Athletic Gear Support Device
An athletic gear support device, including an elongate structure, a first fastener mechanically linked to a first portion of the elongate structure, and a second fastener mechanically linked to a second portion of the elongate structure, the second portion substantially distant from the first portion, relative to a total length of the elongate structure.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/647,053, entitled “ATHLETIC GEAR SUPPORT DEVICE”, filed on May 15, 2012.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Disclosed Technology
The present disclosure relates generally to handling athletic gear, and more particularly, to an athletic gear support device/system/method.
2. Related Art
Athletic events often are associated with players that utilize athletic gear. An example of such athletic events is baseball, in which players utilize athletic gear in the form of a baseball fielder's glove to aid in catching or otherwise stopping movement of a baseball. Further, players of baseball utilize athletic gear in the form of baseball caps which are worn on a player's head. Other types of athletic events use other types of athletic gear, such as, for example, soccer and tennis, in which players utilize athletic gear such as shin guards, tennis rackets, water bottles, etc.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one aspect of the disclosed technology, there is an athletic gear support device, comprising an elongate structure, a first fastener mechanically linked to a first portion of the elongate structure and a second fastener mechanically linked to a second portion of the elongate structure, the second portion substantially distant from the first portion, relative to a total length of the elongate structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed technology, there is a method of supporting athletic gear, comprising fastening an athletic gear support device to a generally immovable object and fastening an article of athletic gear to the athletic gear support device.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed technology, there is an athletic gear support device, comprising a first means for fastening the device to wire of a chain-link fence, a second means for fastening to the device an article of athletic gear, and a means for mechanically linking the first means for fastening to the second means for fastening.
Embodiments of the disclosed technology are described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are generally directed towards an athletic gear support device configured to be attached to, by way of example, a chain-link fence, and to removably attach athletic gear and related items such as a baseball cap, a baseball glove, water bottles, mementoes, etc.
In an exemplary embodiment, elongate structure 110 is a woven structure such as, by way of example and not by way of limitation, 2-inch polyester webbing of seven panel construction. Such webbing may correspond to that used in seatbelt applications meeting U.S. Department of Transportation regulations pertaining thereto on the filing date of this application and/or variations thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the webbing may be shrink resistant and/or proof, mildew resistant and/or proof, mold resistant and/or proof, abrasion resistant and/or proof, flame resistant and/or proof, and may contain ultraviolet inhibitors to make it sunlight decay resistant and/or proof. In an exemplary embodiment, the webbing may have, for a given section of 1 foot in length, a break strength of about 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and/or 6000 pounds or any strength or range of strengths therebetween or more or less.
Referring to
In some exemplary embodiments, elongate structure 110 may be made from any type of fabric, such as canvas, cloth, etc., and may be made of any type of material such as nylon, cotton, silk, etc. In some embodiments, elongate structure 110 may be a monolithic component. The monolithic component may be made of flexible plastic or the like. Flexible metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel, spring steel, flexible aluminum) may be used in some embodiments providing that general flexure is permitted without elastically deforming or otherwise substantially deforming the elongate structure. In this regard, in some exemplary embodiments, elongate structure 110 is elastically deformable.
Exemplary dimensions of the elongate structure, which is depicted to scale in
In some embodiments, the elongate structure may have a round cross-section and/or may have other types of cross-sections and/or any other overall shape or configuration. In this regard,
In some exemplary embodiments, the elongate structure is configured to be pierced by a sharp point non-coated 80/12 sized needle upon application of ten pounds of force thereto, such as may correspond to, for example, the piercing component of sport pins 117 and/or merit pins 117, etc. In this regard, some exemplary embodiments include elongate structures such as elongate structure 110 configured to enable a human male citizen and/or a human female citizen of between eight years and thirty years of age or any range therein in one year increments of the United States falling within about the human factor's fifth percentile to about the ninety-fifth percentile, or any range therein (e.g., about 20 percentile to about 30 percentile) with one percent increments, on the filing date of this application, to pierce the elongate structure with a sharp point non-coated 80/12 sized needle with a half-inch circular diameter flat platform mechanically linked to the proximal end of the needle orthogonal thereto, thereby providing a reaction surface (the platform) having at least a modicum of ergonomic utility. It is noted that in some embodiments, the elongate structure may have holes or the like to receive the pins of the sports pins, thus reducing and/or eliminating the requisite force to force the pin through the elongate structure.
It is noted that in some embodiments, such as that depicted in
Any device, system and/or method that will enable the aforementioned fifth to ninety-fifth percentile humans and/or ranges therebetween to attach mementos such and individual and team photographs, memorabilia, and other pictorial or written display items to support device 100 may be used in some embodiments.
