Abstract:
The invention provides a new method for the safe storage and drying of a helmet and related accessories (spare helmet face shield, sunglasses, goggles, primary gloves, secondary gloves, chin curtain, breath deflector/guard, helmet screws, neck brace, knee pads, elbow pads, chest protector, keys, and remote control gate/garage openers) employed in activities in which a helmet is utilized. The device is suspended utilizing various length interchangeable hanging straps possessing varied attachment methods to accommodate various hanging locations. The side connected hanging straps attach at an angle to the front opening so that the front opening is directed at an upward facing angle off of the vertical plane and a center angle adjustment and interlocking strap is utilized to set a preferred angle and interlink multiple devices hung vertically one under another. The angled orientation enables the device to be bumped or swung without concern that the helmet or other items stored therein will fall out. The shape and flexible nature of the device allows the sides to close in toward the helmet under the weight of a resting helmet. The device employs multiple attachment points and pockets to accommodate the related accessories and their related locations are such that they provide for the easy access to storage and removal based on frequency of use and order in which stored and removed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/375,255 filed on Aug. 20, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to storage of safety gear, and particularly to storage of motorized sports or athletic helmets, gloves, keys, glasses, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of protective equipment and accessories utilized by riders of motorcycles, snowmobiles, motorized three-wheelers/four-wheelers, or bicycles has increased over the years as laws and public awareness have focused more on rider safety. With the increase in the use of protective equipment and accessories, the number of products utilized and the technologies employed in those products have increased resulting in much higher prices and total investments in the products. Riders can often spend over $1,000 on protective equipment and accessories, including; helmet, primary face shield, secondary tinted face shield, helmet chin curtain, helmet breath deflector/guard, warm weather riding gloves, cold weather riding gloves, glasses, goggles, neck brace, knee pads, elbow pads, chest protector, and riding safety jacket. This increase in number and types of equipment and accessories presents certain storage challenges, particularly for the varying frequency of use of the various pieces of equipment for different weather or other riding conditions. 
     Existing storage solutions have generally been designed for single pieces of equipment. For example, a protective helmet backpack disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,408 and helmet sack disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,784 accommodate a single helmet in transit. Such storage solutions are generally closed systems that may not suitably facilitate the drying of helmets, gloves, or other pieces of equipment. 
     Accordingly, improvements are sought in storing diverse rider equipment in a convenient form factor. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides comprehensive storage for rider equipment and related accessories so that items are not misplaced or lost. The storage device provides protective compartments and coverings for equipment (helmet, spare helmet face shield, sunglasses, goggles, primary gloves, secondary gloves, chin curtain, breath deflector/guard, helmet screws, neck brace, knee pads, elbow pads, chest protector, keys, and remote control gate/garage openers) typically utilized by a rider of motorcycles, snowmobiles, or motorized three-wheelers/four-wheelers. The device further provides for drying of equipment such as gloves. Thus, various rider equipment may be kept in one location and stored in a manner that protects the equipment from potential loss or damage while still allowing it to dry quickly after use. 
     Some of the advantages of embodiments of the present invention include:
         1) Drying—After use, primarily during the warmer months of the year, the helmet, gloves, and other equipment are often wet with perspiration or weather related moisture. To facilitate drying and to reduce equipment odor, the device allows them to be stored in a manner that exposes them to ambient air rather than sealing them in a closed system.   2) Protection—The helmet, face shield, and secondary face shield are received in soft and secure compartments to preserve against scratching and chipping that may compromise their safety or obstruct the rider&#39;s view when used. Further, the device prevents against damage from inadvertent bumps and falls.   3) Access—While putting on and removing the equipment, before and after a ride, the device design facilitates easy access to the items in an order in which the equipment is generally put on and taken off.   4) Consolidated Location—Part of the equipment is accessed only occasionally or is designed for either warm or cold seasons creating separate and unrelated storage locations for the off-season equipment. As such, the storage device includes out-of-the-way storage locations for off season and occasional use items.   5) Interlocking Devices—Riders often have a second set of equipment, e.g., for passengers. To accommodate multiple sets of equipment, the device includes features to enable the vertical storage/interlocking of multiple devices.       

     Some embodiments feature dedicated storage and/or retainers for individual equipment items. This may be desirable, for example, to have a single key retained on the storage device to obviate the need for inclusion of the key on a larger key ring and the associated risk of abrasion to motorcycle tank finishes. 
