Apparatus to enable a sports equipment bag to hang horizontally from a chain link fence

The present invention is a sports equipment carrying bag which contains internal compartments of conventional design to enable sporting equipment to be retained and carried therein. The unique feature of the present invention is that the carrying bag incorporates two bag retaining members which enable the sports bag to be hung from a fence such as a chain link fence in a manner which enables the bag to be horizontally oriented so that it is much easier to remove items from the bag without the items falling out and much easier to remove baseball bats from the bag so that bats are horizontally removed and it is not necessary to lift the bats out of and over the sports bag when the bag is hung from the chain link fence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of bags which are used to retain sporting equipment and in particular equipment used to play the game of baseball and softball, including uniforms, balls, ball catching gloves, and bats. The present invention also relates to the field of sporting bags which can be hung from a chain link fence to facilitate ready access to the equipment retained inside of the bag, both before and during the playing of the baseball game or softball game.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In general, the concept of a bag used to retain sporting equipment for use in games such as baseball and softball is known in the prior art. The following Eighteen (18) patents and published patent applications are relevant to the field of the present invention:

5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,449 issued to Charles A. Boorady on Jun. 20, 1995 for “Convertible Bag And A Method For Converting The Bag Between Two Functional Carrying Modes” (hereafter the “Boorady patent”);

13. United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0062328 A1 issued to Dave Millard on Apr. 3, 2003 for “Sports Equipment Holder” (hereafter the “Millard Published patent application”);

The Cash patent discloses a carrier for ball game items such as baseball bats. The device is designed to hang from a fence and essentially can be unfolded so that it hangs by two suitable hooks,70and72, so that there is access to the bats. This device discloses the concept of a hanging a bag in the vertical orientation so that the baseball bats can be accessed from the top of the bag by lifting the baseball bats vertically up and over and out of the bag.

The Levitas patent discloses a garment bag with a strap so that it can be carried and permitted to be hung vertically so that access can be achieved to various pockets within the bag.

The Mroz patent is a sports equipment carrier which has openings to permit it to carry one or more baseball bats. Further, the device can be carried by the handle. There is also disclosed two eyelets28which permit the sports bag to hang on hooks or nails that may be provided to protrude from a wall so that the equipment carrier10and the equipment carried therein can be readily stored when the equipment is not in use. The islets are strictly for storage.

The Lanouette patent is a small sports accessory bag to carry small items but definitely not baseball bats. It discloses suspension loops16and17which can be used to hang the bag from a horizontal bar such as an exercise apparatus as disclosed inFIG. 3.

The Boorady patent discloses a convertible bag. The bag contains a suspending device34which can be used to hang the bag from a hook on a door or wall enabling the loading and unloading of articles24from the interior22of the carrier10.

The Tomer patent discloses a sports utility accessory which in its unfolded position can be used as a target for pitching and when in its folded position, used as a light bag to carry a baseball glove and a baseball which is used for pitching. It is essentially a fold over bag configuration which cannot be used to securely carry a baseball bat. The bag can also be hung by hooks as shown inFIG. 4.

The Doerbaum patent discloses a design patent for a baseball equipment bag. It has carrying straps but does not disclose any means by which the bag can be hung from a fence.

The Sapyta patent is a patent for a foldable carrying case which does disclose the concept of being able to hang the bag so that it hangs vertically so that horizontal pockets are exposed for access.

The '474 DeChant patent discloses a golf bag organizer. It can be hung vertically so that it can be accessed from a horizontal opening but the vertical hanging member is just simply hook70.

The Fournier patent discloses a sports bag but its design enables the entire bag to completely open so that it is a generally flat configuration and then the bag can be hung from hook12.

The '718 DeChant patent is just a continuation of the previous '474 DeChant patent and has the same disclosure. The organizer is a miniature golf bag. The sidewall of the organizer is re-closable with the slide fastener which has a track that defines a bent U-shape.

The Tong patent discloses a composite suitcase. It discloses drawbars14which permit a removable hanging hook15to be attached thereto so that the device•can be hung from the hanging hook15.

The Millard Published patent application discloses a sports equipment holder which as disclosed best inFIG. 19can be used to hold bats by being attached by horizontal tie members. The hook members60permit the sports equipment holder to be hung from a chain link fence.

