CARRIER FOR SPORTS BALLS

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a structure for storing a plurality of sport balls comprises top and bottom portions connected to a plurality of elongated mesh panels and a plurality of stretchable material panels attached in an alternating manner forming a generally elongated structure, a closure component creating a closable opening, and a rigid center tubular component including a plurality of sockets, wherein each socket is configured to hold a sport ball.

Description

FIELD

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to the field of sport ball carriers. More specifically, one embodiment of the disclosure relates to a structure for the transport and storage of a plurality of sport balls wherein the sport balls are contained within the smallest possible space.

GENERAL BACKROUND

While attending sporting events, whether a single, a tournament or a team practice, often times a plurality of sport balls are required. For example, a basketball team may require 10-20 basketballs at a practice. Currently, carriers for sport balls may include a large bag with a single interior opening in which sport balls are stored. Alternatively, a rack, with or without a covering, may be used to store or transport sport balls.

While current carriers for sport balls may allow for the transport and/or storage of sport balls, they fail to provide a carrier that fully encloses a plurality of sport balls and includes a plurality of components, each designed to hold an individual sport ball while utilizing the smallest possible space.

In addition, constructing the carrier to utilize the smallest possible space has the advantages of an ease of storage and transport. Current carriers fail to include a rigid structure that adds stability while transporting the carrier while also providing a covering that compresses the enclosed sport balls. It would be advantageous for a carrier to provide a rigid structure to maintain stability, individual components to hold each of a plurality of sport balls and a tight-fitting stretchable covering to pull the sport balls toward the center of the carrier. Such a carrier would utilize the smallest space possible while preventing dislodgment during transport or storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a carrier 10 for sport balls.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration of the carrier 10 with a zipper component in an open state.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary illustration of the center console 20.

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of an exemplary portion of the center console 20.

FIG. 5 is a magnified view of a second exemplary portion of the center console 20.

FIG. 6 is magnified view of an exemplary portion of a second center console 60.

FIG. 7 is a second magnified view of an exemplary portion of the center console 60.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a carrier for sport balls that provides for an efficient use of space while ensuring the sport balls are not dislodged while transporting or storing the carrier. Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary illustration of a carrier for sport balls is shown. The carrier for sport balls 10 (carrier 10) includes an outer covering that may fully enclose the sport balls placed within the carrier 10. The outer covering of the carrier 10 includes a plurality of mesh panels 11 (as drawn in FIG. 1, the carrier 10 includes four mesh panels, three of which are illustrated: mesh panels 11A-11C), a top portion 13, a bottom portion (not shown) and a plurality of material panels 12 (as drawn in FIG. 1, the carrier 10 includes four material panels, two of which are illustrated: material panels 12A-12B). The material comprising the top portion 13 and bottom portion may be, for example, diamond composite nylon ripstop fabric. Examples of the material comprising the material panels include, but are not limited or restricted to, spandex or other stretchable fabrics. The mesh panels 11 and the material panels 12 extend outwardly when at least one sport ball is placed with the carrier 10. As the material panels 12 come in contact with the sport balls, the stretchable material fabric pulls the sport balls toward the center of the carrier 10.

In addition, the carrier 10 includes at least one closure component. Examples of closure components include, but are not limited or restricted to, a zipper component, a series of buttons or a series of snaps. Throughout the specification, a zipper component will be used as an example of a closure component. The embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1 includes a zipper component that runs the length of the carrier 10 such that when the zipper component is opened, the outer covering, including the mesh panels 11 and material panels 12, peels away from the enclosed sport balls. The zipper component includes a zipper 17 and two zipper pulls 18. Alternative embodiments may include a plurality of zipper components. For example, the carrier 10 may include four zipper components such that each zipper extends from the center of the top portion 13 to an opposing corner of the bottom portion.

The carrier 10 may also include attachment components 14 for attaching detachable carrying straps 15 to the carrier 10. The carrier 10 of FIG. 1 is illustrated as including four attachment components 14A-14D that attach carrying straps 15A-15B to the carrier 10. In one embodiment, the attachment components 14 may be G-hooks. Furthermore, the carrier 10 may include a handle 16. The carrying straps 15 and the handle 16 each independently provide ways for the carrier 10 to be easily transported.

In yet another embodiment, the carrier 10 may include a pull-handle and a set of drop-down wheels (not shown). For example, the top portion 13 may include a flap through which a pull-handle may extend outward. In addition, the bottom portion may include at least one flap through which a set of wheels may drop-down from the carrier 10. The set of wheels may include one or more wheels. For example, a set of wheels may include two wheels with a first wheel dropping down on a first side of the bottom portion and a second wheel dropping down on an adjacent side of the bottom portion of the carrier 10. This configuration may enable one to tilt the bag thereby engaging the wheels with the ground. Alternatively, a set of wheels may include four wheels wherein each corner of the bottom portion of the carrier 10 includes one drop-down wheel. When the drop-down wheels are not desired, they may fold up into the carrier 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary illustration of the carrier 10 with a zipper component in an open state is shown. Under the covering comprised of a plurality of mesh panels 11 and material panels 12, the carrier 10 includes a center console 20 for securing the sport balls during storage and transport. In one embodiment, as the zipper component of the covering is opened and the covering peels away from the sport balls and remains attached to the center console. In such an embodiment, the center console 20 may be attached to the bottom portion of the carrier 10. In a second embodiment, the center console 20 may be removed entirely from the covering of the carrier 10.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the carrying straps 15 are detached from the carrier 10. In one embodiment, the carrying straps 15 may be placed in a storage component within the center tubing component 21.

The center 20 console includes a center tubing component 21 and a plurality of sockets for securing the sport balls. The center tubing component 21 may be hollow to give the carrier 10 the least amount of weight while providing the carrier 10 with a rigid structure for support and stability. In addition, as mentioned above, the center tubing component 21 may include a storage component for the detachable carrying straps 15. The plurality of sockets, for example, sockets 22A-22D shown in FIG. 2, extend outward from the center tubing component 21. Each socket 22A-22D is configured to secure a single sport ball 23A-23D during transport and/or storage. The sockets 22A-22D may be configured to hold a single type of sport ball, for example, only volleyballs. Alternatively, the sockets 22A-22D may be configured to hold a plurality of sport ball types, for example basketballs, soccer balls, and/or volleyballs. In one embodiment, the sockets may be designed to be the shape of half of a sphere. Alternatively, the sockets may be designed to be the shape of half of an ellipsoid (shown below in FIGS. 6 and 7).

As each socket is filled, the sockets are configured such that the exterior of the sockets may touch, thereby wasting no space within the carrier 10. In addition, the combination of the center tubing component 21 and the sockets 22A-22D ensures that the sport balls placed within the carrier 10 maintain a particular configuration and therefore use the minimal amount of space possible. Coupled with the stretchable material panels pulling the sport balls toward the center of the carrier 10, the socket and center tubing component configuration ensures the most efficient use of space by the carrier 10.

Although the center console 20 is shown in FIG. 2 as including 20 sockets (four columns of five rows), the center console 20 is not limited to only 20 sockets. In addition, the center console 20 may include less than 20 sockets. For example, the center console 20 may include four columns of three sockets thereby having the capability to hold up to twelve sport balls.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary illustration of the center console 20 is shown. The sockets 22A-22E of the center console 20 include four wall portions. When a socket is empty, the wall portions of the socket are at rest. For example in FIG. 3, the sport ball 23E has been removed from the socket 22E. The socket 22E includes four wall portions that are at rest when not securing the sport ball 23E but expand as the sport ball 23E is pressed into the socket 22E, securing the sport ball 23E within the carrier 10. The wall portions of the socket 22E secure the sport ball 23E by applying tension to the sport ball 23E when the outer edge of the wall portions reach the middle of the circumference of the sport ball 23E. This tension secures the sport balls lodged into the sockets during transport and/or storage. In addition, the mesh panels 11 and the material panels 12 provide a tight-fitting cover to ensure the sport balls do not become dislodged. Although the sockets 22A-22E are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as having four wall portions, other embodiments are possible. For example, the sockets may be comprised of two wall portions.

