Sports equipment storage device

Abstract

A storage device for transporting equipment includes a housing, a pair of retractable wheels, and an actuator for retracting and extending the wheels from the housing. The housing defines at least one compartment for storing the equipment. The housing has an open front defining an opening into the housing, and a door for selectively closing the open front. The actuator is coupled to the housing and the wheels so as to displace the first and the second retractable wheels between a retracted first and an extended second position. The actuator includes a handle which is extended from the housing when the wheels are extended and which is retracted flush with the housing when the wheels are retracted.

1 . A storage device for transporting equipment, the device comprising: 
 a housing defining at least one compartment for storing the equipment, said housing having an open front, a door for selectively closing said open front;    a first and a second retractable wheel mounted on a first and a second end of a shaft, respectively, said first retractable wheel mounted to a first side of said housing and said second retractable wheel mounted to an opposite second side of said housing, said shaft extending through said housing from said first side to said second side; and    an actuator for displacing said first and said second retractable wheels between a retracted first and an extended second position, said actuator coupled with said housing;    wherein each wheel of said first and said second retractable wheel is disposed within a wheel receiving recess when in said first position, said recess defined by said housing at said first and said second side of said housing; and    wherein each wheel extends outwards from said recess so as to extend outwardly from said housing when in said second position whereby said housing may then be translated on said first and said second retractable wheels.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said first and said second retractable wheels are large diameter wheels adapted to support said housing and any equipment disposed within said housing while providing mobility to transport said housing over a plurality of surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said actuator is a hand actuated mechanism, said mechanism in operable communication via a mechanical linkage with said first and said second retractable wheels such that said first and said second retractable wheels are disposed within said wheel receiving recesses when said linkage is in a first position and such that said first and said second retractable wheels extend outwards from said recesses when in said linkage is in a second position.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said actuator includes a handle which retractably extends from said housing when said wheels are in said second position and wherein retraction of said handle so as to be flush with an outer surface of said housing coincides with actuation of said wheels into said retracted first position.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  further comprising at least one detachable hook coupled with a wall of said housing opposite from said door for hanging the device on a support.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5  further comprising at least one vent positioned on said housing to permit circulation of air within said housing.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said door comprises a pair of hinged opposed doors and a latch means for securing said opposed doors together to close said open front of said housing.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said at least one compartment further comprises a plurality of securing means mounted within said compartment to releasably secure the equipment mounted within said compartment.  
   
   
       9 . A storage device for transporting sporting equipment, the device comprising: 
 a vertically elongated housing defining a plurality of compartments for storing the sporting equipment, said housing having opposing horizontal top and bottom walls, opposing vertical side walls, and a vertical back wall opposing an open front, a door for selectively closing said open front;    a plurality of securing means mounted within said plurality of compartments to releasably secure the equipment stored within said plurality of compartments;    a first and a second retractable wheel each mounted on a shaft, said first retractable wheel mounted to a first side wall of said vertical side walls and said second retractable wheel mounted to a second side wall of said vertical side walls opposite said first side wall, said wheels mounted at a lower end of said housing;    an actuator mounted to said housing for displacing said first and said second retractable wheels between a first and a second position; and    at least one vent mounted in said housing for circulation of air within said housing;    wherein each wheel of said first and said second retractable wheels is disposed within a wheel receiving recess when in said first position, said recess defined by said housing at said first and said second side of said housing; and    wherein each wheel of said first and second retractable wheels extends outwards from said recess so as to extend outwardly from said housing when in said second position whereby said housing may then be translated on said first and said second retractable wheels.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said actuator includes a handle which retractably extends from said housing when said wheels are in said second position and wherein retraction of said handle so as to be flush with an outer surface of said housing coincides with actuation of said wheels into said first position.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said first and said second retractable wheels are large diameter wheels in the range of substantially six to ten inch diameter and adapted to support said housing and any equipment disposed within said housing while providing mobility to transport said housing over a plurality of surfaces.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said actuator is a hand actuated mechanism, said mechanism in operable communication with said first and said second retractable wheels such that said first and said second retractable wheels are disposed within said wheel receiving recess when said mechanism is in a first position and said first and said second retractable wheels extend outwards from said recess when in said mechanism is in a second position.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising at least one detachable hook coupled with said vertical back wall of said housing for hanging the device on a support.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said door comprises a pair of hinged opposed doors and a latch means for securing said opposed doors together to close said open front of said housing.  
   
   
       15 . A storage device for transporting baseball equipment, the device comprising: 
 a vertically elongated housing defining a plurality of compartments for storing the baseball equipment, said housing having opposing horizontal top and bottom walls, opposing vertical side walls, and a vertical back wall opposing an open front, a door for selectively closing said open front;    said plurality of compartments for storing the baseball equipment including a bat storage having means to secure a plurality of bats, a ball storage having means to secure a plurality of balls, a helmet storage having means to secure a plurality of helmets, a protective pad storage having means to secure a plurality of protective pads;    and a first aid storage having means to secure a first aid kit, said housing having an open front wherein a door closes said front;    a first and a second retractable each wheel mounted on a shaft, said first retractable wheel mounted to a first side wall of said vertical side walls and said second retractable wheel mounted to a second side wall of said vertical side walls opposite said first side wall, said first and second retractable wheels mounted at a lower end of said housing;    an actuator mounted to said housing for displacing said first and said second retractable wheels between a first and a second position;    at least one vent mounted in said housing for circulation of air within said housing; and    at least one detachable hook coupled with said vertical back wall of said housing for hanging the device on a support;    wherein each wheel of said first and second retractable wheels is disposed within a wheel receiving recess when in said first position, said recess defined by said housing at said first and said second end of said housing;    wherein each wheel of said first and second retractable wheels extends outwards from said recess so as to extend outwardly from said housing when in said second position whereby said housing may then be translated on said first and said second retractable wheels;    wherein said actuator includes a handle which retractably extends from said housing when said first and second retractable wheels are in said second position; and    wherein retraction of said handle so as to be flush with an outer surface of said housing coincides with actuation of said of said first and second retractable wheels into said first position.    
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said handle is rotatably mounted to said back wall and is coupled to a rod so that rotation of said handle translates said rod and such that retraction of said handle by rotation of said handle into a corresponding recess in said housing handle causes said rod to rotate a bell-crank rotatably mounted to said back wall at a lower end of said housing in a first direction said rod and said retractable wheels mounted at opposite ends of said bell-crank, said rotation of said bell-crank in said first direction thereby causing retraction of said retractable wheels into said first position.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein rotation of said handle so as to extend said handle causes said rod to rotate said bell-crank in a second direction opposite to said first direction thereby causing extension of said retractable wheels into said second position.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein said first and said second retractable wheels are large diameter wheels adapted to support said housing and any equipment disposed within said housing while providing mobility to transport said housing over a plurality of surfaces.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein said actuator is a hand actuated mechanism, said mechanism in operable communication with said first and said second retractable wheel such that said first and said second retractable wheels are disposed within a wheel receiving recess when said mechanism is in a first position and said first and said second retractable wheels.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said door comprises a pair of hinged opposed doors and a latch means for securing said opposed doors together to close said open front of said housing.