Abstract:
A sports equipment bag having two compartments, each compartment comprising a rear panel, a front panel, top and bottom panels, side panels, and pockets, a connector pivotally connecting the two compartments, to accommodate moving the compartments to and from each other between a transport configuration, in which the rear panels are disposed against one another and a hang-up configuration, in which the compartments extend from each other with rear panels substantially coplanar, at least two fasteners, to releasably secure the compartments in either the transport configuration or a stand-up configuration, in which the rear panels are disposed in angled relation and at an angle less than 180° to one another, at least one loop for hanging the bag in the hang-up configuration, a shoulder strap for carrying the bag in the transport configuration, wherein each of the compartments comprises a frame.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/851,252, filed Sep. 6, 2007. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to luggage products and, more particularly, to a bag for carrying sports equipment and items of clothing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A number of sports require players to maintain and carry substantial amounts of equipment and items of clothing. This requirement is pronounced particularly in team sports, where players often go on road trips and stay in hotels. Similar requirement is posed by resort activities, such as skiing or aquatic sports. Although a duffle bag is commonly used by players, particularly in recreational and amateur settings, it has a number or shortcomings: it is bulky, uncomfortable to carry over larger distances, and does not allow for content to remain organized for easy access. Moreover, it is not advisable to leave perspiration- and moisture-laden equipment and items of clothing in the duffle bag for any prolonged period of time, as poor ventilation will prevent drying and result in the development of odors and even mould. 
         [0004]    A number of patents address one or more of the above issues. Thus, for example, Canadian Patent No. 2,205,607 to Fournier describes a sports bag for the transport and storage of hockey equipment, comprising a base to which side walls and end walls are hingedly connected. The bag can assume either a planar configuration, when the base, side walls and end walls are co-planar, or a closed configuration, when the walls are hinged upwardly from the base and connected to each other, in one embodiment by zippers, at adjacent edges to define an interior space. Pockets disposed on the interior surfaces of the bag are made of mesh, which, in the planar configuration, allows air to circulate and expedites evaporation of moisture frown sports equipment and clothing. With Fournier&#39;s bag, however, the content may be accessed in an organized manner—if at all—only when the bag is completely unfolded and hung up. Also, although the pockets are made of mesh, ventilation is hindered by the fact that the outer surface of the bag (i.e., in the planar configuration, the back side of the bag) is made of traditional non-porous materials. 
         [0005]    A similar solution, proposed in Canadian Patent No. 2,231,170 to Schaeffer, provides for some degree of ventilation in the closed configuration, by providing side walls manufactured of mesh. In the flat configuration, however, the back side of the bag is still non-porous. Additionally, the means for hanging the bag require that multiple pegs on the wall are used at the same time, which may not be a feasible option in crowded change rooms. 
         [0006]    Yet another similar solution is taught in Canadian Patent No. 2,364,871 to Albritton. In this specification, the bag also includes a back wall having a hook for hanging of the bag when in an open configuration, and a plurality of compartments on a front surface of the back wall. The compartments are partially manufactured of mesh, accommodating a view of contents and circulation of air. Interestingly, the compartments can have shelves projecting from the back wall. 
         [0007]    An earlier Canadian Patent to Gorizzan (No. 1,299,147) addresses the problem of carrying and towing a sports bag, particularly a hockey bag, and proposes a solution in which the bag comprises a soft upper portion which enables substantial packing of the bag and a lower portion of increased rigidity, provided on its underside with rollers. Organized access to the content and drying issues are not addressed. 
         [0008]    A number of patent documents discuss solutions for organizing and providing easy access to content of travel bags, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,342 to Pulichino et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,700 to Rice and U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,795 to Bomes et al. Thus, Pulichino et al. describe a garment carrier providing means for organizing the content both on coat hangers and in multiple pockets. The invention also teaches use of reinforcements for maintaining the shape of the bag. 
