Abstract:
A sports equipment hand-held or stick-held carrier that weaves or threads through one or more pieces of equipment and holds a ball, mouthpiece and other miscellaneous items. The carrier slides, snaps or hooks onto a lacrosse stick and has a strap for hands-free carrying of all the necessary pieces of equipment. The carrier binds the stick and equipment together over the shoulder and around the torso of the user. The stick is easily inserted and removed from the carrier for play while holding the equipment together. This carrier acts as a needle and thread that easily holds and releases the various pieces of equipment. It is a quick, open and secure way to store or carry equipment on its own separately or attached to a stick. The carrier can also be customized with removable attachments to create varying combinations to accommodate different players and easily replace any broken parts.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/282,528. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The Background of the Invention as noted in the above mentioned application remains with the object as well to be a means of binding and carrying, various pieces of equipment, clothing, cell phone, mobile electronic devices, ball, mouthpiece, car keys, jerseys, bags, handbags, bag handles, cleats, water bottles, makeup etc. that players bring with them to and from the field or stadium. 
         [0002]    The above and many other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be fully appreciated from the ensuing description of selected preferred embodiments, with the description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a view of the threaded equipment on the carrier ready to be placed on the shaft handle of the stick according to a preferred embodiment to this invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a front or back perspective view showing the carrier according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a side view of this invention showing the handle of the device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the ball holder and mouthpiece holder of this invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view showing the handle, ball holder, mouthpiece holder and miscellaneous equipment holder. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the carrier according to a preferred embodiment of this invention with the openings for the stick shaft, miscellaneous equipment, ball and mouthpiece holders; also, flat area for lettering and opening for the large loop that fits over the opposite end. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a front or rear perspective view of the hands free strap showing a shaft loop on one end, flat area with lettering between each end and a hook at the opposite end. 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a person using the carrier with a lacrosse stick and the hands free strap. 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of a person using the carrier with a lacrosse stick and no other equipment on it to show the hands free aspect of the device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view showing the carrier according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 11  is a front view showing the shaft loop opening in the closed larger loop. 
           [0014]      FIG. 12  is a front view showing the larger loop closed above the carriers threading end. 
           [0015]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the carriers threading end with folding arms/handle extended. 
           [0016]      FIG. 14  is a front view of a cone-head shaped lacrosse stick holder with hooks. 
           [0017]      FIG. 15  is a front view of a C-shaped lacrosse stick holder. 
           [0018]      FIG. 16  is a front view of a backwards C-shaped lacrosse stick holder. 
           [0019]      FIG. 17  is a front view of a swiveling cone-headed C-shaped lacrosse stick holder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of this invention showing the handle on top with large hooks/loops to carry equipment as a preferred embodiment of this device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view showing a multi-position, equipment carrying arm/loop as a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 20  is a front perspective view of the lacrosse stick head-shaped bag for holding the lacrosse ball, mouthpiece, car keys, makeup, cleats, cell phone, misc. items, etc. 
           [0023]      FIG. 21  is a front perspective view showing the lacrosse stick holder, threading end, ball holder, mouthpiece holder, lacrosse head bag, various equipment bags and other attachments connecting and detaching from a preferred embodiment of the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    With reference now to the drawing, and initially to  FIG. 1 , the carrier  10  according to a preferred embodiment is shown in use holding various pieces of equipment/gear  12  and with a stick shaft/handle  14  ready to attach through the top loop and handle of the carrier  10 . The loop above the handle of the carrier  10  is designed to hold the stick shaft  14 . 
