STICK ORGANIZER

Abstract

The present invention is a hockey stick organizer comprising a vertical sleeve mounted on a wall. Hockey sticks are inserted, butt end first, into the top of the sleeve until the butt end rests on the floor and are kept upright by the sleeve. The sleeve is, preferably, circular or D-shaped in cross-section and is large enough to support a number of hockey sticks. The sleeve may be releasably mounted to the wall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of stick organizers and, more particularly, hockey stick organizers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The storage of hockey sticks is a problem for the average household. Hockey sticks have angled blades and do not store easily in a corner or against a wall. Their shape causes them to continually slide down onto the floor and create a hazard for a person to stumble or trip over.

There are known devices for storing or organizing hockey sticks but they are either too complicated to use, too expensive to manufacture or purchase or require too much physical space in the average household. Young people, particularly children, are not likely to take the time or effort required to use a device that is complicated to use.

There is, therefore, a need for a hockey stick organizer that will hold a number of hockey sticks yet is simple to install and use as well as being inexpensive to manufacture and purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with a hockey stick organizer that attaches to a wall and will simply and effectively store a number of hockey sticks.

The present invention is a tubular sleeve that has a passageway that extends from one end of the sleeve to the other. The passageway is preferably D-shaped or circular in cross-section although other cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangular or triangular, may be used. The sleeve itself is preferably made of plastic, such as polyvinylchloride (“PVC”) and may be manufactured using an extrusion or injection molding process.

The sleeve is of an appropriate length and is preferably 12 to 18 inches in length. The sleeve is attached to a wall with the passageway substantially vertical although the sleeve can be tilted off vertical if vertical storage of hockey sticks is not required.

Hockey sticks are inserted into the top end of the sleeve, butt end first, so that the butt end will rest on the floor and the blades of the sticks are sticking upright out of the sleeve. The sleeve is mounted on the wall at an appropriate height to prevent the sticks from falling over or sliding out from the bottom of the sleeve and to keep the sticks secure against the wall.

The sleeve has a cross-sectional area of a size that will accommodate a number of sticks thereby allowing sticks to be added to or removed from the sleeve without dislodging other sticks held by the sleeve.

The sleeve may be mounted to a wall in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the sleeve is attached to a wall using two screws, one at the top and bottom ends of the sleeve, extending through the sidewall from the passageway into the wall. In another embodiment, a mounting block having a dovetail recess is screwed to a wall and a corresponding mounting plate having a dovetail key is attached to the sleeve. The dovetail key releasably attaches to and interlocks with the dovetail recess of the mounting block. In this embodiment, the sleeve clips onto the mounting block to hold sticks during the hockey season and may be removed from the mounting block once the hockey season has ended.

Broadly stated, the present invention is a stick organizer comprising a sleeve having first and second ends, each end having an opening, said sleeve having a sidewall defining a passageway extending there between said openings, and means for attaching said sleeve to a wall, whereupon attaching said sleeve to said wall at a predetermined height off of a floor such that said passageway is substantially vertical, and whereupon placing a stick through said passageway of said sleeve, said stick having an end resting on said floor, said sleeve keeps said stick from falling down.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is an isometric view of the mounting block used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is an isometric view of the mounting plate used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the present invention mounted on a wall and supporting a number of hockey sticks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is concerned with a hockey stick organizer that attaches to a wall. Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of organizer 10 is shown. Organizer 10 comprises of a half circular of D-shaped sleeve 12 that forms passageway 13. Sleeve 12 has back wall 15 adjoining front sidewall 17.

Sleeve 12 is preferably made of a high-impact resistant plastic. Sleeve 12 may be injection molded or a piece of extruded plastic, both methods of construction well known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, sleeve 12 is 12 to 18 inches in length.

Passageway 13 is of a cross-sectional area suitable for accommodating a number of hockey sticks and allows easy insertion and removal of sticks from organizer 10. Back 15 of sleeve 12 is preferably 4 to 6 inches wide with frontwall 17 having a radius of 3 to 4 inches.

