EQUIPMENT ORGANIZER

Abstract

Disclosed is an equipment organizer or storage device for the storage, organization or hanging of various objects in a home or commercial setting. The device comprises an outer part and an inner part engaged into the outer part. The device components may be injection molded from common plastics such as polycarbonate and may optionally be created by 3D printing. The device may be used for storage of sporting equipment, such as bicycles, but may also be easily adapted for storing other items such as musical instruments and household items such as brooms and tools. The inventive device is adapted for ease of installation and use without damage to the stored item or its environment. The inventive device has a small footprint and it functions as an inexpensive storage solution.

Claims

1. A storage device for securing items comprising: an outer part configured to be attached to a bearing structure comprising a portion configured to sit flush with the bearing structure and at least two portions configured to sit at approximately right angles to the flush portion; and an inner part constructed with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the outer part such that the inner part can be engaged into the outer part; wherein the inner part has dimensions corresponding to a portion of the item to be secured such that the item to be secured may be engaged into the inner part and thereby held in place.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the outer part is configured to be attached to the bearing structure by screws.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the outer part is configured to be attached to the bearing structure by an adhesive mechanism.

4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the bearing structure is a wall.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the inner part can be engaged into the outer part and held in place solely by friction and corresponding dimensions.

6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the item to be secured can be engaged into the inner part and held in place solely by friction and corresponding dimensions.

7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the item to be secured may additionally be held in place by a retaining structure optionally attached to both of the at least two right angle portions of the outer part and optionally positioned around the engaged portion of the item to be secured.

8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the outer or inner part, or both, is constructed from plastic.

9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the plastic is polycarbonate.

10. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the outer and inner part are constructed of plastic made by injection molding.

11. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the outer and inner part are constructed of plastic made by 3D printing.

12. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is not configured to bear the full weight of the item to be secured.

13. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is configured to store a bicycle.

14. The storage device of claim 12, wherein the storage device is configured to store a bicycle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0017] The invention will be better understood according to the following detailed description of several embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0018] FIGS. 1a and 1b shows a perspective view of a bicycle stored by engaging the inner part of the inventive device with the bicycle tire according to an embodiment of the current invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a bicycle stored by engaging the inner part of the inventive device with the bicycle handlebar according to an embodiment of the current invention;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the outer part of the inventive device.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the inner part of the inventive device.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the outer and inner parts of the inventive device assembled together.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention adapted for a road bicycle.

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention adapted for a hybrid bicycle.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention adapted for a mountain bicycle.

[0026] FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention adapted for a fat tire bicycle.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of how a single outer part of the inventive device can be fitted with multiple inner parts to accommodate specific tire sizes.

[0028] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of how a single outer part of the inventive device can be fitted with multiple inner parts to accommodate a range of tire sizes.

[0029] FIGS. 12a and 12b demonstrate schematically how the inventive device can be mounted at an angle, either alone or in pairs.

[0030] FIG. 13 provides a schematic representation of how a strap can be used with the inventive device for added security.

[0031] FIG. 14 provides a schematic representation of how the design of the inventive device can be modified for 3D printing.

[0032] FIG. 15 demonstrates how the inventive device can be adapted to store a guitar according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 16 demonstrates how the inventive device can be adapted to store a skateboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIGS. 17a and 17b demonstrates how the inventive device can be adapted to store skis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The current invention comprises an equipment organizer for the organization and storage of items such as sporting goods, musical instruments and other items in a home or commercial environment.

[0036] Taking the example of an equipment organizer for the storage of bicycles, the inventive device comprises two main components. An outer part is attached to a wall using screws or other fasteners or an adhesive. An inner part snaps into the outer clip using the tension in the outer clip. Various aspects of the stored bicycle, such as the wheel rim or a handlebar are then placed into the inner part and are held in place.

[0037] Again, taking the non-limiting example of storing a bicycle with the inventive device, the bicycle may be stored perpendicular to the floor by resting the back wheel on the floor and engaging the front wheel rim into the inner part of the inventive device. In an alternative configuration, a component of a handlebar may be engaged into the inner part of the inventive device with the bicycle resting horizontally on the floor. Each of these options for storage does not require the device to be bearing the full weight of the bicycle as the majority of the bicycle's weight will be borne by the floor with the device simply preventing the bike from falling over or backwards.

[0038] The inventive device can be constructed from injection-molded polycarbonate, but one of skill in the art will realize that alternative constructions are possible from other types of plastic or even other materials with the desired durability and flexibility attributes, amongst other requirements. Solely by way of example, the outer part may be constructed of wood, carbon fiber or metal. The inner part may be constructed of rubber, or may be two-shot injection molded to accommodate the storage of sensitive items.

[0039] While the inventive device may commonly be constructed from plastic such as polycarbonate using injection molding, it may also be constructed by non-traditional methods, such as 3D printing. The use of 3D printing may require modification of the design of the inventive device so that the layers of plastic constructed during the 3D printing process build properly and so as to maintain structural integrity, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0040] Turning now to the appending figures, and with specific reference to FIGS. 3 through 5, the storage device 1 is comprised of an inner part 2 and an outer part 3. When the storage device 1 is assembled, the inner part 2 is snapped into, or otherwise engaged to, the outer part 3. The inner part 2 is retained in the outer part 3 by virtue of the corresponding dimensions of the inner part 2 and the outer part 3 and may also retained by friction. No adhesive or other fixing mechanism or modality is required.

