Combined carrying bag and racket carrier

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a combination carrying case and racket carrier useful particularly for carrying the clothing and equipment for racket sports, such as tennis, squash, badminton, etc. The combined article includes a racket case which is separate from but secured permanently to a bag-like section utilized in carrying clothing and other equipment related to the particular racket sport. As a unique feature, the racket case is proportioned to receive closely the head portion of the racket, permitting the handle to be exposed, and it includes a novel closure arrangement which enables the outwardly projecting racket handle to be oriented in any of several desired positions relative to the carrying facilities of the combined bag. Typically, the angular orientation of the racket handle may vary over a range of around 90°. In conjunction with the adjustable orientation feature for the racket handle, the carrying bag incorporates multiple carrying features, including a conventional handle grip, a strap for over the shoulder carrying, and facilities enabling the strap to be utilized to form a back pack. The adjustable racket orientation enables these various carrying modes to be utilized conveniently and with optimum comfort. In addition, the adjustable orientation facilitates carrying of the loaded bag in close quarters (e.g., elevators, subways, etc.) and enables the bag load to be symmetrically distributed, so that a bag of small, narrow configuration can nevertheless be self standing.

I claim: 
     
       1. A combination carrier for a racket and associated clothing equipment, which comprises a. a clothing case,   b. a rectangular racket case secured to and extending from one side of said clothing case,   c. said racket case being substantially in the form of an open top pocket having width dimensions generally corresponding to the width of a racket head to be carried therein, and having a height dimension sufficient to accommodate the racket at least up to its throat area said pocket having a top opening side arranged in the form of an arc whose center of radius is near the bottom of the pocket,   d. closure means for said open top side of said racket case to engage and support both sides of said throat area of the racket,   e. said closure means being adjustable along substantially the entire length of said top open side to provide, upon closure, support for the racket to hold it in any one of various angular orientations, and   f. means for carrying said carrier in an upright position.   
     
     
       2. The combination carrying case of claim 1, further characterized by a. said closure means comprising a double element slide fastener   b. the closure elements of said slide fastener being movable in a closing direction toward the handle of a racket received in said racket case and serving, in the case closing positions, to support said racket handle in predetermined angular orientation.   
     
     
       3. The combination carrying case of claim 1, further characterized by a. a plurality of independent carrying means being provided on said carrying case, including a hand grip and a shoulder strap,   b. said shoulder strap being removably secured to the sides of said case,   c. said case including strap-receiving fasteners on the upper portion of the back thereof, adapted for reception of said strap, and further including strap connecting means adjacent the bottom portion of the back thereof to convert said case to a back pack.   
     
     
       4. The combination carrying case of claim 1, further characterized by a. said clothing case having a width substantially equal to the width of the racket head and a height somewhat greater than that of the racket head,   b. the front wall of said clothing case, on the side thereof opposite from said racket case, having a partially detachable upper portion forming an access flap,   c. said clothing case being of substantially rectangular configuration, and   d. the bottom of said racket case being on the same level as the bottom of said clothing case whereby said combination carrier is substantially self-standing. .Iadd. 5. A combination carrier for a racket and associated clothing equipment, which comprises   (a) a clothing case,   (b) a carrying handle at the top of said clothing case,   (c) a racket case secured to and extending from one side of said clothing case,   (d) said racket case being substantially in the form of an open top pocket having width dimensions generally corresponding to the width of a racket head to be carried therein, and having a height dimension sufficient to accommodate the racket head at least up to its throat area,   (e) said pocket having a top opening extending across the full width of said pocket and being contoured to be lower at the ends than in the center thereof,   (f) a double zipper closure for said open top, comprising oppositely disposed, independently movable zipper slides on a common zipper track extending continuously across the full width of said contoured top opening,   (g) said contoured top opening being so spaced from the bottom of said pocket and so contoured that, when a racket is placed head down in said pocket, said zipper slides may be closed toward said racket to provide support for said racket on both sides, in the general area of the throat and handle thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. A combination carrier according to claim 5, further characterized by   (a) said clothing case being of greater height than said racket case, and   (b) the bottom of said racket case being on substantially the same level as said clothing case. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. A combination carrying case for a racket and associated clothing equipment, which comprises   (a) a clothing case,   (b) a carrying handle at the top of said clothing case,   (c) a racket case secured to and extending from one side of said clothing case,   (d) said racket case being substantially in the form of an open top pocket having width dimensions generally corresponding to the width of a racket head to be carried therein, and having a height dimension generally corresponding to the height of the racket head up to its throat area,   (e) said pocket having a top opening extending across the top of said pocket,   (f) a single, continuous zipper track extending across the full width of said top opening,   (g) a double zipper closure for said top opening, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed, independently movable zipper slides on said continuous zipper track,   (h) said top opening being so arranged and spaced from the bottom of said pocket that, when a racket is placed head down in said pocket, said zipper slides may be closed toward said racket to provide support for said racket on both sides, in the general area of the throat and handle thereof, in   
     
     
        various angular positions of said racket. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 8.  The combination carrying case of claim 7, further characterized by (a) a plurality of independent carrying means being provided on said carrying case, including a hand grip and a shoulder strap,   (b) said shoulder strap being removably secured to the sides of said case,   (c) said case including strap-receiving means on the upper portion of the back thereof, adapted for reception of said strap, and further including strap connecting means adjacent the bottom portion of the back thereof to convert said case to a back pack. .Iaddend.