     The present invention presents a novel, useful, and practical means for the storage, drying, protection and display of equipment (helmet, spare helmet face shield, sunglasses, goggles, primary gloves, secondary gloves, chin curtain, breath deflector/guard, helmet screws, tools, neck brace, knee pads, elbow pads, chest protector, keys, and remote control gate/garage openers) typically utilized by a rider of motorcycles, snowmobiles, motorized three-wheelers/four-wheelers or bicycles. Specific embodiments of the present invention may be adapted to store military equipment, motocross, snowmobiling and sports equipment. 
     The device, as a unit, is designed to be suspended rather than taking up floor or shelf space with rider equipment. For example, detachable and interchangeable hanging straps of various lengths and designs facilitate the ability to hang the device from ceilings, coat hangers, closet coat hanger bars, backs of closet doors, under cabinets or shelves, inside transportation trailers, lockers, and the like. The side mounted hanging straps are attached to the device at an angle so that the front opening is directed at an upward facing angle off of the vertical plane that is perpendicular to the floor. The angled orientation enables the device to be bumped or swung at angles up to 40° without concern that the helmet or other items stored therein will fall out. A third adjustable strap attached at the center-top of the device enables the user to set a preferred angle and generally limits the swing angle range of the device to about 40°. Multiple devices can be hung vertically one under another to provide additional space for more than one set of equipment. In this stacked arrangement, the side straps on the lower unit can attach to the ceiling, closet coat hanger bars, etc., or to the unit above it. The third center-top adjustable strap can be attached to a portion of the device above it. The vertical linking of multiple devices can further reduce the ability of any one device to swing at angles beyond 40°. 
     In order to store all the equipment appropriately a number of pockets, pouches, elastic drawstring, buttons with buttonholes, hook-and-eye assemblies, hook-and-loop fasteners, such as VELCRO™ brand touch fastener strips, snaps or other suitable fasteners or materials may be utilized in the device. The relative placement of each item&#39;s storage location on the device is situated based on frequency of use and order in which equipment is put on and taken off. The helmet, primary gloves, sunglasses, and key storage locations are all unobstructed and easily stored and used. Spare face shield, chin curtain, breath deflector/guard, helmet screws, tools, and secondary (offseason) gloves that are used and accessed less frequently may be stored in out of the way locations so as not to interfere with more frequently used items. Neck brace, knee pads, elbow pads, chest protector, can all hang underneath it. 
     Optionally, the device of the present invention may further provide separate storage compartments or mounting mechanisms, which increase the usefulness of the device by providing additional storage locations. Certain designs of these separate storage compartments and mounting mechanisms are compressible and expandable, and/or detachable and attachable in some embodiments. The ability to detach and attach separate storage compartments and mounting mechanisms allows the user to configure the device so that differences in helmet design and equipment may be accommodated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is an angled perspective view of a front opening and right side of one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an angled front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a disassembled view of the angled front view showing a visor pocket separate from the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an angled front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the visor pocket bottom in the biased open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  (including a removable pouch); 
         FIG. 8  is an angled top view of one embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is an angled bottom view of one embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  receiving a protective helmet (dashed lines); 
         FIG. 11  is perspective view showing one embodiment being collapsed for shipping or inventorying; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the front opening and right side of one embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a right side view of two storage devices hanging linked together; and 
         FIG. 14  illustrates several anchor embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The main compartment of the device is designed to accommodate a helmet and includes three sides (left sidewall portion  40  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  8 , &amp;  9 ), right sidewall portion  44  ( FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  8 ,  9 , &amp;  12 ), and rear portion  12  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  7 ,  8 , &amp;  9 )), a bottom portion  16  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  9 , &amp;  12 ), and an arched top portion  22  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  8 , &amp;  12 ). Access to the helmet enclosure is gained through an open, flexible and semi-rigid front opening  10  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8 , &amp;  12 ). The rear portion  12  of the helmet enclosure is held up by a flexible and semi-rigid rear support structure  38  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  8 , &amp;  12 ). In some embodiments, the bottom portion  16  of the helmet enclosure is flat and semi-rigid and contours to the head opening on the bottom of a full face helmet and in other embodiments, it is shaped to receive the head opening of a ¾ helmet, or the top or side of a helmet. In this manner the bottom may be adapted to accommodate a wide range of helmet types. The semi-rigid bottom portion  16  of the helmet enclosure forms a surface to set the helmet on ( FIG. 10 ) while also enabling the folding/collapsing of the bottom portion  16  along the bottom fold line  56  ( FIG. 11 ) when a smaller size is desired during inventorying and shipping of the device. The flexibility of the bottom portion  16  enables the folding of the bottom portion  16  so that it doesn&#39;t interfere with the flexible front opening  10  and rear support  38  structures. The helmet enclosure&#39;s flexible, front opening  10 , rear support  38 , and helmet contoured bottom portion  16  provide structure while allowing the enclosure to tighten around the hard sides and back of the helmet when the weight of the helmet is placed in the enclosure. The tension around the helmet is then released as the helmet is lifted out. This tightening feature further limits the likelihood of the helmet falling out of the enclosure when bumped or swung. The helmet enclosure&#39;s always open front opening  10  allows the face shield (for helmets with face shields) to be tilted up/open for quick and thorough drying of sweat or moisture contained in the helmet. To further speed up the drying process, a passage or aperture  15  ( FIG. 9 ) may be provided in the bottom portion  16  of the helmet enclosure and optionally a small fan  17  ( FIG. 9 ) can then be mounted to blow air through the passage and onto the helmet&#39;s interior contained in the helmet enclosure. 
