Abstract:
A portable enclosure for storing and carrying baseball and other athletic equipment consists of six fabric-covered rigid panels which can be closed by means of a single continuous zipper to form a rigid rectangular parallelepiped that can be carted easily by means of wheels located at a lower edge. When the portable enclosure is unzipped into the open position, the back wall and side walls open up flat so that the pockets, shelves and pouches located on the interior surfaces thereof are accessible. Yet, since the portable enclosure is now flat, it can be located out of the way, secured against the back of the dugout where it will not create a trip hazard for the players.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present relates generally to storage and carrying devices and, more particularly, to bags for organizing and carrying athletic equipment such as baseball bats, gloves, balls, helmets and catcher&#39;s equipment. 
   Athletes commonly use bags for transporting athletic equipment to and from the practice field and games. In the case of little league baseball, the duty of transporting team equipment such as bats, balls, batting helmets and catcher&#39;s equipment often falls on the little league coach. State of the art equipment for transporting little league equipment currently falls into two general categories, bags and carts. Little league equipment bags are generally little more than a large duffel bag into which helmets, bats, balls, and other equipment are stuffed and lugged over the shoulder onto the field. Once located in the dugout, the bag must be unloaded and the equipment arranged so that it is readily accessible to the players, yet out of the way so as not to form a trip hazard in the narrow dugout. 
   Little league equipment carts, on the other hand, typically resemble an upright shopping cart. Although the little league equipment cart relieves the coach of the burden of lugging a heavy duffel bag fall of equipment, it is bulky and, once in the dugout, the equipment cart is typically too deep front-to-back to be positioned in the dugout without creating a trip hazard for the players. 
   What is needed therefore, is an athletic equipment storage and transport cart that stores and organizes equipment in a closed position, and then is capable of being opened into a flat configuration for organizing the athletic equipment out of the way against the back of the dugout. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above and other advantages are provided by a portable enclosure for storing and carrying athletic equipment which, in a closed position, forms a rigid cart having a closed interior volume, which can be opened into a flat, open position. In a preferred embodiment, the portable enclosure comprises six fabric covered rigid panels, namely a back panel, a front panel, a top panel, a bottom panel and two side panels. The right side panel is stitched to the back panel to form a flexible seam between the back panel and right side panel. Similarly, the front panel is stitched to the right side panel and the left side panel stitched to the front panel. The top and bottom panels are similarly stitched to the back panel. In the closed position, the side and front panels are folded around the back panel along their seams to form a rigid rectangular parallelepiped, the ends of which are closed by the top and bottom panels, respectively. A single continuous zipper closes the seam formed by the panels beginning with the seam between the right side panel and the bottom panel and ending with the seam between the right side panel and the top panel. In the closed position, the portable enclosure is rigid and therefore, with the provision of “luggage” wheels along the lower edge of the back panel, the portable enclosure can be carted to and from the playing field. When the portable enclosure is unzipped into the open position, the back wall and side walls open up flat so that the pockets, shelves and pouches located on the interior surfaces thereof are accessible. Yet, since the portable enclosure is now flat, it can be located out of the way, secured against the back of the dugout where it will not create a trip hazard for the players. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings figures in which like references designate like elements and, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable enclosure incorporating features of the present invention in the open position; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1  in an installed condition; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1  in a closed position; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the luggage wheel portion of the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of another alternative embodiment of the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of yet another alternative embodiment of the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of a ball compartment for use in connection with the portable enclosure of  FIG. 1  in the open position; and 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the ball compartment of  FIG. 9  in the closed position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The drawing figures are intended to illustrate the general manner of construction and are not necessarily to scale. In the detailed description and in the drawing figures, specific illustrative examples are shown and herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawing figures and the detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed but are merely illustrative and intended to teach one of ordinary skill how to make and/or use the invention claimed herein and for setting forth the best mode for carrying out the invention. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an illustrative embodiment of portable enclosure  10  incorporating features of the present invention includes six panels comprising a back wall  12 , side walls  14  and  16 , front wall  18 , bottom wall  20  and top wall  22 . In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1 , each of back wall  12 , side wall  14 , side wall  16 , front wall  18 , bottom wall  20  and top wall  22  are lightweight rigid panels hinged together. Preferably, back wall  12 , side wall  14 , side wall  16 , bottom wall  20  and top wall  22  are fabricated by stitching individual inserts made from a rigid cardboard, polymer or particleboard into a continuous piece of nylon, polypropylene, or other water-resistant synthetic fabric covering the front and back of the rigid inserts. Front and back sides of the fabric are then stitched together between the rigid inserts to create hinge members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32 . Hinge member  24  hinges side wall  16  to front wall  18 . Hinge member  26  hinges front wall  18  to side wall  14 . Hinge member  28  hinges side wall  14  to back wall  12 . Hinge member  30  hinges bottom wall  20  to back wall  12 ; and hinge member  32  hinges top wall  22  to back wall  12 . Although in the illustrative embodiment all six panels are rigid, in order to save weight, one or more walls, such as the top wall  20  may be made of flexible fabric only. 