         [0009]    In spite of the prior art solutions, there is still a need for a sports equipment bag which will provide for superior transport and ventilation solutions, as well as a more efficient way of organizing and accessing the equipment and items of clothing in contemporary settings. Locker and change rooms, particularly in amateur and recreational sports, generally provide insufficient space for players to organize and access their equipment: and items of clothing before and after engaging in sports activities. There are few pegs for hanging the clothes, and the number of players concurrently using the same change room may leave insufficient bench, wall and floor space. These and other issues are addressed by the solutions provided in the present invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Forming one aspect of the invention is a sports equipment bag for use with a hockey stick. The bag comprises two compartments, a connector, at least two fasteners attached one to each side of one of the compartments, at least one loop and a shoulder strap. Each compartment consists of a rear panel, a front panel, top and bottom panels, side panels, and pockets for accommodating sports equipment and items of clothing. The connector pivotally connects said two compartments along the bottom panel of one and the top panel of the other of the compartments to accommodate moving the compartments to and from each other between a transport configuration and a hang-up configuration. In the transport configuration, the rear panels are disposed against one another. In the hang-up configuration, the compartments extend from each other with rear panels substantially coplanar. The at least two fasteners attached one to each side of one of the compartments engage corresponding fasteners on the sides of the other compartment to releasably secure the compartments in either the transport configuration or a stand-up configuration in which the rear panels are disposed in angled relation and at an angle less than 180° to one another. The at least one loop is mounted on the outside of the rear panel of at least one compartment for hanging the bag in the hang-up configuration. The shoulder strap is for carrying the bag in the transport configuration. Each of the compartments comprises a frame, the frame being sufficiently rigid to render the bag, when in the stand-up configuration and disposed with the top panel of the one compartment and the bottom compartment of the other compartment in ground engagement, stable. One of the compartments has mounted thereto a pair of wheels. One of the compartments is adapted to releasably, grippingly receive said hockey stick such that, when said compartment is in said releasable, gripping receipt of said stick and said bag is in the transport configuration, the stick protrudes from the bag to define a handle for towing the bag on the wheels. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the invention, said compartments can be permanently attached to said connector. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the invention, the bag comprises multiple loops mounted in multiple positions on the outside of the rear panel of at least one of said compartments, for adjusting the height at which the bag is hung up. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the invention, one of said compartments can be permanently attached to said connector and the other compartment can be releasably attached to said connector, to facilitate separating said compartments. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the invention, multiple loops can be mounted in multiple positions on the outside of the rear panel of each of said compartments for adjusting the height at which each of the separated compartments is hung up. 
         [0015]    According to other aspects of the invention, at least the rear panel, front panel and pockets of the compartments can be manufactured of open texture material, to facilitate ventilation and drying of sports equipment and items of clothing carried therein and said open texture material can be mesh. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the invention, the mesh can comprise at least 60% of the surface area of said front and rear panels. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the compartments can comprise a loop mounted on the inside of the top panel for receiving a coat hanger. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the invention, one of the compartments can further comprise a retractable handle and said wheels and retractable handle can be provided to facilitate towing the bag in the transport configuration. 
         [0019]    According to another aspect of the invention, said retractable handle can comprise a telescopic handle assembly featuring: an outer tubing, supported in a bottom bracket mounted on the bottom panel and in a top bracket mounted on, and extending through, the top panel of said compartment; and an inner tubing, extendably enclosed in said outer tubing, and provided with a handle. 
