In view of the exemplary articles and apparatus described supra, methodologies that may be implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matter will be better appreciated with reference to the flow charts of
In addition to the foregoing, the extension arm can be of a length greater than or equal to half a width of an adult helmet, child helmet or both. Alternatively, or in addition, the extension arm can be retractable and/or extendable, such that a length of the extension arm can be increased or decreased (e.g., to facilitate a shorter or longer extension out from a surface of which the mounting bracket is secured). At 704, a mounting arm sufficient to support at least one head-ware (e.g., helmet) can be attached to the extension arm. For instance, the mounting arm can extend substantially perpendicular out from the extension arm. Furthermore, the mounting arm can be of sufficient length such that the head-ware can be supported aloft at an interior apex (e.g., interior crown) portion of the head-ware while a lower rim of the head-ware is resting upon, or held above, the extension arm. In addition to the foregoing, a diameter of the mounting arm can be small with respect to an interior volume of the head-ware, to facilitate adequate air flow into and out of the interior of the head-ware. As a result, method 700 provides for making a helmet organizer that can hold, secure, and store as well as provide adequate ventilation for, at least one helmet.
At 806, a padding support can be attached to an end of the mounting arm. Such padding support can be made of rubber, silicone rubber, or like flexible and relatively soft (e.g., as compared with the mounting arm and/or extension arm material) material. As a particular example the padding can comprise a substantially 2 inch by 2 inch portion of the relatively soft material, that mounts to and covers the edges of a substantially 2 inch by 2 inch plate formed, attached, etc., at a second end of the mounting arm. The padding material can provide a soft and flexible support for a head-ware seated thereon. In addition, the padding support can have ridges, grooves, or the like formed in a top surface (e.g., in contact with the head-ware) to facilitate air flow and ventilation to the portion of the head-ware that is resting upon the padding and/or plate.
At 808, a strapping loop can be formed near the junction of the mounting arm and the extension arm. The strapping loop can be utilized to secure a chin strap of a head-ware to the extension arm or mounting arm, as discussed above, or both. At 810, a support loop can be secured to and extend lateral to a longitudinal dimension of the extension arm. The support loop can facilitate support and storage of additional sporting apparel, such as a jacket, gloves, shoes, skates, shoulder-pads, one or more additional helmets, and the like. At 812, the extension arm, mounting arm, bracket, support loop, or mounting loop, or combinations thereof, in a powder coat finish. Such powder coat finish can provide a protective cover for such components to prevent rust, scratching, and the like, for instance. As described, method 800 can provide a mechanism for making a sporting apparel organizer for storing, securing, protecting, and ventilating a helmet and additional sporting equipment, as described herein.
What has been described above includes examples of aspects of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the disclosed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has” or “having” are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090020490 A1 | Jan 2009 | US |