Patent Publication Number: US-2015069100-A1

Title: Ball projection and cup connector assemblies

Description:
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/488,503 entitled BALL PROJECTION AND CUP CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES, filed on Jun. 5, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/520,209 filed on Jun. 6, 2011, entitled WADING STAFF WITH INTEGRAL FISHING NET, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to assemblies for holding or carrying outdoor recreational equipment on a person so that they do not need to use their hands, This invention solves an important problem for those who need to use a wade or walking staff to get to a favorite fishing spot. They can now carry their necessary equipment on their person, leaving their hands free to use a walking stick or to grab on to something should they stumble/slip while walking through the woods. Specifically, this invention provides for a ball projection and cup connector assembly design that allows someone to hold or carry on their person outdoor recreational equipment such as hiking sticks, fishing nets, water bottles or any other equipment commonly used by outdoors persons including the walking staffs/fishing net combinations that are disclosed in provisional, application Ser. No. 61/520,209 and sister non provisional application 13/482,046, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,810, Many outdoor sporting activities such as hunting, fishing or hiking require persons to carry several pieces of gear to a specific place. For example, fly-fishing in rivers and streams requires transporting multiple pieces of fishing gear to a desired fishing spot near a river&#39;s edge or midstream. The terrain that leads to most fishing spots is uneven, may have obstacles such as fallen trees, or may lust be muddy and therefore very slippery. It is almost essential that the fisherman have his hands free to balance himself during this treacherous walk, to be able to grab something to prevent a fall or to be able to use a walking stick for aid. Carrying any equipment that will not be used until his destination is reached is not only impractical, but could actually be dangerous since his hands will be occupied. Additionally, when a preferred fishing spot is reached, a fisherman must keep all necessary gear he uses within reach. The loss free standing or detached equipment he needs to worry about or potentially leave behind, the better. 
     There are some garments and devices that allow equipment or other items to be attached to a person while walking, but these designs are horribly deficient for fishing equipment such as a fishing net or other recreational equipment such as a walking stick, 
     Ostnas U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,894 discloses a detachable carrier which can hold equipment with a ball attachment, however the carrier shape is not advantageous, for example, to an active fly fisherman who needs equipment that can be easily removed from or inserted into a holder without looking, keeping their eyes on their activity. The carrier in Ostnas has a covered top (sleeve  10  is closed by at one end by plug  11 ) and the opening is located solely in the side of the carrier as can be seen  FIGS. 1-6 . The opening is a keyhole slot  17  with the top having a slightly enlarged aperture  18  for a ball to be inserted. However the aperture is not that much wider than the narrow portion of the slot or the ball that is inserted. This causes a person to have to be more precise and to carefully watch while inserting or removing the equipment, which can be a hassle when you are performing a dynamic activity such as fly fishing. Easy manipulation of the equipment while keeping focus is required for these types of activities and this advantage is not offered by the carrier disclosed in Ostnas. 
     Sentell US Publication No. 2010/0294816 discloses a waist- or belt-mounted beverage, container holder. Here the equipment is a pouch for carrying a beverage container such as a can or a bottle. On the pouch is a mounting, stud that ultimately has a projection with a disk shape that is inserted, into the opening of the belt clip holder. The belt clip holder has a slightly flared opening at the top, which contiguous with a more narrow side opening. But it suffers from the same defect as Ostnas, insertion or removal requires a person to have to be more precise. Using either one of the Ostnas or Sentell designs, a user would need to look at the holder while carefully inserting or retrieving their equipment. Therefore, neither carrier would be useful if placed on a person&#39;s back; the precision needed to insert or to remove equipment would be too exacting to be practical or even impossible. Also the use of a disk shape projection as well as the overall size of the holder in Sentell makes it an impractical holder for heavier recreational equipment such as fishing nets. A ball projection is a much sturdier design for such heavier equipment, such as that seen in U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,810. 
     Darling U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,739 discloses a harness with a U shaped holder  108  that cooperates with multiple other styles of holders to attach a sling which can ultimately carry an infant, The U shaped holder is not designed to be a standalone holder for equipment nor could it be considering, its shape and size; it is designed to be part of a harness with multiple attachment points for a sling It could not accommodate it ball projection to support a piece of heavier recreational equipment such as that seen in U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,810. 
     Garrido US Publication No. 2011/0119800 discloses a sports utility garment with a holster. The holster is solid (no slotted opening) except for the top opening and is used to directly hold equipment. This limits the types of equipment that can be accommodated to smaller items such as a water bottle. Also the holster disclosed requires a guide to insert or to remove items, which suggest that these actions are not easily manipulated; again too much of a hassle for person participating in an activity such as fly fishing, where ease of retrieving a fishing net or other equipment is required. 