         [0020]    Advantages of the invention will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the appended claims and upon review of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    For a better understanding of the present invention and to show in detail the embodiments and applications thereof, reference will be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows the sports equipment bag according to the invention in a hang-up configuration; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show the sports equipment bag according to the invention in a stand-up configuration, with front panels of compartments  10  ( FIG. 3) and 20  ( FIG. 2 ) removed; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4   a  is a partial rear view of the rear panels according to one embodiment of the invention, with both rear panels permanently attached to the connector; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4   b  is a partial rear view of the rear panels according to another embodiment, with the rear panel of the compartment  10  permanently attached to the connector and the rear panel of the compartment  20  releasably attached to the connector; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an exploded inside view of the compartment  10 , and  FIG. 6  is an exploded inside view of the compartment  20 , both with front panels removed; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  shows the sports equipment bag in the same configuration as in  FIG. 1 , with external pockets provided on side panels of both compartments; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a detailed rear view of the rear panel of the compartment  10 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  depicts frames of the rear panels of the compartments  10  and  20 , and, according to one embodiment of the invention, structural reinforcements of top, bottom and side panels of the compartment  20 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the bag according to the invention; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  show a detailed side and, respectively, bottom views of the compartment  20  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  show details of the telescopic handle assembly according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  illustrates uses of the sports equipment bag according to the invention in the hang-up and stand-up configurations; 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  illustrates hanging up of separated compartments  10  and  20  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate the sports equipment bag according to the invention being carried and, respectively, towed in the transport configuration; 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a sports equipment bag according to another embodiment of the invention in the stand-up configuration, in use with a hockey stick; 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  is a top view of the structure of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the structure of  FIG. 17 , with the bag in the transport configuration; and, 
           [0039]      FIG. 20  is a view along section  20 - 20  of  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The sports equipment bag of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 1  in a hang-up configuration, comprises two substantially rectangularly shaped compartments,  10  and  20 , connected by a connector  30  defined, in this illustration, by a strip. The compartments  10  and  20  are of a similar shape and size and indeed, according to one embodiment of the invention, the bag comprises two identical compartments corresponding to compartment  10  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0041]    Compartment  10  comprises a rear panel  11  (not visible in  FIG. 1 ), front panel  12 , side panels  13 , top panel  14  and bottom panel  15 . Similarly, compartment  20  comprises rear panel  21  (not visible), front panel  22 , side panels  23 , top panel  24  and bottom panel  25 . Front panels  12  and  22  are provided with zippers  121  and  221  for easy access to sports equipment and items of clothing carried in the bag. 
         [0042]    It will be understood that terms “top” and “bottom,” as used in this description and accompanying claims, are for convenience only, and refer to positions of respective elements in the drawings. 
         [0043]    At least two fastening means  16 , one on each side of the compartment  10 , are provided to engage corresponding at least two fastening means  26  on the sides of compartment  20 , as will be explained in greater detail below. 
         [0044]    Compartment  10  is further provided with at least one loop,  17 , for hanging the sports equipment bag from the wall, when, used in the hang-up configuration to access sports equipment and items of clothing carried therein, or to allow the content to dry. 
         [0045]    The connector strip  30  is provided with a shoulder strap  31  and, optionally, with a carrying handle  32 . It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the shoulder strap  31  can be integral with the connector strip  30 , or it can be permanently or releasably attached thereto. 
         [0046]    In a further embodiment of the invention, compartment  20  differs from compartment  10  in being further provided with a retractable handle, as will be explained in greater detail below (only the top bracket of the handle assembly,  43 , is shown in  FIG. 1 ), and with a pair of wheels  50 , to facilitate towing the sports equipment bag according to the invention in a transport configuration. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 2 and 3  depict the bag of the present invention in a stand-up configuration, with front panels  12  and  22  not shown. The bottom panel  25  of the compartment  20  in  FIG. 2  is also partially hidden, to reveal the complete retractable handle assembly comprising tubing  41 , bottom bracket  42  attached to the bottom panel  25 , top bracket  43  attached to, and extending through, an opening in the top panel  24 , and handle  44  provided with a release button  45 . 
         [0048]    In the stand-up configuration, the fastening means  16  releasably engage fastening means  26  to limit spacing apart of the bottom sides of the compartments  10  and  20 . In this way, the sports equipment bag of the invention may be placed on the floor, with a relatively small footprint, while sports equipment and items of clothing carried in both compartments remain organized and readily accessible to the player. The same set of fastening means  16  and  26 , or an additional set of fastening means (not shown), are used to secure the bottom sides of compartments  10  and  20  together when the bag of the present invention is in the transport configuration. 
         [0049]    Fastening means  16  and  26  comprise strips provided with male and, respectively, female elements of a snap fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro®), a clasp, a buckle, or other convenient releasable fastener. 
         [0050]    Pads  52  provide for enhanced friction and help keep the bag in the stand-up configuration in place when accessing items carried therein. The pads  52  are generally made of rubber, although a person skilled in the art will recognize that the specific material, shape, position and number of pads will depend on the design as much as on the functional considerations. 
         [0051]    In one embodiment of the invention, depicted in  FIG. 4   a , the compartments  10  and  20  are permanently attached to the connector strip  30 . 
         [0052]    In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4   b , the compartment  10  is permanently attached to the connector strip  30 , while the compartment  20  is releasably attached to the strip  30 , with fastening means  33  engaging corresponding fastening means  34  on the top side of the compartment  20 .  FIG. 4   b  depicts fastening means  33  as a plurality of hook-and-loop fastener strips engaging a plurality of rings or grommets provided on the top side of compartment  20 . A person skilled in the art will, however, understand that a number of alternative fastening means such as, for example, a zipper, or a series of buttons or snap fasteners, will provide for the same functionality. 
         [0053]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4   b , the compartment  20  is provided with at least one loop,  27 , for hanging the compartment  20  from the wall. 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the inside of the compartment  10 , showing an arrangement of partitions and pockets for organizing sports equipment and items of clothing. Elastic straps  112 , for securing larger equipment or items of clothing, extend from a frame  111  of the rear panel  11 , and are releasably joined by a clasp  113 . Side panels  13  comprise pockets  131 . A loop,  18 , mounted on the inside of the top panel  14 , is provided to receive a standard triangular coat hanger (not shown). 
         [0055]    Similarly, in  FIG. 6 , the rear panel  21  of the compartment  20  features two larger pockets,  212  and  213 . Side panels  23  comprise pockets  231 , and a loop  28  is mounted on the inside of the top panel  24  to receive a coat hanger (not shown). 
         [0056]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the top panel  24  further comprises an opening  241  for receiving the top bracket of the retractable handle assembly (not shown), while the bottom panel  25  features an openings  251  for receiving wheel brackets (not shown). 
         [0057]    In a further embodiment,  FIG. 7  shows the sports equipment bag of the present invention in which the side panels  13  and  23  are provided with external pockets  132  and  232 , for carrying additional sports equipment and items of clothing. 
         [0058]    It will be understood that the specific arrangement of partitions and pockets may differ from the arrangement illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 . Generally, this arrangement will depend on the particular sport the bag of the present invention is designed for. Thus, for example, the arrangement of internal and external partitions and pockets in a hockey bag may be substantially different from the arrangement in a bag customized for football, baseball, track-and-field, aquatic sports, etc. All such arrangements are envisioned within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0059]    The sports equipment bag of the present invention is at least partially manufactured of a material commonly used for luggage and bags, such as natural or synthetic canvas and polyurethane- or vinyl-based synthetic leather. In one embodiment, the material is a 600 Denier polyester with polyurethane or vinyl backing. Rear panels, front panels, partitions and pockets can be, however, manufactured of an open texture material, to ensure proper ventilation and drying of equipment and items of clothing carried in the bag. 
         [0060]    In one embodiment of the invention, the open texture material is mesh. In another embodiment, mesh comprises at least 60% of the outer surface of the bag. 
         [0061]      FIG. 8  shows the back of the rear panel  11  of the compartment  10 . Mounted on the frame  111  are multiple loops  17  for adjusting the height at which the sports equipment bag of the present invention is hung from the wall. Handles  19 , also mounted on the frame  111 , provide for a convenient grip when the bag is being hung up, as illustrated in  FIG. 13  (left). 
         [0062]    In the embodiment of the present invention in which the compartments can be separated from each other, the compartment  20  will also be provided with multiple loops and a pair of handles providing a convenient grip when the compartment is being hung up. 
         [0063]    To ensure structural integrity of the sports equipment bag of the present invention, particularly in the stand-up configuration, rear panels  11  and  21  are provided with frames  111  and  211 , respectively. The frames are sufficiently rigid to prevent the compartments from collapsing when the bag is in the stand-up configuration and, as shown in  FIG. 9 , may further comprise cross-bars  114  and  214 . Frames may comprise tubing or square bars joined, for example, by means of fittings or rivets. Suitable light-weight materials include aluminum and polymer materials such as ABS or vinyl plastic. 
