US20080264813A1

US20080264813A1 - Sports equipment caddy

Info

Publication number: US20080264813A1
Application number: US11/796,190
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis Petit DeMange
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-27
Filing date: 2007-04-27
Publication date: 2008-10-30

Abstract

A mobile sports equipment storage caddy for storing, organizing and displaying sports equipment. The mobile storage caddy includes a housing and the housing includes a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a side member, which is disposed between the top and the bottom. The mobile storage caddy includes a plurality of indentations that are symmetrically disposed around a perimeter of the housing and are sized to receive sports equipment. The mobile storage caddy can further include a base element, a rotating element, and a moving element.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a storage caddy for sports equipment and more specifically to a mobile storage caddy for storing, organizing and displaying sports equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of known sports equipment storage and display devices give no consideration for storing additional sports equipment and household items. Such known devices typically involve small stationary 2-dimensional storage racks, which inefficiently store equipment and may have limited space for additional sports equipment. Various immobile racks have been developed to support golf bags or other equipment for either long term or short term storage. Long-term storage caddies generally include racks designed with horizontally arranged slots, in which the racks store the equipment while not in use. Short term storage caddies for golf bags generally include horizontal rails or “C” shaped racks that are provided with transverse extensions to individual separate golf bags. Such devices are normally employed just before or after use of the sports equipment.
In view of the above limitations for storing sports equipment, such as golf bags or hockey sticks, it is desirable to have a device that stores, displays and organizes one or more golf bags along with other types of sports equipment or household items, in a manner that efficiently uses storage space while providing both indoor and outdoor mobility. It is also desirable to provide a device that is not only low cost, but may be constructed from light weight materials to facilitate mobility, as well as having additional storage space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a mobile storage caddy for efficiently storing, organizing and displaying sports equipment and household items. The storage caddy has a housing that includes a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a side member disposed between the top and the bottom. The bottom has a front face and a rear face. The side member defines a perimeter of the housing. The storage caddy further has one or more indentations disposed around the perimeter of the housing. The indentations are sized to receive at least an equipment bag or other piece of sports equipment. The storage caddy further has a base element and the base element has a front face and a rear face. The front face of the base element coupled to the rear face of the bottom of the housing.
According to one aspect, the storage caddy has a housing that includes a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a side member disposed between the top and the bottom. The bottom has a front face and a rear face. The side member defines a perimeter of the housing. The storage caddy further has one or more indentations disposed around the perimeter of the housing. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy can further include a rotating element. The rotating element is coupled to the rear face of the bottom of the housing and is coupled to the front face of the base element.
According to another aspect, the storage caddy has a housing that includes a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a side member disposed between the top and the bottom. The bottom has a front face and a rear face. The side member defines a perimeter of the housing. The storage caddy further has one or more indentations disposed around the perimeter of the housing. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy can further include a moving element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary mobile equipment storage caddy in accordance with the principles of the current invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a locking mechanism to retain equipment within the mobile equipment storage caddy;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the mobile sports equipment storage caddy of FIG. 2 showing the caddy deployed in an open position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the mobile sports equipment storage caddy of the present invention showing a raised lip and a storage cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a sports equipment storage caddy constructed in accordance with the principles of the current invention and designated generally as “10”. Sports equipment storage caddy 10 has a housing 12 that includes a bottom 14, a top 16 opposite the bottom 14 and a side member 18 disposed between the top 16 and the bottom 14. Side member 18 define a perimeter 20 of housing 12, an interior 22 of housing 12, and includes one or more indentations 24 disposed about perimeter 20 of housing 12. Indentations 24 have a first end near top 16 of housing 12 and a second end near bottom 14 of housing 12. Indentations 24 are disposed around perimeter 20 of housing 12 and are configured to receive sports equipment such as golf bag or a ball bag. Housing 12 forms an axis 26 of symmetry about which the first end of indentations 24 can be angled and inclined toward axis 26.
Housing 12 is generally cone shaped with bottom 14 and top 16 being substantially parallel to each other and being vertically offset by the side member 18. Housing 12 can be any shape that lends stability to the structure and provides for easy access to indentations 24. As shown in FIG. 1, sports equipment storage caddy 10 can also have a base element 28 and a rotating element 30. In FIG. 1, base element 28 and bottom 14 of housing 12 can be coupled together by rotating element 30. Base element 28 and bottom 14 of housing 12 can have the same or very similar maximum circumference. In general, top 16 can have a smaller circumference than the maximum circumference of bottom 14. However, the shape and size of bottom 14 and top 16 may vary. For example, a conical housing 12 can be coupled to a square bottom (not shown). The shape of bottom 14, top 16 and base 28 may include but are not limited to a circle, a triangle, a square, a trapezoid, a pentagon, and a heptagon. Housing 12 may be fabricated from light weight materials such as plastic, rubber, fiberglass, a combination thereof or of similar materials.