         [0025]    As shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the carrier  10  of this embodiment is favorably molded of durable rubber or plastic material. Here, the carrier end  110  is molded into a threading point. The large loop  112  is wide enough to accommodate the handle  116  and shaft loop  118  of the carrier  10 . The space for equipment  114  is in the middle of the carrier  10 . The handle  116  acts as a stop for the various pieces of equipment  12  thread onto the space for equipment  114 . The shaft loop  118  and handle  116  are small enough for the large loop  112  to fit over and bind in place the various pieces of equipment  12  laced to the space for equipment  114  by passing the carrier end  110  through each various piece of equipment  12  individually. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  the carrier end  110  threads through the various pieces of equipment/gear  12  stopped by the handle  116  of the carrier  10 . The equipment  12  now on the space for equipment  114 , the large loop  112  is lifted over the handle  116  and shaft loop  118  with the carrier end  110  resting onto the space for equipment  114  below the handle  116  securing the equipment  12 . The handle  116  of the carrier  10  can now be held to receive the stick shaft  14  through the shaft loop  118 . The handle  116  of the carrier  10  can carry the equipment  12  on its own or with the stick shaft  14  through the shaft loop  118  and handle  116  designed to hold the stick shaft  14 . The stick shaft  14  can be easily removed from the handle  116  and shaft loop  118  for use in play while keeping equipment  12  secured. The stick shaft  14  can be easily removed with carrier  10 , holding equipment  12  being hung from shaft loop  118  onto hook  16  for storage. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4  the carrier  10  has a ball holder  18  and a mouthpiece holder  20 . The mouthpiece  22  currently in use by the player is held by the mouthpiece holder  20  and the ball  24  is stored in the ball holder  18 . The ball holder becomes the stopper for the equipment  12  laced onto the carrier  10 . 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  the carrier  10  is shown in more detail and this embodiment is favorably molded of rubber or plastic materials. Here, the hook  26  attached to the side of the ball holder  18  is designed to hold the carrier end  110 . The large loop  112  and carrier end  110  can connect at the hook  26  or fit over the shaft loop  118 , cell phone, spare mouthpiece, other various items holder  30 , ball holder  18  and mouthpiece holder  20 . With the large loop  112  fit over and resting on the space for equipment  114  the hook  26  is free to hold any other item like car keys, etc. The hands free strap  42  attaches to the ring loop  28  or to the space for equipment  114  when not in use. The front and back of the space for equipment  114  in  FIG. 6  has flat space to accommodate lettering  32  on each side for advertising or product info. The hands free strap  42  in  FIG. 7  has flat space to accommodate lettering  46  on each side. The stick loop end  40  of the hands free strap  42  is designed to fit over the stick shaft  14 . The youth or adult sized mouthpiece  22  fits into the mouthpiece holder  20 . The ball  24  is held by the ball holder  18 . Starting with the carrier end  110  and lacing the various pieces of equipment  12  onto the space for equipment  114 ; the equipment  12  is stopped by the ball holder  18 . 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  the carrier  10  and hands free strap  42  are shown with only a stick shaft and no other equipment to obtain a clear view of the functioning invention. The shaft loop  118  connects with the stick shaft  14  over the shoulder while the stick loop end  40  attaches to the opposite end of the stick shaft  14  near the waist of the person using the carrier  10  along with the hands free strap  42 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a stick shaft  14  through the shaft loop  118  of the carrier  10  after the large loop  112  already passed over the shaft loop  118 , ball holder  18 , ring loop  28 , hook  26 , and miscellaneous item holder  30 . The hook end  44  of the hands free strap  42  attaches to the space for equipment  114  of the carrier  10  or to any piece of equipment attached to the device. 
