Sporting equipment support system

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for holding sporting equipment. The apparatus includes a pair of J-shaped or U-shaped tubular arms spaced apart from one another and in a generally equivalent horizontal position. At least one flexible support is suspended between the opposing ends of each tubular arm so that lateral supports, in combination, support the sporting equipment thereon without the equipment contacting the arms.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A rack for holding sporting equipment, comprising: 
 a pair of parallel vertical members, laterally-spaced in relation to each other;    a pair of tubular arms each mounted on one of said vertical members using a mounting bracket at generally equivalent heights, said arms being substantially parallel and extending outward, generally perpendicular to the surface;    at least one flexible support suspended between an inward end and an outward end of each tubular arm; and    wherein the mounting bracket associated with each tubular arm allows the tubular arm to pivot with respect to the mounting bracket so that said arm may be rotated from a stored position generally parallel with the surface to a support position generally perpendicular to the surface.    
     
     
         2 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the rack further includes: 
 a base to which the vertical members are attached at their respective bottoms; and    at least one bridge member spanning between the respective vertical members, wherein the combination of the base and the bridge provides sufficient support to retain the vertical members in a generally vertical, spaced-apart position.    
     
     
         3 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein said rack further includes an adjustable attachment mechanism associated with each of said mounting brackets so that said tubular arms may be moved in a vertical direction along the respective vertical member.  
     
     
         4 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible support is a fabric strap.  
     
     
         5 . The rack of  claim 4 , wherein at least one end of said flexible support is affixed to said tubular arm using a wire form loop.  
     
     
         6 . The rack of  claim 5 , wherein said wire form loop includes a T-shaped end thereon for insertion through a slot and into an interior region of said tubular arm.  
     
     
         7 . The rack of  claim 5 , wherein said wire form loop includes a pin end thereon for insertion through a hole and into an interior region of said tubular arm.  
     
     
         8 . The rack of  claim 7 , wherein said mounting bracket further includes at least one flange to retain the wire form loop therein and thereby prevents the arms from freely rotating relative to the mounting bracket.  
     
     
         9 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular arms are formed in a J-shape.  
     
     
         10 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular arms are formed in a U-shape.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for storing sporting equipment, comprising: 
 a pair of tubular arms each mounted on a surface using a mounting bracket at generally equivalent heights, said arms being substantially parallel and extending outward and perpendicularly to the surface;    at least one flexible support suspended between an inward end and an outward end of each tubular arm; and    wherein the mounting bracket associated with each tubular arm allows the tubular arm to pivot with respect to the mounting bracket so that said arm may be rotated from a stored position to a support position generally perpendicular to the surface.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said flexible support is a fabric strap.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one end of said flexible support is affixed to said tubular arm using a wire form loop.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said wire form loop includes a T-shaped end thereon for insertion through a slot and into an interior region of said tubular arm.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said wire form loop includes a pin end thereon for insertion through a hole and into an interior region of said tubular arm.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said mounting bracket further includes at least one flange to retain the wire form loop therein and thereby prevents the arms from freely rotating relative to the mounting bracket.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular arms are formed in a J-shape.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular arms are formed in a U-shape.