         [0064]    To maintain the shape of the compartment when carrying heavier or oddly-shaped equipment, the side panels, as well as the top and bottom panels, may also be reinforced. In  FIG. 9 , panels of the compartment  20  comprise such reinforcements—side panel reinforcements  233 , top panel reinforcement  242 , and bottom panel reinforcement  252 . Reinforcements will be typically cut or molded from a polymer material such as polyurethane. 
         [0065]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the sports equipment bag according to the invention, showing top panels  14  and  24 , connector strip  30  and shoulder strap  31 . The retractable handle assembly is designated as  40 . The handle  32  is optionally provided with a ring  33 , for releasably attaching accessories such as laundry pouch, toiletries bag or document holder. Alternatively, the ring  33  may be used for hanging the sports equipment bag in the transport configuration. 
         [0066]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are the side and, respectively, bottom views of a detail of the compartment  20  according to one embodiment of the invention. Wheels  50 , supported in brackets  51  mounted on the bottom panel  25 , provide for towing of the sports equipment bag of the invention in the transport configuration. Brackets  51  are manufactured of a suitable material, such as metal or plastic, and are bolted or riveted to the bottom panel  25 . Wheels  50  are lined with, or entirely made of, rigid rubber. A plurality of pads  52  are mounted on the bottom panel  25  to provide for enhanced friction and to keep the bag in place on the floor in both the stand-up and transport configurations. 
         [0067]      FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  show details of the retractable handle assembly according to one embodiment of the invention. The assembly comprises tubing  41  mounted inside the compartment  20  by means of the bottom bracket  42  attached to the bottom panel  25  and the top bracket  43  attached to, and extending through, top panel  24 . Depressing the button  45  releases the inner part of the tubing  41  and enables it to telescopically extend into the towing position, or to retract back when no longer needed. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the telescopic construction of a centrally mounted retractable handle is only one of a number of functionally equivalent solutions. Thus, in an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown in the drawings), the retractable handle may comprise tubing that extends from both sides of the frame  211 . 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the sports equipment bag of the present invention provides for a highly efficient use of limited wall and floor space in the change room. After the bag has been extended from the transport configuration (left), it is readily hung on the wall (centre left). Featuring a relatively low profile, the bag in the hang-up configuration does not present an obstacle to the player using the bench space (centre right). If no wall space is available, the bag in the stand-up configuration features a relatively small footprint and provides for an easy access to equipment and items of clothing (right). 
         [0069]    At home or in a hotel room, the sports equipment bag according to the invention may be conveniently hung in a well-ventilated area, allowing the equipment and items of clothing to dry. 
         [0070]    In the embodiment of the invention where the compartments may be separated from each other, both compartment may be independently hung up on the wall, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0071]    When carried ( FIG. 15 ) or towed ( FIG. 16 ) in the transport configuration, the sports equipment bag of the present invention features a relatively low profile, enabling the player to easily negotiate narrow areas such as doors, passages or escalators, as well as crowded spaces such as entrance ways, subway or railway platforms, airport check-in areas, etc. 
         [0072]    A further embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 16-20 . The bag of this embodiment is generally similar to the bag shown in  FIGS. 1-15 . However, in this bag, the connector  30  is defined by a pair of spaced-apart strips  30 A, to leave a gap between the compartments  10 , 20 , and one  20  of the compartments has a triangular pocket  702  and a pair of hook and loop closures  704 , 706 . The triangular pocket  702  is stitched along two edges to the bottom corner of compartment  20 . Each closure  704 , 706  includes a portion of loop material and a strap. The portion of loop material is secured to the compartment  20  and the strap extends from the compartment to a free end having hook material thereon. In use, as shown in the illustrations, the end of the blade of a hockey stick is disposed in the pocket  702 , and the strap extends around the shaft of the stick and is secured to the loop material, thereby to releasably, grippingly receive the stick  700  such that, when said bag is in the transport configuration, as shown in  FIG. 19 , the stick  700  protrudes from the bag to define a handle to permit the bag to be towed on the wheels  50 . 
         [0073]    It will be apparent that various modifications of the sports equipment bag may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.