         [0030]    As shown in more detail in  FIG. 10  the carrier  10  of this embodiment is favorably molded of durable rubber or flexible plastic material at each end. The carrier end  110 , large loop  112  and shaft loop  118  are molded of flexible plastic. The opposite end consisting of the ball holder  18 , ring loop  28 , hook  26  and various item holder/handle  30  are molded of flexible plastic. The space for equipment  114  is molded of less flexible plastic, wood, aluminum, titanium, or other light weight metal shaft material that&#39;s either flat, round, basic six-sided stick shaft shape, or any other stick shaft shape from the bottom of the shaft loop  118  to the top of the ball holder  18 . This embodiment has a top or head end; molded carrier end  110 , shaft loop  118 , large loop  112  and large loop ends  122 , as well as, a bottom or butt end; molded ball holder  18 , ring loop  28 , hook  26  and various item holder/handle  30 . The space for equipment  114  is stiffer molded plastic or any material used to make lacrosse stick shafts. The flexible carrier end  110  and ball holder  18  is connected to the space for equipment  114  at opposite ends, screwed, snapped, clamped, glued, pop-in hole connector, etc. together depending upon the material. The connector hole  158  allows for each end of the space for equipment  114  to detach and reconnect by hand interchanging the various ends of the carrier  10 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  shows a front perspective view of the carrier  10  according to a preferred embodiment of this invention and several truncated views of the carrier end  110 . The remainder of  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13  are as shown in  FIG. 10  front perspective view of the carrier  10  with the ball holder  18 , ring loop  28 , hook  26 , mouthpiece holder  20  and various items/equipment holders  30  or not.  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  shows the shaft loop  118  connected to the large loop  112  at the carrier end  110 . The large loop ends  122  attach to the equipment off connection  120  at the top end of the space for equipment  114 .  FIG. 11  shows the equipment off connection  120  with large loop ends  122  attached closing the large loop  112  to release the various pieces of equipment  12  from the carrier  10  over the large loop  112  and the carrier end  110 . The space for equipment  114  is harder, less flexible molded plastic, wood, aluminum, titanium, or any other metal shaft material that&#39;s either flat, round or stick shaft shaped from the bottom of the shaft loop  118  to the top of the ball holder  18  as shown in  FIG. 10 . All along the space for equipment  114  is lettering  32  for ads or product info. The hands free strap  42  from  FIG. 7  connects to the ring loop  28  by the hook end  44 . The ball holder  18  is flexible plastic connected at the opposite end of the space for equipment  114  from the shaft loop  118  and the large loop  112 . The ball holder  18  is finger distance spaced above the various item/miscellaneous equipment holder/handle  30  i.e. cell phone, spare mouthpiece, etc. that functions as a handle  30  when the large loop ends  122  are attached to the equipment off connection  120  allowing gravity to release the various pieces of equipment  12  from the carrier  10  over the large loop  112  and carrier end  110 .  FIG. 12  shows the large loop ends  122  connected together beyond the carrier end  110 . Here, the large loop  112  is formed the opposite way for the various pieces of equipment  12  to slide off the carrier  10  by holding the various item holder/handle  30  up with the carrier end  110  pointing down.  FIG. 13  illustrates folding handles  124  at the top of the space for equipment  114  below the shaft loop  118  with the various pieces of equipment  12  stopped from passing over the shaft loop  118  and carrier end  110  when the folding handles  124  are in locked position perpendicular to the space for equipment  114 . The folding handles  124  unlock up or down to allow the various pieces of equipment  12  to pass back over the folding handles  124 , the shaft loop  118 , carrier end  110  and off the carrier  10 . The ball holder  18  prevents the various pieces of equipment  12  from falling off the opposite end. The flexible carrier end  110  and ball holder  18  is connected to the space for equipment  114  at opposite ends, screwed, snapped, clamped, glued, pop-in hole connector, etc. together depending upon the material. The connector hole  158  allows for each end of the space for equipment  114  to detach and reconnect by hand interchanging the various ends of the carrier  10 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  the hands free strap  42  functions as shown with the hook end  44  attaching to the carrier  10  of  FIG. 10  at the ring loop  28 , the hook  26  or around and back onto itself above or below the ball holder  18 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 10 and 13  is favorably produced of molded harder plastic, wood, titanium or any other light weight metal shaft material from the top of the ball holder  18  to the top of the carrier end  110 . 
