Patent Application
20210138967
In the National Football League (NFL), there are sixteen regular season games for each team. The schedule for those sixteen games is determined by a formula whereby, each team plays the other three teams in its division twice, once at home and once on the road. Each team plays each of the four teams from another division within its conference, two of the games are at home, and two are away. Each team plays once against a team from the remaining two divisions, one game at home, and one away. And also, each team plays once against the four teams in a division from the other conference, with two games at home, and two on the road. In college football, NCAA Division 1 teams typically play twelve games during the season, with most games on Saturdays. Highschool football teams usually play between eight to ten games in a season, with the majority being played on Friday nights. If a die hard football fan were to attend all of the regular season games of his or her NFL team, college football team, and local high school squad, there would be many opportunities for pre-game socializing or tailgating, not counting any additional games for playoffs, bowl games, state championships, conference championships or Superbowl games.
Attending football games at home and on the road is best enjoyed with a tailgate party with other like minded football fans before the football game. A tailgate party typically involves a group of football fans setting up an area near their parked vehicle whereby the football fans may consume alcoholic beverages, prepare food, play music, compete in lawn games, relax with friends, socialize with other football fans, and get ready for the big game. Tailgate parties also provide fans with the opportunity to build community support and raise money for the local teams. With most tailgate parties lasting a few hours and located in parking lots near football stadiums, there is a need to quickly and reliably transport, set-up and deploy tables, chairs, tents, food preparation equipment, audio visual equipment, and other recreational gear at the tailgate location, and with the capability to rapidly clean-up and remove the equipment when the game or party is over. Therefore, there is a need for a tailgate entertainment center.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgate entertainment center provides for a vehicle trailer hitch mountable unit with a rigid frame and enclosure for transporting, storing, and deploying audio visual equipment, such as a flat panel multi-media display, monitor or LED TV, a soundsystem, or bluetooth speaker system, seating, chairs, bar stools, table, food storage and food preparation equipment, an overhead shade structure, or tent, protection from weather (i.e., sun, wind, rain, etc.) and climate control devices, such as air circulating fans, air conditioning, and means for heating or cooling the persons tailgating.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgate entertainment center provides for a rigid frame and subframe structure which is mountable to a vehicle hitch. The tailgate entertainment center modules (i.e., audio visual equipment, food storage and preparation, table, seating, and tent or shade structure) are secured and storable on the rigid frame and subframe for transport and deployment. Preferably, an enclosure is provided to secure and protect the tailgate entertainment center modules during transportation and storage on the frame and subframe. To secure and transport the audio visual equipment and other modules, a preferred embodiment of the tailgating center provides lashing straps, ratcheting straps, storage compartments, lockboxes, rigid or flexible plastic or nylon coverings and outer shell.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgate entertainment center provides an electrical power supply unit for powering the audio visual equipment, food storage and preparation, and climate control devices. A preferred embodiment of the power supply may be a lithium ion battery with DC voltage output and inverter unit for AC power output. Alternatively, a generator and fuel storage tank may be provided for supplemental electrical power supply and capacity. Additionally, the tailgating center may provide a propane or natural gas powered heating unit. Food preparation equipment, may preferably include an electric range, stove top, hot plate, crock-pot, or propane or natural gas powered grill or stove. Food storage equipment may preferably include a refrigeration unit, or insulated ice chest or cooler.