In some exemplary embodiments, the elongate structure is configured to receive thereon pictorials. Such pictorials can be indicative of written communication. By way of example, a name of a human associated with the athletic gear support 100 (e.g., first and or last name of a person who owns the support 100) or the like may be printed (e.g., via screen printing) thereon. Alternatively or in addition to this, an indicia of an athletic organization may be printed thereon (e.g., the name “TIGERS,” indicating that the athletic gear support device 100 is associated with a baseball team named “Tigers”). In an exemplary embodiment, the elongate structure is configured to receive, via a writing instrument such as a “magic marker” or the like, writing placed on the structure by hand. By way of example, the athletic gear support device 100 may be configured such that a human associated with the athletic gear support may write thereon indicia of, for example, wins, denoted by way of example by the English language alphabetical character “W.” As may be seen from
In some embodiments, the elongate structure 110 may be made of any material and/or be of any dimensions and/or any configuration so as to enable the devices, systems and/or methods detailed herein and/or variations thereof to be practiced.
As noted above, the support 100 includes a fastener 120 mechanically linked to the elongate structure 110.
In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
In an exemplary embodiment, the swivel features enables a user to switch sides of the elongate structure facing the immovable object, and thus facing away from the immovable object. In embodiments where text or the like is applied to one side of the elongate structure, this enables a user to control whether the text is visible from one side (e.g., the interior of a baseball “dugout”). In embodiments where text is located on both sides, but the text is different on either side, the user may control which text is visible from one side (e.g., the interior of a baseball “dugout”).
Any device, system and/or method for fastening the support 100 to a generally immovable object in general, and to a chain-link fence in particular, may be used in some embodiments.
As noted above, the support 100 includes a fastener 130.
Any device, system and/or method for fastening an article of athletic gear in general, and a baseball cap and/or a baseball fielder's glove in particular, to support 100, may be used in some embodiments.
It is noted that while the embodiments associated with fastener 120 have been generally disclosed as having the above-mentioned positive retention features and the embodiments associated with fastener 130 have been generally disclosed as having the above-mentioned non-positive retention features (with respect to fastening of the fielder's glove and/or the baseball cap thereto), other embodiments may be the opposite (with respect to fastening of the fielder's glove and/or the baseball cap thereto and with respect to fastening the support 100 to a chain-link fence). Further, some embodiments may be such that fasteners 120 and 130 both have positive retention features detailed herein (with respect to fastening of the fielder's glove and/or the baseball cap thereto and with respect to fastening the support 100 to a chain-link fence). Also, some embodiments may be such that neither fastener 120 nor fastener 130 has the positive retention features detailed herein. In other embodiments, both have the non-positive retention features detailed herein (with respect to fastening of the fielder's glove and/or the baseball cap thereto and with respect to fastening the support 100 to a chain-link fence).
With respect to the embodiment depicted in
Embodiments may include one or more methods of supporting athletic gear. In this regard, referring to
In an exemplary embodiment, method action 920 includes hooking the athletic gear support device to the generally immovable object. By way of example, method action 920 may be executed such that the action results in the support device being positively retained to the generally immovable object.
Still further, in an exemplary embodiment, method 900 may further include the additional actions of (i) unfastening the article of athletic gear from the athletic gear support device and removing the article of athletic gear from the support device and/or (ii) fastening a second article of athletic gear to the athletic gear support device. These actions may be practiced in an opposite order. In an exemplary embodiment, the articles are a baseball fielder's glove and a hat, or two separate gloves or two separate hats, etc.
In some embodiments, method 900 is practice such that as a result of method actions 910 and 920, the article of athletic gear is suspended from the generally immovable object above a ground (e.g., at about eye-level, and/or elbow level and/or hand/level, for one or more of the aforementioned fifth to ninety-fifth percentile man and/or woman) as a result of fastening an article of athletic gear to the athletic gear support device.
As noted above, some embodiments of the support device 100 include a fastener configured to swivel. In this regard, in an exemplary method, after fastening the athletic gear support device to the generally immovable object (e.g., step 910 of method 900), there is a method action which includes rotating at least a portion of the athletic gear support device relative to the immovable object so as to change a side of the athletic gear support device facing the immovable object, and thus facing away from the immovable object. By way of example, one side of the elongate structure may textually recite the name of a player associated with the support structure, with a background having a first color (e.g., red), and the other side of the elongate structure may further textually recite the name of the player associated with the support structure, with a background having a second color (e.g., black). The person associated with the elongate structure may rotate the elongate structure so that the side facing away from the immovable object (e.g., chain-link fence), and thus visible to people on one side thereof (e.g., inside a baseball dugout), may see the player's name having the given background. For example, a player who has scored may rotate the elongate structure such that his or her teammates may see his name with the red background, signifying his or her athletic prowess with respect to a given athletic endeavor (e.g., scoring). It is noted that in some embodiments, this rotation action may be executed before or after attaching the article of athletic gear to the support structure (e.g., in between actions 910 and 920 or after action 920).