     What is needed to solve the deficiencies described above is a sturdy holder that allows for easy manipulation of heavier recreational equipment. First, the equipment should have a sturdy ball projection attachment. Second, the holder should be shaped so that a person does not have the hassle of needing to be precise when inserting or removing the equipment while attached to clothing on their person. In fact, it would be most advantageous if s user could insert or remove the recreational equipment from a holder without having to take their eyes away from their activity. Having a holder with a sturdy but open design that allows the user to manipulate their equipment without using their sight would be most preferred. Flexibility of placement of the holder on the person is also preferred. Most preferred is a way to place the holder in the sweet spot on the back of person to carry items. The sweet spot for most people is right below the back of the neck at the C-7 vertebrate. Most garments that use an attachment ring on the back have that attachment ring sitting too low on the person, basically in area that cannot be easily reached. It would be desirable to have a product where equipment can be attached to a person&#39;s clothing anywhere on their body where they feel it to be most to comfortable to carry the equipment and that allows for easy retrieval of that equipment without looking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The ball projection and cup connector assembly design of this invention allows outdoor recreational gear to easily attach to its user for transport and for stowing while leaving the user hands free for walking or other activities such as fly fishing. In some embodiments of the invention has the design can be utilized with a combination walking staff/fishing net with a telescopic staff such as that disclosed in provisional application 61/520,209 and sister non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/482,046, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,810. On the top of the disclosed walking staff/fishing net is a handle fir gripping the staff while walking, wading, or hiking. The ball projection and cup connector design can also be used with other pieces of outdoor gear including but not limited to traditional fishing nets, hiking sticks and water bottles. 
     The design contemplates a ball projection, preferably a projection that ends in a sphere (the ball), as a part of a specific piece of outdoor gear. This projection slideably interlocks with a cup connector attached to a person via an opening in the front of the cup. Though end of the projection is preferably spherical, any feasible end shape that can slideably interlock with the cup is contemplated by the invention. The cup designs envisioned include a funnel cup design or a Y-shaped cup design. These open designs allow a user to insert or to remove recreational equipment with a ball projection attachment easily without looking, as precision is not necessary with these designs. Therefore user can keep their eyes on their recreational activity without missing a step. The cup connector may be affixed directly to the sportsperson&#39;s outerwear clothing via a simple solid clip attachment. Likewise, the cup connector may be incorporated as part of a user&#39;s outerwear such as a fishing vest. Incorporation designs can include, but not limited to, the cup connector being sewn in the clothing, or attachment via snaps, a dock, or a D-ring attachment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Further features, objectives and advantages of the present invention will become clearer when referring to the following detailed description made with reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  is an upper perspective view of the cup connector with one embodiment of a clip assembly according to this invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  is an exploded view of said cup connector with holder detached. 
         FIG. 1   c  is a rear plan view of said cup connector with holder attached. 
         FIG. 1   d  is a left plan view of said cup connector with holder attached. 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cup connector with a standard clip. 
         FIG. 2   b  is a right side perspective said cup with a standard clip. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a ball projection used on a walking staff/fishing net. 
         FIG. 4   a  is a side perspective view showing a ball projection on a walking staff/fishing net situated over a cup connector. 
         FIG. 4   b  is a side perspective view showing a ball projection on said walking staff&#39;fishing net situated most of the way into a cup connector. 
         FIG. 4   c  is a side perspective view showing a ball projection on said walking staff/fishing net “locked” into the bottom of a cup connector for transport, 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a walking staff/fishing net with a ball projection closer to the base of the fishnet frame. 
         FIG. 6  is a right side perspective view after the walking staff/fishing net depicted in  FIG. 5  has been “locked” into a cup connector. 
         FIG. 7  is a left side perspective view of the  FIG. 5  walking staff/fishing net with its ball projection “locked” into a cup connector 180 degrees inverted from the position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8   a  is an embodiment of the cup connector incorporated into the front of the outerwear of a sportsperson. 
         FIG. 8   b  is an embodiment of the cup connector incorporated into the back of the outerwear of a sportsperson. 
         FIG. 9  is an embodiment of a hiking stick with a ball projection design. 
         FIG. 10  is an embodiment of a water bottle with an integral ball projection design. 
         FIG. 11   a  is a perspective view of a cup connector of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 11   b  is a front view of a cup connector of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 11   c  is rear view of a cup connector of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 11   d  is a bottom view of a cup connector of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 11   e  is a top view of a cup connector of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 11   f  is a bi-section of the front view of a cup connector of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 12   a  is a front view of a dock of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 12   b  is a rear view of a dock of a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 12   c  is a top view of a dock of a preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     The disclosed invention solves a problem encountered by many sportspersons, especially fishermen during their day of sport/relaxation. While walking/wading through streams, ponds, marshes, swamps, and river or lake shores, they run into unseen perils including sharp rocks, litter and other foreign objects tree branches, and surprise terrain drop-offs any of which may cause the fishermen to all and risk serious bodily injury, Such perils may be averted by using a walking/wading staff for better balance. It may prove difficult, however, for one to carry his/her own tackle box, fishing rod/reel, netting and several other accessories while traversing to one&#39;s favorite fishing spot. Also, staff storage after reaching one&#39;s preferred destination poses a secondary concern. 
     The disclosed invention alleviates the foregoing problem by incorporating a interlocking connecting system with a telescopic walking staff having a handle grip situated over a fully functional fishing, net such as that disclosed in provisional application 61/520,209 and sister non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/482,046, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,180. Though the accompanying drawings show one preferred fishnet shape (i.e., teardrop) and width/size, it should be understood that other sizes and shapes of fishing nets and frames may be substituted for same. The invention is a means that for easily connecting the walking staff/fishing net or other recreational equipment to a user via a ball-projection cup connector interlocking design eliminating handling/storage concerns.  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  depict some embodiments of stowing options with a cup incorporated into a fishing vest. One option for attachment would be to use the docking system as disclosed with  FIGS. 11A-F  and  FIGS. 12A-C . An advantage to the cup designs that are disclosed is that the user does not need to watch while inserting or retrieving their recreational equipment. The user can keep their focus on their activity. Because precision to manipulate the ball projection equipment with the cup connector designs is not necessary, the cup connector can be placed on the users back for stowing and retrieving, With the embodiment shown  FIG. 8   b , a fisherman can either reach over his/her shoulder, or down and behind his/her own back for snapping the device out of its own funnel cup holder. Another option would be for the fisherman to place the holder right below the back of the neck at the C-7 vertebrate, which is a common sweet spot for many people. 
     The examples set forth in the drawings show only some possibilities for present embodiments. After studying same, still further variations may be made clear. 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of a cup connector of the disclosed invention. Cup connector  1  is comprised of funnel cup  2  which has an opening  3  that is wide on the top and narrows along the front, clip  4  attached to the back of funnel cup  2 . and holder  5  which receives clip  4  in slot  6  from funnel cup  2  and connects the funnel cup to the user via catches  7 .  FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of a cup connector of the present invention. Cup connector  8  is comprised of funnel cup  9  with opening  11  that is wide on the top and narrows along the front and a standard clip  10  attached to the back. Though the funnel cup is a preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates any feasible cup design that can interlock with the ball projections described in the following figures, Likewise, the inv ration also contemplates any fastening means known in the art in addition to the clip-holder assembly or the standard clip design shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     One object of this invention is to provide a new and improved way to stow a walking staff-fishnet combination such as that disclosed in provisional application 61/520,209 and sister non-provisional application 13/482046, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,180. Though  FIGS. 3-7  depict some preferred embodiments related to this device, the ball projection and cup connector assembly can also be used with traditional fishing nets, hiking sticks and an other type of outdoor gear that is practical to carry on one&#39;s person.  FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a telescopic walking staff/integral fishing net such as that disclosed in provisional application 61/520,209 and sister non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/482,046, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,810. Walking staff/fishing net  20  is comprised of frame  21  holding fishing net  24 , staff  22  connected at the bottom of frame  21 , handle  23  connected at the top of frame  21  and the ball projection  27  comprised of projection  25  having spherical end  26  located on the front of frame  21  towards the top end near the handle  23 . Though the hall projections in this and the following figures are depicted with spherical ends, the end of a ball projection can be any feasible shape that can interlock with a cup connector of the disclosed invention.  FIG. 4  depicts the walking staff/fishing net  20  from  FIG. 3  interlocking with cup connector  1  of FIG  1 .  FIG. 4   a  shows the ball projection  27  of as retracted walking staff/fishing net  20  situated over cup connector  1 ,  FIG. 4   b  shows the ball projection  27  of the walking staff/fishing net  20  situated most of the way into cup connector  1 , and  FIG. 4   c  shows the ball projection  27  of the walking staff/fishing net  20  “locked” into the bottom of cup connector  1  as necessary for transport. 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment for the telescopic walking staff/integral fishing net such as that disclosed in provisional application 61/520,209 and sister non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/482,046 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,810. Walking staff/fishing net  30  has ball projection  31  located on the top of staff  32  where it connects to the bottom of frame  33 .  FIG. 6  shows the staff  30  of  FIG. 5  without netting being interlocked with the cup connector  8  depicted  FIG. 2  via ball projection  31  protruding through opening  11  in funnel cup  9 .  FIG. 7  depicts staff  30  interlocking with cup connector  8  in an alternative (180 degree opposite) orientation. 