Sleeve 12 may be mounted to a wall using screws. Backwall 15 has mounting holes 14, near the top and bottom, for a fastener 16 to pass through and into the wall to secure sleeve 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment of sleeve 12 is shown having mounting tabs 18 on the top and bottom edges of back 15. Each tab 18 has a mounting hole 20. By including tabs 18 on back 15, fastener 16 may be driven straight into the wall through mounting holes 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, organizer 10 has a sleeve 22 that is circular in cross-section and has two mounting holes 26 for fastener 16. To allow unobstructed access to holes 26, sleeve 22 has cutaways 24 to allow a screwdriver to engage fastener 16 straight on instead of at an angle.

Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the present invention is shown with sleeve 22 having mounting tabs 28, each tab 28 having a mounting hole 30 for receiving a fastener 16. Tabs 28 extend beyond the top and bottom edges of sleeve 22 to allow unobstructed access to fastener 16.

Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6, another preferred embodiment of mounting organizer 10 is shown. A mounting block 32 is provided which has a dovetail recess 34. Block 32 is mounted to a wall with fastener 16 passing through holes 36 and 40. Hole 40 is located in relief of 38 on the front service of block 32. A corresponding plate 42 having a dovetail key 44 is attached to backwall 15 of sleeve 12. Plate 42 may be attached using adhesive or may be formed with sleeve 12 during the injection molding process.

As shown in FIG. 6, sleeve 12 is releasably attached to block 32 by sliding key 44 of plate 42 into recess 34 thereby securing sleeve 12 to the wall. During hockey season, sleeve 12 is attached to block 32 to hold hockey sticks and when the season is over, sleeve 12 is simply lifted up and removed from block 32 for storage.

To store hockey sticks using organizer 10, a hockey stick is inserted, butt end first, into passageway 13 from the top until the butt end is resting on the floor. Organizer 10 is mounted to the wall at a height suitable for supporting the hockey stick. Preferably, organizer 10 is mounted at a height approximately 35 to 40 inches from the floor. This is illustrated in FIG. 9.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a D-shaped or circular sleeve but other cross-sectional shapes may be used as well. Sleeve 12 may be triangular, as shown in FIG. 7, or rectangular as shown in FIG. 8.

While the present invention was intended for use in organizing hockey sticks, the present invention will also have use in organizing other stick-like objects such as canes, walking sticks, umbrellas, poles and loose golf clubs, to name but a few.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various change and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions in the preceding specification have been used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized as the scope of the invention as defined and limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A stick organizer, comprising:

a sleeve having first and second ends, each end having an opening, said sleeve having a sidewall defining a passageway extending therebetween said openings; and

means for attaching said sleeve to a wall, whereupon attaching said sleeve to said wall at a predetermined height off of a floor such that said passageway is substantially vertical, and whereupon placing a stick through said passageway of said sleeve, said stick having an end resting on said floor, said sleeve keeps said stick from falling down.

2. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said sleeve comprises:

said sleeve having at least one opening extended through said sidewall of said sleeve, said opening suitable for a fastener to pass through; and a fastener for passing through said opening from the passageway and fastening said sleeve to said wall.

3. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said sleeve comprises:

a mounting block for attaching to said wall, said block having a recess for receiving a key; and

a mounting plate for attaching to said sleeve, said plate having a key adapted to releasably attach to an interlock with said recess of said mounting block whereupon attaching said plate to said sleeve and attaching said block to said wall, and whereupon interlocking said key of said plate with said recess of said block, said block secures said sleeve to said wall.

4. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passageway of said sleeve is D-shaped in cross-section.

5. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passageway of said sleeve is circular in cross-section.

6. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passageway of said sleeve is rectangular in cross section.

7. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passageway of said sleeve is triangular in cross section.

8. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is a pre-determined length of extruded plastic.

9. The stick organizer said forth in claim 1 wherein said stick is a hockey stick.

10. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stick is a cane.

11. The stick organizer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stick is an umbrella.