In one embodiment, housing 12 can be formed at a height of approximately 40 inches. However, the width of bottom 14 and top 16 of housing 12 can vary and can depend on accommodating different sports equipment, such as golf bag, hockey stick, and base ball bat. In FIG. 1, the first end of indentations 24 near top 16 being angled and inclined toward axis 26 so that more than one indentations are close together at top 16 of housing 12 while the second end of the indentations 24 are near bottom 14. This configuration can be symmetrical with respect to axis 26 with the housing 12 and indentations 24 defining symmetrical axis 26. These dimensions and configurations are optional and variations are possible.
Indentations 24 may be formed at a height of approximately 40 inches or at a height similar to the height of housing 12. Also, indentations 24 may be formed at a width and a depth of approximately 10-12 inches to accommodate typical 8-9 inch oval top golf bag. However, the width and depth of indentations 24 may vary and can depend on accommodating different sports equipment. For example, indentations 24 may be formed at a width and a depth of approximately 3-5 inches to accommodate small-sized sports equipment such as a hockey stick or a ball-bat. Indentations 24 having different width and depth may be mixed in the same housing to accommodate different sports equipment in the same sports equipment storage caddy (not shown). Although any number of indentations 24 may be molded or otherwise included on housing 12 to receive as many golf bags or hockey sticks as desired, typical numbers of indentations 24 in housing 12 may be 3 to 6.
Housing 12 can rotate about its bottom 14 and can include a rotating element 30 that facilitates rotation. In FIG. 1, rotating element 30 can be located at the junction of the bottom 14 of housing 12 and base element 28. This feature allows for access to all golf bags in the storage caddy by simple rotation of housing 12. As shown in FIG. 1, bottom 14 of housing 12 can be coupled to rotating element 30. Rotating element 30 permits or restricts movement of housing 12 about base 28, and facilitates access to the equipment in the storage caddy. Rotating element 30 may be a disc or any device capable of supporting the weight of housing 12, and which facilitates the rotation of housing 12 about base 28. Additionally, rotating element 30 may have a locking latch (not shown), which can restrict rotation.
Bottom 14 of base 28 can be coupled to a moving element 32. Moving element 32 can be any device that provides mobility to the storage caddy 10, e.g., wheels, rollers, skids or any other similar devices. For example, FIG. 1 shows that moving element 32 as a group of wheels mounted to base 28. Moving element 32 may further have a locking feature (not shown), which restricts the moving element's mobility. The locking feature provides for immobilizing the storage caddy 10, once it is in a selected space.
FIG. 2 shows entrance 34 to interior 22 of housing 12. Entrance 34 can be located at top 16 of housing 12. Entrance 34 may be located in any position that facilitates access to interior 22 of housing 12. Entrance 34 may be coupled to or engaged to a locking element 36 that restricts entry to interior 22 of housing 12. When locking element 36 disengages entrance 34, housing 12 can be pivotally opened to facilitate access to interior 22 of housing 12 as shown in FIG. 3. Housing 12 can include a hinge disposed about perimeter 20 to facilitate the opening and closing of entrance 34. The hinges can be any link, e.g., a cylindrical pin, spring, or swivel that enables housing 12 to extend outward from locking element 36. As shown in FIG. 3, when housing 12 is in an unlocked position, housing 12 can hinge open, at approximately the mid-point of the height of housing 12, to allow access to the hollow interior 22 by way of entrance 34.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, housing 12 can include a raised lip 38, which surrounds or encircles bottom 14 of housing 12. Raised lip 38 can be utilized to store golf balls, hockey pucks, or other accessories. Raised lip 38 can be any size or shape and can extend the entire length of perimeter 20 of housing 12 near bottom 14.
As shown in FIG. 4, housing 12 may further include one or more storage cavities 40. Storage cavity 40 can be utilized to store golf, hockey, or sports accessories such as golf shoes or hockey skates. As shown in FIG. 4, storage cavity 40 can be positioned at the juncture between housing 12 and bottom 14. Storage cavity 40 can be located on the side element 18 of housing 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the shape and volume of storage cavity 40 typically can be proportional to that of housing 12. However, the shape and volume of storage cavity 40 may be variable as well.
Perimeter 20 of housing 12 may further include one or more openings 42. Openings 42 can be any size, shape or depth. For example, FIG. 4 shows an umbrella 46 situated inside opening 42. However, opening 42 may also be a sufficient size and depth to situate a hockey stick, polo stick, or other sports equipment. Opening 42 extends from perimeter 20 of housing 12 towards interior 22 of housing 12. Opening 42 may be filled with sports accessories, such as a golf club or a hockey stick, or household items such as an umbrella.
As shown in FIG. 4, one or more adhesive fasteners or straps 44 can be attached to side element of housing 12 to secure golf bags or hockey sticks within the indentations 24. Straps 44 may be constructed of any light weight material. For example, the straps 44 are adjustable and may be made of Velcro®, but any other releasably engaging element may be used to secure golf bags or other sports equipment within indentations 24.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A mobile sports equipment storage caddy comprising:

