Abstract:
A portable, disassembleable tack rack for use on uneven terrain is disclosed. The length and width of Applicant&#39;s tack rack can be adjusted. In addition, the lengths of a plurality of supporting legs are each independently adjustable such that Applicant&#39;s apparatus can be used on sloping terrain.  
     A method to assemble a portable tack rack from a plurality of rigid members and, optionally, one or more flexible mesh structures is disclosed. When disassembled, the components of Applicant&#39;s tack rack apparatus can be stored and transported in a conventional duffel-type, cylindrical bag.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable apparatus and, more particularly, to a sturdy equestrian tack rack apparatus, which can be quickly assembled and used on uneven terrain, and which can be easily and quickly disassembled for transportation.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In conjunction with professional equestrian activities, such as mountain search and rescue operations or livestock management, there is often a need to quickly erect on uneven terrain an apparatus for holding and arranging riding gear such as saddles, saddle blankets, combs, bridles, halters, and the like.  
           [0003]    Prior art tack racks fail to provide all the features required. The shortcomings of these prior art devices include expense, difficulty in setup and removal, inability to be used on uneven terrain, and non-portability. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,521 teaches a portable tack rack that fails to meet the criteria set forth above.  
           [0004]    Specifically, the tack rack of the &#39;521 patent cannot be used on uneven terrain. The &#39;521 tack rack comprises “two rigid rectangular frames hingedly connected such that the frames fold one against the other and unfold such that at least one of the frames sit upright from a support surface.” Col. 1/1. 35-38. As FIG. 1 shows, the lengths of the legs of the &#39;521 tack rack are not adjustable. Therefore, while the &#39;521 tack rack may be stable on a flat surface, this apparatus cannot be used on uneven terrain. Rather, the &#39;521 tack rack is unstable when placed on uneven terrain.  
           [0005]    There remains a need for a portable, easily assemblable/disassemblable, low cost, tack rack that can be used on uneven terrain.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Applicant&#39;s invention includes an apparatus for storing equestrian riding gear. Applicant&#39;s apparatus can be easily assembled at remote locations, and can be used on uneven, i.e. sloping terrain. Applicant&#39;s apparatus is releaseably erected from a plurality of rigid members, and optionally, one or more flexible mesh components. After use, Applicant&#39;s apparatus can be easily disassembled for ease of transportation. When disassembled, the components of Applicant&#39;s apparatus can be stored and/or transported in a conventional duffel-type, i.e. cylindrical, bag.  
           [0007]    Applicant&#39;s invention also includes a method to erect a portable tack rack apparatus for use on uneven terrain. A first rectangular frame is releaseably assembled from component parts. That first rectangular frame is then releaseably connected to a plurality of vertical support members, such that the lengths of a plurality of legs are each independently adjustable. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Applicant&#39;s invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first rectangular frame component of Applicant&#39;s apparatus;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of Applicant&#39;s apparatus wherein the first rectangular frame includes a mesh structure;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a side view of a first component of an attachment means used in Applicant&#39;s invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a side view of a second component of the attachment means used in Applicant&#39;s invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of both components of the attachment means used in Applicant&#39;s invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an alternate embodiment of Applicant&#39;s apparatus;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing Applicant&#39;s saddle support apparatus;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 summarizes Applicant&#39;s method to assemble and store equestrian gear using Applicant&#39;s apparatus on uneven terrain; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 summarizes a further embodiment of Applicant&#39;s method. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    Turning to FIG. 1, disassemblable tack rack  10  comprises first rectangular frame  20  having first corner  22 , second corner  24 , third corner  26 , and fourth corner  28 . Tack rack  10  further includes first vertical support member  30 , second vertical support member  40 , third vertical support member  50 , and fourth vertical support member  60 . Vertical support members  30 ,  40 ,  50 , and  60  may comprise 2-sided, 3-sided, and/or 4-sided assemblies wherein the sides are of approximately the same or different dimension. In all these embodiments, vertical members  30 ,  40 ,  50 , and  60  can be formed from any rigid material, including wood, metal, and/or plastic.  
         [0020]    First vertical support member  30  includes first end  32  and second end  34 . First vertical support member  30  is releaseably connected to first corner  22  of first rectangular frame  20  at first connection point  36 . The distance between first connection point  36  and first end  32  of first vertical support  30  is first leg length  38 .  
