Method and apparatus to store equestrian riding gear on a transportable tack rack

Abstract

A portable, disassembleable tack rack for use on uneven terrain is disclosed. The length and width of Applicant's tack rack can be adjusted. In addition, the lengths of a plurality of supporting legs are each independently adjustable such that Applicant's apparatus can be used on sloping terrain. A method to assemble a portable tack rack from a plurality of rigid members and, optionally, one or more flexible mesh structures is disclosed. When disassembled, the components of Applicant's tack rack apparatus can be stored and transported in a conventional duffel-type, cylindrical bag.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A portable tack rack in combination with at least one saddle, comprising: 
 a first rectangular frame having a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner;    a first vertical support member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first vertical support member is releaseably connected to said first corner of said first rectangular frame at a first connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said first vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said first vertical support member and said first connection point comprises a first leg length;    a second vertical support member having a first end and a second end, wherein said second vertical support member is releaseably connected to said second corner of said first rectangular frame at a second connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said second vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said second vertical support member and said second connection point comprises a second leg length;    a third vertical support member having a first end and a second end, wherein said third vertical support member is releaseably connected to said third corner of said first rectangular frame at a third connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said third vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said third vertical support member and said third connection point comprises a third leg length;    a fourth vertical support member having a first end and a second end, wherein said fourth vertical support member is releaseably connected to said fourth corner of said first rectangular frame at a fourth connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said fourth vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said fourth vertical support member and said fourth connection point comprises a fourth leg length;    wherein said first leg length can be equal to, less than, or greater than, said second leg length, said third leg length, and said fourth leg length;    wherein said second leg length can be equal to, less than, or greater than, said first leg length, said third leg length, and said fourth leg length;    wherein said third leg length can be equal to, less than, or greater than, said first leg length, said second leg length, and said fourth leg length; and    and wherein said fourth leg length can be equal to, less than, or greater than, said first leg length, said second leg length, and said third leg length.    
     
     
         2 . The tack rack of    claim 1   , wherein said first rectangular frame comprises a first member having a first and a second end, a second member having a first and a second end, a third member having a first and a second end, and a fourth member having a first and a second end; 
 wherein said first end of said first member is releaseably connected to said first end of said second member and said second end of said first member is releaseably connected to said first end of said third member; and    wherein said first end of said fourth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said second member and said second end of said fourth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said third member.    
     
     
         3 . The portable tack rack of    claim 2   , said first rectangular frame further comprising a first mesh structure having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side; 
 wherein said first side of said first mesh structure is releaseably connected to said first member, said second side of said first mesh structure is releaseably connected to said second member, said third side of said first mesh structure is releaseably connected to said third member, and said fourth side of said first mesh structure is releaseably connected to said fourth member.    
     
     
         4 . The portable tack rack of    claim 3   , further comprising a first saddle support, wherein said first saddle support comprises: 
 a horizontal member comprising a first vertical side and an opposing second vertical side, and a first end, a second end;    a first horizontal support disposed on, and extending downwardly and outwardly from, said first vertical side;    a second horizontal support disposed on, and extending downwardly and outwardly from, said second vertical side;    wherein said saddle is removeably disposed on said first saddle support.    
     
     
         5 . The first saddle support of    claim 4   , wherein said first horizontal support comprises: 
 a first distal member having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between said first and second end;    a first leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said first leg is connected to said first end of said first distal member such that said first leg and said first distal member are approximately perpendicular;    a second leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said second leg is connected to said second end of said first distal member such that said second leg and said first distal member are approximately perpendicular, and such that said first leg and said second leg are approximately parallel;    wherein said proximal end of said first leg and said proximal end of said second leg are connected to said first vertical side of said horizontal member.    
     
     
         6 . The first saddle support of    claim 5   , wherein said second horizontal support comprises: 
 a second distal member having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between said first and second end;    a third leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said third leg is connected to said first end of said second distal member such that said first leg and said second distal member are approximately perpendicular;    a fourth leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said fourth leg is connected to said second end of said second distal member such that said fourth leg and said second distal member are approximately perpendicular, and such that said third leg and said fourth leg are approximately parallel;    wherein said proximal end of said third leg and said proximal end of said fourth leg are connected to said second vertical side of said horizontal member.    
     
     
         7 . The portable tack rack of    claim 4   , further comprising a plurality of saddle supports.  
     
     
         8 . The portable tack rack of    claim 2   , further comprising a second rectangular frame, wherein said second rectangular frame comprises a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner; 
 wherein said first vertical support member is releaseably connected to said first corner of said second rectangular frame at a fifth connection point, said second vertical support member is releaseably connected to said second corner of said second rectangular frame at a sixth connection point, said third vertical support member is releaseably connected to said third corner of said second rectangular frame at a seventh connection point, and said fourth vertical support member is releaseably connected to said fourth corner of said second rectangular frame at an eighth connection point.    
     
     
         9 . The tack rack of    claim 8   , wherein said second rectangular frame comprises a fifth member having a first and a second end, a sixth member having a first and a second end, a seventh member having a first and a second end, and an eighth member having a first and a second end; 
 wherein said first end of said fifth member is releaseably connected to said first end of said sixth member and said second end of said fifth member is releaseably connected to said first end of said seventh member; and    wherein said first end of said eighth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said sixth member and said second end of said fourth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said seventh member.    
     
