Abstract:
The present invention is a sports equipment carrying bag which contains internal compartments of conventional design to enable sporting equipment to be retained and carried therein. The unique feature of the present invention is that the carrying bag incorporates two bag retaining members which enable the sports bag to be hung from a fence such as a chain link fence in a manner which enables the bag to be horizontally oriented so that it is much easier to remove items from the bag without the items falling out and much easier to remove baseball bats from the bag so that bats are horizontally removed and it is not necessary to lift the bats out of and over the sports bag when the bag is hung from the chain link fence.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of bags which are used to retain sporting equipment and in particular equipment used to play the game of baseball and softball, including uniforms, balls, ball catching gloves, and bats. The present invention also relates to the field of sporting bags which can be hung from a chain link fence to facilitate ready access to the equipment retained inside of the bag, both before and during the playing of the baseball game or softball game. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, the concept of a bag used to retain sporting equipment for use in games such as baseball and softball is known in the prior art. The following Eighteen (18) patents and published patent applications are relevant to the field of the present invention: 
     1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,532 issued to Dennis R. Cash on Dec. 27, 1988 for “Carrier For Ball Game Items” (hereafter the “Cash patent”); 
     2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,010 issued to Miriam S. Levitas on Jan. 31, 1989 for “Garment Bag With Strap To Secure Closure Flap In Bundled Configuration” hereafter the “Levitas patent”); 
     3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,731 issued to Edward J. Mroz on Jan. 2, 1990 for “Personal Sports Equipment Carrier” (hereafter the “Mroz patent”); 
     4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,111 issued to Alan J. Lanouette et al. on Apr. 18, 1995 for “Sports Accessory Bag With Convertible Suspension Means” (hereafter the “Lanouette patent”); 
     5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,449 issued to Charles A. Boorady on Jun. 20, 1995 for “Convertible Bag And A Method For Converting The Bag Between Two Functional Carrying Modes” (hereafter the “Boorady patent”); 
     6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,363 issued to Rex F. Tomer on Oct. 24, 1995 for “Sports Utility Accessory” (hereafter the “Tomer patent”); 
     7. U.S. Design Pat. No. Des 370,560 issued to David R. Doerbaum on Jun. 11, 1996 for “Baseball Equipment Bag” (hereafter the “Doerbaum Design patent”); 
     8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,204 issued to Rachel T. Sapyta et al. and assigned to Rachel Theora Sapyta on Oct. 8, 1996 for “Foldable Carrying Case” (hereafter the “Sapyta patent”); 
     9. U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,474 issued to Daniel A. DeChant on Mar. 21, 2000 for “Miniature Golf Bag Travel Organizer” (hereafter the “474 DeChant patent”); 
     10. U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,034 B1 issued to Marc Fournier on Feb. 27, 2001 for “Sports Bag” (hereafter the “034 Fournier patent”); 
     11. U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,718 B1 issued to Daniel A. DeChant on Mar. 6, 2001 for “Miniature Golf Bag Travel Organizer” (hereafter the “718 B1 DeChant patent”); 
     12. U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,501 B1 issued to Joy Tong on Aug. 21, 2001 for “Composite Suitcase” (hereafter the “Tong patent”); 
     13. United States Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0062328 A1 issued to Dave Millard on Apr. 3, 2003 for “Sports Equipment Holder” (hereafter the “Millard Published patent application”); 
     14. U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,936 issued to Donald E. Godshaw et al. and assigned to Travel Caddy, Inc. Jan. 27, 2004 for “Cosmetic Utility Kit” (hereafter the “Godshaw patent”); 
     15. U.S. Design Pat. No. D489,898 issued to Ralph C. Oberhelman on May 18, 2004 for “Sports Equipment Bag” (hereafter the “Oberhelman Design patent”); 
     16. U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,599 issued to Kathleen Rodrigue et al. and: assigned to Sports P.A.L. Inc., on Sep. 27, 2005 for “Sports Bag Insert” (hereafter the “Rodrigue patent”); 
     17. PCT Application No. WO 98/52439 issued to Marc Fournier filed on Apr. 9, 1998 for “Sports Bag” (hereafter the “52439 Fournier PCT Application”). 
