Abstract:
A hockey equipment rack composed of intersecting panels. The panels are easily dismounted for storage. Apertures and/or cutouts in the panel(s) are provided for positioning hockey equipment.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Hockey equipment (such as gloves, helmet, shoulder pads, skates, socks, knee pads, shirt and pants) tends to become wet during a hockey game. After such a game it is common practice to hang such equipment on a hockey equipment rack to dry. Hockey equipment racks that are similar to an ordinary coat rack are commercially available. Improved hockey equipment racks have also been invented, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,849 issued to Harold G. Martin on Jan. 3, 1995. 
     Hockey games are often played away from home. Hockey players may stay overnight in hotel or motel rooms after a hockey game. In such circumstances, it would be beneficial to have a portable, compact and easily dismountable hockey equipment rack rather than placing wet equipment over the chairs, tables, cabinets and beds of a hotel or motel room. However, as a general rule the prior art hockey equipment racks tend not to be compact and easily dismountable. 
     It would be an advance in the art if a hockey equipment rack were invented that was compact in storage (especially for storage in a vehicle) but easily assembled for use, for example, in a motel or hotel room. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary benefit of the instant invention is that it is a hockey equipment rack that is compact in storage (especially for storage in a vehicle) but which is easily assembled for use, for example, in a motel or hotel room. The instant invention is a hockey equipment rack composed of at least two intersecting panels. The panels are easily dismounted for storage. Apertures, protrusions and/or cutouts in the panel(s) are provided for positioning hockey equipment. 
     More specifically, the instant invention is a hockey equipment rack, comprising: (a) a first panel, the first panel having a top and a bottom, the first panel defining an upwardly projecting cutout therein from the bottom toward the top, the first panel defining an aperture therein so that hockey equipment can be positioned in the aperture; and (b) a second panel, the second panel having a top and a bottom, the second panel defining a downwardly projecting cut-out therein from the top toward the bottom, the downwardly projecting cut-out intersecting with the upwardly projecting cutout of the first panel so that the first panel and the second panel form a free standing hockey equipment rack. 
     In another embodiment, the instant invention is a hockey equipment rack, comprising: (a) a first panel, the first panel having a top and a bottom, the first panel defining an upwardly projecting cutout therein from the bottom toward the top, the top of the first panel being formed to have an upwardly projecting portion so that a hockey helmet can be mounted on the upwardly projecting portion of the top of the first panel; and (b) a second panel, the second panel having a top and a bottom, the second panel defining a downwardly projecting cut-out therein from the top toward the bottom, the downwardly projecting cut-out intersecting with the upwardly projecting cutout of the first panel so that the first panel and the second panel form a free standing hockey equipment rack. 
     In yet another embodiment, the instant invention is a hockey equipment rack, comprising: (a) a first panel, the first panel having a top, a bottom and sides, the first panel defining an upwardly projecting cutout therein from the bottom toward the top, the top of the first panel being formed to have an upwardly projecting portion so that a hockey helmet can be mounted on the upwardly projecting portion of the top of the first panel, the first panel defining a sideward projecting cutout therein from one side toward the other side so that hockey equipment can be positioned on the first panel; and (b) a second panel, the second panel having a top and a bottom, the second panel defining a downwardly projecting cut-out therein from the top toward the bottom, the downwardly projecting cut-out intersecting with the upwardly projecting cutout of the first panel so that the first panel and the second panel form a free standing hockey equipment rack. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a hockey equipment rack of the instant invention that includes a first and a second panel that intersect with each other; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the first panel of the hockey equipment rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the second panel of the hockey equipment rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of another hockey equipment rack of the instant invention that includes a first and a second panel that intersect with each other; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the first panel of the hockey equipment rack of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the second panel of the hockey equipment rack of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 therein is shown a side perspective view of a hockey equipment rack  10  of the instant invention. The rack  10  is comprised of a first panel  11  (shown in side view in FIG.  2 ). The first panel  11  has a top portion  12  and a bottom portion  13 . The first panel  11  also defines an upwardly projecting cutout  14  therein from the bottom portion  13  toward the top portion  12 . 