The Godshaw patent discloses a cosmetic case which has two means by which the case can be hung vertically and one can gain access to the pockets which themselves hang vertically.

The Oberhelman patent is a design patent. It discloses the design and shape of a sports equipment bag. It does show the concept of having clip members but the clip members are attached at the vertical location so that the bag hangs vertically.

The Rodrigue patent discloses a sports bag insert which can be hung vertically by loop member20with the compartments exposed.

The PCT Application is PCT application based upon the Fournier patent which was already discussed.

The Speck patent discloses an equipment bag which has pockets for retaining sports equipment and a compartment for retaining a baseball bat. It also discloses a hook by which the sports bag can be retained on a chain link fence by hanging in a vertical orientation. As a result, to remove the baseball bat, the bat must by lifted out of and over the bag.

While the general concept of a sports bag to retain sporting equipment has been disclosed, there is a significant need for an improved bag configuration which enables easier access to the equipment, especially baseball bats, retained within the bag when the bag is hung from a fence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sports equipment carrying bag which contains internal compartments of conventional design to enable sporting equipment such as uniforms, a baseball or softball, a catcher's mask, ball catching gloves and baseball or softball bats to be retained and carried therein. The unique feature of the present invention is that the carrying bag incorporates two bag retaining members which enable the sports bag to be hung from a fence such as a chain link fence in a manner which enables the bag to be horizontally oriented so that it is much easier to remove items from the bag without the items falling out and much easier to remove the baseball bats from the bag so that bats are horizontally removed and it is not necessary to lift the bats out of and over the sports bag when the bag is hung from the chain link fence.

It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a sports bag contains compartments including an elongated compartment which permits baseball bats to be retained in a horizontal orientation therein when the bag is carried, and the bag further contains means to retain the bag in a horizontal orientation when the bag is hung from a fence such as a chain link fence, then the horizontal orientation enables objects to be more easily removed from the bag and the baseball bats can be horizontally slid out of the bag when the bag is hung in a horizontal orientation, thereby facilitating a much easier removal of the baseball bats than was conventionally known in the prior art.

It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the bag retaining means is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps which are opened and closed by hook and loop fasteners, then the straps can be fed through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation; from the chain link fence.

It has additionally been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the straps with hook and loop fasteners thereon are incorporated into the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a than link fence.

It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the bag retaining means is comprised of a pair of spaced apart hook and clip members, then the hooks can be inserted onto and through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence through their respective clip members to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation from the chain link fence.

It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the hook and clip members are respectively incorporated into straps which are connected to the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a chain link fence.

It is thereafter an object of the present invention to provide a sports bag which contains compartments including an elongated compartment which permits baseball bats to be retained in a horizontal orientation therein when the bag is carried, and the bag further contains means to retain the bag in a horizontal orientation when the bag is hung from a fence such as a chain link fence, then the horizontal orientation thereby enables objects to be more easily removed from the bag and the baseball bats can be horizontally slid out of the bag when the bag is hung in a horizontal orientation, thereby facilitating a much easier removal of the baseball bats than was conventionally known in the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bag retaining means which is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps which are opened and closed by hook and loop fasteners, so that the straps can be fed through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation from the chain link fence.

It is an additional object of the present invention the incorporate the straps with hook and loop fasteners thereon into the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, so that the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a chan link fence.

It is also an object of the present invention provide a the bag retaining means which is comprised of a pair of spaced apart hook and clip members so that the hooks can be inserted onto and through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence through their respective clip members to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation from the chain link fence.

It is a further object of the present invention to respectively incorporate the hook and clip members into straps which are connected to the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, so that the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a chain link fence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, there is illustrated at10a bag for retaining sports equipment. The bag10has an exterior surface12which contains at least one opening and closing means14such as a zipper. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, the exterior surface12supports two zippers14and16, each leading to an interior compartment within the bag10. Zipper14is in the opened conditioned as illustrated inFIG. 1(Zipper14is in the closed condition inFIG. 2). When opened, zipper14leads to an interior chamber19which has at least one compartment20and preferably a multiplicity of compartments18,20and22as illustrated, which can house various sports equipment such as uniforms, a ball catching glove, baseballs, and a catcher's mask. Zipper16when in the opening condition as illustrated inFIG. 1leads to a lower elongated chamber24which can house at least one and preferably a multiplicity of baseball bats100, as illustrated.