     18. U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,863 issued to Speck and assigned to Hillerich &amp; Bradsby Co. On May 11, 2004 for “Baseball/Softball Equipment Bag (hereafter the Speck patent”). 
     The Cash patent discloses a carrier for ball game items such as baseball bats. The device is designed to hang from a fence and essentially can be unfolded so that it hangs by two suitable hooks,  70  and  72 , so that there is access to the bats. This device discloses the concept of a hanging a bag in the vertical orientation so that the baseball bats can be accessed from the top of the bag by lifting the baseball bats vertically up and over and out of the bag. 
     The Levitas patent discloses a garment bag with a strap so that it can be carried and permitted to be hung vertically so that access can be achieved to various pockets within the bag. 
     The Mroz patent is a sports equipment carrier which has openings to permit it to carry one or more baseball bats. Further, the device can be carried by the handle. There is also disclosed two eyelets  28  which permit the sports bag to hang on hooks or nails that may be provided to protrude from a wall so that the equipment carrier  10  and the equipment carried therein can be readily stored when the equipment is not in use. The islets are strictly for storage. 
     The Lanouette patent is a small sports accessory bag to carry small items but definitely not baseball bats. It discloses suspension loops  16  and  17  which can be used to hang the bag from a horizontal bar such as an exercise apparatus as disclosed in  FIG. 3 . 
     The Boorady patent discloses a convertible bag. The bag contains a suspending device  34  which can be used to hang the bag from a hook on a door or wall enabling the loading and unloading of articles  24  from the interior  22  of the carrier  10 . 
     The Tomer patent discloses a sports utility accessory which in its unfolded position can be used as a target for pitching and when in its folded position, used as a light bag to carry a baseball glove and a baseball which is used for pitching. It is essentially a fold over bag configuration which cannot be used to securely carry a baseball bat. The bag can also be hung by hooks as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The Doerbaum patent discloses a design patent for a baseball equipment bag. It has carrying straps but does not disclose any means by which the bag can be hung from a fence. 
     The Sapyta patent is a patent for a foldable carrying case which does disclose the concept of being able to hang the bag so that it hangs vertically so that horizontal pockets are exposed for access. 
     The &#39;474 DeChant patent discloses a golf bag organizer. It can be hung vertically so that it can be accessed from a horizontal opening but the vertical hanging member is just simply hook  70 . 
     The Fournier patent discloses a sports bag but its design enables the entire bag to completely open so that it is a generally flat configuration and then the bag can be hung from hook  12 . 
     The &#39;718 DeChant patent is just a continuation of the previous &#39;474 DeChant patent and has the same disclosure. The organizer is a miniature golf bag. The sidewall of the organizer is re-closable with the slide fastener which has a track that defines a bent U-shape. 
     The Tong patent discloses a composite suitcase. It discloses drawbars  14  which permit a removable hanging hook  15  to be attached thereto so that the device•can be hung from the hanging hook  15 . 
     The Millard Published patent application discloses a sports equipment holder which as disclosed best in  FIG. 19  can be used to hold bats by being attached by horizontal tie members. The hook members  60  permit the sports equipment holder to be hung from a chain link fence. 
     The Godshaw patent discloses a cosmetic case which has two means by which the case can be hung vertically and one can gain access to the pockets which themselves hang vertically. 
     The Oberhelman patent is a design patent. It discloses the design and shape of a sports equipment bag. It does show the concept of having clip members but the clip members are attached at the vertical location so that the bag hangs vertically. 
     The Rodrigue patent discloses a sports bag insert which can be hung vertically by loop member  20  with the compartments exposed. 
     The PCT Application is PCT application based upon the Fournier patent which was already discussed. 
     The Speck patent discloses an equipment bag which has pockets for retaining sports equipment and a compartment for retaining a baseball bat. It also discloses a hook by which the sports bag can be retained on a chain link fence by hanging in a vertical orientation. As a result, to remove the baseball bat, the bat must by lifted out of and over the bag. 