Referring to FIG. 4, a second magnified view of an exemplary portion of the center console 20 is shown. The sockets 22A-22D are seen to be at rest as none of the sockets 22A-22D are illustrated as securing a sport ball. Referring to FIG. 5, a magnified view of a second exemplary portion of the center console is shown. In contrast to the illustration of FIG. 4, the sockets 22A-22E of FIG. 5 are seen to be securing the sport balls 23A-23D.

Referring to FIG. 6, a magnified view of an exemplary portion of a second center console 60 is shown. The center console 60 is configured to hold a plurality of sport balls generally shaped as ellipsoids. For example, the sockets 62A-62D may be configured to hold a plurality of sport balls 63A-63D such as footballs and/or rugby balls. Referring to FIG. 7, a second magnified view of an exemplary portion of the center console 60 of FIG. 6 is shown. The socket 62D is seen to be at rest. In addition, the embodiment of the center tubing component 61 includes a cavity 64B. The cavity 64B provides an additional space saving element wherein the sport ball 63B may partially extend inward toward the center tubing component 61.

In particular, only a small portion of a sport ball will sit flush against the center tubing component if no cavity is included with each socket. For example, as most sport balls include a rounded shape, only a small portion of the sport ball sits against the center tubing component, while the majority of the sport ball extends outward from the center tubing component. However, if a cavity is included in the center tubing component for each socket, a portion of the sport ball may rest within the hollow portion of the center tubing component. In some embodiments, the cavities may be configured as circles. In other embodiments, the cavities may be configured to take the shape of the particular sport ball for which the carrier 10 is intended (e.g., an ellipse for a football). When cavities take the particular shape of a sport ball, the size of the carrier 10 may be decreased thereby obtaining an efficient use of space.

In addition, the size of a circular cavity may be configured depending on the size of the sport ball to be placed in the socket. For example, a men's basketball has an official size of 29.5 inches in circumference while a women's basketball has an official size of 28.5 inches in circumference. Therefore, if a carrier is designed specifically for men's basketballs the cavities included in the center tubing component may differ in size of cavities includes in the center tubing component of a carrier designed for women's basketballs. Similarly, an official soccer ball has a circumference of 68 to 70 cm (or 26.8 to 27.6 inches), differing from both men's and women's basketballs. Therefore, the cavities included in the center tubing component of a carrier made specifically for soccer balls may differ than those includes in a carrier design specifically for a men's basketball and women's basketball.

In the foregoing description, the invention is described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A structure for storing a plurality of objects comprising:

a top portion;

a bottom portion;

a plurality of elongated mesh panels;

a plurality of stretchable material panels each longitudinally attached to adjacent pairs of said mesh panels, said plurality of mesh panels and material panels forming a generally elongated structure in which said mesh panels alternate with said stretchable material panels, wherein said plurality of mesh panels and said plurality of stretchable material panels connect to said top portion and said bottom portion;

a closure component creating a closable opening, said closure component dividing said top portion and said elongated structure into at least two sections;

a rigid center tubular component completely enclosed within said elongated structure when said closable opening is in a closed state, said rigid center tubular component including a plurality of sockets, each of the plurality of sockets configured to retain one of said plurality of objects.

2. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of objects is a plurality of generally spherically shaped objects.

3. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of objects is a plurality of objects generally shaped as an ellipsoid.

4. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of sockets includes a plurality of wall portions and sockets of said plurality of sockets are generally shaped as half of a sphere.

5. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of sockets include a plurality of wall portions and sockets of said plurality of sockets are generally shaped as half of an ellipsoid.

6. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said center tubular component includes five rows of four sockets.

7. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said structure includes at least two attachment components.

8. The structure defined by claim 7 wherein said attachment components are G-hooks.

9. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said center tubular component includes a storage component.

10. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said center tubular component is attached to said bottom portion.

11. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said top portion and said bottom portion comprise a flexible and substantially non-stretchable fabric.

12. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said closable opening is selectively closable by operation of a zipper.

13. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said closable opening extends from a first side of said bottom portion across said structure to a second side of said bottom portion.