         [0021]    Second vertical support member  40  includes first end  42  and second end  44 . Second vertical support member  40  is releaseably connected to second corner  24  of first rectangular frame  20  at second connection point  46 . The distance between second connection point  46  and first end  42  of second vertical support  40  is second leg length  48 .  
         [0022]    Third vertical support member  50  includes first end  52  and second end  54 . Third vertical support member  50  is releaseably connected to third corner  26  of first rectangular frame  20  at third connection point  56 . The distance between third connection point  56  and first end  52  of third vertical support  50  is third leg length  58 .  
         [0023]    Fourth vertical support member  60  includes first end  62  and second end  64 . Fourth vertical support member  60  is releaseably connected to fourth corner  28  of first rectangular frame  20  at fourth connection point  66 . The distance between fourth connection point  66  and first end  62  of fourth vertical support  60  is fourth leg length  68 .  
         [0024]    When used on flat terrain, first leg length  38 , second leg length  48 , third leg length  58 , and fourth leg length  68  are about the same. When used on uneven, i.e. sloping, terrain, however, the lengths of each leg are independently adjustable such that first rectangule frame  20  remains level.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 2, first rectangular frame  20  is formed from first member  200  having first end  202  and second end  204 , second member  210  having first end  212  and second end  214 , third member  220  having first end  222  and second end  224 , and fourth member  230  having first end  232  and second end  234 . First member  200 , second member  210 , third member  220 , and fourth member  230  can be formed from any rigid material, including wood, metal, plastic, and combinations thereof.  
         [0026]    First end  202  of first member  200  is releaseably connected to first end  212  of second member  212  thereby forming first corner  22 . Second end  204  of first member  200  is releaseably connected to first end  222  of third member  220  thereby forming second corner  24 . Second end  214  of second member  210  is releaseably connected to first end  232  of fourth member  230  thereby forming third corner  26 . Second end  224  of third member  220  is releaseably connected to second end  234  of fourth member  230  thereby forming fourth corner  28 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment of Applicant&#39;s apparatus mesh structure  300  is releaseably attached to first rectangular frame  200 . In FIG. 3, mesh structure  300  is shown disposed above frame  200  for clarity. In actual use, first side  302  of mesh structure  300  is releaseably attached to first member  200 . Second side  304  of mesh structure  300  is releaseably attached to second member  210 . Third side  306  of mesh structure  300  is releaseably attached to third member  220 . Fourth side  308  of mesh structure  300  is releaseably attached to fourth member  230 .  
         [0028]    Mesh structure  300  is formed from either metal or plastic. In one embodiment, when not attached to frame  200 , mesh structure can be rolled into a cylindrical shape for ease of transportation.  
         [0029]    Certain embodiments of Applicant&#39;s apparatus include a second rectangular frame. Referring again to FIG. 1, second rectangular frame  70  is shown disposed above first rectangular frame  20 . Second rectangular frame  70  is formed in the manner described above for first rectangular frame  20 . In certain embodiments, second mesh structure  80  is releaseably attached to second rectangular frame  70  in the manner described above.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 4 and 5 show the components of a first attachment means whereby the above-described releaseable attachments and connections are formed. Referring to FIG. 4, a portion  400  of one side of vertical support member  30  is shown. Six reverse teardrop attachment slots  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408 ,  410 , and  412  are disposed in portion  400  as shown. These six attachment slots are arranged as three sets of two parallel slots. Each reverse teardrop slot comprises two intersecting circular holes, wherein the top circular hole has diameter D 1  and the bottom circular hole has diameter D 2 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, D 1  is greater than D 2 . D 1  is between about 0.25 and 1.0 inches, preferably between about 0.50 and about 0.75 inches.  
         [0031]    Vertical support members  30 ,  40 ,  50 , and  60  are formed with multiple sets of two parallel attachment slots as shown in FIG. 4 disposed in all of their sides. For example, in the four-sided embodiment all four sides are formed with a multiplicity of sets of two parallel attachment slots disposed along the entire lengths of all four sides. In the two-sided embodiment, both sides are formed with a multiplicity of sets of two parallel attachment slots disposed along the entire lengths of both sides.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 shows attachment pin  500 . Attachment pin  500  comprises shaft  510  having proximal end  512  and distal end  514 . Circular flange  520  is disposed on distal end  514 . Shaft  510  has a diameter of D 4 . Circular flange  520  has a diameter of D 3 . As depicted in FIG. 5, D 4  is smaller than D 3 . The diameter of circular flange  520 , namely diameter D 3 , is smaller than diameter D 1  such that attachment pin  500  will extend through upper portion  420  of attachment slot  402 . Once extended into top portion  420 , attachment pin  500  can be lowered such that shaft  510  rests against bottom  430  of slot  402 . The diameter of shaft  510 , namely diameter D 4 , is smaller than diameter D 2 .  