The bag10is carried by a pair of carrying straps26and36. Carrying strap26has a first strap side28and a second strap side30by which the carrying strap26is attached to the exterior surface12of the bag10by attaching means such as stitching. The first strap side28and second strap side30each extend to a central grip portion32. Similarly, carrying strap36has a first strap side38and a second strap side40by which the carrying strap36, is attached to the exterior surface12of the bag10by attaching mean such as stitching. The first strap side38and second strap side40each extend to a central grip portion42. The bag10is carried by pushing the two grip sections32and42together and carrying the bag with the fingers of one hand surrounding the two gripping sections32and42. It is also possible to have a closing wrap (not shown) which surrounds the two grip section32and42of handles or carrying straps26and36to make the bag easier to carry.

The first embodiment of the present invention fence attaching member50is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. The attaching member50is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps52and62. Strap52is permanently affixed at one end54to first strap side38of carrying strap26by means such as stitching or removably affixed by means of mating fastening members. At its other end56, strap52has one of an attaching means58, which by way of example can be a hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®. A mating attaching means60, which by way of example can be a mating hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®, is positioned at a location on the first strap side38remote from where the strap52is affixed to the first strap side38. In place of hook and loop, the fastening means can be mating snap fasteners or any other connecting means well known in the art. Strap62is permanently affixed at one end64to second strap side40of carrying strap36by means such as stitching or removably affixed by means of mating fastening members. At its other end66, strap62has one of an attaching means68, which by way of example can be a hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®. A mating attaching means70, which by way of example can be a mating hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®, is positioned at a location on the second strap side40remote from where the strap62is affixed to the second strap side40. In place of hook and loop, the fastening means can be mating snap fasteners or any other connecting means well known in the art.

Referring toFIG. 3, the bag10is shown attached to a chain link fence200. The chain line fence200has a multiplicity of links210extending in one direction and a multiplicity of cross-links220extending in the opposite direction to form a multiplicity of open spaces230between links210and cross-links220. Strap52is opened and fed through at least one crossed set of links210and cross-links220and thereafter closed by mating attaching means58and60. Similarly, strap62is opened and fed through at least one crossed set of links210and cross-links220and thereafter closed by mating attaching means68and70. As a result, bag10is held on the fence200in a horizontal orientation. This orientation makes the bag much easier to open and remove its contents than conventional sports bags known in the prior art which are vertically oriented. In particular, baseball bats are horizontally oriented and therefore, instead of having to lift the bat up vertically and raise it over the bag10, all that is necessary is to horizontally slide the bat out, a much easier and safer removal technique. It is possible to have the bag10attached to the fence200with only one attaching assembly52or62and its associated attaching means58and60or68and70but the bag will then not hang perfectly horizontally.

The straps52and62of the attaching means58and68have been illustrated as attached to a portion of a carrying straps26and36. It will be appreciated that it is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have the straps52and62directly attached to the exterior surface12of the bag10instead of to a portion of a carrying straps. In that case, the mating attaching means60and70would be on a carrying strap or on a separate strap which aligns two attaching means together, or on another portion of the sports bag10.

Referring toFIG. 4, there is illustrated at110an alternative embodiment of a bag for retaining sports equipment. The bag110has an exterior surface112which contains at least one opening and closing means114such as a zipper. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, the exterior surface4supports four zippers, a pair of oppositely disposed zippers114and114A and a third zipper116, and a fourth zipper117. Zippers114and114alead to an interior compartment within bag110and zipper117leads to the same or another interior compartment within the bag110. Zippers114and114A are in the opened conditioned as illustrated inFIG. 4and zipper117is in the closed condition. InFIG. 5, zippers114and114aare in the closed condition. As illustrated inFIG. 4, when opened, zippers114and114alead to an interior chamber119which has at least one compartment120and preferably a multiplicity of compartments118,120and122as illustrated, which can house various sports equipment such as uniforms, a ball catching glove, baseballs, and a catcher's mask. Zipper116when in the opened condition as illustrated inFIG. 4leads to a lower elongated chamber124which can house at least one and preferably a multiplicity of baseball bats100, as illustrated.

