Rack system for holding sports equipment

Abstract

A rack system for equipment includes a main support, a holder coupled to the main support, with the holder being slideably adjustable with respect to the main support and a support extension, coupled to the holder, including first and second sections, the first section being adapted to support one portion of the equipment, and the second section being adapted to abut a support structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 762,538, filed on Jan. 27, 2006. The full disclosure of this provisional application is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a rack system for holding and securing sports equipment. More specifically, the rack system is designed to be simple to assemble, to be fully adjustable, reconfigurable and expandable, and to be able to mount a variety of sporting or other equipment holders. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0003] One of the key problems involved with equipment storage, especially sporting equipment, is that gear needs to be quickly and securely stowed, and also quickly retrieved. Storage systems that have complicated mechanisms are often avoided by users because of the time that it takes to secure gear. Sporting equipment that is not properly and securely stored can be jostled and accidentally moved, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] The present invention is also directed to a rack system having a main support rail and a holder coupled to the main support rail, the holder being slideably adjustable with respect to the main support rail. The holder also includes a C-shaped housing, having a stepped bottom and a through-bore hole through the stepped bottom, and having an inner radius of a C-shape configured to comport with an outer radius of the main support rail, an eye bolt, having a C-shaped portion and a threaded end, the threaded end passing through the through-bore hole of the housing and an inner radius of the C-shaped portion configured to comport with an outer radius of the main support rail, and the C-shaped housing and the eye bolt fo

Problems solved by technology

One of the key problems involved with equipment storage, especially sporting equipment, is that gear needs to be quickly and securely stowed, and also quickly retrieved.

Sporting equipment that is not properly and securely stored can be jostled and accidentally moved, lead to breakage.

Furthermore, from an equipment owners standpoint, especially in the retail, rental or lodge settings, racks are more often than not fixed configurations and incapable of being changed out or reconfigured for better use.

In addition, the advances in ski technology have rendered certain systems useless due to limitations in size of skis that can be secured.

In addition, the system has a somewhat bulky appearance and does not allow for an organized presentation of the equipment being stored.

This system is also applicable only to storage of skis, and does not provide the desired ease of storage and retrieval because of the need for the forcible insertion.

The system is also applicable only to skis and objects of similar shape, relies on their change in width along their length to secure the skis, and does not provide ease of storage in that complicated motions must be made to retrieve the skis.

This system is for use in ski storage only and is not conceived of for use in storing other equipment.

The system also lacks the ability to be horizontally adjustable and does not allow for presentation of the equipment being stored.

Images