     Referring still to FIG. 1, the rack  10  also comprises a second panel  15  (shown in side view in FIG.  3 ). The second panel  15  has a top portion  16  and a bottom portion  17 . The second panel  15  also defines a downwardly projecting cutout  18 . Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the cutout  14  in the first panel  11  and the cutout  18  in the second panel  15  intersect with each other so that the first panel  11  and the second panel  15  form the free standing hockey equipment rack  10  of FIG.  1 . 
     Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, apertures  19 ,  20  and  21  are provided so that hockey equipment can be positioned therein. For example, skates can be positioned upside down over the upwardly projecting lower portion  21   a  and  20   a  of the apertures  21  and  20  while pants can be positioned over the upwardly projecting lower portion  19   a  of the aperture  19 . The top portion  12  of the first panel  11  is formed to have an upwardly projecting portion  22  so that a hockey helmet can be mounted thereon. The upper corners of the first panel  11  are rounded to better accommodate shoulder pads. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the second panel  15  defines a plurality of downwardly projecting cutouts  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26  to provide undulating surfaces on the second panel for other equipment such as gloves or mitts. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the first panel  11  is about 46 inches tall, about 24 inches wide cut from a ⅜-inch thick sheet of polyethylene (and preferably a length of ⅜×⅜×⅜-inch aluminum channel, not shown, is attached to each side of the first panel  11  to reinforce the first panel  11 ). The second panel  15  is about 14 inches tall, about 24 inches wide cut from a ⅜-inch thick sheet of polyethylene. However, it should be understood that these dimensions and materials although preferred are not, of course, critical in the instant invention. Similarly, the number and shape of apertures and/or projections in the first panel are not critical in the instant invention even though those shown are preferred. 
     Preferably, a single second panel  15  is used and the cutouts  14  and  18  are vertical and centered. However, it should be understood that the cutouts  14  and  18  could be canted and off center and that more than two panels can be used. For example, two spaced apart second panels can be used in the instant invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4 therein is shown a side perspective view of another hockey equipment rack  30  of the instant invention. The rack  30  is comprised of a first panel  31  (shown in side view in FIG.  5 ). The first panel  31  has a top portion  32  and a bottom portion  33  and a side portion  34 . The first panel  31  also defines an upwardly projecting cutout  35  therein from the bottom portion  33  toward the top portion  32 . 
     Referring still to FIG. 4, the rack  30  also comprises a second panel  36  (shown in side view in FIG.  3 ). The second panel  15  has a top portion  37  and a bottom portion  38 . The second panel  36  also defines a downwardly projecting cutout  39 . Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, the cutout  35  in the first panel  31  and the cutout  39  in the second panel  35  intersect with each other so that the first panel  31  and the second panel  36  form the free standing hockey equipment rack  10  of FIG.  4 . 
     Referring still to FIGS. 4 and 5, cutouts  40 ,  41 ,  42  and  43  are provided so that hockey equipment can be positioned therein and on the remaining portion of the panel  31 . For example, skates can be positioned upside down over the upwardly projecting lower portion  41   a  and  43   a  of the cutout  41  and  43 . The top portion  32  of the first panel  31  is formed to have an projecting portion  44  so that a hockey helmet can be mounted thereon. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, the second panel  36  defines a plurality of downwardly projecting cutouts  45 ,  46 ,  47  and  48  to provide undulating surfaces on the second panel for other equipment such as gloves or mitts. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, the first panel  31  is about 46 inches tall, about 24 inches wide cut from a ⅜-inch thick sheet of polyethylene. The second panel  36  is about 14 inches tall, about 24 inches wide cut from a ⅜-inch thick sheet of polyethylene. However, it should be understood that these dimensions and materials although preferred are not, of course, critical in the instant invention. Similarly, the number and shape of projections in the panels are not critical in the instant invention even though those shown are preferred. 
     Preferably, a single second panel  36  is used and the cutouts  35  and  39  are vertical and centered. However, it should be understood that the cutouts  35  and  39  could be canted and off center and that more than two panels can be used. For example, two spaced apart second panels could be used. 
     Although FIGS. 1-6 show two preferred embodiments of the instant invention, it should be understood that many other embodiments are covered by the following claims.