     The device is designed to be hung, or suspended from; ceilings, coat hangers, closet coat hanger bars, backs of closet doors, under cabinets or shelves, inside transportation trailers, and the like. On the left and right sidewall portions  40  &amp;  44  of the device are attached side anchor mounts  8  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 , &amp;  8 ) that are attached at an angle in relation to the bottom portion  16 . The angle at which they are attached causes the front opening  10  to face slightly upward at an angle off of the vertical and aids in keeping the helmet contained in the device when the device is bumped or swung. Anchor mounts  8  provide one form of anchor mount means. In addition to the side anchor mounts  8  creating a hanging angle, the angle adjustment and interlocking strap  2  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8 ,  12 , &amp;  13 ) allows the user to further fine tune the angle at which the device hangs and prevents the angle from changing as items are placed into and removed from the device. One end of the angle adjustment and interlocking strap  2  can be permanently fixed to the front inside of the top portion  22  and the other end of the strap attaches to the angle adjustment fastener  42  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  8 , &amp;  12 ) located on the exterior top portion  22 . The angle adjustment fastener  42  may be hook and loop or an equivalent fastener. The angle adjustment and interlocking strap  2  may be used in two ways. First, when hanging multiple devices above/below one another, it may be fed from the top of the lower hanging device through the interlocking fastener  30  ( FIGS. 5 &amp; 9 ) located on the bottom portion  16  of the higher located device. This is demonstrated in  FIG. 13 . Or, when a device is being hung alone, from something such as a closet coat hanger bar, the angle adjustment and interlocking strap  2  can be fed around the bar and attached to the angle adjustment fastener  42 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , &amp;  10  the side anchor mount  8  is oriented in the vertical plane to distribute forces evenly over its attachment to the device. Near the top end of the side anchor mount  8  is an anchor button hole  6  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8 , &amp;  12 ). The anchor button hole  6  is intended to accommodate the anchor button  72  ( FIG. 14 ) on the anchor assembly. The anchor assembly is generally composed of the anchor button  72 , the anchor strap  70  ( FIG. 14 ), and the anchor attachment  68  ( FIG. 14 ). The type of anchor attachment  68  can vary from a loop to a hook, to an eyelet, and so on, with examples of some anchor assembly means illustrated in  FIG. 14 , in order to accommodate the mounting of the anchor assembly to ceilings, coat hangers, closet coat hanger bars, backs of closet doors, under cabinets or shelves, inside transportation trailers and the like. In mounting to these items, the length of the anchor strap  70  can vary to accommodate the appropriate hanging height of the device. In cases in which hanging multiple devices above/below one another is desired, a multi-device anchor assembly  66  ( FIG. 13 ) may be used. The multi-device anchor assembly  66  contains multiple anchor buttons  72  spaced so that they can be received by the anchor button holes  6  of multiple devices without the devices interfering with each others hanging. The number of devices that can be hung above/below one another can be increased by increasing the length of the multi-device anchor assembly  66  and increasing the number of anchor buttons  72 . Connecting the anchor mount  8  to an anchor assembly by means of the anchor button hole  6  and the anchor button  72  may be substituted by other equivalent fastening devices known in the art. In alternative embodiments to hanging multiple devices above/below one another, each device may be hung with its own separate anchor assembly of the appropriate length, or each device may be directly connected to the one above it, with only the top position device attaching to the anchor assembly. 
     Just inside the device&#39;s main helmet compartment is a narrow soft scratch resistant form-fitting interior pocket that follows the curved exterior contour of the top portion  22 . The device&#39;s top portion  22  contour follows the curvature of the average helmet visor and the visor pocket bottom  4  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , &amp;  12 ) follows said contour and is designed to safely hold a secondary visor/face shield for the helmet. The visor pocket bottom  4  is fastened in place along the rear portion  12 , the left sidewall portions  40  and the right sidewall portion  44 . The pocket is accessed from the front by pulling down the visor pocket tab  18  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , &amp;  12 ). Internal to the visor pocket bottom  4  is a flexible semi-rigid visor pocket bias  26  ( FIGS. 3 &amp; 12 ) that may be a piece of plastic, metal, or the like, that causes the visor pocket bottom  4  to spring open when pulled down or spring up when closed. When the pocket is opened, the visor remains securely in place in the pocket due to the hanging angle of the device as a whole and the depth of the pocket. The visor can easily be removed or placed in the pocket when the pocket is in the open position. Upon closing the pocket, visor pocket fasteners  20  &amp;  24  ( FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 ) that are hook &amp; loop, or equivalent, engage, ensuring the pocket only opens when intended. 
     In some embodiments, the exterior bottom portion  16  includes a soft scratch resistant semi-rigid form fitting glasses pocket  14  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 , &amp;  9 ) intended to store glasses or goggles. The general location allows for unobstructed access to the pocket. In some embodiments, the glasses pocket  14  is at the front edge and its general left and right side perspective opening can take the form of a wide range of shapes such as that of an oval or a triangle with rounded corners in which the bottom portion  16  makes up one side of the triangle and the pocket material makes up the other two sides. A curved triangular shape can provide for a small form factor while flexing to accommodate the varying size and shapes of glasses. In a particular implementation, to create a smaller appearance when looking at the device, the smallest angle in the triangle can be formed at the device&#39;s front edge. In some embodiments, the left and right sides of the glasses pocket  14  are open and glasses are able to be slid in and out from the left or right side. In this particular implementation, the center (from left to right) of the interior of the glasses pocket  14  may contain a glasses nose bridge catch  28  ( FIG. 5 ) that is narrower than the sides but stretches/expands to reach the same size as the left and right side openings. This enables all sizes and shapes of glasses to snuggly slide in while the narrow center point then contracts on the narrowest point in the glasses, the nose bridge. The narrow expanding and contracting center nose bridge catch  28  prevents glasses from falling out when the device is tilted or bumped. In other embodiments of the design a simple elastic band may be used, or the location of the glasses holder may be moved, or the access to the glasses pocket  14  may be changed. The size of the glasses pocket  14  may be expanded or the design modified to accommodate goggles for riders who prefer them to glasses. 
     On the exterior left and right sidewall portions  40  &amp;  44  is a glove fastener  32  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  11 , &amp;  12 ) for the hanging and open air drying of protective gloves. Various embodiments of the glove mounting/fastening mechanism may be utilized, including; hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, snaps, clips, buttons with buttonholes, elastic cords, hook-and-eye assemblies, or other suitable mounting/fastening mechanisms. The relative location on the left and right sidewall portions  40  &amp;  44  facilitates unobstructed access to the mounting/fastening location and the stiffness of the structure created by the helmet&#39;s presence just inside the device&#39;s sidewalls enables easy manipulation of the mounting/fastening mechanism. 
     On the exterior left and/or right sidewall portions  40  &amp;  44  of the device&#39;s main helmet compartment is a key/remote mount  36  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  7 , &amp;  12 ) for the hanging of a non-scratching key/remote (gate/garage door opener) retainer. The retainer is intended to hold a key or remote typically utilized by riders of motorcycles, snowmobiles, motorized three-wheelers/four-wheelers, or bicycles. The retainer is generally composed of three pieces; the key/remote clip  78  ( FIG. 1 ), the retainer strap  76  ( FIG. 1 ), and the retainer fastener  74  ( FIG. 1 ) that mates with the key/remote mount  36 . Various embodiments of the mounting/fastening mechanism may be utilized, including; hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, snaps, clips, buttons with buttonholes, elastic cords, hook-and-eye assemblies, or other suitable mounting/fastening mechanisms. The relative location, on the left and right sidewall portions  40  &amp;  44 , facilitates unobstructed access to the key/remote mount  36  and the stiffness of the structure created by the helmet&#39;s presence just inside the device&#39;s left and right sidewall portions  40  &amp;  44  enables easy manipulation of the mounting/fastening mechanism. In some embodiments, the key/remote mount  36  may be moved or added to the front exterior bottom portion  16 , or the exterior of the glasses pocket  14 , or the anchor assembly. The non-scratching key/remote retainer is intended to provide a soft contact point with the motorcycle, etc. so that the key ignition location does not become scratched while riding. 
     On the exterior rear portion  12  of the device&#39;s main helmet compartment is the rear gloves &amp; accessory compartment fastener  46  ( FIG. 7 ). This is the mounting/fastening device for both; the hanging of a pair of off-season gloves (winter gloves during the summer and vice-versa), and the hanging of an accessory compartment  34  ( FIGS. 5 &amp; 7 ). Various embodiments of the mounting/fastening mechanism may be utilized, including; hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, snaps, clips, buttons with buttonholes, elastic cords, hook-and-eye assemblies, or other suitable mounting/fastening mechanisms. The rear gloves and accessory compartment fastener  46  may be divided into two separate fasteners, one for off-season gloves and one for the accessory compartment  34 . The relative location on the rear is designed to keep the rarely accessed items (helmet screws, chin curtain, breath deflector/guard, small tools, etc.) stored in the accessory compartment  34 , and the unused off-season gloves, out of the way of the frequently used items. Attachment of the accessory compartment  34  is generally along the top portion so that the bottom and sides are separate of the device&#39;s rear portion  12 . When the device is hung, the device&#39;s hanging angle allows gravity to pull the accessory compartment  34  away from the rear portion  12  of the device&#39;s main helmet compartment so that contact between the helmet and items stored in the accessory compartment  34  is minimized. The accessory compartment  34  may be detachable or in other embodiments permanently fixed to the device. When detachable, the accessory compartment fastener  48  ( FIG. 7 ) can mate with the rear gloves &amp; accessory compartment fastener  46 . Generally, the accessory compartment interior  50  ( FIG. 7 ) is the portion of the accessory compartment  34  that items are stored in. In some embodiments, the accessory compartment  34  can include an accessory compartment closure system  52  ( FIG. 7 ) such as a zipper or an equivalent. 
     A storage device may include the replacement of the left and right side anchor mounts  8 , with left and right side anchor mounts that include equipment extensions  58  ( FIG. 12 ). In an alternative embodiment, the left and right side anchor mounts  8  can remain, while the equipment extensions  58  can connect directly to the anchor button  72  on the anchor assembly. In both cases, the equipment extensions extend down below the bottom of the device and create a loop that accommodates an equipment bar hanger  60  ( FIG. 12 ). The equipment bar hanger  60  is composed of plastic, metal, or an equivalent functioning material, and contains end portions designed to receive and support the neck opening of protective shoulder pads or a neck brace. Hanging from the equipment bar hanger  60 , between or outside the anchor mounts with equipment extensions  58 , are multiple equipment straps  62  ( FIG. 12 ). The free end of the equipment straps  62  contains equipment hooks  64  ( FIG. 12 ) designed to accommodate other protective gear. The hooks may be replaced by other fastener devices known in the field for being adept at holding protective equipment. 
     The front of the inside bottom portion  16  is viewable when the helmet is placed into the device. This area of the device may also be visible when the device is folded/collapsed for retail stocking/inventorying. As such, it can be an advantageous location for the placement of a logo, emblem, trade dress and/or other signage  54  ( FIG. 11 ) that adds value to have a user read during use. Alternatively, a logo, emblem, trade dress and/or other signage may be placed on the device&#39;s hanging straps or on the front portion of the exterior left and right sidewall portions  40  &amp;  44 . 
     While aspects or features have primarily been described for motorized sports equipment, one skilled in the art would consider the use in the storage of athletic sports equipment and military equipment. A few examples include football, hockey, and lacrosse helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, hip pads, thigh pads, knee pads, face shields, mouth guards, garter belts, athletic supporter &amp; cup, etc.