         [0034]    The carrier  10  of  FIG. 13  is favorably produced using molded harder plastic, wood, titanium or any other light weight metal shaft material. The space for equipment  114  consists of the carrier end  110 , shaft loop  118  and folding arms  124  at one end and folding arms  124 , shaft loop  118  and carrier end  110  at the opposite end of the space for equipment  114 . The folding arms  124  act as handles when in the locked position at either end of the space for equipment  114 . The folding arms  124  act as stops for the various pieces of equipment  12  when in the locked position perpendicular to the space for equipment  114 . The folding arms  124  allow for the various pieces of equipment  12  to release from either end of the space for equipment  114  when unlocked and folded parallel to the space for equipment  114  either in up or down parallel position.  FIG. 13  shows a carrier  10  that allows for the various pieces of equipment  12  to be added to and released from either end of the space for equipment  114  over the unlocked parallel folding arms  124 , shaft loop  118 , and carrier end  110 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  16  shows various types of the lacrosse stick holder  118 .  FIG. 15  shows a C-shaped version of the holder that fits and snaps or clicks over the lacrosse stick shaft  14 .  FIG. 16  is a backward C-shaped version.  FIG. 17  shows a cone-headed, C-shaped swiveling lacrosse stick holder. The C-shaped lacrosse stick holder  118  fits and snaps or clicks in place using the stick snap holder  160  over the lacrosse stick shaft and without having to slide it all the way down the stick shaft  14 . The connector hole  158  allows for each end of the space for equipment  114  to detach and reconnect by hand interchanging the various ends of the carrier  10 . 
         [0036]    The carrier  10  of  FIG. 18  is favorably produced of molded plastic and solid parts. The space for equipment  114  is formed as large loops with pointed ends  110  for threading various pieces of equipment  12 . The pointed ends  110  connect and remove by hand from the carrier  10 . The handle  116  is on top of the lacrosse stick holder  118 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 19  the carrier  10  is produced of molded plastic and solid parts. The lacrosse stick holder  118  is C-shaped and swivels. The space for equipment  114  functions as a multi-position, carrying arm that starts fully extended to thread the various pieces of equipment  12  or perpendicular then connects to the carrier  10  forming a closed half loop. The hook  52  is used to attach various items including the lacrosse stick head-shaped bag  50 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 20  the lacrosse stick head-shaped bag  50  is comprised of molded plastic as ribs  152  for the bag using lacrosse stick mesh/traditional string  150  or leather, polyester, nylon, etc. on each face of the head, front and back, or all the way around the ribs  152  to form a bag. The bag  50  can also snap in and out of a lacrosse stick head. The drawstring  154  is made of shooting string material that opens wide to accept many and various sized items, cleats, tape, etc. including a lacrosse ball  24  and mouthpiece  22 . The lacrosse stick head-shaped bag  50  attaches to the carrier  10  using the head handle  156  with a hole in it. The head handle  156  connects with carrier  10  in several places including the space for equipment  114  at either end by the connector hole  158 , the hook  52 ,  26  or directly onto the lacrosse stick shaft  14  using the lacrosse stick holder  118 . The lacrosse stick head-shaped bag  50  also functions as one end, equipment stopper end, of carrier  10 . The connector hole  158  allows for each end of the space for equipment  114  to detach and reconnect by hand interchanging the various ends of the carrier  10 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 21  and in most other Figs. the flexible carrier end  110  and ball holder  18  is connected to the space for equipment  114  at opposite ends, screwed, snapped, clamped, glued, pop-in hole connector, clicked, etc. together depending upon the material. The connector hole  158  allows for each end of the space for equipment  114  to detach and reconnect by hand interchanging the various ends of the carrier  10 . A player could create their own device by having a ball holder  18  at each end of the carrier  10 , two lacrosse stick holders  118 , two threading carrier ends  110 , or any combination as the carrier ends are interchangeable and separate from the space for equipment  114  and reattach by hand. The space for equipment  114  can be customized, lengthened or shortened, to hold various amounts and sizes of equipment depending upon the player, i.e. Goalies have more equipment and other players have less. Broken ends can be taken off by hand and replaced using the shaft connector  162 .