Sports equipment drying rack

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a drying rack for wet equipment constructed to support wet equipment having absorbent and non-absorbent sides. The drying rack supports the equipment such that absorbent sides of the wet equipment are generally oriented in a single windward direction relative to an external airflow source.

1 - 14 . canceled 
     
     
         15 . A method of drying personal equipment, including:
 assembling a drying rack from a plurality of separable planks;   arranging multiple articles of personal equipment on the drying rack such that absorbent material in each article is exposed in a windward direction; and   providing an external airflow source in a location that is in the windward direction relative to the rack, wherein the external airflow source directs air toward the rack.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the multiple articles of personal equipment comprise a complete set of hockey pads. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein some of the multiple articles of personal equipment include non-absorbent sides, and the arranging includes orienting the non-absorbent sides away from the windward direction. 
     
     
         18 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the assembling includes interlocking the planks via a press fit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least two of the planks include a slot, and wherein the assembling includes interlocking the slots. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the planks each have a substantially equal thickness, and wherein the slots have a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the planks. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the planks includes a through-hole opening, and wherein the assembling includes inserting a portion of another of the planks in the through-hole opening. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of separable planks comprise a foundation beam and pair of feet, and wherein the assembling includes interlocking the feet with the foundation beam such that the feet extend perpendicular to the foundation beam. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of separable planks further comprise at least one shelf, and wherein the assembling includes interlocking the at least one shelf with a vertically extending plank such that the at least one shelf is cantilevered and extends perpendicular to the foundation beam. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the arranging includes positioning one of the articles of personal equipment such that it sits on the at least one shelf and leans against the vertically extending plank. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of separable planks further comprise at least one stop, and wherein the assembling includes interlocking the at least one stop with a vertically extending plank such that the at least one stop is cantilevered and extends parallel to the foundation beam. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the arranging includes hanging at least one of the articles of personal equipment on the at least one stop. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the plurality of separable planks further comprise a first lower beam, a second lower beam, and a lower arm;   the assembling includes interlocking the first and second lower beams with the foundation beam such that the first and second lower beams extend vertically from the foundation beam; and   the assembling includes interlocking the lower arm with the first and second lower beams such that the lower arm extends parallel to the foundation beam and is positioned vertically above the foundation beam.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of separable planks further comprise a first stop and a second stop, and wherein the assembling includes interlocking the first stop with the first lower beam and interlocking the second stop with the second lower beam such that the first and second stops are cantilevered and extend parallel to the foundation beam. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the assembling includes interlocking the first and second stops such that they extend towards one another. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of separable planks further comprise a first shelf and a second shelf, and wherein the assembling includes interlocking the first shelf with the first lower beam and interlocking the second shelf with the second lower beam such that the first and second shelves are cantilevered and extend perpendicular to the foundation beam. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the assembling includes interlocking the first and second shelves vertically above the first and second stops on the first and second lower beams, respectively. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the plurality of separable planks further comprise an upper beam and an upper arm;   the assembling includes interlocking the upper beam with the lower arm such that the upper beam extends vertically from the lower arm and is positioned horizontally between the first and second lower beams; and   the assembling includes interlocking the upper arm with the upper beam such that the upper arm extends parallel to the lower arm and is positioned vertically above the lower arm.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the arranging includes hanging at least one of the articles of personal equipment on the upper arm. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising removing the multiple articles of personal equipment from the drying rack and disassembling the drying rack.