Patent Application
20100122961
The present invention relates to an apparatus for drying and storing sports equipment, and more particularly to a portable and reconfigurable device for hanging and drying sports equipment thereon.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for drying and storing equipment used for sports, such as hockey, North American football, lacrosse, etc. There are many sports which require a significant amount of equipment to protect a player when playing such sports, and such equipment varies in size, shape and weight and is typically difficult to store and dry in an organized manner such that a user may quickly and efficiently access and use the equipment.
Typical of the prior art are stands or other floor mounted racks or structures placed upon the ground which have various appendages or supports adapted to receive different pieces of equipment. These devices take up space on the floor, such as in a closet, and require the user to strategically place upon the stand the equipment in a specific order so as to prevent the stand or rack from tipping. Such racks or stands are exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,377,849; 6,073,783; 6,591,994; 5,862,924; and Canadian Patent 2,204,977. Such prior art devices are easily toppled over, due to the fact that these devices typically rely on a truss base, which if loaded improperly, have the potential for toppling over. Even if such devices are loaded properly they still have the potential of toppling over if bumped into by another object i.e. dog, child, adult etc. because the center of gravity of the loaded assembly is or could be too high with respect to its over turning moment not forgetting that the impact force will be coming from the top half of the assembly.
Other prior art devices include wall mounted racks (such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,841 to Klein et al). However the rack as contemplated by Klein et al is to be secured to a door or other vertical surface, is not able to retain sports equipment in an efficient configuration to assist in the drying and storage of such equipment and is not intended to be portable.
Other prior art references include U.S. Pat. No. 2,544,886 to Kuhn and U.S. Pat. No. 2,298,491 to Lamar. These references both disclose a unitary hanger which includes a hook or similar end piece upon which a piece of equipment is to be hung. Both prior art references suffer from the same drawback in that the hanger is a unitary piece and does not accommodate multiple pieces of sports equipment. For example, Kuhn generally discloses a unitary hanger on which pieces of equipment are to be hung from the free ends, and as illustrated, once the sports equipment is in place, appears to limit the amount of air movement between pieces thus significantly increasing the amount of time required to dry the equipment. In a similar fashion, the device as disclosed by Lamar suffers from the same drawbacks.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a sports equipment hanger which is portable, collapsible and reconfigurable and capable of storing and drying sports equipment. The present invention, as described below and in the accompanying claims, overcomes the problems of the prior art.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus which facilitates the storing and drying of protective sports equipment. The present invention is adapted to accommodate and support any protective sporting equipment and apparel such as, for example, North American football, ice hockey, roller hockey, lacrosse and ringette as well as hobbies such as, for example, hunting having equipment which needs to be supported and/or stored for drying.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed to a portable sports equipment hanger which is easily reconfigurable.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports equipment hanger comprising a primary frame member having an elongate body with opposed ends; a plurality of secondary frame members, each of the secondary frame members having an elongate body and opposed ends, wherein each of the secondary frame members is adapted for releasable placement on the primary frame member in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the primary frame member; a plurality of sports equipment attachment means positioned on at least one of the secondary frame members for releasable engagement with an article of the sports equipment, and releasable attachment means mounted on one of the opposed ends of the primary frame member for hanging the hanger in a generally vertical orientation when in use.
In accordance with a further preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a hanger for sports equipment comprising a frame, the frame having a vertical support member and a plurality of transversely extending mounting members spaced apart from each other along the vertical support member, the plurality of mounting members being secured to the vertical support member; the hanger having mounting means adapted to mount the hanger to a substrate, and at least one of the transversely extending mounting members having releasable fastening members associated therewith adapted to releasably mount an article engaged therewith.
The objects and features of the present invention noted above are explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings Figures in which:
As illustrated in the accompanying drawing Figures, and in which like reference numerals denote like elements, there is provided a sports equipment hanger in accordance with the present invention generally designated by reference numeral 10.
The sports equipment hanger or gear hanger 10 includes a primary member 20 which, as illustrated in
A plurality of secondary equipment support members 30, 40, 50 and 60 are illustrated in a generally horizontal orientation with respect to the primary vertical member 20. As will be understood by those of skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, the apparatus is shown in an “in-use” orientation and the terms “vertical” and “horizontal” as used herein are used in accordance with the orientation as illustrated in the drawing Figures.
Means 90 for hanging the sports equipment hanger or gear hanger 10 is positioned at the upper end 22, discussed in greater detail below. Means 90 orients the gear hanger 10 into an upright position when in use.
As illustrated, attached in a perpendicular orientation to primary vertical member 20 are secondary horizontal members 30, 40, 50 and 60. In a preferred embodiment, both primary and secondary members are manufactured from aluminum square tube or tubular members. Desirably, the aluminum square tubing has a surface treatment which prevents oxidation of the metal i.e. anodized or other suitable surface treatments. The aluminum tubing as contemplated for use by the present invention is desirably lightweight and rigid. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other rigid materials, including metals, plastics, pvc, carbon fibre, fibre glass and combinations of these materials, may be used to provide a frame or frame members adapted to support the weight of various sports equipment thereon. It will also be understood that, in a preferred embodiment, the primary and secondary members have a uniform cross section and the shape of the cross section may be square, tubular, rectangular, circular, polygonal or triangular.
The primary vertical member 20 is adapted to support thereon the plurality of secondary horizontal members. As illustrated, and for exemplary purposes only, the gear hanger or sports equipment hanger 10 includes four horizontal members (30, 40, 50 and 60) equally spaced about a surface 26A of primary member 20. As illustrated, surface 26A is the primary surface to which horizontal members are releasably attached.
As illustrated in
As illustrated, the primary vertical member 20 includes four threaded insert nuts 81 mechanically swaged in their respective apertures 82, which may be equally spaced along a surface of the primary vertical member 20. Depending upon the desired configuration, the quantity of secondary horizontal members may be more or less and are within the intended scope of the present invention. Alternatively the spacing of the threaded insert nuts 81 may be offset or unequal, depending upon the desired end use of the device.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment, three threaded insert nuts 81 are oriented in a spiral about the four sides or surfaces of the primary vertical member 20. Preferably, the insert nuts 81 are positioned in the center region of the primary vertical member 20. The insert nuts 81, which are preferably mechanically swaged in their respective apertures 82, protrude inside the tubular members and are flush against the outside surface. As will be understood, other fastening means may be used.
The primary vertical member 20 is adapted to provide a substantially straight, rigid structure to which are releasably fastened a plurality of secondary horizontal members. The primary vertical member 20 is adapted for use by a user to hold while moving the empty or fully populated hanger 10. In use, the primary vertical member 20 provides a natural and variable extension of a user's arm to reach the supporting appendage (for example a rod or similar support to which the top element or hook (90) is to be attached) that may be much higher than eye level. For example, the user may place the empty or populated hanger 10 into a closet and hang the device 10 on a rod. Alternatively, a user may place the device 10 on a hook or other support to allow the user to access the gear thereupon.
A first or uppermost secondary horizontal member 30 is provided and releasably attached to the primary member 20 in a perpendicular mating orientation to primary member 20. Secondary member 30 is preferably made of the same tubular or similar material as the primary member 20 and includes opposed ends 32 and 34. Each end is adapted to receive an end plug or cap, or blank end plugs 110 inserted in the ends 32 and 34 of the tubular member 30. In order to secure the end plugs 110 or caps in the ends 32 and 34, the end plugs 110 may be of a compression fit type and are fastened with a screw fastener 150 from the front side. The screw fastener 150 passes through a pilot hole 140 and then into the side of the end plug 110 that is already inside the tube. It will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that other suitable fastening means may be used, and the number of pilot holes 140 may be more or less, equally spaced or unequally spaced and are within the intended scope of the present invention. The secondary horizontal member 30 includes an aperture 83 centrally located and corresponding with the aperture of the primary member 20 (as illustrated on secondary horizontal member 60 in
In use, a user places shoulder pads or other like equipment (not shown) onto the hanger 10 by passing the top hook 90 and primary vertical member 20 through the neck opening portion of the sports equipment to position the equipment such that it is supported by the secondary horizontal member 30. Typically, shoulder pads have a neck hole that does not open up therefore the pads will be securely placed and will not fall to the ground once the gear hanger 10 is in place. Once the hanger 10 is in place, the user may then continue to attach pieces of equipment or apparel to the secondary members via attachment means 70 and 100.
As illustrated in
As illustrated, there is one additional fastener aperture (81, 82) on each of the remaining three sides of primary vertical member 20. These three additional apertures, together with one of the apertures on surface 26A of primary member 20, are adapted for stowing the secondary horizontal members 30, 40, 50 and 60 parallel to the primary vertical member 20 when the gear hanger 10 is not in use (i.e., in a stowed condition) as illustrated in
As noted above, on the front face of the tubular secondary members 30, 40, 50 and 60 are four pilot holes 140 for screw fasteners 150. The pilot holes 140 are adapted such that they only go through the top surface of the tubular secondary members 30, 40, 50 and 60. These pilot holes 140 are spaced equally. Spring clips 70 or other suitable equipment detent or securement means can then be fastened to each secondary or horizontal member via a screw fastener 150. The design is such that the spring clip 70 will be able to rotate about the fastener axis, which allows for storage of the secondary horizontal members and to prevent unwanted stress on the spring clip 70 while being utilized. Depending upon the desired configuration, the number of pilot holes 140 may be more or less, spaced equally or spaced unequally and are within the intended scope of the present invention.
Secondary horizontal member 50 is similar to that of secondary member 40 having an elongate tubular body with opposed ends 52 and 54, and like reference numerals denote like features.
As illustrated, there is provided a lowermost or bottom secondary horizontal member, identified by reference numeral 60. Similar to the other secondary tubular members noted above, secondary member 60 includes an elongate tubular body having opposed ends 62 and 64. Secondary horizontal member 60 is adapted to receive blank end plugs 110 inserted in the ends 62, 64 of the tubular member 60. The end plugs have a compression fit and are positively secured with a screw fastener 150 as in secondary members 30, 40 and 50. It will be understood that other suitable fasteners may be used. In a preferred embodiment, a generally “U” shaped hook 100 is fastened to the end plugs 110 with a screw fastener 150 or other suitable fastener on each end thereof. In use, the hooks 100 may rotate about the axis of the screw fastener 150 in each of the end plugs 110. The secondary horizontal member 60 includes an aperture 83 centrally located to accommodate a fastener such as thumb screw 130. The secondary horizontal member 60 further includes a cutout portion 36 which corresponds with or accommodates the primary vertical member 20 as illustrated in
On the front face of the secondary horizontal member 60 are four pilot holes 140 for fastening spring clips 70. The pilot holes 140 only go through the top surface of the secondary horizontal member 60. These pilot holes are spaced equally and are for the installation of spring clips 70 or other suitable fasteners. The spring clips 70 or other suitable equipment detent or securement means can then be fastened to each secondary horizontal member via a mating screw fastener 150 or other suitable fastener. Preferably, each attachment means (such as the spring clip 70 illustrated in the drawing Figures) will be able to rotate about the screw axis. Depending upon the desired configuration, the number of pilot holes 140 may be more or less, equally spaced or unequally spaced and are within the intended scope of the present invention.
As illustrated in the drawing Figures, and more particularly
Desirably, the spring clip 70 or other similar attachment means has an appropriate amount of clamping force to retain the piece of equipment, and preferably is sufficiently easy to open with one hand to allow a user easy access and to place an article into the open spring and secure it therein. In an alternative embodiment, the spring is made of a material having a surface treatment which prevents oxidation of the metal i.e. chrome plating or other known materials.
Pilot holes 140 on the primary and secondary members can be reused, relocated or varied in number to reconfigure the components as the user wishes.
As noted above, there is provided at the upper portion 22 of the vertical primary member 20 a hook or other means generally identified by reference numeral 90. Hook 90 is preferably made of steel or other suitable material. Desirably, hook 90 is in a “U” shape with one side 92 longer than the other side 93. The longer side 92 is partially threaded 94 for threading into end plug 120 within top end 22.
In a preferred embodiment, hook 90 is permitted to rotate about the thread axis through 360 degrees in order to accommodate the supporting appendage. Preferably, there is provided a surface treatment to prevent oxidation of the metal i.e. cadmium plating or other suitable materials as known in the art.
Alternatively, the hook 90 may be replaced with other suitable means (such as a Velcro strap, eyelet, loop, clip, etc.) to allow a person to easily hang and store the device 10 on a suitable rod or hook. The top threaded end plug 120 is inserted into the top end of primary vertical member 20. The primary vertical member end 22 is mechanically deformed after the end plug 120 has been installed to secure the end plug. The deformation in the aluminum tube can be of various shapes and sizes. The deformation changes the dimension of the tubing and the end plug 120 to provide a positive attachment.