The bag110is carried by a pair of carrying straps126and136. Carrying strap126has a first strap side128and a second strap side130by which the carrying strap126is permanently attached to the exterior surface112of the bag110by attaching mean such as stitching or removably attached by mating fastening members. The first strap side128and second strap side130each extend to a central grip portion132. Similarly, carrying strap136has a first strap side138and a second strap side140by which the carrying strap136is permanently attached to the exterior surface112of the bag110by attaching means such as stitching or removably attached by mating fastening members. The first strap side138and second strap side140each extend to a central grip portion142. The bag110is carried by pushing the two grip sections132and142together and carrying the bag with the fingers of one hand surrounding the two gripping sections132and142. It is also possible to have a closing wrap144which surrounds the two grip section132and142of handles or carrying straps126and136to make the bag easier to carry.

The second alternative embodiment of the present invention fence attaching member150is illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. The attaching member150is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps152and162. Strap152is permanently affixed at one end154to first strap side138of carrying strap126by means such as stitching or removably affixed by mating fastening means. At its other end156, strap152has one of an attaching means158, which by way of example can be a hook159with a closing clip160. Strap162is permanently affixed at one end164to second strap side140of carrying strap-136by means such as stitching or removably affixed by mating fastening means. At its other end166, strap162has an attaching means168, which by way of example can be a hook169with a closing clip170.

Referring toFIG. 6, the bag110is shown attached to a chain link fence200. The chain line fence200has a multiplicity of links210extending in one direction and a multiplicity of cross-links220extending in the opposite direction to form a multiplicity of open spaces230between links210and cross-links220. The hook assembly158is clipped onto the fence200at the intersection of at least one set of links210and cross-links220by snapping the hook159over the cross-links and closing it with the closing clip160. Similarly, the hook assembly158is clipped onto the fence200at the intersection of at least one set of links210and cross-links220by snapping the hook169over the cross-links and closing it with the closing clip170. This orientation makes the bag much easier to open and remove its contents than conventional sports bags known in the prior art which are vertically oriented. In particular, baseball bats are horizontally oriented and therefore, instead of having to lift the bat up vertically and raise it over the bag110, all that is necessary is to horizontally slide the bat out, a much easier and safer removal technique. It is possible to have the bag110attached to the fence200with only one hook assembly158or168but the bag will then not hang perfectly horizontally.

The straps152and162of the hook assemblies158and168and•their associated hook and closing clip159and160, and169and170have been illustrated as attached to a portion of a carrying strap126and136. It will be appreciated that it is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have the straps152and162directly attached to the exterior surface112of the bag110instead of to a portion of a carrying strap, or attached to another portion of the carrying bag10:

The bags10and110have been illustrated only to show representative examples of sports bags with which the present invention novel attaching means have been incorporated. It will be appreciated that the present invention novel attaching means which enables the sports equipment bag to be attached to a fence and hang in a horizontal orientation can be incorporated into any multiplicity of differently designed sports bags. In addition, the facts that the first attaching means50was illustrated with bag10should not be interpreted to limit this attaching means to bag10. Attaching means50can be used with alternative bag110or any other sports bag. Similarly, the fact that attaching means150was illustrated with alternative bag110should not be interpreted to limit this attached means to sports bag110. Attaching means110can be used with bag10or any other sports bag.

Defined in detail, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the bag having at least a first carrying strap having a first strap side of a given length, a second strap side of a given length and a central gripping portion; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the first strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having an attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on the first strap side and aligned with the attaching means on the first elongated strap; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the second strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having an attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on the second strap side and aligned with the attaching means on the second elongated strap; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by opening said first elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the first elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, and opening said second elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the second elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, with both elongated straps affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion.

Defined broadly, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the sports bag having means to enable the sports bag to be carried; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having an attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on a portion of the sports bag; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having an attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on a portion of the sports bag; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by opening said first elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the first elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, and opening said second elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the second elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, with both elongated straps affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion.

Defined more broadly, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the bag having at least a first carrying strap having a first strap side of a given length, a second strap side of a given length and a central gripping portion; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the first strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having a first attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the second strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having a second attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by attaching the first attaching means onto at least one link on the fence and attaching the second attaching means onto at least one link on the fence, with both attaching means affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion.

Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the sports bag having means to enable the sports bag to be carried; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having an attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having an attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by attaching the first attaching means onto at least one link on the fence and attaching the second attaching means onto at least one link on the fence, with both attaching means affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion.