Abstract:
Disclosed is a device for organizing and maintaining a baseball or softball player&#39;s equipment (batting helmet, batting gloves, sweats, sweatshirts, hats, water bottle, fielder&#39;s mitt or glove, catcher&#39;s chest protector, catcher&#39;s mask, catcher&#39;s shin protectors, and sliders). The device is easily fastened and unfastened to any standard chain link fence, and when properly fastened does not swing or sag when equipment is hung or removed. The device may also be permanently mounted in dugouts or other areas. The device is easily stored in a standard equipment bag and can serve as a form for the fielder&#39;s glove or mitt while in storage. This is also true of the catcher&#39;s configuration, which includes storage cylinders. These cylinders can be removed from the device and continue to hold the chest protector and shin guards while stored in the catcher&#39;s equipment bag.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/550,508, filed Mar. 3, 2004, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This disclosure is directed toward an equipment organizer device, and, more specifically, to a device that is particularly effective to help organize baseball or softball equipment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0003]     Baseball or softball players spend approximately 1/2 of the game playing defense and 1/2 of the game playing offense. While playing defense, the player is on the field using equipment such as their fielder&#39;s mitt or glove, hat, and possibly sweatshirt or jacket. A catcher will typically have additional equipment such as chest and shin protectors, a catcher&#39;s mask and a catcher&#39;s helmet. While playing offense, a player may use equipment such as a batting helmet, batting gloves, bat, and slider (leg protector). Typically, one hitter from the team is “up” to bat and up to three additional players may be base runners. The remaining players typically wait in a dugout for their turn at bat. There is a minimum of nine players per team.  
         [0004]     A ball field normally has two dugouts, one on each side of the field. Each competing team is assigned a respective dugout that they use for the entire game. Dugouts are generally enclosed by a fence, except for a field access gate, and include a bench for players and coaches to sit on.  
         [0005]     Typically, any player&#39;s equipment not currently being used is kept in the team dugout area. Each player will have a similar list of equipment. During a given game (or practice) unused equipment is typically left by players intermixed with other player&#39;s equipment, laying on or under the benches, on the ground or floor of a dugout, or buried under other equipment. This can be a problem, as well as frustrating to the players, coaches, and officials, when a player is attempting to quickly transition from offense to defense or vice-versa and cannot find his or her equipment. This can also cause damage to the equipment as it is often kicked, sat on, squashed, or stepped on.  
         [0006]     Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations of the prior art.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the equipment-organizing device according to embodiments of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the equipment-organizing device of  FIG. 1  suspended from a fence.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the equipment-organizing device of  FIG. 1  suspended from a fence with equipment attached.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an equipment-organizing device according to other embodiments of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an equipment-organizing device according to other embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Embodiments of the invention provide a neat, fast, and effective way to organize sports equipment, and in particular baseball and softball equipment. Such equipment may include a batting helmet, batting gloves, sweats, sweatshirts, hats, fielder&#39;s mitt or glove, catcher&#39;s chest protector, catcher&#39;s mask, catcher&#39;s shin protectors, water bottle, and sliders, for example. By attaching an equipment organizer to a suitable device, such as a dugout fence, the stored equipment is maintained off the ground and is thereby protected from being stepped on or otherwise damaged. These embodiments also give the players easy and fast access to their equipment. In the portable version, the player can take the equipment organizer with them to the next playing location.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an equipment-organizing device, or “organizer”  10  according to embodiments of the invention. The organizer is generally constructed of a frame  12  and includes a lower hanger  20  and an upper hanger  30 . The hangers  20 ,  30  may be of the same unitary construction as the frame  12 , or may be separately attached to the frame. The frame  12  may be formed of metal, plastic, wood, or other sturdy, rigid material. The sizes shown in  FIG. 1  are illustrative only; the organizer  10  may have other dimensions.  
         [0014]     In the illustrated embodiment, the lower hanger  20  includes a hook portion  22  that can be used to hold a batting helmet  90  (see  FIG. 3 ), clothing, or other items. The lower hanger  20  may extend approximately 2-4″ from the frame  12 , for example.  
         [0015]     Similarly, the upper hanger  30  may include an attachment  32  for holding a fielder&#39;s mitt. In one embodiment, the attachment  32  can be baseball or softball sized such that the mitt  92  can be placed, inverted, directly on the attachment  32  for temporary storage (see FIG.  3 ). In some embodiments, the attachment  32  may be an actual baseball or softball mounted directly to the upper hanger  30 . In other embodiments the attachment  32  may be formed of another material. The upper hanger  30  may extend horizontally approximately 4-6″ from the frame  12 , or have another appropriate length.  
         [0016]     The attachment  32  may also be used to help the fielder&#39;s glove or mitt  92  retain its pocket and reduce the breakdown that can happen when a glove is stored without a ball or form in it. The entire organizer  10  can be easily stored in a standard equipment bag with the attachment  32  resting in the stored glove or mitt  92 . Any number of hooks  22 , attachments  32 , or other hangers  20 ,  30  may be attached to the frame  12 .  
         [0017]     A hanger  40  is attached to the frame  12  of the organizer  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the hanger  40  allows the organizer  10  to be relatively easily slipped into a fence  70 . Such fences are typically found in dugouts, the main operating environment of the organizer  10 . In an example embodiment, the hanger  40  may be in the shape of a slat and be from approximately 3 to 9 inches long, more preferably between 6 and 8 inches, and approximately 1 inch wide, or have other suitable dimensions. The hanger  40  is preferably sized and shaped so that it can be slipped through open portions of a chain link fence such that the hanger  40  is on a first side of the fence and the frame  12  is on another. Such an arrangement provides a stable, firm mounting for the organizer  10 , while still allowing the organizer  10  to be easily removed from the fence. Additionally, this configuration provides a very stable hanging device that will not swing or sag as equipment is added or removed from the device. The hanger  40  may be made of metal or plastic, and preferably is somewhat rigid though flexible. The hanger  40  may be mounted directly to the frame  12  in any conventional manner, such as by screws, rivets, or glue, for instance, or may be an integrated part of the frame  12 .  
         [0018]     Additionally, the frame  12  may not include a hanger  40  at all, and may attach to a wall or other suitable structure in another way. For instance, a post or other holder may be permanently mounted to a solid wall and the frame  12  have a receiver structured to accept the post to hold the organizer in a stable relationship. Alternatively, a dozen or more organizers  10  may be permanently mounted in a dugout such that the players would not have to carry them to the field. Use of the organizer  10  is the same regardless of how the frame  12  is attached.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the organizer  10  in  FIG. 1  removably attached to a chain link fence  70 . This figure shows the hanger  40  laced through openings in the fence, thereby providing stability and security to the device  10 .  
         [0020]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a holding material  50 , such as hook and loop, for instance VELCRO hook and loop material, may be attached to areas of the frame  12  of the organizer  10 . Illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the holding material  50  is attached to sides of the frame  12 . Many small items, such as batting gloves and sliders, include their own hook and loop material. By including the holding material  50  as a part of the organizer  10 , the small items may be directly attached to the holding material using their own hook and loop material. In operation, the player simply presses the hook and loop material from the batting glove, or other equipment to the appropriate portion of the holding material  50 . In some embodiments, both hook and loop portions of the holding material  50  may be attached on the same surface, such as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In other embodiments, hook portions of the holding material  50  may be attached on one side of the frame  12 , while loop portions of the holding material  50  are attached to another side.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the organizer  10  of  FIG. 1  hanging with batting helmet  90  and fielding glove  92  mounted on the organizer  10 .  FIG. 3  shows the organizer  10  hanging on a chain link fence  70  with a fielder&#39;s glove  92  resting (attached) on the attachment  32  on the upper hanger  30  and a batter&#39;s helmet  90  hanging (attached) on the hook  22  of bottom hanger  20 . Of course, different equipment may be stored on the organizer  10 , including but not limited to batting gloves, sweat pants and shirts, and a catcher&#39;s helmet.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the organizer  10 . This embodiment is adapted especially to hold more equipment, such as for a catcher. As mentioned above, a catcher typically uses more equipment than other players on a team. The additional equipment may include a chest protector and leg protectors. Generally, this embodiment is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , but some differences result from their different purposes. In this embodiment, a frame  14  is longer than the frame  12  of  FIG. 1 , such that the organizer  10  can support other hangers for the additional equipment. The upper hanger  30  is similar or the same as the organizer  10  of  FIG. 1 . Similarly, the holding material  50  may also be attached to the frame  14 . The lower hanger  20 , conversely, is different from the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The lower hanger  20  illustrated in  FIG. 4  includes the hook  22  and an additional hook  24  to store more equipment, such as a catcher&#39;s mask. Although only two hooks  22 ,  24  are shown in  FIG. 4 , additional hooks may be present.  
         [0023]     Further, sleeves  60  and  62  are mounted to the frame  14 . These sleeves  60 ,  62  can support a chest protector (rolled), and leg protectors that are typically worn by the catcher. Example sleeves  60 ,  62  may be cylindrical in shape and be approximately 6″ in diameter and approximately 6″ long. One or more of the sleeves may have a tapered diameter. Other shapes or sizes may also be used. Although shown in  FIG. 4  as being mounted horizontally relative to a long axis of the frame  14 , one or more of the sleeves  60 ,  62  may be mounted vertically. Additionally, the sleeves  60 ,  62  may be mounted to another frame, separate from the frame  14 . In this embodiment, the catcher may have two organizers  10 , a first (such as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) for their batting helmet  90  and mitt  92 , and a second (such as described in  FIG. 4 ) for only their chest and leg protectors. The sleeves  60 ,  62  may be made of rubber, plastic, or other suitable material, and may be attached to the frame  14  in any conventional manner. The sleeves  60 ,  62  may be structured to be easily detached from the frame  14  for easy storage in an equipment bag.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the organizer  10 . Here, the organizer  10  includes lower hanger  20  that is shaped and sized to receive water bottle  94 . Strap  36  attaches to frame  16  above the lower hanger  20  and is formed in an approximately semi-circular shape to laterally stabilize the water bottle  94 .  
         [0025]     Strap  36  may be made of the same material as frame  16  or made of a different material. Strap  36  may be a separate piece that is attached to frame  16  by adhesive, mechanical fasteners or other mechanisms. The strap  36  may also be formed as an integral part of the frame  16 .  
         [0026]     Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles.