Abstract:
A disk holder includes a back panel and a cover. The back panel defines a disk holder portion having a generally circular shape and a holder support portion. The cover is connected to the back panel and disposed over the disk holder portion such that a pocket is defined between the back panel and the cover. The pocket is adapted to retain at least one disk-shaped object. A connection device is connected to the holder support portion and adapted to affix the disk holder to a person.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to sports equipment, including but not limited to equipment used to carry sports instruments, such as disks. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Disk golf is played with a variety of different types of disks, which include drivers, mid range disks and Putter-type disks, as is known. A wide assortment of disks are carried by the player around the range during a game. The assortment of disks makes it difficult to keep track of individual disks, to organize them such that an individual disk may be readily retrieved, and to carry the assortment of disks around the course during a round. 
         [0003]    In the past, certain players have opted to carry their disks in both hands while moving around the course, and drop all but one disk to the ground before taking a shot. These players are then required to retrieve their disks from the ground after taking a shot before proceeding. In muddy conditions, one can appreciate that the dropped disks become dirty. Moreover, the chore of collecting disks from the ground after each shot can be time consuming. In light of such inconvenience, players have used back packs, purse type bags and disposable plastic shopping bags to carry their disks around the course, but it can be appreciated that these solutions are cumbersome. Backpacks and purse type bags must be shoulder slung, handled and opened more than seventy times during a typical round, and may also become entangled during the retrieving of the player&#39;s disk in normal play. Moreover, backpacks, purses and plastic bags are often also set on the ground during a shot becoming wet and dirty and then must be retrieved before continuing to the next shot. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The foregoing issues may be alleviated or avoided by the a device and method for carrying disks in accordance with the present disclosure. The disclosed device carries disks in a practical, organized, easy to use fashion, is integrated with the player, and requires little to no manual manipulation that may inhibit the player during the game. A device in accordance with the present disclosure solves such shortcomings of known methods and devices by integrating the storage, retrieval, organization, and carrying functions into a clip-on product that is worn during the game. The clip-on carrier or holster stores the disk and permits easy access to the disks during play. The player disks are stored, arranged, and carried on the player. This allows for a hands free method of disk management with less gear to keep track of during a round of disk golf. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an outline view of one embodiment for a disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a section view of the disk carrier having disks placed therein in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a disk carrier in accordance with the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an outline view of a disk holder  100  in accordance with the disclosure. The disk holder  100  of the illustrated embodiment generally has a clamshell construction that includes a back panel  102  connected with a cover  104  to define a pocket  106  therebetween. When used, one or more disks (not shown) are deposited and retained within the pocket  106  while disk holder  100  is attached to a player&#39;s garment. Moreover, the disk holder  100  of the illustrated embodiment includes additional features for conveniently securing other articles useful to the player, such as towels, and so forth. Reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  is made in the description that follows, where structural features of the disk holder  100  are denoted by the same reference numerals in each of the figures. 
         [0011]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the back panel  102  defines a disk diameter portion  108  and a holder support portion  110 . Each portion  108  and  110  has a generally semi-circular shape, as shown. An outer diameter  112  of the disk diameter portion  108  is arranged to be large enough to accommodate the largest diameter disks, for example, the disk  200  shown in  FIG. 4  in cross section. The holder support portion  110  is narrow relative to the disk diameter portion  108  and includes a belt clip  114  formed by a U-shaped slit  116  that is cut through the material of the support portion  110  and that terminates at two stress relief openings  118 . It is contemplated that the belt clip  114  may be made as a separate component that is connected to the disk holder  100  by any type of suitable connection arrangement, such as snaps, rivets, stitches, adhesives, and so forth. Alternatively, a strap may be used in addition to or instead of the belt clip  114  to provide the player with the option of hanging the disk holder  100  from a shoulder or neck. The holder support portion  110  further includes a hole  120  extending through the thickness of the material of the holder  100  that can be used to hang the disk holder  100  when not in use. 
         [0012]    The disk holder portion  108  forms one side of the pocket  106  and, in the illustrated embodiment, is substantially flat and lies on the same plane as the holder support portion  110 . The disk holder portion  108  includes one or more openings  122  formed peripherally along the outer edge thereof. The openings  122  are optional and may be used to accommodate hooks, clips, or other devices that can retain towels, tools, water bottles, or any other instruments a player may find useful during a game. In can be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the openings and  122  may be used instead of or in addition to other features, such as hooks, clips, rings, or other such elements connected to or associated with the disk holder in a known fashion. 
         [0013]    The cover  104  is generally cup shaped, as best shown in  FIG. 3 , and is connected to the back panel  102  of the disk holder  100  peripherally along its outer diameter  112 . In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of rivets  124  is disposed at predetermined radial locations around the outer, circular portion of the back panel  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  104  includes side openings  126  to provide access to the openings  122 , a bottom opening  128 , and an access opening  130  radially extending generally around a projected center  132  of the circular shape of the outer diameter  112  of the disk holder portion  108 . When in use, a player may select and push a disk (not shown) disposed within the pocket  106  upward by reaching through the bottom opening  128  with one or more fingers. Thereafter, the player may pull the disk out from the pocket by grabbing hold of the disk through the access opening  130 . 
         [0014]    The pocket  106 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , has a depth  134  that is arranged to accommodate a plurality of disks, for example, the disks  200  and  202  shown in cross section in  FIG. 4 . The depth  134  of the pocket  106  may be selected to accommodate a desired number of disks of different sizes, with the outer diameter  112  selected to accommodate the largest diameter disk. 
         [0015]    An alternative embodiment for a disk holder  500  is shown in  FIG. 5 . Like or similar features or elements of the disk holder  500  that are the same or equivalent to corresponding elements in the disk holder  100  are denoted by the same reference numerals as previously used for simplicity. In operation, the disk holder  500  functions in a similar fashion as the disk holder  100 , but due to its structure provides greater flexibility in the size and number of disks that may be retained thereby. 
         [0016]    More specifically, the disk holder  500  includes a back panel  102  forming a plurality of openings  502 . The openings  502  are disposed adjacent the outer diameter  112  and are used to suitably support an end of a cord  504 , for example, an elastic- or rubber-type cord. The cords  504  may be connected by any suitable arrangement to the back panel  102  on one end. On another end, the cords  504  are connected to a ring  506 , although other structures may be used, for example, a plate having holes for securing the ends of the cords  504  together (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the cords  504  have knots  508  securing each cord  504  to the ring  506 . 
         [0017]    When in use, the disk holder  500  may retain one or more disks (not shown) that are placed between the back panel  102  and the ring  506  under the cords  504 . Due to their elastic nature, the cords  504  may resiliently apply the force necessary on the ring  506  to hold the disks in place against the back panel  102 . One can appreciate that the flexible and resilient nature of the cords  504  can accommodate disks of varied sizes and thickness, as well as allow the stretching necessary to accommodate multiple disks in a stack arrangement. Access to the retained disks may be provided around the diameter  112  for the player to select and pull the desired disk from the stack. 
         [0018]    Even though four cords  504  are shown, fewer or more cords may be used. Moreover, even though the back panel  102  is illustrated as flat, in an alternative embodiment the back panel may include a ledge or other features arranged to retain one or more disks into contact with the back panel  102 . In all embodiments described thus far, the disk holder may be made of a variety of different materials, including plastic, metal, leather, fabric, composite materials, and so forth. 
         [0019]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0020]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.