Abstract:
A carrier for goalie pads is described that allows a goaltender to carry their pads over their shoulder outside of a conventional hockey bag, without damaging the pads. The carrier consists of two separate compartments that are joined together by a carrying strap, alleviating the stress that could be placed on the goalie pad straps that otherwise may be used for carrying the pads without the use of these bags. The compartments may be vented to allow faster drying time, and can be covered by a lid. The compartments may be secured further or tightened using Velcro™, plastic clips or snaps, allowing the carrier to form to the contour of the goalie pad. The carrier allows the goalie pads to be moved freely during transport, and facilitates their placement in a vehicle, while providing protection from damage.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a carrier for sporting equipment and in particular to protective goalie pads. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Goaltenders in hockey are required to transport two large leg pads to games and practices. The pads often move from vehicle to vehicle, and get transported through arenas and hotels. However, due to their size, goalie pads do not fit properly in conventional hockey duffle bags. 
         [0003]    Larger duffle bags have been designed to house the goalie pads as well as other goalie equipment; however, due to the large size of the duffle bag for goalie equipment, it is difficult to carry. Additionally, due to the large size of such duffle bag, it is difficult to fit into a vehicle. Additionally, although the goalie-specific duffle bags are large, the goalie pads and other equipment may be ‘stuffed’ into the bag, and the bag may be ‘stuffed’ into a vehicle. In either situation, damage may result to the goalie pads. 
         [0004]    A common approach used to carry goalie pads, other than a goalie-specific duffle bag, is to simply strap the pads together using the securing straps of the goalie pads so that they may be carried by hand or over a shoulder. Although the arrangement may be more convenient with regard to carrying the pads, fitting them in a vehicle and allowing the other goalie equipment to be carried in a more conveniently size bag, it can result in damage to the goalie pads. The straps used to secure the goalie pads to a goalie&#39;s legs may become deformed, or otherwise damaged, from using them as a carrying strap. Additionally, the goalie pads may be subjected to additional wear and tear during transportation since they are not covered by a bag. Further still, the exposed goalie pads can be damaged by the elements when packing a vehicle. For example, the goalie pads may be placed on the ground when packing a vehicle, which may contain dirt, oil, or salt that can damage the goalie pads. Exposed goalie pads, and more particularly the fastening or securing straps of goalie pads, may catch on doors or other objects, get caught in car doors, or be left hanging out, which may damage the pads and/or straps. 
         [0005]    Shoulder carrying bags have been developed for carrying various pieces of recreational equipment. However, these shoulder carrying bags have been designed for carrying skates or other bulky footwear in situations where little or no other equipment is required. Shoulder bags would often be used to hold the regular footwear when the, for example, skates were used. 
         [0006]    Although shoulder carrying bags for skates or other recreational sporting equipment footwear have been designed, due at least in part to the vastly different proportions between, for example, skates and goalie pads, they have not been adapted to carry goalie pads. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In accordance with the present disclosure there is provided a carrier for a pair of protective goalie pads for protecting a goalie&#39;s lower legs. The carrier comprises a pair of elongated carrying compartments, each elongated carrying compartment sized to receive one of the protective goalie pads and a carrying strap connecting the pair of carrying compartments, the shoulder strap sized to allow the carrying compartments to rest on opposite sides of a body carrying the carrier when in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Embodiments of a carrier for goalie pads will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of a carrier for goalie pads; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts in a photograph a carrier for goalie pads holding goalie pads; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts in a line drawing representative of the photograph of  FIG. 2 , the carrier for goalie pads holding goalie pads; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts in a photograph the carrier for goalie pads of  FIG. 2  with a goalie pad being removed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts in a line drawing representative of the photograph of  FIG. 4 , with a goalie pad being removed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts in a photograph the carrier for goalie pads of  FIG. 2  holding goalie pads for transportation or storage; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  depicts in a line drawing representative of the photograph of  FIG. 5 , a side view of the carrier for goalie pads; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  depicts in a photograph the carrier for goalie pads of  FIG. 2  being transported by a person; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  depicts in a line drawing representative of the photograph of  FIG. 8 , the carrier for goalie pads being transported by a person; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  depicts a material template for use in making the carrier for goalie pads of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    As described above, although shoulder carrying bags for skates or other recreational sporting equipment footwear have been designed, due at least in part to the vastly different proportions between, for example, skates and goalie pads, they have not been considered for, or adapted to, carrying goalie pads. 
