Apparatus for organizing and storing sports equipment

• US 8,020,716 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 4 Smart People, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 4 Smart People, Inc.
• Inventors: Vitale, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US12/014,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 211/197, 211/196, 211/205, 211/182, 211/105.3, 211/105.13, 211/133.4, 211/166, 211/172, 211/85.24, 211/115, 211107-112, 211/175, 248/158
• US Class Current: 211/197
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/06 with means for adjusting the height of the shelves A47B57/04, A47B57/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/04 Stands with a central pillar, e.g. tree type A47F5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials A47F5/0006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0036 Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence

Abstract

A rack for drying, storing or organizing sports equipment includes a central post having a vertical axis, a plurality of holes substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis, and a plurality of tier members adapted to be inserted into one or more of the holes. The tier members include first and second members. The second members are adapted to be inserted into an end of and secured at any of a plurality of positions within, the first member. The rack may also have one or more holes that extend through the vertical post, the first member may be inserted through the holes, and a third member may be adapted to be inserted into an end of and secured at any of a plurality of positions within, the first member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for organizing and storing sports equipment comprising:

a central post, having a vertical axis;

a plurality of holes located in the central post, orientated substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis;

a plurality of tier members sized to be inserted into any one of the plurality of holes in the central post, said tier members having a first member and a second member, the second member having a first end slideably inserted into a first end of the first member and having a second free distal end, and further securing the second member at any one of a plurality of first predetermined locking positions within the first member wherein each first predetermined locking position provides a disparate length of the tier member, and wherein the second member is movable between the plurality of first predetermined locking positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of holes located in the central post extend through the central post and wherein at least one of said one or more first members is inserted through the one or more holes in the central post and at least one of said one or more tier members additionally comprises a third member having a first end slideably inserted into a second end of the first member and having a second free distal end, the third member being secured at any one of a plurality of second predetermined locking positions within the first member wherein each second predetermined locking position provides a disparate length of the tier member, and wherein the third member is movable between the plurality of second predetermined locking positions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, additional comprising a plurality of substantially “

S”

-shaped hooks secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising a plurality of spring biased clips secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first and second predetermined locking positions of said first member comprise a plurality of apertures in said first member, and wherein said second member is secured at any one of said plurality of first predetermined locking positions within the first member by engaging any of the one or more apertures of the first member to secure said second member at any of said plurality of first predetermined locking positions, and wherein said third member is secured at any one of a plurality of said plurality of second predetermined locking positions within the first member by engaging any of said plurality of apertures of the first member to secure said third member at any of said plurality of second predetermined locking positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising one or more structures attached to the central post to form a base.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising a plurality of spring biased clips secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the base includes one or more horizontal leg portions attached to and extending away from the central post and wherein at least a portion of the one or more horizontal leg portions is essentially perpendicular to the vertical axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a plurality of wheel members or castor members secured to the base.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, additionally comprising a plurality of substantially “

S”

-shaped hooks secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, additionally comprising a plurality of spring biased clips secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, additionally comprising a plurality of diagonal leg portions having first and second ends, attached on the first end to the central post at a distance spaced from the horizontal leg portions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, additionally comprising a plurality of spring biased clips secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of said one or more horizontal leg portions and at least one of said plurality of diagonal leg portions are portions of a single component shaped to form the horizontal leg portion and the diagonal leg portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further including a plurality of wheel members or castor members secured to the base.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, additionally comprising a plurality of spring biased clips secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first predetermined locking positions of said first member comprise a plurality of apertures in said first member, and wherein said second member is secured any one of said plurality of first predetermined locking positions within the first member by engaging any of the one or more apertures of the first member to secure said second member at any of said plurality of first predetermined locking positions.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a plurality of substantially “

S”

-shaped hooks secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a plurality of spring biased clips secured to at least one of said plurality of tier members.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined locking positions of said first member comprise a plurality of apertures in said first member and wherein said second member is secured at any one of said plurality of first predetermined locking positions within the first member by engaging any of the one or more apertures of the first member to secure said second member at any of said plurality of first predetermined locking positions.