       FIG. 8  shows embodiments of a cup connector incorporated into the outerwear of sportsperson.  FIG. 8   a  depicts a front orientation embodiment of vest  40  having cup connector  41  that can interlock with staff  30  as depicted in  FIG. 5  via ball projection  31 .  FIG. 8   b  depicts a back orientation embodiment of vest  42  with cup connector  43  that can interlock with staff  20  as depicted in  FIG. 3  via projection  27 , incorporation designs can include but not limited, to the cup being sewn into the clothing, or attachment is snaps or D-ring attachment for easy removability of cup from the person. 
       FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of a ball projection  50  used with a hiking stick  51 . Preferably the hiking stick is comprised of telescopic segments  52  that are retractable so that the hiking stick is easier to carry on ones person.  FIG. 10  depicts a water bottle  53  with an integral ball projection  54 . 
       FIGS. 11   a - f  show a preferred embodiment of a cup connector capable of receiving a spherical ball projection attached to a piece of equipment. Some examples of such equipment are disclosed in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  9 , and  10 . Insertion and locking of bail projection is similar to that described for  FIGS. 4   a - c . Cup connector  60  is comprised of a Y-shaped cup  81  with a generously wide top opening  62  that is contiguous with slot opening  63  on the front  64  of the cup. Most preferably, the width of the bottom of cup  61  is approximately ⅕ of the width of the top of cup  61  and the height of cup  61  is approximately ⅗ of the width of the top of cup  61 . In one embodiment, on the bottom side of the Y-shaped cup  61  is a centrally located opening  68 . Alternatively the bottom side of V-shaped cup  61  can be a solid piece. A shown in this figure, a preferred embodiment has two styles of clip attachments. Attached to the back  65  of the cup are a centrally located solid clip  66  and two fork clips  67 . Fork clips  67  may be further comprised of grippers  69 . Use of two different typos of clips gives the user flexibility when using the cup connector. The cup connector can attached to a belt or a traditional clothing pocket using the solid clip or the cup connector can be attached to the user&#39;s clothing using the fork clips via a dock similar to that described in FIGS  12   a - c . Alternatively, a cup with a single type o clip attachment is also contemplated. 
       FIGS. 12   a - c  depict a dock that can be used in conjunction with the cup connector embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11A-F . Dock  70  is comprised of a sturdy, yet flexible, backing  71 . The front  72  of backing  71  is comprised of pockets  73  with openings  75  that can snuggly receive the fork clips  67  from  FIGS. 11   a - f . The rear  74  of backing  71  is a flat surface that can be attached to clothing. Attachment of dock  70  to clothing can be done by glue or any other means known for attachment. 
     Advantages to using a docking system comprised of the combination of using a cup connector similar to that in  FIG. 11   a - f  with a dock similar to that in  FIG. 12   a - c  are: 
     The connector can be the sole holder for the equipment when attached to the clothing of a person. Its design provides a stable platform for a person to carry recreational equipment utilizing a ball projection such as the combination fishing net/walking stick described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,810, an individual fishing net or a walking stick with a ball projection, or any other item with a ball projection attachment such as a water bottle. The generous top opening in this and in the other cup connector embodiments allows for easy manipulation of such ball projection recreational equipment, because it is no a hassle for the user to insert or remove the equipment; precision and sight of the cup connector is not necessary. The use of the dock allows flexibility in the placement of the cup connector on the person. The most preferred place for the connector is on the sweet spot of the back. The sweet spot for most people is right below the back of the neck at the C-7 vertebrate and most garments that use an attachment ring on the back have that attachment ring sitting too low on the person, basically in area that cannot be easily reached. The use of the dock alleviates this problem. The dock can be attached to any clothing on a place where the person feels it will be most comfortable and convenient including the sweet spot. The open design allows for easy retrieval of the equipment from anywhere on a person&#39;s body without the user using having look; therefore the user can keep their eyes on their activity. The use of the cap connector also provides increased stability for storing a piece of ball projection equipment on a person. 
     Though only certain outdoor sporting gear is depicted in the figures, the invention contemplates using a ball projection on any piece of outdoor recreational gear that is practical to carry around on one&#39;s person by interlocking with the cup connectors disclosed in the present invention. 
     Cup connectors and dock can be comprised any materials with enough strength to support a piece of outdoor gear with a ball projection. Ball projections can be integral to the piece of gear or the can be attached as separate pieces by any means known in the art. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes or modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.