         [0020]    A carrier for goalie pads is described further herein. The carrier for goalie pads, as described herein, allows each goalie pad to be carried in a separate compartment. The two compartments are connected together by a shoulder strap that allows the goalie pads to be carried over a person&#39;s shoulder. The carrier for the goalie pads, while providing a convenient method for carrying the goalie pads, also provides protection for the goalie pads during transportation and storage. Further, carrying the goalie pads in separate compartments may help fitting the goalie pads in a vehicle, or for storage. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of a carrier for goalie pads. The carrier for goalie pads, or simply the carrier  100 , comprises two separate elongated carrying compartments  102   a,    102   b  each sized to receive a single goalie pad. The two carrying compartments are joined together by a carrying strap  104 . The carrying strap  104 , connecting the carrying compartments  102   a,    102   b  is sized such that the carrying compartments  102   a,    102   b  rest on opposite sides of a body carrying the carrier when in use. 
         [0022]    The carrying strap  104  allows the goalie pads in the carrying compartments  102   a,    102   b  to be conveniently carried, for example, with one carrying compartment  102   a  located by a carrier&#39;s chest and the other carrying compartment  102   b  located by the carrier&#39;s back. The carrying strap  104  may allow the weight of the goalie pads to be comfortably distributed over the shoulder of the person carrying the carrier  100 . Additionally, the carrying strap  104  allows relative movement between each goalie pad, which can make placing the goalie pads, in the carrier  100 , into a vehicle or storage area easier. 
         [0023]    Each of the carrying compartments  102   a,    102   b,  referred to generally as  102 , may be substantially the same. As such, only a single carrying compartment  102  will be described in further detail. The carrying compartment  102  has a height, width and depth sufficient to receive a single goalie pad. The carrying compartment  102  comprises a back panel set  106  that defines a back surface of the carrying compartment  102 . The carrying compartment  102  includes an enclosing panel set  108  that is attached to the back panel set  106 . The enclosing panel set  108  that, when attached to the back panel set  106 , defines an interior volume that is sized to receive a single goalie pad. Although different configurations of the enclosing panel set  108  are possible, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the enclosing panel set  108  may enclose a bottom panel (not visible), a front panel  110 , a first side panel  112  and a second side panel  114 . 
         [0024]    The carrying compartment  102  includes an opening  116  to allow the goalie pad to be placed into the interior volume. The carrying compartment  102  may further include a securing means  118  to secure the goalie pad within the interior volume while in use. The means  118  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as a lid or cover that completely covers the opening  116 . As depicted, the lid is attached to the back panel set, or possibly the carrying strap or similar location, and can be selectively attached to the enclosing panel set  108 . For example, the cover may be secured over the opening using Velcro™. The cover can be opened so that it does not block the opening  116 , allowing the goalie pad to be removed from, or inserted into, the interior volume of the carrying compartment  102 . 
         [0025]    A particular embodiment of a carrier  200  will be described further below with reference to the photographs and representative line drawings of  FIGS. 2-9 . The carrier  200  consists of two compartments  202   a,    202   b  that may be made from a canvas material or other material suitable for a sport bag. Each compartment  202   a,    202   b  is closed by a respective lid  204   a,    204   b  (referred to collectively as  204 ). The lids  204  are secured by Velcro™ and/or straps  205  which can be fastened with hard plastic clips. The sides of the compartments have nylon mesh vents  206  on each side. The compartments  202   a,    202   b  are joined together by a padded strap  208  that preferably begins at the same width of 13″ at compartment  202   a,  then tapers in to 5″ in the middle and back out to 13″ at the other compartment  202   b.  The tapering of the padded carrying strap  208  allows the bag to be carried more comfortably across a person&#39;s shoulder. 
