US20030150537A1

US20030150537A1 - Racket cover with means for holding item

Info

Publication number: US20030150537A1
Application number: US10/359,391
Authority: US
Inventors: Madeline Hauptman; Nicole Hauptman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-09
Filing date: 2003-02-06
Publication date: 2003-08-14

Abstract

A racket cover with elastic loops to insert a container of balls makes the effort of going to play a racket sport much easier and is a useful, much-needed addition to the function of the standard racket cover of carrying their belongings to the court. Another embodiment of this invention is a device that could be attached to any covers such that the cover would then be able to hold a container of balls or drink. Thus, the invention could be applied to new covers being produced, and covers that have already been made, enabling all players to utilize the benefits of this invention.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims benefit of the date of provisional application No. 60/355,328, filed Feb. 9, 2002. Covers for tennis, squash, badminton and racquetball rackets are usually designed with a zipper to contain one or two rackets, and have a shoulder strap to carry the cover over the player's shoulder. Some covers have a small pocket on the inside or outside of the cover to hold keys and a wallet. But those pockets are never big enough to fit a container of balls, so when players prepare to go play, they must carry separately a racket, and a container of balls, and sometimes also a drink, and it is clumsy to carry all those unattached items. There are no racket covers that have ever been sold that provide a place to store a container of balls. There is a need for manufacturer's to make racket covers such that a container of balls, or a drink, can be easily attached to the cover. This makes carrying items easier, and the said container can be quickly removed when needed.[0001]

PRIOR ART

The closest known prior art is a patent with a reissue number of Re. 30,138, filed Nov. 6, 1979, to Arthur T. Cowen III. The Cowen invention is a carrying case for a racket, with the design being more like a suitcase, designed to store clothing and other items inside the suitcase portion. The difference between the Cowen invention and the present invention of this patent is that the Cowen invention has carrying capacity inside the suitcase, as a standard suitcase would provide, whereas the present invention has a very different use of space. The present invention provides storage on the outside of the racket carrying case, and provides a streamlined, easy access to the can of balls or drink. The present invention is neither obvious nor anticipated by the prior art. The unique feature of this invention is the ease of access provided by having support means that holds item on the outside of the racket cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Having a racket cover with elastic loops to insert a container of balls or drink makes the effort of going to play a racket sport much easier. It is a useful, much-needed addition to the function of the standard racket cover. It would be very convenient for players to be able to quickly and easily put a container of balls or a drink through elastic loops, attached to the outside of the cover, and would ease the effort of carrying their belongings to the court. No cover on the market has ever been produced or sold with this feature, and it would be a very helpful and handy improvement of all racket covers.

Another embodiment of this invention is a support means that could be attached to any racket covers such that any racket cover would then be able to hold a container of balls or drink. Thus, the invention could also be applied to both new covers being produced, and covers already made, enabling all players to utilize the benefits of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a method, system and device for attaching a container of balls or a drink to the outside of a racket cover, to more easily enable the racket player to more easily carry these separate belongings together.