   In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of zippered pouches  34  are disposed along the interior surface  36  of side wall  16 . Zippered pouches  34  can be utilized to store balls, water bottles, or other small equipment. A plurality of elongate pockets  38  are disposed on inner surface  40  of front wall  18 . Elongate pouches  38  are each sized to accept a single baseball bat (e.g. pouches  38  open to a maximum of 2-⅝ inch and are a maximum of 36 inches long) and are optionally provided with an elastic member such as elastic members  42  at the pocket opening to hold the bat securely. Large pouches  44  are attached to inner surface  46  of side wall  14 . Large pouches  44  are sized to hold large equipment such as catcher&#39;s knee pads and chest protector (e.g., 7-14 inches wide by 21-25 inches tall). Zippered pouches  34 , elongate pouches  38  and Large pouches  44  are all of conventional construction (e.g., stitched fabric, elastic, and mesh material). 
   Shelves  48  are disposed on inner surface  50  of back wall  12 . Preferably shelves  48  are of identical construction to walls  12 - 22 , e.g., a rigid insert stitched within a fabric enclosure. Shelves  48  are stitched to inner surface  50  along seams  52  which permit shelves  48  to fold in flat against inner surface  50  of back wall  12 . Shelves  48  are preferably supported in the horizontal orientation shown in  FIG. 1  (with portable enclosure  10  in the open position) by means of a plurality of flexible fabric gussets  54  which are stitched to shelves  48  and inner surface  50 . Gussets  54  support shelves  48  and also serve as partitions to divide shelves  48  into compartments sized to hold a batting helmet as well as preventing the contents of shelves  48  from falling off the sides of the shelf. Although flexible gussets are used in the preferred embodiment, other supports such as fabric straps, cord or other flexible supports connecting shelves  48  to back wall  12  may be used in place of gussets  54 . In a preferred embodiment, the lowermost of shelves  48  is omitted in favor of using bottom wall  20  as a shelf. 
   As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , hanging means such as hooks  56  and  58  are attached to inner surface  60  of top wall  22  by fabric gussets  62  and  64 . Hooks  56  and  58  are adapted to hook over a chain link fence  66  of the type commonly found at little league baseball fields. Although hooks  56  and  58  are shown in the illustrative embodiment, any means of temporarily attaching portable enclosure  10  to a supporting structure, such as straps secured by hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons or other fasteners would be suitable and therefore are considered within the scope of the present invention. As can be determined from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the open position, portable enclosure  10  can be opened so that back wall  12 , front wall  18  and side walls  14  and  16  lay flat against the chain link fence  66  at the back of a baseball dugout, and extend into the dugout only as far as shelves  48  are deep (i.e., approximately the width of a batter&#39;s helmet). Fabric gussets  62  and  64 , which may be inelastic or elastic, hold top wall  22  horizontal to form an additional shelf, while holding enclosure  10  upright with the weight of the contents of enclosure  10  resting on the ground. As with gussets  54 , although fabric gussets  62  and  64  are used in the preferred embodiment, other supports such as fabric straps, cord or other flexible supports connecting top wall  22  to a supporting structure may be used in place of gussets  62 . Additional hanging means such as hooks  57  may be disposed along the perimeter of enclosure  10  for added stability when secured to a supporting structure. One or more of side walls  14  and  16 , back wall  12 , front wall  18  and top wall  22  may have mesh panels to promote air circulation. Additionally, small pockets extending into the interior of enclosure  10  suitable for keys and other valuables as well as clear sleeves to accommodate sponsor logos and the like may be provided on the exterior surface. Finally, one or more of gussets  54 ,  62  and  64  may include a pouch for a first aid kit. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , portable enclosure  10  is moved into the closed position shown in  FIG. 3  by folding side wall  14  in toward back wall  12 , front wall  18  in toward side wall  14  and side wall  16  in toward front wall  18  so that portable enclosure  10  assumes the generally rectangular parellelapiped shape shown in  FIG. 3 . Top wall  22  and bottom wall  20  are then folded inward such that the inner surfaces  36 ,  40 ,  46  and  60  along with inner surface  68  of bottom wall  20  form a closed interior volume with shelves  48  folded upward against inner surface  50  of back wall  12 . Sufficient room is available to store the batting helmets within the volume defined by inner surfaces  36 ,  40 ,  46 ,  50 ,  60  and  68  once shelves  48  are folded inward. It should be noted that the exposed perimeter  74  of bottom wall  20  is equal to the combined widths of side wall  14 , front wall  18  and side wall  16 . Similarly, the exposed perimeter  80  of top wall is also equal to the combined widths of side wall  14 , front wall  18  and side wall  16 . This relationship permits portable closure  10  to be sealed by means of a continuous zipper  70  running from the lower corner  72  at the bottom edge of hinge member  28  around the perimeter  74  of bottom wall  20  thereby joining bottom wall  20  to side wall  14 , front wall  18  and side wall  16 . Zipper  70  continues up the side of portable enclosure  10  joining edge  76  of side wall  16  to edge  78  of back wall  12  then continues around the perimeter  80  of top wall  22  coming to an end at upper corner  82  at the uppermost end of hinge member  28 . Although a zipper  70  is used in the illustrative embodiment, other means of closing portable enclosure  10  such as hook and loop fasteners, snaps, hooks, or other apparatus for temporarily joining two pieces of fabric together would be suitable and therefore would be considered within the scope of the present invention. Once closed, portable enclosure  10  becomes a rigid box which can be transported easily by lifting handle  84 , tilting portable enclosure  10  on its side and carting it on a pair of wheels  86  located on the bottom edge  88  of back wall  12 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in lieu of zippered pouches  34 , enclosure  10  may be equipped with a ball compartment  90  comprising a base  92  and a wall  94  composed of nylon, polypropylene, or other water-resistant synthetic fabric. A plurality of zippered pockets  96 , suitable for holding balls, water bottles, and other items are attached to interior surface  98  of wall  94 . Zippered pockets  96  are all of conventional construction (e.g., stitched fabric, elastic, and mesh material). A plurality of fastening devices such as hook and loop fasteners, hooks or, preferably a pair of clips  114  located at edge  108  of wall  94  may be used to hang ball compartment  90  from one of side walls  14  or  16  inside enclosure  10 . Optionally, clips  114  may be located at edge  106  of wall  94 . 
   The free perimeter  100  of base  92  is the same length as edge  102  of wall  94 . This permits ball compartment  90  to be closed into the cylindrical configuration shown in  FIG. 10  by means of a continuous zipper  104  that seals perimeter  100  of base  92  to edge  102 , then continues upward sealing edges  106  and  108  of wall  94  together. Once in the cylindrical “bucket” shape as shown in  FIG. 10 , ball compartment  90  can be carried independent of enclosure  10  by means of fabric handles  110  and  112 . Although in the illustrative embodiment base  92  is circular, base  92  may be in the form of a rectangle, hexagon, or other shape as long as the free perimeter of base  92  is equal in length to a side of wall  94 , such that the compartment is capable of being zipped closed in substantially the same manner. Where base  92  is a polygon, wall  94  may have rigid inserts equal in number to the sides of the polygonal base and similar in construction to walls  12 - 18  of enclosure  10 . Thus constructed, in the closed configuration, the ball compartment  90  is rigid and may be inverted and used as a seat, as is common among little league coaches. 
   Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  side wall  16  is joined to front wall  18  which is joined to side wall  14  which is joined to back wall  12 , other enclosures that are moveable from a flat open position into a substantially rectangular closed box position are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , side walls  114  and  116  may be hinged to back wall  112  with bottom wall  120  hinged to front wall  118  hinged to top wall  122 , hinged to back wall  112 . In another alternative embodiment, side walls  214  and  216  are hinged to back wall  212 , front wall  218  is hinged to top wall  222 , which is hinged to back wall  212 , and bottom wall  220  is separately hinged to back wall  212 . In another alternative embodiment as shown in  FIG. 7 , side walls  314  and  316  are hinged to back wall  312 . Front wall  318  is hinged to top wall  322 , which is hinged to back wall  312 . Bottom wall  320  is separately hinged to side wall  314 . In yet another alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , side walls  414  and  416  as well as top wall  422  and a bottom wall  420  are hinged to back wall  412 . Front wall  418  is then hinged to side wall  414  in a manner similar to the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should be limited only to extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principals of applicable law.