Abstract:
A carrier for carrying sporting equipment and other items comprises a base member that is assembled to a pair of shoulder straps, to be carried in the manner of a backpack. Depending on the type of equipment to be carried, one of a plurality of interchangeable equipment-specific members is selected and secured to the base member in a simple and efficient manner, without the use of tools. The chosen type of equipment to be carried is then secured to the corresponding equipment-specific member. 
     The base member may comprise a female dovetail joint, opening toward the top, and each of the equipment-specific members a corresponding male dovetail, so that the desired equipment-specific member can be assembled to the base member by simply sliding the male dovetail into the female dovetail, and gravity will retain the desired equipment-specific member in the desired position. 
     In a further improvement, the male dovetail may be part of an intermediate member, which allows relative rotation of the equipment-specific member though a limited range.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/852,381, filed Mar. 15, 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a carrier for sports and other equipment, which can be adapted by assembly of various interchangeable equipment-specific members to a singular base member that can be carried on one&#39;s shoulders to permit convenient carrying of differing types of sports and other equipment. Specifically, the carrier of the invention comprises a base member that is assembled to a pair of shoulder straps, typically by way of a base board or backpack, so as to be carried in the manner of a backpack. Depending on the type of equipment to be carried, one of a plurality of equipment-specific members is selected and secured to the base member in a simple and efficient manner. The chosen type of equipment to be carried is then secured to the corresponding equipment-specific member. 
     In this way the assembly of the shoulder straps and base board or backpack and the base member can be used with various types of readily interchangeable equipment-specific members to carry various items of sports or other equipment, increasing the utility of the device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various sorts of backpack-type devices are well-known, and many of these are equipped with specialized structure to adapt them to carrying specific equipment. For example, a backpack intended for mountaineering use might be equipped with a strap to receive a coil of rope, a pocket for a water bottle, straps to receive a rolled-up sleeping bag, and so forth. 
     The present invention differs from such backpack-type devices in that different interchangeable equipment-specific members can be assembled to a singular base member, so as to be adapted to carry different types of equipment when different activities are intended. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to provide a carrier for permitting different types of sporting and other equipment to be carried on one&#39;s back by means of a backpack-type structure, and wherein a basic assembly can be customized to carry various types of equipment by assembly of a particular interchangeable equipment-specific member thereto. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As summarized above, the equipment carrier of the invention comprises a base member that is assembled to a pair of shoulder straps, typically by way of an intermediate member, so as to be carried in the manner of a backpack. Depending on the type of equipment to be carried, one of a plurality of interchangeable equipment-specific members is selected and secured to the base member in a simple and efficient manner. The chosen type of equipment to be carried is then secured to the corresponding equipment-specific member. 
     More specifically, the base member may comprise a female dovetail joint, opening toward the top, and each of the equipment-specific members a corresponding male dovetail, so that the desired equipment-specific member can be assembled to the base member by simply sliding the male dovetail into the female dovetail, so that gravity retains the equipment-specific member in position, and so that the interchangeable equipment-specific members can be assembled to or removed from the base member without tools. 
     In a further improvement, the male dovetail may be part of an intermediate member, which allows relative rotation of the equipment-specific member though a limited range, which may be desirable for reasons of comfort. 
     Further aspects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed discussion thereof below proceeds. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the complete assembly of a first embodiment of the carrier of the invention, with an equipment-specific member intended for carrying a pair of skis; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a portion of a second embodiment, wherein the equipment-specific member is adapted for carrying a snowboard, and relative rotation thereof with respect to the base member is permitted; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectional view taken along the lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially cross-sectional view taken along the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , showing a variation in position of some of the components; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partially cross-sectional view taken along the line  5  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As above,  FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the complete assembly of a first embodiment of the carrier of the invention, in this example with an equipment-specific member intended for carrying a pair of skis. In this embodiment, a generally planar base member  10 , which is employed in all embodiments of the invention, comprises a female dovetail  12  (see  FIG. 4 ) having an opening at the upper side of base member  10 , as illustrated. Base member  10  may preferably be molded of plastic, with metallic fasteners employed as described below. Base member  10  is secured to a base board  14  by screws  16  threaded into inserts  18  secured to base board  18 . Shoulder straps  20  are affixed to base board  14  by further fasteners (not shown). Shoulder straps  20  are sized and spaced, and made adjustable, so as to comfortably be worn by a person. Cross straps (not shown) connecting the shoulder straps  20  across the wearer&#39;s chest to enable further adjustment may be provided, as is well known in the art. 