     While the general concept of a sports bag to retain sporting equipment has been disclosed, there is a significant need for an improved bag configuration which enables easier access to the equipment, especially baseball bats, retained within the bag when the bag is hung from a fence. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a sports equipment carrying bag which contains internal compartments of conventional design to enable sporting equipment such as uniforms, a baseball or softball, a catcher&#39;s mask, ball catching gloves and baseball or softball bats to be retained and carried therein. The unique feature of the present invention is that the carrying bag incorporates two bag retaining members which enable the sports bag to be hung from a fence such as a chain link fence in a manner which enables the bag to be horizontally oriented so that it is much easier to remove items from the bag without the items falling out and much easier to remove the baseball bats from the bag so that bats are horizontally removed and it is not necessary to lift the bats out of and over the sports bag when the bag is hung from the chain link fence. 
     It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a sports bag contains compartments including an elongated compartment which permits baseball bats to be retained in a horizontal orientation therein when the bag is carried, and the bag further contains means to retain the bag in a horizontal orientation when the bag is hung from a fence such as a chain link fence, then the horizontal orientation enables objects to be more easily removed from the bag and the baseball bats can be horizontally slid out of the bag when the bag is hung in a horizontal orientation, thereby facilitating a much easier removal of the baseball bats than was conventionally known in the prior art. 
     It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the bag retaining means is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps which are opened and closed by hook and loop fasteners, then the straps can be fed through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation; from the chain link fence. 
     It has additionally been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the straps with hook and loop fasteners thereon are incorporated into the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a than link fence. 
     It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the bag retaining means is comprised of a pair of spaced apart hook and clip members, then the hooks can be inserted onto and through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence through their respective clip members to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation from the chain link fence. 
     It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the hook and clip members are respectively incorporated into straps which are connected to the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a chain link fence. 
     It is thereafter an object of the present invention to provide a sports bag which contains compartments including an elongated compartment which permits baseball bats to be retained in a horizontal orientation therein when the bag is carried, and the bag further contains means to retain the bag in a horizontal orientation when the bag is hung from a fence such as a chain link fence, then the horizontal orientation thereby enables objects to be more easily removed from the bag and the baseball bats can be horizontally slid out of the bag when the bag is hung in a horizontal orientation, thereby facilitating a much easier removal of the baseball bats than was conventionally known in the prior art. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bag retaining means which is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps which are opened and closed by hook and loop fasteners, so that the straps can be fed through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation from the chain link fence. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention the incorporate the straps with hook and loop fasteners thereon into the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, so that the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a chan link fence. 
     It is also an object of the present invention provide a the bag retaining means which is comprised of a pair of spaced apart hook and clip members so that the hooks can be inserted onto and through links in the chain link fence and securely retained on the fence through their respective clip members to enable the bag to be hung in a horizontal orientation from the chain link fence. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to respectively incorporate the hook and clip members into straps which are connected to the sides of one of the carrying straps of the bag, so that the attachment is more secure and enables to bag to be more stabile as it is hung in a horizontal orientation from a chain link fence. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention sports bag illustrating one attaching means which is a pair of spaced apart straps to which are attached mating hook and loop fasteners, and also illustrating the bag in the opened condition to disclose compartments for retaining sporting objects such as gloves, baseballs, etc. and illustrating baseball bats retained in a horizontal orientation and hanging out of the bag; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention sports bag illustrating one attaching means which is pair of spaced apart straps to which are attached mating hook and loop fasteners, with one strap in the closed condition and one strap in the opened condition, the straps being incorporated into one of the carrying straps of the bag; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention sports bag illustrating one attaching means which is pair of spaced apart straps to which are attached mating hook and loop fasteners, the straps being incorporated into one of the carrying straps of the bag, the straps being fed through links in a chain link fence and respectively closed by their mating hook and loop fasteners to thereby retain the bag in a horizontal orientation on the chain link fence; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention sports bag illustrating an alternative attaching means which is a pair of spaced apart hook and clip members, and also illustrating the bag in the opened condition to disclose compartments for retaining sporting objects such as gloves, baseballs, etc. and illustrating baseball bats retained in a horizontal orientation and hanging out of the bag; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention sports bag illustrating the alternative attaching means which is pair of spaced apart hook and clip members, the hook and clip members being incorporated into one of the carrying straps of the bag; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the present invention sports bag illustrating one attaching means which is pair of straps to which are respectively attached mating hook and clip members, the straps being incorporated into one of the carrying straps of the bag, the hooks being fed through links in a chain link fence and respectively closed by their mating clip members to thereby retain the bag in a horizontal orientation on the chain link fence. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated at  10  a bag for retaining sports equipment. The bag  10  has an exterior surface  12  which contains at least one opening and closing means  14  such as a zipper. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the exterior surface  12  supports two zippers  14  and  16 , each leading to an interior compartment within the bag  10 . Zipper  14  is in the opened conditioned as illustrated in  FIG. 1  (Zipper  14  is in the closed condition in  FIG. 2 ). When opened, zipper  14  leads to an interior chamber  19  which has at least one compartment  20  and preferably a multiplicity of compartments  18 ,  20  and  22  as illustrated, which can house various sports equipment such as uniforms, a ball catching glove, baseballs, and a catcher&#39;s mask. Zipper  16  when in the opening condition as illustrated in  FIG. 1  leads to a lower elongated chamber  24  which can house at least one and preferably a multiplicity of baseball bats  100 , as illustrated. 
     The bag  10  is carried by a pair of carrying straps  26  and  36 . Carrying strap  26  has a first strap side  28  and a second strap side  30  by which the carrying strap  26  is attached to the exterior surface  12  of the bag  10  by attaching means such as stitching. The first strap side  28  and second strap side  30  each extend to a central grip portion  32 . Similarly, carrying strap  36  has a first strap side  38  and a second strap side  40  by which the carrying strap  36 , is attached to the exterior surface  12  of the bag  10  by attaching mean such as stitching. The first strap side  38  and second strap side  40  each extend to a central grip portion  42 . The bag  10  is carried by pushing the two grip sections  32  and  42  together and carrying the bag with the fingers of one hand surrounding the two gripping sections  32  and  42 . It is also possible to have a closing wrap (not shown) which surrounds the two grip section  32  and  42  of handles or carrying straps  26  and  36  to make the bag easier to carry. 
     The first embodiment of the present invention fence attaching member  50  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The attaching member  50  is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps  52  and  62 . Strap  52  is permanently affixed at one end  54  to first strap side  38  of carrying strap  26  by means such as stitching or removably affixed by means of mating fastening members. At its other end  56 , strap  52  has one of an attaching means  58 , which by way of example can be a hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®. A mating attaching means  60 , which by way of example can be a mating hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®, is positioned at a location on the first strap side  38  remote from where the strap  52  is affixed to the first strap side  38 . In place of hook and loop, the fastening means can be mating snap fasteners or any other connecting means well known in the art. Strap  62  is permanently affixed at one end  64  to second strap side  40  of carrying strap  36  by means such as stitching or removably affixed by means of mating fastening members. At its other end  66 , strap  62  has one of an attaching means  68 , which by way of example can be a hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®. A mating attaching means  70 , which by way of example can be a mating hook and loop fastener known as Velcro®, is positioned at a location on the second strap side  40  remote from where the strap  62  is affixed to the second strap side  40 . In place of hook and loop, the fastening means can be mating snap fasteners or any other connecting means well known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the bag  10  is shown attached to a chain link fence  200 . The chain line fence  200  has a multiplicity of links  210  extending in one direction and a multiplicity of cross-links  220  extending in the opposite direction to form a multiplicity of open spaces  230  between links  210  and cross-links  220 . Strap  52  is opened and fed through at least one crossed set of links  210  and cross-links  220  and thereafter closed by mating attaching means  58  and  60 . Similarly, strap  62  is opened and fed through at least one crossed set of links  210  and cross-links  220  and thereafter closed by mating attaching means  68  and  70 . As a result, bag  10  is held on the fence  200  in a horizontal orientation. This orientation makes the bag much easier to open and remove its contents than conventional sports bags known in the prior art which are vertically oriented. In particular, baseball bats are horizontally oriented and therefore, instead of having to lift the bat up vertically and raise it over the bag  10 , all that is necessary is to horizontally slide the bat out, a much easier and safer removal technique. It is possible to have the bag  10  attached to the fence  200  with only one attaching assembly  52  or  62  and its associated attaching means  58  and  60  or  68  and  70  but the bag will then not hang perfectly horizontally. 
     The straps  52  and  62  of the attaching means  58  and  68  have been illustrated as attached to a portion of a carrying straps  26  and  36 . It will be appreciated that it is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have the straps  52  and  62  directly attached to the exterior surface  12  of the bag  10  instead of to a portion of a carrying straps. In that case, the mating attaching means  60  and  70  would be on a carrying strap or on a separate strap which aligns two attaching means together, or on another portion of the sports bag  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated at  110  an alternative embodiment of a bag for retaining sports equipment. The bag  110  has an exterior surface  112  which contains at least one opening and closing means  114  such as a zipper. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the exterior surface  4  supports four zippers, a pair of oppositely disposed zippers  114  and  114 A and a third zipper  116 , and a fourth zipper  117 . Zippers  114  and  114   a  lead to an interior compartment within bag  110  and zipper  117  leads to the same or another interior compartment within the bag  110 . Zippers  114  and  114 A are in the opened conditioned as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and zipper  117  is in the closed condition. In  FIG. 5 , zippers  114  and  114   a  are in the closed condition. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when opened, zippers  114  and  114   a  lead to an interior chamber  119  which has at least one compartment  120  and preferably a multiplicity of compartments  118 ,  120  and  122  as illustrated, which can house various sports equipment such as uniforms, a ball catching glove, baseballs, and a catcher&#39;s mask. Zipper  116  when in the opened condition as illustrated in  FIG. 4  leads to a lower elongated chamber  124  which can house at least one and preferably a multiplicity of baseball bats  100 , as illustrated. 
     The bag  110  is carried by a pair of carrying straps  126  and  136 . Carrying strap  126  has a first strap side  128  and a second strap side  130  by which the carrying strap  126  is permanently attached to the exterior surface  112  of the bag  110  by attaching mean such as stitching or removably attached by mating fastening members. The first strap side  128  and second strap side  130  each extend to a central grip portion  132 . Similarly, carrying strap  136  has a first strap side  138  and a second strap side  140  by which the carrying strap  136  is permanently attached to the exterior surface  112  of the bag  110  by attaching means such as stitching or removably attached by mating fastening members. The first strap side  138  and second strap side  140  each extend to a central grip portion  142 . The bag  110  is carried by pushing the two grip sections  132  and  142  together and carrying the bag with the fingers of one hand surrounding the two gripping sections  132  and  142 . It is also possible to have a closing wrap  144  which surrounds the two grip section  132  and  142  of handles or carrying straps  126  and  136  to make the bag easier to carry. 
     The second alternative embodiment of the present invention fence attaching member  150  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The attaching member  150  is comprised of a pair of spaced apart straps  152  and  162 . Strap  152  is permanently affixed at one end  154  to first strap side  138  of carrying strap  126  by means such as stitching or removably affixed by mating fastening means. At its other end  156 , strap  152  has one of an attaching means  158 , which by way of example can be a hook  159  with a closing clip  160 . Strap  162  is permanently affixed at one end  164  to second strap side  140  of carrying strap- 136  by means such as stitching or removably affixed by mating fastening means. At its other end  166 , strap  162  has an attaching means  168 , which by way of example can be a hook  169  with a closing clip  170 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the bag  110  is shown attached to a chain link fence  200 . The chain line fence  200  has a multiplicity of links  210  extending in one direction and a multiplicity of cross-links  220  extending in the opposite direction to form a multiplicity of open spaces  230  between links  210  and cross-links  220 . The hook assembly  158  is clipped onto the fence  200  at the intersection of at least one set of links  210  and cross-links  220  by snapping the hook  159  over the cross-links and closing it with the closing clip  160 . Similarly, the hook assembly  158  is clipped onto the fence  200  at the intersection of at least one set of links  210  and cross-links  220  by snapping the hook  169  over the cross-links and closing it with the closing clip  170 . This orientation makes the bag much easier to open and remove its contents than conventional sports bags known in the prior art which are vertically oriented. In particular, baseball bats are horizontally oriented and therefore, instead of having to lift the bat up vertically and raise it over the bag  110 , all that is necessary is to horizontally slide the bat out, a much easier and safer removal technique. It is possible to have the bag  110  attached to the fence  200  with only one hook assembly  158  or  168  but the bag will then not hang perfectly horizontally. 
