Hockey stick carrying apparatus

Abstract

A clamp device for holding sports equipment, and particularly hockey sticks having an elongated shaft portion, is provided. The clamp device a support surface adapted to receive the elongated portion thereon and first and second clamp portions extending from the support surface and arranged in spaced relation, and otherwise sized and dimensioned to receive the elongated portion in a friction fit relationship between the first and second clamp portions. An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks is also provided. The apparatus has mounted on a base surface thereof a plurality of clamp devices.

1 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment having an elongated portion, said clamp device comprising
 i. a support surface adapted to receive the elongated portion thereon;   ii. first and second clamp portions spaced from each other extending from said support surface, and sized and dimensioned to receive the elongated portion in a friction fit relationship between said first and second clamp portions.   
   
   
       2 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second clamp portions are positioned generally transversely to said support surface. 
   
   
       3 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion each comprise respective proximate and distal ends, said proximate ends adjoining said first and second clamp portions to said support surface and said distal ends arranged away from said support surface and in use, adapted to engage the elongated portion. 
   
   
       4 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 3 , wherein said first clamp portion forms a first acute angle between said support surface and an interior surface of said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion forms a second acute angle between said support surface and an interior surface of said second clamp portion. 
   
   
       5 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 4 , wherein said first and said second acute angles are between 75° and 90°. 
   
   
       6 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 4 , wherein said first and said second acute angles are approximately 86°. 
   
   
       7 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting means on said support surface for mounting said apparatus onto a receiving surface. 
   
   
       8 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 7 , further comprising a second mounting means formed on a surface extending substantially parallel to said support surface. 
   
   
       9 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 8 , wherein said second mounting means is provided for mounting said clamp device on a wall. 
   
   
       10 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 4 , wherein a lateral distance between said distal ends is less than a width of the elongated portion such that when positioning the elongated portion between said first and second clamp portions, said first and second clamp portions flex outwardly to receive the elongated portion upon entry and said distal ends form a locking means around the elongated portion of the sports equipment. 
   
   
       11 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 10 , further comprising a chamfered or curved portion formed proximate said distal ends to facilitate positioning of the elongated portion. 
   
   
       12 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 2 , further comprising one or more ribs formed on an inner surface of each of said first and second clamp portions. 
   
   
       13 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more ribs comprises two ribs. 
   
   
       14 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 13 , wherein said ribs comprise a rubber material having a Shore A hardness of 55-65. 
   
   
       15 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated portion is the shaft of a hockey stick. 
   
   
       16 . A clamp device for holding sports equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein said support surface, said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion are formed from a semi-rigid material. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of pieces of sports equipment, each sports equipment having an elongated portion, said apparatus having a base surface with a plurality of clamp devices mounted thereon; each clamp device comprising:
 i. a support surface adapted to receive the elongated portion thereon;   ii. first and second clamp portions spaced from each other extending from said support surface, and sized and dimensioned to receive the elongated portion in a friction fit relationship between said first and second clamp portions.   
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks, each hockey stick having an elongated shaft portion, said apparatus having a base with a plurality of clamp devices mounted thereon; each clamp device comprising:
 i. a support surface adapted to receive the elongated portion thereon;   ii. first and second clamp portions spaced from each other extending from said support surface, and sized and dimensioned to receive the elongated portion in a friction fit relationship between said first and second clamp portions.   
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of clamp devices are arranged in pairs such that each pair engages one piece of sports equipment at spaced positions along a length of the elongated portion of the respective piece of sports equipment. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 19 , wherein said base comprises a first base portion and a second base portion, said first and second base portions arranged in spaced relation to each other and having a connecting member therebetween, and wherein said pairs of clamp devices are arranged such that a first clamp device in each pair is mounted on said first base portion and a second clamp device in each pair is mounted on said second base portion. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 20 , wherein further comprising a second connecting member extending between said first and second base portions, said second connecting member having a handle means for lifting or carrying said apparatus. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 19 , further comprising one or more mounting means on a rear surface of said base portion to mount the apparatus to a surface. 
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 22 , wherein said surface comprises one of a rooftop of a vehicle, a rear door of a vehicle, an outer surface of a vehicle and an interior surface of a vehicle. 
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 22 , wherein said surface comprises a building surface. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 18 , wherein said first and second clamp portions extend generally transversely from said support surface. 
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 25 , wherein said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion each comprise respective proximate and distal ends, said proximate ends adjoining said first and second clamp portions and said support surface and said distal ends arranged distal from said support surface and adapted to engage the elongated portion. 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 26 , wherein said first clamp portion forms a first acute angle between said support surface and an interior surface of said first clamp portion and said second clamp portion forms a second acute angle between said support surface and an interior surface of said second clamp portion. 
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 27 , wherein said first and said second acute angles are between 75° and 90°. 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 27 , wherein said first and said second acute angles are approximately 86°. 
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 18 , further comprising a mounting means on said support surface for mounting said apparatus onto said base. 
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 26 , wherein a lateral distance between said distal ends is less than a width of the elongated portion such that when positioning the elongated portion between said first and second clamp portions, said first and second clamp portions flex outwardly to receive the elongated portion upon entry and said distal ends form a locking means around the elongated portion of the sports equipment. 
   
   
       32 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 31 , further comprising a chamfered or curved portion formed proximate said distal ends to facilitate positioning of the elongated portion. 
   
   
       33 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 18 , further comprising one or more ribs formed on an inner surface of each of said first and second clamp portions. 
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 33 , wherein said one or more ribs comprises two ribs. 
   
   
       35 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 34 , wherein said ribs comprise a rubber material having a Shore A hardness of 55-65. 
   
   
       36 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of hockey sticks according to  claim 18 , wherein each said clamp device is removably mounted on said base. 
   
   
       37 . A method for holding one or more hockey sticks comprising:
 providing a mounting surface on which to mount two or more clamp devices, each of said clamp devices comprising first and second clamp portions extending from a support surface and arranged in spaced relation, and otherwise sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of a shaft of a hockey stick in a friction fit relationship between said first and second clamp portions   mounting two or more clamp devices on said support surface   positioning a portion of the shaft of one hockey stick between first and second clamp portions of a first clamp device.   
   
   
       38 . A method for holding one or more hockey sticks according to  claim 37  further comprising positioning a second portion of the shaft of said one hockey stick between first and second clamp portions of a second clamp device. 
   
   
       39 . A method for holding one or more hockey sticks according to  claim 38  further comprising positioning one or more additional hockey sticks between first and second clamp portions of additional clamp devices, wherein each hockey stick is held by two clamp devices at spaced positions along the shaft of each hockey stick. 
   
   
       40 . A method for holding one or more hockey sticks according to  claim 39 , wherein said mounting surface is one of a wall of a building, a wall of a locker, and any other building surface. 
   
   
       41 . A method for holding one or more hockey sticks according to  claim 39 , wherein said mounting surface comprises a base for receiving said clamp devices, said base comprising mounting means for attaching said base to a surface. 
   
   
       42 . A method for holding one or more hockey sticks according to  claim 41 , wherein said surface is a vehicle surface.