         [0033]    Diameter D 3  of circular flange  520  is larger than diameter D 2 . Therefore, attachment pin  500  can be extended through top portion  420  of attachment slot  402 , however when pin  500  is lowered to contact bottom  430  of attachment slot  403 , attachment pin  500  cannot be removed from slot  402 .  
         [0034]    Referring to FIG. 6, the releaseable attachment of first member  200  to vertical support member  30  is shown. Attachment pins  602  and  612  are disposed on first member  200 . First member  200  is shown in cross-section. Attachment pin  602  is disposed directly above attachment pin  612 .  
         [0035]    Corresponding attachment slots  620  and  630  are disposed in vertical support member  30 . A top view of vertical support member  30  is shown.  
         [0036]    First member  200  is positioned such that circular flanges  604  and  614  are extended through the top portions  622  and  632  of slots  620  and  630 , respectively. First member  200  is then lowered such that shafts  606  and  616  rest against the bottom portions  624  and  634  of slots  620  and  630 , respectively, thereby attaching first member  200  to vertical support member  30 .  
         [0037]    By virtue of the attachment means described above, tack storage device  10  can be completely dissembled into its components for ease of transportation. In addition, the height and/or width of tack storage apparatus  10  can be adjusted by changing the lengths of the various vertical support members and/or the members forming first rectangular frame  20  and second rectangular frame  70 .  
         [0038]    The length of Applicant&#39;s apparatus can be extended by using, for example, 6 vertical support members and 2 rectangular frames in tandem. FIG. 7 shows apparatus  700  which includes first rectangular frame  710 , first mesh structure  715 , second rectangular frame  720 , second mesh structure  725 , first vertical support member  730 , second vertical support member  740 , third vertical support member  750 , fourth vertical support member  760 , fifth vertical support member  770 , and sixth vertical support member  780 .  
         [0039]    First rectangular frame  710  is releaseably attached to first, second, fourth, and fifth vertical support members  730 ,  740 ,  760 , and  770 , respectively, in the manner described above. Similarly, second rectangular frame  720  is releaseably attached to second, third, fifth, and sixth vertical support members,  740 ,  750 ,  770 , and  780 , respectively, in the manner described above.  
         [0040]    First rectangular frame  710  and second rectangular frame  720  are formed as described above for first rectangular frame  20  and second rectangular frame  70  in FIGS. 1 and 2. First mesh structure  715  is releaseably attached to first rectangular frame  710 , and second mesh structure  725  is releaseably attached to second rectangular from  720 , in the manner described above in conjunction with first mesh structure  300  in FIG. 3.  
         [0041]    As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the vertical and horizontal members comprising tack storage apparatus  10  can be permanently attached to one another. For example, if the various horizontal and vertical members are formed from metal, those members can be attached by conventional welding techniques. On the other hand, if the vertical and horizontal members are formed from a rigid plastic material, those members can be joined by plastic welding, adhesive joining, and/or solvent bonding.  
         [0042]    In addition, Applicant&#39;s assembled tack storage apparatus can be permanently affixed to a floor or a wall. Referring to FIG. 1, attachment of foot plates to the first ends  32 ,  42 ,  52 , and  62 , respectively, will allow attachment of apparatus  10  to a floor using conventional methods, i.e. screws. Use of conventional wall ties will allow Applicant&#39;s assembled tack storage apparatus to be affixed to a wall.  
         [0043]    Referring again to FIG. 1, saddle support  90  is shown releaseably connected to vertical support members  40 . Saddle support  90  includes horizontal member  92  which is releaseably connected to vertical support member  40  in the manner described above using a plurality of attachment pins disposed on proximal end  94  of horizontal member  92 , and a plurality of attachment slots disposed on vertical support member  40 . Horizontal member  92  can be formed from any rigid material including wood, plastic, and metal. Horizontal member  92  has a top and bottom joined by first side  96  and an opposing second side  98  (not shown in FIG. 1).  