In preferred embodiment the tailgate entertainment center may be designed and built by the user to include a set of desirable modules, storage, and options. Preferably, the user may build and price to order the tailgating center on a desktop or mobile device with user-specific features. For example, the user may build and select a hitch mountable frame for a certain vehicle type, and include storage and mounting equipment for a 50 inch LED TV, 100 Watt Bluetooth speaker, propane stove with multiple burners, and storage for a foldable table, chairs, and canopy tent. The user then preferably orders the tailgate entertainment center, with user-specific features, from a desktop or mobile device. Additionally, the user may personalize the tailgating center with favorite professional sports team logos and colors.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgate entertainment center is a vehicle mountable structure for storing and transporting module components for use during a tailgating party at a location near sporting events, music festivals, and outdoor gatherings. The tailgate center preferred use case is for football or other sporting fans that wish to socialize and gather in the parking lot near the stadium before a game. Therefore, the tailgating center provides for the transportation and storage of module components, such as audio visual equipment, food preparation and storage, tables, chairs, and a tent, canopy or other shade/weather protective structure. The tailgating center is preferably vehicle mountable and provides for the storage and transportation of the module components. The tailgating center additionally provides power supply units and fuel storage for the operation of module components, such as an LED TV, Bluetooth speaker, and propane stove, electric fan, or heating element. Tailgating equipment such as foldable tables, chairs, and canopy tent may be stored and transported inside the protective outer shell enclosure.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgating entertainment center is a unit for transporting and storing a user-defined set of component modules for use in socializing with sports fans and friends at an outdoor gathering near a sporting event or stadium. The user may preferably build and price the tailgating center on a desktop computer or mobile device by connecting with an Internet based platform or website. The user may select and build out customizable tailgating component modules for the user's specific use-case or application. For example, the user may interact with the tailgating entertainment center website and provide the year make and model of the intended vehicle. The user will then be presented with a number of options for mounting the tailgating center to the specific vehicle. A preferred mounting location may be the vehicle rear trailer hitch. Other locations for mounting may include the rear lift gate area, hatchback, truck trailer lift gate and bed, rooftop rack mountable, or other configuration.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgating entertainment center may provide for the user to select a user-defined set of component modules for tailgating and entertainment purposes. The user may preferably select audio visual devices, such as a 50 inch LED TV or flat panel display, and a 100 watt Bluetooth speaker. The LED TV may be integrated with a mobile satellite or broadband network receiver component device for receiving live broadcasts or on-demand streaming of NFL games and other sporting events for display on the flat panel display monitor. The Bluetooth speaker and other audio equipment may provide music entertainment services and streaming via wireless connectivity with the user's mobile device. The audio visual equipment may be preferably powered by a power supply unit such as a lithium ion battery with a sufficient capacity (i.e., 1.0 kWh, 50 Ah, 12 VDC, and 120 VAC inverter output) and with 4-5 hours duration of discharge at rated power for the tailgating component modules.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgating entertainment center may provide the user with a set of user-defined food storage and preparation equipment devices. The tailgating center may provide and house a propane gas grill or stove with multiple burners and cooking surfaces. The grill or stove may be supported and mounted to the tailgating center rigid subframe and be deployable and adjustable to fold or roll-out of the outer shell enclosure during tailgating. The user may build out the tailgating center with additional food preparation surfaces and devices as needed, such as a crock-pot, hot plate, oven, deep fryer, refrigeration storage, and ice chest for storage of food and beverages. The food preparation equipment and devices may be preferably powered by a power supply unit such as a lithium ion battery, propane gas tank, or electrical generator with fuel storage.
A preferred embodiment of the tailgating entertainment center may provide the user with a set of user-defined foldable tables, chairs, and pop-up tents, canopies, shade structures, or other weather protection from sun, wind, and rain. The tailgating center may preferably provide storage and rapid deployment of a portable folding picnic table with a number of folding chairs or bar stools for the user and other guests or sports fans. The user may build out the tailgating center to provide storage for a 10-ft. by 10-ft. pop-up canopy shade structure, with side panels for protection from wind or rain. The user may preferably customize the tailgating center with climate control devices such as a number of electric fans for hot weather. For cold weather, the user may build the tailgating center with propane gas powered heating elements, such as a propane tank top heater, or a 50,000 BTU portable overhead umbrella propane patio heater.
For additional entertainment on game day, the user may build the tailgate entertainment center to include storage and housing for lawn games. The tailgating center may preferably provide for transportation and deployment of Cornhole boards and bean bags, bocce ball set, footballs, frisbees, etc. Additionally, the tailgating entertainment center may be personalizable to the user's favorite professional sports team logos and colors.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62933274 | Nov 2019 | US |