[0041] The outer part 3 has a portion 4 that may be configured to sit flush against the surface that the storage device 1 is mounted to. The outer part 3 also has two arm portions 5, 6, that may sit perpendicular or at an angle away from perpendicular to the flush portion 4. The use of concave angles on the two arm portions 5, 6 allows for inward pressure, which facilitates the inner part 2 and outer part 3 fitting together and also facilitates the consistent holding of the item to be stored.

[0042] The inner part 2 may have a curved geometry throughout its cross-section which provides the part with better strength and retention capabilities and also allows for easier insertion of a stored item such as a bicycle tire. The inner part 2 also may have a highly polished surface which provides for a clinging interface which may be advantageous when retaining an item such as a bicycle tire.

[0043] Turning now to FIGS. 6 through 9, the storage device may be configured with different sizes and geometries to the inner part 2 and outer part 3 to accommodate different sized and shaped objects. For example, the in case of bicycle tires, FIGS. 6 through 9 show different geometries for accommodating road, hybrid, mountain and fat tire bikes. In each case, the height and width of the inner part 2 and outer part 3 vary, along with the curvature of the inner surface of the inner part 2 and the angle of the opening through which the bicycle tire or other item to be retained would pass.

[0044] With further reference to FIGS. 6 through 9, the angle of the opening through which the retained item would pass is, for example, smaller for a road bicycle tire than it is for a mountain bicycle tire. In addition, the curvature of the inner part 2 varies depending on the bicycle tire to be retained and may be more flat for a road bicycle tire with no knobs than for a mountain bicycle tire with knobs.

[0045] Two openings may be provided in the flush part 4 of the outer part 3 for mounting the outer part 3 to a surface, which may be a wall or other supporting structure. The mounting may be accomplished with screws or other fastening devices. In the alternative, the storage device may also be attached to a mounting surface with an adhesive modality. In either case, the storage device should be securely attached to the mounting surface but does not need to be mounted in a manner whereby the storage device could bear the full weight of a heavy object such as a bicycle. The storage device is designed to be mounted such that the weight of the a bicycle is borne by the floor or similar weight bearing object (e.g. a table).

[0046] While the functionality of holding a bicycle by its tire requires the weight of the bicycle to be borne by the floor, other objects that may be held by the inventive device without the weight of the object being borne by the floor or alternative weight bearing object. For example, a hockey stick may be pressed into the opening and the friction of the two arms pressing inwards upon the hockey stick provides enough friction to overcome the pull of gravity on the object. This same modality of support can be applied to countless other objects.

[0047] With reference now to FIGS. 10 and 11, the storage device may be constructed with a uniform outer part 3 matched with inner parts 2 of multiple geometries and curvatures to accommodate different-sized objects. In this way, the inner parts 2 may be designed to accommodate specific-sized objects (FIG. 10) or they may be designed to accommodate objects of a range of sizes (FIG. 11).

[0048] With reference now to FIGS. 12a and 12b, one or more of the inventive storage devices may be mounted on a mounting surface at an angle, or the opening through which the stored item would pass may be configured at an angle. In these different embodiments of the invention, the storage device may function to save space even more so than provided by its general compact configuration and design.

[0049] With reference now to FIG. 13, the storage device may be configured with a strap 7 that is optionally affixed by conventional means to the outer surface of the arm portions 4, 5 of the outer part 3. In this embodiment, the user would insert the item to be retained and then guide the strap around the retained object and removably affix it to both arm portions 4, 5 of the outer part 3. While the use of the strap 7 in this embodiment adds security to the overall retention profile of the storage device 1, it is not necessary in most, if not all, applications. In general, the storage device 1 is designed to retain the stored object through the geometry of the inner part 2 and the outer part 3 and additionally friction between the inner part 2 and the retained object.

[0050] The storage device 1 can be adapted for use in storing many sporting goods and other household and commercial items. Solely by way of example, and not by way of limitation, the storage device could hold numerous items including guitars, brooms, towels, skis, paddles, hockey sticks, baseballs and hockey pucks. Adaptation of the device can be accomplished through varying the dimensions of the inner part and, in certain situations, by varying the dimensions of the inner part and outer part. In most applications, the inventive device will not be deployed in a situation requiring the bearing of significant weight and, thus, significant varying of materials and/or tolerances is not commonly required. However, one of skill in the art will readily realize that modifications to materials and tolerances may be required to accommodate different items. These modifications will be within the skill set of one of skill in the art.

[0051] The storage device 1 can also be used in a configuration of multiple units arranged side by side or in a pre-determined configuration so as to hold multiple items or multiple regions of the same item. For example, multiple units of the inventive storage device 1 could be installed on a mounting surface next to each other and could be configured to hold hockey sticks in the dressing room of a hockey rink. In another example, multiple units of the inventive storage device could be installed in a pre-determined geometry to engage, for example, the rear wheel and front wheel of a bicycle that is positioned horizontally on the ground. While such an arrangement would not be necessary to safely retain the bicycle if the ground is supporting its weight, it may nevertheless be desirable for certain users, for example in a high traffic area where the bicycle may be constantly jostled.

[0052] While this invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.