         [0044]    Referring to FIG. 8, first horizontal support  100  extends outwardly and downwardly from first side  96  of horizontal member  92 . First horizontal support  100  is formed from first leg  104 , second leg  106 , and distal member  110 . Legs  104  and  116 , and distal member  110 , can be formed from any rigid material including wood, metal, and/or plastic.  
         [0045]    Proximal end  106  of first leg  104  connects to, and extends outwardly and downwardly from, first side  96  of horizontal member  92 . Distal end  108  of first leg  104  connects to first end  112  of distal member  110  such that first leg  104  and distal member  110  are approximately perpendicular. By approximately perpendicular, Applicant means the angle formed between first leg  104  and distal member  110  is about 90 degrees, plus or minus about 20 degrees.  
         [0046]    Proximal end  118  of second leg  116  connects to, and extends outwardly and downwardly from, first side  96  of horizontal member  92 . Distal end  120  of second leg  116  connects to second end  114  of distal member  110  such that second leg  116  and distal member  110  are approximately perpendicular. By approximately perpendicular, Applicant means the angle formed between second leg  116  and distal member  110  is about 90 degrees, plus or minus about 20 degrees. First leg  104  and second leg  116  are approximately parallel. By approximately parallel, Applicant means the angle formed between first leg  104  and second leg  116  is about 180 degrees, plus or minus about 20 degrees.  
         [0047]    Second horizontal support  140  extends outwardly and downwardly from second side  98  of horizontal member  92 . Second horizontal support  140  is formed in the manner described above in conjunction with first horizontal support  100 .  
         [0048]    Referring again to FIG. 1, saddle support  90  is shown releaseably attached to vertical support member  40 . In other embodiments of Applicant&#39;s apparatus, saddle support  90  can be releaseably attached to any of the vertical support members, to first rectangular frame  20 , or to second rectangular frame  70 . In other embodiments, a plurality of saddle supports are affixed to Applicant&#39;s tack storage apparatus in the manner described above.  
         [0049]    In one embodiment of Applicant&#39;s tack storage apparatus having the dimensions of 4 feet in length, 3 feet in width, and 6 feet in height can accommodate three saddle supports on each vertical member, and two saddle supports on each rectangular frame, for a total capacity of 20 saddle supports.  
         [0050]    Tack gear including reins, blankets, and the like, can be hung over, or suspended from first rectangular frame  20  and/or second rectangular frame  70 . Alternatively, “s”-shaped hooks can be affixed to one or more of the vertical support members and tack gear can be suspended from the distal ends of those “s”-hooks. A tube/rod can be suspended from two such “s”-hooks to form a clothes rod from which riding clothes can be hung with, or without, use of conventional clothes hangers.  
         [0051]    In another embodiment, one end of a conventional horse shoe can be extended through an attachment slot, and the other end used as a hook from which to hang tack gear. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the width of the horse shoe is selected such that one end will fit snugly into an attachment slot.  
         [0052]    Applicant&#39;s invention includes a method to store equestrian equipment in a remote location on uneven terrain. FIG. 9 summarizes Applicant&#39;s method. In step  802  a first rectangular frame is provided. In steps  804 ,  806 ,  808 , and  810  first, second, third, and fourth vertical supports are releaseably connected to the four corners of the first rectangular frame.  
         [0053]    In step  812  the assembled frame is checked for levelness. If the frame is not level, then the length of one or more of the legs is adjusted to make the frame level. Once the frame is level, in step  816  a mesh structure is releaseably attached to the frame. Thereafter in step  818  tack gear is placed onto the assembled apparatus.  
         [0054]    Step  802  further comprises the steps shown in FIG. 10. In steps  902 ,  904 ,  906 , and  908 , four rigid members, each having a first end and a second end, are provided. In step  910 , the first end of the first member is releaseably connected to the first end of the second member. In step  912 , the second end of the first member is releaseably connected to the first end of the third member. In step  914 , the second end of the second member is releaseably connected to the first end of the fourth member. In step  916 , the second end of the third member is releaseably connected to the second end of the fourth member.  
         [0055]    In other embodiments of Applicant&#39;s method, a second rectangular frame is assembled from fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth members. That second rectangular frame is then releaseably connected to the first, second, third, and fourth vertical support members. Thereafter, a second mesh structure is releaseably connected to the second rectangular frame.