Sports practice net

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6793594
  • Patent Number
    6,793,594
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, March 27, 2003
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 21, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A free standing net system incorporates a full sized floor for easy ball collection and a built in training target secured to a rear wall of a netted enclosure which is functional for multi-sport use. The netting of the enclosure is 1000 denier polyester, treated for long wear and UV resistance. The floor is constructed of high density nylon with a water-resistant polyurethane coating. The sleeves located at the peripheral edges of the netting are engaged by two shock-corded poles to provide a cantilevered frame portion projecting above and towards the sports enthusiast. The cantilevered frame portion is specifically designed to trap wedge shots during golf practice. Angled side wings of the netted enclosure allow free swinging motion with any golf club to provide a wide angle of capture during golf practice swings.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a sports practice net for use in practicing golf, baseball, softball, soccer, football and tennis, for example.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




With increased leisure time and increased competition in sports for both children and adults, there is ever increasing pressure to be proficient in many fields of sport.




When not partaking of sports, it is often desirable to practice the fundamentals of the game for at least limited time periods. This should be able to be accomplished without entering a field of competition or require all of the equipment necessary to play the game, such as extensive areas of space or defined fields of play.




Accordingly, to achieve the goals of the present invention, a portable sports practice net should be able to be quickly assembled in limited areas of space to facilitate practicing of a particular sport.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




By the present invention, a collapsible sports practice net facilitates practicing of a particular sport whether it be golf, baseball, softball, soccer, football or tennis, for example. This may be accomplished by the use of a shock-corded frame having two fiberglass shock-corded poles engageable within two nylon sleeves of the sports practice net for quick and easy assembly.




The free standing net system incorporates a full sized floor for easy ball collection and a built in training target secured to a rear wall of a netted enclosure which is functional for multi-sport use. The netting of the enclosure is 1000 denier polyester, treated for long wear and UV resistance. The floor is constructed of high density nylon with a water-resistant polyurethane coating.




The sleeves located at the peripheral edges of the netting are engaged by two shock-corded poles to provide a cantilevered frame portion projecting above and towards the sports enthusiast. The cantilevered frame portion is specifically designed to trap wedge shots during golf practice. Angled side wings of the netted enclosure extending from opposite sides of a rear wall allow free swinging motion with any golf club to provide a wide angle of capture during golf practice swings.




The frame encloses over 200 square feet of ball restraining netting. Freedom is provided to take a full golf swing while avoiding concern for over-hitting the ball. Substantially all golf swing practice shots will be restrained by the frame assembly of the present invention. Ground stakes may be used to anchor the frame assembly during windy conditions.




Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible frame assembly which is easily assembled to provide a sports practice net.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible frame assembly which is easily assembled to provide a sports practice net with the frame assembly including a cantilevered frame section and two angled side wings allowing for free swinging of any golf club.




It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible frame assembly which is easily assembled to provide a sports practice net with the frame assembly including a cantilevered frame section and two angled side wings assembled by sliding engagement of two shock-corded poles in sleeves located at a periphery of the netting of the frame assembly.




It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible frame assembly which is easily assembled to provide a sports practice net with the frame assembly including a cantilevered frame section and two angled side wings assembled by sliding engagement of two shock-corded poles in sleeves located at a periphery of the netting of the frame assembly and having an integral target at a rear wall of the frame assembly.




These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

illustrates the sports practice net of the present invention being used to practice a golf swing.





FIG. 2

is a front view of the sports practice net of the present invention in an assembled condition.





FIG. 3

is a rear perspective view of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a side view of the assembled sports practice net of the present invention illustrating the cantilevered frame portion extending up and away from a sports practice target located at a rear wall of the frame assembly.





FIG. 5

is a top plan view of the sports practice net.





FIG. 6

is an enlarged view of the area encircled and labeled as FG


6


in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 7

is an enlarged view of the area encircled and labeled as FG


7


in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 8

is an enlarged view of the area encircled and labeled as FG


8


in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 9

is an enlarged view of the area encircled and labeled as FG


9


in FIG.


2


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.