a housing, the housing including a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a side member disposed between the top and the bottom, the bottom having a front face and a rear face, the side member defining a perimeter of the housing; and

a plurality of indentations symmetrically disposed around the perimeter of the housing, the plurality of indentations sized to receive sports equipment.

2. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, further comprising a base element, the base element having a front face and a rear face, the front face of the base element coupled to the rear face of the bottom of the housing.

3. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 2, further comprising a rotating element, the rotating element coupled to the rear face of the bottom of the housing and coupled to the front face of the base element.

4. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 2, further comprising a moving element, the moving element coupled to the rear face of the base element.

5. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, further comprising an entrance to an interior of the housing.

6. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 5, further comprising a locking element coupled to the entrance.

7. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of indentations is sized to receive a golf bag.

8. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of indentations is sized to receive a hockey stick.

9. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, further comprising a storage cavity located near the bottom of the housing.

10. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one opening sized to receive an umbrella.

11. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive fastener coupled to the housing and positioned near the indentations.

12. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, further comprising a raised lip at the bottom of the housing.

13. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, wherein the housing forms a cone shape.

14. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 1, wherein the width of the bottom is greater than the width of the top.

15. A mobile sports equipment storage caddy comprising:

a housing, the housing including a bottom, a top opposite the bottom, and a side member disposed between the top and the bottom, the bottom having a front face and a rear face, the side member defining a perimeter of the housing;

a plurality of indentations disposed around the perimeter of the housing, the plurality of indentations sized to receive at least an equipment bag;

a base element, the base element having a front face and a rear face, the front face of the base element coupled to the rear face of the bottom of the housing; and

a rotating element, the rotating element coupled to the rear face of the bottom of the housing and coupled to the front face of the base element.

16. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 15, further comprising a raised lip at the bottom of the housing.

17. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 15, wherein the width of the bottom is greater than the width of the top.

18. A mobile sports equipment storage caddy comprising:

a base element, the base element having a front face and a rear face, the front face of the base element coupled to a rear face of the bottom of the housing; and

a moving element, the moving element coupled to the rear face of the base element.

19. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 18, further comprising a raised lip at the bottom of the housing.

20. The mobile sports equipment storage caddy of claim 18, wherein the width of the bottom is greater than the width of the top.