Sports equipment bag

Abstract

The sports equipment bag of the present invention is capable of assuming three configurations: a hang-up, a stand-up, and a transport configuration. It comprises two compartments, with partitions and pockets for equipment and items of clothing. The compartments are connected by a connecting strip, to accommodate moving the compartments to and from each other between the transport configuration and the hang-up configuration. Fastening means on one compartment engage fastening means on the other compartment, to secure the compartments in either the transport configuration or the stand-up configuration. Each compartment comprises a frame, sufficiently rigid to render the bag stable in the stand-up configuration. Rear and front panels of the compartments, as well as partitions and pockets, are manufactured of open texture material, to facilitate ventilation and drying of items carried in the bag. In one embodiment, one of the compartments comprises a pair of wheels and a retractable handle.

1 . A sports equipment bag capable of assuming distinct configurations chosen from the group comprising: a hang-up configuration, a stand-up configuration, and a transport configuration, the bag comprising:
 two compartments, each compartment consisting of a rear panel, a front panel, top and bottom panels, side panels, and a plurality of partitions and pockets for accommodating sports equipment and items of clothing;   a connecting strip, pivotally connecting said two compartments along the bottom side of one and the top side of the other of said compartments, to accommodate moving the compartments to and from each other between the transport configuration, in which the compartments are adjacent, and the hang-up configuration, in which the compartments extend from each other with rear panels in a substantially same plane;   at least two fastening means, attached one to each side of one of the compartments and engaging corresponding fastening means on the sides of the other compartment, to releasably secure the compartments in either the transport configuration, in which the compartments are adjacent, or the stand-up configuration, in which bottom sides off the compartments are spaced apart from each other;   at least one loop, mounted on the outside of the rear panel of at least one compartment, for hanging the bag in the hang-up configuration; and   a shoulder strap for carrying the bag in the transport configuration, wherein each of the compartments comprises a frame, said frame being sufficiently rigid to render the bag stable in the stand-up configuration.   
   
   
       2 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 1 , wherein said compartments are permanently attached to said connecting strip. 
   
   
       3 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 1 , comprising multiple loops mounted in multiple positions on the outside of the rear panel of at least one of said compartments, for adjusting the height at which the bag is hung up. 
   
   
       4 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 1 , wherein one of said compartments is permanently attached to said connecting strip; and wherein the other compartment is releasably attached to said connecting strip, to facilitate separating said compartments. 
   
   
       5 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 4 , wherein means for releasably attaching said compartment to said connecting strip are selected from a group comprising:
 a series of hook-and-loop fastener strips engaging a corresponding series of rings or grommets;   a zipper; and   a series of buttons or snap fasteners.   
   
   
       6 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 4 , comprising multiple loops mounted in multiple positions on the outside of the rear panel of each of said compartments, for adjusting the height at which each of the separated compartments is hung up. 
   
   
       7 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 1 , wherein at least rear panel, front panel, partitions, and pockets of the compartments are manufactured of open texture material, to facilitate ventilation and drying of sports equipment and items of clothing carried therein. 
   
   
       8 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 7 , wherein said open texture material is mesh. 
   
   
       9 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 8 , wherein the mesh comprises at least 60% of the surface area of said front and rear panels. 
   
   
       10 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the compartments comprises a loop, mounted on the inside of the top panel for receiving a coat hanger. 
   
   
       11 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 1 , wherein one of said compartments further comprises:
 a pair of wheels, each wheel supported in a wheel bracket mounted on the bottom panel of said compartment; and   a retractable handle, said wheels and retractable handle being provided to facilitate towing the bag in the transport configuration.   
   
   
       12 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 11 , wherein said retractable handle comprises a telescopic handle assembly featuring:
 an outer tubing, supported in a bottom bracket mounted on the bottom panel and in a top bracket mounted on, and extending through, the top panel of said compartment; and   an inner tubing, extendably enclosed in said outer tubing, and provided with a handle.   
   
   
       13 . A sports equipment bag capable of assuming distinct configurations chosen from the group comprising: a hang-up configuration, a stand-up configuration, and a transport configuration, the bag comprising:
 two compartments, each compartment consisting of a rear panel, a front panel, side panels, top panel, bottom panel, and a plurality of partitions and pockets for accommodating sports equipment and items of clothing;   a connecting strip, pivotally connecting said two compartments along the bottom side of the compartment and the top side of the compartment, to accommodate moving the compartments to and from each other between the transport configuration, in which the compartments are adjacent, and the hang-up configuration, in which the compartments extend from each other with rear panels in a substantially same plane;   two fastening means, attached one to each side of the compartment and engaging corresponding fastening means on the sides of the compartment, to releasably secure the compartments in either the transport configuration, in which the compartments are adjacent, or the stand-up configuration, in which bottom sides of the compartments are spaced apart from each other;   a loop, mounted on the outside of the rear panel of the compartment, for hanging the bag in the hang-up configuration; and   a shoulder strap for carrying the bag in the transport configuration, wherein each of the compartment comprises a frame, said frame being sufficiently rigid to render the bag stable in the stand-up configuration, wherein each compartment is provided, on the inside of the top panel, with a loop for receiving a coat hanger, and wherein the compartment further comprises:   a pair of wheels supported in wheel brackets mounted on the bottom panel of the compartment; and   a retractable handle assembly comprising an outer tubing, supported in a bottom bracket mounted on the bottom panel and in a top bracket mounted on, and extending through, the top panel of the compartment, and an inner tubing, extendably enclosed in said outer tubing, and provided with a handle.   
   
   
       14 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 13 , wherein at least the rear panel, the front panel, the partitions, and the pockets of the compartments are manufactured of open texture material, to facilitate ventilation and drying of sports equipment and items of clothing carried therein. 
   
   
       15 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 14 , wherein said open texture material is mesh. 
   
   
       16 . The sports equipment bag of  claim 15 , wherein the mesh comprises at least 60% of the surface area of said front and rear panels.