With reference to the drawings, in general, and to

FIGS. 1 through 5

in particular, a sports practice net embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated as


10


. With reference to its orientation in

FIG. 1

, the sports practice net is being used by a golfer


12


swinging a club


14


to loft a ball


16


into the air. After contacting the net


10


, the ball will fall to the floor section


18


as evidenced by other balls


20


,


22


.




As shown in more detail in

FIGS. 2 through 5

, the overall dimensions of the assembled sports practice net


10


include a width A of approximately 12 feet, a height B of approximately nine feet and a depth D of approximately six feet. The rearmost portion of the floor section


18


has a width C of approximately six feet. At a rear wall


24


of the frame assembly is an integral driving target


26


for assisting in aiming a ball at a specific location on the rear wall


24


. The rear wall is coupled to the floor section.




As best shown in

FIG. 4

, the frame assembly includes two shock-corded non-closed, arched poles


28


,


30


. These poles are threaded through a series of loops


32


,


34


, respectively, before engaging in sleeves


36


,


38


, respectively. The loops


32


and sleeve


36


are similarly color coded to aid in proper threading of the shock-corded poles into position. Loops


34


and sleeve


38


are of the same color but of different color from the loops


32


and sleeve


36


to differentiate the threading path for the other pole


30


. The first pole


28


has first and second ends which terminate at a rear edge of the floor section.




After insertion of the poles through their respective loops and sleeve, the pole


28


forms a forwardly projecting, cantilever frame portion


29


, particularly useful in trapping golf wedge shots. The rearward extending pole


30


helps in supporting the rear wall section


24


having the target


26


. A section


31


of the netting is draped to curve downwardly between the poles


28


and


30


. As shown in

FIG. 4

, the poles


28


,


30


, cross at an angle β of approximately 70 degrees.




The height E of the uppermost portion of pole


30


extending through sleeve


38


is approximately eight feet. The length G of pole


30


from the floor section


18


to its intersection with pole


28


is approximately five feet. Similarly, the height H of pole


28


to the intersection with pole


30


is approximately five feet. Also, the length F of sleeve


38


as shown in

FIG. 3

is approximately 14 feet. The separation I of the sleeves


36


,


38


in section


31


as shown in

FIG. 5

is approximately six feet.




Extending forwardly from the rear wall


24


are opposed wing sections


40


and


42


having a bottom length of approximately six feet as well as a height along the rear wall section of approximately six feet and extending above the floor section at its forwardmost edge for approximately six feet. The wing sections


40


,


42


diverge from the rear wall section


24


by an oblique angle α of approximately 145 degrees.




With reference to

FIGS. 6 through 9

, additional details of the frame assembly are shown. In

FIG. 7

, shock cord sections


28




a


,


28




b


,


28




c


,


28




d


are shown interconnected by couplings


44




a


,


44




b


,


44




c


. Running through the hollow interior of the shock cord sections is an elastic cord such that the shock cord sections may be disengaged from interconnecting couplings


44




a


,


44




b


,


44




c


by movement of the shock cord sections away from each other. For interconnection of the sections


28




a


,


28




b


,


28




c


,


28




d


, while overcoming the resistance of the internal elastic cord passing through the interior of the sections, the various shock cord sections are positioned in the couplings and are held in place by the elasticity of the internal elastic cord.




In

FIG. 6

, shock cord pole


30


is shown extending through loop


34


which is connected to wing section


42


, for example. The connection of the pole


30


to the wing section


42


is accomplished by passing a toggle


46


through a D-ring


48


with an end of the loop so interconnected between the wing section


42


and toggle


46


. Similarly, the loop


34


terminates at one end in D-ring


48


with the opposite end being secured to the wing section


42


. The pole


30


is thereby retained in position prior to entry into elongated sleeve


36


(with reference to pole


30


).





FIG. 8

illustrates a corner of wing section


42


interconnected by loop


52


to a ring


54


. A steel ground stake


56


may engage the ring


54


for anchoring the frame assembly during high wind conditions.




In

FIG. 9

, the end of pole


28


, adjacent to rear wall


24


, is shown secured within loop


58


for anchoring the pole


28


. A steel ground stake arrangement as shown in

FIG. 8

may be implemented if necessary due to high wind conditions.