     The straps  152  and  162  of the hook assemblies  158  and  168  and•their associated hook and closing clip  159  and  160 , and  169  and  170  have been illustrated as attached to a portion of a carrying strap  126  and  136 . It will be appreciated that it is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have the straps  152  and  162  directly attached to the exterior surface  112  of the bag  110  instead of to a portion of a carrying strap, or attached to another portion of the carrying bag  10 : 
     The bags  10  and  110  have been illustrated only to show representative examples of sports bags with which the present invention novel attaching means have been incorporated. It will be appreciated that the present invention novel attaching means which enables the sports equipment bag to be attached to a fence and hang in a horizontal orientation can be incorporated into any multiplicity of differently designed sports bags. In addition, the facts that the first attaching means  50  was illustrated with bag  10  should not be interpreted to limit this attaching means to bag  10 . Attaching means  50  can be used with alternative bag  110  or any other sports bag. Similarly, the fact that attaching means  150  was illustrated with alternative bag  110  should not be interpreted to limit this attached means to sports bag  110 . Attaching means  110  can be used with bag  10  or any other sports bag. 
     Defined in detail, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the bag having at least a first carrying strap having a first strap side of a given length, a second strap side of a given length and a central gripping portion; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the first strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having an attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on the first strap side and aligned with the attaching means on the first elongated strap; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the second strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having an attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on the second strap side and aligned with the attaching means on the second elongated strap; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by opening said first elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the first elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, and opening said second elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the second elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, with both elongated straps affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion. 
     Defined broadly, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the sports bag having means to enable the sports bag to be carried; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having an attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on a portion of the sports bag; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having an attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end, a mating attaching means located on a portion of the sports bag; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by opening said first elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the first elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, and opening said second elongated strap at the location of the mating attaching means and feeding the second elongated strap through at least one opening in the chain link fence and closing the attaching means, with both elongated straps affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion. 
     Defined more broadly, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the bag having at least a first carrying strap having a first strap side of a given length, a second strap side of a given length and a central gripping portion; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the first strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having a first attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the second strap side at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having a second attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by attaching the first attaching means onto at least one link on the fence and attaching the second attaching means onto at least one link on the fence, with both attaching means affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion. 
     Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a sports equipment bag to be hung from a chain link fence having a given vertical height and having a multiplicity of links extending in one direction, a multiplicity of cross-links extending in the opposite direction, and open spaces between the intersections of adjacent links and cross-links, the invention comprising: (a) a sports equipment bag having an exterior surface surrounding at least one interior compartment with means to gain access to the at least one interior compartment, the at least one interior compartment having sufficient length to house at least one bat, the sports bag having means to enable the sports bag to be carried; (b) a first elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the first elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the first elongated strap and having an attaching means on the first elongated strap adjacent its second end; and (c) a second elongated strap having a first end and a second end, the second elongated strap attached to the sports bag at a location adjacent the first end of the second elongated strap and having an attaching means on the second elongated strap adjacent its second end; (d) whereby the sports bag is hung from the chain link fence by attaching the first attaching means onto at least one link on the fence and attaching the second attaching means onto at least one link on the fence, with both attaching means affixed at the same vertical height to the chain link fence so that the sports bag hangs horizontally on the chain link fence and after the at least one compartment is opened, the at least one bat can be removed from the sports bag through a horizontal motion. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.