     
         10 . The portable tack rack of    claim 9   , said second rectangular frame further comprising a second mesh structure having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side; 
 wherein said first side of said second mesh structure is releaseably connected to said fifth member, said second side of said second mesh structure is releaseably connected to said sixth member, said third side of said second mesh structure is releaseably connected to said seventh member, and said fourth side of said second mesh structure is releaseably connected to said eighth member.    
     
     
         11 . A method to temporarily store equestrian riding equipment on uneven terrain, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first rectangular frame having a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner;    providing a first vertical support member having a first end and a second end, a second vertical support member having a first end and a second end, a third vertical support member having a first end and a second end, and a fourth vertical support member having a first end and a second end;    releaseably connecting said first vertical support member to said first corner of said first rectangular frame at a first connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said first vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said first vertical support member and said first connection point comprises a first leg length;    releaseably connecting said second vertical support member to said second corner of said first rectangular frame at a second connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said second vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said second vertical support member and said second connection point comprises a second leg length;    releaseably connecting said third vertical support member to said third corner of said first rectangular frame at a third connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said third vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said third vertical support member and said third connection point comprises a third leg length;    releaseably connecting said fourth vertical support member to said fourth corner of said first rectangular frame at a fourth connection point disposed between said first end and said second end of said fourth vertical support member, wherein the distance between said first end of said fourth vertical support member and said fourth connection point comprises a fourth leg length;    adjusting the lengths of said first leg length, said second leg length, said third leg length, and said fourth leg length such that said first rectangular frame is level.    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein said first rectangular frame comprises a first member having a first and a second end, a second member having a first and a second end, a third member having a first and a second end, and a fourth member having a first and a second end; 
 wherein said first end of said first member is releaseably connected to said first end of said second member and said second end of said first member is releaseably connected to said first end of said third member; and    wherein said first end of said fourth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said second member and said second end of said fourth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said third member.    
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12   , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first mesh structure having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side;    releaseably connecting said first side of said first mesh structure to said first member;    releaseably connecting said second side of said first mesh structure to said second member;    releaseably connecting said third side of said first mesh structure to said third member; and    releaseably connecting said fourth side of said first mesh structure to said fourth member.    
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13   , further comprising the step of releaseably attaching to said first vertical support a first saddle support.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14   , wherein said first saddle support comprises: 
 a horizontal member comprising a first vertical side and an opposing second vertical side, and a first end, a second end;    a first horizontal support disposed on, and extending downwardly and outwardly from, said first vertical side;    a second horizontal support disposed on, and extending downwardly and outwardly from, said second vertical side;    wherein said saddle is removeably disposed on said first saddle support.    
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein said first horizontal support comprises: 
 a first distal member having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between said first and second end;    a first leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said first leg is connected to said first end of said first distal member such that said first leg and said first distal member are approximately perpendicular;    a second leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said second leg is connected to said second end of said first distal member such that said second leg and said first distal member are approximately perpendicular, and such that said first leg and said second leg are approximately parallel;    wherein said proximal end of said first leg and said proximal end of said second leg are connected to said first vertical side of said horizontal member.    
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein said second horizontal support comprises: 
 a second distal member having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between said first and second end;    a third leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said third leg is connected to said first end of said second distal member such that said first leg and said second distal member are approximately perpendicular;    a fourth leg having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end of said fourth leg is connected to said second end of said second distal member such that said fourth leg and said second distal member are approximately perpendicular, and such that said third leg and said fourth leg are approximately parallel;    wherein said proximal end of said third leg and said proximal end of said fourth leg are connected to said second vertical side of said horizontal member.    
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 14   , further comprising the step of releaseably attaching a plurality of saddle supports to one or more of said vertical support members.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 13   , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a second rectangular frame, wherein said second rectangular frame comprises a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner;    releaseably connecting said first vertical support to said first corner of said second rectangular frame at a fifth connection point;    releaseably connecting said second vertical support member to said second corner of said second rectangular frame at a sixth connection point;    releaseably connecting said third vertical support member to said third corner of said second rectangular frame at a seventh connection point; and    releaseably connecting said fourth vertical support member to said fourth corner of said second rectangular frame at an eighth connection point.    
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein said second rectangular frame comprises a fifth member having a first and a second end, a sixth member having a first and a second end, a seventh member having a first and a second end, and an eighth member having a first and a second end; 
 wherein said first end of said fifth member is releaseably connected to said first end of said sixth member and said second end of said fifth member is releaseably connected to said first end of said seventh member; and    wherein said first end of said eighth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said sixth member and said second end of said fourth member is releaseably connected to said second end of said seventh member.    
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 20   , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a second mesh structure having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side;    releaseably connecting said first side of said second mesh structure to said fifth member;    releaseably connecting said second side of said second mesh structure to said sixth member;    releaseably connecting said third side of said second mesh structure to said seventh member; and    releaseably connecting said fourth side of said second mesh structure to said eighth member.