The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A collapsible sports practice net comprising:a floor section, an enclosure formed of netting located above said floor section, said netting including a rear wall, first and second wing sections extending laterally from said rear wall and a cantilevered portion projecting forwardly from said rear wall and terminating in a free end above said floor section, the rear wall having a lower portion which is coupled to the floor section, the first and second wing sections forming opposing first and second oblique angles, respectively, with the rear wall at the floor section, and at least first and second non-closed support poles engaging the netting.
  • 2. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first support pole extends through a sleeve located at said free end of said cantilevered portion.
  • 3. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first pole includes first and second ends, and wherein the first and second ends of the first pole terminate at a rear edge of said floor section.
  • 4. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall extends to a first height, wherein the free end extends to a second height, and wherein the second height is greater than the first height.
  • 5. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second height is nine feet.
  • 6. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first height is eight feet.
  • 7. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first pole extends through a plurality of loops and said sleeve to support said netting.
  • 8. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second support pole extends from a front edge of said floor section to an upper edge of said rear wall.
  • 9. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second wing sections extend between the first and second support poles and said floor section.
  • 10. The sports practice net of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second wings forwardly and laterally extend from the rear wall.
  • 11. The sports practice net of claim 1, wherein the rear wall extends to a first height, wherein the first and second support poles intersect each other, at a third height, and wherein the third height is greater than 50 percent of the first height.
  • 12. The sports practice net of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second support poles are arched.
  • 13. The sports practice net of claim 1, wherein the first and second support poles are segmented shock-corded poles.
  • 14. The sports practice net of claim 1, wherein the floor section forms a first rear corner with the rear wall and the first wing section, and wherein the floor section forms a second rear corner with the rear wall and the second wing section.
  • 15. A collapsible sports practice net comprising:an enclosure formed of netting and including a rear wall, two wing sections extending laterally from opposite sides of said rear wall and a cantilevered portion projecting forwardly from said rear wall and terminating in a free end, and exactly two, non-closed arched support poles threaded through said enclosure for supporting the enclosure above the ground.
  • 16. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of said support poles extends through a sleeve located at said free end of said cantilevered portion.
  • 17. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 16, wherein said one pole terminates at a bottom edge of said rear wall.
  • 18. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 15, wherein said rear wall extends to a first height below said free end.
  • 19. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 16, wherein said one pole extends through a plurality of loops and said sleeve to support said netting.
  • 20. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 19, wherein said plurality of loops and said sleeve are the same color.
  • 21. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 15, wherein two of said support poles cross each other.
  • 22. A collapsible sports practice net as claimed in claim 21, wherein said two support poles cross at an angle of 70°.
  • 23. The sports practice net of claim 21, wherein the rear wall extends to a first height, wherein the two support poles cross, or intersect, at a second height, and wherein the second height is greater than 50 percent of the first height.
  • 24. The sports practice net of claim 15, wherein the support poles are segmented shock-corded poles.
US Referenced Citations (22)
Number Name Date Kind
849941 Titus Apr 1907 A
920907 Bolton May 1909 A
2899208 Wallsteiner Aug 1959 A
3049353 Viator Aug 1962 A
3197208 Makar Jul 1965 A
4045032 Cox Aug 1977 A
4063739 La Rose Dec 1977 A
5088740 Peterson Feb 1992 A
5244213 Armell Sep 1993 A
5269527 Noval Dec 1993 A
5467990 Kitzhaber Nov 1995 A
5609528 Kehoe Mar 1997 A
5690339 Chen Nov 1997 A
5730442 Anderson Mar 1998 A
5823885 Stempfer Oct 1998 A
6319145 Coughlan Nov 2001 B1
6352480 Macaluso Mar 2002 B1
6485373 Stephens Nov 2002 B1
6517444 Yoon Feb 2003 B1
6554717 Cho Apr 2003 B2
20020030324 Macaluso Mar 2002 A1
20020049092 Yoon Apr 2002 A1
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
ATEC (Athletic Training Equipment Company, Inc.) Baseball/Softball Catalog 2003.