While embodiments detailed herein have been directed towards a support device for use associated with the game of baseball, other embodiments may be used in association with other sports.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An athletic gear support device, comprising:
- an elongate structure;
- a first fastener mechanically linked to a first portion of the elongate structure; and
- at least one second fastener mechanically linked to a second portion of the elongate structure, the second portion substantially distant from the first portion, relative to a total length of the elongate structure.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- the first fastener is mechanically linked to the elongate structure at or proximate a first end thereof; and
- a second fastener mechanically linked to a second end of the elongate structure at or proximate a second end thereof, the second end opposite the first end relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate structure.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- the first fastener is configured to rotate relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate structure.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein:
- the first fastener is a swivel fastener.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- the first fastener is configured to rotate relative to a lateral axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongate structure.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is configured to positively retain the fastener to a closed structure to which it is fastened.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is a hook.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is a spring hook.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure is flexible.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure is elastically deformable.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure is a woven structure.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure is about one and three-quarters inches in width, thirteen inches in length, and about a tenth of an inch in thickness.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure consists essentially of polyester webbing.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure includes a plurality of layers, the layers mechanically linked to each other at ends of the elongate structure.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate structure is configured to be pierced by a sharp point non-coated 80/12 sized needle upon application of ten pounds of force thereto.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein the second fastener is a hook.
17. The device of claim 14, wherein the second fastener is an S-hook.
18. The device of claim 15, wherein one or more of the at least one second fastener is configured for only non-positive retention of the second fastener to a closed structure.
19. The device of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is configured to positively retain the fastener to a closed structure having a circular cross section outer diameter of ¼th inch, wherein the at least one second fastener includes a hook section having an opening having a distance of about ¼th of an inch to about 1 inch.
20. A method of supporting athletic gear, comprising:
- fastening an athletic gear support device to a generally immovable object; and
- fastening an article of athletic gear to the athletic gear support device.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein:
- after the fastening actions, the article of athletic gear is movable relative to the generally immovable object while the athletic gear support device is fastened thereto and while the athletic gear is fastened to the athletic gear support device.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein:
- the action of fastening the athletic gear support device to the generally immovable object includes hooking the athletic gear support device to the generally immovable object.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein:
- the action of fastening the athletic gear support device to the generally immovable object includes hooking the athletic gear support device to the generally immovable object such that the support device is positively retained to the generally immovable object.
24. The method of claim 20, wherein:
- the immovable object is a chain-link fence.
25. The method of claim 20, wherein:
- the article of athletic gear is at least one of a baseball cap or a baseball fielder's glove.
26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
- unfastening the article of athletic gear from the athletic gear support device and removing the article of athletic gear from the support device; and
- fastening a second article of athletic gear to the athletic gear support device.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein:
- the article of athletic gear is one of a baseball cap or a baseball fielder's glove and the second article of athletic gear is the other of a baseball cap or a baseball fielder's glove.
28. The method of claim 20, wherein:
- the article of athletic gear is suspended from the generally immovable object above a ground as a result of fastening an article of athletic gear to the athletic gear support device.
29. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
- after fastening an athletic gear support device to the generally immovable object, rotating at least a portion of the athletic gear support device relative to the immovable object so as to change a side of the athletic gear support device facing the immovable object.
30. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
- attaching a written textual message to the support device.
31. An athletic gear support device, comprising:
- a first means for fastening the device to wire of a chain-link fence;
- a second means for fastening to the device an article of athletic gear; and
- a means for mechanically linking the first means for fastening to the second means for fastening.
32. The athletic gear support device of claim 31, wherein:
- the first means for fastening is a means for positively retaining the device to the wire.
33. The athletic gear support device of claim 31, wherein:
- the second means for fastening is a means for non-positively retaining the article of athletic gear to the device.
34. The athletic gear support device of claim 33, wherein:
- the means for mechanically linking the first means for fastening to the second means for fasting is a means for flexibly linking the first means for fastening to the second means for fastening.
Type: Application
Filed: May 15, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 21, 2013
Inventor: Mark Handwerger (Washington, DC)
Application Number: 13/894,972
International Classification: A63B 71/00 (20060101); B65D 63/00 (20060101);