Mounted on the sides or ends 62 and 64 of the lowermost secondary member 60 are hooks 100, best illustrated in
As noted above, there is provided in the respective tubular ends of the vertical and horizontal primary and secondary members a blank end plug or cap generally identified by reference numeral 110. In a preferred embodiment, the blank end plug or cap 110 is of a plastic material and is inserted into the end of the tubular member to close the opening. In use, the plug or cap 110 provides protection from injury by preventing lacerations from any possible sharp edges on the ends produced from the manufacturing process. Other materials may be used as known in the art.
Similar to the blank end plug 110, there is provided in the top end of the primary member 20 a threaded end plug 120. The threaded end plug 120 is preferably plastic, and is adapted to be inserted into an end of a tubular member in order to close the opening and provide a thread 122 for a threaded hook 90 to be installed.
In use, the end plug 120 provides protection from injury by preventing lacerations from any possible sharp edges on the ends produced from the manufacturing process. End plug 120 also permits hooks that have the freedom to rotate. Other materials may be used as known in the art.
As illustrated in the Figures, and more particularly in
As illustrated in
In the preferred embodiment and as illustrated in the drawing Figures, the top secondary horizontal member 30 does not have spring clips attached. The three bottom secondary horizontal members (40, 50 and 60) have spring clips 70 to hold equipment (not shown). The two center secondary members (40 and 50) have four spring clips (70) each and the bottom secondary member (60) has two spring clips 70. The bottom secondary horizontal member 60 also has two hooks 100 fastened into end plugs 110. Straight hook 90 is fastened into the top end plug 120 of the primary vertical member 20 to hold the entire assembly. Each secondary horizontal member can be removed and re-oriented vertically and fastened to the four sides of the primary vertical member 20 for storage convenience.
In the preferred embodiment, the device 10 is a portable apparatus, enabling a user to quickly hang and attach the pieces of sports equipment and/or apparel to the gear hanger 10 in order that the pieces of equipment are visible to ensure that all pieces of the respective sports equipment and/or apparel are present and also to separate each piece from one another to accelerate the drying of the same. In use, a user loads or populates the gear hanger 10 and merely raises the populated hanger 10 on to a rod or hook to allow the gear hanger 10 to hang and dry the pieces of equipment. As noted above, due to the fact that the gear hanger 10 is raised off the floor (for example in a closet or other space), the gear hanger 10 provides a more efficient use of space and permits air to freely pass in and about the equipment from all directions. Desirably, the aluminum tubular members (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60) can be reconfigured into a compact assembly, using the existing thumb screws 130 or other suitable fasteners to keep the tubular members nested together in parallel for transport and/or storage.
In an alternative embodiment, a cover (not shown) may be provided to enclose at least a portion of the device 10 when populated with sports equipment. Such a cover could permit safe transportation of the fully or partially populated hanger 10 during transport or storage, such as when a user brings the gear hanger 10 to an arena or sport facility. Desirably, the cover may also be used to store the collapsed gear hanger 10 when not in use.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the gear hanger or sports equipment dryer 10 will invariably be hanged from its top hook 90 high off the ground and in doing so, the hanger 10 and equipment will not take up valuable floor space. This is quite an advantage over conventional floor stands which take up valuable space and rely on a user to balance the equipment on the horizontal members.
A further advantage of this invention is that it can be used in the process of washing the equipment because of the ability of the spring clamps 70 to retain the equipment while being sprayed with a water hose or pressure washer.
As noted above and in the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment illustrates the gear hanger 10 including a plurality of attachment means or spring clips 70 to hold various pieces of equipment in various arrangements. Such an arrangement overcomes various inherent disadvantages of the prior art devices, which include clamps positioned on two opposing wires that will bend because of reduced rigidity. The present invention advantageously secures all pieces of equipment via the spring clips or attachment means, while skates (i.e., ice, roller) can be supported through their plastic blade holders through hooks.
In an alternative embodiment, the primary and secondary members may be of a circular or other suitable configuration instead of the square tubular configuration shown in the drawings. Other shapes (triangular, polygonal, etc.) are also contemplated.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to the preferred embodiment hereinabove, it is understood that various modifications may be possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,644,226 | Nov 2008 | CA | national |
