Exercise equipment carrier

Abstract

Disclosed are exercise equipment carriers and methods providing a portable carrier for a variety of exercise and physical training equipment. An exemplary carrier includes a housing having a rear panel, a sidewall and an open front end defining an open interior region for receiving a plurality of dumbbells.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An exercise equipment carrier, comprising:
 a housing having a rear panel, a sidewall, and a front panel defining an interior; and   a plurality of retention prongs protruding from the rear panel into the interior for releasably securing exercise equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 1  wherein the housing includes a front panel having a closable opening configured to afford access to the interior. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 1  further including a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 1  wherein the housing constitutes a backpack. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of closable openings include zippers. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 1  wherein the rear panel includes a padded layer secured to a rigid panel and a plurality of horizontal bars secured to the rigid layer. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 6  wherein the rear panel further includes a plurality of vertical bars secured to the horizontal bars. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of retention prongs is secured to the vertical bars. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 7  wherein each of the plurality of vertical bars includes a lower portion extending in a direction perpendicular thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 6  wherein the padded layer comprises rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 6  wherein the rigid layer includes plexi-glass. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise equipment carrier of  claim 1  further including plurality of pouches. 
     
     
         13 . A backpack comprising:
 a housing having a rear panel, a sidewall, and a front panel defining an interior, the front panel having a plurality of closable openings configured to afford access to the interior; and   a plurality of retention prongs protruding from the rear panel into the interior for releasably securing exercise equipment, wherein the rear panel includes a frame comprising   a rubber layer secured to a plexi-glass layer, plurality of horizontal bars secured to the plexi-glass layer, and a plurality of vertical bars secured to the horizontal bars with bolts, wherein the plurality of retention prongs are secured to the vertical bars,   
       wherein the closable openings include zippers. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise equipment carrier, comprising:
 a housing having a rear panel, a sidewall and an open front end, the rear panel and the a sidewall defining an open interior region adapted for receiving a plurality of dumbbells;   means for releasably securing the plurality of dumbbells within the housing;   a door pivotally attached to the housing for releasably covering and sealing the open front end thereof;   a panel pivotally attached to the door, the panel selectively covering an interior surface of the door, the panel being positioned between the door and the housing when the exercise equipment carrier is in a closed configuration;   a plurality of compartments disposed on opposed first and second surfaces of the panel; and   means for releasably locking the door against the housing.   
     
     
         15 . An exercise equipment carrier as recited in  claim 14  further comprising means for releasably securing the panel to the interior surface of the door so that the panel releasably covers the interior surface thereof. 
     
     
         16 . An exercise equipment carrier as recited in  claim 15  wherein the means for releasably securing the plurality of dumbbells within the housing comprise a plurality of C-shaped clips secured to an interior surface of the rear panel, each of the C-shaped clips being adapted for releasably gripping a central handle portion of a respective one of the plurality of dumbbells. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating with a housing having a rear panel, a sidewall and an open front end, the rear panel and the a sidewall defining an open interior region adapted for receiving a plurality of dumbbells; a door; a panel when the exercise equipment carrier is in a closed configuration; a plurality of compartments disposed on opposed first and second surfaces of the panel, the method comprising:
 releasably securing the plurality of dumbbells within the housing;   pivoting the door to releasably cover and seal the open front end of the housing;   pivoting the panel to selectively cover an interior surface of the door, to position the panel between the door and the housing when the exercise equipment carrier is in a closed configuration; and   releasably locking the door against the housing.   
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising releasably securing the panel to the interior surface of the door so that the panel releasably covers the interior surface thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method equipment carrier as recited in  claim 18  wherein releasably securing the plurality of dumbbells within the housing includes employing a plurality of C-shaped clips secured to an interior surface of the rear panel, each of the C-shaped clips being adapted for releasably gripping a central handle portion of a respective one of the plurality of dumbbells.