         [0026]    The compartment, strap and lid shapes can be altered slightly to create different looks for the carriers. They can be rounded, measurements can slightly be altered, and the lids can change from rectangular shapes to triangular or circular shapes. The compartments also have extra straps and clips  210  on the sides of the bags to further secure the pads in the respective compartments. 
         [0027]    Goalie pads  250  may be placed in, and removed from, the respective compartments of the carrier  200 . The goalie pads  250  may be secured in the compartments with the lids  204  and optionally the additional straps  210 . Once the goalie pads are in the carrier  200 , they may be carried over a person&#39;s shoulder 
         [0028]    The shapes of the compartments allow the goalie pads to be placed in with ease. The Velcro™ and/or plastic clips  205  on the lid allow the pads to be secured inside, and the side clips and straps  210  allow the user to tighten the compartments to form to the contour of the goalie pads inside. The padded strap  208  allows the user to carry the pads comfortably and the shape of the strap hugs the neck line and allows the carrier to be placed comfortably over the user&#39;s shoulder. Furthermore, the separate compartments  202   a,    202   b  of the carrier  200  allow the user to configure it in many different ways to fit it in a vehicle for transport. The mesh vents  206  allow the user to keep the goalie pads in the carrier  200  at all times and allow the pads to dry without their removal before future use. 
         [0029]      FIG. 10  depicts a material template for use in making the carrier  200  in accordance with the above description. The carrier  200  consist of two compartments, attached by a padded strap that can be approximately 20″ in length. The shoulder strap tapers in from 13″ at the compartment, to 5″ in the middle. Each compartment is 13″ wide and 14″ deep. The back side of the compartment is 33″ long and the front is 31″ in height. The material template comprises the material for both compartments as well as the carrying strap connecting the two. Each compartment is substantially the same, and comprises a back panel  1002 , a first side panel  1004 , a second side panel  1006 , a bottom panel  1008  and a front panel  1010 . Each side panel  1004 ,  1006  may include a mesh section  1012 ,  1014 . Each compartment is formed by attaching the sides of the bottom panel  1008  to the bottom of the first and second side panels  1004 ,  1006 . The sides of the front panel  1010  are attached to the first and second side panels  1004 ,  1006 . The lids  1016  are 18″ long and 13″ wide. The lids may be made from a separate piece of material and attached to the compartments. 
         [0030]    Preferably, the height of a carrying compartment is between 20″ and 40″, the width of a carrying compartment is between 11″ and 16″, and the depth of carrying compartment is between 12″ and 16″. In addition, the carrying strap is preferably between 15″ and 25″ in length. 
         [0031]    The above has described one way to make the carrier  200 . Other carriers may be assembled from more or less pieces of material, using different templates. For example, the above has described a compartment being formed from a back panel, a front panel two side panels and a bottom panel. Different panels may be used. For example, a back panel, or a back panel set that is formed from one or more pieces, may be attached to an enclosing panel set so as to define an interior volume sized to receive a goalie pad. For example, the enclosing panel set may comprise the two side panels, the front panels and the bottom panels. However, other arrangements are possible. For example, the enclosing panel set may comprise a semi circular panel set that encloses the interior volume when attached to the back panel. 
         [0032]    Regardless of the particulars of how the carrier is constructed, it can be made from different materials, such as canvas, nylon, or other suitable materials. The weight of the material used may also vary. Furthermore, different materials may be used for different parts of the bag. For example, the bottom of each compartment may be made from a waterproof material, while the sides are made of a breathable material to facilitate drying of the goalie pads. 
         [0033]    Although a carrier for goalie pads has been described in detail above with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated that carriers may be made in various ways, omitting described features, or including additional features not described. Furthermore, although the carrier has been described as being made substantially from a single piece of material, different patterns may be used to construct a carrier. 
         [0034]    It may be possible create a carrier designed to accommodate all, or a desired percentage of all, the goalie pad sizes. Alternatively, different sized carriers can be tailored for specific sized goalie pads. By National Hockey League (NHL) regulations, goalie pads can&#39;t be more than 11″ wide, and vary in height from 20″ to 38″ maximum. It will be readily apparent that the height, width and depth of the carrying compartments can be chosen to fit a range of goalie pads for hockey.