     It is within the scope of the invention to fabricate base member  10  to be directly secured to shoulder straps  20 . However, employment of base board  14  is preferred in order to spread the load over the wearer&#39;s back. Further, base board  14  may be configured as a backpack, that is, comprising fabric members providing pockets and the like. 
     A first embodiment of an equipment-specific member, in this case intended for carrying a pair of skis, is shown at  22 . Equipment-specific member  22  is also generally planar and molded of plastic. Equipment-specific member  22  is shown partially cut away to show the upper end of male dovetail  24 . Male dovetail  24  cooperates with female dovetail  12  formed in base member  10  so that equipment-specific member  22  can be readily assembled to base member  10  by lifting equipment-specific member  22  above base member  10  and lowering the former with respect to the latter, as indicated by arrow A, so that the male dovetail  24  is received within the female dovetail  12 . See  FIG. 4 , as this aspect of the invention is common to all embodiments. 
     It will be appreciated that assembly of the equipment-specific member  22  to the base board  14  by interfitting dovetails as described allows gravity to keep the equipment-specific member  22  in the position shown as least as long as the carrier of the invention is kept in the orientation shown, i.e., in the upright orientation in which it is to be worn, and moreover that the equipment-specific member  22  can be removed and replaced as desired without requiring the use of tools. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in the example given the equipment-specific member  22  is intended to receive a pair of skis  26 . Skis  26  are secured to equipment-specific member  22  by a strap  28 , secured to equipment-specific member  22  at ends  28   a  by fasteners  30  fitting into and secured to cooperating structure  22   a  on equipment-specific member  22 . Strap  28  may be a ratcheting strap, whereby the strap is tightened over the skis  26  by operation of a ratchet handle  28   b  on one end of strap  28 , cooperating with teeth  28   c  on the other end of strap  28 . Such ratcheting straps are well known in the art. 
     To further securely confine skis  26 , one or more pairs of posts  32 ,  34  may be provided. As illustrated, one pair of posts  32  may be formed integrally or otherwise fixed to equipment-specific member  22 , and a second set of posts  34  made adjustable by virtue of being secured to equipment-specific member  22  by fasteners  36  extending through transverse slots  22   b  formed in equipment-specific member  22 . Posts  32 ,  34  may be disposed or adjusted so as to confine skis  26  or other equipment for secure carrying. 
       FIGS. 2-5  illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, in which a generally planar intermediate member  40 , again molded of plastic with metallic fasteners being used where shown, is illustrated. Intermediate member  40  is interposed between the base member  10  and a different embodiment of an equipment-specific member  42 . The assembly of the base member to a back board and carrying straps may as described above in connection with the  FIG. 1  embodiment, and the equipment is attached to the equipment-specific member  42  by a strap or the like fixed to the equipment-specific member at  42   f , also as described above. In this embodiment, the equipment-specific member  42  is intended to receive a snowboard. 
     The purpose of the intermediate member  40  is to permit the equipment-specific member  42  to be rotated through a limited range of rotation about a central pivot axis B, and secured in a desired angular position. In this way the position of the equipment to be carried can be varied as desired by the user, for reasons of comfort and convenience, e.g., so that the equipment does not tend to bump the user&#39;s legs while walking. 
     The intermediate member  40  is secured to the base member  10  by a male dovetail, as described above in connection with the  FIG. 1  embodiment, and as shown by  FIG. 4 . Intermediate member  40  is formed to define a central bore  40   a , an arcuate slot  40   b , and a central hub  40   c  proud of a circular recess  40   d.    
     The equipment-specific member  42  is secured to the intermediate member  40  by a bolt  44  and a nut  46 . Bolt  44  thus defines the pivot axis B, about which the equipment-specific member  42  rotates with respect to intermediate member  40 . The male dovetail  24  may be formed as a separate member and secured to the intermediate member  40  by bolt  44 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , or may be molded integrally with intermediate member  40 . The equipment-specific member  42  comprises a tubular central member  42   a , fitting around central hub  40   c , so as to assist bolt  44  in bearing the weight of the equipment-specific member  42  and any associated equipment. 
     The range of rotation of the equipment-specific member  42  with respect to intermediate member  40  is limited by provision of a button  50  having an enlarged head  50   b  and a cylindrical shaft  50   a . Shaft  50   a  rides in a bore  42   b  formed in equipment-specific member  42  and extends through arcuate slot  40   d  in the intermediate member, so that the range of rotation of the equipment-specific member  42  is limited by contact between the shaft  50   a  and the ends of the arcuate slot  40   d.    
     Fixed to the end of shaft  50   a  opposite head  50   b  is a locator block  52 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , block  52  may be keyed to shaft  50   a  and secured thereto by a screw. Block  52  is sized to fit within one of several recesses  40   e  (see  FIG. 5 ) formed in the rear side of intermediate member  40 , disposed along and extending on inner and outer radial sides of arcuate slot  40   d . A compression spring  54  is disposed around shaft  50   a  of button  50 , and is confined between the head  50   b  thereof and a recess  42   c  formed in the equipment-specific member  42 , biasing button  50  outwardly and thereby urging block  52  against the back of the equipment-specific member  42  on either side of the arcuate slot  40   d . Accordingly, block  52  is urged into engagement with recesses  40   e , locking the equipment-specific member  42  into one of a number of relative radial positions defined by the number of recesses  40   e.    
     In order that the button  50  does not rotate, so that the locator block  52  remains correctly aligned with the recesses  40   a , shaft  50   a  may be provided with a flat  50   c , cooperating with a flat  42   e  formed in bore  42   b . See  FIG. 4 . Bore  42   b  and shaft  50   a  could also be of corresponding non-circular cross-sectional shape, e.g., square, so as to prevent rotation. Alternatively, to avoid this small complexity, locator block  52  could be circular, and be received in partly-circular recesses  40   e , such that radial orientation of block  52  would be immaterial. 
     Accordingly, when the user desires to move the equipment-specific member  42  from one radial position to another, he or she simply pushes onto the head  50   b  of button  50 , urging block  52  out of the recess  40   e  it is then in, to the position shown in  FIG. 4 , and can then rotate the equipment-specific member  42  as desired. When the block  52  reaches the desired recess  40   e  the button  50  can be released and the block  52  will enter the desired recess under the urging of spring  54 , securing the equipment-specific member  42  in the new desired position. 
     Other features of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent from the drawings. Included in these are a member  42   d  formed integrally with the equipment-specific member  42  for the user to grip while adjusting the radial position thereof. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with the carrying of skis and snowboards, it will be apparent that many other types of elongated equipment could readily be carried by provision of suitably adapted equipment-specific members, of either the rotating type of  FIGS. 2-5  or the non-rotating type of  FIG. 1 . Examples of such equipment include but are not limited to rifles and other hunting gear, fishing equipment, camping equipment, hockey and lacrosse equipment, military equipment, garden tools and other items. 
     As noted above, for simplicity the invention has been illustrated as employing a simple base board to which the base member  10  and shoulder straps  20  are attached, but the base board could be supplanted or augmented by a backpack, providing pockets and other structure for carrying various types of cargo. Therefore, reference herein and in the attached claims to a base board should not be construed to limit the invention. 
     Those of skill in the art will further recognize that various alternatives are within the scope of the invention. For example, the cooperating male and female dovetails could be replaced with other cooperating structure that would enable the base member  10  to be readily attached and removed from the equipment-specific member or intermediate member, such as plural smaller parallel dovetails, “T” or paired “L”-shaped interfitting members, and the like. The respective positions of the cooperating male and female dovetails could also be reversed. In each case the preferred arrangement is one in which cooperating elongated members are provided, one defining a passageway with an upper open end and a closed lower end, and the other defining a member fitting within and retained in the passageway, such that gravity will retain the associated members in the desired position while the carrier of the invention is being worn, while permitting removal and replacement of the equipment-specific member without the use of tools. 
     Therefore, while several preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, the invention is not to be limited thereby, but only by the following claims.