# US 2021/0276631 A1 · Method and apparatus for transportation of sporting equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276631 A1 - Document ID: US20210276631A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/185,774 - Filed: 2021-02-25 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-25 - Assignees: Christopher James Dix - Inventors: Christopher James Dix - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276631A1 ## CPC - B60R 9/08: specially adapted for sports gear (vehicles specially adapted for carrying aeroplanes, for carrying boats B60P) - B62D 33/0207: {Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for transportation of equipment, generally but not necessarily limited to sporting equipment. Generally, the apparatus described herein comprises a collapsible or foldable frame adapted for installation in the bed of a pickup truck or similar vehicle, where the apparatus can be unfolded to a “deployment configuration” in which elongated equipment may be securely attached to the apparatus for transportation. The apparatus generally comprises two opposing rails with bracing and equipment storage elements mounted in between, foldable at about a midpoint for easy of storage when not in use. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foldable device for transportation of sporting equipment comprising: a top rail generally in the configuration of an elongated rectangular prism and comprising a first top rail segment and a second top rail segment; a bottom rail opposing said top rail, said bottom rail generally in the configuration of an elongated rectangular prism and comprising a first bottom rail segment and a second bottom rail segment; a folding element extending between said top rail and said bottom rail, said folding element having a top end attached to said first top rail segment and said second top rail segment, and an opposing bottom end attached to said first bottom rail segment and said second bottom rail segment, such that said foldable device is foldable at said folding element; and a first equipment mounting element, attached to, and extending between, said top rail to said bottom rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The foldable device of claim 1, further comprising a second equipment mounting element, ,attached to, and extending between, from said top rail to said bottom rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The foldable device of claim 2, wherein said first equipment mounting element comprises a first fishing pole holder and said second equipment mounting element comprises a second fishing pole holder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The foldable device of claim 3, further comprising a third equipment mounting element, attached to, and extending between, from said top rail to said bottom rail. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The foldable device of claim 4, wherein said third equipment mounting element is a third fishing pole holder, said first fishing pole holder is disposed at a first end of said foldable device, said second fishing pole holder is disposed at a second end of said foldable device opposing said first end, and said third fishing pole holder is disposed adjacent said folding element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The foldable device of claim 5, wherein said first equipment mounting element, said second equipment mounting element, and said third equipment mounting element are generally parallel to one another, and generally perpendicular to said top rail and said bottom rail. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The foldable device of claim 5, wherein said first fishing pole holder comprises a channel sized and shaped to receive a fishing pole handle, said second fishing pole holder comprises a channel sized and shaped to receive fishing pole rod tip, and said third fishing pole holder is a fishing pole rod clip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The foldable device of claim 1, further comprising a first bracing element generally in the configuration of an elongated rectangular prism, said first bracing element, attached to, and extending between, said top rail and said bottom rail. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The foldable device of claim 8, wherein said first bracing element is generally perpendicular to said top rail and said bottom rail. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The foldable device of claim 9, wherein said first bracing element is disposed adjacent to said first equipment mounting element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The foldable device of claim 10, wherein said first bracing element comprises a major plane, said first equipment mounting element comprises a major plane, and said first bracing element and said first equipment mounting elements are disposed such that their respective major planes are generally perpendicular. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The foldable device of claim 11, further comprising a second bracing element, said second bracing element attached to, and extending diagonally between, said first top rail segment and said first bottom rail segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The foldable device of claim 1, wherein said device is foldable to a folded configuration to cause a distal end of first top rail segment to abut a distal end of said second top rail segment, and to cause a distal end of first bottom rail segment to abut a distal end of said second bottom rail segment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The foldable device of claim 13, wherein a first attaching element is disposed on said first bottom rail segment, and a second attaching element is disposed on said second bottom rail segment element, and said first attaching element and said second attaching element attach to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The foldable device of claim 14, wherein said first attaching element comprises a clasp and said second attaching element comprises a latch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The foldable device of claim 14, wherein said first attaching element is disposed at said distal end of said first top rail segment, and aid second attaching element is disposed at said distal end of said second top rail segment such that when said foldable device is in said folded configuration, said first attaching element is attachable to said second attaching element to lock said foldable device in said folded configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The foldable device of claim 14, wherein said first attaching element is disposed at a proximal end of said first top rail segment, and said second attaching element is disposed at a proximal end of said second top rail segment such that when said foldable device is in an open configuration in which said first top rail segment and said second top rail segment are aligned to form a rectangular prism, said first attaching element is attachable to said second attaching element to lock said foldable device in said open configuration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The foldable device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of adjusting elements. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The foldable device of claim 18, wherein said each of said plurality of adjusting elements comprises an adjustable, swivel-mounting leveling foot extending outwardly from opposing ends of said foldable device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The foldable device of claim 1, wherein said foldable device has an installation length selected for installation of said foldable device in a vehicle storage area.