A method and apparatus for shaping a glove. The apparatus broadly includes an elongated shaping portion and a handle portion. The elongated shaping portion is made of a deformable material that holds its shape when bent without the use of heat and that is configured to be inserted into a single slot of the glove where a user's digit is positioned during use. The handle portion is connected to the shaping portion and is made of at least one of plastic, tape, and rubber.

This disclosure relates to a drying rack for wet equipment constructed to support wet equipment having absorbent and non-absorbent sides. The drying rack supports the equipment such that absorbent sides of the wet equipment are generally oriented in a single windward direction relative to an external airflow source.

A footwear storage and display rack includes a mounting member configured to be mounted to a wall or other generally vertical surface. The mounting member includes an upper portion and a lower portion. A footwear shelf includes a proximal section and a distal section with the proximal section extending from the lower portion of the mounting member so as to be configured at an angle between about 0 degrees and about 90 degrees with respect to the wall or other generally vertical surface when the mounting member is secured to the wall or other generally vertical surface. The distal section extends from the proximal section. An accessory support extends from the upper portion of the mounting member.

A portable stand having retractable arms extending from vertically-extending central trunk is described. The arms when deployed are at least slightly upwardly angled so that a baseball player can slide his glove, his hat and his batting helmet there over to store them when not in use. Typically, enough arms are provided along the trunk to permit an entire team to store their equipment on the stand with each player having his own arm to use. In variations, a topper is provided that has outwardly extending arms and spaced fingers that permit baseball bats to be hung there from. Variations can be used to store player equipment from other sports.

A stand for tennis balls and a towel provides a portable free-standing tripod-like structure for conveniently positioning such items as tennis balls and a towel upon a tennis court surface during a game of tennis. The stand provides a hinged construction which enables compact folding for storage when not in use.

A holding device (4) for a net (6) of a table-tennis table with two playing area leaves (1, 2) and an underframe (3), wherein the holding apparatus (4) includes two holding units (5) which can be arranged on opposite sides of the two playing area leaves (1, 2), and wherein each of the holding units (5) can be attached on at least one of the playing area leaves (1, 2) or on the substructure (3) and can hold one end of the net (6) and wherein the holding apparatus (4) includes at least one blocking means (7) which is arranged on one of the holding units (5) and, in the mounted state of the holding device (4), can be transferred into a blocking position in which it abuts against the under surfaces of the two playing area leaves (1, 2).

A sports bag configured as a backpack for use in storing gear is provided. The sports Tag includes a main body having a pair of straps coupled to the top or back of the main body, and a pair of storage pouches coupled to the back and bottom of the main body, each pouch including a fastening member to provide access to the pouch, and each pouch including at least one strap to stow the pouch when not in use.

A sports bag stand or tennis bag stand designed to be attached to a tennis bag or other sports bag. The stand and bag are attached, preferably using bungee cords with balls, although it can be attached in other ways. There are at least two attachment points needed on the bag which could be a shoulder strap, backpack strap, grab handle, or other point on the object. The stand is generally rectangular in shape. The object attached to the top frame of the sports bag stand or tennis bag stand, is generally horizontally oriented. In the folded or closed position, the object attached to the stand, can be carried or stored. The mechanism for the legs enables them to pivotally move between the unfolded or open position, and the folded or closed position, and controls the range of motion for each leg. One leg of the stand extends out or is kicked out to provide additional stability to the structure.

A training device for aiding a pitched ball player to find the proper batting stance. The training device includes a mat which includes a grid that corresponds a user's height to a foot position on the grid. The training device also includes a user's guide, a chart with a batter's heights and a plurality of indicia markings corresponding to those heights and instructions for foot placement. The device also includes stakes to stake the mat to the ground and a carrying tube for transporting the mat.

A sports bag configured as a backpack for use in storing gear is provided. The sports Tag includes a main body haying a pair of straps coupled to the top or back of the main body, and a pair of storage pouches coupled to the back and bottom of the main body, each pouch including a fastening member to provide access to the pouch, and each pouch including at least one strap to stow the pouch when not in use.