It is a feature of the invention that there would be elastic loops or some other such support means attached to the outside of the racket cover. Through these support means, the container of balls or drink could be attached. Another embodiment of this invention is a device that could be attached to existing covers that are not equipped to store the container of balls or drink. This device would have attached to it a series of loops, or other support means, which would be attached to some base material, then the entire base material with the support means could be adhered to the racket cover. Thus, the invention of attaching the container of balls or drink, could be used on covers that are not designed with said support means, for instance any other covers that have already been produced, without such support means, enabling all players to utilize the benefits of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a full-length racket cover with loops to insert container of balls or drink; [0007]
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of how the loops are attached to the racket cover; [0008]
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a strip that has loops that to hold to the strip; and [0009]
FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view of a racket cover with a strip adhered that has loops that hold a container.[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art cover including a [0011] cover 10, zipper 14, shoulder strap 13, the present invention of elastic loops 11 a and 11 b, which hold prior art container of balls 12. Cover 10 is a standard full-length tennis racket cover.
Turning to FIG. 2 and the present invention, the sectional view of the [0012] cover 10 is shown, showing how elastic loop 11 a is attached to the inside of the racket cover;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a [0013] strip 15 that has loops 17 a and 17 b attached to strip 15, such that loops 17 a and 17 b hold container of balls 19 to the strip 15; and
FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view of a prior [0014] art racket cover 18, with strap 19, and zipper 21, and the present invention of a strip of material 15, attached to racket cover 18, such that strip 15 has loops 17 a and 17 b attached to strip 15, that hold the prior art container of balls 19 to the strip 15.
In the practice of this invention, a container of balls or drink or other such item can be placed within the elastic or other support means to hold the item in place while the cover is being transported from one place to another. This would make carrying items to the sport much easier. [0015]
The present invention comprises a racket carrying case. The case comprises a cover for enclosing at least one racket. The cover comprises an outside portion and an inside portion; and at least one extension attachable to the outside portion of the cover, whereby the at least one extension can secure an object therebetween. The extension comprises a first and second loop, where by the first and second loop can secure an object therebetween. The present invention comprises the racket carrying case, comprised of two extensions, attachable to the outside portion of the cover, whereby the two extensions are displaced such that an object may be passed through each of the two extensions to be secured therebetween. The present invention comprises the racket carrying case wherein the at least one extension is a loop and the loop is comprised of elastic material. The said racket carrying case comprises the at least one extension secured so that the at least one extension can extend beyond the outside portion of the cover or within the inside portion of the cover. The said racket carrying case wherein the at least one extension is detachable from the cover. [0016]
The present invention comprises a cover for enclosing at least one racket, the cover having an outside portion and an inside portion; and a support means. The support means is attachable to the cover and has at least one attached enclosure, whereby the at least one attached enclosure can secure an object therebetween. The present invention comprises the racket carrying case such that the support means is attached to the cover using velcro attachments and is detachable therefrom. The present invention comprises the racket carrying case whereby the support means has two loops attachable to the support means, whereby the two loops are displaced such that an object may be passed through each of the two loops to be secured therebetween. The present invention comprises the racket carrying case, such that the at least one loop is of elastic material. The present invention comprises the racket carrying case wherein the support means is sewn onto the cover. The present invention comprises the racket carrying case wherein the support means is adhesively attached onto the cover. [0017]
What is claimed in this invention is a new simplified method of carrying items by placing them in a support means attached to the racket cover. This is a needed improvement to standard racket covers. No racket covers have ever been constructed to hold a container of balls or drink or other item. This improvement will be very much appreciated and well-received by all players of racket sports as their effort to bring the essentials of play will be made much easier. There is a need in the marketplace to simplify the effort of carrying one's belongings by consolidating and attaching the balls or drink container to the racket cover. We believe this invention is innovative and neither obvious nor anticipated by prior art, and therefore deserves patenting. [0018]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A racket carrying case comprising:

a. a cover for enclosing at least one racket, the cover having an outside portion and an inside portion; and

b. at least one extension attachable to the outside portion of the cover, whereby the at least one extension can secure an object therebetween.

2. The racket carrying case of claim 1 wherein there are two extensions attachable to the outside portion of the cover, whereby the two extensions are displaced such that an object may be passed through each of the two extensions to be secured therebetween.

3. The racket carrying case of claim 1 wherein the at least one extension is a loop and is comprised of elastic material.

4. The racket carrying case of claim 1 wherein the at least one extension is secured so that the extension can extend beyond the outside portion of the cover or within the inside portion of the cover.

5. The racket carrying case of claim 1 wherein the at least one extension is detachable from the cover.

6. A racket carrying case comprising:

a. a cover for enclosing the at least one racket, the cover having a head and a stem so that the cover snugly encloses at least one racket, the head having an outside portion and an inside portion; and

b. a first loop and a second loop attachable to the outside portion of the head and extending from the cover, whereby the first and second loops can secure an object therebetween.

7. The racket carrying case of claim 6 wherein each of the two loops are comprised of elastic material.

8. The racket carrying case of claim 6 wherein each of the two loops are secured so that each loop can extend beyond the outside portion of the cover or within the inside portion of the cover.

9. The racket carrying case of claim 6 wherein each of the two loops are detachable from the cover.

10. A racket carrying case comprising:

a cover for enclosing at least one racket, the cover having an outside portion and an inside portion; and

a support means, the support means being attachable to the cover to secure an object therebetween.

11. The racket carrying case of claim 10 wherein the support means is attached to the cover using velcro attachments and is detachable therefrom.

12. The racket carrying case of claim 10 whereby the support means has two loops comprising the support means, whereby the two loops are displaced such that an object may be passed through each of the two loops to be secured therebetween.

13. The racket carrying case of claim 10 wherein the at least one loop is comprised of elastic material.

14. The racket carrying case of claim 10 wherein the support means is sewn onto the cover.

15. The racket carrying case of claim 10 wherein the support means is adhesively attached onto the cover.